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India’s COVID tally crosses 98-lakh mark with 30,005

COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): India’s coronavirus tally crossed the 98-lakh mark and stands at 98,26,775 with a single rise of 30,005 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The country’s death toll has reached to 1,42,628 with 442 fatalities reported during this period.

So far, 93,24,328 patients have been cured and recovered all over the country while active cases stands at 3,59,819. With this, the recovery rate further improves to 94.84 per cent.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 18,72,440, followed by Karnataka with 8,99,011 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,74,515 positive cases.

Other states with a high virus hit included Tamil Nadu (7,96,475), Kerala (6,58,683) and Uttar Pradesh (5,62,722).

Meanwhile, of the total deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 47,059 fatalities, followed by Tamil Nadu with 11,870 deaths.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 9,934, while 5,74,925 patients have been cured and recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), over 15.26 samples tested for COVID-19 up to December 11. Of these, 10,65,176 samples were tested yesterday.

Furthermore, Health minister Satyendar Jain yesterday said the third COVID-19 wave in Delhi had been decreasing and the positivity rate had declined from 15 per cent to less than 5 per cent in the last one month, indicating that the infection spread was finally under control.

-RJV

 

What is Pakistan up to?

Indo-Pak trade

COLUMN

Is Pakistan planning some major terror attack in India? This question arises from some recent developments and statements emerging from Pakistan.

Many Pakistani media outlets, quoting unnamed officials, have said that the Pakistan Army has been put on high alert along the border with India as it fears that India may carry out a surgical strike, like the one in September 2016.

On the night of September 28-29, Special Forces of the Indian Army crossed the Line of Control (LoC) at multiple places and carried out a surgical strike on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, destroying a number of those and killed an unspecified number of terrorists. The action was in retaliation to the ghastly terror attack on Army camp in Uri, in which 19 Indian soldiers lost their lives.

Significantly, the stories in the Pakistani media about high alert on the border emerged along with the atrocious insinuation expressed by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi that India could stage a ‘false flag operation’ to blame Pakistan and divert attention from the ongoing farmers’ protest. By ‘false flag operation’, he meant a staged terrorist attack in India.

It may be recalled that Pakistani leaders had made similar insinuations about false flag operation even before the terror attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama in February last year. And subsequently, when the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror outfit carried out the attack, Pakistan resorted to denials as the alibi had been already created by it.

Pakistan tried to mislead the world even on the Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008 and attempted to cloak it as ‘Hindu terror attack’. The Pakistani establishment had created fake Hindu identity for the 10 Pakistani terrorists who came to Mumbai by sea and carried out attacks at multiple places on November 26, 2008. Had one of them – Ajmal Kasab – not been arrested alive, Pakistan’s alibi would have succeeded and the attack would have been passed off as the one carried out by Hindus.

So, there is a pattern, which leads to concerns that Pakistan may be up to something big.

One possible major terror attack was foiled only last month, when security forces intercepted and killed four heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists on Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Nagrota area.

The terrorists, carrying 11 AK rifles, three pistols along with a large quantity of ammunition, more than 30 grenades and huge quantity of explosives, were intercepted when they were on their way to Kashmir from Jammu after infiltrating from Pakistan via the International Border in Samba district of Jammu.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Army has stepped up cross-LoC shelling and firing and attempts by terrorists to infiltrate have also gone up.

Possibly, Pakistan wants to escalate tensions with India to the level that an armed conflict is imposed, at a time when India is already locked in a military stand-off with China on the Ladakh border.

Therefore, rather than the Pakistani troops, it is the Indian security forces which need to be on high alert to thwart continuous evil designs of Pakistan.

PAGD candidate’s polling agent shot at in South Kashmir

Representational Picture

Pulwama (NVI): A 35-year-old man was shot at by suspected militants outside his village in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district today.

The suspected militants carried out the attack in Wasura hamlet of the district.

Police sources said that a group of suspected militants emerged in the village and fired upon a man in his leg. He was immediately shifted to hospital.

