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Pak drone seen at IB near Jammu’s Arnia, retreats after BSF opens fire

Drone
Representational image

Jammu (NVI): A drone was spotted by the Border Security Force (BSF) over the International Border (IB) in Jammu’s Arnia sector last evening which retreated towards Pakistan side when the troops fired few shots, security officials said today.

BSF officials said that a search operation was launched in the area immediately to find the drone, in case it was hit.

“A Pakistani drone was spotted by the Border Security Forces over the IB in the Arnia region of Jammu on Saturday evening. Few shots were fired by the BSF after which it retreated towards the Pakistan side. Searches have been launched in the area for the drone,” read an official statement.

Pakistani drones have been spotted along IB or LoC in past as well. One such drone was seen on November 21 in the Mendhar sector of Jammu. On November 20, two drones crossed the IB in Samba sector.

-ARK

India’s Covid tally nears 94 lakh with 41,810 new cases

Covid cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India’s Covid-19 caseload is nearing a whopping 94 lakh mark with 41,810 new cases recorded in the past 24 hours. The overall Covid tally of the country now stands at 93,92,919.

496 fresh deaths have been reported since yesterday, taking the overall death toll due to 1,36,696.

Apart from that, the active cases in the country stand at 4,53,956. The total recoveries now stand at 88 lakh with over 42,000 people recovered in the last 24 hours. According to Johns Hopkins University Covid tracker, India has the most number of recovered patients in the world.

Maharashtra continues to be the worst-affected state in the country with 18,14,515 cases which includes 46,986 deaths and 90,965 active cases. 16,76,564 Covid patients in the state have recovered so far.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a three-city tour – Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad – to conduct an extensive review of the COVID-19 vaccine development and manufacturing process.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the day-long visit was aimed at getting a first-hand perspective of the preparations, challenges and road map in India’s endeavour to vaccinate its citizens.

Meanwhile, the total number of cases across the world has crossed 62 million mark while over 1.44 million people have succumbed to the virus. The global caseload now stands at 62,094,127 and 14,49,709 patients have.

-ARK

Global Covid-19 cases cross 62 mn mark, deaths surge to 1.44 mn

Global Covid-19 cases cross 62 mn mark
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases across the world has crossed 62 million mark while over 1.44 million people have succumbed to the virus, according to US-based Johns Hopkins University.

As per the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at the university, the total cases have reached 62,094,127.

Apart from that, around 14,49,709 patients have died of the deadly virus. Meanwhile, 3,97,50,055 Covid patients have recovered from the disease.

The United States continues to be the worst-affected country in the world with over 13 million cases. The caseload in the US stands at 13,227,195.

India comes at second place with 9,351,109 cases and 1,36,200 deaths. However, as per the tracker, India has the most number of recovered patients with 8,759,969 recoveries across the country.

Brazil, the third most affected country, has recorded 62,38,350 cases so far while 1,71,974 people succumbed to the virus there.

France has reported 22,60,789 cases and 52,212 deaths. Russia has reported 2,223,500 cases and 38,676 fatalities.

Among other countries, Spain has recorded 1,628,208 cases and 44,668 deaths while, the UK has reported 1,609,141 coronavirus cases and 58,127 people have died in the country.

-ARK

PM Modi reviews vaccine development in Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today undertook a three-city tour – Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad – to conduct extensive review of the COVID-19 vaccine development and manufacturing process.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the day-long visit was aimed at getting a first-hand perspective of the preparations, challenges and road map in India’s endeavour to vaccinate its citizens.

PM Modi began by visiting pharma major Zydus Cadila’s manufacturing facility near Ahmedabad. He reviewed the vaccine development process at the company’s research centre, located over 20 km from Ahmedabad.

Modi was extensively briefed about the vaccine work at the plant by the company officials. He was briefed about the vaccine production procedure. He interacted with scientists and vaccine developers.

“Visited the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad to know more about the indigenous DNA based vaccine being developed by Zydus Cadila. I compliment the team behind this effort for their work. Government of India is actively working with them to support them in this journey,” Modi tweeted after the visit.

