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Moscow begins mass distribution of ‘Sputnik V’ Covid vaccine

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

New Delhi (NVI): Moscow began the distribution of the ‘Sputnik V’ vaccine to 70 medical facilities in the city from today, the first mass vaccination programme of Russia against COVID-19.

The advanced trial of the Russian-made vaccine is still underway, but the shots had already been offered to people from high-risk groups, according to the reports.

Moscow’s taskforce informed that, COVID-19 vaccine shots would be made available first to doctors, medical workers, teachers and social workers, as they are on the highest risk of exposure to the virus.

In addition to this, an online registration service allows city residents in the above professions aged 18-60 to book free appointments at 70 sites around Moscow.

According to Moscow Mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, about 5,000 people signed up for the jab –up in a few hours after the system began operating in the city.

The age group for those receiving Sputnik V shots is capped at 60 years, while people with certain health conditions, pregnant women’s and those who have had a respiratory illness for the past two weeks are excluded.

Earlier in August, Russia proclaimed ‘Sputnik V’ as the world’s first registered COVID-19 vaccine after the government gave it regulatory approval. The country has developed two COVID-19 vaccines, Sputnik V, backed by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), and one developed by Siberia’s Vector Institute and final trials for both are yet to be completed.

However, the Sputnik V vaccine for COVID-19 is administered in two injections, the second dose given 21 days after the first. The is 95 per cent effective and causes no major side effects, as per the developers.

Moscow, the epicentre of Russia’s COVID-19 outbreak, registered 7,993 new cases in past 24 hours, pushing the overall tally to 11,57,514. The country as a whole registered 24,10,462 coronavirus cases, the fourth-highest in the world, as per the John Hopkins University data

Meanwhile, the government of Russia has ruled out a lockdown, but in November restrictions were introduced in Moscow on opening hours for bars and clubs, and also reduced cultural and sporting events.

-RJV

Concerned about growing perception that the pandemic has come to an end: WHO

COVAX
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

New Delhi (NVI): Recent progress on COVID-19 vaccines is positive but the World Health Organization is concerned this has led to a growing perception that the pandemic has come to an end, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

“Progress on vaccines gives us all a lift and we can now start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, WHO is concerned that there is a growing perception that the COVID-19 pandemic is over,” he said.

“Even as vaccines are rolled out, people will need to keep adhering to public health measures so that everyone is protected”, said Tedros.

He praised the United Kingdom’s emergency authorization for the Pfizer/BioNTech rollout which is due to begin next week, describing it as “an important scientific step for the world”.

“We know it’s been a hard year and people are tired, but in hospitals that are running at, or over, capacity; it’s the hardest it can possibly be”, said the WHO chief, making a personal appeal for everyone everywhere to be careful.

“The pandemic still has a long a way to run and decisions made by leaders and citizens in the coming days will determine both the course of the virus in the short term, and when this pandemic will ultimately end”, he further added.

The virus emerged in Wuhan, China, a year ago since when more than 65 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1.5 million have died.

-CHK

J&K: NIA files chargesheet against 6 accused in Handwara narco-militancy case

Lashkar-e-Mustafa

Neyaz Elahi

Srinagar (NVI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today filed chargesheet against 6 accused in Handwara narco-militancy related case in special court here in Jammu.

In a statement, NIA said that it today filed chargesheet against six accused in RC-03/2020/NIA/JMU under sections 8, 21, 25 and 29 of NDPS Act, 1985, section 120B of IPC and sections 17, 38 and 40 of UA(P) Act, 1967 in the NIA Special Court, Jammu.

The case pertains to seizure of 21 Kg Narcotics (Heroin) and Rs 1,35,89,850 cash from the accused persons in Handwara area of Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the NIA statement, “The charge-sheeted accused are Abdul Momin Peer @Peerzada Momen, Syed Iftikhar Andrabi, Islam-ul-Haq Peer, Afaq Ahmad Wani, Saleem Andrabi and Muneer Ahmad Banday @Ishfaq, all residents of Handwara area.”

The statement further said that the case arose out of police station Handwara case no. 183/2020 dated 11.06.2020 wherein during checking of vehicles at Kairo Bridge, Handwara, accused Abdul Momin Peer’s Creta vehicle was intercepted by the Police Naka Party.

Later, the vehicle was searched and cash amount of Rs 20,01,000 and 2 Kg Heroin were seized. Abdul Momin Peer was arrested and following his disclosure, accused Syed Iftikar Andrabi, 50 years and Islam-Ul-Haq Peer, 20 years, were also arrested, NIA said.

It added that, the case was re-registered by NIA as RC-03/2020/NIA/DLI on 23.06.2020 and investigation was taken up and accused Afaq Ahmad Wani, who was on run, was arrested by NIA on 16.07.2020 on the basis of technical analysis.

