Raouf Dar
Srinagar Nov 19: A top Army commander Thursday said that situation was under control for District Development Council polls in Kashmir.
The DDC polls are scheduled to start from November 28 in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Security situation is under control. We hope people will come out and participate in large numbers and make DDC polls successful,” Sector commander of Army’s 9 RR regiment, Brigadier V S Thakur told KINS.

Islamabad, Nov 19: Jamat-Ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was on Thursday sentenced to 10 years in jail by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan in two more cases.
Saeed was arrested on July 17 last year in the terror financing cases. He was sentenced to 11 years in jail by an anti-terrorism court in February this year in two financing cases.
He is lodged at the Lahore’s high-security Kot Lakhpat jail.
“The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Lahore on Thursday sentenced four leaders of Jamat-ud-Dawa, including its chief Hafiz Saeed, in two more cases,” a court official told a wire agency.
Saeed and his two close aides – Zafar Iqbal and Yahya Mujahid – have been sentenced to 10 and a half years each, while JuD chief’s brother-in-law Abdul Rehman Makki was sentenced to six months imprisonment.
“Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta of ATC Court No. 1 heard the case No. 16/19 and 25/19 filed by Counter-Terrorism Department in which the verdict has been announced after the statements of witnesses were cross-examined by Naseeruddin Nayyar and Mohammad Imran Fazal Gul Advocate,” the official said.
A total of 41 cases have been registered by the CTD against the JuD leaders, out of which 24 have been decided while the rest are pending in the ATC courts. Four cases have been decided against Saeed so far.

Srinagar, Nov 19: After deferring the polls in wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the authorities have finally decided to hold the mayoral elections for Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on November 25.
According to a notification, issued by Secretary SMC under number SMC/CS/5027-5116, dated 19-11-2020, the polls will be conducted on November 25 while forms of nomination paper will be obtained from the office of the Secretary, SMC from 20th of November.
“In terms of Section 36 of the J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 read with Regulation 6 of J&K Municipal Corporation (Procedure and Conduct of Business) Regulations, 2005, notice is hereby given that the Election of Mayor, Municipal Corporation, Srinagar will be conducted as per the given schedule,” a notification copy reads.
“Forms of Nomination Paper may be obtained from the office of the Secretary, Srinagar Municipal Corporation from 20th of November 2020 between the hours of Ten O’clock in the forenoon and Four O’clock in the afternoon,” it said.

“Nomination forms can be delivered to the Secretary, Srinagar Municipal Corporation between the hours of Ten O’clock in the forenoon and Four O’ clock in the afternoon not later than 21st of November 2020 by a Candidate or his Proposer,” it added.
“Notice of withdrawal of candidature be delivered by a candidate at any time by or before 25th of November 2020 before the election is proceeded within the meeting. In the event of election being contested, the poll will take place on 25th of November 2020 from 1100 hours onwards,” the notification added. (KNO)

Bhat Imran

Srinagar, Nov 19: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Thursday notified the annual regular date sheet for Class 11th that would commence from December 12.

According to the BOSE order, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the exams will start from December 12 and will conclude on January 06.

In the order, BOSE has advised the enrolled students to wear the face masks and adhere to social distancing norms.

Pertinently, JKBOSE had on Tuesday stated that the Class 11th annual regular examination of Kashmir division and winter zone areas of Jammu Division will be held at school-level.

According to the BOSE order, the annual regular examination of 11th standard of Kashmir division and winter zone areas of Jammu division shall be conducted at their respective schools without creation of separate examination centres as a special case for this session only

This annual examinations include both theory and practical papers.

“The supervisory staff for the conduct of the examination shall be appointed by the concerned schools themselves and the action taking in appointing them shall be confirmed with the JKBOSE later,” BOSE said.

BOSE also said that the admit cards for the students shall be prepared by the Board itself.

“The confidential material, like answer books and other stationary items required for the conduct of the exam shall be provided by the JKBOSE as per the routine and the evaluation of the answer scripts shall be taken care of by the Board as per the routine,” the order reads.

