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Will restart international flights as soon as situation gets normal: Hardeep Puri

Vande Bharat

New Delhi (NVI): Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today said that the Government is continuously monitoring the Covid-19 situation in the country and will consider restarting international flights as soon as things get normal.

“We are continuously monitoring the situation & will consider restarting international flights as soon as situation normalises a bit & poses no danger to our citizens,” Puri said in a series of tweets.

The minister added that the Government will also have to consider those countries “where we intend to fly are open to incoming foreign citizens”.

Puri, in another tweet, said that several more flights will be added in the third phase of Vande Bharat Mission. “These flights will also carry outbound passengers to countries which have no restrictions on taking them in. So people can also avail these flights to return to the countries they wish to go,” he added.

In another tweet, Puri said Indians continue to return home on Vande Bharat flights from different parts of the world.

“Today, 2716 people have returned from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat, Moscow, Jeddah & Kiev. The mission has been further ramped up with announcement of Phase-3 between 9-30 June,” he added.

At present, all international flight operations in Indian remain suspended under the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown. Only domestic flights have been allowed to operate across the country last month with strict Covid protocols.

J&K: 4 BSF men, 26 pregnant women among 139 new Covid cases

Over 3,200 cops COVID positive in J&K and 15 succumbed to virus
File photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): The number of COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir showed yet another spike today as 139 fresh cases tested positive which include four BSF men, 26 pregnant women and two health workers. With this, the number of total positive cases has climbed to 2857.

Officials said that among the new cases, 44 are travellers. 109 belong to Kashmir division while 30 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division has reached to 2185 including 871 recoveries and 30 deaths. The total number of positive cases in Jammu has reached 672 including 136 recoveries and four deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir is 1816 including 1284 from Kashmir division and 532 from Jammu division.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 1 from Anantnag, 2 from Kulgam, 14 from Srinagar, 6 from Budgam, 10 from Kupwara, 24 from Shopian, 27 from Baramulla, 9 from Bandipora, 13 from Pulwama and 3 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while 30 from Jammu division include 10 each from Jammu and Poonch, 3 each from Udhampur and from Samba, and four from Rajouri.

As per official figures, 350 positive cases including five deaths and 152 recoveries are from Anantnag, 313 including four deaths and 45 recoveries are from Kulgam, 319 including seven deaths and 143 recoveries are from Srinagar, 299 including 76 recoveries and one death are from Kupwara, 272 including 104 recoveries and seven deaths are from Baramulla, 205 including 109 recoveries and three deaths are from Shopian, 161 including 136 recoveries and one death are from Bandipora, 124 including 67 recoveries and two deaths are from Budgam, 37 including 26 recoveries are from Ganderbal and 105 including 13 recoveries are from Pulwama.

In Jammu division, 167 including 41 recoveries and two deaths are from Jammu district, 153 including 16 recoveries are from Ramban, 80 including 27 recoveries are from Kathua, 72 including  26 recoveries and one death are from Udhampur, 48 including 13 recoveries from Samba, 59 with one recovery are from Poonch, 40 including 05 recoveries are from Rajouri, 14 including 03 recoveries area from Reasi, 12 including 03 recoveries are from Kishtwar, 27 including 1 recovery and one death are from Doda.

As per the daily information bulletin, 193,145 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while as 44,389 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 1816 persons are in hospital isolation while as 45 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 93,222 persons have completed surveillance period and 53,639 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 189,364 samples are available out of which 186,507 have tested negative. 2757 have been tested positive, and among them 1816 are active and 1097 persons have recovered while 34 persons have died.

145 quarantined after attending funeral of ex-minister in Ladakh

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Phunsog Namgyal travelled from New Delhi to Ladakh last week but little did he know that he was Covid-19 infected.

The 83-year-old reached home safely where his condition deteriorated after which he breathed his last on Monday, and all of a sudden hundreds of people assembled at his home to take part in last rites, in a brazen violation of Covid-19 rules.

A team of doctors had taken his samples, the results of which came positive a day after his death. But the damage was done. Almost all his contacts were prime suspects besides his family members, especially two daughters, who were taking care of him.

And as expected, today, Namgyal’s two daughters tested positive. Officials said that 145 contacts who visited former minister’s home to participate in the last rites and to offer condolences have been put under quarantine.

Medical Superintendent, Sonam Norboo Memorial (SNM) hospital Leh, Dr Tsering Samphel that two daughters of former minister have tested positive for Coronavirus. “A number of samples were collected from primary contacts of the deceased whose tests are awaited. So far, 145 primary suspects have been put under quarantine,” he said.  He said eight close contacts of the deceased have already tested positive who have been kept in an isolation ward at SNM hospital.