During his visit to Bharat Biotech facility in Hyderabad, the Prime Minister was briefed about their indigenous COVID-19 vaccine. The PM congratulated the scientists for their progress in the trials so far.

The scientists expressed joy that the Prime Minister met them face to face in order to boost their morale and help accelerate their efforts at this critical juncture in the vaccine development journey.

Prime Minister expressed pride in the fact that India’s indigenous vaccine development has progressed at such a rapid pace so far. He spoke on how India is following sound principles of science in the entire journey of vaccine development, while also asking for suggestions to make the vaccine distribution process better.

On his visit to Serum Institute of India, Pune, the Prime Minister was briefed about the institute’s plan to ramp up manufacturing of biotechnology company Novavax’ Covishield vaccine and the progress on the same.

The PM interacted with the team comprising doctors and scientists and also visited the vaccine manufacturing facility.

Modi stressed that India considers vaccines as not only vital to good health but also as a global good, and it is India’s duty to assist other countries, including the nations in our neighbourhood, in the collective fight against the virus.

The scientists also presented an overview of how they are also developing various new and repurposed drugs to better fight COVID-19.

-CHK

J&K: First phase of DDC polls end with 51.7 voter turnout

Srinagar (NVI): State Election Commissioner (SEC), K K Sharma, today said that 51.7 per cent voter turnout was recorded for the first phase of District Development Council (DDC) election in Jammu and Kashmir.

He added, “A large number of people participated in the first ever District Development Council (DDC) polls.”

Addressing a press conference in Jammu, SEC Sharma said that except a small incident of stone pelting in Kulgam district of south Kashmir polls were conducted peacefully.

Sharma added that 43 DDC constituencies went to polls today where 7 lakh voters are registered.

“Total per cent of voting for J&K UT was 51.7.  In Jammu, voting per cent was 64.2 per cent and in Kashmir 40. 65 per cent voting was recorded,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Jammu, highest percentage of voting was recorded in Reasi with 74.6 per cent voter turnout, 70.5 per cent in Rajouri, 68.9 in Poonch and 68 per cent in Samba.

“In South Kashmir, highest voting was recorded in Shopian at 42.58 per cent,” Sharma said.

“In the phase one, 43 constituencies went for poll in J&K of which 25 were in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu,” the SEC said.

He said the first phase recorded large participation of people and most of the voting took place between 7 am to 8 am. “Out of the 3,62,000 votes polled, 1,93,000 were male and 1,69,000 were females,” Sharma said.

-CHK

Night curfew imposed in Leh

New Delhi (NVI): Leh administration has imposed night curfew and banned the assembly of more than four people, amid a fresh COVID-19 spike.

There shall be strict night curfew from 8 pm to 5 am throughout the district, according to the order issued.

Non-essential services shall not be allowed during this period without prior permission, it said.

Fresh restrictions also include allowing only 50 per cent staff to attend government offices and plying of vehicles with half of their seating capacity.

The order was issued by Leh District Magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya in exercise of the powers conferred upon him as the chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority under Section-34 of the Disaster Management Act and under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Epidemic Act.

Ladakh recorded one more covid related death and 44 positive cases in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 114 and overall caseload to 8,272, according to Health Ministry data.

-CHK

Himachal: 5-days office for all govt employees from Dec 1 to contain COVID spread

Himachal: 5-days office for all govt employees from Dec 1 to contain COVID spread
Jai Ram Thakur during a review meeting with the district officials

New Delhi (NVI): The government of Himachal Pradesh today decided to impose five days of office and sixth-day work from home for all government employees from December 1, to contain the further spread of COVID-19.

The decision was taken by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur during a review meeting over COVID-19 with the district officials today.

A order issued later by Himachal Pradesh government stated that, “It is hereby ordered in the public interest that, all government servants of all classes (Class-I to Class-IV) and categories of posts, including those working on contractual, daily wages, part-time and outsourcing basis will attend office on all working days except on Saturdays.”

The order also said that, all employees or officers will work from home on all working Saturdays.