BOSE further said that the procedure of deposition of question papers and sealed answer script packets at the concerned police stations and any other allied activities shall remain in vogue as per routine. (KNO)

Death toll rises to 1618; total cases at 104715
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Nov 19: Jammu and Kashmir reported five more COVID-19 deaths, while 560 more people tested positive for the virus in last 24-hours, officials said.
They said that fatality count due to COVID-19 in J&K has mounted
to 1618, while 104715 people till date have been infected due to pestilence in the union territory.
Officials said that on Thursday three deaths were reported in Jammu division and two in Kashmir.
The victims from Kashmir include a 70-year-old woman from Nichama Kupwara and a 73-year-old man from Buchwara Dalgate Srinagar. Those who succumbed to the virus in Jammu division include one resident each from Rajouri, Kathua and Reasi districts.
With these deaths, the total fatality count in the Valley has reached 1070 and 548 in the Jammu region.
Srinagar district with 402 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (285), Baramulla (159), Budgam (98), Pulwama (86), Kupwara (79), Anantnag (76), Doda (52), Bandipora(49), Rajouri (49), Kulgam (48), Ganderbal (37), Shopian (36), Udhampur (36), Kathua (35), Samba (26), Poonch (22), Ramban (18), Kishtwar(16), and Reasi (9).
560 more test positive in J&K
Meanwhile, 50 travelers and 13 soldiers were among 560 new COVID-19 cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours, officials said.
Among these cases, 313 cases were reported in Kashmir valley while 247 from Jammu division, taking the overall tally in J&K to 104715.
Giving the district wise details, they said, Srinagar reported 130 cases, Baramulla 35, Budgam 29,
Pulwama 18, Kupwara 33, Anantnag 14, Bandipora 23, Ganderbal 20, Kulgam 6, Shopian 5, Jammu 95,
Rajouri 5, Udhampur 36, Doda 17, Kathua 12, Poonch 3, Samba 25, Kishtwar 29, Ramban 13 and Reasi 12.
A number of these cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratories of CD and SKIMS Soura hospitals and include thirteen soldiers—two from army’s BB Cantt here, eight from CRPF and three from BSF.
The CD cases include female (78) from Civil Lines Tral, male (28) from Namlabal Pampore, female (30) from Mandekpal, female (35) from Kakapora, two males (34, 30) from BB Cantt Srg, male (72) from Bemina, male (65) from Chanapora, male (58) from Pandach, male (55) from Chattabal Srg, male (45) and female (42) from Rajbagh Srg, male (29) from Natipora Srg, female (46) from Sonwar Srg, five males (32, 50, 57, 82, 72) and two females (50, 60) from NA, female (57) from Elahibagh, female (45) from Jawahar Nagar, two males (50, NA) and female (15) from Zakura, male (69) from Baghi Mehtab, male (19) from Wanbal Srg, female (47) from Rawalpora Srg, female (70) and male (69) from NA, female (50) from Barbarshah, female (44) and male (37) from HMT, female (27) from Bemina, male (28) from Anantnag, male (50) from Dargah Srg, female (27) from Karan Nagar, female (27) from Bemina, two males (NA, 65) from Rawalpora, female (55) from Fateh Kadal, female (56) from Habakadal, female (40) from Rajbagh, male (NA) from Barbarshah, two males (16, 14) from Narwara Srg, male (55) from Bemina, male (75) from Srinagar, male (NA) from Budgam, male (29) from Ahmadnagar, male (50) from Kalampora, female (30) from Lethpora, male (77) from Chanapora, female (80) from Manasbal, female (45) from Bandipora, male (50) from Budgam, female (80) from Pulwama.
SKIMS Cases
The Budgam cases include female (23) from Basantwader, three males (44, 50, 61) from Chattergam, male (44) from Wanabal Nowgam, male (13) from Khandah New Colony, male (20) and female (28) from Kanipora Hamza Colony, two females (50, 17) from Ari Bagh Nowgam, female (48) from Wanbal Nowgam, male (14) from Nassarpora, two males (45, 10) from Trajabal, female (48) and two males (11, 67) from Hmt Omarabad, female (28) from Sogam, male (12) from Banagund Budgam, female (34) from Humhama Budgam.
The Srinagar cases include male (32) from Wazirbagh, male (13) from Barzulla Baghat, male (32) from Skims Soura, male (58) from Srinagar, female (21) from Habak, male (51) from Srinagar, two males (19, 37) and female (45) from Buchpora, female (20) from Shalimar, male (25) from Dargah, female (38) from A G Bazar, male (50) from Lawaypora, male (53) from Upper Srinagar, male (48) from Hawal, female (40) from Nishat Ishber, female (45) from Hawal, female (82) from Nishat Ishber, male (55) and female (24) from Rawalpora, male (76) from Nowgam, male (30) from C/O Skims, female (26) from Zawoora, two females (26, 21) from Rawalpora, two males (15, 60) from Rajbagh, two males (65, 40) from Eidgah, male (33) from Rajbagh, female (28) from Soura, male (38) from Baghat, female (32) and male (27) from Natipora, female (40) and male (50) from Batamaloo, male (62) from Zoonimar, female (40) from Baghi Mehtab, male (27) from Lal Bazar, female (14) from Basant Bagh, male (04) from Batpora, female (68) from Rajbagh, female (65) from Saderbal, male (62) from Gund, female (65) from Nowshera, female (45) from Nawa Bazar, female (58) from Bemina, male (62) from Patchaibag, female (NA) from Songam, female (NA) from Bemina Srinagar.
The Baramulla cases include male (22) from Sopore Baramulla.
The Kupwara cases include male (19) from Handwara, male (NA) from Handwara, female (50) from Lolab Kupwara.
The Ramban cases include female (75) from Banihal Ramban.
The Pulwama cases include male (65) from Ratnipora, male (24) from Beegumbag Pulwama.
The Ganderbal cases include two males (45, 73) and female (40) from Khalmulla, female (35) from Benhama, male (65) from Saloora, two females (70, 53) and male (20) from Duderhama Ganderbal, female (27) from Yangoora Ganderbal, female (65) from Barsoo Ganderbal, male (24) from Gadoura Ganderbal, male (75) from Watalbagh, female (NA) from Kengar, female (NA) from Saloora, male (60) from Nunar, male (NA) from Ganiwah Ganderbal.
The Anantnag cases include male (30) from Brah Anantnag.
The Kulgam cases include male (70) from Chohibal Kulgam,
The Kishtwar cases include female (60) from Basha Kishtwar.
The CRPF cases include male (29) and female (25) from 49 Bn Crpf Karan Nagar Srg, two males (41, 41) from 118 Bn Crpf Ganderbal, male (28) from 68 Mbc Trehgam Kup, male (39) from 19 Garh Chowkibal Kup, male (28) from 18 Sikh Chowkibal Kup, male (29) from 19 Garh Chowkibal Kupwara.
The BSF cases include female (64) and two males (36, 42) from Ch BSF Humhama Srinagar.

