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Police arrests man for providing logistic support to militants in Kashmir

Terrorist arrested
Representational image

Neyaz Elahi

Srinagar (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir Police today arrested a militant associate of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit for providing logistic support to militants in Kashmir Valley, officials said.

A police official said that the arrested person has been in touch with LeT commanders and is involved in recruiting local youth in militant ranks and distribution of money.

He added that Awantipora police along with the assistance of soldiers from 42 RR and 130th battalion of CRPF arrested a militant associate of LeT involved in providing shelter, logistics and other support to the militants as well as in transporting arms/ammunition and explosive material of the militants in Awantipora and Tral areas of south Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the bank transaction of the arrested militant associate is being investigated, the police official said identifying him as Aqif Ahmad Teeli, a resident of Chursu village of Awantipora.

Incriminating material of the proscribed outfit LeT and one hand explosive substance has been recovered from him, the police official said.

“A case under relevant sections has also been registered against him and from the past fortnight, over a dozen militant associates have been apprehended from south Kashmir,” he added.

-RJV

IFSCA becomes associate member of Intl Org of Securities Commissions

IFSCA becomes associate member of Intl Org of Securities Commissions
International Financial Services Centres Authority (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) becomes an associate member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), to connect with the regulators of securities market worldwide.

According to an official statement, IOSCO is the international organization that brings together the world’s securities regulators, covering more than 95 per cent of the world’s securities markets, and is the global standard setter for the securities sector.

“The organization works closely with the G20 and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in setting up the standards for strengthening the securities markets,” the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

It added that, the IOSCO objectives and principles of securities regulation have been endorsed by FSB as one of the key standards for sound financial systems.

The membership of IOSCO is a significant milestone in connecting IFSCA with the regulators of securities markets globally.

Further, the IOSCO platform would enable IFSCA to learn from the experiences and best practices of the regulators of other well established financial centres.

The IOSCO’s membership will also provide IFSCA the platform to exchange information at the global level and regional level on areas of common interests, the ministry said.

It would also contribute immensely towards the development and regulation of the financial products, financial services and institutions at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City International Financial Services Centre (GIFT), it added.

-RJV

Harsh Vardhan reviews preparedness for dry run of Covid vaccination

COVID-19 vaccine to be provided free of cost across country: Harsh Vardhan
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi (NVI): Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today reviewed the preparedness for the dry run for COVID-19 vaccination which will take place across the country on January 2.

During the virtual meeting, Vardhan stated that the purpose of the COVID-19 vaccination dry run is to be ready for the actual roll-out. “We are using past experiences to roll out the vaccination,” he said.

“The lists of health workers have been created and it will be uploaded on COVID-19 platform. Just like we prepare during elections, the same way we need to train each member of all medical teams responsibly,” he said.

The minister also informed that after training over 2,000 master trainers at the national level, the training is underway at the state and district level in over 700 districts. The procedure is similar to conducting elections where the polling team at a booth is trained.

Vardhan further stressed that the target of this exercise is that the minutest details are thoroughly researched.

“At least two vaccines have sent their applications to Drug Controller and experts for approval, their data is being studied pro-actively,” he added.

At the high-level meeting, the senior officials of the health ministry apprised Vardhan on various improvements that have been made to make tomorrow’s Pan-India dry-run glitch free.

These improvements include increasing number of telephone operators to answer every possible query from the teams on ground conducting the exercise, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

“Block level task forces have been constituted for physical inspection of the sites and all workers have been oriented for the purpose with the dissemination of FAQs on the process, among other issues,” it added.

Vardhan also spoke with officials of Delhi namely Amit Singla, Health Secretary, District Magistrates and District Immunization Officers of Shahdara, Central and South-West districts of Delhi where the three sites of Delhi are located.

These three sites are Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Shahdara, Urban Primary Health Centre, Daryaganj and Venkateshwar Hospital, Dwarka, the statement noted.

Yesterday, the ministry said that a dry run for COVID-19 vaccination will be conducted by all States and Union Territories on January 2 in at least three session sites, to test the linkages between planning and implementation and to identify the challenges.

Earlier, the dry run was successfully conducted in the four states of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat on December 28 and 29.

-RJV/ARK

India joins as non-permanent member of UNSC from today

Afghanistan

New Delhi (NVI): India begins its new stint at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a period of two years from today. This is India’s eighth term as a non-permanent, voting member of the UNSC. The last stint was in the year 2011-2012.

French Ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain welcomed India to the UNSC. “France welcomes India as it joins #UNSC for the next 2 years. We are eager to work side by side to uphold international law, fight terrorism and defend #multilateralism. To this end, we also need a UNSC reform that gives India a permanent seat!” he tweeted.

