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Vice President Naidu to chair 19th Summit of SCO Council on Nov 30

New Delhi (NVI): Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will chair the 19th Summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) council of heads of government on November 30.

The virtual summit is expected to focus on further strengthening trade, economic and cultural cooperation among the eight member nations of the influential grouping, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release.

India assumed the Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government on 2 November 2019 as per rotation from the previous Chair – Uzbekistan and will complete its tenure on 30 November 2020 by hosting the 19th session of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) at the level of Prime Ministers in the virtual format.

It will be the first time that a summit-level meeting will be held under India’s watch since it gained full -membership of the SCO in 2017, the press release stated.

The SCO CHG deals primarily with the trade and economic agenda and approves its annual budget. Apart from the other seven SCO members (Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), four observer states—Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia—will also participate. Turkmenistan will be invited as a special guest, MEA statement said.

India considers SCO as an important regional organisation to promote cooperation in the areas of peace, security, trade, economy and culture and is committed to widening cooperation by playing a proactive, positive and constructive role in the organisation, it added.

During its Chairmanship, India has particularly focused on creating three new pillars of cooperation: Startups and Innovation, Science and Technology and Traditional Medicine and also proposed many other concrete initiatives.

“By hosting the 19th meeting of the SCO CHG, India hopes to further strengthen trade, economic and cultural cooperation within SCO,” said the MEA press release.

The meeting will end with a Joint Communique that contains the major proposals of Member States on issues of trade and economic cooperation. There will also be a report on the implementation of the SCO Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation prepared by the SCO Secretariat.

-CHK

DDC polls: 45% voter turnout in first phase in J&K’s Ganderbal till 1pm

Srinagar (NVI): In the first phase of District Development Council (DDC) polls, over 45 per cent voting was recorded till 1 pm in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, according to the officials.

Scores of people had come out to cast their votes in Ganderbal district.

Officials further stated, 5 per cent voting has been recorded in three polling stations in Rawalpora, Srinagar district.

Meanwhile, 34.18 per cent voter turnout has been recorded in three panchayat blocks in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

According to officials, three panchayat blocks have recorded 34.18 per cent polling till 1 pm.

Pertinently, in the first phase of DDC elections in Bandipora district, Gurez, Tulail and Sumbal panchayat blocks went to polls today.

Overall, the first phase of DDC elections recorded a voter turnout of 39.34 per cent across different constituencies in all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir till 1pm.

As per statistics by the office of State Election Commissioner, in Kashmir Division, Kupwara has recorded voting percentage of 34.10 %, Bandipora 34.18%, Baramulla 25.58%, Ganderbal 36.26%, Srinagar 29.94%, Budgam 47.44%, Pulwama 6.08%, Shopian 9.86%, Kulgam 24.49% and Anantnag 26.65% till 1.00 pm.

Similarly, in Jammu division, Kishtwar has recorded voting percentage of 27.65%, Doda 50.63%, Ramban 54.91%, Reasi 56.17%, Udhampur 45.03 %, Kathua 54.23%, Samba 59.29%, Jammu 48.96 %, Rajouri 57.73% and Poonch 55.48% till 1pm.

-RJV/CHK

Punjab chooses Option-1 to meet the GST shortfall, to get Rs 8,359 cr

Punjab night curfew
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh (File Photo)

New Delhi (NVI): The government of Punjab has announced the acceptance of Option-1 to meet the revenue shortfall arising out of goods and service tax (GST) implementation, the Ministry of Finance said.

The state will get Rs 8,359 crore by the government through special borrowing window to meet the GST implementation shortfall.

“The number of States who have chosen this option has gone up to 26. All the 3 Union Territories with Legislative Assembly (i.e. Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry) have also decided in favour of Option-1,” the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

It added that, the states and Union Territories who choose Option-1 are getting the amount of shortfall arising out of GST implementation through a special borrowing window put in place by the government.

Since October 23, the window has been operationalised and the government has already borrowed Rs 24,000 crores on behalf of the States in four instalments and passed it on to the States and Union Territories, who chose Option-1 on October 23, November 2, November 9 and November 23.

Furthermore, the state of Punjab will also receive funds raised through this window starting from the next round of borrowing.

Under the terms of Option-1, besides getting the facility of a special window for borrowings to meet the shortfall arising out of GST implementation, the States are also entitled to get unconditional permission to borrow the final instalment of 0.50 per cent of gross state domestic product (GSDP) out of the 2 per cent additional borrowings, under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, the ministry said.

“This is over and above the special window of Rs 1.1 lakh crores.”

On receipt of the choice of Option-1 from Punjab, the Government of India has granted additional borrowing permission of Rs 3,033 crores to the state government (0.5 per cent of Punjab’s GSDP), it added.

Apart from this, Kerala and West Bengal also opted for Option-1 recently to meet GST implementation shortfall.

-RJV

Prez attends changing guard ceremony

President attends changing guard ceremony

New Delhi (NVI): President Ram Nath Kovind today witnessed the ceremonial change-over of the Army Guard Battalion stationed at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

On the occasion, the Sikh Regiment of the Army took charge of the Ceremonial Army Guard duties from the Gorkha Rifles.

