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J&K: Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in Poonch, Rajouri

Ceasefire
Representational image

Jammu (NVI): Pakistan today violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu Kashmir, according to the defence sources.

The first unprovoked ceasefire violation took place at around 0945 hours in Qasba and Kirni sectors in Poonch as Pakistani troops resorted to firing with small arms, they said.

Later, at around 1145 hours, Pakistan resorted to another ceasefire violation along LoC in Nowshera Sector, Rajouri district by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars, according to defence sources.

Indian Army retaliated and gave a befitting response, they added.

Even as the whole world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, there have been ceasefire violations and infiltrations bids from the Pakistani side along LoC in J&K.

Tensions along the border have escalated after the recent infiltration bid by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district, which was foiled by the Indian Army. Five militants were killed in the operation as the Army lost its five soldiers from elite Special Forces.

In another incident, three civilians including a woman and an eight-year-old boy were killed in the Pak shelling at Chowkibal area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district during intense shelling by Pakistan army on Sunday (April 12).

IAF chopper makes emergency landing

New Delhi (NVI): A Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Air Force carrying Covid-19 test samples from Hindon to Chandigarh made an emergency landing on the highway outside the airbase in Uttar Pradesh due to a technical snag.

“A Cheetah helicopter was proceeding from Hindon to Chandigarh on a COVID-19 task of carrying test samples of Leh. Approximately 3 NM out of Hindon, aircraft developed technical snag and carried out safe landing on Outer Ring Road highway,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Pilots took prompt action and no damage to any property has been reported, the Ministry said. A recovery aircraft was launched immediately from Hindon airbase. The IAF chopper was rectified and recovered back promptly and safely at Hindon, the MoD said in a statement.

WHO joins hands with India’s Polio network to combat COVID-19

cooling proize
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and World Health Organization (WHO) have joined hands to initiate a systematic engagement of WHO’s national polio surveillance network, and other field staff, for COVID-19 response.

The initiative comes in order to tap into the best practices and key resources that helped India win its war against polio.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has welcomed the world health body’s cooperation with India to leverage strategies to help the country win its war against COVID-19 outbreak, saying such joint efforts will help defeat the pandemic.

The WHO’s national polio surveillance network will be engaged to strengthen COVID-19 surveillance and its field staff will continue to support immunisation and elimination of tuberculosis and other diseases.

“Time and again the Government of India and WHO together have shown our ability, competence and prowess to the whole world. With our combined meticulous work, done with full sincerity and dedication, we were able to get rid of polio,”Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare said.

He further added, “Today I would like to remind you of your potential and ability, and the big things we can do together. All of you in the field – IDSP, state rapid response teams and WHO – are our ‘surveillance corona warriors’. With your joint efforts we can defeat the coronavirus and save lives.”

Harsh Vardhan, along with Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, was addressing WHO and other field staff, simultaneously connected from over 1,000 sites all over the country – from capital cities to the remotest corners.

Singh said the National Polio Surveillance Project (WHO-NPSP) played a critical role in strengthening surveillance for polio that generated useful, timely and accurate data to guide policies, strategies and interventions until transmission of the poliovirus was interrupted in the country.

COVID-19: UT, state-wise total number of positive cases

New Delhi (NVI): The country is witnessing a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases on a daily basis, as the latest report by Health Ministry shows a total of 12,380 confirmed cases and 414 fatalities so far.

After the first confirmed case in India, which was reported from Kerala on January 30, the virus has tightened its grip over the entire nation.

As the country has entered into the second day of the extended 19-day lockdown, following is a breakdown of the active coronavirus cases in the country state and Union Territory wise.

Andhra Pradesh- 525
Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 11
Arunachal Pradesh- 1
Assam- 33
Bihar- 70
Chandigarh- 21
Chhattisgarh- 33
Delhi- 1578
Goa- 7
Gujarat- 766
Haryana- 205
Himachal Pradesh- 35
Jammu and Kashmir- 300
Jharkhand- 28
Karnataka- 279
Kerala- 388
Ladakh- 17
Madhya Pradesh- 987
Maharashtra- 2016
Manipur- 2
Meghalaya- 1
Mizoram- 1
Odisha- 60
Puducherry- 7
Punjab- 186
Rajasthan- 1023
Tamil Nadu- 1242
Telangana- 647
Tripura- 2
Uttarakhand- 37
Uttar Pradesh- 735
West Bengal- 231

A total of 1,488 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 10,477 active cases currently.

Policy renewal extended till May 15, says Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

New Delhi (NVI): Amid the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced that the policyholders can now renew their policies till May 15, 2020.

These relief measures are for those whose health and automobile insurance policies are due for renewal during lockdown period.