The investigation also revealed that accused persons including Momin Peer and Saleem Andrabi were involved in cross-border smuggling and supply of Narcotic drug Heroin in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country after procuring the same from their associates based abroad including Pakistan.

While accused Iftikhar Andrabi and Abdul Momin Peer visited Pakistan several times during 2016-17 to meet the operatives of militant organisations Lashkar-E-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen(HM).

However, the cash generated from the sale of Heroin was pumped by the accused to further the militant activities of Lashkar-E-Taiba (LeT). Further investigation in the case is continued, the statement read.

-RJV

India’s active COVID caseload drops below 4.1 lakh, lowest in 136 days

Covid variant
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The active coronavirus caseload in India dropped below 4.10-lakh mark and currently stands at 4,09,689 today, the lowest in 136 days, the Ministry of Health said.

“This is the lowest after 136 days. The total active cases were 4,11,133 on July 22. This has been made possible by the trend of recoveries exceeding new cases which has ensured a total net reduction of the active caseload,” the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement.

The country’s present active caseload consists of just 4.26 per cent of total positive cases and new recoveries have led to a net decline of 6,393 in the total active cases.

However, India has been recording more daily new recoveries than the daily cases registered from the last eight days.

The ministry said that, in the last 24 hours as many as 36,652 news COVID-19 cases were registered, while 42,533 cases recovered and discharged during the same period.

Meanwhile, the rising recoveries have also improved the recovery rate to 94.28 per cent today.

The overall recoveries stand at 9,058,822. With this, the gap between recovered cases and active cases is nearing 86.50 lakh and presently stands at 8,649,133.

According to the Union Health Ministry’s data, 78.06 per cent of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 States and Union Territories.

“Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of single-day recoveries with 6,776 new recovered cases in past 24 hours. As many as 5,496 people recovered in Kerala followed by 4,862 in Delhi,” it added.

About 76.90 per cent of the new cases are from 10 States and UTs. Out of these, Kerala reported the highest number of new cases at 5,718 in last 24 hours, followed by Maharashtra with 5,229 new cases.

Furthermore, the ministry said that, 512 case fatalities have been reported in past 24 hours. Ten States and UTs account for 78.32 per cent of new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum, 127, fatalities. Delhi and West Bengal follow with 73 and 52 daily deaths, respectively.

-RJV

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

COVID-19 cases
Representative image

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India crossed 96 lakh-mark and currently stands at 96,08,211 after 36,652 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll stands at 1,39,700 after 512 new fatalities were reported during the same period.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 18,42,587 followed by Karnataka with 8,90,360 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,70,675 cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 4,742

Andhra Pradesh- 8,70,675

Arunachal Pradesh- 16,367

Assam- 2,13,505

Bihar- 2,37,006

Chandigarh- 17,828

Chhattisgarh- 2,43,997

Dadra and Nagar Haveli– 3,340

Delhi- 5,86,125

Gujarat- 2,15,819

Goa- 48,459

Haryana– 2,40,841

Himachal Pradesh- 43,50

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,12,256

Jharkhand- 1,09,990

Karnataka- 8,90,360

Kerala- 6,25,767

Ladakh- 8,732

Madhya Pradesh- 2,11,698

Maharashtra- 18,42,587

Manipur- 25,691

Meghalaya- 12,067

Mizoram- 3,913

Nagaland- 11,305

Odisha- 3,20,394

Puducherry- 37,165

Punjab- 1,54,788

Rajasthan- 2,76,420

Sikkim- 5,147

Tamil Nadu- 7,87,554

Telangana- 2,72,719

Tripura- 32,860

Uttarakhand- 76,893

Uttar Pradesh- 5,51,179

West Bengal – 4,96,522

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 61

Andhra Pradesh- 7,020

Arunachal Pradesh- 55

Assam- 987

Bihar- 1,287

Chandigarh- 287

Chhattisgarh- 2,956

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 9,497

Goa- 696

Gujarat- 4,049

Haryana- 2,539

Himachal Pradesh- 708

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,730

Jharkhand- 978

Karnataka- 11,834

Kerala- 2,358

Ladakh- 120

Madhya Pradesh- 3,314

Maharashtra- 47,599

Manipur- 295

Meghalaya- 118

Mizoram- 6

Nagaland- 65

Odisha- 1,760

Puducherry- 614

Punjab- 4,882

Rajasthan- 2,389

Sikkim- 112

Tamil Nadu- 11,762

Telangana- 1,470

Tripura- 372

Uttar Pradesh- 7,877

Uttarakhand- 1,273

West Bengal- 8,628

However, a total of 90,58,822 people have been cured and discharged. The total active cases stands at 4,09,689 in the country.

-CHK

Pak targets forward areas in J&K’s Poonch

Narco smuggling
Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir (File Pic)

Srinagar (NVI): Pakistan violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) at Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir today, defence officials said.