Pertinently, India and France have in the past jointly called for reform of the UNSC that would enable India to gain a permanent seat on it. Both the countries also share the same vision for a new balanced multipolar world, which must be based on the rule of law. They also have a mutual understanding of the security developments in Asia and the Indo-Pacific, including combating international terrorism.

The UNSC is composed of 15 members, with China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States as the five permanent members, also known as P-5. There are 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly (with the end of term year).

India begins its non-permanent membership at the UNSC amidst the continued stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The focus of India as a non-permanent of the UNSC will be on reforms. This was also highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech at the UNGA in September this year.

India joins the Council as the UN body is celebrating its 75th anniversary while the world is gradually recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

-ARK

J&K police booked 35 drug peddlers under PSA in 2020

J-K Police
Representational image

Neyaz Elahi

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police booked 35 drug peddlers under Public Safety Act (PSA) in the year 2020 and busted three narco-terrorism modules to curb the drug menace in the Union Territory, as per official data.

According to police, the drug menace is emerging as a big threat in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that last year, a massive drive was initiated against drug peddlers. “1,132 cases were registered and 1,672 involved persons were arrested,” he said, adding that 35 drug peddlers were booked under PSA.

The police official said that narcotic drugs including 152.18 kg heroin, 563.61 kg charas and 22,230.48 kg opium, poppy and cannabis derivatives were seized during the year.

Besides, 3,39,603 capsules, 57,925 intoxicating bottles and 265 intoxicative injections were also seized from the drug dealers.

The police official added that narco-militancy modules were busted in north Kashmir’s Handwara, Central Kashmir’s Budgam and on Arnia border in Jammu.

-RJV/ARK

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

COVID-19 states
(Representational/file photo)

New Delhi (NVI): The total count of coronavirus cases in India has crossed 10.26 million and currently stands at 10,286,709 after 20,035 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll stands at 1,48,994 after 256 new fatalities were reported during the same period.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 19,32,112 followed by Karnataka with 9,19,496 and Andhra Pradesh with 8,82,286 positive cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 4,945

Andhra Pradesh- 8,82,286

Arunachal Pradesh- 16,719

Assam- 2,16,211

Bihar- 2,51,843

Chandigarh- 19,748

Chhattisgarh- 2,79,575

Dadra and Nagar Haveli– 3,378

Delhi- 6,25,369

Gujarat- 2,45,038

Goa- 51,066

Haryana– 2,62,325

Himachal Pradesh- 55,277

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,20,917

Jharkhand- 1,15,113

Karnataka- 9,19,496

Kerala- 7,60,933

Ladakh- 9,466

Madhya Pradesh- 2,41,791

Maharashtra- 19,32,112

Manipur- 28,188

Meghalaya- 13,427

Mizoram- 4,216

Nagaland- 11,927

Odisha- 3,29,621

Puducherry- 38,132

Punjab- 1,66,522

Rajasthan- 3,08,243

Sikkim- 5,889

Tamil Nadu- 8,18,014

Telangana- 2,86,815

Tripura- 33,268

Uttarakhand- 90,920

Uttar Pradesh- 5,85,902

West Bengal – 5,52,063

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 62

Andhra Pradesh- 7,108

Arunachal Pradesh- 56

Assam- 1,045

Bihar- 1,397

Chandigarh- 317

Chhattisgarh- 3,371

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 10,536

Goa- 739

Gujarat- 4,306

Haryana- 2,905

Himachal Pradesh- 935

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,883

Jharkhand- 1,030

Karnataka- 12,090

Kerala- 3,072

Ladakh- 127

Madhya Pradesh- 3,606

Maharashtra- 49,521

Manipur- 355

Meghalaya- 139

Mizoram- 8

Nagaland- 79

Odisha- 1,873

Puducherry- 633

Punjab- 5,341

Rajasthan- 2,696

Sikkim- 127

Tamil Nadu- 12,0122

Telangana- 1,544

Tripura- 385

Uttar Pradesh- 8,367

Uttarakhand- 1,509

West Bengal- 9,713

However, a total of 98,83,461 people have been cured and discharged, while he total active cases stands at 2,54,254 in the country.

 

-RJV

 

 

 

FASTags mandatory from today; hybrid lanes to remain operational till Feb 15

New Delhi (NVI) The Ministry of Transport has mandated FASTags with effect from today in M and N categories of motor vehicles sold before 1 December, 2017.

Category ‘M’ stands for a motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying passengers. Category ‘N’ stands for a motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying goods, which may also carry people in addition to goods.

“It is clarified that this Central Motor Vehicle Rule stands in force as it is,” read an official statement by the ministry.

