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J&K: Interstate bus services stopped amid COVID-19 fears

Jammu (NVI): In order to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 in Jammu & Kashmir, the UT Government today suspended all interstate bus services in the Union Territory.

Transport Commissioner, Pardeep Kumar ordered that no inter-state bus service shall ply on interstate routes with immediate effect till further orders.

Apart from this, the administration has also suspended the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage from today.

It is also ordered that buses belonging to Union Territory of J&K which are presently outside the UT shall not carry any passenger from outside the UT while returning back.

Yes bank services operational: What depositors need to know

New Delhi (NVI): As announced by Yes Bank on Monday, it has resumed its full services from 6 pm today. The private lender confirmed the resumption of its services in a tweet.

In another tweet, the bank said that its branches will open one hour earlier at 8.30 am from March 19 to 21.

“To serve you better, our branches will open one hour earlier at 08:30 hours from March 19 to 21, 2020. We have also extended banking hours across branches for our senior citizen customers, from March 19 to March 27, 2020, 16:30 hours to 17:30 hours,” it tweeted.

The private lender was placed under moratorium by RBI on March 5. Withdrawals were capped at Rs 50,000 with higher withdrawals permitted only under certain circumstances.

With the latest development, the customers will now be able to withdraw money from Yes Bank ATMs and initiate NEFT/IMPS/RTGS transactions.

At present, Yes Bank allows only inward NEFT/IMPS/RTGS transactions from other banks.

In a press conference in Mumbai Yesterday, Yes Bank’s CEO Prashant Kumar had assured depositors that the bank’s ATMs have sufficient cash and there was no liquidity issue. He has also urged the customers not to withdraw their money in panic.

With the full services of private sector lender set to resume tomorrow, all branches of the bank will open during normal banking hours tomorrow.

In its earlier tweet on March 16, the bank had also stated that the customers can visit any of its 1,132 braches from March 19, (tomorrow) post commencement of banking hours to use the services.

I was in touch with Hurriyat: Ex-Envoy of Pakistan

New Delhi (NVI): Spilling the beans, former Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has admitted that he had maintained relations with the separatist Kashmiri conglomerate Hurriyat Conference, pursuing his country’s “policy”, during his posting in New Delhi.

He also slammed former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for trying to improve relations with India and for making efforts to develop personal “equation” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In video comments uploaded on his Twitter handle, Basit said Sharif, who wanted good relations with India, had done certain things which had “harmed Pakistan and will harm it in future too”.

The former envoy to New Delhi, who also served as Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said Sharif’s “efforts and wish to improve ties with India was wrong”.

He said Sharif’s effort was develop personal equation with Modi but did not elaborate.

Sharif had responded positively when Modi became the Prime Minister for the first time in 2014 and invited his Pakistani counterpart for his swearing-in ceremony. Sharif attended the ceremony along with leaders of other SAARC countries.

“As regards Kashmir issue, I personally had differences with Nawaz Sharif on his approach. Our (Pakistan’s) policy has always been that we have to maintain relations with Hurriyat and I pursued that policy,” said Basit, who served as the Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi from 2014 to 2017.

He seemed to suggest that Sharif had asked him to dilute that “policy” with regard to Hurriyat as he said, “So much was said verbally to me but I always insisted that there should be written directives.”

Basit, during his stay in New Delhi, often invited Hurriyat leaders to the Pakistan High Commission and hosted them, despite India’s strong reservations.

Referring to Sharif’s cooperative approach towards India after Pathankot airbase was attacked by Pakistani terrorists on January 1,2016, Basit said, “We lodged FIR against some people in Gujranwala (in Pakistan) at the behest of India, which was not right (decision).”

The former envoy said Sharif also had personal business interests in his mind and wanted Indian investments.

“Nawaz Sharif had business interests. He has sugar mills here. I remember that his nephew Salman Shahbaz used to call me almost every month for visas. Salman would request for visas to certain persons. I would always tell him that the procedure should be followed.

“However, sometimes in emergency, one or two visas were issued to (Indian businessman) Sajjan Jindal, who was his (Salman’s) friend. He (Salman) wanted his (Jindal’s) investment in coal mines in Pakistan. It was certainly Nawaz Sharif’s wish,” Basit said.

Gun sales surge in US amid fears of social unrest due to coronavirus

Representational Picture

New Delhi (NVI): Sales of guns and ammunition are soaring across the US, especially in places hit hardest by coronavirus like California, New York and Washington, as fears of possible social unrest are prompting some Americans to turn to firearms as a form of self-protection.

