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Baushuan Ger is Taiwan’s new ambassador to India

Baushuan Ger

New Delhi (NVI): Senior Taiwanese diplomat Baushuan Ger has been named as the country’s new representative to India, reports the Taiwan News.

Baushuan has replaced Tien Chung-kwang who has been promoted to the post of deputy foreign minister. Tien, who has served as Taiwan representative to India for more than seven years, will now be replacing Hsu Szu-chien as deputy foreign minister. Hsu is currently serving as deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC).

“Not only does such an arrangement convey approval for Tien’s performance as Taiwan’s representative to India over the past seven years, but it also suggests that the relationship with India is likely to become one of Taiwan’s most important diplomatic priorities in the future,” Taiwan news website reported yesterday.

Notably, India doesn’t have full and formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, under the “One China policy.” In 1995, Taiwan established the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC) in New Delhi as its government’s representative office in India.

The appointment of a new ambassador to India by Taiwan also comes amid the border stand-off with China. India has been recently upgrading its ties with Taiwan as China has been threatening to attack the country.

China is reportedly eyeing the Dongsha Islands of Taiwan, which are a group of strategically important atolls 310 kms southeast of Hong Kong. Taiwan has deployed its Marine Corps to the islands for training and defence.

The Chinese military has increased its activity around Taiwan recently, prompting a wary Taiwan to step up its military preparedness, including through deployment of assets to prevent Chinese troops from entering by sea.

At such a time, when China has emerged as a threat to the two countries over territorial disputes, the bolstering of India-Taiwan relations can be of strategic importance to the two countries for balancing the power equation in the region.

-RJV/ARK

India’s Covid-19 tally nears 8 lakh; death toll at 21,604

New Delhi (NVI): India’s coronavirus infection tally has crossed the 7.9 lakh-mark and stands at 7,93,802, with the confirmation of 26,506 new cases in last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry said.

The death toll in the country stood at 21,604 with 475 new fatalities being reported in the past 24 hours.

As many as 4,95,513 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far.

In terms of total number of cases, Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state with 2,30,599 coronavirus cases followed by Tamil Nadu with 1,26,581 and Delhi with 1,07,051 positive cases.

The other worst affected states are Gujarat (39,194) Uttar Pradesh (32,362) Rajasthan (22,563) and West Bengal (25,911).

In terms of deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 9,667 fatalities, ministry said.

The death toll in the national capital surged to 3,258 while another 82,226 patients have recovered so far, healthy ministry data shows.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced lockdown from 10 pm today to 5 am on 13 July, amid rising cases of coronavirus in the state.

Apart from that, the Delhi government said that it will offer Rapid Antigen Detection tests at all state dispensaries and polyclinics between 9 am and noon. This is an effort to ramp up testing.

-RJV

J&K: 4 pregnant women, 3 SSB personnel among 240 new cases; tally 9,501

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 240 fresh Covid-19 cases including four pregnant women and three Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel, taking the tally in the UT to 9501.

Officials said that among new cases, which were detected in J&K, 60 were tested positive at SKIMS, 14 at JVC Bemina and rest at other hospitals. “The new cases include four pregnant women and three SSB personnel,” they said.

Among 240 new cases, 185 belong to Kashmir division while 55 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 7504 including 4276 recoveries and 140 deaths while the total number of positive cases in Jammu has reached to 1997 including 1419 recoveries and 14 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in the UT is 3652 including 3088 from Kashmir and 564 from Jammu.

With 128 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 5695 which is 59.94 percent of the total cases which was over 63 percent a few days before.

The new cases tested positive in J&K include 58 from Srinagar, 2 from Kulgam, 37 from Baramulla, 7 from Shopian, 8 from Anantnag, 32 from Kupwara, 04 from Pulwama, 18 from Budgam, 05 from Bandipora and 14 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 55 from Jammu division include 12 from Jammu, 04 from Kuthua, 09 from Samba, 05 from Poonch, 18 from Rajouri, 03 from Doda and 04 from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 306,434 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 38939 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 3652 persons are in hospital isolation while 44 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 217,932 persons have completed the surveillance period and 45,713 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 429,787 samples are available out of which 420,286 tested negative while 9501 have been tested positive. Among positive cases, 3652 are active and 5695 persons have recovered while 154 persons have died.

