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Two civilians injured in Pak shelling along LoC in J&K’s Kupwara

Ceasefire
Representational image

Srinagar (NVI): Two civilians were injured today in yet another ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops in the Tangdhar sector along Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, defence officials said.

The Pakistan army resorted to firing mortars and other weapons in the afternoon, they said, adding that the Indian Army was giving a befitting response.

A police official said that the civilians were injured in at a time when community bunkers’ were being constructed in Semari area of Karnah Sector of the border district.

He said that both the civilians were shifted to SDH Tangdhar, from where they were shifted to Srinagar for advanced treatment.

“Among the two injured one has suffered injury in his belly and has been shifted to SMHS hospital, Srinagar and the other one has received injuries in his foot and has been shifted to bone and joint hospital Barzulla, Srinagar for advanced treatment,” the official said.

Senior superintendent of police Kupwara, Shriram Ambarkar said that two civilians were injured in Karnah sector. “Civilians were targeted by Pakistani rangers during the construction work of community bunkers at Semari village,” he said.

He identified the injured as Zamir Ahmad and Sadaqat, both residents of Semari area of Karnah.

This is the second major ceasefire violation today, the earlier one took place at Balakote sector in Poonch district in the wee hours in which a woman was killed and another was injured.

-ARK

(With inputs from Abid Bashir)

AIIMS-Delhi starts tele-consultation guidance for doctors on Covid management

New Delhi (NVI): In order to strengthen the central government’s efforts to reduce coronavirus mortality, AIIMS, New Delhi, will provide expert guidance and knowledge support to doctors manning ICUs in state hospitals, Union Health Ministry said.

“Tele-consultation is a critical component of the clinical intervention protocol for COVID-19. A specialist team of doctors from AIIMS shall provide guidance on effective clinical management of COVID-19 patients in the ICUs of different state hospitals through tele/video consultation,” a statement released Ministry of Health read.

They will handhold the states in clinical management of COVID-19 patients to reduce the case fatality rate. These tele-consultation sessions, for providing on time and expert guidance to the doctors in the states, shall be conducted twice every week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, the statement further said.

The first session of this exercise begins today. Ten hospitals have been selected, including nine from Mumbai (Maharashtra) and one from Goa. Today’s session will be led by Dr. Anand Mohan, HOD, Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi.

Health Ministry further stated that they have more than 1,000 beds for COVID patients including isolation beds, oxygen supported and ICU beds.

This tele-consultation exercise shall be extended to another 61 hospitals which have bed capacity ranging from 500-1000 on twice a week basis, calendar of these expert-led tele-consultation sessions has been drawn up to cover the states till July 31.

A total of 17 such states shall be covered which includes Delhi, Gujarat, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.

Up to two doctors handling ICU patients from each hospital along with the Director General of health Services (DGHS) of the concerned state will participate in the VC interaction, the statement added.

-RJV/CHK

PM Modi to interact with representatives from Varanasi based NGOs tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the representatives of Varanasi based NGOs who ensured that food was available on time for everyone in need during the coronavirus lockdown.

PM Modi will interact with the residents and NGOs to discuss their exemplary efforts via video conferencing tomorrow.

During COVID-19 lockdown, more than a hundred organizations in VaranasiPM Modi to interact with representatives from Varanasi based NGOs tomorrow distributed almost 20 lakh food packets and 2 lakh dry ration kits through the food cell of the District Administration as well as through individual efforts.

Apart from food distribution, these organizations were instrumental in distribution of masks, sanitizers etc. They have also been honoured as ‘corona warriors’ by the District Administration.

These organizations serve in diverse fields including education, social, religious, health and other professional sectors.

-CHK

UK’s new High Commissioner to India presents credentials to President Kovind

New Delhi (NVI): Philip Barton, UK’s new High Commissioner to India today presented his credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind, in a virtual ceremony.

