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COVID-19 testing more than tripled in Delhi: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi (NVI): COVID-19 testing has been increased to more than triple — going up from 5,000 to 18,000 tests a day — and people should not face any difficulties now, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today as coronavirus cases near 60,000 in the national capital.

While addressing a virtual press conference, Kejriwal said that all those under home-isolation will be provided with pulse oximeters to measure oxygen levels in every few hours.

As the death figures in the country took a massive jump, Kejriwal said breathing difficulty and low oxygen levels in the blood are the most common complications of the infection.

The Delhi government and the Centre are working together to stem COVID-19 spread in the national capital, he added.

The Centre has taken up the matter and the two governments have held a series of meetings on the issue.

“We are fighting two wars against China – at the border and against the virus which came from China. Our 20 brave soldiers didn’t back down. Even we won’t retreat and win both the wars,” Kejriwal said.

He further added, “The entire country stands together with our doctors and soldiers who are fighting on the two fronts. There should be no politics on this.”

Delhi has recorded more than 3,000 positive cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cases to 59,746. Out of this, there are 25,000 active cases, while around 33,000 people have recovered from the deadly virus.

-CHK

India, China Corps Commanders meet underway to defuse tension at LAC

India-China face-off: Core issue is to 'strictly' follow bilateral border pacts, says MEA

New Delhi (NVI): A week after the violent clash between the Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley, a second round of meeting between Corps Commanders from both sides is underway at the Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting (BPM) point in eastern Ladakh.

This is the same place where June 6 meeting between the Commanders took place. The Indian side was led by Commander of Leh-based 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh and the Chinese side was led by South Xinjiang Military District Commander Major General Liu Lin. The meeting, which had lasted for over six hours, was held to discuss the roadmap for disengagement.

Meanwhile, today’s meeting takes place when there has been a further escalation in tensions between the two sides after a violent face-off in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives. The Chinese side also, as Army said, had casualties in the showdown.

Apart from the 20 Indian casualties, 76 were injured in the bloody face-off with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley on June 15.

After the June 6 meeting, India and China agreed to pull back troops as part of the de-escalation process, However, the Chinese side departed from these understandings in respect of the LAC in the Galwan Valley area and sought to erect structures just across the LAC, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

“When this attempt was foiled, Chinese troops took violent actions on June 15, 2020 that directly resulted in casualties,” MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava said during a virtual press briefing Saturday.

In the all-party meeting convened Friday to discuss the India-China border face-off, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had denied any Chinese intrusion in Indian territory along Line of Actual Control (LAC). He reassured the leaders that the armed forces are capable of defending borders and have been given a free hand to take all necessary steps.

Since early May 2020, the Chinese side has been hindering India’s normal, traditional patrolling pattern in this area, he said, adding “this had resulted in a face-off which was addressed by the ground commanders as per the provisions of the bilateral agreements and protocols.”

-ARK

World Rainforest Day 2020 calls for action to protect this precious natural resource

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Rainforests play an important role in keeping our planet healthy. They are carbon sinks that store and absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air and circulate more than 20 per cent of the world’s oxygen.

Every year, June 22 is observed as World Rainforest Day, to help protect rainforests and raise awareness and encourage action among the masses to protect them.

In 2017, the first World Rainforest Day was observed. It was established by a collaboration of groups called the Rainforest Partnership. The international non-profit organisation based in Austin, Texas, is dedicated to protect and regenerate tropical rainforests through community-based projects in the Amazon.

Our rainforests have sustained us for thousands of years, circulating oxygen, keeping local communities alive, absorbing carbon dioxide, and keeping our water fresh and clean.

The Rainforest Partnership has been spreading this positive message since 2007 when it launched to help protect biodiversity, indigenous people and to combat the effects of climate change.

The Amazon rainforest has existed for around 60 million years, forming when the Atlantic Ocean had expanded enough to create a tropical climate in the Amazon basin.

Around 40 football fields of rainforest is destroyed each day. It is because deforestation causes 15 per cent of the global carbon dioxide emissions that furthers climate change.

Over the past 40 years, deforestation has stripped an area of one billion hectares – about the size of Europe – from tropical rainforests.

However, restoring out rainforests has the potential to reverse global emissions by a third.