-ARK

India assessing legal options in Kulbhushan Jadhav case: MEA

Kulbhushan Jadhav
Kulbhushan Jadhav. (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): A day after India hit out at Pakistan over its claims that Kulbhushan Jadhav had refused to file a review petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against his conviction on charges of spying, the Ministry of External Affairs today said that the Indian Government is assessing options to protect the former Navy officer.

“At this stage, we are assessing our legal options.  We will do our utmost to protect the life of the Indian national,” MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava said today.

Yesterday, the Ministry of external affairs said that Jadhav has been sentenced to execution through a “farcical trial”. The MEA’s reaction came hours after Pakistan said that Jadhav has refused to file a review petition and wants to proceed with his pending mercy petition.

Pakistan has also claimed that it has offered a second round of consular access to the 49-year-old Indian Navy officer, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of “espionage and terrorism” in April 2017.

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.

“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 said yesterday in response to a question on the case.

Jadhav, a former Navy officer, is on a death row on charges of espionage by the Pakistan military court in 2017.

-ARK

Indian news channels banned in Nepal, except Doordarshan

Nepal

New Delhi (NVI): Cable operators in Nepal have banned all private Indian news channels, except Doordarshan amid a massive criticism among the top leaders of the Himalayan country over the coverage of Nepalese leadership.

The foreign channel distributors in Nepal have decided to block all news channels from India, while exempting Doordarshan.

The decision came hours after Nepal’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada said, “the government would seek political and legal remedies against the Indian media for disseminating news that jeopardizes the nation, nationality, sovereignty and self-respect of Nepalis.”

“We also request not to disseminate news that infringes sovereignty and self-respect of Nepalis,” he said, “This includes the media of neighboring countries. We might seek both political and legal remedies,” said Khatiwada during a press conference in Kathmandu.

Several leaders in Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli’s government have alleged that many of these Indian channels indulged in “character assassination” of Nepalese leaders, including the Oli, and of the Chinese envoy to Nepal, Ambassador Hou Yanqi.

However, no official order has been issued by the Nepalese government in this regard as of yet.

Relations between India and Nepal have recently suffered after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand in May.

Nepal reacted sharply on the move, saying that the 80-km-long road stretch passed through Nepalese territory. India has rejected the claim while reiterating that the road lies completely within its territory.

The tensions between the two countries further grew when Nepal launched its new map after a constitutional amendment, which includes some Indian territories in the Himalayan region.

-ARK

Noida to get 162 new charging stations for electric vehicles soon

electric vehicles

New Delhi (NVI): Noida will soon get 162 charging stations for electric vehicles (EV) as Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), has signed an agreement with Noida authority to promote electric vehicles and install public EV charging stations, and related infrastructure.

The partnership will also facilitate the creation of an infrastructural ecosystem to accelerate e-mobility uptake as the nation emerges from the lockdown post COVID-19 pandemic, read an official statement.

As part of the agreement, Noida authority has been sanctioned 162 Public EV Charging Stations (PCS) comprising 54 Bharat DC001 (15kW) and 108 122kW Fast Chargers under the FAME India Scheme Phase-II of Department of Heavy Industry (DHI). EESL is the selected organization for deployment of public charging stations in NOIDA City.

The agreement was signed by NOIDA Authority and Amit Kaushik, Executive Director (Growth), EESL in the presence of Ritu Maheshwari, CEO, NOIDA Authority.


Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony, Ritu Maheshwari, CEO, NOIDA, said, “Developing a sustainable landscape with strong supporting EV infrastructure is the key to cultivating consumer confidence in electric vehicles. This will significantly enhance consumer convenience as well. With increasing penetration of EVs, the local pollutants emission levels are also expected to reduce, leading to cleaner air and several public health benefits.”

