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TMC MLA, who tested positive, dies

New Delhi (NVI): Trinamool Congress legislator Tamonash Ghosh, who tested positive for the coronavirus disease in May died today morning. He was 60.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled his death in a tweet.

Taking over to twitter, Mamta Banerjee wrote, “Very, very sad. Tamonash Ghosh, 3-time MLA from Falta & party treasurer since 1998 had to leave us today. Been with us for over 35 years, he was dedicated to the cause of the people & party. He contributed much through his social work,”

In another tweet Banerjee said, “He has left a void that will be difficult to fill. On behalf of all of us, heartfelt condolences to his wife Jharna, his two daughters, friends and well wishers, she added.

The three-time MLA from the Falta assembly constituency was undergoing treatment for coronavirus after he was admitted to Apollo Hospital on May 23. He also had several complications related to the heart and the kidney.

-RJV

COVID-19 cases in India exceed 4.56 lakh; death toll at 14,476

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus cases in India saw the highest single-day rise of 15,968 in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 4,56,183, Union Health Ministry said.

The death toll due to the virus rose to 14,476, with 465 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours.

So far, 2,58,684 patients have recovered all over the country.

With, 1,39,010 positive cases Maharashtra remains the worst hit state in the country, followed by Delhi with 66,602 cases and Tamil Nadu which has reported 64,603 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 6,531, followed by 1,710 in Gujarat and 833 in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital rose to 2,301, while 39,313 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

The other states with high virus included are Gujarat (28,371), Uttar Pradesh (18,893), Rajasthan (15,627) and West Bengal (14,728).

Meanwhile, Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali launched an Ayurvedic medicine yesterday claiming it benefits in treating coronavirus. In addition, the AYUSH Ministry later asked Haridwar-based company to present all details regarding its claims.

-RJV

J&K: 24 soldiers, minor among 148 new Covid cases, tally at 6,236

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

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 148 fresh coronavirus positive cases including 25 soldiers and a minor, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 6,236.

Officials said that among the 148 new cases, 74 were tested positive at SKIMS, 33 at CD hospital, 8 at JVC Bemina and rest at other hospitals.

Among 148 new cases, 128 belong to Kashmir division while 20 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 4,840 including 2,769 recoveries and 77 deaths while the total number of positive cases in Jammu has reached 1,396 including 873 recoveries and 10 deaths

“There were 25 soldiers and a minor boy who tested positive for the deadly virus,” they said.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in J&K is 2,507 including 1,994 from Kashmir and 513 from Jammu. With 111 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 3,642 which is 58.41 percent of the total cases.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 16 from Kulgam, 28 from Srinagar, 6 from Anantnag, 16 from Baramulla, 7 from Kupwara, 45 from Pulwama and 5 each from Bandipora and Ganderbal in Kashmir. 20 from Jammu division include 1 from district Jammu, 5 each from Ramban and Kuthua, 2 each from Udhampur, Samba and Doda and 3 from Reasi.

As per officials figures, 709 positive cases including 11 deaths and 482 recoveries are from Kulgam, 723 including 20 deaths and 226 recoveries from Srinagar, 636 including 423 recoveries and 10 deaths from Shopian, 614 including 6 deaths and 443 recoveries from Anantnag, 633 including 14 deaths and 272 recoveries from Baramulla, 460 including 331 recoveries and 5 deaths from Kupwara, 278 including 229  recoveries and 1 death from Bandipora, 368 including 157 recoveries and 4 deaths from Pulwama, 346 including 148 recoveries and 6 deaths from Budgam, 73 including 59 recoveries from Ganderbal.

In Jammu division, 311 including 233 recoveries and 7 deaths are from Jammu district, 214 including 122 recoveries and 1 death from Udhampur, 213 including 134 recoveries from Ramban, 201 including 115 recoveries from Kathua, 130 including 509 recoveries from Samba, 114 including 85 recoveries from Poonch, 83 including 1 death and 35 recoveries from Rajouri, 70 including 51 recoveries and 1 death from Doda, 35 including 24 recoveries from Reasi and 25 including 15 recoveries from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 2,61,394 persons in the UT are under observation while 39,760 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Apart from that, 2507 persons are in hospital isolation while 29 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 171,923 persons have completed surveillance period and 47,088 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 319,664 samples are available.

Out of 319,664, the number of samples tested negative stands at 313,428 while 6236 have been tested positive. Among them, 2507 are active and 3642 persons have recovered while 87 persons have died.

India denies Chinese media claim that Rajnath may meet his counterpart in Moscow

Rajnath had a meeting with Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov in Moscow today.

New Delhi (NVI): India has rejected the claims made by China’s state-run Global Times regarding a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe in Russia at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow tomorrow.

Sources in the Defence Ministry tonight said that there is no such meeting between Singh and the Chinese defence minister in Moscow, even as the Global Times claimed that the two leaders may hold talks over resolving border tensions.

