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Young footballer from Sopore in north Kashmir missing for a week

Amir Siraj, the missing youth

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A 22-year-old footballer from Sopore in Baramulla district of north Kashmir is missing since June 24 and his family members have appealed to the J&K police to help in tracing him.

On June 24, Amir Siraj left his maternal uncle’s home in a Sopore village, as usual, to play a football match in a nearby playfield. However, he had a change of mood and decided not to play, taking his mates by surprise, as he was known as a star footballer in Sopore for his great maneuvering skills and scoring goals.

As the game began and all his friends were in the field, he disappeared within minutes and is missing since then.

His family members are in a deep shock since then and have been continuously appealing their son to return home for the sake of his parents.

“On June 24, Amir left his maternal uncle’s home at Adipora, Sopore. He took his phone along. Since then, there is no trace of him. When contacted, his phone is coming as switched off,” said Amir’s uncle Nazir Ahmed.

He said they searched for him in the neighborhood, but all in vain. “The next day, we called our relatives and friends, but nobody had any clue of his whereabouts,” he said.

“For the sake of God, please don’t leave us like this and return home as soon as possible, we cannot live without you,” appealed Nazir Ahmad amid tears and sobs.

“If he is with any militant outfit, we request them to please send him back to his home. He is very innocent. We don’t have any support except him,” Ahmed said, adding that they have also registered a missing report at the Police Station, Sopore.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore, Javaid Iqbal said that they are investigating the matter. “We can’t jump the gun and can’t draw any conclusion whether he has joined militancy. Let’s wait for some time,” he said.

-ARK

Send intimation of custodial, encounter deaths: NHRC to UTs of J&K, Ladakh

Indianapolis
Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to intimate it about any custodial or encounter deaths as per the laid guidelines in the regard.

As per the NHRC guidelines to all states, a custodial death has to be brought to the Commission’s attention in 24 hours and an encounter death in 48 hours.

NHRC Secretary General, Jaideep Govind has sent a letter to the Chief Secretary of Union Territory of J&K and Commissioner Secretary, Union Territory of Ladakh on June 30, requesting them to pass suitable instructions to the concerned for compliance of all instructions issued by the Commission to send all requisite reports.

These include post-mortem, videography and magisterial enquiry report etc. in all custodial deaths and encounter deaths, NHRC said in a statement.

The NHRC Secretary General has said that the erstwhile State of J&K was not under statutory obligation to follow the mandate of the Commission by sending intimations, in such cases of deaths in custody or encounter, in view of protection given in respect of subjects mentioned in List II of VII Schedule of the Constitution (State subjects) in the PHR Act.

However, after Amendment of PHR Act in the year 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370, there is no prohibition of exercising jurisdiction by the Commission like in all other States and UTs.

“Therefore, it is incumbent upon the UT of J&K to follow the NHRC guidelines issued by the NHRC, India in case of custodial and encounter deaths, happened within the territory of UT of J&K,” the Commission said.

-ARK

Taiwan holds military drill to simulate counter to Chinese invasion

Screen grab from the video by CNA

Taipei/New Delhi (NVI): Apprehending invasion by China, Taiwan is making military preparations to counter the threat and has held a large-scale anti-landing drill simulating its response in this regard.

The Taiwanese military held the exercise in central Taichung City on Thursday, in a live-fire rehearsal ahead of the annual Han Kuang military exercises, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA).

The drill featuring the nation’s armed forces using major weapon systems to respond to a simulation of a Chinese invasion by sea was staged at Jianan Beach at the mouth of Dajia River in central Taiwan.


The exercise involved participation of F-16 fighter jets as well as Taiwan’s Indigenous Defence Fighters (IDFs), Knox-class frigates and the Thunderbolt-2000 artillery multiple launch rocket systems to deter the invading force.

AH-1W Cobra, AH-64E Apache and OH-58D helicopters also took part along with M60A3 tanks, CM-34 Clouded Leopard eight-wheeled armoured vehicles and a number of self-propelled Howitzer artillery, the CNA said quoting the Defence Ministry.

Thursday’s exercises were staged as a rehearsal for the official drill which will take place at the same location on July 16, as part of the five-day live-fire Han Kuang exercises, Taiwan’s most important annual war games.

The exercise this time assumes added significance as Taiwan is apprehending an invasion by China in the near future.