Deputy Commissioner Leh, Sachin Kumar has constituted a high level three-member Committee to enquire into lapses in the protocol in handling Covid-19 suspect’s body and has sought a report within two days for further course of action into the same.

As per the protocol and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the body of all the suspects must be kept in mortuary until the final sample reports are collected after which proper standard operating procedure (SOP) has to be followed for the burial/last rites with attendance of very few people under close vigil of administration.

The deceased was widely respected among Buddhists in Ladakh. He also served the Pradesh Congress Committee in the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state as secretary general and vice president. From 1960-73 and then from 1974-80, he remained a member of the then Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council until he got elected to seventh Lok Sabha. Four years later in 1984, he was re-elected to Lok Sabha and served the Central government as union deputy minister between 1988-89. He was elected to the Lok Sabha third time in 1996.

80 Kashmiri students stranded in Kazakhstan will be repatriated soon: Soz

Srinagar (NVI): Indian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Prabhat Kumar has said that 80 Kashmiri students stranded at Almati and Astana amid the Covid-19 pandemic will be repatriated to Kashmir before June 14.

Former Union Minister Saifuddin Soz today released a statement saying that the Indian ambassador in Kazakhstan has assured him that the stranded students will be brought back soon.

“I received a communication from Mr. Prabhat Kumar, India’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan today, assuring me that 80 Kashmiri students, now stranded at Almati and Astana would be brought back to Kashmir before 14th June, 2020 under ‘Vande Bharat Mission’. He further told me that the schedule is being worked out,” Soz said.

“Mr. Prabhat Kumar has also assured me that he would inform Kashmiri students of this development, at the earliest,” he added.

The senior Congress leader also thanked Manish Prabhat of the MEA and Ambassador Prabhat Kumar for supporting his request.

“I also forwarded the particulars of student leaders – Mohammad Azaan and Ms. Darakhshan to the Ambassador,” he added.

He said that he has also informed the stranded Kashmiri students in Kazakhistan about the Government’s decision to repatriate them.

PM dials Mozambique Prez Nyusi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today had a telephonic conversation with President of Mozambique Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and the two leaders discussed the challenges posed in both countries by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

PM Modi conveyed India’s willingness to support Mozambique’s efforts during the health crisis, including through provision of essential medicines and equipment, the PMO said in a statement.

President Nyusi expressed his appreciation for the close cooperation between both countries in the field of healthcare and pharmaceutical supplies, it added.

The two leaders also discussed other important topics including Indian investments and development projects in Mozambique. Pm Modi recognised Mozambique as an important pillar of India’s overall partnership with Africa, noting the large commitments made by Indian companies to the coal and natural gas sectors of Mozambique.

Both the leaders expressed satisfaction about the growing bilateral cooperation in defence and security. Prime Minister Modi shared President Nyusi’s concern about the incidents of terrorism in northern Mozambique, and offered all possible support, including through capacity building of Mozambican police and security forces.

He also conveyed his special thanks for the efforts being made by Mozambican authorities to ensure the security and safety of the Indian and Indian-origin community in Mozambique.

The PM also tweeted after calling the Mozambique leader: “Had an excellent talk with H.E. Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique on COVID-19 situation. I assured him of India’s continued support to Mozambique, including medical assistance to combat COVID-19.”

India asks Pakistan to vacate Gilgit-Baltistan

(Source: Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): Vandalism and defacement of centuries-old Indian Buddhist heritage in Gilgit-Baltistan has earned the wrath of India, which asked Pakistan today to immediately vacate these illegally-occupied territories where people are being subjected to gross violation of political, economic and cultural rights.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said India has sought immediate access for Indian experts to the area in order to restore and preserve this invaluable archaeological heritage which has been defaced.

“We have conveyed our strong concern at reports of vandalism, defacement and destruction of invaluable Indian Buddhist heritage located in so called “Gilgit-Baltistan” area of the Indian territory under illegal and forcible occupation of Pakistan,” Srivastava said.

He said it was a matter of grave concern that the Buddhist symbols are being destroyed and the religious and cultural rights and freedoms are being trampled with impunity in the Indian territories under illegal occupation of Pakistan.

“Egregious activities of this nature which display contempt for the ancient civilizational and cultural heritage are highly condemnable,” he said.

“We have once again called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all illegally occupied territories and end gross violation of political, economic and cultural rights of people living there,” the MEA spokesman said.

