Friday, September 11, 2026
Home Blog Page 983

NIA to probe Nov 19 Nagrota terror attack

NIA to probe Nov 19 Nagrota terror attack

Neyaz Elahi

Srinagar (NVI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will probe the Nagrota encounter case in which four Jaish-e-Muhammad militants were killed while the truck driver ferrying them had gone missing.

Official sources said that the November 19 encounter will be probed by NIA that will conduct an investigation to find out the conspiracy and intent of the Jaish militants and their connections.

After the killing of these militants, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir had said that they were probably trying to enter Kashmir to disrupt District Development Council (DDC) elections.

Earlier, the Centre has issued a notification saying that the Nagrota encounter will be investigated by NIA.

Pertinently, on November 19 last month, a gunfight broke out between joint forces and the militants near Ban toll plaza in Nagrota area of Jammu on Srinagar-Jammu Highway after a truck was intercepted by forces.

All four militants boarding the truck were killed in the pre-dawn gunfight. However, the truck driver managed to escape from the spot and is still absconding.

11 AK-47 rifles, three pistols, 29 live grenades, six UBGL grenades, mobile phones, compass, pithy bags and other ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

Two policemen of the counter-insurgency Special Operations Group (SOG)- Kuldeep Raj of Akhnoor and Muhammad Ishaq Malik of Neel Qasim Banihal in Ramban district were also injured during the encounter.

This year, it was the second encounter on the same spot. On January 31, an encounter with three militants took on the same toll plaza, when they were travelling in a truck. That case is also being investigated by NIA.

-ARK

Waqf boards to be established soon in J&K and Leh-Kargil: Naqvi

Waqf boards to be established in J&K and Leh-Kargil: Naqvi
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

New Delhi (NVI): Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today announced that Waqf Boards will be established soon in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil, for the first time since Independence.

Naqvi made announcement after chairing the Central Waqf Council meeting, and said that Waqf Boards will be established in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil for the first time since Independence and the process of establishing the boards has been started.

It has become possible only after abolition of Article 370, the Minister said, adding that Waqf Boards will ensure proper utilisation of Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil for welfare of the society.

“The central government will provide adequate financial assistance to construct infrastructure for socio-economic and educational activities on Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil under “Pradhanmantri Jan VikasKarykram” (PMJVK),” Naqvi said in a statement.

He also informed that there are thousands of Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil and the process has been started to register these Waqf properties.

“Digitisation, Geo Tagging or GPS Mapping of these Waqf properties has also been initiated and the work will be completed soon,” Naqvi added.

During the meeting, while taking a serious note of bungling and encroachment of Waqf properties by Waqf Mafias in several states, the state governments have been asked to take strict action against such mafias, he said.

The Minister also disclosed that just like other parts of the country, the central government will construct schools, colleges, ITIs, polytechnics, girls hostels, hospitals, multi-purpose community hall “SadbhavMandap”, “Hunar Hub”, common service centres.

Also, employment oriented skill development centres and other basic infrastructure on Waqf land in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Kargil all under “Pradhanmantri Jan VikasKarykram” (PMJVK).

These basic infrastructure will ensure quality education for the needy, especially girls and give employment opportunities to the youths.

In addition, Naqvi said that for the first time since Independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government is providing 100 per cent funding to develop schools, colleges, ITIs etc. in those backward areas across the country which had been deprived of these basic facilities.

The Minister further stated that while only 90 districts of the country had been identified for minority communities’ development earlier, the government has expanded development programmes for minorities in 308 districts, 870 blocks, 331 towns and thousands of the villages of the country.

Naqvi said that about 6,64,000 registered Waqf properties are there across the country and digitisation of all the state Waqf boards has been completed. “Geo Tagging or GPS Mapping of Waqf properties is also being done on a war footing,” he added.

-RJV

Varun Dhawan, Neetu covid positive

New Delhi (NVI): Varun Dhawan and Neetu Kapoor have tested positive for the novel coronavirus today.

The two were shooting for Raj Mehta’s Jug Jugg Jeeyo, according to media reports.

The film also stars Anil Kapoor and Kiara Advani, who have tested negative for Covid-19.

Reportedly, the shooting of the film has now been halted until the actors are healthy.

-CHK*

India issues demarche to Canadian envoy over Trudeau’s comments on farmers’ protest

India issues demarche to Canadian envoy over Trudeau's comments on farmers' protest

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of External Affairs  (MEA) today summoned Canadian High Commissioner over certain remarks made by Justin Trudeau and some other Canadian ministers over farmers’ protest in areas bordering Delhi while issuing a demarche in this regard.

MEA said that the comments made on issues relating to Indian farmers “constitute an unacceptable interference in our internal affairs”.

“Such actions, if continued, would have a seriously damaging impact on ties between India and Canada,” the MEA said in a statement.

