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  • U.S. records over 1,100 COVID-19 deaths for third straight day

    However, they remain well below levels seen in April, when 2,000 people a day on average died from the virus.

    REUTERS

    The United States recorded more than 1,100 deaths from COVID-19 for the third day in a row on Thursday, as the outbreak strained hospitals in California, Florida and Texas, according to a Reuters tally.

    The rise in the U.S. death toll has not seen back-to-back days with over 1,100 lives lost since late May. Many states and local governments in May lifted restrictions and reopened beaches, restaurants and businesses, triggering a surge in infections of the novel coronavirus in June and an increase in fatalities in July.

    So far in July, 17 states have broken one-day records for increases in COVID-19 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.

    Deaths rose by at least 1,014 to a total of 144,211 on Thursday compared with a rise of 1,135 on Wednesday and a jump of 1,141 on Tuesday. Total cases across the United States surpassed 4 million and rose by at least 60,000 on Thursday.

    Texas reported at least 174 deaths, Florida 173, California 152 and Arizona 89 deaths. Florida’s deaths were a one-day record as were 37 deaths in Tennessee.

    Even though deaths are rising in the United States for a second week in a row, they remain well below levels seen in April, when 2,000 people a day on average died from the virus.

    Among the 20 countries with the largest outbreaks, the United States ranks sixth highest globally for deaths per capita, according to a Reuters analysis.

  • U.S. accuses Russia of testing anti-satellite weapon in space

    Russia said the event involved a small space vehicle that “inspected one of the national satellites from a close distance using special equipment.

    Representational Picture

    AP

    The United States accused Russia on Thursday of conducting a test of an anti-satellite weapon in space, asserting that it exposed Moscow’s intent to deploy weapons that threaten U.S. and allied satellites.

    In Moscow, the Defense Ministry said the July 15 event involved a small space vehicle that “inspected one of the national satellites from a close distance using special equipment.”

    It added that the inspection provided valuable information about the object that was inspected, which was transmitted to the ground-based control facilities.

    The U.S., however, said the Russian actions were inconsistent with the stated mission of an inspector satellite.

    The Russian satellite system used to conduct this on-orbit weapons test is the same satellite system that we raised concerns about earlier this year, when Russia maneuvered near a U.S. government satellite, said Gen John W. Raymond, commander of Space Command and the head of U.S. Space Force.

  • IPL to be held from September 19 to November 8 in UAE: Brijesh Patel

    The Indian Premier League will start on September 19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the final slated on November 8, IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel said on Friday.

    While the event’s Governing Council will meet next week to chalk out the final details and approve the schedule, it is understood that the BCCI has informally intimated the franchises about the plan.

    “We expect the government approval to come through by next week. It is a full 51-day IPL,” Mr. Patel told The Hindu.

    There are three grounds available in the UAE — Dubai International Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Abu Dhabi) and the Sharjah ground. It is learnt that the BCCI will be renting the grounds of the ICC Academy for training of the teams.

    The ICC Academy has two full-sized cricket grounds along with 38 turf pitches, 6 indoor pitches, a 5700 square foot outdoor conditioning area along with physiotherapy and medicine centre.

    As per the current health protocol in Dubai, there is no need to be in quarantine if people are carrying a negative COVID-19 test report, but if they are not, they will have to undergo a test.

    The cash-rich event was originally scheduled to start at the end of March but the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions that were put in place to contain the virus, led to an indefinite postponement.

    However, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had always maintained that the event will be held some time this year.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Ladakh | India expects China to work sincerely on disengagement plan

    “It is our expectation that the Chinese side will sincerely work with us for complete disengagement and de-escalation, and full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas at the earliest, as agreed to by the Special Representatives,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.

    India called on China to work “sincerely” on the disengagement plan at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as agreed to by both sides, amidst concerns that the disengagement process at the Line of Actual Control has slowed down, after People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers failed to withdraw from the ridges of the “Finger” areas around the Pangong Tso lake.

    “It is our expectation that the Chinese side will sincerely work with us for complete disengagement and de-escalation, and full restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas at the earliest, as agreed to by the Special Representatives,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday.

