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Australia to boost military spending, acquire long-range missiles

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison

New Delhi (NVI): Australia has decided to significantly increase military spending and acquire long-range missiles to protect overseas forces, allies and the mainland against rising threats including China, according to foreign media reports.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will today deliver a major update on the country’s defence strategy, including the purchase of long-range anti-ship missiles from the United States to equip its fleet of Super Hornets.

Morrison has also pledged $270 billion on new and upgraded defence capabilities over the next decade – a substantial increase from $195 billion committed in the 10 years from 2016, according to the reports.

Reportedly, in addition to new long-range anti-ship and land-strike weapons, Australia will also commit funds to the development, test and evaluation of high-speed long-range weapons, including hypersonic weapons.

These are a type of high-speed weapons more likely to withstand modern ballistic missile defence systems.

The new strike capability will be acquired to defend Australia and its allies against a number of threats as part of the new strategy, which focuses the nation on protecting itself and its allies in the immediate region of the Indo-Pacific, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Prime Minister Morrison has also said that tensions are rising across the IPR, citing recent border clashes between India and China and tensions in the South China Sea.

“The risk of miscalculation – and even conflict – is heightening,” he warned.

The Australian government has also set three new strategic objectives for defence planning – to shape Australia’s strategic environment; to deter actions against Australia’s interests; and to respond with credible military force, when required, according to media reports.

-CHK

Sopore shootout: 3-year-old kid tries to wake up dead grandfather; Kashmir in shock

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Three-year-old Ayaad woke up early this morning to accompany his grandfather Bashir Ahmed Khan, a contractor, to visit Sopore where construction work was going on for the past few days. Khan had to visit the site to take stock of the ongoing work but little did he know that he would not return home alive.

At 9 am, Khan and little Ayaad had reached model town Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. All of a sudden bullets started raining from all directions. Many people, according to the police left behind vehicles and ran for cover. Khan, however, pushed his grandson to the backseat of his vehicle first and then came out of the vehicle in a bid to save his grandson. He was first hit in his shoulder and then in his belly.

Police said that an injured Khan then took the child out of the vehicle but fell on the ground and breathed his last. Eye-witnesses told NVI that the kid, unmindful of what actually happened to his grandfather, sat on his chest and started crying, “uthu daadu (wake up daadu),” but Khan had succumbed to his wounds.

The heart-wrenching pictures of the boy sitting on his dead grandfather’s chest, trying to wake him up, have left every eye moist in Kashmir and everyone in a deep shock. The boy was rescued by a J&K policeman during the encounter between security forces and militants.

In a video of the rescued kid in a police vehicle, he can be heard speaking in broken Kashmiri, “be gache gare (I want to go home)”. The policemen gave him a bunch of chocolates and rolls of biscuits to ensure he doesn’t cry much and come out of the shock.


J&K Police also uploaded a picture on its official Twitter account, showing a policeman holding Ayaad in his lap. The tweet reads: “JKP rescued a three-year-old boy from getting hit by bullets during militant attack in Sopore.”

At the Mustafabad area on Srinagar outskirts, the residence of deceased Khan, neighbours, relatives and family members were in a deep shock amid wails. A pall of gloom had descended on the family and the entire locality. “My father has been killed and those who killed him should be killed as well. Didn’t they see a little kid along with my father,” said the slain man’s daughter while crying.

CRPF, in a brief statement, said that its personnel were deployed at model town, Sopore for patrolling duties. Terrorists hiding in the attic of a nearby mosque fired indiscriminately on them, resulting in the injuries to four jawans while Head Constable Dipchand Verma got killed and three others- Bhoya Rajesh, Deepak Patil and Nilesh Chawde sustained injuries. “One civilian died on the spot in militant act,” the statement read.

-ARK

Delhi Police inspector dies of Covid-19

New Delhi (NVI): A 49-year-old Delhi police inspector, who was posted with special cell, succumbed to Covid-19 at South Delhi’s Max Hospital late yesterday.

The deceased, Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, had been admitted to the hospital after testing positive around 15 days ago. He had developed fever and was on ventilator after complaining of breathlessness.

Yadav also went through plasma therapy and was given a special injection and medicine arranged from the US but could not be saved.

