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INS Jalashwa brings back 700 Indians stranded in Maldives

New Delhi (NVI): Indian Navy Ship ‘INS Jalashwa’ today arrived at Tuticorin harbour in Tamil Nadu with 700 Indian nationals evacuated from Male in Maldives, under ‘Operation Samudra Setu’.

With this, the Navy ship has evacuated 2672 Indian citizens from Maldives and Sri Lanka to India as part of Vande Bharat Mission, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

“The embarkation of Indian nationals was facilitated by the Indian Mission in Maldives. Personnel were embarked onboard after carrying out requisite medical screening. COVID related safety protocols were also strictly adhered to during the sea-passage,” the Ministry said.

At Tuticorin, the evacuees were received by local authorities and arrangements were in place for their speedy disembarkation, health screening, immigration and transportation.

With this evacuation, the Indian Navy has now repatriated 2,874 Indian nationals from the Maldives and Sri Lanka during the ongoing pandemic, the MoD said.

Highest single-day spike in J&K with 620 new Covid cases, total over 4,000

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

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today witnessed a big jump in Covid-19 cases as 620 people tested positive for the deadly virus in the past 24 hours, triggering a fresh wave of fear and panic across the Union Territory.

This is the highest single-day spike in coronavirus cases since the outbreak of the pandemic in J&K. The fresh cases include 60 pregnant women, 24 health workers, 3 prisoners and many security forces personnel, officials said.

The total number of Covid positive cases in UT has now climbed to 4087 while the death toll due to pandemic has reached 41, of which 36 including a non-local have been recorded in Kashmir and 5 in Jammu region.

Officials said that among the new 620 new cases, 58 were tested positive at SKIMS, over 500 at CD hospital, 3 at JVC Bemina, 8 at Army’s Command Hospital Udhampur and rest at other hospitals.

Among 620 new cases, 583 belong to Kashmir while 37 are from Jammu, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 3,198 including 1,016 recoveries and 36 deaths while the total number of cases in Jammu has reached 889 including 200 recoveries and 5 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in J&K is 2830 including 2146 from Kashmir and 684 from Jammu.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 59 from Anantnag, 161 from Kulgam, 87 from Srinagar, 18 from Budgam, 7 from Kupwara, 24 from Shopian, 132 from Baramulla, 21 from Bandipora, 60 from Pulwama and 14 from Ganderbal in Kashmir.

37 are from Jammu division include 22 from district Jammu, 1 each from Poonch and Udhampur, 2 each from Kathua and Samba, 4 from Rajouri and 5 from Doda.

Officials from CD hospital said that late last night, 253 samples were tested positive at the hospital including over a dozen health workers and over 50 pregnant women. They said that on Sunday, 283 samples were tested positive at the hospital which includes 9 policemen, 3 prisoners, around 30 health workers, besides 9 pregnant ladies.

It may be recalled that earlier in the day, J&K recorded the first death of a non-local resident, a 38-year-old tailor from Kolkata who was putting up in a rented accommodation in Srinagar.

The death toll of Covid-19 positive patients in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 41 including 36 from Kashmir (including a non-J&K resident) and 5 from Jammu. The tailor from Kolkata died late last night at SMHS hospital Srinagar and his samples tested positive for Covid-19 today.

Centre gives nod to open 820 ASI monuments with places of worship from tomorrow

Qutub Minar, one of the ASI protected monuments in Delhi.

New Delhi (NVI): Union Ministry for Culture and Tourism today said that it has approved the opening of 820 centrally protected monuments under the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) which have places of worship from tomorrow (June 8).

Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel also informed that all the protocols issued by the MHA and the Health Ministry will be followed in these monuments.

In its order, the Culture Ministry said that ASI shall ensure that preventive measures as stipulated in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued by the Health Ministry.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) in its SOP released on June 4 to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the religious places/places of worship said that the new measures are to be effectively put in place and scrupulously followed while opening and managing these Centrally Protected Monuments.

Apart from this, ASI shall also further ensure that it follows all other directions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Health Ministry in this regard, the Ministry of Culture said in a statement.

The Ministry has also asked ASI to share the list of these 820 CPMs proposed to be opened on June 8 with respective states and the districts concerned and that any state and/or district-specific orders with regard to containment and prevention of the spread of COVID- 19 are also comprehensively implemented.

Pak shells forward areas along LoC in J&K’s Kupwara, Baramulla districts

Ceasefire
Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Pakistani troops today violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran and Rampur sectors of Kupwara and Baramulla districts respectively, by resorting to unprovoked firing which was retaliated by the Indian Army, defence officials said.