“The 5th Battalion of the 1st Gorkha Rifles, on completion of its three and half years tenure as Ceremonial Army Guard Battalion, handed over the charge to the 6th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment,” an official statement said.

Different Infantry units of the Army function as the Ceremonial Army Guard in Rashtrapati Bhavan by rotation.

The Army Guard Battalion performs ceremonial duties at various important events such as Guard of Honours to the dignitaries, Republic Day Parade, Independence Day Parade, Beating the Retreat Ceremony apart from performing ceremonial guard duties at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Later in the day, the Commanding Officers of the 5th Battalion of the Gorkha Rifles and the 6th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment will call on the President, the statement said.

Kovind will also interact with the outgoing Battalion, the 5th Battalion of the 1st Gorkha Rifles, it added.

-RJV

69% of daily COVID cases in India from 8 states, UTs

Covid cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): About 69 per cent of the daily new cases in India are contributed from Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Chhattisgarh, according to Union Health Ministry.

“41,322 new COVID-19 cases have been registered in the last 24 hours, pushing the overall tally to 93,51,110 in India,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

Maharashtra leads the tally with 6,185 new COVID-19 cases and Delhi has recorded 5,482 cases, while Kerala follows with 3,966 new cases, it added.

However, the active caseload in India stands at 4,54,940 today. The present contribution of active caseload to India’s total positive cases is 4.87 per cent.

Meanwhile, tests per million population has also crossed 1 lakh mark today. India’s tests per million population stand at 100,159.7.

In the last 24 hours, 11,57,605 tests were conducted, pushing the cumulative tests to 13.82 crore (13,82,20,354) in the country, the ministry said

“Sustained and progressive expansion in testing infrastructure has played a crucial role in the steep rise of testing numbers” it said. With 2,161 testing laboratories in the country including 1,175 government and 986 private labs, the daily testing capacity has got a substantial boost.

Moreover, following the national pursuit, 23 States and UTs have better tests per million population than the national average and 13 States and UTs have lower tests per million population.

Currently, total recovered cases in India are more than 87.59 lakhs. With this, the national recovery rate improved and stands at 93.68 per cent, the ministry said.

“41,452 recoveries have been registered in the last 24 hours in the country. Out of these, 76.55 per cent of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 states and UTs,” it added.

In addition, Delhi reported the maximum number of single day recoveries with 5,937 newly discharged cases and 4,544 people recovered in Kerala followed by 4,089 in Maharashtra.

-RJV

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India crossed 93 lakh-mark and currently stands at 93,51,110 after 41,322 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll stands at 1,36,200 after 485 new fatalities were reported during the same period.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 18,08,550, followed by Karnataka with 8,81,086 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,66,438 cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 4,689

Andhra Pradesh- 8,66,438

Arunachal Pradesh- 16,231

Assam- 2,12,320

Bihar- 2,32,916

Chandigarh- 17,157

Chhattisgarh- 2,32,835

Dadra and Nagar Haveli– 3,330

Delhi- 5,56,744

Gujarat- 2,05,116

Goa- 47,491

Haryana– 2,28,746

Himachal Pradesh- 38,327

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,08,871

Jharkhand- 1,08,577

Karnataka- 8,81,086

Kerala- 5,87,707

Ladakh- 8,272

Madhya Pradesh- 2,01,597

Maharashtra- 18,08,550

Manipur- 24,514

Meghalaya- 11,633

Mizoram- 3,806

Nagaland- 11,091

Odisha- 3,17,239

Puducherry- 36,856

Punjab- 1,50,086

Rajasthan- 2,60,040

Sikkim- 4,908

Tamil Nadu- 7,77,616

Telangana- 2,68,418

Tripura- 32,641

Uttarakhand- 73,527

Uttar Pradesh- 5,37,747

West Bengal – 4,73,987

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 61

Andhra Pradesh- 6,976

Arunachal Pradesh- 50

Assam- 980

Bihar- 1,248

Chandigarh- 270

Chhattisgarh- 2,813

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 8,909

Goa- 686

Gujarat- 3,938

Haryana- 2,345

Himachal Pradesh- 612

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,676

Jharkhand- 962

Karnataka- 11,738

Kerala- 2,171

Ladakh- 114

Madhya Pradesh- 3,224

Maharashtra- 46,898

Manipur- 256

Meghalaya- 110

Mizoram- 5

Nagaland- 64

Odisha- 1,718

Puducherry- 609

Punjab- 4,737

Rajasthan- 2,255

Sikkim- 103

Tamil Nadu- 11,681

Telangana- 1,451

Tripura- 370

Uttar Pradesh- 7,697

Uttarakhand- 1,201

West Bengal- 8,270

However, a total of 87,59,969 people have been cured and discharged. The total active cases stands at 4,54,940 in the country.

