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Medical team being sent to Italy to test Indians: Jaishankar in LS

New Delhi (NVI): As the number of coronavirus patients in India rose to 73, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Lok Sabha today that COVID-19 outbreak is a “matter of concern” and needs to be responded to responsibly.

The Foreign Minister also said that a medical team is being sent to Italy to test Indians for the viral infection. Those testing negative will be allowed to travel, he said while briefing the lower House of the Parliament on the latest coronavirus situation.

Jaishankar had yesterday informed Rajya Sabha on COVID-19 situation while asserting that the Central Government is committed for safety, security of Indians in Iran. 58 Indian nationals were evacuated from the coronavirus-hit country on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus cases reported in India rose to 73, with 13 fresh cases, including 9 from Maharashtra and 1 each from Delhi, Ladakh and Uttar Pradesh, and one foreign national.

While speaking on the pandemic in Lok Sabha today, Jaishankar said that the initial focus of the Government is to bring back Indian pilgrims stranded in Iran. The nature of their residency also increases the risks of exposure to the coronavirus, he said.

“Along with the pilgrims, the Ministry is also in regular contact with the Indian students in Iran,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar further informed that around 6,000 Indians are stranded in Iran, including 1,100 pilgrims from Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union Minister added, “Given the scale of COVID -19 infection and its pressure on Iran’s own resources, a team of six Indian health officials has been deputed to Iran in order to set up testing and sampling facilities there. The first batch of 108 samples were received in India on 7 March. These were tested and 58 Indian pilgrims (25 men, 31 women and 2 children), who tested negative, were repatriated in special IAF C-17 flight on 10 March. ”

Jaishankar had also visited Srinagar earlier this week and met parents of some of the students who are stuck in Iran. He also shared with them in detail the ground situation and sought their understanding.

Jaishankar also spoke about the region where most of the members from fishermen community are located, mostly from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

“As a country whose citizens are spread across the world, this is a matter of utmost concern. At the same time, it is absolutely essential that people react responsibly and soberly,” the External Affairs Minister added.

Jaishankar said, “Meanwhile, the situation in Italy is also emerging as a cause of great concern. The Ministry has decided to make provisions for testing primarily for students/compassionate cases in Italy and collect samples for testing.”

“A medical team is being sent to Italy. Those tested negative will be allowed to travel and will be quarantined on arrival in India for 14 days. The challenge is growing by the day in Europe and we will respond accordingly,” Jaishankar said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic with more than 118,000 confirmed cases and 4,291 deaths in 114 countries.

One more person tests positive for coronavirus in Ladakh

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): One more person has tested positive for coronavirus in Ladakh today, taking the total number of reported cases in the Union Territory to three.

Confirming the development, Commissioner Secretary Rigzin Samphel said one more person has been tested positive. His father was already infected with the novel coronavirus.

He said, “We received his reports today and it has come positive.”

“All the persons have been kept in isolation,” Samphel added.

On March 8, an elderly Iran-returned patient died at Sonam Norbu Hospital in Leh after he suffered from some respiratory issues.

Medical Superintendent SN Hospital, Dr Tsering Samphel had said that the patient had recently travelled to Iran and was admitted with complaints of urinary incontinence and respiratory issues.

A 63-year-old woman who recently returned from Iran was tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu.

In Jammu & Kashmir, 1,211 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under active surveillance; 150 of these have completed surveillance period of 28 days while as 12 are undergoing hospital quarantine.

64 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far; 28 have reported negative, 01 has tested positive and report of 35 is still awaited.

Goa: Mopa airport gets environ clearance

New Delhi (NVI): Union Minister Prakash Javadekar today gave environmental approval to Greenfield Mopa International Airport in Goa, paving the way for overall development for the region and give boost to tourism in the state.

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change took to Twitter to confirm the development.

“I am happy to announce that today i have given Environmental approval for Greenfield Mopa International Airport in #Goa. This will pave way for overall development for the region and give boost to tourism in the state,” he wrote on the microblogging site.

Javadekar also tagged Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Goa BJP in his tweet.

Coronavirus now a pandemic; India suspends visas

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Upping its ante in the face of coronavirus outbreak, India has suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15. The Ministry of Health has confirmed that there are total 73 COVID-19 cases in India, at present.

