5 <0* ' = # ' = # = VRGR '%&((!1#VCEB R BP A"'!#$#1!$"$#$%T utqBVQWBuxy( /123/4*+( 76 7 ; 978: / 678 + & 9&5*665*6516 ;&(* 0;( ; *67372159! %39;7%32%;56 !;( *95+6B6(A035+59!6(0965 2(6 (;513(;2( 13;5*+;(3 ;5*;(0095 A92( ;&60A!677%65+:+206((6 ;76B67 6(6 *63(;*25 3A*6(;%;*B8;A!;*; 71 -. * //0 >.- ?; 6 ;## 5 ! 6 "!""*7 *" !"#$% rate shot up to 19.03 per cent serious concern among the sending the health workers to medical fraternity. %&' &())* a state of confusion. As on Wednesday, 1.7 lakh 56!*673 Minister for Health Veena Covid-19 patients were under ( +& George had told early this treatment in various hospitals ndia had anticipated the week that the State may see across the State. The official ITaliban takeover of , daily cases crossing 40,000- death tally stood at 19,972. Afghanistan but was “sur- mark in the backdrop of the Ernakulam topped the prised” by the speed of the turn 913 relaxation in Onam holidays. table of districts with the high- of events, Chief of Defence Staff The Department of Health est number of Covid-19 (CDS) General Bipin Rawat staggering high number tested 1.65 lakh samples during patients (4048). Thrissur said here on Wednesday. He Aof 31,445 new cases of the last 24 hours. Health work- (3865), Kozhikode (3680) and also said the country is ready Covid-19 were detected in ers accounted for 123 cases on Malappuram (3502) logged to deal with the possibility of Kerala while 215 persons suc- Wednesday and this has caused more than 3,000 new cases. terrorist activity after the latest cumbed to the pandemic on developments there. Wednesday. The test positivity His observations came a & '( day ahead of the all-party meeting called by the Centre to brief various political lead- pening maybe a couple of ers about the situation in months down the line,” )#* ++* , Afghanistan. External Affairs he added. !"#!#$!$"% Minister S Jaishankar will brief The CDS made these ' (!! ) the leaders. remarks while addressing an &'(!""$) - Rawat asserted that any interactive session, with (! ! %&'#) possible terrorist activity flow- Commander of the US Indo- - However, what came as a ing out of Taliban-controlled Pacific Command Admiral 1 !*$!+!+%# /0' relief was that despite the reg- Afghanistan and finding its John Aquilino, organised by the &' (!%*) istered decline, the overall vac- way into India will be firmly Observer Research Foundation. # cine effectiveness was estimat- dealt with. He also suggested Aquilino referred to chal- R !"$!+( ed to be 80 per cent in pre- that the Quad nations should lenges that India has been fac- 56!*673 venting infection during the boost cooperation in the glob- ing, specifically with regard to of the visa process by intro- :(! $!+&'#! *) study period. al war on terrorism. “sovereignty on the Line of duction of the e-Emergency X- he vaccine effectiveness The study was conducted He also said India was Actual Control” as well as the Misc visa, it has been decided +!+ !("%&' *!((#) Tamong the frontline work- between December 14, 2020, anticipating a Taliban takeover “foundational security con- that all Afghan nationals ers declined from 91 per cent and August 14, 2021. It includ- of Afghanistan but the time- cerns” in the South China Sea henceforth must travel to India P"%!("!"#&'*!""() to 66 per cent after the Delta ed data from 4,217 participants, lines of the latest develop- region, in a clear reference to only on e-visa,” the Home variant of Covid-19 became including healthcare personnel, ments have surprised it, noting China’s aggressive behaviour. Ministry said. "!#!($&'*!#$ ) prevalent in the country, said a first responders, and other that the outfit has not changed On the latest developments 56!*673 The directive also said visas study by the US Centres for frontline workers in eight US over the past 20 years. in Afghanistan, Rawat said issued to all Afghanistan *(! $!##&'#) Disease Control and locations across six States. They “From India’s perspective, India is committed to ensuring n an effort to prevent the nationals, who are currently Prevention. were tested weekly for we were anticipating a Taliban a terrorist-free environment Ientry of persons with doubt- passports that could help ter- not in India stand invalidated. Covid infection using the RT- takeover of Afghanistan. We in the region. ful credentials, India will only rorists enter India, the Afghanistan nationals who PCR method. were concerned about how the “As far as Afghanistan is allow e-visas to Afghan nation- Government on Wednesday want to apply for an Indian visa At least 83 per cent of the terrorist activities from concerned, we will make sure als wanting to come here. This decided with immediate effect can apply via