The officer was also decorated with Police Medal for gallantry during the Republic Day this year. With his death, total nine Delhi Police personnel have died of the deadly infection so far.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed grief on Yadav’s death and said that he was a brave officer. “My deepest condolences at the death of Insp Sanjeev Kumar Yadav who died of COVID-19. A very brave policeman and recipient of Police medal. His death is a great loss to @DelhiPolice,” he tweeted.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal also tweeted over the loss and paid his condolences. “Extremely saddened at the death of Insp Sanjeev Kumar Yadav in the line of duty fighting COVID-19. A great warrior, recipient of Police Medal for gallantry, he brought laurels for @DelhiPolice. His untimely demise is irreplaceable loss for the organization
My deepest condolences!,” the LG tweeted.

-ARK

TN: 5 killed, 17 injured in boiler blast

New Delhi (NVI): At least five people were killed in a boiler explosion at Neyveli thermal power station in Tamil Nadu this morning, while 17 people were left injured.

The incident took place at the fifth unit of the thermal power station-II (210 MW x 7), as per media reports. The explosion happened as workers were resuming operations.

All those injured were rushed to the hospital while an investigation is underway. This is the second blast at the power plant in two months.

In May, eight workers were injured in a boiler blast at Neyveli lignite plant, included both regular and contractual employees. That explosion happened due to the above normal temperature in the boiler.

-RJV/ARK

INS Jalashwa brings back 687 Indians stranded in Iran

INS Jalashwa entered Tuticorin harbour today with 687 Indians from Bandar Abbas, Iran.

New Delhi (NVI): Indian Navy Ship ‘INS Jalashwa’ today arrived at Tuticorin harbour in Tamil Nadu with 687 Indian nationals evacuated from Bandar Abbas in Iran, under ‘Operation Samudra Setu’.

With this, the Navy ship has evacuated a total of 3,992 Indian citizens from Maldives, Sri Lanka and Iran to India as part of Vande Bharat Mission.

The ship embarked from the Bandar Abbas Port on June 25 with the evacuees. They were all the Indian fishermen who were stranded due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

At Tuticorin, the evacuees were received by local authorities and arrangements were in place for their speedy disembarkation, health screening, immigration and transportation.

The Indian government has launched ‘Operation Samudra Setu’ to facilitate return of Indian citizens from foreign shores. Similarly, Mission Vande Bharat was launched in May to fly back Indian nationals stranded in foreign countries amid coronavirus crisis and lockdown.

-CHK

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 5,85,493 after 18,653 new cases were reported in a single-day, according to Health Ministry data.

Meanwhile, the total number of fatalities due to the deadly contagion rose to 17,400 in the country after 507 new fatalities were reported during this period.

With 1,74,761 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu with 90,167 cases and Delhi with 87,360 positive cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 97

Andhra Pradesh- 14,595

Arunachal Pradesh- 191

Assam- 8,227

Bihar- 10,043

Chandigarh- 440

Chhattisgarh- 2,860

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 26

Delhi- 87,360

Gujarat- 32,557

Goa- 1,315

Haryana– 14,548

Himachal Pradesh- 953

Jammu and Kashmir- 7,497

Jharkhand- 2,490

Karnataka- 15,242

Kerala- 4,442

Ladakh- 973

Madhya Pradesh- 13,593

Maharashtra- 1,74,761

Manipur- 1,234

Meghalaya- 52

Mizoram- 160

Nagaland- 459

Odisha- 7,065

Puducherry- 714

Punjab- 5,568

Rajasthan- 18,014

Sikkim- 89

Tamil Nadu- 90,167

Telangana- 16,339

Tripura- 1,388

Uttarakhand- 2,881

Uttar Pradesh- 23,492

West Bengal – 18,559

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 187

Arunachal Pradesh- 1

Assam- 12

Bihar- 67

Chandigarh- 6

Chhattisgarh- 13

Delhi- 2,742

Goa- 3

Gujarat- 1,846

Haryana- 236

Himachal Pradesh- 10

Jammu and Kashmir- 101

Jharkhand- 15

Karnataka- 246

Kerala- 24

Ladakh- 1

Madhya Pradesh- 572

Maharashtra- 7,855

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 25

Puducherry- 12

Punjab- 144

Rajasthan- 413

Tamil Nadu- 1,201

Telangana- 260

Tripura- 1

Uttar Pradesh- 697

Uttarakhand- 41

West Bengal- 668

A total of 3,47,979 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 2,20,114 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

-CHK

COVID-19 health workers honoured on National Doctor’s Day

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): India celebrates the National Doctor’s Day on July 1 every year, this year is even more special as our doctors and health workers have turned COVID-19 warriors, trying to fight the deadly disease.

