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Over 26,000 foreign tourists visited Kashmir in 2019

By Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Figures released by the Jammu and Kashmir tourism department state that more than 26,000 foreign tourists visited the Union Territory in 2019. This was despite political and social upheaval in the Valley after the abrogation of Article 370 in August last year.

The data released by J&K tourism department says that 26,662 foreign tourists visited Kashmir from January to November 2019.

Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh and Indonesia constituted more than 90 per cent of foreign arrivals with as many as 19758 tourists visiting Kashmir last year.

The data also reveals that Malaysians were the leading foreign visitors that landed in the valley last year. Till November 2019, 9822 backpackers from Malaysia visited the valley.

In August, when Centre issued a travel advisory and abrogated Article 370, the arrival of Malaysian tourists dipped to 126.

However, their number shot up to 460 in November. In January 2019, 609 Malaysian tourists visited Kashmir and the number rose to 3145 in April.

Similarly, 4572 tourists from Thailand travelled to Kashmir till November last year. The highest number of arrivals was also recorded in April when 2288 backpackers visited Kashmir.

Likewise, 2918 and 2446 tourists from Indonesia and Bangladesh respectively visited the valley till November last year.

More than 706 tourists from Singapore, 731 from the USA, 575 from Britain and 543 from China also visited the valley last year.

The data shows that 326 Israeli and 66 Iranian travellers too arrived in Kashmir last year.

Tourists from conflict-torn nations including Syria, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq also visited the valley last year.

The highest number of arrivals last year was recorded in April when 7700 foreigners visited the valley. In March, 6053 foreigners visited Kashmir. Amid rising tension between Indian and Pakistan in February after Balakote strike, 4077 foreigners visited the valley.

The lowest number of foreign arrivals last year was witnessed in September, a month after the abrogation of article 370 as only 584 foreigners visited Kashmir.

According to an official statement of the Tourism department, tourists from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Bangladesh are on their priority list this year too.

“We have a huge list of promotions with special focus on luring tourists from these countries,” it added.

Govt invites bids to sell 100% stake in Air India 

New Delhi (NVI): The government today announced the sale of the entire stake in debt-laden Air India and issued a preliminary bid document for the strategic disinvestment. March 17 has been set as the deadline for submitting bids.

The qualified bidders will be notified 31 March, according to the bid document issued by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management.

As per the bid document issued today, Air India would also sell 100 per cent stake in low-cost airline Air India Express and 50 per cent shareholding in joint venture AISATS, as part of the strategic disinvestment.

AISATS is a joint venture partnership between Air India and Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS) Limited, which provides ground and cargo handling services.

The bid document has been issued by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management.

The development comes after an initial attempt to sell a majority stake in the airline failed to draw a single bid in 2018.

The airline is sitting on a debt pile of around Rs 58,000 crore, besides huge accumulated losses running into thousands of crores.

In the current offer, the government is offering 100 per cent and has already reduced the debt liabilities of the airline.

 

eGov: Uttar Pradesh signs MoU with GeM for govt purchase

New Delhi (NVI): To improve transparency in government purchase, the Uttar Pradesh Government has signed a memorandum with Government e-Marketplace (GeM). The MoU has been signed to set up a GeM Organizational Transformation Team (GOTT) Project Management Unit (PMU) in the state.

It aims to expedite the harmonization of the procurement guidelines of the two entities and integration of systems, enabling seamless procuring experience, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said today.

The MoU was signed by CEO, GeM, Talleen Kumar and Principal Secretary, Department of MSME and Export Promotion, Navneet Sehgal. Government e-Marketplace (GeM) comes under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

The PMU will make it easier for MSMEs of UP to onboard and transact on Government e-Marketplace. Ministry of Finance has advised Ministries and Departments to consider services of GOTT on an outcome based self-sustenance model.

GOTT will assist the buyer agency to redesign the procurement processes and enhance competencies to derive maximum benefit from the online marketplace.

Cabinet Minister, Siddarth Nath Singh and Minister of State, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Uday Bhan Singh were also present on this occasion.