The Pakistani army resorted to unprovoked firing and mortar shelling in Balakote sector at around 11:40 am today, officials said, adding that the Indian Army gave a befitting response.

“At about 1140 hours Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms & shelling with mortars along LoC in Balakote sector, District Poonch (J&K). Indian Army retaliates befittingly.” a defence statement read.

(More details awaited)

-RJV

Anil Vij tests positive for COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij today tested positive for coronavirus days after being administered a trial dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Taking to Twitter, Vij wrote, “I have been tested Corona positive. I am admitted in Civil Hospital Ambala Cantt. All those who have come in close contact to me are advised to get themselves tested for corona,”

On November 20, the Minister was administered a dose of COVAXIN, a potential COVID-19 vaccine, as part of its third phase trial, at the Civil Hospital at Ambala Cantt.

He announced on Twitter that he will be the first volunteer in his state for the anti-COVID vaccine.

Earlier, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, State Assembly Speaker, Gian Chand Gupta had also tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

So far, Haryana registered 2,40,841 coronavirus cases, while the death toll rose to 2,539 in the state.

-RJV

Border villages in J&K’s Kathua reverberate with Pak shelling

J&K Encounter
Security forces in Kashmir (File Pic)

Neyaz Elahi

Srinagar (NVI): The border area along Line of Control (LoC) in Kathua district of Jammu region reverberated with blasts after Pakistani Rangers opened fire on forward posts and villages late on Friday night, officials said today.

Official sources said that Pakistan resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling in the Hiranagar sector’s Pansar Border Outpost area, drawing an effective retaliation by the Border Security Force (BSF), they said.

The armies of both countries exchanged fire till pre-dawn hours, as per the reports.

Defense sources also said that Pakistan deliberately targeted civilian areas especially those living on both sides of the Line of Control.

“Pakistani troops fired for a few minutes in the Gurnam and the Karol Krishna border outpost areas,” they added.

There has been surge in ceasefire violations along Line of Control in recent past. Since November 13, at least 8 soldiers and 2 BSF personnel have been killed in Pakistan firing along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier on November 13, four soldiers, a BSF soldier and 4 civilians were killed in Pakistan shelling in different locations of North Kashmir and on November 21, a soldier was killed in cross border firing in Lam Sector of Nowshera in Rajouri.

Apart from this, on November 26, a JCO was killed in Pakistan firing in Poonch and on November 27, two soldiers were killed in Pakistan firing along LoC in Sunderbani in Rajouri.

-RJV

Cyclone Burevi: Deep depression to weaken into low pressure area

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The deep depression caused by Cyclone Burevi over the Gulf of Mannar near Ramanathapuram is likely to weaken into a well-marked low pressure area in next 12 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The Met department tweeted saying the depression over Gulf of Mannar close to Ramanathapuram coast remained practically stationary during the past 30 hours.

“It is likely to remain practically stationary over the same region and weaken into a well-marked low pressure area during next 12 hours,” it added. The deep depression over Gulf of Mannar is about 40km southwest of Ramanathapuram.

However, heavy rains continue to lash parts of Tamil Nadu, causing floods and waterlogging which lead to severe crop damage.

IMD also forecasts that, “Heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during next 12 hours, over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and over Lakshadweep on December 5.”

In addition, the Met department has also predicted heavy rainfall for isolated places over Thiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram and Salem today. The heavy rainfall is expected to continue at isolated places over Tamil Nadu on Sunday and Monday.

Earlier on Friday, Kollidam in Nagapattinam district recorded 36 cm of rainfall, Chidambaram in Cuddalore district recorded 34 cm rainfall and Rameswaram received 20 cm rainfall, as per the IMD forecast.

Due to this many parts of the state continue to experience flooding and evacuation processes are underway.

Meanwhile, IMD has let a sigh of relief for Kerala as removed the red alert issued for cyclone Burevi and rainfall in the seven districts of the state as the deep depression weakened into a depression.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases surge past 65.8 million globally

New Delhi (NVI): The global count of coronavirus cases has reached more than 65.8 million, with over 15,18,500 deaths reported, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Over 42 million patients have recovered from the deadly contagion globally.

In the US, the total number of coronavirus cases have reached more than 14.35 million. The total number of fatalities have surpassed 2,79,700 in the country.

Brazil’s coronavirus cases has surpassed 6.53 million, while the country accounts for the second highest number of fatalities at 1,75,964.

Mexico has registered 12,127 new COVID-19 cases within the past 24 hours, pushing the total number to 11,56,770. The death toll has risen by 690 to 1,08,863 people within the same period of time.

The health authorities of Canada reported 3,763 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the overall infection tally to 400,031, amid a raging second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the South Australia will resume accepting returned Australians on international flights from next week after arrivals were suspended because of a cluster of COVID-19 cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, the progress on COVID-19 vaccines is positive but the organization is concerned about a growing perception the pandemic has come to an end.

-RJV

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