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J&K: Hizb’s Doda commander among 3 terrorists killed, district militancy free

2 LeT militants surrender after gunfight in J&K's Kulgam
(Representational/file image)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Three terrorists were killed in an encounter that broke out in Runipora area of Shangus belt of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district today morning, police said.

The terrorists who were killed in the encounter today included the only surviving terrorist of Doda district of Jammu, now making the district militancy free.

Director General of Police (J&K) Dilbagh Singh said that acting on a tip off, joint teams of police, Army and CRPF laid a siege in Runipora in Anantnag district early morning.

“When the teams closed in on a spot where terrorists were hiding, they opened fire and in a very neat and clean operation, three terrorists were killed,” he said, adding that there was no collateral damage.

The DGP Singh said among the three terrorists is one last surviving terrorist from Doda district of Jammu, who had shifted his base from Doda to Srinagar. “With his killing, Doda district of Jammu is now militancy free,” the DGP added.

A police spokesman said that the Doda terrorist has been identified as Masood Ahmed, who was involved in a rape case and was absconding ever since. He had later joined Hizbul Mujahideen and was operating in south Kashmir as one of the commanders of the outfit. “There is no active terrorist in Doda district of Jammu region now,” he said.

The identity of two other terrorists is being ascertained and it is believed that they were locals. With the killing of three terrorists today, the total number of militants killed this year in Kashmir has reached 116. Today’s encounter was 13th in a row in South Kashmir in the month of June in which so far 36 terrorists have been killed.

-CHK

India’s COVID tally crosses 5.48 lakh; death toll 16,475

covid cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus cases in India saw a jump of 19,459 in the last 24 hours, as the highest-ever single-day spike, taking the total number to 5,48,318, Union Health Ministry said.

The death toll due to the virus rose to 16,475, with 380 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours.

So far, 3,21,722 patients have recovered all over the country, it said.

In Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 1,64,626, followed by Delhi with 83,077 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 82,275 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 7,429, followed by 1,808 in Gujarat and 1,079 in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital rose to 2,623, while 52,607 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

The other worst affected states are Gujarat (31,320) Uttar Pradesh (22,147), West Bengal (17,283) and Rajasthan (17,271).

Meanwhile, a complete 14-day lockdown is in force in Assam’s Guwahati starting today.

Apart from that, tightening their containment strategy, state like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh announced a door-to-door survey joining other states and union territories, including Delhi, Goa, and Odisha.

-RJV

J&K: Covid tally crosses 7000 mark with 127 new cases, death toll at 94

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir has reported 127 new positive cases — 25 from Jammu and 102 Kashmir division — in the last 24 hours, taking the overall tally of confirmed cases to 7,093.

91 more Covid-19 patients have recovered or discharged from various hospitals – 31 from Jammu and 60 from Kashmir. 1 fresh death was reported from Kashmir.

Jammu has 442 active positive cases and Kashmir has 2,241, taking the total number of active cases in the Union Territory to 2,683.

1,081 people have recovered in Jammu and 3,235 have recovered in Kashmir, taking total recoveries in the UT to 4,316.

There have been a total 94 deaths- 11 in Jammu and 83 in Kashmir. Jammu region has recorded 1534 active cases so far, while Kashmir has seen 5,559 cases, taking the total to 7,093.

2,76,057 persons have enlisted for observation in the UT, while 40,065 have been kept under home quarantine, including facilities operated by the government. 2,683 people have been in hospital isolation and 34 have been kept under hospital quarantine.

So far, 1,86,308 persons have completed surveillance and 46,873 have been kept under home surveillance.

Test results are available for 3,51,865 samples out of which 3,44,772 tested negative  and 7093 tested positive.

-ARK

Covid-19: India’s recovery rate rises to 58.56% as 3,09,712 cured

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): With 3,09,712 people cured, India’s recovery rate has risen to 58.56 per cent as recovered cases exceed active cases by over a lakh, the Ministry of Health said today.