Uttar Pradesh is the second state after Punjab to establish a GOTT-PMU for effectively utilizing this transformational initiative towards inclusive, efficient and transparent procurement.

Drinking coffee on an empty stomach harmful: Study

Representative image

New Delhi (NVI): Most people start their day with a cup of coffee or tea. It helps you feel less tired and increases energy levels due to the caffeine present in it. But is it okay to have coffee on an empty stomach?

According to Adam Simon, Chief Medical Officer at PushDoctor.co.uk, drinking coffee on an empty stomach can affect your mental and physical health. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach increases the amount of cholesterol in the body, which is harmful for health, Adam claims. It not only affects the immune system, metabolism but also affects stress-reducing hormones cortisol and circadian rhythms.

Besides, drinking coffee in the morning on an empty stomach or before breakfast produces stomach acid, which damages the stomach tissues and can cause acidity, indigestion, constipation and stomach ulcers. That is why experts always recommend eating biscuits or juice with the first tea or coffee of the day.

Does coffee affect physical and mental health?

According to the Harvard Special Health Report, ‘Managing Your Cholesterol’, in the morning body releases cholesterol. If there is a connection of caffeine with the cholesterol released in the body, then it affects both the body and the mind.

In a study, children who were asked to drink coffee on an empty stomach in the morning had negative effects in physical and mental condition.

What precautions can be taken?

Consuming coffee on an empty stomach can be more dangerous for gastro patients, so consumption should be avoided.

People on regular medications besides pregnant women are strictly prohibited from consuming coffee on an empty stomach.

Coffee should not be consumed before a workout or exercise, it can cause problems in the muscle spasms.

PM to address third Global Potato Conclave tomorrow

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 3rd Global Potato Conclave tomorrow at Gandhinagar, Gujarat through video conferencing.

The Prime Minister is expected to take an overall view of the achievements and opportunities in the area of potato research, trade and industry, and value chain management and set a roadmap for the decade.

The conclave will provide an opportunity to bring all stakeholders at one common platform so that all the issues are discussed and future plans are made involving everyone related to the potato sector.

This will be a unique event to expose different stakeholders of the country to the frontiers of knowledge and innovations in potato research.

The present conclave is the third in the series. Minisry of Commerce today said that in a gap of every ten years, it is necessary to work out the achievements in potato sector and set a roadmap for forthcoming decade.

In this direction, during last two decades, two Global Potato Conferences were organized during 1999, and 2008, the ministry said in a release.

Gujarat is one of the leading producers of Potato in the country.

In the last eleven years alone, while the area under potato in India, has increased by 19%, it has increased by about 170% in Gujarat (49.7 thousand ha in 2006-07 to 133 thousand ha in 2017-18).

With a productivity of more than 30t/ha, Gujarat is holding the No. 1 position in India for last one decade. The State uses modern methods of agriculture like sprinkler and drip irrigation for cultivation.

The state also has the best of the cold storage facilities and linkages and is a hub for major potato processing industries in the country.

In addition, most of the potato exporters are also based in Gujarat. These have led to emergence of the state as a major potato hub in the country.

In the light of this the 3rd Global Conclave is being held in Gujarat.

The Conclave is being organized by Indian Potato Association (IPA) in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, and ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla and International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru.

Coronavirus: Chinese premier Li Keqiang visits Wuhan, death toll reaches 81

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New Delhi (NVI): As coronavirus keeps spreading, with the death toll due to the epidemic reaching 81, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang today visited Wuhan to assess the situation.

This is first such visit by a top leader in China. Wuhan, which falls in Hubei province, is reported to be the place from where coronavirus originated.

The World Health Organisation is constantly monitoring the situation due to the epidemic and has issued guidelines for dealing with the virus.

Yesterday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the Indian Embassy is monitoring the situation in Beijing and is constantly in touch with the Indian community in China, especially students.