The day is an opportunity to express our gratitude and offer thanks to doctors and medical professionals working round the clock to serve the country.

In 1991, the first National Doctor’s Day was celebrated in India and this day marks the birth as well as the death anniversary of renowned physician and the second chief minister of West Bengal Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) organises this day in the country. Every member of IMA and the local branch takes a lead in the local area and try to bring about a change in the current prevailing situation.

This year’s theme for the occasion is ‘Lessen the mortality of Covid-19’ and includes spreading awareness about hypoxia and early aggressive therapy. However, due to COVID-19 widespread, to mark this day, webinars and virtual meetings will be held at the state-level.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted doctors and medical professionals and tweeted, “India salutes our doctors, exceptional care givers who are at the forefront of a spirited fight against COVID-19.”

-RJV

Coronavirus cases surpass 10.4 million people worldwide

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 10.4 million people around the world have been diagnosed with coronavirus, more than 5.3 million people have recovered, and nearly 5,10,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The US recorded more than 47,000 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, as data showed cases in 14 states more than doubled last month.

In the US, more than 2.6 million people have been infected with the novel coronavirus while more than 1,27,000 people have died due to the deadly contagion.

Brazil has suffered 1,280 deaths, bringing the country’s confirmed death toll to 59,594, according to Health Ministry data. The total number of confirmed cases rose by 33,846 to reach 1,402,041, the worst outbreak in the world outside the United States.

Meanwhile, South Korea has started using remdesivir, an experimental drug that was originally developed for Ebola, to treat its most seriously ill COVID-19 patients.

Mexico reported 5,432 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 2,26,089, according to its Health Ministry. The ministry also reported 648 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 27,769.

The European Union to reopen its border to more than a dozen countries — but Americans will still be barred.

All of Disney’s Asia parks have now officially reopened, with Tokyo Disney Resort welcoming visitors to its two theme parks from July 1, after a closure of four months.

-CHK

Terrorist killed as Army foils infiltration bid along LoC in J&K’s Rajouri

Alert issued in Poonch, Rajouri after militant movement detected near LoC
(File/Representational Image)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A terrorist was killed today when the Indian Army foiled an infiltration bid at Keri sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu, defence officials said.

Officials said that alert troops noticed the suspicious movement of a group of terrorists at around 5 am at Keri sector on LoC in Rajouri. “The group was challenged. They fired and the troops retaliated triggering a brief exchange of fire. It seems that they went back or got killed in the exchange of fire,” the defence officials said.

An Army official said that alert troops on the basis of intelligence inputs from J&K police, launched a joint operation at Keri in Bhimber Gali, Rajouri. “Terrorists were seen crossing the LoC. Troops foiled the bid which resulting in killing a terrorist,” the Army said, adding that one AK-47 with two magazines recovered. “Search operation is in progress to find out whether the remaining terrorists went back or got killed on the other side of the LoC,” the official added.

The infiltration bid comes just a day after Director General of Police (J&K) Dilbagh Singh visited Rajouri and stated that security forces were strengthening the counter infiltration grid along the border and LoC in Jammu.

-CHK

J&K: CRPF jawan, civilian killed in terrorist attack at Sopore

Police official rescued the baby

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A CRPF head constable and a civilian were killed while three paramilitary force personnel received bullet injuries after terrorists attacked CRPF patrolling party in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said today.

They said that at 9 am, heavily armed terrorists attacked the CRPF patrolling party at Sopore by firing indiscriminately. “Four CRPF men sustained injuries of which one succumbed,” said CRPF spokesman Junaid Khan.

Baby rescued by police official

A police official said that a civilian identified as Bashir Ahmed, who was carrying his daughter’s three-year-old son in his lap, also died after receiving bullets.

 

The baby was wailing while sitting on the body of his grandfather. Policemen showed professionalism and rescued the baby safely,” the official said. Further details are awaited, the official added.

-RJV

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