New Delhi: The highly transmissible Covid variant Omicron tally has climbed to 781 in India out of which 241 have been discharged. The national capital has the highest cases of the variant at 238, followed by Maharashtra at 167 cases so far.

The Union health ministry on Wednesday morning said that the Omicron infection has so far spread into 21 states and union territories. Out of the 238 Omicron cases detected in Delhi, 57 of them have been discharged. According to the Ministry data, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, West Bengal have reported Omicron cases in two-digit figures.

Delhi has also seen a major jump in the daily Covid caseload as the infection rate has reached 0.89 per cent. Delhi on Tuesday reported 496 fresh Covid cases, the highest single-day rise after June 4 when the tally was also 523 and one Covid death in the last 24 hours, as per the Health Department bulletin.

The rapid spread of Omicron infection has contributed to the total tally of Covid infection. India’s overall Covid cases tally crossed the 9000-mark on Wednesday and currently stands at 9,195 cases. However, the over tally has been around 7,000 in the last week.

The World Health Organisation in its weekly epidemiological update has warned that the risk posed by the Omicron variant is still ‘very high’. Omicron is behind rapid virus spikes in several countries, including those where it has already overtaken the previous dominant Delta variant, said the global health body in its weekly bulletin. (IANS)

2 soldiers, policeman injured in Anantnag gunfight

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Kulgam: At least three militants including two local and one foreigner were killed in a gunfight between government forces and militants in Mirhama area of  south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said on Wednesday.

Moreover, in a separate gunfight at Dooru area of Anantnag district, two soldiers and a policemen were injured while the operation is underway in the area.

A senior police officer said that three militants have been killed while as search operation is on in the area.

Earlier, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering a gunfight.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar termed it as big success.

“#KulgamEncounterUpdate: Two local #terrorists and one #Pakistani terrorist affiliated with proscribed #terror outfit JeM killed. Search still going on. 01 M4 and 02 AK 47 rifles recovered. A big success: IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.

Moreover, two soldiers and a policeman were injured in another gunfight that broke out in Anantnag district.

“Two soldiers, cop injured in Anantnag encounter.Injuries took place during initial exchange of fire; searches underway more details awaited,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. (KNO)

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would hold a preBudget meeting with Finance Ministers of all States and Union Territories (with legislature) in New Delhi on Thursday.

While meeting with State Finance Ministers generally take place ahead of the Budget, demands and suggestions put forth by pollbound states would be keenly noted in the interaction tomorrow.

Given the rising trend in Corona cases in various parts of the country, states are expected to demand more funds to deal with the challenge.

Higher spending on infrastructure could be another key area of discussion.

Meanwhile, Sitharaman today concluded pre-Budget meetings for forthcoming Union Budget 2022-23 which saw participation by as many as 120 invitees representing 7 stakeholder groups.

The stakeholder groups made several suggestions on various issues that included increased R&D spending, infrastructure status for digital services, incentives to hydrogen storage and fuel cell development, rationalisation of income tax slabs, investments in online safety measures etc., among others.

“The participants lauded government’s efforts in efficient handling of the economy during the pandemic and retaining India’s status as the fastest growing major economy,” said an official statement from Finance Ministry.

Sitharaman thanked the participants for sharing their valuable suggestions and assured that suggestions will be carefully considered while preparing the Budget 2022-23. (UNI)

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday filed the third supplementary chargesheet in connection with a narco-militancy case against two individuals including a Pakistani national.

The chargesheet was filed against Gurjant Singh alias Sunny, and a Pakistani national, Nasir alias Nasir Khan alias Pathan, an official said.

The supplementary chargesheet was filed before a special Mohali court under sections 120-B of IPC, Sections 8, 21, 23, 24, 27-A & 29 of NDPS Act and Sections 17, 18, 20 of UA (P) Act.

Initially, a case was filed by Sadar Police Station of Punjab in April 2020 after the arrest of Allah Ahmed Shergojri, and seizure of a truck followed by a recovery of Rs 29 lakh in cash from his possession.

Allah Ahmed was an Over Ground Worker and a close associate of Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo, the then commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM).

A month later in May, the case was transferred to NIA for further investigation into the matter. The NIA thoroughly investigated the matter and filed chargesheet against 12 persons.

The NIA has mentioned in the chargesheet that Gurjant Singh was a narcotics trafficker, and he was in close contact with other co-conspirators for the supply of heroin and channelising the proceeds of sale of narcotics.

“The other chargesheeted accused Nasir alias Nasir Khan is a Pakistan-based trafficker involved in smuggling of heroin to India through Attari border in the garb of export of rock salt granules,” said an NIA official.

The NIA had earlier announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh on two accused in the case — Iqbal Singh alias Shera, and Sarwan Singh, residents of Punjab’s Tarn Taran district. Both are absconding.

In July, the NIA had filed supplementary chargesheet against Manpreet Singh for helping HM militants. The agency had recovered 130 live rounds of 9 mm calibre of Pakistani origin were recovered from his possession.