the Indian participants were vaccinated Afghanistan could overflow that any activity likely to flow development came amid to declare all the earlier visas Government’s official website: with Pfizer-BioNTech, into India,” Rawat said. out of Afghanistan and then reports that some Urdu-speak- invalid. Those willing to trav- indianvisaonline.gov.in. Moderna-mRNA, and Johnson “And to that extent, our find its way into India will be ing people attacked the Kabul el to India were asked to apply On the missing passports & Johnson’s Janssen vaccines. contingency planning had been dealt with in the manner in office of an agency and took for e-visa only, officials said, from the office of an agency About two-thirds of those vac- ongoing and we are prepared which we have been dealing away Afghan passports with adding it is mandatory. handling visas on behalf of cinated had received the Pfizer for it. Yes, the timelines cer- with terrorism in our country,” stamped Indian visas. “Owing to the prevailing India, reports said these could Inc-BioNTech SE shot, 2 per tainly surprised us. We were he said. Fearing the misuse of the security situation in be used by Pakistan-based ter- cent received Johnson & anticipating this thing hap- Continued on Page 2 Indian visas to prepare fake Afghanistan and streamlining rorists to enter India. Johnson’s, and the rest received the Moderna Inc vaccine. The CDC said the findings of the study should be looked P !" at with caution as the vaccine effectiveness might be declin- # # ! " ! #$ % ing over time. & ' (!! )* Continued on Page 2 Kabul: Taliban spokesman London: Britain on Wednesday Zabihullah Mujahid said %685+ Taliban have smooth and effec- sovereignty, independence and warned the Taliban against Afghan citizens will not be tive communication and con- territorial integrity of attempts to coercively seal off allowed to leave the country hina has established its sultation,” Chinese Foreign Afghanistan, follow the prin- Afghanistan from the rest of the any more by the ongoing US Cfirst diplomatic contact Ministry spokesman Wang ciple of non-interference in world and urged the militant evacuation process, while also with the Taliban in Kabul after Wenbin told a media briefing Afghanistan’s internal affairs group to keep its borders open. * warning that Washington the militant group took control here when asked about the and adhere to the friendly pol- Foreign Secretary Dominic should withdraw all troops of Afghanistan and the two talks between the deputy head icy for all the Afghan people,” Raab said attempts by the vaccinate all schoolteachers the States to try to vaccinate all and contractors before August sides now have “smooth and of the Taliban’s political office Wang said, adding that China Taliban to shut down the coun- across India on priority before schoolteachers on priority 31 deadline and no extension effective communication”, a Abdul Salam Hanafi and respects the Afghan people’s try could trigger a “refugee cri- Teacher’s Day on September 5. before Teacher’s Day,” said would be possible. Mujahid’s Chinese official said on Chinese Ambassador to independent choice of their sis” once Western forces with- The Government said it Union Health Minister remarks came as US President Wednesday. Afghanistan Wang Yu in Kabul. own future. “China also stands drew from Kabul airport on 56!*673 will provide 2 crore addition- Mansukh Mandaviya. Joe Biden told G7 leaders that The Taliban seized power “Kabul is naturally an ready to continue to develop August 31, as migrants make al vaccine doses to States to Education Minister he aims to stick with his August in Afghanistan on August 15, important platform and chan- good-neighbourliness, friend- their way to neighbouring coun- s schools are gradually vaccinate teachers. Dharmendra Pradhan too has 31 deadline to withdraw troops two weeks before the US was nel for the two sides to discuss ship and cooperation with tries. He noted that Afghan bor- Areopening amid fear of “In addition to the plan to said that vaccinating teachers from Afghanistan as long as the set to complete its troop with- various important matters,” Afghanistan and play a con- der was “rugged and wide- Covid-19 third wave and lack provide vaccines to every State will reduce the disruption of Taliban does not disrupt ongo- drawal after a costly two- Wang said, without disclosing structive role in Afghanistan’s ranging” and that efforts to of vaccines available for school- this month, more than 2 crore the sector that has been hit ing evacuation operations or decade war. the details. peace and reconstruction.” isolate the country from the rest children under the age of 18, vaccine doses are