It said that these comments have encouraged gatherings of extremist activities in front of Indian High Commission and Consulates in Canada that raise issues of safety and security.

“We expect the Canadian Government to ensure the fullest security of Indian diplomatic personnel and its political leaders to refrain from pronouncements that legitimize extremist activism,” it added.

On Tuesday, India had rejected the remarks by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and some other Canadian leaders on farmers’ protests in border areas of Delhi, saying that the comments are “ill-informed” and “unwarranted” while suggesting that “diplomatic conversations should not be misrepresented for political purposes”.

Trudeau, in online interaction with Canadians from the Sikh community, raised the issue of farmers’ protest while saying that the situation in “concerning”.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t start by recognising the news coming from India about the protest by farmers. The situation is concerning. We are all very worried about family and friends,” he said.

Pertinent to mention here, farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at Singhu and Tikri borders since November 26. They are demanding the rollback of recently passed farm bills by the Centre. They fear the new laws will affect the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and corporatise farming.

A meeting between the Centre and representatives of 35 farmers group failed to yield any resolution yesterday. However, the Central Government could amend three provisions in the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation), as per a statement made by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

-ARK

Iceland to allow travelers to skip quarantine who’ve had COVID-19

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The foreign travelers can now enter Iceland without going into self-quarantine or taking a test if they have previously tested positive for coronavirus.

This new travel policy introduced by Iceland government will come into effect from December 10, according to the reports.

The visitors entering Iceland who can provide proof of prior COVID-19 infection and recovery will be exempt from the country’s mandatory 14-day quarantine and screening requirements, the country’s Directorate of Health said in a statement.

“Official will only accept a positive PCR test results at least 14 days old or an antibody test from a European laboratory or epidemiologist in Iceland, However, a report of rapid or spot tests are not acceptable,” the statement added.

Currently, the regulations require travellers arriving Iceland from COVID-19 risk areas, either need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival or get tested twice, once on arrival before quarantining for five to six days and receiving a second test.

Meanwhile, travellers from the United States are still not permitted to enter Iceland for a short vacation due to rising cases in the country, as per the Directorate of Immigration.

Although, the US visitors can apply for long-term visa and stay in Iceland for a duration of six months to enjoy its natural beauty and for the ultimate WFN (work from nature) experience. This rule has been framed to minimise the risk of infection from overseas arrivals.

The country has also closed its famous swimming pools and restaurants with a license to sell alcohol to close at 9 pm, while face masks are mandatory whenever people are within two meters of each other, as per the government’s COVID-19 website.

So far, there have been 5,448 registered cases of coronavirus in Iceland and 27 deaths, the Johns Hopkins University data shows.

-RJV

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

Covid-19 cases

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India crossed 95 lakh-mark and currently stands at 95,71,559 after 36,594 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll stands at 1,39,188 after 540 new fatalities were reported during the same period.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases surpassed 18,37,358 followed by Karnataka with 8,89,113 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,70,076 positive cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 4,729

Andhra Pradesh- 8,70,076

Arunachal Pradesh- 16,348

Assam- 2,13,336

Bihar- 2,36,420

Chandigarh- 17,717

Chhattisgarh- 2,42,418

Dadra and Nagar Haveli– 3,340

Delhi- 5,82,058

Gujarat- 2,14,309

Goa- 48,365

Haryana– 2,39,239

Himachal Pradesh- 42,697

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,11,712

Jharkhand- 1,09,771

Karnataka- 8,89,113

Kerala- 6,20,049

Ladakh- 8,691

Madhya Pradesh- 2,10,374

Maharashtra- 18,37,358

Manipur- 25,536

Meghalaya- 12,005

Mizoram- 3,888

Nagaland- 11,283

Odisha- 3,20,017

Puducherry- 37,119

Punjab- 1,54,064

Rajasthan- 2,74,486

Sikkim- 5,100

Tamil Nadu- 7,86,163

Telangana- 2,72,123

Tripura- 32,836

Uttarakhand- 76,275

Uttar Pradesh- 5,49,228

West Bengal – 4,93,316

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 61

Andhra Pradesh- 7,014

Arunachal Pradesh- 54

Assam- 985

Bihar- 1,281

Chandigarh- 284

Chhattisgarh- 2,941

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 9,424

Goa- 696

Gujarat- 4,031

Haryana- 2,520

Himachal Pradesh- 695

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,718

Jharkhand- 977

Karnataka- 11,821

Kerala- 2,329

Ladakh- 119

Madhya Pradesh- 3,300

Maharashtra- 47,472

Manipur- 294

Meghalaya- 116

Mizoram- 6

Nagaland- 64

Odisha- 1,755

Puducherry- 613

Punjab- 4,862

Rajasthan- 2,370

Sikkim- 111

Tamil Nadu- 11,747

Telangana- 1,467

Tripura- 372

Uttar Pradesh- 7,848

Uttarakhand- 1,263

West Bengal- 8,576

However, a total of 90,16,289 people have been cured and discharged. The total active cases stands at 4,16,082 in the country.

