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Pak shells forward areas along LoC in J&K’s Kupwara, Baramulla districts

Ceasefire
Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Pakistani troops today violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran and Rampur sectors of Kupwara and Baramulla districts respectively, by resorting to unprovoked firing which was retaliated by the Indian Army, defence officials said.

Defence spokesman in Srinagar Rajesh Kalia told NVI that Pakistan violated ceasefire twice today, first at 11 am and then at 12:40 am at Keran and Uri sectors in Kupwara and  Rampur sector in Baramulla district.

“Army is retaliating befittingly. Enemy positions targeted with high precision,” Kalia said. Locals from Uri told NVI over the phone that panic gripped at least six villages this morning when intense firing started from across LoC.

“Six villages were affected which include Churunda, Silikote, Hatlanga, Nambla and Rustom, Mohallah,” they said.

Shakeel Ahmed, a Sarpanch of village Nambla said that panic gripped these villages and people were running for cover. “It was an intense firing. Many people took shelter in underground bunkers and while many others were seen running towards the main town of Uri for safety,” he said.

Latin America is new epicenter for Covid-19; Brazil second worst-hit after US

US sees highest single-day spike in Covid cases

New Delhi (NVI): With countries like Brazil and Mexico recording some of the fastest Covid-19 growth rates and daily deaths, Latin America is emerging as the new epicenter for Covid-19.

The surge in the positive cases is now being led by Brazil as the number of global cases is fast approaching the seven million mark.

Latin America now accounts for roughly 16 per cent of total cases in the world, although 30 per cent of these cases or nearly 2 million infections are in the United States.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Brazil is 6,76,494, while 36,044 have died in the Latin American country. 3,02,084 have recovered from the virus.

In another development, reports in foreign media claimed that Brazil Health Ministry removed the Covid-19 data from public view from a website that had the number of infections as per state and municipality.

Meanwhile, the global tally has climbed to 66,63,304 confirmed cases and 3,92,802 deaths. On average, there are 857 cases per 1 million people.

The United States, Brazil, Russia, the UK, India and Spain are among the top six worst-affected countries in the world, followed by Italy, Peru and Germany.

The United States, with the maximum number of cases, has reported 19,59,009 infections so far, with 1,11,374 deaths and 4,57,721 recoveries.

Kashmir reports first death of a non-local from coronavirus

Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today reported the first death of a non-local resident from Kolkata due to coronavirus at a Srinagar hospital here, health officials said.

With this, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 has reached 41 in J&K UT of which 36 including the non-local were recorded in Kashmir and 5 in Jammu. The deceased was a tailor by profession and aged around 38.

Dr Nazir Choudhary, Medical Superintendent at SMHS hospital Srinagar said that a non-local resident from Kolkatta died at the hospital late last night. His samples were tested as positive for the deadly virus today.

“Yes, he is the first non-local who has died due to Covid in Kashmir so far,” Dr Choudhary said.

Official sources said that now the administration will take a call whether the body of the deceased needs to be sent back to his home in Kolkata or his last rites and burial would be performed in Srinagar only. “We are discussing the issue. No decision has been taken so far,” an official in the Srinagar administration said.

Five terrorists killed in encounter with security forces in J&K’s Shopian

July 18 Shopian encounter: Army completes summary of evidence
An encounter site in Kashmir (File Pic)

(Updating earlier copy)

Abid Bashir

Shopian (NVI): Two more terrorists have been killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces at Reban village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, taking the total number of ultras eliminated in the gunbattle to five, a senior defence official said.

“In total, five militants were killed. Good drills were ensued. There was no collateral damage,” defence spokesman in Srinagar, Rajesh Kalia told NVI.

A police official said that among the five slain militants is a top commander as well. “The identity and affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained,” he said, adding the operation is still underway.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told NVI that three militants were killed in the gunfight.

The operation was launched in the Reban village in the wee hours today after security forces including Police, Army and the CRPF acted on a lead about the presence of militants there.

“Contact was established with the militants after security forces zeroed in on the house where militants had taken refuge,” police sources said.

As a precautionary measure, the authorities have snapped the internet services in Shopian and Kulgam districts of South Kashmir to prevent any law and order situation and rumor-mongering, they said.

Covid-19: Barring 2 districts, entire Kashmir declared as Red Zone

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir government today declared the entire Kashmir as “Red Zone”, barring two districts -Bandipora and Ganderbal, a day ahead of the massive review on Covid-19 situation in the Union Territory.

