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Coronavirus cases surge past 11.4 million worldwide

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 11.4 million people around the world have been diagnosed with coronavirus while 5,33,781 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University tally.

In the US, the total number of cases have surpassed 2.8 million while the death toll is nearing 1,30,000 due to the deadly contagion in the country.

Meanwhile, officials in Texas are warning that hospitals in the United States state could soon be overwhelmed if coronavirus cases continue to surge.

Brazil, second only to the US in Covid-19 cases and deaths, has surpassed 1.5 million coronavirus cases.

Mexico now has 30,639 deaths, the fifth highest in the world, overtaking France. While the total number of cases in the country has exceeded 2,55,000.

Peru has jumped past 3,00,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the fifth-highest in the world. The country’s death toll from the virus now stands at 10,589, the 10th-highest in the world.

About 3,000 people were suddenly put under a hard lockdown in Melbourne, Australia, after a spike in cases led to fears of a second wave.

In Iran, a record 163 people have died in the past 24 hours, higher than any daily figure in the country over the course of the pandemic so far.

-CHK

India becomes third worst-hit country; coronavirus tally nears 7 lakh

covid cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India has now become the third-worst affected country after surpassing Russia in terms of the total number of coronavirus cases. The country reported 24,248 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 6,97,413.

The death toll due to the virus rose to 19,693, with 425 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry said.

As many as 4,24,432 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far.

With 2,06,619 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu with 1,11,151 cases and Delhi with 99,444 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 8,822, followed by 1,943 in Gujarat.

The death toll in Delhi rose to 3,067, while 71,339 patients in the national capital have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

The other worst affected states are Gujarat (36,037) Uttar Pradesh (27,707) and West Bengal (22,126) and Rajasthan (20,164).

Meanwhile, the Kerala government made it mandatory to follow the safety regulations for coronavirus pandemic till July 2021,  which includes wearing face masks or covers and social distancing.

Apart from this, monuments in and around Agra, including the Taj Mahal, are not reopening from today, amid a rise in the number of coronavirus cases.

-RJV

India, Afghanistan sign 5 MoUs for developing edu infra in 4 Afghan provinces

New Delhi (NVI): India and Afghanistan today signed five agreements for the development of educational infrastructure in four Afghan provinces of Nooristan, Farah, Badakhshan and Kapisa, in a further expansion of development partnership cooperation.

The moves is seen as a reiteration of India’s support to Afghanistan at a time when the war-torn country’s peace process is facing challenges.

“#India & #Afghanistan further expanded Development Partnership cooperation by signing of 5 MoUs for development of educational infrastructure in 4 Afghan provinces namely Nooristan, Farah, Badakhshan and Kapisa,” the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan said in a tweet.

The five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed under the high impact community development projects (HICDP) programme being implemented by India to further strengthen the bilateral development partnership, read an official statement by the Indian Embassy in Kabul.

“Since 2001, India has undertaken projects worth $3 billion in Afghanistan, including $1 billion pledged in 2016 under the new development partnership scheme over the period of five years. These projects are part of India’s commitment to assist Afghanistan emerge as a peaceful, united, prosperous and pluralistic nation”, the statement read.

Projects under the MoU signed today come within the purview of HICDP Scheme. Since 2005, GOI has committed USD 200 million to support over 550 projects throughout Afganistan under HICDP, the Indian embassy said. Of these, over 400 projects have been completed while the remaining are under various stages of implementation, it added.

The ceremony was presided over by the Afghan minister of economy, Mustafa Mastoor. Tripartite agreements were signed between the Indian government, the Afghan ministry of economy and the implementing ministries, such as the ministry of education.

The MoUs were signed by Indian ambassador Vinay Kumar and ministers Mustafa Mastoor and Abdul Tawab Balakarzai, while three were signed by Kumar and ministers Mastoor and Rangina Hamidi.

-ARK

Pak violates ceasefire along LoC in J&K’s Poonch

Ceasefire
Representational image

Jammu (NVI): In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistan army today resorted to unprovoked firing in Balakore sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, defence sources said.

“…at about 1945 hours, Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with Small Arms & intense shelling with Mortars along LoC in Balakote sector, District Poonch (J&K),” defence officials said, adding that Indian Army is retaliating befittingly.

Yesterday also, Pakistan resorted to intense shelling in forward areas along LoC in Poonch.

(More details awaited)

Govt blocks 40 websites of banned group Sikhs for Justice

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology today banned 40 websites of banned pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) that had launched an online campaign for registering supporters for its cause.

The Ministry has issued an order in this regard under section 69 of IT Act, 2000 on the recommendation of MHA. Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) is an unlawful organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

“Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), an unlawful organization under the UAPA, 1967, launched a campaign for registering supporters for its cause. On recommendation of MHA, MeitY has issued orders under sec. 69 A of the I.T. Act, 2000, for blocking 40 websites of SFJ,” the Home Ministry spokesperson tweeted.