The victim, who according to hospital sources is stable, has been identified as Mushtaq Ahmed Dar son of Asadullah Dar, a resident of Wasura village of Pulwama.

Local sources said that the victim had acted as a polling agent to Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) backed National Conference candidate Mukhtar Ahmad Bandh in yesterday’s phase 5th of DDC elections in Litter Constituency of Pulwama.

-ARK

Russian company denounces US sanctions, says its trade with India won’t be affected

Russian company denounces US sanctions, says its trade with India won't be affected

New Delhi (NVI): Aviazapchast PLC, a Russian company specializing in supplies and after-sales service of domestic aviation equipment, has denounced sanctions imposed on it by the US while maintaining that its trade with India won’t be affected as it has not violated non proliferation regime of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs).

In a statement issued today, the company said that it is “completely baffled by the US Department of State decision of November 6, 2020, to impose sanctions on our company in connection with the alleged violation of the regime of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).”

“This decision is devoid of any factual basis. It is inconsistent with the actual state of affairs, as well as contrary to the principles of fair competition and free trade, envisaged by the international law,” the company added.

While denying any wrongdoing, the Russian company also expressed confidence that the sanctions would be lifted once it was allowed an opportunity of fair hearing before the appropriate authority.

To recall, the US imposed sanctions against five firms in China and Russia over claims that they are promoting Iran’s missile program.

“At the very outset, the Aviazapchast PLC categorically and resolutely disputes the decision made by the US State Department. It should be noted that the Aviazapchast PLC has not been notified or provided with an opportunity to show cause against such harsh imposition. Thus, there were no chance to present its case before the relevant authorities. At present, the company is formulating a plan of action to contest the determination and is confident that the sanctions will be lifted once it is allowed an opportunity of fair hearing before the appropriate authority,” Aviazapchast said in a statement.

In a statement, the company also sought to assure its Indian partners of its continued business operations without any impediment as the above mentioned determination has no legal impact in India and sanctions imposed by the US does not have an extra-territorial application.

“Thus, it has no tangible ramifications in the Indian jurisdiction and does not affect trade between entities in the Republic of India and the Russian company in any manner,” the statement added.

-ARK

Railways launch Hospital Mgmt Information System to improve quality of health services

A train in India (Representative Pic)

New Delhi (NVI): Indian Railways has launched the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) to provide better health care facilities to its work force with the help of information technology.

The HMIS Trial Project has been launched over South Central Railway.

The HMIS is expected to bring a paradigm shift in the health care systems maintained by Indian Railways, as it will improve the quality of health services and aid in utilization of resources in a transparent manner.

The Information System has been developed by Indian Railways in coordination with RailTel Corporation Limited.

The system was launched by BP Nanda, Director General, Railway Health services via video conferencing.

Speaking on the occasion, Nanda stated that the dream of providing best health care facilities to the work force with the help of information technology has come true. The HMIS will bring a paradigm shift in the health care systems maintained by Indian Railways.

Gajanan Mallya, General Manager, South Central Railway, Puneet Chawla, Chairman and Managing Director, Rail Tel Corporation of India, Dr. Prasanna Kumar, PCMD, SCR participated in the programme.

The benefits of Hospital Management Information System are:

1. Patients waiting time at the hospitals will be minimized and medical records will be available to the team of doctors at all times.

2. Indian Railways expects to economize the drug management and better utilization of resource management.

3. This will help in the integration of headquarter hospitals and ancillary centres.

4. The project is likely to have more than 20 modules and will immensely benefit the medical fraternity and hospital beneficiaries.

5. The objective of the HMIS is to provide a single-window of clearance of hospital administration activity such as clinical, diagnostics, pharmacy, examinations, industrial health etc.

-CHK

India, Uzbekistan stand together against terrorism: PM Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that India and Uzbekistan stand together against terrorism and have very similar views on the issues of regional security.

While addressing the virtual summit with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, PM Modi said, “India wants to further deepen its development partnership with Uzbekistan, and cited growing cooperation between the two sides in diverse sectors including defence and agriculture.”