Philip succeeds Dominic Asquith, who served as High Commissioner to India from April 2016 to January 2020. Jan Thompson, who served as Acting High Commissioner from February to June 2020, has returned to her role as Deputy High Commissioner, the British High Commission said in a statement.

On the occasion, the new UK High Commissioner said that the United Kingdom has a deep commitment to grow the relationship with India further and developing trade and economic partnership, now that the country has left European Union (EU).

“It is the greatest honour and privilege of my diplomatic career to represent the UK in this wonderful country. The UK-India relationship is remarkable and we share an unparalleled breadth and depth of connection. There is a deep commitment across the British government, industry and civil society to grow that relationship even further: developing our trade and economic partnership, now that the UK has left the EU; tackling the global challenges of climate change and green recovery, acting together as a force for good in the world; and working closely as partners to keep our countries safe and secure,” he said.

Philip said that he is arriving at an “extraordinarily difficult time.”

“Coronavirus is without precedent in modern times, but it has also brought out the importance of the modern partnership between the UK and India: from our excellent collaboration in developing and manufacturing a vaccine for global distribution, to securing essential medical supplies for health workers, to our joint determination to ‘build back better’ from this crisis. I see my job as ensuring that this crucial partnership continues to prosper,” he said.

“We often speak of the ‘living bridge’ of people, ideas and institutions that tie the UK and India together. I, too, am part of that bridge. My mother was born in Shimla and I was posted here in Delhi in the 1990s. I met my wife, Amanda, when we both lived and worked here and we named our daughter ‘India’ – not knowing I would return one day as High Commissioner,” the High Commissioner added.

“I am delighted to be back and look forward to continuing to build on what PM Modi has called an ‘unbeatable combination’ – a forward-looking, modern partnership between the UK and India,” Philip said.

Philip joined the Foreign Commission Office (FCO) in 1986 and has previously served as the Director General, Consular and Security in London, as the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, and as Deputy Ambassador in Washington. Prior to arriving in New Delhi last month, Philip helped the UK government adapt its long-term planning to the pandemic, the BHC statement read.

During the virtual ceremony, President Kovind also accepted credentials from Heads of Mission from New Zealand and Uzbekistan.

-ARK

USAID, MNRE in new partnership for clean energy development

New Delhi (NVI): The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) have announced the launch of a partnership between the USAID-supported South Asia Group for Energy (SAGE) and MNRE’s National Technical Institutions, in a step towards the US-India collaboration for clean energy development.

SAGE is a US government consortium that will provide advanced technical knowledge on clean energy development embedded in the US Department of Energy’s National Laboratories to MNRE’s National Technical Institutions and other public institutes under this new partnership, the US Embassy said in a press release here today.

The new partnership was launched on the sidelines of the ongoing US-India Strategic Energy Partnership (SEP) meetings. MNRE Secretary, Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia, Javier Piedra respresented the two sides.

“Through the SAGE initiative, our effort is to bring the best of US knowledge and expertise from three US Department of Energy labs to share with Indian national institutions,” said Javier Piedra while highlighting the significance of new collaboration.

“The SAGE will provide a formal platform for collaboration on clean energy development and will focus on increasing our engagement with the MNRE National Institutions so that they act as a powerhouse of science, engineering, and technology for India and the entire South Asia region,” he added.

MNRE Secretary said, “This institutional arrangement will result in US and Indian institutions sharing important technical information, including on innovative technologies to their mutual benefit. It will also contribute toward strengthening the broader partnership and friendship between both countries.”

SAGE will contribute significantly towards achieving the goals of the US government’s Asia Enhancing Growth and Development through Energy (Asia EDGE) Initiative, a primary pillar of the US government’s Indo-Pacific vision in South Asia, and the US-India Strategic Energy Partnership, the US Embassy statement read.

Meanwhile, to maximise the impact of this partnership, the SAGE consortium, in discussion with MNRE and its technical institutions, the National Institute of Wind Energy and the National Institute of Biomass Energy, has identified several key topics.