Gun shops nationwide are reporting an increase in sales, particularly from first-time gun buyers, according to a 9News channel report.

As people are stockpiling groceries and toilet papers in case they’re quarantined, it’s also causing many to worry about a shortage of gun supplies, which is driving up demand and leading to long lines at suppliers.

Sales were especially pronounced in North Carolina and Georgia, which experienced a leap of 179% and 169% respectively. Other states with large increases included Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Illinois and New York.

Apart from general anxiety surrounding coronavirus, some gun sale spikes appeared to have specific causes. Media reported in Washington and California, gun sales increased acutely propelled by Asian Americans who feared that they could face xenophobic and racist violence against their families given that the original source of coronavirus was China.

The death toll in the United States has also reached 100, after spreading to all the 50 states.

Globally, the death toll has crossed 7,500, with nearly 2,00,000 people testing positive for the virus, according to World Health Organization (WHO).

Ban on foreign tourists may affect Kashmir’s tourism this summer

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Already on crutches after the abrogation of article 370, Kashmir tourism may witness a tough summer this time as the J&K government has now banned foreign tourists’ entry amid coronavirus scare.

The UT administration on Tuesday barred foreign tourists from entering the Union Territory as a precautionary measure in view of COVID-19 outbreak. Besides, all the gardens and parks in Srinagar too have been closed.

The Coronavirus scare is now giving sleepless nights to the travel agents and people associated with tourism industry, who fear that their business will be the worst hit.

Most of the tourist destinations in Kashmir wear deserted look, while as famous Dal Lake in Srinagar sans visitors

The stakeholders associated with tourism feel that coronavirus could spell doom on their businesses. “Spring season is considered to be one of the peak seasons for Kashmir tourism as tourists from all over the world throng valley. But now with the spread of this virus and travel advisory, spell of doom is looming over us,” said Waheed Ahmad, a travel agent from Srinagar.

Last year, tourists from China, Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong, United States and Indonesia formed the biggest chunk of foreign arrivals in Kashmir last year.  Last year, 4572 tourists from Thailand visited the valley followed by 543, 731, 2918 arrivals from China, the US, and Indonesia.

Secretary Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) Farooq Kuthoo said that people throughout the world are skeptical to travel to Kashmir because of coronavirus outbreak.

The coronavirus impact is also going to affect the flow at Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar, which is thrown open every year after March 25.

Keeping in view the current situation, the tulip garden is unlikely to be opened for the public

Director, Floriculture department Farooq Ahmad Rather said that date for reopening the garden has not been notified now.

Last year, tulip garden was opened on March 31 and 2.58 lakh visitors visited the garden.

President Travel Agents Association of Kashmir Ashfaq Ahmad Dugg said that Coronavirus scare has affected their business. “People are cancelling booking, like last year, our businesses are running in loses,” he said.

There has been a drop in tourist arrivals to Kashmir with only 6954 tourist arriving in December last year. Mere 3792 visited Kashmir in January this year.

Sanitiser without harmful chemicals developed by CSIR scientists

New Delhi (NVI): Amid the coronavirus outbreak, demand for products such as hand sanitisers has increased in the market. However, many counterfeit products in the market are being sold to benefit from the situation.

Scientists at CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh have developed a new hand-sanitizer that is free from harmful chemicals.

Natural flavors, active tea constituents and alcohol content have been used in this hand-sanitizer as per the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr Sanjay Kumar, Director of IHBT said, “One of the special things is that chemicals like parabens, triclosan, synthetic fragrance and phthalates have not been used in this product.”

The technology was transferred to Palampur based company M/s A.B. Scientific Solutions for the commercial production of this newly developed hand-sanitizer and an agreement has also been signed between CSIR-IHBT and the company.

The company, which has a strong nationwide marketing network of its own, will be establishing a facility in Palampur for the commercial production of hand-sanitizer and will also market these hand-sanitizers and other disinfectants in major cities across the country.

Dr Sanjay Kumar also said that due to the sudden increase in demand for sanitizer in the market, its irrational prices are being charged.

Africa recycles only 4% of its total waste: Report

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Africa only recycles 4 per cent of its waste. About 90 per cent is disposed of on land, often in uncontrolled dumpsites, while the rest is being unaccounted for, according to the UNEP’s Africa Waste Management Outlook report.

The report urges African countries to find innovative solutions to address its waste management challenges and to prepare for the expected growth in waste generation on the continent, expected to double by 2025.