Defence spokesman in Srinagar Rajesh Kalia told NVI that Pakistan violated ceasefire twice today, first at 11 am and then at 12:40 am at Keran and Uri sectors in Kupwara and  Rampur sector in Baramulla district.

“Army is retaliating befittingly. Enemy positions targeted with high precision,” Kalia said. Locals from Uri told NVI over the phone that panic gripped at least six villages this morning when intense firing started from across LoC.

“Six villages were affected which include Churunda, Silikote, Hatlanga, Nambla and Rustom, Mohallah,” they said.

Shakeel Ahmed, a Sarpanch of village Nambla said that panic gripped these villages and people were running for cover. “It was an intense firing. Many people took shelter in underground bunkers and while many others were seen running towards the main town of Uri for safety,” he said.

Latin America is new epicenter for Covid-19; Brazil second worst-hit after US

US sees highest single-day spike in Covid cases

New Delhi (NVI): With countries like Brazil and Mexico recording some of the fastest Covid-19 growth rates and daily deaths, Latin America is emerging as the new epicenter for Covid-19.

The surge in the positive cases is now being led by Brazil as the number of global cases is fast approaching the seven million mark.

Latin America now accounts for roughly 16 per cent of total cases in the world, although 30 per cent of these cases or nearly 2 million infections are in the United States.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Brazil is 6,76,494, while 36,044 have died in the Latin American country. 3,02,084 have recovered from the virus.

In another development, reports in foreign media claimed that Brazil Health Ministry removed the Covid-19 data from public view from a website that had the number of infections as per state and municipality.

Meanwhile, the global tally has climbed to 66,63,304 confirmed cases and 3,92,802 deaths. On average, there are 857 cases per 1 million people.

The United States, Brazil, Russia, the UK, India and Spain are among the top six worst-affected countries in the world, followed by Italy, Peru and Germany.

The United States, with the maximum number of cases, has reported 19,59,009 infections so far, with 1,11,374 deaths and 4,57,721 recoveries.

Kashmir reports first death of a non-local from coronavirus

Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today reported the first death of a non-local resident from Kolkata due to coronavirus at a Srinagar hospital here, health officials said.

With this, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 has reached 41 in J&K UT of which 36 including the non-local were recorded in Kashmir and 5 in Jammu. The deceased was a tailor by profession and aged around 38.

Dr Nazir Choudhary, Medical Superintendent at SMHS hospital Srinagar said that a non-local resident from Kolkatta died at the hospital late last night. His samples were tested as positive for the deadly virus today.

“Yes, he is the first non-local who has died due to Covid in Kashmir so far,” Dr Choudhary said.

Official sources said that now the administration will take a call whether the body of the deceased needs to be sent back to his home in Kolkata or his last rites and burial would be performed in Srinagar only. “We are discussing the issue. No decision has been taken so far,” an official in the Srinagar administration said.

Five terrorists killed in encounter with security forces in J&K’s Shopian

July 18 Shopian encounter: Army completes summary of evidence
An encounter site in Kashmir (File Pic)

(Updating earlier copy)

Abid Bashir

Shopian (NVI): Two more terrorists have been killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces at Reban village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, taking the total number of ultras eliminated in the gunbattle to five, a senior defence official said.

“In total, five militants were killed. Good drills were ensued. There was no collateral damage,” defence spokesman in Srinagar, Rajesh Kalia told NVI.

A police official said that among the five slain militants is a top commander as well. “The identity and affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained,” he said, adding the operation is still underway.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told NVI that three militants were killed in the gunfight.

The operation was launched in the Reban village in the wee hours today after security forces including Police, Army and the CRPF acted on a lead about the presence of militants there.

“Contact was established with the militants after security forces zeroed in on the house where militants had taken refuge,” police sources said.

As a precautionary measure, the authorities have snapped the internet services in Shopian and Kulgam districts of South Kashmir to prevent any law and order situation and rumor-mongering, they said.

Covid-19: Barring 2 districts, entire Kashmir declared as Red Zone

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir government today declared the entire Kashmir as “Red Zone”, barring two districts -Bandipora and Ganderbal, a day ahead of the massive review on Covid-19 situation in the Union Territory.

According to an order issued by the J&K UT Chief Secretary BVR Subramanyam, all districts in Kashmir Valley, excluding Bandipora and Ganderbal, have been declared as red zones. “Ramban district of Jammu province has also been declared as a red zone,” the order read.

It stated that Kathua, Samba, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Reasi, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu have been declared as orange zones. Kishtwar and Doda districts have been declared as green zones.