“However, at hybrid lanes of fee plazas on National Highways, fee payment can be made through FASTag as well as in cash mode till 15th February, 2021. Moreover, in FASTag lanes of fee plazas, payment of fees will continue to be through FASTag only,” the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways said in a statement.

The Ministry has clarified that it is committed to implementation of 100% E-tolling at fee plazas from 1st January, 2021 onwards, mandated under CMV Rules, as amended, it said.

Pertinent to mention here that FASTag, which facilitates electronic payment of fee at toll plazas, was introduced in 2016. Making the tags compulsory would also help in ensuring that vehicles pass seamlessly through the toll plazas as fee payment would be done electronically.

-ARK

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

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

Neyaz Elahi

Srinagar (NVI): The total number policemen tested coronavirus positive in Jammu and Kashmir stands at 3,276, while 15 have succumbed to the deadly virus, since the outbreak in March last year.

A police official said that six policemen died in Kashmir while nine died in Jammu due to COVID-19 pandemic.

He said among 3,276 police personnel who tested coronavirus positive, 1,329 belong to Kashmir Zone and 1,947 were from Jammu.

The official also said, “Many Police personnel voluntarily donated plasma.” Police personnel on their own and at times assisted by NGOs and volunteers distributed medicines, ration, cooked food, hand sanitizers, masks and other required items to the needy during the pandemic in J&K, he added.

Furthermore, the official stated that fabricated sanitization tunnels, no-touch hand wash stands, remote-controlled trollies, face shields, face masks, PP dresses were made through police works shops and police welfare centers to deal the COVID-19 situation effectively.

So far, Jammu and Kashmir registered 1,20,744 positive cases, while the COVID-19 death toll has reached to 1,880 in the Union Territory.

-RJV

WHO clears Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use

Pfizer
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The World Health Organization (WHO) cleared the coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech for emergency use, to open the door for countries to expedite their own approvals to import and give the shot.

In a statement, the WHO said that it had “listed the Comirnaty COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for emergency use, making the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine the first to receive emergency validation from WHO since the outbreak began a year ago.”

The decision to issue its first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine opens the door for countries to expedite their own regulatory approval processes to import and administer the vaccine, it added.

“This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to COVID-19 vaccines, Mariangela Simao, WHO assistant-director general for Access to Medicines and Health Products said.

“But I want to emphasize the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere,” Simao added.

The UN agency on late Thursday also said that, as part of the Emergency Use Listing assessment, WHO had convened regulatory experts from around the world to review the data on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine’s safety, efficacy and quality.

They found that the vaccine met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO.

The organization further said that the announcement also enables UNICEF and the Pan-American Health Organization to procure the vaccine for distribution to countries in need.

Meanwhile, the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine has to be stored at ultra-frozen temperatures, a big hurdle for developing countries where the required freezers and reliable electricity supply may not be available.

“This requirement makes the vaccine more challenging to deploy in settings where ultra-cold chain equipment may not be available or reliably accessible. It was working to support countries in assessing their delivery plans and preparing for use where possible,” the WHO noted.

Furthermore, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has already received clearance in the United States, Britain, the European Union and dozen other countries.

-RJV

Delhi shivers at 1.1 degrees on New Year’s Day

Delhi shivers at 1.1 degrees on New Year's Day
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The minimum temperature in Delhi dropped as low as 1.1 degrees Celsius on New Year’s morning, the season’s lowest temperature so far, according to IMD.

The Indian Metrological Department (IMD) said the temperature of 1.1 degrees Celsius this morning was recorded at Safdarjung observatory, which provides representative data for the city.

“Very dense fog and zero visibility was also recorded at around 6 am, visibility currently below 200 meters at Palam and Safdarjung,” IMD’s weather bulletin said.

However, the national capital on Thursday recorded the second lowest minimum temperature at 3.3 degrees Celsius, as per the IMD data.

According to the Met department, the minimum temperature would start rising under the influence of an intense western disturbance which would also affect northwest India from January 2 to January 6. The minimum temperature is predicted to rise to 8 degrees Celsius by January 4-5.

In addition to this, light rain is expected in Delhi under the influence of the western disturbance from January 3 to 5. This would also lead to moderate snow in the western Himalayan region, the IMD said.

The Met department further said that over the last couple of days, several areas in Northwestern plain have recorded sub-zero or near 0-degree Celsius minimum temperatures.

On Thursday night, Hisar and Narnaul in Haryana recorded -1.2 degrees and 0.5 degrees Celsius respectively. “Churu in west Rajasthan also recorded -1.3 degrees, Pantnagar in Uttarakhand, Una in Himachal Pradesh recorded 0.1 degrees and 0.5 degrees Celsius respectively,” IMD stated.

-RJV

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