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Coronavirus cases surge past 62.7 million worldwide

Coronavirus cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): More than 62.7 million people around the world have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, while the death toll has crossed 14,59,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. Over 40.1 million patients have recovered from the deadly disease globally.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday reported an increase of 1,43,333 positive cases and 1,210 deaths due to the novel coronavirus.

With this, the number of coronavirus infections in the US have now surpassed 13.3 million while the number of fatalities due to the deadly contagion have crossed 2,66,500.

Brazil’s coronavirus cases have crossed the 63 lakh-mark while the number of deaths have surged past 1,72,000 in the country.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 11,169 to 1,053,869. The reported death toll rose by 125 to 16,248, the tally showed.

In Japan, the number of Covid-19 patients with serious symptoms has reached record levels, as the country battles a third wave of infections. The number of people with severe symptoms rose to 462 on Sunday, the health ministry said – an increase of 22 from the previous day.

Mexico reported 6,388 new confirmed coronavirus infections and 196 additional deaths on Sunday, health ministry data showed. The latest tally brought the official number of cases to 1,107,071 with a total death toll of 105,655.

Furthermore, China reported 18 new Covid-19 cases on November 29, up from 11 a day earlier, the national health authority said on Monday.

In addition to this, Turkey’s daily coronavirus death toll hit a record high for a seventh consecutive day on Sunday, with 185 fatalities in the last 24 hours.

Children in Iraq have started returning to school for the first time since late February, with social distancing measures in place and schools operating six days a week.

Lebanon will begin to slowly relax coronavirus restrictions imposed two weeks ago from Monday, as it looks to boost its struggling economy ahead of Christmas.

-CHK

India’s Covid tally reaches 94.3 lakh, death toll tops 1.37 lakh

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India increased to 94,31,692 with a single-day rise of 38,772 fresh cases in the past 24 hours, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The country’s death toll due to the virus rose to 1,37,139, with 443 patients succumbing to the infection since yesterday.

Currently, 88,47,600 patients have been cured an recovered all over the country and the active cases stands at 4,46,952.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 18,20,059 followed by Karnataka with 8,83,899 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,67,683 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 47,071 followed by 11,765 in Karnataka and 11,703 in Tamil Nadu.

The other worst affected states are Tamil Nadu (7,80,505), Kerala (5,99,600), Delhi (5,66,648) and Uttar Pradesh (5,41,873).

Meanwhile, the death toll in the national capital rose to 9,066, while 5,22,491 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, more than 14.03 crore samples tested for COVID-19 up to November 29. Of these, 8,76,173 tests have been done yesterday.

Furthermore, India continues to have one of the lowest deaths per million population globally. Also, focussed measures to ensure a low and manageable fatality rate have resulted in daily mortality figures of less than 500, the Health Ministry said.

-RJV

PM Modi remembers Guru Nanak Dev

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today remembered the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev on his Jayanti.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, “I bow to Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji on his Parkash Purab. May his thoughts keep motivating us to serve society and ensure a better planet.”

Guru Nanak was born in November 1469 at present day Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan, near Lahore. This year marks his 551st birth anniversary.

The auspicious day of Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrates the birth of the first Sikh Guru, also known as Gurpurab, and is considered one of the most sacred festivals among Sikhs. This day is celebrated on the full moon day of the Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar.

Ahead of this day, Gurudwaras are decked up and the festive fervour can be seen as devotees offer prayers in huge numbers.

-RJV

China using ‘debt-trap diplomacy’ in garb of BRI to build ‘Port City’ in Sri Lanka

China using 'debt-trap diplomacy' in garb of BRI to build 'Port City' in Sri Lanka

New Delhi (NVI): China’s expansionist greed has spiralled all the way from Pakistan to Bangladesh to Sri Lanka now, where the dragon has been trying to tighten its grip through what experts say ‘debt-trap diplomacy’, in the garb of Belt & Road Initiative (BRI).

With the return of Rajpaksa brothers to power recently, the red dragon has managed to convince debt-ridden Lanka to start building a $13 billion city on the country’s seafront. China knows very well that the island nation is located near some of the world’s most important shipping lanes and that the port city would provide it a huge strategic advantage.

Sri Lanka, which is under a huge mountain of debt, is deepening its ties with Beijing despite US efforts to gain influence in the region. Just like in Pakistan, China has been trying to make deep inroads in Sri Lanka through huge investments under BRI.

Sri Lanka’s economy is reeling under last year’s Easter bombings and then the coronavirus pandemic this year.

