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Chhattisgarh: 7-day lockdown in Raipur, Birgaon from July 22

lockdown
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): Due to the rising number of coronavirus cases, the district administration has imposed seven-day lockdown in Raipur and Birgaon Municipal Corporation areas from July 22.

According to the order issued by the Raipur district administration, the lockdown will stay effective till July 28 in both the areas.

However, selling of essential items such as fruit, vegetables, milk etc. will be allowed from 6am till 10am during the lockdown period.

Only people on emergency medical duty or serving essential services will be allowed to commute.

All government, semi-government and private offices will remain shut during this period. In addition to this, public transports will remain closed.

Moreover, a total of 200 containment zones have been identified in Raipur and Birgaon municipal corporation areas, of which, 165 are still active.

In Raipur district, 1,172 positive cases have been registered till date, of which more than 950 cases have been reported in the last one month.

So far, Chhattisgarh has recorded 5,407 coronavirus cases and 24 deaths from to the deadly contagion.

-RJV

J&K: CRPF man commits suicide by shooting himself in Srinagar

Service rifle
Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel committed suicide by shooting himself dead with his service riffle at his unit in Pantha Chowk area of Srinagar, officials said today.

CRPF spokesman in Srinagar said, “A CRPF personnel posted at 29 battalion F-Coy at Pathan Chowk area of Srinagar, identified as Biswajit Dutta, fired at himself with his service riffle in a bathroom. He died on the spot.”

The spokesman added that his colleagues rushed to the spot to take Biswajit to the hospital, but he succumbed.

“An inquiry has been ordered to find out the reason that led him to take this extreme step,” the spokesman said.

Today’s incident comes just three days after a CRPF man posted at a hotel in Dalgate area of Srinagar accidentally shot himself with his service riffle. He was critically injured and is battling for life at Army’s 92 base hospital in Srinagar.

On July 6, two Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) men were killed in a fratricidal incident in a court complex in Kulgam district of south Kashmir. The duo had resorted to an argument before shooting themselves dead with their services riffles.

Earlier on May 12, two CRPF personnel committed suicide by shooting themselves with their service rifles in two separate incidents at south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

On the same day, a CRPF Assistant Sub-Inspector, Bengali Babu, committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at his 49th battalion camp in Srinagar. Furthermore, on March 21, a CRPF man posted outside Civil Secretariat Srinagar, had committed suicide by shooting himself with his service riffle.

The rise in suicide cases among CRPF men has, however been directly linked with the prevailing pandemic as it is evident by the suicide notes left by a couple of CRPF men who took extreme step. A suicide note of one of the CRPF men who shot himself dead read: “I am afraid, I may be Corona positive…. Better to die.”

A senior CRPF official told NVI that every incident is followed by an internal inquiry but one of the main reasons why “boys are taking extreme step” is that they are not able to go on leave and meet their families. “Back home, their families are worried too, which increases mental pressure for the boys on duty in Kashmir, which is a challenging place. Even though, regular counseling sessions are being given to the CRPF men in the morning and evening, still the level of pressure on their minds remains due to coronavirus outbreak,” he said.

-CHK

Coronavirus deaths surpass 6 lakh-mark globally; cases exceed 14.4 million

New Delhi (NVI): The number of deaths from the coronavirus around the world has surpassed 6,05,000, with the United States being the worst-affected country. There are over 14.4 million confirmed cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The US reported at least 67,574 new coronavirus cases and at least 877 new deaths in the country in the last 24 hours. With this, the total number of coronavirus cases have exceeded 3.7 million while the death toll has crossed 1,40,000 in the country.

In Brazil, the total number of infections is nearing 2.1 million meanwhile the number of fatalities are nearing 80,000 in the Latin American country.

Several banks in Hong Kong closed branches or curtailed their working hours on Monday after a spike in the number of new coronavirus cases over the weekend, with 100 infections reported in a 24-hour period – the most since the pandemic began in January.

In China, number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Xinjiang’s city of Urumqi continues to rise, with another 17 reported on Monday, bringing the total in China’s latest outbreak to at least 47.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 249 to 201,823, while the reported death toll rose by two to 9,086, the tally showed.

Australia’s second-most populous state of Victoria on Monday recorded one death from the new coronavirus and logged 275 cases of infections compared with 363 cases a day earlier.

-CHK

Maha minister tests corona positive

New Delhi (NVI): Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Aslam Shaikh today tested positive for coronavirus, becoming the fourth top minister from the state to have contracted the deadly virus.

Shaikh, took to twitter to inform, “This is to inform that I’ve tested positive for COVID-19. I’m currently asymtomatic and isolating myself.” he tweeted.

He also request all those who have come in close contact with me to get themselves tested. “I will continue to work from home to serve the people of my state.”

Aslam Shaikh, the Cabinet Minister for Textiles, Port, Fisheries and also the Guardian Minister of Mumbai City.

Earlier, other ministers – Dhananjay Munde and Jitendra Awhad and Ashok Chavan had tested positive. However, all three were discharged after making a full recovery.

Maharashtra continues to remain the worst affected state in the country as tally crosses 3.1 lakh cases with over 10,690 deaths, as per Health Ministry data.

-RJV

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

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