“Hilal Ahmed Shergojri of Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, Bikram Singh, Gagandeep Singh, Ranjit Singh and Maninder Singh (Amritsar), and Ranjit Singh and Jaswant Singh (Gurdaspur) were chargesheeted in the first chargesheet,” said an NIA official.

The NIA said that they were still probing the matter. (IANS)

New Delhi: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology Jitendra Singh has said that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir should change their mindset to earn more as the administrative and constitutional situations have improved since August 2019.

Singh said, “Instead of wasting time in staging protest for government jobs, the youth of Jammu and Kashmir should change their mindsets and should think about startups to earn more and provide employment.”

“The administrative and constitutional cases have been improved here since August 2019, but the mindset is still the same. New startups have grown across the country but Jammu and Kashmir has not grown in this way,” he said.

Citing an example of the Aroma Mission which was started in Jammu and Kashmir, the minister said, “The Aroma Mission which is being discussed in the whole country has been started by the Indian Institute of Integrated Medicine (IIIM). But the people here are not much aware of it.”

He further slammed the youth for staging protests demanding government jobs and said, “On one hand, youth here sit on dharna demanding government jobs, while others are also earning much more with the help of Aroma Mission and new agriculture startups.”

“We have created three to four clusters of agriculture in districts like Gulmarg, Reyashi and Udhampur where around Rs 4 to 5 crores trading is being done annually,” he added.

In an effort to boost the cultivation of aromatic plants like lavender, rosemary and lemongrass and medicinal plants like ashwagandha and satavar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ‘The Aroma Mission’ in March 2018.

The aim of the Aroma Mission was to give the farmers alternative choices in crop production viz-a-viz traditional crops, which have been giving them diminishing returns.

These aromatic plants can be very profitable as farmers can earn as much as twenty thousand rupees per Kanal, which they can never hope to get from traditional plants or crops. (Agencies)

New Delhi: India on Wednesday welcomed Egypt as the fourth new member of the BRICS New Development Bank family.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in a tweet said: “India welcomes Egypt as the fourth new member of #BRICS #NewDevelopmentBank family.

Bangladesh, UAE & Uruguay joined in Sep 2021.

“Membership expansion enables @NDB_int to position itself as a premier development institution for emerging economies.”

On Wednesday, the New Development Bank (NDB) – established by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in 2015 – admitted Egypt as a new member.

NDB’s Board of Governors authorised the Bank to conduct formal negotiations with prospective members in late 2020. After a round of successful negotiations, NDB started expanding its membership in September 2021 with the admission of Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Uruguay.

Egypt is the fourth new member admitted into NDB, further expanding the Bank’s global outreach, said the Shanghai-headquartered NDB in a statement.

“We are delighted to welcome Egypt into NDB’s family. Egypt is one of the world’s fastest growing countries, a major economy in the African continent and the Middle East region as well as a key player in development finance institutions. We look forward to supporting its investment needs in infrastructure and sustainable development,” said Marcos Troyjo, President of NDB.

“The NDB has established itself as one of the premier Multilateral Development Banks for Emerging Markets and Developing countries. Egypt fully embraces the decision to join the NDB family and looks forward to building a strong partnership and engagement with the Bank over the coming years… NDB’s strong financing capabilities and relevant expertise would help Egypt meet its financing needs and enhance its efforts to upgrade its infrastructure base while also meeting its ambitious SDG goals,” said Dr. Mohamed Maait, Minister of Finance of Egypt.

Egypt will have in NDB a new platform to foster cooperation in infrastructure and sustainable development with BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries.

Membership to NDB becomes effective once the admitted country completes its domestic processes and deposits the instrument of accession.

Since its establishment six years ago, NDB has approved about 80 projects in all of its member countries, totaling a portfolio of US$ 30 billion. Projects in areas such as transport, water and sanitation, clean energy, digital infrastructure, social infrastructure and urban development are within the scope of the Bank.

NDB’s membership expansion is in line with the Bank’s strategy to become the premier development institution for emerging economies and developing countries.

NDB was established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries, complementing the existing efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development. NDB has an authorized capital of US$ 100 billion, which is open for subscription by members of the United Nations. (UNI)

Srinagar: Barring Gazigund, the minimum temperature across Kashmir Valley settled below the freezing point on Wednesday with famous ski-resort of Gulmarg recording a low of minus 10.4°C.

A meteorological department official here said that Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, recorded a low of minus 2.3°C against last night’s 1.4°C.

Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

The mercury settled at the world famous resort of Gulmarg at minus 10.4°C against minus 9.4°C on the previous night.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of 0.6°C against minus 0.4°C  on the previous night, he said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 6.6°C against minus 7.9°C on previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 0.4°C against minus 2.5°C on previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 3.2°C against minus 1.0°C on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu, the J&K’s winter capital, saw a drop of nearly two degrees Celsius than precious night, recording a low of 5.0°C which is minus 2.4°C below normal for the place during this time of the year, he said.

Ladakh’s Leh had a low of minus 14.7°C against last night’s minus 14.0°C while automatic Kargil station recorded a minimum of minus 14.3°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 17.4°C, the official said.

The weatherman has forecast mainly dry weather in next two days. (GNS)