The Port City, which will be built on 660 acres of land reclaimed from the sea close to Colombo’s city center, had been delayed and debated under a previous government. It is clear that the previous government tried to decrease the country’s dependence on China.

However, with the return of the family of Mahinda Rajapaksa now, China’s tactics to gain strategic advantage in the Indo-Pacific region seem to be working. Pertinent to mention here that Mahinda Rajpaksa had earlier overseen a tightening of ties with China.

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s younger brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was elected president in November 2019. The elder brother was elected prime minister in August 2020, taking two-thirds of the seats in parliament. As per reports, authority is split between the two positions in Sri Lanka, though the president, who is head of state, is more powerful.

The Chinese move in Sri Lanka can also be seen as Beijing’s attempts to influence all neighbours of India. China has tried its best to play its expansionist card in Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh in the name of development. This also comes amid the border tensions between India and China which have seen no signs of respite so far.

China also wants to keep US away, and vice-versa, as the two global powers try to influence regional players.

According to reports, once completed, Port City could become an important symbol of the power of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. The initiation seeks to spread Chinese influence across Asia and beyond by unleashing its financial and construction firepower.

-ARK

IMD predicts heavy rains in TN, Puducherry, Kerala, AP

Rainfall
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Days after the severe storm ‘Cyclone Nivar’, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) today predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in southern Indian states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh.

The weather warning comes after cyclone Nivar made a landfall near Puducherry early on Thursday. In a fresh weather advisory, the IMD said predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall with moderate thunderstorm and lightning over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.

The weather department also said that isolated extreme rainfall is likely over south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala on December 2 (Wednesday).

“A well-marked low-pressure area lies over Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of South Andaman Sea and Equatorial Indian Ocean with associated cyclonic circulation extending upto mid tropospheric levels. It is very likely to concentrate into a Depression during next 36 hours and likely to intensify further thereafter. It is likely to move westnorthwestwards and reach near south Tamil Nadu coast around 2nd December, 2020,” the IMD said in a statement.

The areas including Tamilnadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, Kerala and Mahe, Lakshadweep, south coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Rayalaseema are expected to receive scattered to widespread rainfall during Monday to Wednesday.

The weather department has advised fishermen not to venture into Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman Sea.

The IMD has also issued ‘orange’ alert for Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts of Kerala for Tuesday. The alert has also been issued for Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts of the state on Wednesday.

-ARK

Search ops continue for missing MiG-29K Navy pilot

Search ops continue for missing MiG-29K Navy pilot

New Delhi (NVI): Search operations are still underway for a Navy pilot who went missing after a MiG-29K trainer aircraft operating at sea crashed off Goa on Thursday. The search continues with extensive deployment of naval ships and aircraft.

“Indian Navy’s Search and Rescue effort to locate the second pilot of the MiG-29K trainer aircraft which ditched off Goa on 26 Nov 20 continues with extensive deployment of naval ships and aircraft,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.

Officials said that some debris of the aircraft including landing gear, turbo charger, fuel tank engine and wing engine cowling have been located.

One pilot was rescued when the Navy’s trainer aircraft crashed on Thursday, while search for the second pilot is on.

“In additon to nine warships and 14 aircraft engaged in the the search efforts, Indian Navy’s Fast Interceptor Craft are also deployed to search waters along the coast. Further, the Marine/Coastal police are on the lookout and nearby fishing villages have been sensitised,” the Navy said.

-ARK

PM to visit Varanasi tmrw

PM Modi
Narendra Modi (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit his parliamentary constituency Varanasi tomorrow to inaugurate a six-lane widening project of the Varanasi-Prayagraj section of NH-19.

The 73 km stretch of the newly widened and six-lane NH19, has been made with a total outlay of Rs 2,447 crore, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The PM will also inaugurate Deep Deepawali festival and is scheduled to visit the site of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor Project followed by a visit to the Sarnath Archaeological site.

-ARK

Vande Bharat mission: Air India flight departs from Bahrain to Chennai

Vande Bharat mission: Air India flight departs from Bahrain to Chennai

New Delhi (NVI): An Air India flight, carrying 142 passengers, departed from Bahrain to Chennai today, under Vande Bharat Mission, the Indian Embassy in Bahrain said. The special flight was organised under the air bubble arrangement between the two countries.

The passengers also included four infants. “Air India Flight AI 1986 from Bahrain to Chennai departed today from Bahrain International Airport with 142 passengers including 4 infants onboard. Wishing safe journey to all the passengers,” the Indian embassy tweeted.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has entered into air bubble arrangements with multiple countries. However, India has extended the ban on international flights till December 31, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only a few special flights are allowed, such as under the air bubble arrangement.