“All existing visas issued to nationals of any country except those issued to Diplomats, Officials, UN/International organizations, Employment, Project visas stand suspended till April 15, 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13, 2020 at the port of departure of any foreigner for onward journey to India,” the Bureau of Immigration, Home Affairs said in a statement today.

The latest travel advisory by the Government has been announced even as the WHO classified Coronavirus as a pandemic yesterday.

India has imposed stringent travel curbs as the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic with more than 118,000 confirmed cases and 4,291 deaths in 114 countries.

However, the Bureau of Immigration further stated that visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid. “They may contact the nearest FRRO/FRO through e-FRRO module for extension/conversion of their visa or grant of any consular service if they choose to do so,” it stated.

India’s count of infected people stands at 73 now with no confirmed deaths so far from the disease.

Meanwhile, Italy has tightened its quarantine and the US has imposed a ban on flights to Europe.

Italy now has more than 12,000 confirmed cases and a death toll of 827. Nearly 900 people with the virus in Italy are in intensive care, the WHO said.

The United States has more than 1,000 cases with a total death toll of 30.

With its new cases, South Korea has 7,869 people with the virus, and a total death toll of 66.

Denmark – which has 514 confirmed cases, is to close all schools and universities from Friday. The government also urged the cancellation of events with more than 100 people attending.

Meanwhile, the virus appeared in new countries including Bolivia, Honduras and Turkey, while Indonesia, Bulgaria, Sweden and Greece recorded their first deaths, according to media reports.

Thailand has also reported 11 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian nation to 70, health officials said.

UNHCR calls for funds to save refugees from coronavirus

New Delhi (NVI): With the number of novel coronavirus cases surpassing one lakh mark globally, the UNHCR has made an urgent appeal for US$33 million to save refugees with the various preparedness, prevention and response measures.

“UNHCR is urgently seeking an initial US$33 million to boost the preparedness, prevention and response activities to address the immediate public health needs of refugees prompted by COVID-19,” the UN Refugee Agency said.

“To date and based on available evidence, there have been no reports of COVID-19 infections among refugees and asylum seekers. However, the virus can affect anyone and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that the global response includes all people,” said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

“Allowing full access to health services, including for the most marginalized members of the community, is the best way to protect us all. Everyone on this planet – including refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people– should be able to access health facilities and services,” he added.

UNHCR is currently strengthening its overall preparedness, prevention and response measures to COVID-19 around the world. The health and well-being of refugees and humanitarian personnel working for them in more than 130 countries around the world are central to these efforts, the agency said.

UNHCR is contributing to epidemiological surveillance, reporting, contact tracing and investigation of alerts in collaboration with ministries of health, WHO and partners, including at points of entry and refugee sites, it said.

In addition, UNHCR operations are actively contributing to overall UN efforts and reviewing the capacity of public health partners to respond in the event of an outbreak in refugee/IDP camps or settlements. Operations are also being advised to check their stocks of medical and other hygiene supplies, equipment and personal protective kits, it added.

Delhi violence: PFI prez, secretary held

J-K Police
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Police Special Cell today arrested Popular Front of India (PFI) president Parvez and secretary Illiyas in connection with northeast Delhi violence.

The duo has been arrested for their alleged role in instigating people during the riots in northeast Delhi and funding for the riots.

Parvez and Illiyas are likely to be produced before Delhi’s Patiala House Court later today.

The PFI has been accused of funding protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and similar charges were also pressed against it.

The violence swept northeast Delhi area after the pro-and anti-CAA groups clashed. Over 50 people have been killed in the violence.

Rain, snowfall over Western Himalayas; temperature dips in North India 

New Delhi (NVI): Rainfall and snow activities have increased over many parts of Western Himalayas in last 24 hours after Western Disturbance has intensified. It has also moved over to Ladakh region.
Following this, the temperatures have dropped further over most parts of India due to icy cold winds from the snow-clad mountains of Himalayas.
Meanwhile, Udaipur in Rajasthan is the coldest city in the plains of India, with its morning temperature settling at 10 degree Celsius.
Sikar in Rajasthan and Narnaul in Haryana recorded minimum temperature at 10.5 and 10.8 degree Celsius respectively.
Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan and Hisar in Haryana recorded minimum temperature at 11.3 and 12.1 degree Celsius respectively.
Amritsar in Punjab and Pilani in Rajasthan both recorded minimum temperature at 12.4  degree Celsius.
Apart from this, Rajasthan’s Bikaner, Churu and Ajmer has recorded minimum temperature at 12.5, 12.6 and 12.7 degree Celsius respectively.
Meanwhile, Delhi and NCR region also saw a slight decrease in minimum temperature to 14.7 degrees Celsius from 14.8 degrees Celsius recorded yesterday.
The maximum temperature today is expected to be around 27 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The weatherman expect back to back Western Disturbances to enhance the rains even further.
It expect fairly widespread rain and snow over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand until the night of March 13 leading to the closure of many roads, landslides and mudslides.