These are building world-class capabilities in cookstove testing in order to reduce the environmental and health impacts of traditional cookstove use; understanding the feasibility and impact of biomass and renewable energy hybrid systems; economic and environmental assessment of agriculture and bioenergy development; and advancing short- and long-term forecasting capabilities for wind and solar resources.

The SAGE is a consortium consisting of USAID, the US Department of Energy, and three of the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories – Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

-RJV/ARK

ECoR’s safety and maintenance work in full swing during lockdown

 Subrat Kumar Sarangi

Bhubaneswar (NVI): During lockdown, while passenger train operations were suspended except those of Special Trains and Shramik Specials, emphasis was put on execution of long pending construction and maintenance works which required traffic blocks of long duration.

East Coast Railway (ECoR) judiciously utilized the coronavirus lockdown time to augment and maintain infrastructure. Various safety related works were executed on top priority.

Taking lockdown period as an opportunity, ECoR took up many safety and passenger amenities works, without letting the train services get affected.

During this period, 18 Limited Height Sub-Ways (LHSs) have been completed at various places, including closure of three manned level crossing gates by providing alternate path. Five girders of 36 meters span have also been launched at the Road Over Bridge (ROB) in Bhadrak – Khurda Road Railway Section.

In addition to this, renewal of 167 km rail, 7.5 km sleepers, 356 numbers of glued joints, rebuilding of 49 bridges and repair of 2,557 wagons have been done.

Foot Over Bridge girders were also launched at Charbatia and Gurudijhatia stations in connection with 3rd and 4th line work between Salegaon-Rajathagarh at Kapilas Road in connection with Bhadrak-Nergundi 3rd line work and at Talcher Road station in connection with Sambalpur-Talcher doubling work.

Preparatory jobs related to Non-interlocking in connection with Safety related modernization work in Kottavalasa-Koraput-Kirandul (KK) line have been completed in addition to 657 major Over Head Equipment (OHE) scheduled works and track circuit maintenance work at 298 locations.

Furthermore, 32,500 cubic meters of rock blasting work in KK line has been done in connection with doubling of this line. Completion of these pending works will increase mobility of trains with more safety. These works would have taken a long time to complete during normal period by suspension of rail traffic.

For passenger amenities many important works have been executed during this lockdown period. Foot Over Bridge (FOB) at 6 stations, lifts at 4 stations, divyangjan toilets at 8 stations, platform surface concreting at 8 stations, platform height raising at 8 stations, additional platform sheds at 6 stations have been commissioned along with provision of 534 stainless steel benches at various stations and development of two stations as Adarsh Stations. For the convenience of passengers, waiting Halls at 10 stations have been improved during the period.

-CHK

Ganjam-Khurda border sealed in Odisha

Subrat Kumar Sarangi

Bhubaneswar (NVI): Witnessing a continuous surge in COVID-19 cases, the Ganjam district in Odisha today announced to seal its border with Khurda, as no person will be allowed to enter the district now.

Taking to twitter, the Ganjam district authorities informed that as the border has been sealed no person will be allowed to go to Bhubaneswar and urged people to cooperate.

Further, looking at the larger public interest and to control the spreading of coronavirus, the district administration has also put a shutdown of the OPD at the MKCG Medical in Berhampur.

Meanwhile, Sundargarh district of Odisha reports highest single-day spike of 78 COVID-19 cases, taking the affected tally in the district to 471.

-RJV

Students in Gilgit Baltistan protest as they suffer due to poor internet quality

New Delhi (NVI): Students in Gilgit Baltistan have to walk for miles, just to receive stable internet signals to be part of online classes, amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Suffering due to the poor quality or slow internet services, these students are now protesting over the issue affecting their studies.

Just imagine if a student has to hike up to the mountain tops just to get some internet connectivity so that he/she can attend online classes! Unfortunately, this has become a reality for some students in the region.