His comment came in the wake of reports about defacement and vandalism of Buddhist architecture in Gilgit-Baltistan, including destruction of inscriptions.

Kashmiri traders demand special package to revive business

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): The leading trade bodies in Kashmir held a joint press conference here today and asked Centre for a special financial package to revive business and economy in the Union Territory, saying the industry and traders in the region have suffered since August last year and now the Covid lockdown has added to their woes.

The Centre had revoked Article 370 last year which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The representatives of at least 30 major trade organisations in the UT today said they felt ignored in the recently announced Rs 20 lakh crore special economic package. Sheikh Ashiq Hussain, President of Kashmir Chamber Commerce and Industries (KCCI) while addressing a joint presser at SKICC here, said that the traders who have suffered immensely in the past several decades in Kashmir demand measures for the revival of their businesses.

“The only aim to hold a joint presser today is to raise our voice for the business fraternity across the Valley which has suffered huge losses due to the situation that gripped the Valley from time to time,” he said. “In the past two decades, Kashmir alone has witnessed 3000 days of shutdown resulting in the huge looses to the business fraternity,” Hussain said.

He said that in particular, their business has suffered a dent since last ten months. “We have met the Union Home Minister and Union Finance minister and MoS PMO regarding the losses faced by the traders. We have brought into their notice about the challenges being faced by the business community in Kashmir,” he said.

He said that business in Kashmir has received another major jolt in the form of COVID pandemic in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Our businesses friends in India have raised voice over the losses suffered by them. The government later announced a package for the people who got affected,” he said. “We have been excluded from the package as the package was announced for those only who have suffered losses in last two months. But, the businessmen in Kashmir are facing the losses from last ten months.”

Iqbal Ahmad, Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) Vice-Chairman while talking to the media men said the Valley has witnessed 3000 days of lockdown in over two decades. “Whenever the valley witnessed lockdown, the business fraternity got badly affected. Since 1999, Kashmir has witnessed 3000 days of lockdown. Despite witnessing such a situation, none of the traders here become Vijay Mallya or Nirav Modi. The Kashmiri’s trader who has borrowed money from the banks here is repaying the amount in installments and on time,” he said, adding that “We do deserve the package.”

“We have approached the State governments in past, they heard us; many packages were given in the past. I will not deny that but when Rs 8000 Crore was announced for Jammu and Kashmir after floods, a meager amount was given to the business community here,” he said.

Among the representatives of over 30 trade bodies who were present on the occasion include Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCC&I), Kashmir Traders & Manufacturing Federation (KTMF), Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), PHD Chamber of Commerce (Kashmir Chapter) and Kashmir Hotel & Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF).

Evacuation exercise highlights Kashmiris are spread all over India 

Srinagar (NVI): It is generally perceived that Kashmiri Muslims hate India and don’t want to live with India. This perception, fuelled by Pakistan and its proxies in Kashmir, has been smashed recently, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

After the deadly pandemic struck and a nationwide lockdown was announced from March 25, it came to light that Kashmiris have been living in all corners of the country, and that too in large numbers. They have been quietly studying or earning their livelihood through business etc, across the country, including in Nagpur, which houses the headquarters of RSS.

These details came to the fore during the exercise initiated by the Jammu and Kashmir government, with the help of central government, to evacuate the residents of the Union Territory stranded at various places in the country. As of today, 1,07,970 such people were evacuated by road and special trains.

It is significant to mention here that the central government went out of its way to run extra special trains to ferry stranded residents of Jammu and Kashmir to their home in the Union Territory, even while thousands of their counterparts from states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had to hitch rides on trucks or even walk on foot for hundreds of kilometers in the absence of adequate number of trains and buses.

As per the official data, the administrations of Jammu and Kashmir districts have received 41 special trains at Jammu and Udhampur railway stations from different states and UTs, so far, with about 32,649 stranded passengers while about 75,321 persons have been evacuated by the government by road via the Lakhanpur border with Punjab.

As per the detailed break-up, 21 trains have reached Jammu with a total of 17,009 stranded passengers belonging to different districts while 15,640 passengers have reached Udhampur in 20 special trains, so far.

As per the official communiqué, of the 75,321 returnees evacuated through Lakhanpur, 19507 were brought from Punjab, 22,113 from Himachal Pardesh, 25 from Andhra Pradesh, 7054 from Delhi, 1411 from Gujarat, 3362 from Rajasthan, 4374 from Haryana, 162 from Chhattisgarh, 3640 from Uttarakhand,  4742 from Uttar Pradesh, 64 from Odisha, 268 from Assam and 1199 from Madhya Pradesh, 88 from Dehradun, 1437 from Chandigarh, 698 from Telangana, 122 from Karnataka, 23 from Tamilnadu, 52 from Chennai, 325 from Bihar, 166 from West Bengal, 113 from Jharkhand, 3 from Goa and 3271 from other states and UTs.