    “The conduct of Chinese forces this year, including the deployment of a large body of troops and changes in behaviour, accompanied by unjustified and untenable claims, has been in complete disregard of all the mutual agreements,” Mr. Srivastava said, striking a stern note on the situation, adding that India would not accept “any unilateral attempts to change the status quo along the LAC”.

    Meanwhile, Indian and Chinese officials are expected to meet for a record third time in a month on Friday, for a virtual conference of the ‘Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India China Border Affairs’ (WMCC) grouping, sources said. The WMCC, which normally has only annual or bi-annual meets, has already met on June 24 and July 10 this year, while the MEA confirmed that the next meeting is expected “soon”. However, the MEA declined to respond to a question on whether holding the WMCC meeting so soon after the previous meeting indicated that there is a problem in the disengagement schedule.

    Based on the consensus reached at the third round of Corps Commanders talks on June 30, Indian Army and PLA soldiers have disengaged from stand-off points patrolling Galwan and Gogra, and have disengaged “partially” at Hot Springs and Pangong Tso, military sources said. At Pangong Tso, Chinese troops reportedly pulled back from the base of Finger 4, and moved to Finger 5, but they continue to be present in smaller numbers on the ridgelines of Finger 4, contrary to the agreement. Prior to the stand-off, Indian had maintained that it held the areas up to Finger 4, and its claims lie up to Finger 8, as per the alignment of the LAC. China claims land up to Finger 2.

    Further steps on disengagement were discussed at the fourth round of Corps Commander talks on July 14, but there has been no progress on them since with the first phase of disengagement is still incomplete, said the sources.

    Last week, addressing troops at Lukung near Pangong Tso during a visit to Ladakh, Defence Minster Rajnath Singh had stated that the progress in the talks with China should lead to a resolution of the issue, but stressed that there was no guarantee as “to what extent” the nearly three month long stand-off would be resolved.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Appreciate Bangladesh’s consistent stand on J&K: India

    PTI

    New Delhi: India on Thursday appreciated Bangladesh’s consistent stand that all developments in Jammu and Kashmir are India’s internal matters.

    The praise for Bangladesh came in the context of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan raising the Kashmir issue during a telephonic conversation with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday.

    Asked about Khan taking up the issue during his call with Hasina, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “Our relations with Bangladesh are time tested and historic. This year is the celebration of Mujib borsho (centennial birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rah man) and both the countries are taking a lot of steps to strengthen this partnership in this year.”

    India has also stood with Bangladesh as their ties have been forged by history and common sacrifices, Srivastava said at a Jedi briefing.

    “As regards to Jammu and Kashmir, we appreciate their (Bangladesh’s) consistent stand that J&K and all developments in J&K are matters internal to India. This is a stand that they have always taken,” he said.

    On the issue of an Indian national being injured recently in the firing by the Nepal Armed Police Force (NAPF) in the ‘no man’s land’ on the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar’s Kishanganj, Srivastava said the matter was taken up with Nepal under established mechanisms.

    “We have extensive and continuing cooperation on border security and related matters with Nepal. In fact there is positive coordination between relevant departments on both sides,” Srivastava said.

    “We have established standard operating procedures and mechanisms and under these established SOPs and mechanisms, we have taken up this issue with Nepal,” he said.

    Asked about US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s remarks that the US and India need to work together in the wake of the challenges posed by China, Srivastava said, “Since India and China are both prominent countries, this issue (border tensions) has attracted interest all over the world.”

    “What I can say is that as part of our diplomacy we are engaged with those interested, to convey our viewpoint,” he said.

  • COVID-19: Four more loose battle with deadly virus since morning, J&K toll 292

    Srinagar: The deadly pandemic Friday claimed four more lives, taking toll of total deaths related to COVID-19 in J&K to 292.

    Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that three patients who died include a 75-year-old man from Saderbal Srinagar, a 65-year-old man from Mahraj Gung Srinagar, a 65-year-old woman from Malaknag Anantnag and 58-year-old IRP personnel from Jammu.