Afghanistan COVID-19 cases climb to 32,022; death toll tops 807

New Delhi (NVI): Afghanistan today witnessed a rise in coronavirus cases with 186 new infections, taking the overall tally to 32,022 across the country, according to Afghan media reports.

The death toll due to the virus rose to 807 with 33 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours.

The Afghan Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said, among the fresh cases reported, Kabul once again was on top with 61 cases followed by Herat with 34 positive cases.

Other provinces which reported cases are
Daikundi (31), Kandahar (6), Balkh (14), Nangarhar (1), Baghlan (3), Logar (7), Kunduz (16), Parwan (6), Wardak (2), Helmand (1), and Ghor (2), as per the reports.

In terms of fatalities, the ministry reported 23 COVID-19 deaths in Kabul, 4 in Parwan, 3 in Takhar, 1 in Nangarhar, 1 in Badghis and 1 in Nimruz.

The ministry also said that, 16,041 people have been recovered from the respiratory disease across the country.

So far, 73,515 people have been tested for coronavirus in the government’s testing centres in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the daily number of tested samples continued to decrease with only 519 checked across the country in past 24 hours, even after the Afghanistan government mobilised the private sector to respond to the pandemic.

-RJV

Pakistan COVID-19 tally exceeds 2.17 lakh; 4,473 dead

COVID-19: Pakistan imposes mini-lockdown in Islamabad

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan reported 4,339 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 2,17,470.

Meanwhile, 78 people lost their lives due to the deadly contagion, taking the total number of fatalities to 4,473.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 86,795 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 77,740 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 26,938 cases, Balochistan is at 10,608, Gilgit-Baltistan at 1,511, Islamabad at 13,082 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 1,135 cases so far, according to media reports.

A total of 1,04,694 patients have recovered from the disease so far, making it almost half of the total cases.

According to the country’s Health Ministry, the number of COVID-19 cases were decreasing due to the ‘smart lockdowns’.

-CHK

Suna Besha: Deities to be decorated with Gold in Odisha’s Puri

Subrat Kumar Sarangi

Bhubaneswar (NVI): With the conclusion of the Bahuda Yatra on Wednesday, the holy deities will be decorated with gold and silver for the ‘Suna Besha’ ritual, in their chariots in Bada Danda of Puri today.

Suna Besha is a special event of Rath Yatra when Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be decorated with Gold ornaments also known as Rajadhiraj Besha.

Unlike every year, the rituals will be performed without the congregation of devotees on the Bada Danda due to the restrictions imposed in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. However, people can watch the event live on television by staying at home.

In total, there are 32 Beshas of deities, Suna Besha is one of the most looked upon by the devotees as it is done in their majestic chariots. This is also known as Bada Thakura Besha. They are loaded with precious stones and in the yellow shine of the Gold from top to bottom.

The deities are adorned with gold ornaments and dressed in their respective chariots parked in front of Singhadwara. The deities hands, arms and crowns are made of solid gold.

Lord Jagannath holds a gold chakra in his right hand and silver conch in his left hand. Lord Balabhadra holds a gold plough in his left hand and a golden mace in his right hand. History says Suna Besha was started during the reign of King Kapilendra Dev in 1460.

As per the centuries-old practice, Rajadhiraja Besha of the sibling deities is performed a day after the Lords come home from a 9-day sojourn at Gundicha Temple.

The chariots of the three Gods are kept in front of the Lion Gate of the Jagannath Temple in Puri.

-CHK

COVID-19: India’s recovery rate to touch 60 per cent; over 3 lakh cured

New Delhi (NVI): The recovery rate in the country is progressively increasing and has reached to 59.52 per cent amongst COVID-19 patients, with 3,59,859 people recovered, Union Health Ministry said today.

In an official statement, the ministry said that timely clinical management of COVID-19 cases has resulted in more than 10,000 daily recoveries. In the last 24 hours, a total of 11,881 COVID-19 patients have been cured, taking the overall tally to 3,59,859.

Currently, there are 2,26,947 active cases and all are under active medical supervision, it said.

As per the “Test, Trace, Treat” strategy, there has been an increase in the samples tested every day with more than 90 lakh samples being tested so far.

In the last 24 hours, 2,29,588 samples were tested. The total number of samples tested so far in the country stands at 90,56,173, the ministry said.

