The entire news of the week can easily be divided in to 2 portions one is COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19. So, let’s have outline of Non-COVID-19 issues, at first.

• India carried out precision targeting of gun areas on Fri, terrorist launch pads and ammunition in response to unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Keran Sector of Kupwara district. Reports of heavy damage on enemy side: Defense Spokesperson, Srinagar [1]. Pakistan violated ceasefire in Mendhar and Balakote sectors in Poonch district of JnK around 2230 hrs on night of Apr 10^th. Indian Army started retaliating.
  • The sources said the Army also had inputs that a new batch of terrorists was getting ready to infiltrate from there. In the attack launched on Fri, an ammunition dump of the Pakistan Army has also been destroyed. The terror Launchpad targeted by the troops on Line of Control (LoC) are in the Dudhniyal area of Kel sector which was used by the Pakistan. As per some Indian media around 50 terrorists have neutralized.
  • “This is a diversionary tactic. This is an opportune time for them to pump in terrorists across to India because a lot of focus is now on containing the spread of coronavirus. So most ceasefire violations are their way of giving cover fire to terrorists,” said a senior intelligence officer-Live Mint.
  • Jammu Police has arrested a Jaish-e-Mohammed over ground worker in RS Pura area. FIR has been registered. Investigation is being done. (ANI)
  • As per Pak Radio, Pakistan has shot down an Indian Quadcopter on Thurs, for violating airspace in Sankh Sector along the LoC.
  • According to the ISPR, the Indian Quadcopter intruded six hundred meters inside Pakistan’s territory for conducting surveillance.
  • The ISPR said this blatant and provocative act was aggressively responded to by Pakistan Army troops by shooting down the Indian Quadcopter.
  • On Sat, DGISPR tweeted-LOC Update: Indian Army resorted to unprovoked fire in Nikial Sector deliberately targeting civilian population. CFVs being responded befittingly by Pak Army troops. Due to indiscriminate fire of Indian artillery at Mohra village two civilians including 18 years old girl sustained serious injuries. In last 24 hours 6 citizens including 2 girls have been injured and evacuated to nearby health facilities for necessary medical care.
• China prosecutes campaign to evade responsibility
  • Chairman Xi Jinping is waging one of his toughest fights since assuming control of China, a bitter battle to retain legitimacy at home and to save China’s battered image internationally in light of its COVID-19 mishandling. Consequently, the world is seeing a deeper political and ideological war between China and the West as the former tries to whitewash its marred visage and absolve itself of any responsibility. Early on, as the first coronavirus cases were appearing in late 2019, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sought to muzzle whistleblowers – actually medical personnel sounding warnings of a new type of aggressive virus – while Xi publicly ignored the issue entirely until after a CCP meeting had taken place on 7 January and an annual party plenary session occurred in Hubei after that. It was only on 20 January that Xi made any public announcement, yet he still pointedly refusing to reference it in his annual Lunar New Year speech. In the meantime, millions of Wuhan citizens dispersed around China at Lunar New Year, many incubating the coronavirus.
• Kupwara encounter: 5 soldiers killed as Army fights infiltrators in north Kashmir
  • Five Army personnel and as many militants were killed in a fierce gun battle between the forces and a militant group that had infiltrated from across the Line of Control in Keran sector of north Kashmir.
  • The encounter broke out on the intervening night of Apr 3/4, when a militant group infiltrated from across the LoC in Keran sector of north Kashmir, after the militants had entered the Indian territory from Shamsabari range and were hiding in ‘Gujjar Dhok’ (temporary shelter for nomads) in the Poswal area of the sector, a senior Army spokesperson earlier said.
  • On Sun, the defense spokesman had said that “in the ongoing anti-infiltration operation in the Keran sector, alert troops braving inclement weather and hostile terrain have so far eliminated five terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the LoC.” “Evacuation of the injured is hampered due to heavy snow and rough terrain conditions,” he said, adding the operation was still in progress.
  • As per Govt officials, Pakistani terror group Jaish e Muhammad Commander Sajad Nawab Dar killed by security forces in an ongoing encounter at Sopore of North Kashmir.
• Pakistan angling to bring COVID-19 initiatives under SAARC secretariat to block India’s proposals-(ANI)
  • Pakistan has been angling to bring the coronavirus-related interactions under the formal SAARC umbrella by seeking to involve its secretariat in an attempt to get free hand to block India’s initiatives, government sources said and noted that the activities were under extraordinary circumstances to deal with challenge in a result-oriented manner without being bound by any procedural formalities which could prove to be constraints.
