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Coronavirus cases surpass 3.75 million globally

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases are nearing 4 million globally as more than 3.75 million people have been confirmed infected with the new coronavirus so far, and more than 2,63,000 have died, according to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

In addition to this, the total positive cases in the US have surpassed 1.2 million with more than 73,000 fatalities reported in the country.

Brazil’s health minister for the first time says that lockdowns may be needed in the country as daily cases and deaths hit new highs.

In another development, Otavio Rego Barros, spokesman for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

China’s National Health Commission is reporting two new coronavirus cases for May 6.

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) is issuing a new appeal for USD 4.7 billion in funding to “protect millions of lives and stem the spread of coronavirus in fragile countries”.

The money is on top of the $2bn the UN already called for when it launched its global humanitarian response plan on March 25. It has received about half of that money so far.

COVID-19 cases in India climb to 52,952, death toll at 1,783

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 52,952 and fatalities from the virus has gone up to 1,783, according to Union Health Ministry.

In the past 24 hours, 3,561 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported across the country with at least 89 new deaths.

Maharashtra remains worst-affected with 16,758 cases of COVID-19 so far, followed by Gujarat at 6,625 and Delhi at 5,532.

Tamil Nadu, which recently witnessed a sudden surge in the number of cases, now has 4,058 cases.

The other worst affected states are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Maharashtra has also recorded 651 deaths, the highest number among all the states followed by Gujarat with 396 fatalities, Health Ministry data showed.

Meanwhile, starting from today, India will operate 64 flights until May 13, to bring home nearly 15,000 Indians stranded overseas.

A total of 12,76,781 samples had been tested for COVID-19 so far.

While coronavirus cases continue to rise, the government is also discussing on stimulus package for the business industry as COVID-19 lockdown has hit economy.

At least, 15,266 patients have been cured of the virus or discharged.

PM dials Ethiopia leader Dr Abiy Ahmed

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spoke to his Ethiopian counterpart Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali over phone and discussed the domestic, regional and global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The two leaders expressed solidarity with each other during the health crisis, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement here.

PM Modi also took to Twitter after his conversation with the Ethiopian leader. “Spoke to PM Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali. We discussed the COVID-19 situation. India stands in solidarity with our friends in Ethiopia as well as other countries in Africa, and will be a reliable partner to provide essential medical supplies and other assistance to handle the crisis,” he tweeted.


During the conversation, PM Modi also recalled the close ties between India and Ethiopia and the excellent development of partnership between the two nations, PMO said.

Prime Minister Modi assured Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali of Indian support to Ethiopia, for ensuring supplies of essential medicines and ameliorating the economic impact of the pandemic.

“The Prime Minister, on behalf of the people of India and on his own behalf, wished the people of Ethiopia success in the fight against Covid-19,” read an official statement by PMO.

The Ethiopian PM also wrote on the microblogging site after his telephonic conversation with the Indian Prime Minister.

“Pleased to have spoken on the phone with @narendramodi on bilateral issues as well as experiences of #COVID19 mitigation efforts in our countries. We affirmed commitment to build upon the successes & achievements of the existing bilateral cooperation between #Ethiopia & #India,” he tweeted.

Covid-19: Nepal extends lockdown till May 18

New Delhi (NVI): The government of Nepal today extended the lockdown in the country till May 18 to curb the spread of coronavirus, The Himalayan Times reported.

A meeting of the High-Level Coordination Committee for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 was held yesterday, the newspaper reported. The meeting, held under Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s chairmanship, reviewed measures taken to prevent the spread of the pandemic and the impact of the ongoing lockdown.

During the meeting, the committee decided to recommend to the government that the lockdown be extended, the Nepal daily reported.

Nepal Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai told The Himalayan Times that a proposal was presented in the meeting to categorise areas as green, orange and red, but PM Oli said it was not the right time to go for relaxation of lockdown on the basis of categorisation, as COVID- 19 cases continued to rise in India and in certain districts of Nepal bordering India.

Nepal imposed the lockdown on March 24 and extended it further on April 27. The lockdown was to end on May 7 (tomorrow).

Meanwhile, Nepal reported seven new coronavirus cases yesterday, taking the number of infections in the nation to 82.

So far, no death has been reported in the country.

Afghanistan reports 168 new coronavirus cases, total 3,392

(Pic Courtesy: TOLO news)

New Delhi (NVI): With 168 fresh coronavirus cases reported in Afghanistan, the overall tally climbed to 3,392 in the country that is battling the pandemic with limited medical supplies, according to Afghan media reports.

