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China criticises US for signing new Tibet law on next Dalai Lama

China criticises US for signing new Tibet law on next Dalai Lama

New Delhi (NVI): China has opposed the Trump administration for signing a new Tibet law on choosing the next Dalai Lama without Beijing’s interference, asking the US to stop interfering in its “internal affairs”, saying that this may “further damage” the bilateral relations between the two countries.

“Tibet-related issues, as part of China’s internal affairs, bear on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and allow no interference by any external forces. The Chinese government is determined to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a statement.

“We urge the U.S. side to stop exploiting relevant issues to interfere in China’s internal affairs, and take no actions to implement articles in the Act that target China and hurt China’s interests, so as to avoid further damaging China-US cooperation and long-term development of bilateral relationship,” he added.

The Chinese foreign ministry’s reaction came after Trump signed a bill that authorises US sanctions on Chinese officials if they interfere in the selection of the next Dalai Lama by Tibetan Buddhists.

The US President signed the act on Sunday as part of the massive USD 2.3 trillion package for the year-end bill to provide long-delayed coronavirus relief and fund the federal government.

The US senate had last week unanimously passed the bill despite China’s protest. Beijing asserts that its approval is a must for choosing the successor to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

According to the Central Tibetan Administration, the move has dramatically strengthened US policy on Tibet and reaffirmed the US government’s steadfast support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the CTA.

The legislation signed by Trump calls for the establishment of a US consulate in Tibet’s main city of Lhasa. It also asserts the absolute right of Tibetans to choose a successor to the 14th Dalai Lama and the preservation of Tibet’s environment.

With Trump signing the bill, the US will try to build pressure on China to patiently wait and allow the 14th Dalai Lama to identify his reincarnation, and not impose its own choice.

Notably, after escaping from Tibet when it was invaded by the Chinese in 1950, the Dalai Lama had taken shelter in India in April 1959 and thousands of Tibetans followed him in the Himalayan town of Himachal’s Dharamshala where he has been living in exile since then. As per an estimate, over 80,000 Tibetans are living in exile in India.

-ARK

After Russia, Belarus first nation to vaccinate people with Sputnik V

After Russia, Belarus first nation to vaccinate people with Sputnik V
Representational/file image

New Delhi (NVI): The European country Belarus become the first nation in the world after Russia to begin mass vaccination of its population in fight against COVID-19 with ‘Sputnik V’ vaccine, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said today.

In an official statement, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund said, “The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus and RDIF, announce that Belarus is beginning the vaccination with Russian ‘Sputnik V’ vaccine with first batch of the vaccine arriving in Belarus today.”

“Vaccination of volunteers has already began on October 1, as part of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials in eight medical institutions selected as research centers in Belarus,” it added.

Meanwhile, RDIF and its partners are jointly working on development of local production of Sputnik V vaccine in Belarus, the statement noted.

On November 11, RDIF and the Belpharmprom holding company had signed a cooperation agreement to prepare the pharmaceutical company’s production facilities for the production of the vaccine in the European nation.

Belarusian Minister of Health Dmitry Pinevich said, “Today, Belarus enters a new stage as it starts with the mass vaccination against COVID-19. Medical staff, teachers, and those who get to contact a lot of people due to their job, will be the first to get vaccinated. Vaccination will be entirely voluntary.”

“A vaccine storage system has also been created in Belarus, which allows observing the cold chain, and special medical freezing equipment has been purchased to transport the vaccine. We thank the Russian side for active interaction and strategic cooperation in resolving this issue,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

RDIF’s CEO Kirill Dmitriev also said, “Today Belarus has also become the first country to start vaccination with Sputnik V outside Russia.”

“The next stage of cooperation between RDIF and its partners will involve the production of the vaccine in Belarus, which will significantly simplify logistics, accelerate the pace of vaccination and expand the prevention of coronavirus infection,” Dmitriev added.

Earlier on December 21, Belarus become the first foreign country to officially register Sputnik V after Russia. It also reviewed data received during Russia’s Phase III clinical trials, the RDIF said.

The ‘Sputnik V’ was the first coronavirus vaccine registered in Russia and the world. Russia’s Sputnik V is 92 percent effective, based on data from the first 16,000 trial participants, as per the reports.