According to an order issued by the J&K UT Chief Secretary BVR Subramanyam, all districts in Kashmir Valley, excluding Bandipora and Ganderbal, have been declared as red zones. “Ramban district of Jammu province has also been declared as a red zone,” the order read.

It stated that Kathua, Samba, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Reasi, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu have been declared as orange zones. Kishtwar and Doda districts have been declared as green zones.

The government order comes a day ahead of the massive review on Covid-19 situation in the J&K. The government had earlier stated that a massive review will be done on the overall situation on July 8 in which the decision on fresh guidelines and relaxations in lockdown will be taken.

Sources said since the coronavirus deaths and positive cases have shown a spurt, there was less chance of relaxing the lockdown. However, the government was mulling to allow three-wheelers to ply and the home delivery of food items in summer capital Srinagar from tomorrow onwards, they said.

An official said that district-wise guidelines on relaxations will be issued by this evening or tomorrow morning. Pertinently, since the past four days, J&K has witnessed a sudden spike in Covid deaths as five people have died in the past three days while the tally of positive cases has climbed to almost 3500. What is more worrying is that more and more pregnant women are fast falling prey to the deadly pandemic as every day 20 to 30 expecting mothers are testing positive for the virus in J&K UT on an average.

Senior medicos have already termed the trend of pregnant women testing positive for the pandemic as “worrisome” and advised a series of tests to find out whether the baby contracts the virus within the womb of the mother or post delivery.

Senior doctor and the Associate Professor at Government Medical College Srinagar Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan has advocated Cord, amniotic fluid and maternal fetus test of women who test positive for the virus and deliver babies in the same state. “This is to find out whether the baby contracts the virus within the womb. If that’s the case, then it’s a disaster. So far there is no evidence of vertical transmission,”  Dr Nisar had told NVI recently.

Official figures suggest that there are at least 200 pregnant women who were tested positive for the virus and a five-day-old baby girl was the youngest Covid case reported from Kashmir recently.

Delhi Govt, private hospitals to treat residents only: CM Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said that the government and a few private hospitals in Delhi will be reserved for the residents of national capital only while the Central government hospitals like AIIMS and Safdarjung will be open to patients from all over the country.

CM Kejriwal made the announcement after a meeting of his cabinet earlier today. To recall, the chief minister had asked for suggestions regarding allowing patients from outside Delhi in hospitals in the national capital. He said that 7.5 lakh people sent their suggestions and 90% of people were of the view that the hospitals must be reserved for Delhi residents only for a few months till Covid-19 is brought under control. The suggestions were received till June 5.

During a virtual press conference, Kejriwal said that apart from the suggestions by stakeholders and people of Delhi, a five doctors committee, said that Delhi will need 15,000 beds by the end of June. He said that there has been an ease in lockdown restrictions but the pandemic is still there, with a constant and rapid surge in the number of cases.

He urged the people in Delhi to wear masks and follow social distancing, while making a special appeal to the elderly people to take all precautions, saying that of all the cases in the capital, most are aged persons.

Apart from that, Kejriwal said that Delhi borders, which were sealed last week, will be opened for inter-state movement from tomorrow.

Besides that, he said that all restaurants, malls, places of worship will open in Delhi from tomorrow (June 8). However, hotels and banquet halls will remain closed for now, considering the increase in the number of corona cases in Delhi, he added.

Border talks: India, China to resolve situation as per ‘bilateral agreements’, says MEA

New Delhi (NVI): A day after top military officials of India and China held meeting over the tense border situation in Ladakh, the Ministry of External Affairs today issued a statement saying that both the sides agreed to peacefully resolve the situation in accordance with various bilateral agreements.

Yesterday, a meeting was held between the Corps Commander based in Leh and the Chinese Commander in the Chushul-Moldo region at LAC. In its statement issued today, MEA said the meeting took place in a “cordial and positive atmosphere”.

“Both sides agreed to peacefully resolve the situation in the border areas in accordance with various bilateral agreements and keeping in view the agreement between the leaders that peace and tranquility in the India-China border regions is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations,” the MEA statement read.

Apart from that, both sides also noted that this year marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and agreed that an early resolution would contribute to the further development of the relationship, it said.

“Accordingly, the two sides will continue the military and diplomatic engagements to resolve the situation and to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas,” it added.