Nearly 4000 J&K residents, including over 1200 students, were evacuated from Maharashtra by Shramik special trains. The process to evacuate J&K residents from Maharashtra by Shramik Special Trains began formally on May 14 with first such train ferrying around 1000 people from Nagpur to J&K. The train carried J&K residents stranded in Nagpur and adjoining districts of Akola, Wardha, Aurangabad, Yavatmal, Amrawati, Raigad, Gondia, Nashik, Washim, Bhandara, Phalgar, Buldana, Akola and Latur, according to official data.

It was followed by another Shramik Special Train carrying 1000 J&K residents, including 500 students, from Pune on May 19. The train carried J&K residents stranded in Pune and adjoining districts of Satara, Kolhapur, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Dhule, Nanded, Buldana and Jalgaon.

Another 700 J&K residents, including 100 students, were brought from Thane railway station by Shramik Special train on May 22. The train carried J&K residents who were stranded in Navi Mumbai, Raigad and other adjoining areas.

One more Shramik train brought around 600 stranded persons of J&K, including 200 students, from Bandra Terminus, Mumbai on May 23. The train carried the J&K residents, who were mostly stranded in two key districts of Mumbai city and Mumbai suburban.

These stranded persons evacuated by Special Trains included patients, students, traders, handicraft vendors, labourers, private security guards and employees from banks, private sector and the government.

By May 24, the total number of J&K residents evacuated from Maharashtra, along with  Kerala and Goa in the south-western region by seven Shramik Special Trains, was around 6000 including around 1300 students.

In this region, around 800 J&K residents including 35 students, were evacuated by Special Shramik Train from Kerala on May 20. Similarly, around 1800 J&K residents, including 17 students were evacuated by 2 Special Shramik Trains from Goa on May 10 & 12.

The evacuation process is continuing and more such people are expected to be ferried home from various parts of India.

Bangladesh COVID-19 tally rises to 55,000; 746 dead

Bangladesh lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): Bangladesh reported spike in coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours with the detection of 2,695 new cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 55,140.

The country also recorded a total of 37 death due to the novel coronavirus during this period, raising the death tally to 746, according to United News of Bangladesh.

So far, a total of 11,590 people have recovered from the deadly contagion, after 470 more patients made recovery.

Against the total number of detected cases, the recovery rate is 21.02 per cent and the mortality rate is 1.35 percent in country.

So far, a total of 5,333 policemen have been infected with coronavirus across the country while being on duty.

Centre relaxes visa restrictions, permits select categories of foreigners

New Delhi (NVI): The Government has relaxed visa and travel restrictions for certain categories of foreign nationals who need to come to India, as part of its efforts to bring the country out of coronavirus lockdown in phases with ‘Unlock 1’ strategy.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a statement today said that it has been decided to permit the following categories of foreign nationals to come to India:

  • Foreign businessmen coming to India on a Business visa (other than on B-3 visa for sports) in non-scheduled commercial/ chartered flights.
  • Foreign Healthcare professionals, health researchers, engineers and technicians for technical work at Indian health sector facilities, including laboratories and factories. This is subject to a letter of invitation from a recognized and registered healthcare facility, registered pharmaceutical company or accredited University in India.
  • Foreign Engineering, Managerial, Design or other Specialists travelling to India on behalf of foreign business entities located in India. This includes all manufacturing units, design units, software and IT units as well as financial sector companies (banking and non-banking financial sector firms).
  • Foreign Technical specialists and engineers travelling for installation, repair and maintenance of foreign-origin machinery and equipment facilities in India, on the invitation of a registered Indian business entity. These could be for equipment installation, or is under warranty, or for after-sales servicing or repair on commercial terms.

The Ministry said that these categories of foreign nationals would have to obtain a fresh Business visa or Employment visa, as applicable, from the Indian Missions/ Posts abroad.

“Foreign nationals holding a valid long term multiple entry Business visa [other than B-3 visa for sports] issued by the Indian Missions/ Posts abroad would have to get the Business visa re-validated from the Indian Mission/ Post concerned.   Such foreign nationals would not be permitted to travel to India on the strength of any electronic visa obtained earlier,” it added.

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