In addition to this, the day is celebrated in various ways which includes bringing up one’s knowledge by reading more about rainforests and helping the NGO’s by shopping for Rainforest Alliance Certified products.

-RJV

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): India saw the highest ever jump is coronavirus cases after 14,821 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases to 4,25,282, according to Health Ministry data.

Meanwhile, the total number fatalities due to the deadly contagion rose to 13,699 in the country after 445 new fatalities were reported during this period.

In the worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 1,32,075, followed by Delhi with 59,746 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 59,377 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 6,170, followed by 1,663 in Gujarat and 515 in Madhya Pradesh.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 48

Andhra Pradesh- 8,999

Arunachal Pradesh- 135

Assam- 5,388

Bihar- 7,612

Chandigarh- 406

Chhattisgarh- 2,275

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 26

Delhi- 59,746

Gujarat- 27,260

Goa- 754

Haryana– 10,635

Himachal Pradesh- 673

Jammu and Kashmir- 5,956

Jharkhand- 2,073

Karnataka- 9,150

Kerala- 3,172

Ladakh- 837

Madhya Pradesh- 11,903

Maharashtra- 1,32,075

Manipur- 841

Meghalaya- 44

Mizoram- 141

Nagaland- 211

Odisha- 5,160

Puducherry- 366

Punjab- 4,074

Rajasthan- 14,930

Sikkim- 78

Tamil Nadu- 59,377

Telangana- 7,802

Tripura- 1,221

Uttarakhand- 2,344

Uttar Pradesh- 17,731

West Bengal – 13,945

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 106

Assam- 9

Bihar- 53

Chandigarh- 6

Chhattisgarh- 11

Delhi- 2,175

Gujarat- 1,663

Haryana- 160

Himachal Pradesh- 8

Jammu and Kashmir- 82

Jharkhand- 11

Karnataka- 137

Kerala- 21

Ladakh- 1

Madhya Pradesh- 515

Maharashtra- 6,170

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 14

Puducherry- 8

Punjab- 99

Rajasthan- 349

Tamil Nadu- 757

Telangana- 210

Tripura- 1

Uttar Pradesh- 550

Uttarakhand- 27

West Bengal- 555

A total of 2,37,196 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 1,74,387 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

-CHK

Encounter breaks out in J&K’s Anantnag

2 LeT militants surrender after gunfight in J&K's Kulgam
(Representational/file image)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in the woods of Veerinag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, police officials said today.

A police official said that acting on a specific input about the presence of terrorists in a forest area of Veerinag area of Anantnag, a joint operation was launched by Army’s 2 para, police and the CRPF.

“When the forces marched towards a particular spot where the terrorists were believed to be hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire, triggering an encounter,” the official said.

Official added that the exchange of fire is underway on both sides. “There are reports of presence of two to three terrorists in the forest area,” the official said.

This is the second encounter in last 24 hours in Kashmir. Yesterday, three terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen and Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir, were killed in an encounter at Zoonimar-Kadikadal area of Srinagar’s old city.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range, stated that in the remaining days of the ensuing month, militancy would be wiped out from South Kashmir districts and police will shift its focus on north Kashmir. He had said that at present 100 to 200 terrorists were active in Kashmir which includes those who had managed to sneak into this side through LoC. “106 terrorists have been killed in this year so far. There may have been some successful infiltration bids this year, so the number of active terrorists stands between 100 to 200 in Kashmir,” he said.

-CHK

Earthquake of 5.5 magnitude hits Mizoram

New Delhi (NVI): An earthquake of 5.5 magnitude on the Richter scale hit Mizoram, 27 kilometers southwest of Champhai around 4.10 am today early morning.

In addition to this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga, in the wake of the earthquake in the state.

Taking to twitter Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Spoke to the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga Ji on the situation in the wake of the earthquake there. Assured all possible support from the Centre.”

 

Meanwhile on Sunday, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit Manipur at 4:16 pm with the epicentre 9 km from Ngopa area in Mizoram.

-RJV

Soldier killed in Pak shelling along LoC in J&K’s Rajouri

Representational Image (File)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): In yet another intensified spell of ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshehra sector of Rajouri district of Jammu region, a soldier was killed after he was hit by a splinter, defence officials said today.