    An official from SKIMS said that a patient from Saderbal was admitted on 08 July with multiple ailments and he died on Friday morning.

    Sources at SMHS said that a 65-year-old patient from Mahraj Gung, presently living at Kraltang Rajouri Kadal who was admitted on 20 July with bilateral pneumonia and was tested positive on 22 July died on Friday.

    A health official at GMC Anantnag said that a 65-year-old woman from Malaknag Anantnag who was admitted on 22 July died at GMC Anantnag on Friday morning.

    He said that patient was suffering from hypertension, pneumonia and other ailment.

    The fourth Covid death took place in GMC Jammu where a 58-year-old IRP personnel who had tested positive for the virus, breathed his last, officials said.

    With four more deaths, the death toll related to COVID-19 has reached to 292 in J&K including 271 from Kashmir division and 21 from Jammu division—(KNO)

  • Notorious criminal held under PSA in J&K’s Samba

    PTI

    Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday arrested a notorious criminal under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Samba district, officials said.

    Police has booked and detained notorious criminal Chain Singh under the J&K Public Safety Act (PSA) for his criminal activities on the detention orders issued by the Samba district magistrate, they added.

    The accused has been booked in four separate criminal cases registered against him in Bari-Brahmana police station, they further said.

    Singh has become a threat to the “peaceful atmosphere” forcing authorities to detain him under the PSA, they added.

    Keeping in view his repeated involvement in criminal activities and land grabbing in the area, a dossier was prepared by Senior Superintendent of Police, Samba and forwarded to the DM who formally issued the order of his detention, they added.

    The detention warrant was executed by a police team and the accused has been lodged in Hiranagar sub-jail.

  • UP | Teen molested, uncle beaten up

    PTI

    Muzaffarnagar (UP): A 16-year-old girl was allegedly sexually harassed in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district by three men, who also beat up her uncle when he opposed them, police said on Friday.

    The incident occurred at Bhokarhedi area on Thursday. The girl’s uncle was beaten up with sticks and he has been admitted to a hospital in a serious condition, Bhopa police station incharge Sanjiv Kumar said.

    A case has been registered against the three suspects, Amol Kumar, Abhishek and Nikhil Kumar, who are absconding, the officer said.

    In neighbouring Shamli district, three youths allegedly attempted to kidnap a woman when she was on her way to a shop at a village in Kairana police station area on Thursday, an officer said.

    A search is on for the suspects, who also threatened the woman, the police said.

  • COVID-19 tally in India climbs to 12,87,945

    PTI

    New Delhi: India saw a record single-day spike of 49,310 COVID-19 cases taking the country’s virus tally to 12,87,945 on Friday, while the recoveries surged to 8,17,208, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

    The death toll mounted to 30,601 with 740 new fatalities reported in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    There are 4,40,135 active cases of coronavirus infection presently in the country.

    Thus, around 63.45 per cent people have recovered so far.The total number of confirmed cases includes foreigners.

    Of the 740 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, 298 are from Maharashtra, 97 from Karnataka, 88 are from Tamil Nadu, 61 from Andhra Pradesh, 34 from West Bengal, 28 from Gujarat, 26 each from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, 11 from Rajasthan,10 from Madhya Pradesh and nine each from Jammu and Kashmir and Telangana.

    Punjab has reported eight fatalities followed by Assam, Odisha and Haryana with six deaths each, Kerala five, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Puducherry three each, while Chhattisgarh, Tripura and Goa have registered a fatality each.

  • 65-year-old Anantnag woman dies due to covid-19, J&K toll 286

    Srinagar: Kashmir Valley on Friday reported one more death attributed to covid-19, taking the fatality count due to the virus in Jammu and Kashmir to 286.

    Official sources told GNS that a 65-year-old woman from Malaknag area of Anantnag having underlying ailments such as “Rheumatoid arthritis, pneumonia and hypertension” was admitted to the Government Medical College Anantnag on July 22.

    “She was covid-19 positive and died early today,” a senior doctor at GMC Anantnag said.

    So far 266 deaths have been reported in Kashmir and 20 in Jammu division. (GNS)