-CHK

PFC ranks 33rd in Fortune 500 list of Indian companies

New Delhi (NVI): India’s financial backbone in Power Sector, Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC), has ranked 33rd out of Top 500 list of Indian companies by the Fortune Magazine.

PFC has jumped a rank higher from 2019 when it was ranked 34th by Fortune India.

The list was published by Fortune India, which is part of the Kolkata-based RP Sanjiv Goenka Group.

PFC posted a 14.94 per cent rise in its revenue in fiscal year 2019. PFC’s FY19 revenue stood at Rs 62,296 crore.

However, PFC’s profit for FY19 was 28.21 per cent less than last year and stood at Rs 7,122 crore.

Power Finance Corporation Ltd. is an Indian financial institution established in 1986, it is the financial back bone of Indian Power Sector.

Overall, the revenue of the Fortune India 500 companies in the 2019 list grew by 9.53 per cent, while profit grew 11.8 per cent.

A total of 57 companies dropped off the list for reasons including consolidation within the public sector banks, public sector undertakings, as well as the private sector.

Oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd topped the list.

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC), the nation’s biggest oil firm, bagged the second spot, followed by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) at the third.

-CHK

DDC candidate shot at by militants in South Kashmir

Representational Picture

Neyaz Elahi

Srinagar (NVI): A candidate contesting in J&K District Development Council (DDC) elections was today shot at by militants in South Kashmir’s Anantnag this afternoon.

Police sources said that unidentified militants shot at Anees-ul-Islam in Sagam area of Kokernag in Anantnag.

They said that a bullet hit the arm of the contesting candidate and he was immediately shifted to Sub-District Hospital in Kokernag.

Anees-ul-Islam had recently joined Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party that is headed by former minister Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari.

The victim is contesting the ongoing DDC elections in Sangam Block Constituency of Kokernag.

Meanwhile, joint forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to nab the assailants.

Pertinently, the third Phase of DDC elections are undergoing in different parts of Kashmir Valley.

-ARK

Active COVID cases in India dips to 4.35% of total cases

Covid cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The active coronavirus caseload in India further dipped to 4.35 per cent of total COVID-19 cases, the Union Health Ministry said.

“Continuing with the trend of the last 7 days, India has reported more daily recoveries than the daily new cases during the past 24 hours,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

With 36,595 new infections and 42,916 recoveries registered in the last 24 hours, the trend of more daily recoveries than the new cases has led to a continuous contraction of India’s active caseload which presently stands at 4,16,082.

The ministry said that, the difference of 6,321 between new recoveries and new cases has led to a net decline of 6,861 cases from the total active caseload in the past 24 hours.

“India still continues to have one of the lowest cases per million population in the world much lower than many other countries of the Western Hemisphere,” it added.

Meanwhile, the recovery rate has also improved to 94.2 per cent today, with the total recovered cases standing at 90,16,289. The gap between recovered cases and active cases is steadily increasing and currently stands at 86,00,207.

About 80.19 per cent of the new recovered cases are contributed by ten States and UTs. Maharashtra reported the highest number with 8,066 COVID-19 recoveries, followed by Kerala (5,590) and Delhi with 4,834 new recoveries

Ten States and UTs have also contributed 75.76 per cent of the new cases. Out of these, Kerala reported 5,376 cases and Maharashtra registered 5,182 new cases, while Delhi recorded 3,734 new cases.

Apart from this, 540 case fatalities that have been reported in the past 24 hours and 77.78 per cent of them are from ten States and UTs.

In addition, 21.29 per cent of new fatalities reported are from Maharashtra with 115 deaths. Delhi also saw a fatality count of 82 while West Bengal reported 49 deaths, the ministry added.

-RJV

Italy bans travel between towns over Christmas as COVID cases rise

New Delhi (NVI): The Italian government has approved a ban on inter-regional travel during the Christmas period as the country registered the highest daily coronavirus death toll of the pandemic.

Under a new decree signed by the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, on Thursday night, people will be barred from travelling beyond their regions between December 20 and January 6 except for work, health or emergency reasons.

On top of that, they will not be allowed to leave their towns on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day.

The tough rules, which will run alongside a national curfew and other restrictions already in place, are intended to avert a third coronavirus wave “that could arrive as early as January”, Conte said during a press conference.

In addition to this, the government is expected to retain a colour-coded risk-based system that imposes varying levels of anti-coronavirus restrictions on different regions.

Italy recorded 993 Covid-19 deaths on Thursday, bringing the total since February to 58,038. This death toll eclipsed the 969 peak reached on March 27, when the country was in full lockdown.

Furthermore, there were 23,255 new confirmed infections in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative toll to more than 1.6 million infections.

-CHK

1...982983984...1,733Page 983 of 1,733

MUST READ