-CHK

Delhi’s AQI slips back to ‘poor’ category after minor improvement

Relief for Delhi as air quality improves to 'moderate' level
(Representational/file photo)

New Delhi (NVI): The national capital’s air quality slipped back into the ‘poor’ category this morning, a day after significant improved due to favourable wind speed.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s air quality index (AQI) was 213 at 10 am.

The AQI in neighbouring cities of Faridabad (168), Ghaziabad (231), Gurgaon (188) and Noida (218), was also recorded in ‘moderate’ and ‘poor’ categories.

The 24-hour average AQI was 137 on Friday, 302 on Thursday and 413 on Wednesday, as per the CPCB data.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good,’ 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

Officials at government agencies stated that, stronger winds and a drastic reduction in the contribution of stubble burning were two major reasons for cleaner skies over Delhi yesterday.

However, the winds slowed down at night allowing the pollutants to accumulate.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast that, the maximum wind speed was 18 kmph on Friday, which is likely to decrease to 15 kmph on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Ministry Earth Sciences’ air monitor, SAFAR said, the AQI is forecast to stay in the ‘moderate’ to the poor category for the next two days.

“Surface winds are forecast to decrease by November 30 annd the poor to the lower end of the very poor category is likely,” SAFAR added.

The minimum temperature in the city was 10.2 degree Celsius, while the maximum was 27 degree today, one degree above normal, the IMD said, the minimum is expected to touch 7 degrees by November 30.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases surge past 61.5 mn globally; death toll mounts to 1.44 mn

Coronavirus cases surge past 85 million mark worldwide
(File/Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): The global count of coronavirus cases has reached more than 61.5 million, with over 14,41,900 deaths reported, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Over 36.7 million patients have recovered from the deadly contagion globally.

In the US, the total number of coronavirus cases have reached more than 13 million. The total number of fatalities have surpassed 2,64,800 in the country.

Brazil’s coronavirus cases has surpassed 6.23 million, while the country accounts for the second highest number of fatalities at 1,71,974.

Germany topped 1 million COVID-19 cases, becoming the sixth country in the European region to do so. The number of confirmed cases increased by 21,695 to 10,27,598, while the death toll rose 15,796 in the country.

The Chinese mainland in past 24 hours registered six new coronavirus cases, all from overseas, pushing the overall tally to 92,586, said the National Health Commission. There were no COVID-19-related deaths reported and death toll remained unchanged at 4,742.

Mexico also recorded 12,081 cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 631 more deaths in the country. This brings the official number of coronavirus infection to 1,090,675.

The health ministry of Mexico has confirmed the country’s COVID-19 death toll has risen to 104,873.

Meanwhile, all social gatherings of individuals from different households will be banned in Los Angeles County for at least 3 weeks starting Monday under new restrictions health officials unveiled, citing a continued surge in COVID-19 infections.

Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) executive director Mike Ryan said that, the introduction of a vaccine will allow us to really crush the curve, avoid lockdowns and gain progressive control over the deadly virus.

-RJV

India’s Covid tally reaches 93.5 lakh with 41,322 new cases

COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India increased to 93,51,110 with a single-day rise of 41,322 fresh cases in the past 24 hours, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The country’s death toll due to the virus rose to 1,36,200, with 485 patients succumbing to the infection since yesterday.

Currently, 87,59,969 patients have been cured an recovered across the country and the active cases stands at 4,54,940.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 18,08,550, followed by Karnataka with 8,81,086 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,66,438 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 46,898 followed by 11,738 in Karnataka and 11,681 in Tamil Nadu.

The other worst affected states are Tamil Nadu (7,77,616), Kerala (5,87,707), Delhi (5,56,744) and Uttar Pradesh (5,37,747).

Meanwhile, the death toll in the national capital rose to 8,909, while 5,09,654 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, more than 13.80 crore samples tested for COVID-19 up to November 27.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-city visit to review coronavirus vaccine development work at facilities across India.

 

-RJV

Voting for first phase of DDC polls in J&K begins

LUBNA FAYAZ

Srinagar (NVI): The voting for first phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections has begun in Jammu and Kashmir. Notably, this will be the first electoral exercise in the Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370 in August last year.

According to officials, the polling began at around 7 am.

Polling will take place in 43 DDC constituencies of J&K. 25 seats are in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu. A total of 7,00,931 persons are eligible to cast their votes for these seats.

Officials also said that, 296 candidates are contesting elections- 172 in Kashmir and 124 in Jammu division.

The elections will also take place for 94 Sarpanch seats and 368 Panch constituencies.

There will be 2,111 polling stations- 1,298 in Kashmir and 813 in Jammu division. The polling will take place between 7:00 am to 2:00 pm.

DDC elections will be conducted in eight phases between November 28 and December 19; counting will take place on December 22.

Pertinent to mention here that the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an amalgamation of parties in the UT, is also contesting the DDC elections. The Gupkar alliance candidates will be face-to-face with BJP.

Political parties under Gupkar Alliance decided to contest in the elections unitedly on November 7, on the poll plank of restoration of Article 370 that was abolished by the Centre on August 5 last year. The Centre’s move annulled the constitutional provisions that conferred special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. J&K has since been bifurcated into two Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

-ARK/RJV

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