The virtual summit was organised to discuss the entire spectrum of bilateral relationship between both the countries.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), this was the first virtual bilateral summit which was held between India and Uzbekistan. Several MoUs and government to government agreements were also signed during the summit.

The two sides signed nine agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during the summit, including on a dollar credit line between the Export-Import Bank of India and the Uzbek government and another on digital technologies.

“India and Uzbekistan have same stance against radicalism, separatism, fundamentalism. Our opinions are same on regional security as well. We agree that Afghanistan needs a peace process led and controlled by Afghanistan. Additionally, the gains of the last two decades must also be preserved,” PM Modi said.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation between law enforcement agencies and special services, including through the joint working group on counter-terrorism.

India has ability in infrastructure, IT, education, health, training, capacity building which may come to Uzbekistan’s help, PM Modi said talking further about India-Uzbekistan ties. “There are remarkable reforms in Uzbekistan under your rule. We would cement our ties more in the post-covid times,” PM Modi said in his opening remark.

Recalling that both India and Uzbekistan have a mutually identified target of USD 1 billion for bilateral trade, the leaders stressed on the importance of making concerted efforts to achieve this target.

The leaders also instructed their officials to fast track a joint feasibility study to pave the way for negotiations on a preferential trade agreement. They also agreed to work towards the early conclusion of a bilateral investment treaty.

Approval of lines of credit worth $448 million for four developmental projects in Uzbekistan in road construction, sewage treatment and information technology was also approved.

Congratulating the president on the occasion of the fifth year anniversary of his rule which will be on December 14, PM Modi said he was keen to visit the country this year, but could not do so because of the pandemic situation.

The President of Uzbekistan stated that he hopes that in 2021 PM Modi’s official visit to Uzbekistan will take place. He added that it will also be a historical event that will further strengthen the development of friendly relations between the two nations.

-CHK

Punjab extends night curfew till Jan 1

night curfew
Representational/file photo

New Delhi (NVI): Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today extended night curfew till January 1, 2021, as the coronavirus cases in the state continue to surge.

The state government also issued directives to the state police to ensure strict compliance, especially at marriage palaces.

Earlier, the curfew restrictions, which had been imposed with effect from December 1 till December 15, will now remain in force till the end of the month across Punjab, with curb on movement from 10 am to 5 pm.

In a official statement, Punjab Chief Minister’s Office said, “Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh orders extension of night curfew and curbs on the number of people at gatherings till January 1, 2021, with directives to the state police to ensure strict compliance, especially at marriage places.”

In the order, the CM also asked to strictly enforce the restrictions of maximum of 100 people at indoor gatherings and 250 outdoors at marriage palaces and other places.

Meanwhile, Punjab reported 28 more fatalities due to COVID-19, as the death toll crossed the 5,000-mark, while 635 fresh cases took the infection count to 1,58,556 in the state.

-RJV

Indian-American Raja Chari among 18 astronauts for NASA’s manned Moon mission

New Delhi (NVI): NASA has selected an initial team of 18 astronauts, including Indian-American astronaut Raja Chari, to form the Artemis Team for its manned mission to the Moon and beyond.

Nasa is sending 18 astronauts, comprising of nine men and nine women, to the moon’s surface for the first time since 1970s.

Vice President of the US, Mike Pence, introduced the members of the Artemis Team during the eighth National Space Council meeting at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Raja Jon Vurputoor Chari, 43, a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, MIT, and US Naval Test Pilot School, is the only Indian-American in the list.

He was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. He reported for duty in August 2017 and having completed the initial astronaut candidate training is now eligible for a mission assignment.

The US Naval Test Pilot School graduate worked on F-15E upgrades and then the F-35 development programme, before coming to NASA. Chari immigrated from Hyderabad.

The astronauts on the Artemis Team come from a diverse range of backgrounds, expertise, and experience. The agency’s modern lunar exploration programme will land the first woman and next man on the Moon in 2024 and establish a sustainable human lunar presence by the end of the decade.