Temperature rises a bit in Delhi

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi today saw a slight rise in minimum temperature to 8.5 degrees celsius from 6.5  degrees celsius recorded yesterday.
The maximum temperature today is expected to be around 20.0 degrees celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department  (IMD).
The weatherman has forecast that a spell of showers is likely to hit Delhi on January 28 onwards due to fresh western disturbance.
Meanwhile, the overall air quality in the national capital today remained in the “very poor” category.
According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR),the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at  335 which falls in the  “very poor” category.
The worst affected areas are Dhirpur, Delhi University, Chandni Chowk, Pusa, Lodhi Road, Mathura Road, IGI Terminal 3 and the neighbouring Noida

J&K UT’s first Republic Day held amid tight security

Farooq Khan, Advisor to J&K LG

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI):  Jammu and Kashmir celebrated its first Republic Day after abrogation of Article 370 today amid a heavy security cover across the Union Territory.

The main function was held at Sher-I-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar, where heavy deployment of CRPF and J&K Police guarded the venue. Hundreds of security personnel were deployed across all the roads leading to the venue of the main official function.

Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan hoisted the national flag at Sher-I-Kashmir Stadium and took the salute of the parade.

In his address, Khan touched upon the various developmental schemes launched in the union territory.

Khan praised Prime Minister and Home Minister for focusing on the development of Jammu and Kashmir. “The central and JK government are focused to improve the road and rail connectivity of the newly created Union Territory besides developing education sector,” he said in his R-day speech.

He praised security agencies including Jammu and Kashmir police for marinating peace across J&K. “We are satisfied over the role of administration in providing services to the people during this harsh winter. We also seek support from all stakeholders for bringing ever-lasting peace in the Union territory,” Khan said.

At the R-day function, the contingents of BSF, CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, Indian Reserve Police, Disaster Response Force, Jammu and Kashmir Fire and emergency services, ex-servicemen, NCC girls and boys took part in the march past.

Later, cultural programmes were performed by students. Republic day functions were also held across all district headquarters.

In Jammu, Lt Governor G.C. Murmu hoisted the national flag at Maulana Azad Stadium.

In his address at the Republic Parade in Jammu, LG said that abrogation of Article 370 has “united J&K to the country in its true sense”.

He also said that the abrogation of temporary provisions has driven away the financial and legal obstacles between J&K and other parts of the country.

Mobile phone services were snapped as a precautionary measure till 4 PM today. In Srinagar, shops remained closed and there was minimal moment of vehicles on roads.

Suspension of mobile phone and internet services on Republic Day and Independence Day has been part of the security drill in the Kashmir since 2005.

Separatist groups like Hurriyat Conference used to call for a shutdown on January 26 and August 15 but no such call was issued this year as most of the separatist leaders are under detention since August 5 following the abrogation of provisions of Article 370.

CRPF women stun spectators on R-Day

New Delhi (NVI): A contingent of women bikers of the CRPF performed daredevil stunts at the Republic Day during the annual parade in the national capital today.

The contingent was led by Inspector Seema Nag who was seen saluting while standing on a moving motorcycle, leading the pack.

Head Constable Meena Chaudhary displayed the ready position to fire two 9mm pistols in both her hands while balancing herself amazingly on her motorcycle.

Thereafter, four daredevils donning different uniforms worn by the force while balancing themselves on one motorcycle rolled down the Rajpath. The formation was led by Head Constable Katke Lata.

Chinook, Apache helicopters make first R-Day flypast

New Delhi (NVI): For the first time, heavylift transport helicopters Chinook and Apache attack helicopters which were inducted in the Indan Air Force recently, took part in the Republic Day Parade today.

The Chinook, twin-engine, tandem rotor is a multi-role, vertical-lift platform, which is used for transporting troops, artillery, equipment and fuel. Chinooks can airlift diverse loads in remote locations. The helicopter can carry out military operations not only during the day but also at night too. Four of the US-made heavy-lift helicopters were inducted into the IAF in March last year.

On the other hand, Apache is a versatile helicopter capable of firing air to air and air to ground missiles, rockets and front gun aided through fire control radar which can unleash havoc on the adversary.

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