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India’s COVID-19 tally past 11 lakh-mark; death toll at 27,497

covid cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The number of coronavirus cases in India reached 11,18,043 after 40,425 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours, the biggest single-day spike so far, Union Health Ministry said.

In addition to this, this is the first time that COVID-19 cases crossed the 40,000-mark in a single day.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the country stood at 27,497 with 681 new fatalities being reported in the past 24 hours.

As many as 7,00,086 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far.

With 3,10,455 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu with 1,70,693 cases and Delhi with 1,22,793 positive cases.

The other worst affected states are Uttar Pradesh (49,247), Gujarat (48,355) West Bengal (42,487) and Rajasthan (29,434).

In terms of deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 10,695 fatalities, ministry said.

The death toll in the national capital surged to 3,628 while another 1,03,134 patients have recovered so far, healthy ministry data shows.

According to ICMR, as many as 1,40,47,908 samples tested up to July 19, of these 2,56,039 samples were tested yesterday.

Apart from this, the Health Ministry said that India’s case fatality rate (CFR) is progressively falling and is currently at 2.49 per cent, which is one of the lowest in the world.

-RJV

J&K records highest ever single-day spike in Covid cases; tally reaches 13,899

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded the highest ever single-day spike in the Covid positive cases since the outbreak of pandemic in the Union Territory as 701 more people tested positive, taking the tally to 13,899.

Of the total cases, 11,112 are from Kashmir and 2,787 from Jammu. The highest spike came on a day when J&K LG appealed to the people of UT to follow guidelines— wear masks and to maintain social distancing.

Of 701 new cases today, 601 belong to Kashmir division while 100 are from Jammu division, officials said. The total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 11,112 including 6,075 recoveries and 225 deaths while the total number of positive cases in Jammu has reached 2,787 including 1,736 recoveries and 19 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in J&K is 5,844 including 4,812 from Kashmir and 1,032 from Jammu.

With 646 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in the UT has reached to 7,811, which is 56.19 per cent of the total cases.

Cases tested positive in J&K today include 290 from Srinagar, 7 from Kulgam, 53 from Baramulla, 21 from Shopian, 28 from Anantnag, 84 from Kupwara, 46 from Pulwama, 21 from Budgam, 27 from Bandipora and 24 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while 100 from Jammu division include 40 each from Jammu and Rajouri districts, 8 from Kathua, 7 from Udhampur, 3 from Doda and 2 from Reasi.

As per the daily information bulletin, 3,30,430 persons in J&K are under observation while 38,173 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 5,844 persons are in hospital isolation while 13 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 2,43,494 persons have completed surveillance period and 42,662 persons are under home surveillance besides

So far, results of 5,07,678 samples are available out of which 4,93,779 tested negative while 13,899 have been tested positive. Out of positive cases, 5,844 are active and 7,811 persons have recovered while 244 persons have died.

-ARK

Jadhav case may get dragged into Pak politics

Kulbhushan Jadhav
Kulbhushan Jadhav. (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): The Kulbhushan Jadhav case is running the risk of turning into a political controversy in Pakistan as the Imran Khan government has been attacked by opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for issuing an Ordinance to give foreigners a right to review sentences awarded by military courts.

The Ordinance, which according to PPP was issued “secretly” in May, gives rights to foreigners, their authorised representatives or consular officials of the mission of their country to seek a review by the High Court of conviction and sentences awarded by a military court.

As per the ordinance, the sentences awarded by Pakistan High court can be reviewed in instances in which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled about their rights under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 or they feel that they have been deprived of their rights under the convention.

The “ICJ Review and Reconsideration Ordinance 2020” was promulgated on May 20, the Dawn newspaper reported. However, it came to be publicly known on July 8 when Islamabad invited New Delhi to file a review and reconsideration petition following “refusal” by Jadhav to do so, the newspaper reported.

Jadhav, a former Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of “espionage and terrorism” in April 2017. India has rejected the charges and maintained that he was abducted from Iran where he had gone in connection with his business and false case has been foisted on him.