The home ministry had banned SFJ for its alleged anti-national activities last year. The SFJ pushed for Sikh Referendum 2020 as part of its separatist agenda. The US-based organisation had declared July 4 as the inaugural day for registration of referendum on Khalistan.

The Centre has blocked a Russian portal which was used by SFJ for online voter registration for “Referendum 2020” to demand for Khalistan, which seeks a separate homeland for the Sikhs.

The MeitY order came four days after MHA declared nine individuals as designated terrorists under provisions of amended UAPA Act, for trying to revive militancy in Punjab.

According to the ministry, out of nine individuals, four belong to Pakistan-based terrorist organisations. They include Wadhawa Singh Babbar, chief of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI); Lakhbir Singh, who heads International Sikh Youth Federation; Ranjeet Singh, chief of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZB) and Paramjit Singh, who leads Khalistan Commando Force.

-ARK

WATCH | Foundation of Hindu temple vandalised in Islamabad


In this video, a person can be seen vandalising the boundary wall of an under-construction Hindu temple in Islamabad. The construction work of Krishna temple in the Pakistan capital has been halted by Hindu Panchayat following strong opposition from some religious and extremist groups. Read story

Construction of Hindu temple not allowed in Islamabad

The ceremony for the temple was performed recently by Parliamentary Secretary on Human Rights Lal Chand Malhi.

New Delhi (NVI): The construction of a temple in Islamabad has been reportedly stopped by Pakistan’s Capital Development Authority (CDA) amid protests by some religious groups who have said that building of a temple in the capital is against the country’s ideology, according to media reports.

The leaders of several religious parties held a joint press conference in Islamabad recently and said that building a temple on the taxes of Muslims can’t be tolerated in Pakistan, reported The Nation.

CDA has said that the construction was stopped for not having an approved building plan, according to media reports.

However, a video has gone viral on social media, showing a person vandalising the boundary wall of the structure. The video has claimed that this is the Krishna temple in Islamabad whose construction work has been halted by Hindu Panchayat.

In another tweet, Human Rights activist Kapil Dev has shared snapshots of Twitter posts by the person who has allegedly vandalised the temple structure. The person identified as Malik Shani Awan has proudly claimed to have demolished the foundation of the temple.


At the joint press conference by religious groups held on June 1, the Chief of Jamiat Ulema e Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Islamabad chapter Maulana Abdul Hameed Hazarvi said that they were going to raise the issue in the Shariat Court, The Nation reported.

He also targeted the Imran Khan-led government, saying that it has lost its way as they had spent billions on Kartarpur Corridor and now they were going to build a temple in the capital city of the country.

Also present on the occasion, Maulana Tanvir Alvi said that all the sects of Islam were agreed upon a point that no temple or church can be built in a Muslim country. Although he said that the old and existing temples and churches can be repaired when needed.

The religious affairs ministry of Pakistan has also echoed similar concern stating that it only helped renovate places of worship belonging to religious minorities and did not build new ones, reported The Dawn.

A joint team of the CDA’s enforcement and building control departments reached the site of the temple in H-9/2 area On Friday, and directed workers to stop constructing the boundary wall.

The Hindu Panchayat Islamabad stopped the work and has decided to approach the CDA tomorrow to seek permission for commencing the construction.

According to media reports, Pakistan PM Imran Khan has earlier approved grants of Rs100 million for the building of the temple in Islamabad. In 2017, the PML-N government had allotted almost 20,000 square feet land for the temple but the construction was delayed due to administrative issues, reported The Nation.

As per plans, the Krishna temple will come up in a 20,000 sq ft plot in Islamabad’s H-9 administrative division. The ceremony for the temple was performed recently by Parliamentary Secretary on Human Rights Lal Chand Malhi. Reportedly, this is the first Hindu temple in the Pakistan capital.

Islamabad has a Hindu population of around 3,000. A large number of doctors form this population, besides government and private sector employees and members of the business community.

Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan but they are struggling to survive amid constant threats from certain religious and extremist groups.

This is not the first instance of a Hindu temple being vandalised in Pakistan. All idols of Hindu Gods were destroyed in a local temple at Golarchi area of Badin in Sindh-Pakistan last month, as 102 Hindu men, women and children were converted to Islam in Badin district.

In January this year, a Hindu temple was vandalised by miscreants in Pakistan’s Sindh. The attackers entered the Mata Rani Bhatiyani temple in Chachro, Tharparkar, and desecrated holy scriptures and idol. The mob also blackened the face of the goddess’ idol.

-ARK

In a first, 2 terrorists killed in J&K’s Kulgam test positive for Covid-19

Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today said that the samples of two militants killed at Areh village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district yesterday were sent for Covid-19 testing, the results of which came as positive today. It said the burials of slain militants will need extra care and handling from now.

This is for the first time that two slain militants have been tested positive for Covid-19. In a statement issued here, a police spokesman said that while carrying out the medico-legal formalities, the samples of two slain militants were taken and sent for Covid-19 test.