At present, there are a total 5,28,859 confirmed cases out of which, 2,03,051 are active cases while 16,095 people have died of the virus across the country. Recovered cases now exceed active cases by 1,06,661, the ministry said in its statement in the evening. Thus, so far, a total of 3,09,712 patients have been cured of COVID-19, it added.

During the last 24 hours, a total of 13,832 COVID-19 patients have been cured. Presently, all 2,03,051 active cases are under active medical supervision. India now has 1036 diagnostic labs dedicated to COVID-19. This includes 749 in the government sector and 287 private labs. Daily more than 2,00,000 samples are being tested. The samples tested in the last 24 hours have further increased to 2,31,095. The total number of samples tested, as on date, is 82,27,802.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address today said that people need to be more careful in ‘Unlock-1’ than lockdown. He also appealed people to wear masks, maintain two meters distance, and following other Covid protocols to keep themselves and their families safe.

The ministry further said that the graded, pre-emptive and pro-active steps taken by Centre along with the States/UTs for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19 are showing encouraging results.

India now has 1036 diagnostic labs dedicated to COVID-19. This includes 749 in the government sector and 287 private labs.

At present, there are 567 Real-Time RT PCR based testing labs, out of which 362 are government and 205 are private. There are a total 382 TrueNat based testing labs out of which 355 are government and 27 are private. There are a total 87 CBNAAT based testing labs out of which 32 and government and 55 are private.

As of today, the COVID related health infrastructure has been strengthened with the availability of 1,055 dedicated COVID Hospitals with 1,77,529 isolation beds, 23,168 ICU beds and 78,060 oxygen supported beds; 2,400 dedicated COVID Health Centres with 1,40,099 Isolation beds, 11,508 ICU beds and 51,371 oxygen supported beds have also been operationalised, the ministry said.

Moreover, 9,519 COVID Care Centres with 8,34,128 beds are now available to combat COVID-19 in the country. The Centre has also provided 187.43 lakh N95 masks and 116.99 lakh Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) to the States/UTs/Central Institutions.

-ARK

China using Covid pandemic confusion as cover to provoke its neighbours: US leader

New Delhi (NVI): China’s actions towards India, specifically the Ladakh stand-off is part of Beijing’s strategy to use the confusion of the Covid-19 pandemic as cover to launch large scale military provocations against its neighbours, a top US lawmaker has said.

Ted Yoho, the US Congressman has said that the Chinese Communist Party has been using this tactic to provoke its neighbors including, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

“#China’s actions towards #India fall in line with a larger trend of the #ChineseCommunistParty using the confusion of the #COVID19 #pandemic as cover to launch large scale military provocations against its neighbors in the region, including #HongKong, #Taiwan, & #Vietnam,” the US leader said in a tweet yesterday.

The Congressman also asserted that the unprovoked and premeditated military action by China in Galwan Valley recently cannot be justified and the US will not stand for such action for the purpose of antagonizing & intimidating peaceful nations into submission. He said it is time for the world to come together and tell China enough is enough.

“The #UnitedStates will not stand for unprovoked, premeditated military action for the purpose of antagonizing & intimidating peaceful nations into submission. Now is the time for the world to come together & tell #China that enough is enough,” Ted said in another tweet.

20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent face-off with the Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley on June 15.

Earlier on Friday, Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera also expressed concern over the Chinese aggression along its India border. He asked Beijing to use diplomatic mechanisms rather than force to settle boundary issues with the neighboring country.

India and China are currently engaged at military and diplomatic levels after a sharp escalation in tensions in the worst-ever face-off between the two armies at LAC since 1967 which led to casualties on both sides.

-ARK

India holds naval exercise with Japan amid stand-off with China

(Source: Twitter @jmsdf_pao_eng)

New Delhi (NVI): Amid the border tensions between India and China running high, the Indian and Japanese Navies conducted a joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean yesterday to develop mutual understanding with each other.