Tensions are running high between India and China after a deadly clash between the troops of both the countries at Galwan Valley in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in the close combat with the Chinese troops in the region along the Galwan river on June 15.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is currently on a three-day visit to Russia. He has been invited to attend a grand military parade in Moscow to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Germany in World War II and hold talks with the top Russian military officials.

During a press interaction in Moscow today, Rajnath said that his visit to the Russian capital is the first foreign visit from India of an official delegation after the COVID pandemic, and “is a sign of our special friendship.”

“Despite all the difficulties of the pandemic, our bilateral relations are keeping good contacts at the various levels,” he said, adding that India looks forward to the visit of the Russian President Vladimir Putin at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, later this year.

The Defence Minister further stated that India-Russia relations are “one of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”.

“Our defence relationship is one of its important pillars. I had an opportunity to review our defence relationship with Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov and I thank him for the honour for visiting me in this hotel, despite the restrictions of the pandemic. My discussions were very positive and productive.”

“I have been assured that ongoing contracts will be maintained and not just maintained, in a number of cases will be taken forward in a shorter time. All our proposals have received positive response from the Russian side. I am fully satisfied with my discussions,” he added.

Earlier this morning, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar had discussions with his counterpart Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.

Rajnath said that he is confident that the traditional friendship between India and Russia remains strong. “Our mutual interests are solid and we look to future cooperation in the spirit of our special friendship,” he said.

Pertinent to mention here that a tri-service 75-member Indian military contingent will also participate in the grand Victory Day parade in the Red Square tomorrow. The Indian team will participate in the parade alongside armed forces personnel from at least 11 countries, including China.

“Indian soldiers participated in the war effort in the millions and suffered immense causalities. Many of them were part of the war efforts to provide assistance to the Soviet Army. Therefore, it is a great honor that an Indian Military contingent will be marching in the Red Square tomorrow. This is a sign of everlasting friendship between the armed forces of both our countries,” Rajnath said at the press interaction.

-ARK

India not to send Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year amid Covid fears

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian Government today said it will not send Haj pilgrims from the country to Mecca this year, a day after the Saudi Arabia Government announced that a very limited number of people will be allowed to perform it in wake of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing a press conference, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “…honouring the decision of the Saudi Arabia Government because of serious challenges of Corona pandemic and keeping in mind the health and well-being of the people, it has been decided that Muslims from India will not go to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj (1441 H/2020 AD).”

Naqvi said that he received a phone call from Haj and Umrah Minister of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten yesterday and the Saudi Arabia Minister suggested not to send Haj pilgrims from India to Haj for this year.

He said that the Government has decided to refund the application money of pilgrims without any deduction.

“2 lakh 13,000 applications had been received for Haj 2020. The process has been started today to immediately refund full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction. The money will be refunded through online DBT mode into bank accounts of the applicants,” Naqvi said.

The Minister informed that this year, more than 2300 women had applied to perform Haj without Mehram (male companion). “These women will be allowed to go to Haj 2021 on the basis of their application for Haj 2020 only. Besides, women who file new application, will also be allowed to go to Haj next year,” the minister said.

He further said that a total of 2 lakh Indian Muslims had performed Haj in 2019. These pilgrims included 50 per cent women. A total of 3,040 women have performed Haj after the Government ensured Muslim women can perform Haj without Mehram (male companion) in 2018.

In a statement issued last night, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Haj and Umrah said, “Due to Corona pandemic and the risks of Coronavirus spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings, it has been decided that Haj for this year (1441 H/ 2020 AD) will be held whereby a very limited number of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia, would be able to perform it.

“This decision is taken to ensure Haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols.”

-RJV/ARK

After Ladakh, China eyeing Taiwan Islands?

Dongsha Islands (Source: Focus Taiwan)

New Delhi (NVI): At a time when the Chinese Army is locked in a face-off with India in Ladakh, Taiwan is beefing up its security in its Dongsha Islands, amid apprehensions that the Chinese PLA may take control of these.

Taiwan is sending its Marine Corps to these outlying islands in the South China Sea and considering plans to deploy military dirigibles to offshore islands, according to local media reports.

The airships could serve to complement the military’s reconnaissance system by providing early warnings to allow for a swift response to threats.

The proposal comes at a time when Chinese warplanes are menacing Taiwan’s airspace on a regular basis, with at least eight sightings recorded over the past two weeks, the Taiwan News reported.

The “provocative” Chinese manoeuvres have intensified since the coronavirus pandemic began, with one coinciding with an unusual flight by a U.S. military aircraft earlier this month, it said.

The Dongsha Islands are a group of strategically important atolls 310 kms southeast of Hong Kong and are reportedly a target of PLA drills set to take place in August. The Taiwan Marine Corps has been reassigned to the islands for training and defence.

The Taiwan Marine Corps will be reassigned to the Dongsha Islands (Pratas Islands) for short-term training programmes, the report said, quoting the Ministry of National Defence (MND).

Taiwan’s move comes amid heightened concerns over the islands’ combat preparedness following a report by Kyodo News last month that the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command will be conducting a simulated invasion of the islands involving large-scale manoeuvres.