In order to turn environmental challenges into opportunities based on the understanding of an inclusive green economy, Switch Africa Green Programme has been implemented.

This programme supports seven African countries—Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa and Uganda—to achieve sustainable development by engaging in transition towards an inclusive green economy based on sustainable consumption and production patterns. 

In a regional forum – Switch Green Africa – State Minister for Environment of Uganda Beatrice Anywar addressed over 300 African entrepreneurs and policymakers in February 2020, in Kampala city in Uganda.

Anywar said, “Echoing the main lesson learned from phase 1 of Switch Africa Green, a project led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and supported by the European Union to assist Africa’s transition into green economy, that the transition to a green economy requires actions and significant technological, behavioural and systemic change at all levels of the society, including citizens, public and the private sector.”

Anywar further added, “It has been established that more radical innovations come from micro, small and medium enterprises. These enterprises play a key role in the transition to green economies and sustainable development in general by greening the existing business models and creating new business models that are not only economically profitable but also create environmental and social inclusiveness.”

Implementation of the Switch Africa Green programme is guided by both global and regional settings and priorities. During the 17th Ministerial session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment in Durban, South Africa in 2019, a regional framework on circular economy was proposed, to focus on contextualizing the circular economy to the needs of African countries.

“Circular Economy approach is a part of Africa’s transformative efforts to sustainable development. Switch Africa Green programme already promotes circularity approaches such as the promotion of biogas technology, e-waste management, promoting organic agriculture, green manufacturing and eco-industrial park and standards and labelling in the hotel industry, among others,” said Patrick Mwesigye, UNEP Africa Office Regional Coordinator on Resource Efficiency.

CRPF comes to rescue of 6 Kashmiri students

Srinagar (NVI): Six Kashmiri students got their money back they had paid for getting admissions in colleges abroad after CRPF helpline Madadgaar came to their rescue and helped them recover the amount.

The students got back Rs 2 lakh fee they had paid last year through a Srinagar based education consultancy which had tie-ups with another Indore-based firm for sending students abroad.

In a video shared by CRPF Madadgaar, the Srinagar consultant has claimed that the Indore-based firm was not returning the money of six students, who had applied for abroad colleges last year.

“I have been sending students abroad for the past 2-3 years but they were not returning money taken from these six students for the past two months. I had to inform CRPF Madadgaar and they helped in recovering the whole money,” he said.

The CRPF had launched a 24/7 helpline Madadgaar on June 16, 2017, to aid any Kashmiri resident who is in distress or requires any kind of assistance.

COVID-19: Positive cases reach 147 in India; 1st Army jawan infected

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India rose to 147 today, according to the Health Ministry.

In addition to this, first positive case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Indian Army, a jawan from Ladakh Scout. The jawan’s father has a travel history to Iran, according to media reports.

S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, tweeted, “Appreciate the difficult situation of Indian students and other passengers waiting in transit at Kuala Lumpur airport. We have now approved AirAsia flights for you to Delhi and Vizag. These are tough times and you should understand the precautions. Please contact the airline.”


The country has by far reported three deaths due to novel coronavirus one each in Maharashtra, Delhi and Karnataka.

Meanwhile, states across the country have shut down all schools, colleges, gyms, night clubs and spas until March 31.

Globally, the death toll has crossed 7,500, with nearly 2,00,000 people testing positive for the virus. China continues to lead the pack with 82,000 cases, followed by Italy at 27,980 and Iran at 16,169 cases.

Soldier, his wife, child test positive for Coronavirus in Ladakh

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): An army soldier, his wife and child  have been tested positive for coronavirus in Leh.

Confirming the development, Medical Superintendent, Sonam Norboo Memorial (SNM) Hospital, Tsering Samphel said that an army man along with his wife and child have tested positive and have been quarantined.

The soldier was on leave from Feb 25 to March 1. During his leave period the soldier was staying with his family and helping out as his father, who returned from a pilgrimage in Iran, had been quarantined since February 29.

The father reported positive for Covid-19 on March 6 and he was isolated at Sonam Norbu Memorial Hospital, Leh.

The soldier was also quarantined on March 7 and detected to be positive on March 16.

On,Tuesday, three new cases were tested positive of Coronavirus in Ladakh division.

The administration has imposed section 144 in Kargil as a precautionary measure. All schools, colleges have already be shut.

The total number of positive case have climbed to eight in Union Territory of Ladakh while as three cases have been tested positive in J&K.

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