Sitharaman took to twitter and said, “With a view to mitigate hardship to policyholders whose health and motor (third party) insurance policies are due for renewal during COVID-19 lockdown.”

“Govt. has issued notification allowing policyholders to make payments on or before 15.05.2020 towards renewal of their policies,” she added.

Through a series of tweets, Sitharaman further said, “This is for policies that are due between 25th March and 3rd May, in order to ensure their continuity and hassle-free claims payment during the above grace period.”

This comes a day after the government issued a list of guidelines that are to be followed during the extension of nationwide lockdown.

Coronavirus cases exceed 2 million worldwide

Coronavirus

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in the world has surpassed 2 million today, according to the data compiled by the Johns Hopkins University.

Furthermore, 1,37,000 people have died due to the contagion with around 5,12,000 people having been cured and recovered from the virus.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is set to announce guidelines on reopening the county’s economy today. Germany has announced first steps to ease its lockdown as the country sees a slowdown in the increase of the infected cases.

In US, the total number of coronavirus cases has crossed 6,39,000 with the death toll exceeding 26,000 in the country.

In addition to this, the death toll in Italy reached 21,645, in Spain reached 18,812 and in France at 17,167.

In addition to this, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that he regrets Trump’s decision to halt funding for the organisation but called for world unity to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also said that the global economy is expected to shrink by 3 per cent this year – the biggest contraction since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

In a recent development, G20 nations agreed to suspend debt payments owed to them by the world’s poorest countries.

COVID-19 cases in India rise to 12,759; death toll at 420

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has gone up to 12,759 with 420 fatalities due to the pandemic, according to Union Health Ministry.

In the past 24 hours, 941 fresh COVID-19 infections were reported with 37 deaths, data of Health Ministry showed.

With 2,916 coronavirus cases, Maharashtra remains the worst affected state followed by Delhi at second spot with 1,578 cases, Tamil Nadu at 1,242 and Rajasthan at 1,023.

The death toll in Maharashtra rose up to 187, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Centre has released a list of 170 hotspot districts, 47 district shows cluster outbreaks.

At least 1,488 patients have been cured of the virus or discharged.

India is currently under an extended period of lockdown till 3 May, implemented to curb the spread of the virus.

Construction activity to resume from April 20 with conditions

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): The government today permitted some construction activity in the areas excluding COVID-19 hotspots, as it issued a fresh set of guidelines for the extended lockdown till May 3.

As per the MHA order, the continuation of works in the construction projects, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, where workers are available on site and no workers are required to be brought in from outside (in situ construction), will be allowed after April 20.

The order also allows the construction of roads, irrigation projects, buildings and all kinds of industrial projects, including MSME’s, in rural areas i.e., outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities; and all kinds of projects in industrial estates, as per the guidelines.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry today said that it has identified 170 districts as hotspots, and 207 districts as non-hotspots in the country.

This means, that construction-related activity will not take place in these 170 districts.

Hotspots are the districts where the absolute number of Covid-19 cases reported are high or the rate of growth of positive cases is high. Whereas, non-hotspots are the areas that have reported cases of Covid-19 but the number is limited.

On the other hand, green zone districts are where no case of novel coronavirus has been reported.

70 new COVID-19 cases in Afghanistan, total at 784

(Pic courtesy: TOLO news)

New Delhi (NVI): Afghanistan authorities today confirmed that 70 new COVID-19 cases have been registered in the country in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 784, according to Afghan media.

Among the 70 new cases registered, 31 have been reported in Kabul, 22 in Herat, 3 in Kandahar, 3 in Ghazni, 2 in Wardak, 2 in Kunar, 2 in Nangarhar and 2 in Nimruz and 1 each in Faryab, Uruzgan, and Baghlan, Afghan media reports said.

Meanwhile, the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kabul stands at 209, from which six people have died and 11 others have recovered, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

At least 43 people have recovered from the coronavirus in the country while 25 have died, so far.

Plumbers, electricians allowed during lockdown 2.0

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): Self-employed persons working as electricians, carpenters, plumbers, IT repair agents and motor mechanics will be allowed to resume work during the extended lockdown from April 20, as per the fresh guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs today.

The Government has issued detailed guidelines on activities allowed and prohibited to avoid any kind of confusion among the general public.

As per the consolidated, revised guidelines by MHA, “services provided by self-employed persons, e.g., electricians, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters,” will be allowed to operate.

That means, you cannot go to a PVR to watch a movie or a restaurant to dine out, but if your house needs some repairs, you can call a plumber or an electrician.

Apart from that, the government has allowed all IT and IT enabled services to operate but with 50% of strength.

The information regarding services provided by self-employed persons was given under ‘Commercial and private establishments’ section in the detailed order that had a total of 22 such sections, running into eight pages.

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