Prior to the year 2000, the Marine Corps was deployed on the Dongsha Islands, armed with two guided-missile equipment carriers and a LAADS (Low-Altitude Aircraft Detection System) air defence radar system. The Coast Guard took over its defences in 2000, when relevant arms were pulled back over maintenance difficulties, report said.

The MND has stressed that Coast Guard personnel will receive adequate training before they are stationed on the islands, and exercises are constantly conducted to ensure their combat readiness, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA).

The lighter-than-air aircraft, planned to be deployed, could be used for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes on the Pengjia Islet in the East China Sea and the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea. The Ministry of National Defence is studying those currently in service in the U.S., Singapore, and the Philippines, reported Up Media.

In order for dirigibles to be deployed around Pengjia Islet, which lies to the north of Taiwan, they must be able to remain aloft for 15 days, with a surveillance range of 200 kilometers.

In the Dongsha Islands to the southwest, the aerostats are expected to hover in the skies for one month, carry equipment weighing up to 1,600 kilograms, and have a surveillance range of 600 km.

The strengthening of defence measures by Taiwan comes at a time when China is locked in a stand-off with India in Ladakh after it transgressed into the Indian territory across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) over a month back. The Chinese actions highlight its expansionist designs.

Puri Rath Yatra: Jagannath temple servitor tests coronavirus positive

Bhubaneshwar (NVI): A servitor of Puri Jagannath Temple has been tested positive for Covid-19 as the seven-day Rath yatra began in the state of Odisha today after Supreme Court allowed the annual chariot festival yesterday while laying some guidelines on the conduct of rituals, in view of the pandemic.

COVID-19 tests of servitors were conducted yesterday as per the SC guidelines and one of them was tested positive and shifted to COVID hospital before the rituals begin, official sources said, adding that contact tracing was underway after the test reports came in.

In a historic first, the rituals for the world’s biggest chariot festival – Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra – began this morning in Odisha’s Puri without public attendance.

Yesterday, the apex court gave a go-ahead to the Odisha Government to make necessary arrangements to conduct the seven-day long chariot festival from today, while keeping in view the necessary Covid protocols including social distancing.

Following the top court’s order, the Puri district administration, temple priests and servitors, civic authorities, officials from the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha made arrangements as per the guidelines issued.

Bangladesh COVID-19 tally tops 1.19 lakh; 1,545 dead

New Delhi (NVI): As Bangladesh is witnessing a spurt in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths, 43 new fatalities were reported in the last 24 hours taking the total death toll to 1,545.

In addition to this, 3,412 new cases were also detected during this period, taking the total number of Covid-19 patients in the country to 1,19,198, according to United News of Bangladesh.

So far, 47,635 people have recovered in the country after 880 more patients were recovered during this period.

The detection rate of new patients was recorded 20.94 percent.

Against the total number of detected cases, the recovery rate is 39.96 percent and the mortality rate is 1.30 percent in the country.

-CHK

India asks Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to reduce staff strength by 50%

New Delhi (NVI): India has decided to reduce the staff strength at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50 per cent, days after two Pakistani officials at the embassy were caught red-handed for their involvement in espionage activities and were deported.

The Indian foreign ministry today summoned the Charge d’ Affaires of Pakistan here and informed that India had repeatedly expressed concern about the activities of officials of his High Commission, the MEA said.

“They have been engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organizations. The activities of the two officials caught red-handed and expelled on 31 May 2020 was one example in that regard,” the MEA said in a statement.

India would reciprocally reduce its own presence in Islamabad to the same proportion. The decision, which is to be implemented in seven days, was conveyed to the Pakistani Charge d’Affaires Haider Shah.

In an official statement, MEA said that While Pakistani officials indulged in actions that are not in conformity with their privileged status in the High Commission, Pakistan has in parallel engaged in a sustained campaign to intimidate the officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad from carrying on their legitimate diplomatic functions.

“The recent abduction at gunpoint of two Indian officials and their severe ill-treatment underlines the extent to which Pakistan has gone in that direction. These officials who have returned to India on 22 June 2020 have provided graphic details of the barbaric treatment that they experienced at the hands of Pakistani agencies,” the foreign ministry said.

The behaviour of Pakistan and its officials is not in conformity with the Vienna Convention and bilateral agreements on the treatment of diplomatic and consular officials. On the contrary, it is an intrinsic element of a larger policy of supporting cross-border violence and terrorism, it added.

-ARK

Coronavirus cases in Pakistan exceed 1.85 lakh; death toll at 3,695

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan has been witnessing a daily surge in the number of coronavirus cases as the tally crossed 1,85,034 today with more than 3,695 deaths.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 71,092 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 68,308 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 22,633 cases, Balochistan is at 9,587, Gilgit-Baltistan at 1,326, Islamabad at 11,219 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 869 cases so far, according to media reports.

So far, nearly 73,471 people have recovered from the deadly contagion in the country.

Meanwhile, as many as 65 medics, most of them doctors, in Pakistan have died of coronavirus and around 5,000 infected so far while battling on the frontline against the deadly disease.

-CHK

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