Four warships, two from each side, participated in the maritime exercise in the Indian Ocean. Japanese Ship (JS) Kashima and JS Shimayuki conducted the exercise with Indian Naval Ship (INS) Rana and INS Kulish.

“27 JUN, JS KASHIMA (TV 3508) and JS SHIMAYUKI (TV 3513), the JMSDF Training Squadron, conducted an exercise with INS RANA and INS KULISH, Indian Navy at the Indian Ocean. JMSDF promoted mutual understanding with the Indian Navy through this exercise,” tweeted Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Japanese ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki also tweeted today on Naval exercise between the two navies. “On 27th June, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted goodwill training with Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean,” he wrote on the microblogging site.

India and Japan navies have earlier also participated in the naval exercises like the Malabar Exercise, which included the United States navy as well. However, yesterday’s exercise in the Indian Ocean is clearly a strong signal against the heightened Chinese aggression at Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

There has been an escalation in tensions between India and China after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the violent clashes at Galwan Valley in Ladakh on June 15. While Japan has condoled the loss of Indian lives in Galwan face-off, it has categorically not said anything ob the Chinese casualties.

Japan has been a witness to the Chinese aggression on its border with India as it has itself upgraded its Navy in recent years due to territorial disputes with Beijing. Japan is also one of the few countries that supported India during the 2017 Doklam standoff.

China is also looking to seize areas in Taiwan, as it has been 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.

On Friday, a Chinese fighter plane briefly entered Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), the local media reported, highlighting the increasing Chinese military activity in the region.

In April this year, the US also asked China to stop its ‘bullying behaviour’ in the South China sea and said it was concerned by reports of Beijing’s provocative behaviour. reportedly, Beijing’s actions are aimed at offshore oil and gas developments in the disputed waters.

In the past few weeks, the US and Australian warships have reportedly also conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea close to the West Capella.

On Saturday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said that a 1982 UN oceans treaty should be the basis of sovereign rights and entitlements in the South China Sea. The group has strongly opposed China’s claim to virtually the entire disputed waters on historical grounds.

-ARK

WATCH | ‘Desi style’ rescue of a goat from an open hole, video goes viral

Screen grabs from the video shared by the Assam police officer

New Delhi (NVI): An old video of a goat being rescued from an open hole is going viral on social media, with the Twitterati reacting to the amusing video while lauding the group of men for using a “desi” technique to save the animal.

The video was shared on Twitter by Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Assam, Hardi Singh. The 1 minute 13 seconds video shows a group of young men inspecting an open hole in a farm in which a goat has fallen. One of them decides to get inside the hole with the support of others. They lower him down the hole till more than half of his body is inside. As soon as the man grabs the goat, he is pulled out of the hole.

“Desi style rescue! Grit, determination, teamwork n courage. Smiling face with smiling eyes. Pls see till the end,” the officer wrote on Twitter while sharing the video.

The old video is believed to be from Belagavi (Belgaum) in Karnataka as the ADGP has asked the Karnataka DGP to trace the location and get such open holes closed.

“@rajeev_mp pls help to have this place identified & holes closed. While we applaud these boys for their humanity n courage, we must keep others safe,” Singh wrote in another Tweet while tagging BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The officer has also tagged Belagavi Commissioner of Police and DCP in his tweets.

-ARK

Statistics Day to be celebrated tmrw

New Delhi (NVI): To popularise the use of statistics in everyday life and sensitise the public as to how it helps in shaping and framing policies, the Government has been celebrating Statistics Day.

The day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Prof. PC Mahalanobis, on 29th June, in recognition of his invaluable contribution in establishing the National Statistical System, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation said.

It has been designated as one of the Special Days to be celebrated at the national level.

This year, the day will be celebrated virtually in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will be chaired by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation and Ministry of Planning, Rao Inderjit Singh.

The theme of Statistics Day, 2019 was “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” and carrying this forward the theme of Statistics Day, 2020 is selected as SDG- 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) & SDG- 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls).