In the past 24 hours, there have been nine deaths and 31 recoveries, TOLO news reports.

Among the fresh 168 positive cases, Kabul reported 67, Herat 32, Kandahar 14, Balkh 4, Paktia 4, Nangarhar 11, Logar 8, Laghman 9, Helmand 1, Samangan 1, Baghlan 4, Faryab 9, Kunar 2, Sar-e-Pul 1 and Nuristan 1.

According to the country’s Ministry of Public Health, 13,777 people have been tested for COVID-19 so far.

Earlier on Saturday, the Afghan government extended the lockdown for a third time for a further 21 days which is expected to end on May 30, to contain the pandemic, as per media reports.

The total number of patients recovered in the country stands at 458, and 104 people have died due to pandemic.

Top Hizbul terrorist killed in encounter with security forces in Kashmir’s Pulwama

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

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): In a huge success, security forces today killed Riyaz Naikoo, a top commander of Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen, and his associate in an encounter in Pulwama district of Kashmir.

Two more terrorists were killed in a separate encounter in the same district.

Naikoo, the most wanted terrorist who was involved in several major attacks and recruitment of youth in militancy, was gunned down in a house in Beighpora area of Awantipora.

The encounter started this morning, hours after security forces laid siege of a house after receiving a specific input about the presence of Naikoo and his associate.

The killing of 32-year-old Naikoo is expected to deal a severe blow to the outfit and its recruitment of Kashmiri youth into terrorism as he played a key role in it.

Naikoo was a successor to Hizbul Mujahideen’s poster-boy commander Burhan Wani, who was killed in July 2016 in an encounter with security forces. Naikoo was a mathematics teacher before he took to militancy in 2012. He was wanted in 11 terror-related cases and carried a reward of Rs 12 lakh on his head.

After Zakir Musa’s defection from Hizbul Mujahideen to form his own outfit called ‘Ansar Gazwat ul Hind’, Naikoo took command of the terror outfit in Kashmir. To recall, Zakir Musa was eliminated in an operation last year, police said.

Naikoo had been continuously making audio and video clips and putting them on social media to motivate youth to join militancy and went on recruiting new boys. He was responsible for a large number of youths getting into militant ranks and indulging in serious violence against local population and security forces, police said.

He was a mastermind behind the revival of HM outfit in Jammu and Kashmir, police said. He also released videos/audios on a number of occasions, carrying pro-Pakistan and separatist propaganda. Naikoo executed a series of attacks on policemen, security forces and civilians, they said.

The HM commander also resorted to brutal killings of civilians, branding them police or SF informers. To collect funds for his outfit, he looted orchard owners and farmers.

He was also collecting money from illicit cultivation of opium and ‘bhang’ (cannabis) in south Kashmir. “His outfit figured in narco trade case in Jammu where a huge sum of sale proceeds was transferred to one of his contacts,” police said.

Naikoo had a number of FIR’s registered against him for his involvement in many heinous crimes.

He was involved in the killing of Haji Ghulam Mohd Dar, father of a panchayat sarpanch in Dogripora in March 2014, firing on police bus near Bhatpora Tokena, the killing of Ghulam Mohi-Ud-din Dar, killing of Javaid Akbar Khanday, resident of Khandaypora, killing of a Police Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Mir at Padgampoara crossing, the kidnapping of Constable Naseer Ahmad, looting of nine weapons from the residence of ex MLA Wachi, killing six migrant laborers in Kulgam, killing of truck drivers and fruit traders after August 5, police said.

Apart from this, he also released an audio tape threatening attacks on the jail staff after preferential treatment being provided to militants and the separatists lodged in various jails was discontinued.

In the second encounter at Sharshali today, two terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed. The identification of killed terrorists is being ascertained, police said. Incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from them.

Meanwhile, internet and mobile phone services (SMS+voice calling) were suspended until further by authorities today. A strict curfew was also imposed in the Valley in view of the law and order situation, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said.

The latest crackdown on terrorists came a day after J&K DGP Dilbagh Singh said that anti-militancy operations will be intensified across Kashmir. He was talking to media after a wreath-laying ceremony of three jawans killed in a terror attack in Kupwara district.

Earlier on Sunday, an Army Colonel, a Major, two soldiers and a J&K Police sub-inspector lost their lives in an encounter in Handwara, in which two terrorists were also killed.