  • As per ANI, Pakistan’s efforts to bring COVID-19 related interactions under the formal SAARC umbrella was an attempt to get free hand to block all initiatives and proposals by India by using the SAARC charter provisions, rules of procedure etc. including application of principle of consensus for the drafting of agenda, outcome document, concurrence of all member states for each and every thing every step of the way.
  • Pakistan on Wed did not take part in India-led SAARC trade official’s discussion saying such activities could only be effective if organized by the SAARC Secretariat.
• Meanwhile, during outbreak of Corona, Pak’s FM urges world to play role in saving 8 million Kashmiris from Indian oppression:
  • In a telephonic conversation with his Malaysian counterpart Hishammuddin Hussein on Wed, he said unarmed Kashmiris have been facing the worst curfew for 8 months.
  • The FM said now as the world is focused to deal with coronavirus pandemic, India is bent upon changing demography in occupied Kashmir by amending rules and regulations regarding domicile, which is violation of not only international laws but also against the UN resolutions.
  • FM informed his Malaysian counterpart about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for restructuring of loans of developing countries to enable them effectively deal with the pandemic.
  • Welcoming Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for restructuring of loans, the Malaysian Foreign Minister indicated to raise the matter with G-20 countries.
    • Importantly, Malaysia seek hydroxylchloquine from India and also added that “Kashmir can wait”.
    • Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights- Opening statement at Human Rights Council virtual meeting.
      • This is an important meeting, at a time that none of us will ever forget. The COVID-19 pandemic is generating suffering and damage. It poses a far-reaching threat to Human Rights everywhere.
    • India on Thurs, strongly rejected the remark of China for reference to JnK. ‘China is well aware of India’s consistent position. UT of JnK has been, is and shall continue to be an integral part of India. Issues related to J&K are internal matter to India’.
      • Spokesperson, MEA, Anurag Srivastava said “India expects China to refrain from commenting on the country’s internal affairs and respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity”. India expects China to recognize and condemn the scourge of cross-border terrorism that affects the lives of the people of India, including in JnK.”
      • The spokesperson of China’s permanent mission in the UN said the Kashmir issue remained high on the UN Security Council’s agenda and China is very closely monitoring the current situation in occupied Kashmir. The official also reportedly said that the Kashmir issue is a dispute left from history and should be properly and peacefully resolved
      • At present, China is holding presidency of the UNSC.
      • Srivastava was responding to a query on the remarks by the Chinese spokesperson.
        • In Past, China has unsuccessfully attempted to raise the issue in the UN after India announced its decision in Aug last year to withdraw JnK’s special status and bifurcate the state into two union territories. In Aug China pushed for a UNSC meeting on Kashmir after India’s decision. However, the attempt was foiled by other member-states of the powerful body.
        • India’s decisions on Kashmir had also cast a shadow over Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India in Octr last year for the second informal summit with PM Modi. However, notwithstanding the acrimony over the issue between the two countries, Modi and Xi held “successful” talks in Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu.
      • 37 deaths, 896 new cases in last 24 hours, the sharpest ever increase in cases; India’s total number of #Coronavirus positive cases rises to 6761 (including 6039 active cases, 516 cured/discharged/migrated and 206 deaths): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on Friday.
      • Enforcement Directorate (ED) has ordered seizure under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA), properties worth Rs. 32.38 crores and filed complaint against Jaya Patel for illegally acquiring properties abroad. Searches were conducted at the residential and official premises of Jaya Patel of Mumbai and her associate, which resulted into seizure of incriminating documents about the illegal acquisition of undisclosed foreign assets.  
      • US considering India’s extension of H1B visa request amid coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic
        • The US State dept has conveyed the Indian request for extension of visas including H1B visas for Indians in America to US Department of Homeland Security. Most of the Indians are stranded in the US due to COVID outbreak.
        • India had requested US to extend the validity of H1B and other visas for Indians stranded in the country. The matter was taken up by foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan with US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E Biegun on Wed. India is “closely monitoring related developments”, sources told WION.
    With fears of US economy heading for a big slump, H1B holders could not only lose job and won’t be entitled to any unemployment benefits also. If the employer terminates the contract of an H1B holder employee, the employee needs to find new employment within 60 days to retain their H1B status. But no order as such from the US Government asking employers to terminate services of H1B visa holders