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Denmark envoy calls on Foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla

New Delhi (NVI): Ambassador of Denmark to India, Freddy Svane today paid a visit to Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, as the two diplomats had a discussion on strengthening bilateral cooperation in renewable energy, environment-friendly and clean technologies.

They both also discussed plans to commemorate 400 years of Danish engagement with India at Tranquebar, Tamil Nadu in November this year.

“Ambassador @svane_freddy of Denmark, a great friend of India with 2 terms in New Delhi, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla,” External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in a tweet.

“They discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, in areas such as renewable energy, environment friendly & clean technologies; and plans to commemorate 400 years of Danish engagement with India at Tranquebar, Tamil Nadu in November this year,” read another tweet by Srivastava.

It is pertinent to mention here that India and Denmark have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last month to develop deep cooperation between two countries in the power sector.

The MoU on Indo-Denmark Energy Cooperation between the Ministry of Power and the Ministry for Energy, Utilities and Climate, Denmark to develop a strong, deep and long-term co-operation between the two countries in the power sector on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit was signed on June 5.

-ARK

COVID-19 cases surpass 33,000 in Afghanistan; death toll tops 898

New Delhi (NVI): The Afghan authorities confirmed 239 new coronavirus cases in Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 33,190, according to local media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Public Health said, 20,103 people have been cured and discharged so far, while 898 died from the respiratory disease in Afghanistan.

Among the fresh cases, Bamyan was on the top of the list with 90 new cases followed by Kunduz with 51 cases and Bamiyan with 33. While Nangarhar was at the bottom of the list with one positive cases in the last 24 hours.

The ministry also reported 34 new deaths, those deaths were reported in Kabul (10), Herat (6), Bamiyan (2), Baghlan (3), Badghis (1), Ghazni (8), Wardak (1) and Kapisa (3).

Apart from this, the recovery cases were reported in Nangarhar (190), Ghazni (111), Jawzjan (111), Panjshir (158), Kabul (23), Kandahar (15), Takhar (3), Baghlan (2), Badghis (4), Logar (10), Nimruz (1) and Parwan (1), as per the reports.

Meanwhile, the ministry has also conducted 76,415 tests since February across the country.

-RJV

India’s Covid positivity rate stands at 6.73%: Health Ministry

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Health Ministry today said that a number of states have reported lower COVID-19 positivity rate than the national average of 6.73 per cent, while the states’ tests per million are also higher than the national average.

According to the health ministry statement, the Union, State and Union Territory governments have made a joint effort to effectively manage the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

As part of the coordinated efforts, the Union government has emphasized on increasing testing, prompt contact tracing and timely clinical management of the cases, the statement said.

It has also helped the states to significantly ramp up testing capacities. This has resulted in reduced positivity in the country. Therefore, the current national positivity rate stands at 6.73 per cent, it added.

As per the data available on July 5, the states with their positivity rate less than the national average and tests per million higher than the national average are— Puducherry (5.55%), Chandigarh (4.36%), Assam (2.84%), Tripura (2.72%), Karnataka (2.64%), Rajasthan (2.51%), Goa (2.5%), and Punjab (1.92%).

However, in Delhi, the efforts being made by the UT were significantly bolstered by the Central Government to ensure an increase in testing, the ministry said.

Tests were ramped up through increased RT-PCR testing along with the new Rapid Antigen Point-of-Care (POC) tests which gives results in only about 30 minutes.

“As a result of concerted and focused efforts by Government of India to augment efforts, the average number of samples being tested per day which was only 5481 (June 1-5) has witnessed a huge increase to reach an average of 18,766 samples per day between July 1 to 5,” it said.

In spite of significantly increased testing in Delhi, the positivity rate has seen a substantial decrease from about 30 per cent to 10 per cent in the last three weeks, the statement added.

-RJV/ARK

Bangladesh COVID-19 tally exceeds 1.65 lakh; death toll at 2,096

(Image source: United News of Bangladesh)

New Delhi (NVI): Coronavirus cases in Bangladesh exceeded 1.65 lakh after 3,201 new cases were detected in the last 24 hours.

In addition to this, 44 new deaths were reported during this period, taking the total number of Covid-19 fatalities in the country to 2,096, according to United News of Bangladesh.

The daily infection rate was today recorded at 19.25 percent in the country.

So far, 76,149 people have recovered in the country after 3,524 more patients were recovered during this period.

Against the total number of detected cases, the recovery rate is 45.98 percent while the mortality rate 1.27 percent in the country.