At the meeting held at the level of Lt General, the Indian side was led by Commander of Leh-based 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh. The meeting took place after the ones at lower levels, including at the level of Major General, did not result in any resolution.

The military stand-off in the Ladakh sector was triggered after China objected to the construction of a road by India on its side of the LAC, claiming that it is their territory. Since then, both sides have mobilised thousands of troops who are in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation.

Earlier on Friday, senior officials of the foreign ministries of the two countries held talks and both sides agreed that they should handle the differences through “peaceful discussion”.

The talks were held via video conference between Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Indian External Affairs Ministry and Wu Jianghao, Director General in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides reviewed the state of bilateral relations including the current developments, the External Affairs Ministry said, clearly referring to the LAC stand-off.

World Food Safety Day: 2020 theme and significance amid the Covid-19 pandemic

New Delhi (NVI): The World Food Safety Day is being observed today amid the Covid-19 pandemic when food security has become an utmost concern across the globe, with the third world countries including those in Africa the most vulnerable during the current situation.

This WFSD is being celebrated to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).


Word Food Safety Day is observed on June 7, and this is the second celebration, the first was in 2019. This year, the day calls for strengthening commitment to scale up food safety made by the Addis Ababa Conference and the Geneva Forum in 2019 under the umbrella of “The Future of Food Safety”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a statement today.

“WHO, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is pleased to facilitate Member States efforts to celebrate the World Food Safety Day,” the global health body said.

The theme for this year’s WFSD is “Food safety, everyone’s business”, under which the action-oriented campaign will promote global food safety awareness and call upon countries and decision-makers, the private sector, civil society, UN organizations and the general public to take action.

Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers, WHO said, adding that everybody has a role to play from farm to table to ensure the food we consume is safe and will not cause damages to our health.

“Through the World Food Safety Day, WHO pursues its efforts to mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases globally,” it said.

WHO calls for action with the following recommendations:

  • Ensure it’s safe – Government must ensure safe and nutritious food for all
  • Grow it safe – Agriculture and food producers need to adopt good practices
  • Keep it safe – Business operators must make sure food is safe
  • Eat it safe: All consumers have a right to safe, healthy and nutritious food
  • Team up for safety – Food Safety is a shared responsibility

With over 2.46 lakh Covid cases, India now 5th worst hit, overtakes Spain

New Delhi (NVI): India has now become the fifth worst-hit country by Covid-19 in the world while surpassing Spain with over 2.46 lakh cases. The tally of Covid-19 cases in the country now stands at 2,46,628 and the death toll nears the 7,000 mark at 6,929.

India is now only behind the US, Brazil, Russia and the UK. According to the latest data with the Ministry of health, there are 1,20,406 active cases in India while 1,19,292 have been cured or discharged.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have the highest number of cases in the country. Total confirmed cases in Maharashtra are 82,968, Gujarat 19,592, Tamil Nadu 30152, Uttar Pradesh 9,733 and Delhi 27,654.

While Maharashtra has recorded maximum 2969 deaths, it has 42,609 active cases so far; Delhi has recorded 761 deaths and has 16,229 active cases, Rajasthan has seen 231 deaths and has 2,599 active cases, Tamil Nadu has 251 deaths and 13,506 cases, UP has recorded 257 deaths and has 3,828 active cases, Gujarat has recorded 1219 deaths and has 5057 active cases so far.

There has been a spike in the daily corona cases in the country. From around 6,500 cases a week ago, India is now recording close to 10,000 cases daily.

India registered a record single-day spike of 9,887 cases and 294 deaths by Saturday 8 am, pushing the tally to 2,36,657, according to the Union Health Ministry. The country has registered over 9,000 cases for the third day in a row.

Civilian shot dead by suspected militants in J&K’s Baramulla

Representational Picture

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A civilian was shot dead outside his home today at Bomai village of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said.

A police official said that the civilian identified as Danish Manzoor, son of Manzoor Ahmed, was shot dead outside his home by armed men.

“Two armed men barged into Danish’s house and opened fire at him outside his home. He was in found in a pool of blood. Locals and other family members shifted him to nearby Sub-District Hospital Sopore, where he was declared brought dead.”

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore, Javaid Iqbal, said that a civilian was killed by suspected militants outside his home in Bomai, Sopore. “He died on the way to the hospital,” he said.

Police have registered a case and a massive manhunt has been started to nab the attackers. An alert was sounded at all exit and entry points across Sopore to nab the attackers.

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