-RJV

Central Kashmir grenade attack: Another trooper succumbs, toll 2

Shopian encounter
File Photo

Neyaz Elahi

Srinagar (NVI): Another trooper injured in a grenade attack last week in Central Kashmir has succumbed to his injuries in the hospital today. With this the death toll has reached two.

“The grenade was lobbed at CRPF Bunker 115 Bn G-coy deployed at Tawheed Chowk Ganderbal last week. Four  troopers had sustained injuries in the attack,” officials said.

They had been identified as Assistant Sub Inspector Netrapal Singh, Constable Anand Mal, Constable Chitrunjay Chotia and Head Constable Suliman.

Hospital sources said that Assistant Sub Inspector Netrapal Singh breathed his last today.

Earlier, trooper identified as Chutranjan Chotia had succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

A police official while confirming the death of another CRPF man said an FIR under section 7/27 Arms Act already stands registered in this regard.

-CHK

India records lowest daily new corona cases after 6 months

Covid-19
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India registered 16,432 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours for the first time after 6 months and surpassed a crucial milestone in its fight against COVID-19, according to Union Health Ministry.

This is after 187 days when less than 16,500 daily cases were added to the COVID-19 tally. The daily new cases were 16,922 last recorded on June 25, 2020.

“With a sustained, pro-active and calibrated strategy based on ‘whole of government’ and whole of society’ approach, the daily new cases have touched a new low today,” said the Ministry of Health in a statement.

It added that the country’s active caseload has fallen to 2,68,581 today. The share of active cases in the total positive cases has further compressed to 2.63 per cent of the cumulative caseload. In last 24 past, a net decline of 8,720 cases has been recorded in the total active cases.

“With the rising recoveries and decline in daily new cases, India’s cumulative recoveries are inching closer to 1 crore,” the ministry said.

At present, the total recovered cases have crossed 98 lakhs and stands at 98,07,569 which translates to a recovery rate of 95.92 per cent. The gap between recovered cases and active cases also continues to grow and presently stands at 95,38,988, it said.

The ministry also informed that, “24,900 cases have recovered in the last 24 hours and 77.66 per cent of these new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 States and UTs.”

Out of these, Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of single day recoveries with 4,501 recoveries. Kerala follows with 4,172 new recoveries and Chhattisgarh recorded 1,901 daily recoveries.

About 78.16 per cent of the new cases are concentrated in 10 States and UTs. Kerala reported the maximum daily new cases of 3,047 in the last 24 hours, while Maharashtra recorded 2,498 cases and Chhattisgarh with 1,188 new cases.

Furthermore, ten States and UTs account for 77.38 per cent of the 252 case fatalities reported in the past 24 hours.

In addition, 19.84 per cent of new fatalities reported are from Maharashtra with 50 deaths. West Bengal and Chhattisgarh follow with 27 and 26 new deaths, respectively, the ministry noted.

-RJV

Russia admits COVID death toll three times higher; third-worst in the world

Coronavirus

New Delhi (NVI): Russia has admitted that its coronavirus death toll is more than three times higher than it had previously reported, making it the third-worst affected country in the world due to coronavirus in terms of fatalities.

The Rosstat statistics agency said that the number of deaths from all causes recorded between January and November had risen by 229,700 compared with the previous year.

“More than 81 percent of this increase in mortality over this period is due to COVID,” said Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, meaning that some 186,000 Russians have died from COVID-19 during 2020.

Rosstat’s new figures mean that Russia now has the world’s third-highest death toll from COVID-19 after the United States, where 334,618 people have died, and Brazil, with 1,91,570 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

For months President Vladimir Putin has boasted about Russia’s low death rate from the virus, saying earlier this month that it had done a “better” job at managing the pandemic than western countries.

The data also showed that more people died in Russia in November 2020 than in any other single month since such data began being collected 16 years ago.

Excess deaths – the difference between all registered deaths in 2020 and previous years – are seen as one of the most reliable indicators of the number of people who have died as a result of the pandemic.

While Russia has confirmed more than three million coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic – the fourth-highest caseload in the world – it has reported only 55,265 deaths and has been criticised for only listing COVID-19 deaths where an autopsy has confirmed the virus as the main cause.