“Today, the test reports were received from Chest Diseases Hospital, Srinagar and both the slain militants were confirmed as coronavirus positive,” the spokesman said.

Pertinently, since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, to ensure the safety of people from the inherent risk of contracting the infection, the burial of all the slain militants is being carried out at designated places – Handwara in Kupwara district and Baramulla district.

The police spokesman said that medico-legal formalities are strictly followed in respect of such slain militants which include post-mortem, DNA and Covid-19 tests.

As part of the extra care to be maintained with the bodies of slain militants, they would be handled through protective care ambulances and would be buried strictly as per Covid-19 protocol at Baramulla and Handwara, he said.

Police sources said that an advisory has been issued to all the policemen especially the parties that take part in counter-insurgency operations to follow the proper Covid-19 guidelines while dealing with the slain militants. This year so far, 120 militants have been killed and since the outbreak of pandemic in March, 70 militants were killed, most of them locals.

After the outbreak of the pandemic, police decided not to hand over bodies of local militants killed in encounters to their family members and instead ensure their “silent burial” either at Handwara or in Baramulla districts in presence of a magistrate and a few close family members.

-ARK

J&K: Chhari-Mubarak rituals held at Pahalgam to formally start Amarnath Yatra

Mahant Deependra Giri

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Chhari-Mubarak rituals were held in Pahalgam today to mark the traditional commencement of annual Amarnath Yatra.

Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the holy mace of Lord Shiva announced the schedule for the Chhari-Mubarak rituals for this year’s Amarnath Yatra on the occasion and said the pilgrimage will be “a low-key affair” in view of COVID-19 pandemic. He said that everybody including pilgrims and citizens of J&K must help the UT government to ensure smooth pilgrimage and effective following of Covi-19 rules.

Talking to reporters in Srinagar on the occasion of Chari-Mubark rituals, Mahant Deependra Giri said, “It would be a great challenge to manage social distancing amongst the pilgrims, who come from across the country, and workers in the langars even if yatra is curtailed to a period of two to three weeks from July 22.”

The Mahant said that he was sure that the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) and the state administration have been working collectively to devise a mechanism to conduct this year’s yatra that will be safe for everyone.

“In case we continue to witness spike in cases in the weeks to come, then performing rituals connected with annual pilgrimage at the holy cave or any other desired place would only be possible taking aerial route,” he said.

Giving details of the Chhari-Mubarak pooja, he said that as per traditions, ‘Bhoomi-Pujan’, ‘Navgrah Pujan’ and ‘Dhawajarohan’ rituals, that mark the commencement of the Amarnath Yatra, will be performed at Pahalgam on the auspicious occasion of ‘Ashad-Purnima’ on July 5 (today).

After performing the Chhari-Pujan at Dashnami Akhara Srinagar on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ on July 25, Mahant Giri will carry the holy mace to the holy shrine of Swami Amarnath to have ‘Darshan’ on ‘Shravan-Purnima’ on August 3.

Covid-19 vaccine development process as per global norms: ICMR

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian Council of Medical Research has said that its process to develop indigenous Covid-19 vaccine is as per the globally accepted norms and that the August-15 deadline to launch the vaccine has been set to expedite the process in the wake of an emergency health crisis.

The ICMR in a press release yesterday said that it has kept the safety and interest of the people of India as topmost priority in the vaccine development process. The council said that an inactivated Covid-19 vaccine candidate has been developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR- National Institute of Virology, Pune.

“As the entire world is battling the COVID-19 pandemic, the development of an effective vaccine is a promising tool to save lives. Though a large number of vaccines are under various stages of development all across the world, it is also important to promote indigenous vaccine development while at the same time ensuring safety, quality, ethics and adherence to all regulatory requirements,” ICMR said in the release.

It said that after intense characterisation and review of all data from BBIL (Bharat Biotech International Ltd), it is supporting the clinical development as the vaccine candidate appears to be promising.

“Based on in-depth scrutiny of the available data from pre-clinical trials, the Drugs Controller General of India has accorded permission to conduct phase 1 and 2 clinical trial,” it said.

The apex body further stated that it is important to expedite the clinical trials with a promising indigenous vaccine. Defending its stand on the deadline, the body said, “Faced with the unprecedented nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the consequent dislocation of the normal life, all other vaccines across the globe have been similarly fast-tracked.”

It said phase 1 and 2 human trials are to be initiated as the preclinical trials have been completed successfully now. The council further stated in the release that the letter by DG-ICMR to investigators of the clinical trial sites was “meant to cut unnecessary red tape, without bypassing any necessary process, and speed up recruitment of participants.”

“Just as red tape was not allowed to become a hindrance in the fast track approval of new indigenous testing kits or for introducing in the Indian market potential COVID-19 related drugs, the indigenous vaccine development process has also been sought to be insulated from slow file movement. The aim is to complete these phases at the earliest, so that population-based trials for efficacy could be initiated without delay,” it added.

-ARK

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