Amit Kaushik, ED, EESL said, “Electric Vehicles (EVs) are at the forefront of the world’s agenda to move towards a sustainable future and EESL is proud to be progressively leading initiatives to promote EV adoption in India under its national e-mobility programme. We are pleased to partner with NOIDA authority to co-create synergies to set up Public EV Charging Infrastructure in Noida.”

So far, EESL has installed 20 EV chargers, 13 are commissioned and 7 are under commissioning. These EV chargers have been installed around the prominent places of Noida such as the ganga shopping complex (Sector 29), near the electronic city metro station (Sector 63), opposite shopprix mall (Sector 61), near RTO office (Sector 33), Advant Chowk (Sector 142) and main market of Sector 50 to name a few.

With its innovative model of demand aggregation and bulk procurement, EESL receives electric vehicles and chargers at a significantly discounted rate vis-à-vis the actual market value. Further, with access to low cost funds, the overall cost of project becomes competitive. With this, EESL has established a sustainable business model which is affordable for end consumers.

NOIDA authority is constantly working to make the city cleaner, greener, and more sustainable. It has been at the forefront in establishing the public charging infrastructure and spurring the e-mobility adoption in the city.

-ARK

SKIMS becomes first hospital in Kashmir to start plasma therapy

J&K Govt bans private practice by all SKIMS medical professionals
SKIMS, Srinagar (File)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): In a major achievement, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, a COVID designated hospital in Srinagar, has conducted its first successful plasma therapy for the virus affected patients.

The hospital started Convalescent Plasma Therapy (CPT) for critically sick patients as one of the modalities of supportive treatment of the deadly infection, approved by Centre as well as the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).

Dr. Sajad Bhat, a 3rd year Post Graduate resident from General Medicine department—who recovered from the illness after he was tested positive, was the first one to donate plasma for the noble cause at SKIMS. The procedure was conducted in collaboration with the Blood Transfusion & Immuno-Hematology Department.

Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent at SKIMS said that they have started Plasma Therapy on a trial basis. “We have given it to three patients,” he said. Dr Jan said that the mode of treatment is being enhanced and more and more manpower is being adjusted for this service, based on the clinical judgment and the status of the patients in need of such treatment.

He further added that they are procuring more equipment required for the therapy, which is expected to arrive next week. Asked whether the therapy will be useful or not, he said that it is premature to say anything as of now as the patients who were given the therapy, will tell the impact themselves.

“Hopefully, this will prove useful as we have seen in different countries including that this therapy has shown promising results,” he said. “This treatment in itself has some advantages, though very little disadvantages. But it has to be carried out meticulously. The staff is being trained for this service.”

Director, SKIMS, Dr AG Ahanger has lauded the therapy team for their efforts while saying that SKIMS will touch new heights in medical research and interventional medicine.

Pertinently, a high-level committee headed by Dr Muhammad Sultan Khuroo, an 80-year-old medical expert in epidemiology, which was constituted on June 15, has also recommended to the higher-ups to start plasma therapy in J&K.

“Plasma method has a simple premise. The blood of people who have recovered from an infection contains antibodies. The antibodies are molecules that have learned to recognise and fight the pathogens, such as viruses, that have caused disease,” said a doctor at SKIMS.

He said that doctors can separate plasma, one of the blood components that contain such antibodies, and administer it to patients whose bodies are currently fighting the infectious disease. “This can help their immune systems reject the pathogen more efficiently,” he added.

-ARK

Soldier, woman injured as terrorists target Army ambulance at J&K’s Pulwama

Indianapolis
Representational Image

Srinagar (NVI): In yet another cowardly attack by terrorists, a soldier and a woman were injured after an army ambulance they were traveling in, was fired upon at Ladhoo area of Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said today.

The ambulance was fired upon at Ladhoo area at around 6:30 pm by the militants, in which a soldier and a woman received minor injuries, they said.

“Militants fired upon an Army vehicle at Ladhoo, Pampore in which one Army personnel and lady received minor injury. She has been discharged from hospital after treatment,” Kashmir zone police wrote on its official Twitter handle.