To ease EPF compliance by employers, email mechanism to obtain e-sign introduced

New Delhi (NVI): In a relief for employers, who were finding it difficult to use digital or Aadhaar based e-Sign for EPF compliance amid the lockdown, retirement fund body EPFO today said that it has introduced an email mechanism to obtain e-sign.

“In the current scenario of lockdown announced by the Government to control the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and other disruptions, the employers are not able to function normally and are facing problems in using their digital signatures or Aadhaar based e-sign on EPFO portal,” the Ministry of Labour & Employment said in a statement.

Due to the ongoing lockdown, many important tasks like KYC attestation, transfer claim attestation, etc are being done online by the authorised persons of employers using their Digital Signatures (DSC) or Aadhar based e-Signs on EPFO portal, the Ministry said.

“For using DSC/e-Sign, one time approval from Regional Offices is required. Due to lockdown, many employers are facing difficulties to send the one time registration requests to the Regional Offices,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Taking cognizance of the problems faced by employers and further ease the compliance procedure, EPFO has decided to accept such requests through email also. An employer can send the scanned copy of duly signed request letter to the concerned Regional Office through mail, the ministry said.

Further, such establishments, whose authorized officers have approved digital signatures but are not able to locate the dongle, can login to the employer portal and register their e-sign through the link for registration of already registered authorized signatories, it said.

If their name against the approved digital signature is same as that in their Aadhar, the registration of e-sign will not require any further approval. Other authorized signatories can register their e-signs and send the request letters approved by the employers and seek approval of the concerned EPFO Offices, the Labour Ministry said.

Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in J&K’s Poonch

(File/Representational Image)

Jammu (NVI): Pakistani troops today violated the ceasefire in Shahpur sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, defence sources said.

“At about 1540 hours, Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms along LoC in Shahpur sector, District Poonch(J&K),” they said adding that the Indian Army was retaliating befittingly.

Pakistan has been violating ceasefire along LoC almost daily nowadays, even as the whole world is grappling with coronavirus outbreak. Despite appeals for a Ramzan truce by the border residents, to respect the sanctity of the fasting month, Pakistani troops have been resorting to unprovoked ceasefire violations every now and then.

In another big development, top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo was killed along with his aide in an encounter with security forces at Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district today.

Naikoo was Hizbul Mujahideen’s Chief operational commander in Kashmir and had joined militant ranks of HM outfit in May 2012.

Public transport may restart soon with some guidelines: Gadkari

New Delhi (NVI): Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said that public transport may open soon with some guidelines while cautioning towards maintaining social distance and adopting all safety measures like hand wash, sanitizing, face masks, etc while operating buses and cars.

The Union Transport Minister was addressing the members of Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India through video conferencing. In his virtual interaction, he assured the bus and car operators of the country that the government is fully aware of their problems, and will fully support them to mitigate their issues, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said.

Gadkari said that he is in regular touch with the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister in this regard.

He further said the Ministry is looking at adopting the London model of public transport, where government funding is minimal and private investment is promoted.

He also pointed out towards the poor standards of Indian bus and truck bodies which he said, work for only 5-7 years, whereas the European models last for upto 15 years.

The minister also emphasised upon adopting good practices by European countries in the transport space, which he said will also be economically viable for indigenous industry in the longer run.

Speaking on the financial condition of the Indian market during the ongoing pandemic, he said, all stakeholders will have to work together to combat it.

He pointed towards a very good business opportunity being offered by world industry, which is trying to wriggle out of the Chinese market, the Ministry said.

“Indian industry should grasp this opportunity to invite those foreign companies to invest with them in India,” Gadkari said.

Apart from that, members of the confederation made suggestions for improving the condition of public transport which include extending interest payment exemptions, restarting public transport, extending age, life limit, deferring state taxes, extending MSME benefits, extending insurance policy validity, etc.

Bangladesh receives medical assistance from India

(Image source: United News of Bangladesh)

New Delhi (NVI): India handed over the third tranche of emergency medical assistance today, consisting of Covid-19 test kits capable of running 30,000 tests in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is the first partner country to receive these test kits on priority basis reflecting the “importance attached” to the bilateral relationship by India, according to media reports.

The total number of deaths from coronavirus continues to rise in Bangladesh as 3 more people died during the period, taking the total casualties in the country to 186.

Besides, a whopping 790 new cases of coronavirus infection were reported during this period, the highest daily rise since the outbreak began in the country, raising the number of such cases in the country to 11,719, according to United News of Bangladesh.

Considering the worsening situation, the government is about to extend the general holiday again to prevent the transmission of the deadly virus, media reports states.

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