-CHK

World Bank and India sign $750 mn agreement for MSME Emergency Response Programme

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): The World Bank and Government of India today signed an agreement worth USD 750 million for the MSME Emergency Response Programme to boost the flow of finance into the hands of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

The World Bank’s MSME Emergency Response Programme will address the immediate liquidity and credit needs of nearly 1.5 million viable MSMEs to help them withstand the impact of the current shock and protect millions of jobs.

This is the first step among a broader set of reforms that are needed to propel the MSME sector over time, a Ministry of Finance release stated.

The agreement was signed by Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Junaid Ahmad, Country Director (India) on behalf of the World Bank.

Khare said, “The Government of India is focused on ensuring that the abundant financial sector liquidity flow is available to NBFCs, and that banks which have turned extremely risk averse, continue taking exposures in the economy by lending to NBFCs. This project will support the Government in providing targeted guarantees to incentivize NBFCs and banks to continue lending to viable MSMEs to help sustain them through the crisis.”

The World Bank Group, including its private sector arm – the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will support the government’s initiatives to protect the MSME sector.

Junaid Ahmad, World Bank’s Country Director said, “The MSME sector is central to India’s growth and job creation and will be key to the pace of India’s economic recovery, post COVID-19. The immediate need is to ensure that the liquidity infused into the system by the government is accessed by MSMEs. Equally important is to strengthen the overall financing ecosystem for MSMEs.”

The World Bank has till date committed USD 2.75 billion to support India’s emergency COVID-19 response, including the new MSME project. 

 –CHK

Kashmir reaping benefits of Article 370 abrogation: J&K BJP leader

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): BJP General Secretary for Jammu and Kashmir Ashok Koul today said people of Kashmir have started to reap the benefits of Article 370 roll back as stone-pelting on streets has completely vanished and there are no clashes or law and order issues at encounter sites now.

Talking to media persons at BJP’s Srinagar headquarters on the eve of birth anniversary of BJP founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the BJP leader said that even the then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru had announced that Article 370 was temporary. “Talking about 35 A, the question is where did this come from? It was incorporated through a presidential notification which was wrong and totally unconstitutional,” Koul said.

The BJP leader said that all the regional leaders, be those from the National Conference of the PDP, played politics over  Article 370 and 35 A just to ensure that they remain in power. “Common people in Kashmir or Jammu got nothing and instead were befooled on one or the other pretext by the regional political parties,” he said.

He said people of J&K were kept in the dark for the past 70 years by none other than the leaders of political parties that ruled the erstwhile state. “Today, benefits of rollback of Article 370 are clear: Stone pelting has completely vanished and there is no protest or civilian killing at the encounter sites,” Koul said.

About former Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani’s recent announcement to part ways from the amalgam, Koul said: “Geelani is a veteran politician. He has been in the Assembly and knows the benefits of democracy. Had he taken the decision of quitting Hurriyat earlier, perhaps Kashmir would not have seen this much of bloodshed and chaos.”

Koul praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the special economic package of Rs 20 lakh crore for the Covid-hit states and UTs and free ration to poor. “I urge the J&K administration to ensure that all the benefits reach the common people of Kashmir,” he said.

He said that today’s function was organized by the BJP’s Srinagar unit to pay tributes to party founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who was born in 1901 in a modest family in Kolkata. “Today, we remembered our leader and paid him floral tributes,” Koul said.

-ARK

Nepal’s COVID-19 tally stands at 15,964; death toll 35

New Delhi (NVI): With the confirmation of 180 new cases, Nepal’s coronavirus infection tally has reached 15,964 today, according to local media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Health and Population said, 264 recoveries in the last 24 hours have been reported which has taken the total number of recoveries in the country to 6,811.

A total of 710 cases of infection have been detected in Province 1 so far; 4,184 cases in Province 2; 639 cases in Bagmati Province; 1,175 cases in Gandaki Province; 3,984 cases in Province 5; 1,581 cases in Karnali Province; and 3,691 cases in Sudurpaschim Province.

Out of the total infections, 469 people have recovered from the disease in Province 1; 2,072 people in Province 2; 234 in Bagmati Province; 295 in Gandaki Province; 1,857 in Province 5; 1,222 in Karnali Province; and 662 people in Sudurpaschim Province.

The ministry also said that, coronavirus has spread to all 77 districts of Nepal, as per the reports.

At present, 9,118 active cases of COVID-19 in Nepal and staying in isolation while 29,215 are in quarantines across the country.