Students in Pakistan have also been raising their voices against the feeble internet connectivity in the region on Twitter with the hashtag “Internet4Gilgitbaltistan”.

Many students have started a sort of online campaign on Twitter with the hashtag to force authorities to provide them with stable internet.

“Poor and lack of internet service in #GilgitBaltistan has made students suffer in the period of #COVID19. Due to the pandemic, universities in all over Pakistan are closed and students have moved to their hometowns,” tweets Yawar Abbas, a youth activist from Gilgit Baltistan, with a video of students in the region, narrating their ordeal.

To avoid bad scores or poor attendance in online classes, students are also asking the universities and schools to be given semester break to the internet situation is sorted out in the region. They have also contacted the administration to get a break as an alternative to the low quality of education through online means.

Apart from that, many students in the region have also pointed out the low quality of education through online means.

Pakistan-based Digital Rights Foundation has also taken cognizance of the matter, tweeting: “Students across Pakistan have been protesting against the shift to online classrooms rightly pointing out that as students from less urban centers move back home, they either lack access to high-speed internet or no internet at all.”

It is pertinent to mention here that students across the world have been asked to attend online classes and avoid physical presence in colleges, schools and universities as a precautionary measure amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

While the move is appropriate, considering the current pandemic situation, low speed internet or lack of means to attend online classes has increased the burden on students, while triggering anxiety and uncertainty among them.

-ARK

United States notifies UN of withdrawal from WHO

Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump (File pic)

New Delhi (NVI): The United States has formally notified the United Nations (UN) of its official withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO), a move that comes after a rise in number of coronavirus cases in the country.

The letter confirming the move was delivered to the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres on Tuesday, as per foreign media reports.

Earlier in May, US President Donald Trump had announced that the country would withdraw from WHO in the near future, accusing the agency of becoming a puppet for China during the coronavirus pandemic.

After more than 70 years of membership, the United States moved to quit the WHO amid escalating tensions with China over the coronavirus pandemic.

In this regard, the US has given one-year notice of its withdrawal from the Geneva-based body and for paying all Washington’s dues under a 1948 joint resolution of the US Congress.

The United States currently owes the organization more than USD 200 million in assessed contributions, according to the WHO website.

Meanwhile, the democratic lawmakers have already lashed out at the Trump administration and accused the US President of attempting to deflect the criticism over his handling of COVID-19.

Nancy Pelosi, the US House of Representatives Speaker called Trump’s move “an act of true senselessness as WHO coordinates the global fight against COVID-19.”

-RJV

Woman killed, another injured in ceasefire violation along LoC in J&K’s Poonch

Alert issued in Poonch, Rajouri after militant movement detected near LoC
(File/Representational Image)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A woman was killed and another one seriously injured in ceasefire violation (CFV) by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, officials said today.

Police official said that Resham Bi, wife of Azam Ahmed and Hakam Bi, both above 60 years of age, got injured at around 3am when Pakistan resorted to heavy shelling along LoC in Balakote sector of Poonch.

“Both the injured were shifted to nearby medical facilities where Resham Bi was declared brought dead by the doctors,” the official said.

The second injured woman was provided first aid in a local hospital and was then shifted to Rajouri hospital for advanced treatment. Heavy exchange of fire from the both sides was going on till 9 am.

Locals of Poonch said that panic gripped entire Balakote sector and adjoining villages as mortar shells landed in civilian areas and some even fell in the premises. “We are fed up with this daily fear and frequent shelling between the two sides. We are not safe even in our own houses,” said Imtiyaz Ahmed, a resident of Poonch district. “Our demand for setting up community bunkers is also not being fulfilled.”

This year so far, 1,700 CFVs have been recorded in J&K along the LoC. The figure is highest in the past three years, as per the officials.

NVI was first to report that many border residents in Kashmir’s Uri, Gurez, Keran and Tanghdhar sectors were planning to shift their base to safer places due to the frequent CFVs by Pakistan followed by heavy exchange of firing between the two sides.

-CHK

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