2019 was 2nd warmest year on record: WMO report

Photo Credit: WMO

New Delhi (NVI): 2019 was the second warmest year on record, the past decade was the hottest in human history and January was the warmest January since 1850,  according to the new report released by World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

”January was recorded as the warmest month of the year and the year 2019 ended with a global average temperature of 1.1°C above estimated pre-industrial levels, second only to the record set in 2016,” the report said.

In 2019, India was one of the countries including Australia, Japan, and Europe with a record-setting temperature that negatively affected health and well-being, the report suggests.

UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres while briefing on agency’s annual state of the Global climate 2019 report said, ”We have no time to lose if we are to avert climate catastrophe and this is a pivotal year for how we address the climate emergency.”

”Greenhouse gas concentrations are at the highest level in three million years when the earth temperature was as much as three degrees hotter and sea level some 15 metres higher, ” he said.

”Ocean heat is at a record level with temperatures rising at the equivalent of five Hiroshima bombs a second,” he said adding that we count the cost in human lives and livelihoods as droughts, wildfires, floods and extreme storms take their deadly toll.

More than 6.7 million new internal disaster displacements were recorded between January and June 2019, triggered by hydrometeorological events such as Cyclone Idai in Southeast Africa, Cyclone Fani in South Asia, Hurricane Dorian in the Caribbean, and flooding in Iran, the Philippines and Ethiopia. This number was forecast to reach close to 22 million in 2019, up from 17.2 million in 2018. Of all natural hazards, floods and storms contributed most to displacement, the report added.

COVID-19: French President Macron to greet all his counterparts with namaste

New Delhi (NVI): Being aware of the coronavirus outbreak, French President Emmanuel Macron has decided to meet all his counterparts with traditional Indian style of greeting — by saying ‘namaste’– instead of shaking hands.

The French President’s resolve was seen when he greeted Spain’s King and Queen today. He replaced the traditional handshake with an Indian-style namaste, pressing his palms together and bowing slightly.

French Ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain said in a tweet that Macron has decided to meet his counterparts with namaste, While also adding that the French President has retained the “graceful gesture” since his India visit in 2018.

“Président Macron has decided to greet all his counterparts with a namaste, a graceful gesture that he has retained from his India visit in 2018,” he tweeted.

Public health authorities in Europe have said that people should avoid shaking hands to curb the spread of coronavirus. The COVID-19 infection could be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact.

Women participation crucial in Afghan peace process: Hillary Clinton

New York (NVI): Women must be a part of peace negotiations in Afghanistan as there can be no sustainable peace if women are not at the negotiating table, former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

“Women are essential to combating corruption, building economic growth and ensuring the longevity of any agreement that is reached. If women are sidelined, the prospects for sustainable peace are slim,” she said in New York at the meeting of the Group of Friends of Women in Afghanistan, while commenting on the US-Taliban peace deal that was signed in Doha on February 29.

“If society is torn apart and women pushed to the margins, it is more likely that terrorists will find a haven. There can be no sustainable peace without women’s participation and rights” she said while adding that women must be included, and women’s rights respected, as part of any peace negotiation in Afghanistan.

“To this day, they remember how they would be whipped in public for the slightest infraction; how they were kept secluded and deprived of going to school, seeking medical services, or interacting socially, and how they had to endure cruel punishments such as stoning decreed by outlaw courts. In addition, quite a few of them lost their closest and most dear relatives to Taliban acts of violence: an occurrence that unfortunately continues until today”, she said.

“We need our allies, international partners and supporters to elevate the strides of my fellow Afghan sisters for not only having a seat at the negotiating table but for a comprehensive peace agreement that protects the constitutional rights of every Afghan woman”, she stated.

“Because women’s rights are human rights,” she added.

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