Meanwhile, another COVID-19 fatality has been confirmed by the ministry, which has taken the total death-toll from the disease to 35 in Nepal.

A 29 year-old-male, resident of Nisikhola Rural Municipality-3 in Baglung, passed away yesterday. The youth had returned to Nepal from India after receiving treatment for tuberculosis.

-RJV

Pak’s health minister tests positive for COVID-19; tally tops 2.31 lakh

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan’s health minister, Zafar Mirza, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the latest senior minister in the country to be hit by the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, the country reported 3,344 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 2,31,818.

The death toll reached 4,762 after 50 people lost their lives due to the deadly contagion during this period, according to media reports.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 94,528 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 81,963 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 28,116 cases, Balochistan is at 10,814, Gilgit-Baltistan at 1,561, Islamabad at 13,494 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 1,342 cases so far.

According to the country’s health ministry, 56.78 per cent patients have recovered from the disease while those still infected are 43.21 per cent.

-CHK

Odisha: Vedanta organises mega blood donation camp in Lanjigarh

Bhubaneswar (NVI): In a mega blood donation drive organised at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district of Odisha, Vedanta’s Alumina Refinery has joined hands with district police administration for the initiative.

The blood donation camp was organised at Vedanta Hospital under the Odisha Government’s ‘Mo Sarkar’ initiative. 95 units of blood were collected during the voluntary blood donation drive with the support of police personnel, employees and associate partners of Vedanta along with members from the nearby community.

Acknowledging the volunteers for their donation, Rakesh Mohan, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh unit said, “We are glad to be a part of this blood donation drive initiated by the District Police, Kalahandi. We have received proactive support and cooperation from our employees and associate partners in donating their blood for this noble cause.

Appreciating Vedanta’s support Satyananda Patra, Inspector In-charge Lanjigarh said: “Vedanta has been very supportive in this initiative. Our joint efforts in successfully organizing this voluntary blood donation camp will go a long way in helping many people in the region during this tough time.”

The donors were recognised for their support by presenting them with a certificate of appreciation. Over the past years, the team had helped in collecting over 550 units of blood and had donated it to the District Headquarter Hospital at Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi district.

Besides blood donation camps, Vedanta has conducted several health camps in the peripheral villages around its plant. The communities have been provided with free consulting services as well as medicines in these outreach camps. In the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, the plant has taken several steps towards ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the community and its employees by various preventive measures.

Vedanta is the largest producer of aluminium in India and remains the premier manufacturer of metallurgical grade alumina. The company operates a 2 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) capacity alumina refinery in Lanjigarh (Kalahandi district, Odisha), India since 2007 and an associated 90 MW captive power plant.

Doval speaks to China’s Wang Yi as disengagement begins at LAC

NSA Ajit Doval with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (File)

New Delhi (NVI): National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had a “frank and in-depth exchange of views” with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi yesterday, on the recent developments in the western sector of the India-China borders, as China pulls back its troops in Galwan Valley along LAC, the Ministry of External Affairs said today.

Doval and Wang Yi had a conversation under the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism on the boundary talks, as they both agreed that both sides should take guidance from the consensus of the leaders that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas was essential for the further development of bilateral relations and that two sides should not allow differences to become disputes, MEA said in a statement.

During the telephonic conversation yesterday, the two agreed that it was necessary to ensure at the earliest complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquillity.

“In this regard they further agreed that both sides should complete the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC expeditiously,” MEA said.

They reaffirmed the stand taken during earlier diplomatic and military engagement between both sides that a phased and stepwise de-escalation in the India-China border areas has to be ensured.

“They re-affirmed that both sides should strictly respect and observe the line of actual control and should not take any unilateral action to alter the status quo and work together to avoid any incident in the future that could disturb peace and tranquillity in border areas,” the MEA statement read.

Apart from that, the two Special Representatives agreed that the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides should continue their discussions, including under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC), and implement the understandings reached in a timely manner to achieve the above outcomes.

“It was also agreed that the two Special Representatives will continue their conversations to ensure full and enduring restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols,” read the official statement.

Earlier on June 17, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had spoken to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi over the phone and conveyed India’s protest in “strongest terms” on the violent face-off in Galwan Valley in Ladakh on June 15.

In first signs of withdrawal of Chinese troops along LAC in Eastern Ladakh, the PLA has removed tents and dismantled its structures in the Galwan Valley, sources said today.

India and China are currently locked in a bitter standoff at multiple locations in Eastern Ladakh, especially after the June 15 violent clash between the Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives.

-ARK

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