-ARK

Yemen’s failing health system amid Covid-19 has put millions at risk

(Source: UN/Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): Covid-19 pandemic has made life tougher for people in Yemen which has been devastated by five years of war. The humanitarian situation in Yemen, in its sixth year of conflict, is still the worst in the world.

COVID-19 is spreading rapidly across Yemen. About 25 per cent of Yemenis confirmed to have the disease have died. That’s five times the global average.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), some 24 million people, which is 80 per cent of the country’s entire population, require some form of assistance or protection.

As of June 18, 906 COVID-19 cases have been recorded, including 245 deaths. However, there are thousands of people in the country suffering from non-COVID-19 diseases, who are at risk of being de-prioritized due to attention being diverted to the coronavirus.

In Yemen, people are not only in the world’s worst crisis but also face having life-saving aid being cut back. There is lack of adequate testing and treatment facilities in the war-torn country. The actual incidence of COVID-19 is almost certainly much higher. Aid agencies in Yemen are operating on the basis that community transmission is taking place across the country.

According to the UN report, nearly 18 million people in Yemen do not have regular access to clean water, and the conflict has destroyed health-care facilities and left people with some of the lowest levels of immunity and highest levels of acute vulnerability in the world.

Apart from that, major UN programmes in Yemen face reduction or closure, with devastating impact on efforts to prepare for COVID-19. Of the UN’s 41 major programmes in Yemen, 31 have reduced or closed down their activities. Up to 1 million displaced people will not be able to receive critical supplies – including hygiene items that help protect against diseases such as cholera and COVID-19.

As per the report, nutrition programmes will also be cut, affecting 260,000 severely malnourished children and 2 million more children with moderate malnutrition. At least 80 per cent of health services provided through the response could stop at the end of April. This could mean disbanding local health teams that have been and would be essential in detecting COVID-19 and containing past disease outbreaks such as cholera.

Besides that, Yemen’s currency could collapse as the global economy grapples with the impact of COVID-19. The country’s health system is on the verge of collapse. Nearly half of health facilities are non-functioning or partially functioning. Equipment and medical supplies are inadequate or obsolete, and health workers have gone without pay or received irregular pay for more than two years, says the report.

Malnutrition rates among women and children in Yemen remain among the highest in the world. More than 1 million women and 2 million children require treatment for acute malnutrition.

Civilians, mostly children, are bearing the brunt of the violence. In the first quarter of this year, civilian casualties have risen every month, with more than 500 people killed or injured. One in every three civilian casualties has been a child.

-ARK

India gave a befitting reply to those who eyed its territory in Ladakh: PM

PM Modi
PM Narendra Modi (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that the world has seen India’s commitment to protecting its borders as a befitting reply was given to those who eyed her territory in Ladakh.

While paying tributes to the fallen soldiers in Galwan Valley clash with the Chinese troops in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, the Prime Minister said that our soldiers have shown that they will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring the country’s safety and security.

“If India knows how to respect friendship, it also knows how to give a befitting reply while looking in the eye,” the PM said in his address.

20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in the violent face-off with Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley at Line of Actual Control (LAC) on June 15. While China still claims its sovereignty over Galwan Valley, India has reiterated its stand that the matter must be resolved through military and diplomatic level talks.

Apart from that, in the 66th edition of his radio address, PM Modi urged citizens to be more careful in ‘Unlock 1’ than lockdown. He also appealed people to wear masks, maintain two meters distance, and following other Covid protocols to keep themselves and their families safe.

He said that India is unlocking its potential in sectors like coal, space, agriculture and more. “It is time for us to work together to make India self-reliant and technologically advanced,” he said.

He said that the agriculture sector has also been unlocked recently which gave farmers the freedom to sell their produce anywhere, to anyone. They are able to get more and better loans now, he added.

During his address, the PM also remembered former prime minister Narasimha Rao. He said the late former prime minister was connected with Indian ethos and well-versed with western thoughts. He said Rao was India’s most experienced leaders.

-ARK

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