NASA said it will announce flight assignments for astronauts later, pulling from the Artemis Team. The US space agency said that additional Artemis Team members, including international partner astronauts, will join this group, as needed.

The Artemis Team members also include Joseph Acaba, Kayla Barron, Matthew Dominick, Victor Glover, Warren Hoburg, Jonny Kim, Christina Hammock Koch, Kjell Lindgren, Nicole A. Mann, Anne McClain, Jessica Meir, Jasmin Moghbeli, Kate Rubins, Frank Rubio, Scott Tingle, Jessica Watkins and Stephanie Wilson.

-CHK

MoHUA launches socio-economic profiling of PM SVANidhi beneficiaries

PM Modi
Narendra Modi (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs today launched a programme of socio-economic profiling of PM SVANidhi beneficiaries and their families today, as an additional component of PM SVANidhi Scheme.

Under this, a complete profile of each PM SVANidhi beneficiary and their family members will be prepared. Based on the profiled data, benefits of the various eligible Central Schemes would be extended to them for their holistic socio-economic upliftment, according to statement released by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

The launch has been in the context of the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that PM SVANidhi scheme should not be seen merely from the perspective of extending loans to street vendors but should also be seen as an instrument for outreach to street vendors and their families for their holistic development and socio-economic upliftment, the statement read.

In the first phase, 125 cities have been selected for the programme. The profile will identify potential eligibility of beneficiaries and their family members for select Central Government schemes and facilitate linkages, it added.

Besides this, the States/ UTs would also have an option to extend their respective State/ UT specific welfare schemes to them. Quality Council of India (QCI) has been appointed as implementing partner for the programme.

Prior to the complete roll out, MoHUA will run a pilot program in six cities, namely Gaya, Indore, Kakching, Nizamabad, Rajkot, and Varanasi.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is implementing Prime Minister Street Vendors AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme since June 1, 2020, with an objective to provide affordable working capital loan up to ₹10,000 to Street Vendors for facilitating resumption of their livelihoods adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the programme in the presence of representatives of various Central Ministries and State officials.

-CHK

Heart diseases leading cause of deaths, killing more people than before: WHO

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The World Health Organization (WHO) informed that heart disease which has remained the leading cause of death at the global level for the last 20 years, it is now killing more people than ever before.

According to WHO’s 2019 Global Health Estimates report, “Noncommunicable diseases (NCD) now make up seven of the world’s top ten causes of death, an increase from four of the ten leading causes in 2000. The new data cover the period from 2000 to 2019 inclusive.”

WHO in a statement said the figures clearly highlight the need for an intensified global focus on preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, as well as tackling injuries.

“Heart disease has remained the leading cause of death at the global level for the last 20 years. However, it is now killing more people than ever before,” WHO said in a statement

It added that this has taken nine million lives in 2019 — increased by more than two million since 2000.

Heart disease now represents 16 per cent of total deaths from all causes. More than half of the two million additional deaths were in the WHO Western Pacific region, the UN agency said.

The report further stated, more people are dying from Alzheimer’s and it is now the sixth leading cause of death globally, killing 1.6m people in 2019 compared to 584,000 people in 2000, when it was number 20 on the list.

“These new estimates are another reminder that we need to rapidly step up prevention, diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO.

“They highlight the urgency of drastically improving primary health care equitably and holistically. Strong primary health care is clearly the foundation on which everything rests, from combatting noncommunicable diseases to managing a global pandemic,” he added.

WHO further said that, the seven diseases highlighted in the report accounted for 24.4 million deaths, or 44 per cent of all deaths globally, in 2019.

“After heart disease, which killed nearly 9 million people in 2019, strokes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the second and third leading causes of deaths from noncommunicable disease. Trachea, bronchus and lung cancers, and kidney disease, were also on the rise,” the UN agency said.

The report also showed that people living in a low income country are more likely to die of a communicable disease than a non-communicable one, with neonatal conditions the leading cause of death. But infectious and diarrhoeal diseases are killing fewer people than 20 years ago.

-RJV

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