Just weeks after the sentence, India had approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence.

Under the Ordinance, the deadline for filing a review plea against Jadhav’s death sentence expires tomorrow.

The PPP has targeted the Imran Khan government, alleging that efforts are being made to “facilitate the escape” of Jadhav.

The Imran Khan government today said the ordinance was brought in to comply with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment and allowed review petition since Parliament was not in session.

According to The Dawn, PPP information secretary Dr Nafisa Shah, in a statement said: “We fear that like (former TTP spokesman) Ehsanullah Ehsan, Kulbhushan Jadhav will also be facilitated in fleeing the country.”

The Pakistan Opposition party has lambasted the Imran Khan government over “secret issuance” of the presidential ordinance and said the move had raised a number of questions over the government’s handling of the issue.

Dr Shah said if such an ordinance had been issued by the PPP president or the prime minister, he would have been declared a “state enemy”. “(Prime Minister) Imran Khan cannot impose his decisions on parliament acting like a king,” she was quoted as saying by the Pakistan Daily.

The PPP information secretary further went on to say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “getting encouragement” due to the “cowardice” of his counterpart in Pakistan (Imran Khan).

Pakistan offered consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav for the third time on Friday, after the second access granted a day earlier remained inconclusive. This third consular access offer was announced by Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a television interview. A note verbale was also sent to India, saying Pakistan was willing to give “unhindered and uninterrupted” access to Jadhav.

The third consular access to Jadhav came after India said Thursday that Pakistan had not provided “unimpeded, unhindered and unconditional”, access of the Indian consular officer to Jadhav, violating the commitment Islamabad had given to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“Jadhav has been sentenced to execution through a farcical trial. He remains under custody of Pakistan’s military. He has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review in his case,” MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said in a recent press briefing.

PM Modi’s Twitter followers cross 60 million mark

PM Modi
PM Narendra Modi (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who continues to be one of the most followed leaders in the world, has crossed 60 million (6 crore) followers on Twitter.

His Twitter account today showed ’60M’ followers as #CongratsModiJiFor60M started trending on the microblogging site.

PM Modi often reaches out to the people in the country and abroad through his robust social media platforms. He also uses his social media accounts to announce welfare schemes and campaigns.

He has used these platforms, especially Twitter to spread messages and awareness on Clean India campaign, women safety, India’s space mission, etc.

The Prime Minister started with Twitter in 2009 when he was Gujarat Chief Minister. Back in 2010, he had just one lakh followers.

This year, PM Modi has used his social media platforms to extensively reach out to people and inform them about social distancing measures and use of masks to keep away coronavirus.

An international survey in 2018 ranked PM Modi among the top three leaders of the world.

Former US President Barak Obama is at the top spot with over 120 million followers. His successor and the current US President Donald Trump has close to 84 million followers.

-ARK

Assam floods: PM speaks to CM Sarbananda Sonowal, assures all support

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spoke to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal over phone as the state is facing several floods along with the coronavirus pandemic.

Along with the flood situation in the state, the Prime Minister also took stock of Baghjan oil well fire in Tinsukia district of Assam.

Taking to Twitter, CM Sonowal wrote: “Hon’ble PM Shri narendramodi ji took stock of the contemporary situation regarding #AssamFloods2020, #COVID19 and Baghjan Oil Well fire scenario over phone this morning. Expressing his concern & solidarity with the people, the PM assured all support to the stat.”

Around 107 people have been killed across the north eastern state due to floods and landslides. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), while 81 were killed due to flood-related incidents, 26 have died due to landslides.

The devastating floods have affected 54 lakh people in 30 of 33 districts of the states. The floods have affected the wildlife in Kaziranga National Park in Golaghat as well, with around 96 animals dead.

-ARK

J&K LG appeals to people as Covid cases surge in UT

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu today made a fervent appeal to the people of the Union Territory, especially in the Valley, to wear masks and maintain social distancing as Covid-19 cases have swelled in the past 15 days.