Besides, the employees, who are Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) an require assistance of other persons to reach the workplace, shall continue to be exempted from attending office till December 31.

“Other conditions stipulated in the earlier orders ibid will remain operative,” it added.

Apart from this, the chief minister said that the state government would also consider imposing a curfew from 9 pm to 6 am in the four districts of Shimla, Mandi, Kullu, and Kangra.

So far, the coronavirus tally in Himachal Pradesh stands at 38,327 with 612 deaths in the country, as per the Health Ministry data.

-RJV

SEC prohibits exit polls before conclusion of DDC elections in J&K

J&K DDC poll results: BJP emerges as single largest party with 75 seats

Jammu (NVI): The State Election Commission in Jammu and Kashmir has imposed restrictions on the conduct of any exit poll till the last of the eight-phase District Development Council (DDC) election is completed.

The DDC elections along with panchayat bypolls have commenced today in the Union Territory..

In this regard, an order issued by State Election Commissioner, KK Sharma read, “In exercise of powers conferred under Section 36 of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act 1989, the Election Authority (State Election Commission) hereby prohibits the conduct of any exit poll and publishing or publicizing/displaying the result of exit poll by means of the print or electronic media or in any other manner in the ongoing District development Council Elections in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, till the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in the last phase of these elections, i.e. 2:00 PM on 19th December.”

There are 280 DDC seats in the union territory – 140 each in Jammu and Kashmir regions,  with 14 constituencies being earmarked in each of the 20 districts of the union territory.

Out of 1,475 candidates, 296 contested the first phase of the DDC polls, 172 of them are from the Kashmir valley and 124 from the Jammu region.

-CHK

Danish Mayfly named 2021 insect of the year

New Delhi (NVI): The Danish Mayfly has been selected by an international group of entomologists and others as the Insect of the Year for 2021.

A board of trustees established by the German Entomological Institute has named an Insect of the Year every year since 1999, with the aim of honoring an insect species that deserves greater fame for its rarity, its ecological value, aesthetic value — or even its “ordinariness.”

The insect, whose scientific name is Ephemera Danica, only has a few days to fly, mate and lay new eggs.

Mayflies have existed for about 355 million years and today some 140 species live in Central Europe.

Despite their fleeting time on earth in their final form, their developmental cycle is quite long.

Female mayflies zigzag over water between May and September, laying thousands of eggs that then sink.

Larvae hatch within a few days, and eventually develop gills. Buried in riverbeds, they take between one to three years to develop.

“Shortly before the transition from aquatic to terrestrial life, a layer of air forms between the old and new skin of the adult larvae,” said Schmitt, who is also director of the Senckenberg German Entomological Institute in Muencheberg, east of Berlin.

He added, ”By reducing its specific weight, the larva rises to the water surface. Once there, the larval skin bursts and within a few seconds a flyable mayfly hatches.”

With no mouth parts nor a functioning intestine, the fully developed mayfly has only a few days then to mate and lay new eggs before it dies.

-CHK

Mumbai: Churches to resume Sunday mass

Mumbai: Churches to resume Sunday mass
Mount Mary Church, Mumbai (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): The churches in Mumbai are set to resume mass services from tomorrow, with government advised COVID-19 guidelines.

After months of closure due to the ongoing pandemic, the Maharashtra government from November 16 allowed religious places to reopen, but churches in Mumbai remained shut for the public and only private prayers were allowed.

Under the COVID-19 guidelines by the state government, face masks will be made compulsory and social distancing is to be maintained at all times inside the church.

Adults above the age of 65 years, children below 10 and persons with fever, cold, cough, and comorbidities will not be allowed inside church premises.

All religious places of worship were shut but the government in the nationwide lockdown in late March as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, the total count of coronavirus cases in worst-hit Maharashtra stands at 18,08,550, including 46,898 deaths.

Mumbai city reported 1,074 new cases in past 24 hours, which pushed its caseload to 2,80,818, while its death toll rose to 10,757 with 17 fatalities, the Health Ministry data shows.

-RJV

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