Meanwhile, 565 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospital in last 24 hours—185 from Jammu and 380 from Kashmir valley. (GNS)

New York, Nov 19: Researchers using a model of airway tissue created from human stem cells have pinpointed how smoking cigarettes causes more severe infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the airways of the lungs.
The study, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, will help researchers better understand Covid-19 risks for smokers and could inform the development of new therapeutic strategies to help reduce smokers’ chances of developing severe disease
To help understand how smoking affects SARS-CoV-2 infection on a cellular and molecular level recreated what happens when the airways of a current smoker are infected with SARS-CoV-2.
The team utilized a platform known as an air-liquid interface culture, which is grown from human airway stem cells and closely replicates how the airways behave and function in humans.
The airways, which carry air breathed in from the nose and mouth to the lungs, are the body’s first line of defence against airborne pathogens like viruses, bacteria and smoke.
“Our model replicates the upper part of the airways, which is the first place the virus hits,” said study author Brigitte Gomperts from the University of California, Los Angeles in the US.
“This is the part that produces mucus to trap viruses, bacteria and toxins and contains cells with finger-like projections that beat that mucus up and out of the body,” Gomperts added.
The air-liquid interface cultures used in the study were grown from airway stem cells taken from the lungs of five young, healthy, non-smoking tissue donors.
To replicate the effects of smoking, the researchers exposed these airway cultures to cigarette smoke for three minutes per day over four days.
“This type of model has been used to study lung diseases for over a decade and has been shown to mimic the changes in the airway that you would see in a person who currently smokes,” said Gomperts.
Next, the group infected the cultures exposed to cigarette smoke — along with identical cultures that had not been exposed — with live SARS-CoV-2 virus and the two groups were compared.
In the models exposed to smoke, the researchers saw between two and three times more infected cells.
Digging further, the researchers determined that smoking resulted in more severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, at least in part, by blocking the activity of immune system messenger proteins called interferons.
“If you think of the airways like the high walls that protect a castle, smoking cigarettes is like creating holes in these walls. Smoking reduces the natural defences and that allows the virus to set in,” the authors noted.