In a video message, the LG Murmu that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Janta Curfew across India, the J&K administration also followed the same model and implemented lockdown for almost two months. “The lockdown helped us contain the spread of virus and the situation was under control to a large extent and we managed to prevent the spread of pandemic,” he said.

He said since Unlock-2 on July 1, there has been a spurt in the Covid-19 positive cases and every day, there is a surge in the positive cases. “I want to appeal to the people of J&K, especially Kashmir to follow announcements made by the UT government and to follow the guidelines. Whenever there is a change in guidelines, we put the same before the public,” he said. The J&K LG said that there are certain ways that can help people save themselves from the pandemic.

“When you come out of the house, wear a mask and follow guidelines in letter and spirit. I urge people to wear a mask and maintain social distancing. If people don’t follow the guidelines, cases will shoot up further,” he said.

He said economic activities are also a must and keeping that in view, the UT administration has announced some relaxations. “But there are many hotspots in Kashmir where Covid-19 danger is alive and has not subsided yet. I reiterate that guidelines have to be followed in spirit as that’s good for the administration and also good for the people of J&K, especially Kashmir,” he said.

The LG’s appeal to the people comes at a time when J&K is witnessing a spurt in both, Covid-19 related deaths and positive cases as well. The LG’s appeal also coincides with the alert issued by the senior medicos who have already termed the prevailing situation in the Valley as grim.

In the past two weeks, Kashmir has recorded four to five Covid deaths every day while 400 to 500 positive cases are reported on an average every single day in J&K, majority of them from Kashmir. Earlier, Covid patients were asymptomatic and now the majority of the patients who test positive have bilateral pneumonia and need oxygen support to breathe freely.

-ARK

J&K: No let-up in Covid deaths, 6 more die in 24 hrs; docs say situation grim

Over 3,200 cops COVID positive in J&K and 15 succumbed to virus
File photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded six more Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the number of fatalities to 242. With no let-up in the Covid deaths, doctors have pressed the alarm button and stated that if spurt in cases and deaths continue, things are set to go out of control soon.

Officials said that the patients who died include an 80-year-old woman from Rainawari, Srinagar, a 59-year-old man from Turkawangan, Shopian, an 84-year-old man from Kanispora Baramulla, a 50-year-old woman from Rajouri, a 75-year-old woman from Tullamulla in Pulwama and a 70-year-man from Bungalow Bagh, Baramulla.

An official said that the woman from Baramulla who was admitted on July 16, died at SKIMS on Saturday late night. He said the patient was suffering from bilateral Pneumonia.

He said the other two patients including an 80-year-old woman from Rainawari in Srinagar and a 59-year-old man from Turkawangan died at CD hospital.

Both the patients were suffering from Pneumonia and other ailments, he said.

Additional DC Rajouri, Sher Singh said that a 50-year-old diabetic patient who was tested positive for COVID-19 passed away at Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu this morning.

An official from SMHS said that the 75-year-old woman from Pulwama, who was suffering from many ailments, died at SMHS today.

Another official from GMC Baramulla said that the 70-year-old patient who was suffering from some ailments died at GMC Baramulla today.

With six more deaths, the death toll related to COVID-19 has reached 242 including 223 from Kashmir and 19 from Jammu.

Senior doctors in Kashmir have already stated that if deaths don’t stop, time is not far when hospitals will be short of beds and doctors won’t be able to take care of the Covid-postive patients. “There is a huge rush in major hospitals in Srinagar with people complaining chest pain, bilateral pneumonia and breathlessness. Many of those who come to the hospital need ventilator support, which wasn’t the case earlier,” said Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan, Associate Professor at Government Medical College Srinagar, who is also a flu expert.

Professor Farooq Jan, who is the Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Soura hospital said that things are going worse in Kashmir as the patient flow has increased manifold. “If situation doesn’t improve, things may go out of control,” he said.