The ministry also informed that the lab network has strengthened in the country through 768 labs in government and 297 in private sector (total 1,065 laboratories).

Out of these labs, 366 government labs and 212 private labs can conduct Real-Time RT PCR based testing.

Similarly, TrueNat based testing can be done by 370 government and 28 private labs and CBNAAT based testing can be conducted in 32 government and 57 private labs, the ministry added.

-RJV

HRD Min forms panel to assess situation for conduct of NEET, JEE exams

Quality education
Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Human Resource Development today asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to give recommendations on conducting competitive exams for medical and engineering courses amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

In this regard, MHRD has formed a panel to review the schedules for the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) — for undergraduate engineering courses—and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) — for undergraduate medical courses — which are slated to be held later this month.

NEET is scheduled to take place on July 26, while, JEE is to be held from July 18-23.

HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal announced the decision in a tweet, saying Director General, National Testing Agency has been asked to look into the issue of whether JEE and NEET-UG can be held this month in light of the COVID pandemic.

Pokhriyal said the panel has been asked to submit a report by Friday.

“Looking at the prevailing circumstances and requests received from students appearing for Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET), a committee consisting of Director General National Testing Agency and other experts has been advised to review the situation and submit its recommendations to the HRD Ministry latest by tomorrow,” Ramesh Pokhriyal said.

Last week, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) canceled the pending board exams scheduled between July 1-15 due to the pandemic situation.

-CHK/ARK

Nepal Covid-19 tally crosses 14,500; death toll 31

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Nepal reported 473 new cases of coronavirus today, taking the national tally to 14,519, according to local media reports.

The Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population said, of the newly infected, 364 are males and 109 females. In total, 12,636 males and 1,883 females have contracted the infection.

In the last 24 hours, 664 people have been discharged from health facilities following recovery, taking the total cases to recovery to 5,320.

As of today, coronavirus has spread to all 77 districts of Nepal, as per the reports.

So far, 2,37,764 sample tests have been performed in Nepal through the PCR, as per the reports.

In various parts of the country, over 38,000 have been quarantined waiting to be tested.

Meanwhile, another COVID-19 related fatality have been confirmed in Nepal today, taking the total death-toll of the disease to 31 in the country.

-RJV

Defence Min approves procurement of 21 Mig-29 and 12 Sukhoi fighter jets

Sukhoi-30 MKI (File)

New Delhi (NVI): In a big boost to the country’s defence capability amid the India-China face-off, the Defence Ministry today approved a proposal to procure 21 MiG-29 fighters from Russia and upgrade 59 existing MiG-29 jets. The Government has also approved the procurement of 12 Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters from HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited).

The major approval also comes amid a long-felt need of the Indian Air Force to increase its fighter squadrons. While the MIG 29 procurement and upgradation from Russia is estimated to cost Rs 7,418 crore, the Su-30 MKI will be procured from HAL at an estimated cost of Rs 10,730 crore.

The major procurement-related decisions were taken in the Defence Acquisition Council meeting held today, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh where he accorded approval for Capital acquisitions of various platforms and equipment required by the Indian Armed Forces in the current situation.

During the meeting, proposals worth Rs 38,900 crore were approved by DAC. Focused on indigenous design and development, these approvals include acquisitions from Indian Industry of Rs 31,130 Cr, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. The equipment will be manufactured in India involving Indian Defence Industry with participation of several MSMEs as prime-tier vendors, it said.

The indigenous content in some of these projects is up to 80 per cent of the project cost. A large number of these projects have been made possible due to Transfer of Technology by DRDO to the Indigenous Industry. These include Pinaka ammunitions, BMP armament upgrades and Software Defined Radios for the Army, Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile Systems and Astra Missiles for Navy and Air Force. The cost of these Design and Development proposals is in the range of Rs 20,400 crore.

The Defence Ministry said that the acquisition of new or additional missile systems will add to the firepower of three services, especially amid a bitter standoff on the Indo-China border in the Ladakh region.

While the acquisition of Pinaka missile systems will enable raising additional regiments over and above the ones already inducted, addition of Long Range Land Attack Missile Systems having a firing range of 1,000 Km to the existing arsenal will bolster the attack capabilities of the Navy and the Air Force, the Ministry said.

Similarly, induction of Astra Missiles having Beyond Visual Range capability will serve as a force multiplier and immensely add to the strike capability of Navy and Air Force.

-ARK

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