“An ambulance with QRT moving from Khrew was fired upon by terrorists from near a Mosque at Laddoo Mor, Lethpora, Awantipora at 6 PM. One soldier injured, evacuated to 92 BH, stable. One civil lady sustained injuries in the crossfire, stable. Area being searched,” Srinagar based Army’s Chinar Corps also wrote on Twitter.

A police official said that the woman had minor splinter injuries in her head and was immediately referred to Sub-District Hospital Pampore, where she was treated and later discharged. “She had received mild injury in her head,” the official said. He said that the injured soldier was shifted to Army’s 92 base hospital in Srinagar where his condition was stated as stable.

Meanwhile, joint teams of security forces cordoned off the area and launched a massive search operation to nab the attackers.

-ARK

Indian troops have always taken a responsible approach at LAC: Doval tells Wang Yi

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

New Delhi (NVI): Indian troops had always taken a very responsible approach towards border management and at the same time, the forces were deeply committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and security, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval told Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi at Special Representative level talks held recently, says MEA.

The SR-level talks were held on July 5 between NSA Doval and Wang Yi on the recent developments in the western sector of the India-China borders, which has witnessed the withdrawal of Chinese troops in Galwan Valley along LAC, after a long stand-off.

“During the conversation, the NSA conveyed categorically India’s position on the recent developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) including in the Galwan valley area. NSA emphasised in this context that the Indian troops had always taken a very responsible approach towards border management and at the same time, our forces were deeply committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and security,” External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said today.

Apart from that, in the telephonic conversation held on Sunday, the two SRs agreed that peace and tranquility in border areas was essential for the overall development of bilateral relations, the MEA spokesperson said.

“In this regard they also shared the view that it was necessary to ensure at the earliest complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation in the India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquility in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols,” he said.

One of the key provisions of these bilateral agreements is the commitment by two sides shall strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The two SRs have also agreed that the two sides should work together to avoid any incident in the future that could disturb peace and tranquility in border areas, MEA said.

Srivastava further informed that the diplomatic and military officials of both sides will continue their meetings to take forward the process of disengagement and de-escalation as agreed to by the Special Representatives. “The next meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC) is expected to take place soon,” he said.

The MEA spokesman also said that although the disengagement process is underway through proper military and diplomatic channels, there have been some inaccurate and uninformed comments on the issue, which are creating confusion.

“We have also noted that there have been some inaccurate and uninformed comments about the disengagement process and its implications. Let me remind you that in the last few weeks, we have made several statements spelling out categorically the position of the Government on different aspects of the current situation in the Western Sector of India-China border areas,” MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said today.

“They include our position that recent Chinese claims to the Galwan Valley area are exaggerated and untenable; that the LAC must be strictly respected and observed as this is the basis for peace and tranquility in the border areas; and that neither side should take any unilateral action to alter it,” Srivastava said while clarifying on the official stand of
the government over the issue.

He said that the Indian government remains convinced of the need for maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. “At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.

Earlier on Monday, MEA had said that NSA Doval had a “frank and in-depth exchange of views” with Wang Yi yesterday, on the recent developments in the western sector of the India-China borders.

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 earlier this week, the PLA removed tents and dismantled its structures in the disputed area.

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

COVID cases in Afghanistan decreased by 40% as tally reaches 33,908

New Delhi (NVI): With the confirmation of 314 new cases, Afghanistan’s coronavirus infection tally has reached 33,908 today, according to Afghan media reports.

The Afghan Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said, death toll due to the virus stands at 957 with 20 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours.

Therefore, the number of positive coronavirus cases in Afghanistan has fallen by 30 to 40 per cent, said Ahmad Jawad Osmani, the acting Minister of Public Health (MoPH).

He stressed that this was possible due to the help of the public and it took a month and half for the cases to decrease, according to laboratory statistics. However the number of positive COVID-19 cases have decreased, Afghanistan is still in a state of crisis.

Meanwhile, it is also noted that the laboratories have been consistently testing fewer samples than the 2,000 a day, the ministry said.

In addition, Osmani said that the MoPH had acquired 500 oxygen generators and would hopefully, be able to solve the shortage of oxygen soon.

So far, 20,841 patients have been cured and discharged in the country.

-RJV

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