-CHK

New COVID variant found in samples of six UK returnees in India

File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The government today announced that the new UK variant genome of SARS-CoV2 virus has been found in samples of six UK returnees to India.

According to an official statement, the initial results of genome sequencing of positive samples were released by the Indian Sars-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (Insacog) labs.

“A total of six samples of six UK returnees have been found to be positive with the new UK variant genome. 3 in NIMHANS, Bengaluru, 2 in CCMB, Hyderabad and 1 in NIV, Pune,” said the Ministry of Health in a statement.

The statement added, “All these persons have been kept in single room isolation in designated health care facilities by respective state governments and their close contacts have also been put under quarantine.”

“Comprehensive contact tracing has been initiated for co-travellers, family contacts and others, while genome sequencing on other specimens is going on,” the ministry said.

About 33,000 passengers had disembarked at various Indian airports from UK between November 25 to December 23 midnight. All these passengers are being tracked and subjected by States and UTs to RT-PCR tests.

So far, of all the samples tested, 114 samples have been found positive. These positive samples have been sent to 10 Insacog labs (NIBMG Kolkata, ILS Bhubaneswar, NIV Pune, CCS Pune, CCMB Hyderabad, CDFD Hyderabad, InSTEM Bengaluru, NIMHANS Bengaluru, IGIB Delhi, NCDC Delhi) for genome sequencing.

Notably, the situation is under careful watch and regular advice is being provided to the States for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing and dispatch of samples to INSACOG labs.

Meanwhile, government of India had taken cognizance of the reports of mutant variant of SARS- CoV-2 virus and put in place a pro-active and preventive strategy to detect and contain the mutant variant, the ministry further said.

This strategy includes, but is not limited to, the following steps which follows as temporary suspension of all flights coming from UK with effect from the midnight of December 23 till December 31.

The mandatory testing of all UK returnee air passengers through RT-PCR test. The samples of all UK returnees found positive in RT-PCR test to be genome sequenced by a consortium of 10 govt. labs i.e. Insacog. Also, meeting of the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 on December 26 to consider and recommend Testing, Treatment, Surveillance and Containment Strategy.

The presence of the new UK Variant has already been reported by Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore so far, the statement said.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases exceed 81.2 mn worldwide; recoveries near 46 mn

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 81.2 million people around the world have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, while the death toll has crossed 17,74,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. Over 45.9 million patients have recovered from the deadly disease globally.

The number of coronavirus infections in the US have surpassed 19.3 million, while the number of fatalities caused due to the deadly contagion have exceeded 3,34,000 in the country.

Brazil’s coronavirus cases have crossed the 75 lakh-mark and stands at 7,504,833 while the number of deaths have surged past 1,91,000 in the country.

Meanwhile, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa banned alcohol sales and extended a nationwide curfew, as infections passed the one million mark owing to a faster-spreading variant of the disease discovered in the country.

Cuba has announced it would allow fewer flights from the United States and several other countries beginning 1 January, due to a surge in coronavirus cases since opening its airports in November.

In addition to this, the French health ministry has reported 2,960 new infections; down from 8,822 on Sunday and from Saturday’s 3,093.

Reportedly, the new variant of the virus was detected in Finland. The country imposed travel restrictions earlier this month on passengers from the UK amid concerns over the new variant, which is thought to be more contagious than previous ones.

-CHK

With 16,432 new cases, India’s COVID tally surge past 1.02 crore

COVID-19 India
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India has registered 16,432 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the overall caseload to 10,224,303, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

This the first time since June 23 when the daily coronavirus cases have decline to almost 16,000 in India. The country’s death toll rose to 1,48,153, with 252 patients succumbing to the infection since yesterday.

Currently, 98,07,569 patients have been cured an recovered across the country, while the active cases remained below 2.7 lakh mark and stands at 2,68,581.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 19,22,048 followed by Karnataka with 9,16,909 and Andhra Pradesh with 8,81,273 positive cases.

The other worst hit states are Tamil Nadu (8,15,175), Kerala (7,43,563), Delhi (6,23,451) and Uttar Pradesh (5,82,920).