The government order comes a day ahead of the massive review on Covid-19 situation in the J&K. The government had earlier stated that a massive review will be done on the overall situation on July 8 in which the decision on fresh guidelines and relaxations in lockdown will be taken.

Sources said since the coronavirus deaths and positive cases have shown a spurt, there was less chance of relaxing the lockdown. However, the government was mulling to allow three-wheelers to ply and the home delivery of food items in summer capital Srinagar from tomorrow onwards, they said.

An official said that district-wise guidelines on relaxations will be issued by this evening or tomorrow morning. Pertinently, since the past four days, J&K has witnessed a sudden spike in Covid deaths as five people have died in the past three days while the tally of positive cases has climbed to almost 3500. What is more worrying is that more and more pregnant women are fast falling prey to the deadly pandemic as every day 20 to 30 expecting mothers are testing positive for the virus in J&K UT on an average.

Senior medicos have already termed the trend of pregnant women testing positive for the pandemic as “worrisome” and advised a series of tests to find out whether the baby contracts the virus within the womb of the mother or post delivery.

Senior doctor and the Associate Professor at Government Medical College Srinagar Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan has advocated Cord, amniotic fluid and maternal fetus test of women who test positive for the virus and deliver babies in the same state. “This is to find out whether the baby contracts the virus within the womb. If that’s the case, then it’s a disaster. So far there is no evidence of vertical transmission,”  Dr Nisar had told NVI recently.

Official figures suggest that there are at least 200 pregnant women who were tested positive for the virus and a five-day-old baby girl was the youngest Covid case reported from Kashmir recently.

Delhi Govt, private hospitals to treat residents only: CM Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said that the government and a few private hospitals in Delhi will be reserved for the residents of national capital only while the Central government hospitals like AIIMS and Safdarjung will be open to patients from all over the country.

CM Kejriwal made the announcement after a meeting of his cabinet earlier today. To recall, the chief minister had asked for suggestions regarding allowing patients from outside Delhi in hospitals in the national capital. He said that 7.5 lakh people sent their suggestions and 90% of people were of the view that the hospitals must be reserved for Delhi residents only for a few months till Covid-19 is brought under control. The suggestions were received till June 5.

During a virtual press conference, Kejriwal said that apart from the suggestions by stakeholders and people of Delhi, a five doctors committee, said that Delhi will need 15,000 beds by the end of June. He said that there has been an ease in lockdown restrictions but the pandemic is still there, with a constant and rapid surge in the number of cases.

He urged the people in Delhi to wear masks and follow social distancing, while making a special appeal to the elderly people to take all precautions, saying that of all the cases in the capital, most are aged persons.

Apart from that, Kejriwal said that Delhi borders, which were sealed last week, will be opened for inter-state movement from tomorrow.

Besides that, he said that all restaurants, malls, places of worship will open in Delhi from tomorrow (June 8). However, hotels and banquet halls will remain closed for now, considering the increase in the number of corona cases in Delhi, he added.

Border talks: India, China to resolve situation as per ‘bilateral agreements’, says MEA

New Delhi (NVI): A day after top military officials of India and China held meeting over the tense border situation in Ladakh, the Ministry of External Affairs today issued a statement saying that both the sides agreed to peacefully resolve the situation in accordance with various bilateral agreements.

Yesterday, a meeting was held between the Corps Commander based in Leh and the Chinese Commander in the Chushul-Moldo region at LAC. In its statement issued today, MEA said the meeting took place in a “cordial and positive atmosphere”.

“Both sides agreed to peacefully resolve the situation in the border areas in accordance with various bilateral agreements and keeping in view the agreement between the leaders that peace and tranquility in the India-China border regions is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations,” the MEA statement read.

Apart from that, both sides also noted that this year marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and agreed that an early resolution would contribute to the further development of the relationship, it said.

“Accordingly, the two sides will continue the military and diplomatic engagements to resolve the situation and to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas,” it added.

At the meeting held at the level of Lt General, the Indian side was led by Commander of Leh-based 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh. The meeting took place after the ones at lower levels, including at the level of Major General, did not result in any resolution.

The military stand-off in the Ladakh sector was triggered after China objected to the construction of a road by India on its side of the LAC, claiming that it is their territory. Since then, both sides have mobilised thousands of troops who are in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation.

Earlier on Friday, senior officials of the foreign ministries of the two countries held talks and both sides agreed that they should handle the differences through “peaceful discussion”.

The talks were held via video conference between Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Indian External Affairs Ministry and Wu Jianghao, Director General in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides reviewed the state of bilateral relations including the current developments, the External Affairs Ministry said, clearly referring to the LAC stand-off.

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