They said that early morning at around 5am, Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked firing in Kalal area of Nowshera sector. “The Pakistani army fired with small arms and mortar shells,” the officials said. “A soldier was hit by a splinter and was evacuated to army’s command hospital in Udhampur, where he succumbed to his injuries.”

Defence officials said that a befitting response was given to the Pakistani army by Indian troops. Intermittent exchange of fire is still going on along the LoC.

Eye-witnesses said that the intense exchange of fire between the two armies triggered a fresh fear among the border residents of Kalal area of Nowshehra, where people took refuge in underground community bunkers and locked their livestock in cowsheds.

This year, a record number of 1,650 ceasefire violations have been recorded in J&K on LoC where in Pakistan has used small arms to mortal shells besides indiscriminate gunfire, as per security officials. “Every time Pakistan resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation, the army has given them a befitting reply by retaliating effectively,” a defence official said.

NVI recently reported that many border residents in Kashmir and Jammu region were planning to move to safer places if the situation doesn’t improve in the coming days.

-CHK

Coronavirus cases surpass 8.9 million worldwide

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 8.9 million people have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, at least 4.4 million people have recovered, while more than 4,67,000 people have died, according to John Hopkins University tally.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases, with the total cased rising by 1,83,020 in a 24-hour period. The biggest increase was from North and South America with more than 1,16,000 new cases.

Brazil, the second worst affected country by coronavirus after the United States, passed 50,000 coronavirus deaths. It has more than 1 million total number of cases, according to the country’s health ministry.

New Zealand has reported two new cases of the coronavirus as a trickle of infected people continue to arrive at the border. The country of 5 million people now has nine active cases after having none at all earlier this month.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 537 to 1,90,359. Meanwhile, the reported death toll rose by 3 to 8,885, the tally showed.

In addition to this, China reported 18 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hour, 9 of which were in the capital Beijing.

-CHK

India’s COVID tally crosses 4.25 lakh; death toll 13,699

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India now stands at 4,25,282, with 13,699 deaths due to the pandemic, Union Health Ministry said.

At least 14,821 new cases of coronavirus and 445 deaths have been reported in India in the last 24 hours.

So far, 2,37,196 patients have recovered all over the country. With this the recovery rate is rising and now stands at around 55 per cent in India.

In the worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 1,32,075, followed by Delhi with 59,746 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 59,377 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 6,170, followed by 1,663 in Gujarat and 515 in Madhya Pradesh.

The death toll in the national capital surged to 2,175. While another 33,013 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

The other states with high virus cases are Gujarat (27,260), Uttar Pradesh (17,731), Rajasthan (14,930) and Madhya Pradesh (11,903).

Meanwhile, the Centre has asked the government of Delhi to trace all containment zones afresh, list all households even outside containment zones, conduct a survey among 20,000 Delhiites, and associate every district with a big hospital.

-RJV

J&K: 122 new Covid positive cases, total 5,956; death toll at 82

Over 3,200 cops COVID positive in J&K and 15 succumbed to virus
File photo

Srinagar (NVI): 122 new positive cases have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday, taking the overall confirmed cases to 5,956. There are 2,492 active cases in the Union Territory with the death toll at 82.

Among the new corona cases, 20 are from Jammu division and 102 from Kashmir. Apart from that, 46 more Covid-19 patients have recovered or been discharged from various hospitals, according to the daily health bulletin. These include 38 from Jammu and 8 from Kashmir. 1 fresh death has been reported from Kashmir.

According to the daily health bulletin released by the UT administration, a total of 2,53,942 persons have been enlisted for observation, 38,829 people have been kept under home quarantine (including facilities operated by J&K government).

2,492 persons have been kept in hospital isolation and 30 have been kept under hospital quarantine. While 1,65,858 persons have completed surveillance, 46,651 are under home surveillance.

So far, test results are available for 3,07,638 cases, out of which 3,01,682 tested negative and 5,956 have tested positive. Out of total 2,492 active cases in the UT, 576 are from Jammu and 1,913 from Kashmir. There have been total 3,382 recoveries, 777 from Jammu and 2605 from Kashmir.

Out of total 82 deaths, 10 are from Jammu and 72 from Kashmir (including 1 new death from the Valley). Overall, 1,366 confirmed cases have been reported from Jammu and 4590 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 5956, as per the bulletin.

-ARK

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