The Vande Bharat mission started in may to evacuate Indians stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic. The eighth phase of the mission was initiated earlier this month.

Any person who wants to travel to a foreign country will have to depend on air bubble arrangements. Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines.

India has air bubble pacts with around 22 countries as of now. These are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Maldives, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Tanzania, the UAE, the UK, Ukraine and the US.

-ARK

‘Enforced disappearances’: Balochistan University professor goes missing

New Delhi (NVI): In yet another case of enforced disappearance in Pakistan, a professor in Balochistan University has gone missing under mysterious circumstances, with several human rights groups and activists condemning the incident and demanding from Pakistan authorities his immediate and safe recovery.

The Balochistan Post reported that three professors at the University of Balochistan, Quetta, were initially abducted and their vehicle was found in a locality in Mastung that falls in Kalat division of the province.

While two professors – Shabir Shahwani and Nizam Shahwani – were later released, one of them remains missing, the news website reported.

The missing professor has been identified as Dr Liaquat Sanni, who was serving as the Chairman of the Brahui department at the University of Balochistan and was also known for his research on Brahui language.

The TBP report said that Dr Sanni has authored several books, scholarly articles and has also earned a PhD in Brahui language.

The three professors were travelling from Quetta to Khuzdar to visit the ongoing examinations, but mysteriously went missing along the way, TBP reported. The two professors, who were released, were found in Kanak area of Mastung.

Even as the local authorities have said that they are investigating the matter, UN Human Rights South Asia has demanded strict action from Pakistani authorities against the culprits.

“We have received many messages about the abduction of three professors from Balochistan province of #Pakistan. We demand safe and immediate recovery of those professors. And We demand from Pakistani authorities to take strict action against those culprits who abducted them,” UNHR South Asia tweeted via its official handle.

Baloch Student Organisation Pajjar has termed the incident as an “anti-education step”.

Mama Qadeer, the Vice Chairman of Voice For Baloch Missing Persons, has also condemned Dr Sanni’s disappearance. In a statement, the activist has said that if people like Dr Sanni are not safe then one can envisage what the security situation of Balochistan is like.

Notably, this is not the first such incident in Balochistan and other parts under illegal Pakistan occupation. Pakistan army and police have engaged in enforced disappearances of innocent people in Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan who have raised their voice against the government or protested against them.

According to Amnesty International, enforced disappearances have been taking place for a long time and despite the pledges of successive governments to criminalize the practice, there has been slow movement on legislation while people continue to be forcibly picked up and made to disappear with impunity.

-ARK

Recent agri reforms opened doors of new opportunities for farmers: PM

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that new dimensions are being added to farming and related aspects in India while noting that recent agricultural reforms have opened up doors of new opportunities for farmers.

The Prime Minister was speaking at his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address. His remarks came amid the protests by farmers over the recently passed three farm bills.

While speaking of the Centre’s new farm laws and the advantages they brought, PM Modi said decades-old demands of farmers, which were promised to be fulfilled by many political parties, have now been met with.

“Parliament has passed farm reform laws after rigorous brainstorming. These reforms have not only broken shackles of farmers but have also given new rights and opportunities to them. These rights started mitigating problems of farmers very quickly,” he added.

The PM also cited an example of a farmer from Dhule district in Maharashtra who benefited from the new farm laws.

“You should know how Jitendra Bhoji, a farmer in Dhule, Maharashtra used new farm laws. Jitendra produced maize and decided to sell it to traders at right price. The total amount agreed was around three lakh 32 thousand rupees. Jitendra also got an advance of 25 thousand rupees. It was agreed that he will get remaining amount in 15 days. But, situation became such that he didn’t get remaining balance.

“Buying crops from farmers but not paying them for months. Those who bought Jitendra’s produce were probably following this old norm. Jitendra didn’t get his remaining balance for four months. In this situation, new farm laws passed in September came to his rescue,” PM said.

Further elaborating on the new farm laws, PM said that under this law, it is mandatory to pay within three days of purchasing the produce. “If payment is not made, then the farmer can lodge a complaint. Another major provision under his law is that the SDM of the area must address complaint of the farmer within a month,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that farmers in Punjab and Haryana have launched a campaign against the Centre’s newly enacted farm laws and seek assurance on MSP and mandi system. The farmers, who have been protesting for last four days, were given permission for a peaceful protest in Delhi on Friday.

Meanwhile, a majority of farmers have rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s offer of moving the ongoing protests to a designated site in Burari on the outskirts of the national capital. They have decided to stay put outside Delhi borders.

-ARK

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