Meanwhile, of the total fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 49,305 deaths, followed by Karnataka with 12,070 fatalities.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 10,474, while 6,06,644 patients have been cured and discharged so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, more than 16.98 crore samples tested for COVID-19 up to December 28. Of these, 9,83,695 samples were tested yesterday.

Furthermore, 10 more United Kingdom returned persons test positive for COVID-19 in Delhi on Monday. With this, the total number of infected persons has gone up to 31 in the country.

 

-RJV

Trump signs bill to stop Chinese interference in selection of next Dalai Lama

New Delhi (NVI): US President Donald Trump has signed a bill that authorises US sanctions on Chinese officials if they interfere in the selection of next Dalai Lama by Tibetan Buddhists’, a move that has irked China.

Trump signed the act as part of the massive USD 2.3 trillion package for the year-end bill to provide long-delayed coronavirus relief and fund the federal government.

The US senate last week unanimously passed the bill despite China’s protest. Beijing asserts that its approval is a must for choosing the successor to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

According to the Central Tibetan Administration, the move has dramatically strengthened US policy on Tibet and reaffirmed the US government’s steadfast support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the CTA.

CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay welcomes the legislation. “This legislation sends a powerful message of hope and justice to the Tibetans inside Tibet and bolsters US support for the protection of Tibetan people’s religious freedom, human rights, environmental rights and exile Tibetan democracy like never before,” he said.

“On behalf of the CTA and six million Tibetans, I extend deepest gratitude to President Trump for signing the profoundly historic bill. I would also like thank once again the US Congress for passing the bill, especially House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her steadfast support in making this historic bill come true. I also thank the bill sponsors Senators Marco

Rubio and Ben Cardin; and Congressmen Jim McGovern and Chris Smith for introducing in the House and Senate. Thanks to everyone who contributed to making this a reality,” Lobsang Sangay added.

In a video message to Tibetans around the world, he attributed the landmark legislation to the tireless efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, courage and resilience of six million Tibetans inside Tibet and the collective efforts of Tibetans and friends around the world.

Meamwhile, the Chinese foreign ministry firmly rejected the US legislation and said that “Tibet-related issues are domestic affairs”.

The legislation signed by Trump calls for the establishment of a US consulate in Tibet’s main city of Lhasa. It also asserts the absolute right of Tibetans to choose a successor to the 14th Dalai Lama and the preservation of Tibet’s environment.

Built on the historic Tibet Policy Act of 2002, the TPSA (Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020) makes it official United States policy that decisions regarding the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama are exclusively within the authority of the current Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist leaders and the Tibetan people. Any interference by Chinese government officials will be met with serious sanctions and be deemed inadmissible into the United States, according to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).

“It is the policy of the United States to take all appropriate measures to hold accountable senior officials of the Government of the People’s Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party who directly interfere with the identification and installation of the future 15th Dalai Lama of Tibetan Buddhism, successor to the 14th Dalai Lama,” as per the Statement of Policy regarding the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.

With Trump signing the bill, the US will try to build pressure on China to patiently wait and allow the 14th Dalai Lama to identify his reincarnation, and not impose its own choice.

Notably, after escaping from Tibet when it was invaded by the Chinese in 1950, the Dalai Lama had taken shelter in India in April 1959 and thousands of Tibetans followed him in the Himalayan town of Himachal’s Dharamshala where he has been living in exile since then. As per an estimate, over 80,000 Tibetans are living in exile in India.

-ARK

Biocon launches Tacrolimus capsules in US

Biocon launches Tacrolimus capsules in US

New Delhi (NVI): Indian biopharmaceutical company Biocon today said that it has launched Tacrolimus capsules in the US market, an immunosuppressant used in the treatment of organ transplant patients, which reduces the body’s ability to reject a transplanted organ.

In a statement, the company said that Tacrolimus capsules have been particularly effective in treating patients of renal transplant for more than two decades.

The launch of Tacrolimus capsules, following an approval from the US FDA in November 2020, underscores Biocon’s relentless pursuit of its mission to make affordable healthcare accessible, the company said in a statement.

“The launch of Tacrolimus capsules in the US is another milestone for Biocon that reflects our commitment to continually evaluate and expand our portfolio of complex products to serve patients,” said Siddharth Mittal, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Biocon Ltd.

-ARK

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