Pertinently, Srinagar administration has re-imposed lockdown in the majority of parts in the summer capital, but people continue to violate the guidelines and don’t wear masks, let alone keeping social distancing in markets and other places including gardens and parks. It has been observed that people during evening hours, flood parks and gardens and spend time on the banks of famous Dal Lake without wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

-ARK

PM condoles death of John Lewis

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed grief over the death of US Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis. He was 80.

“We mourn the loss of US Congressman John Lewis, a champion of civil rights, non-violence and Gandhian values. His legacy will continue to endure and inspire,” he tweeted.

Lewis, who had been suffering from pancreatic cancer, dedicated his life to the fight for racial equality and justice. He marched along with Martin Luther King Jr in the 1960s during the civil rights movement in the US. He became a congressman in 1987.

Former US President Barack Obama and American talk show host and actress, Oprah Winfrey have also paid tributes to the civil rights hero.

-ARK

Pepper, cardamom…Indian spices exports up by 34% post Covid-19, says ASSOCHAM

New Delhi (NVI): As more and more people rush to strengthen immunity amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for Indian spices has gone up with a whopping 34 per cent rise in their exports, according to an ASSOCHAM study.

“Spices exports from India went up (by 23 per cent)  to USD 359 million in June, 2020 from USD 292 million in the same month last year, contrary to a decline of 12.41 per cent in the country’s overall merchandise export basket during this period,” ASSOCHAM said in a statement.

After the outbreak of the pandemic, demand for Indian spices has shown an increase, as a number of studies show how they can boost immunity to ward off potential virus threat.

“In domestic currency, thanks to forex advantage, spices exporters raked in even better realisations which rose (up 34 per cent) to Rs 2721 crore in June, 2020 from Rs 2030 crore in the comparative month a year ago,” as per the ASSOCHAM official data.

Among major spices shipped abroad are pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, celery, fennel, fenugreek, nutmeg, spice oils and oleoresins, and mint products. Indian spices reach almost to the entire world while the main importers include the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Australia, UAE, Iran, Singapore, China and Bangladesh, among others, ASSOCHAM said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also acknowledged the rising demand of Indian spices amid the pandemic.

“The Prime Minister noticed how demand for spices of which India is among the main producers, is increasing as more and more people rush to strengthen immunity. Thanks to the efforts of the Aayush Ministry and traditional knowledge about spices being a strong immunity builder, an increasing number of Indians are taking to higher consumption of spices. But the rising exports trend does show how the world is benefiting from these items,” said ASSOCHAM Secretary General Mr Deepak Sood.

The ASSOCHAM dipstick study also noticed how rising demand for spices in the domestic market even led to a sharp increase in their prices by almost 12 per cent in June, 2020 whereas the headline CPI inflation was half that level.

”While the Aayush Ministry has been making commendable efforts to promote India’s Traditional Knowledge, the Covid-19 pandemic is compelling us to go an extra mile to document evidence based benefits of our TKs , as per the WTO norms so that we are able to protect  and promote our treasure,” Sood said.

Covid-19: South Africa leaves behind Peru in number of cases, now fifth in world

New Delhi (NVI): With the African continent witnessing a constant surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, South Africa now ranks fifth in the world, ahead of Peru for confirmed coronavirus caseload.

The African nation has reported 13,285 new confirmed cases with the overall tally at 3,50,879. With this, the country now has roughly half the number of cases in Africa.

Other countries with the most cases are the US, Brazil, India and Russia.

Although the virus arrives in Africa a little later than other countries, giving health officials more time to prepare, lack of health infrastructure and testing facilities makes it difficult for the continent to manage the sudden surge of cases. Even the hospitals in South Africa are having a tough time handling the growing number of cases.

Pretoria’s Gauteng province has emerged as the epicentre for the virus. The province has one-quarter of the country’s population and many of the poor are crowded in township areas with inadequate access to clean water and sanitation.

South Africa now has over 3,51,000 cofirmed cases with 4,948 deaths. Around 1,82,000 patients have already recovered from the deadly virus in the country.

Meanwhile, over 14 million people have been infected with the virus globally, while 6,02,656 have died.

-ARK

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