Tally jumps to 89,58,484, death toll mounts to 1,31,578

New Delhi, Nov 19: India on Thursday witnessed a fresh spike of 45,576 COVID-19 cases pushing the country’s tally to 89,58,484, the Union Health Ministry update said.
Talking of fatalities , 585 more people lost their lives to the highly contagious virus in the past 24 hours taking the pandemic death toll to 1,31,578.
Active case count of the nation has further witnessed a dip by 3,502 since Wednesday and presently there are 4,43,303 active cases of the COVID contagion across the country, the government data added.
Meanwhile, the total recovery count of the nation has now reached 83,83,603 after adding 48,493 people who were cured since the past one day.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research , a total of 12,85,08,389 tests have been done till date in the country since the beginning.
In the past one day, the maximum number of COVID deaths have been recorded across the nation in Delhi , where 131 lives were claimed by the virus in a day.

Centre and the state governments have once again come together to manage the escalating COVID situation is the capital which is taking on the third wave of the pandemic.
Delhi government is working on to add more than six hundred ICU beds swiftly , while the centre is to provide for 750 more ICU beds in the capital in short time period.
Central agencies are also contributing to capital’s fight against the disease in various ways.

Srinagar, Nov 19: The authorities on Thursday asked various departments and establishments in Jammu and Kashmir to organize ceremonies of reading of the Preamble to the Constitution on November 26.

“On 26th of November, 1949 the Constitution for the Country was adopted, making the day very sacrosanct for the Country as a whole. To celebrate this auspicious day and sensitize people to the values enshrined in it, it has been decided that the ceremonies of reading of the Preamble to the Constitution shall be organized within the Government offices and institutions and other establishments in the Jammu and Kashmir,” reads an order issued by the government, a copy of which lies with GNS.

“The reading out activity shall be held alongwith the live telecast of the recital of same by the Prime Minister of India on 26th of November, 2020 at 11:00 a.m,” reads the order, adding, “Divisional Commissioners/Heads of the Departments/ Deputy Commissioners and Managing Directors of all PSUs/Corporations are directed to organize Preamble reading ceremonies on similar lines in their respective ofices/locations, adhering to all SOPS in view of COVID-19 Pandemic.”

It directed the Home Department, Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj and Housing & Urban Development Department to issue necessary instructions in this regard to their subordinate offices, organizations—Police Department, Block Offices, Panchayats and Municipal Corporations, Councils, Committees to organize the event on similar pattern on the scheduled date and time.

Srinagar, Nov 19: Parts of Kashmir on Thursday evening recorded snowfall even as weatherman forecast dry weather in next three days.
Snowfall was reported from parts Kupwara, Keran, Bandipora, Keran, Gulmarg, Tangmarg, Sonamarg, and some other parts of the Valley.
The MeT officials said snowfall is most likely to decrease and the weather will improve significantly from tonight. “Weather is most likely to remain dry in both J&K and Ladakh till 22nd. Another spell of moderate rain or snow is most likely ( predictability upto 70%) during 23 evening /night to 25th with main activity on 24th which may led to temporary closure of various vulnerable passes,” the weather officials said. “This spell seems to be of lesser intensity than the 13-15th one.” (GNS)

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Nov 19: General Officer Commanding, GOC, 16 Corps Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhavan here Thursday.
The GoC discussed important security issues and the overall security management in the union territory with the Lt Governor. He briefed the Lt Governor about the prevailing scenario along the forward areas including the Line of Control, LoC. Anti-militant operations and matters pertaining to coordination with other security forces were also briefed by the GOC.
The Lt Governor appreciating the security forces for their operational synergy and their success in recent counter militancy operations said that sustained coordination between forces and the civil administration is crucial to meet security challenges in Jammu and Kashmir.