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J&K: Advisor Baseer Khan reviews SOPs for resuming MGNREGA activities

Srinagar (NVI): Advisor to J&K Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan today said that MGNREGA activities can be resumed amid lockdown in the Union Territory while following the guidelines issued by Union Ministry of Rural Development.

Khan stated this while chairing a meeting to review the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the resumption and roll out of Rural Development Department activities during the lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir.

During the meeting, instructions were conveyed for resumption of MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) activities as per the Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. “The Advisor further stated that under the SOPs, officials of MGNREGA must ensure that an adequate shelf of works is approved in every area in order to meet the demand for the works of the job seekers,” the statement said.

The meeting was informed that the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) would start works at district level as per demand of wage seekers for areas outside the demarcated containment zones. However, if any new area is included in the category of containment zones, then MGNREGA activities allowed in that area will be immediately suspended.

The DPC will also ensure allocation of works in such a way that social distancing could be maintained at the works sites. During the allotment of works, it shall be ensured that the on-going and incomplete works should be completed first.

The Advisor emphasized the need for adherence to Social Distancing, usage of masks and personal sanitation at the work sites. “He further directed to focus on Irrigation and Water Conservation Works, Construction of Ponds, Wells, Horticulture and other related activities,” the statement said.

PM extends Ramzan greetings

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended his greetings to the nation on the occasion of Ramzan. The holy month of Ramzan began today after the sighting of the crescent moon.

In his message on Twitter, PM Modi wished for the safety and well being of all amid the coronavirus pandemic and a healthier planet.

“Ramzan Mubarak! I pray for everyone’s safety, well-being and prosperity. May this Holy Month bring with it abundance of kindness, harmony and compassion. May we achieve a decisive victory in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 and create a healthier planet,” he tweeted.


The start of Ramzan is decided as per the sighting of the moon. The Muslim community around the country will now start the fasting for the month-long festival from tomorrow.

J&K: Militants abduct cop, intercepted and killed

Kashmir
Representational Image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Terrorists tonight abducted a policeman in Kashmir but they were intercepted by security forces soon after, leading to a gunfight in which two militants were killed and the abductee was rescued.

Police constable Sartaj Ahmed Itoo of Yaripora in Kulgam district of South Kashmir was abducted by the militants.

The militants abducted the policeman at Shirpora village following which an immediate cordon was launched by a joint team of Police and Army, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, Vijay Kumar (IPS) said.

“Soon, militants were chased at Kharpora, leading to a brief gunfight in which both of them were killed while a policeman was injured, ” he said.

“The joint team successfully rescued the abducted cop,” the IGP added.

Police sources said after the tip-off that the militants along with the abducted cop were traveling in a vehicle, a check post was set up in Arwani area of Bijbehara in Anantnag district.

On sighting the suspect vehicle, the security forces signalled the driver to stop it. But the militants inside the vehicle opened fire and tried to flee.

This triggered a brief shootout in which two militants were killed.

In the exchange of fire, a policeman also sustained injury and was removed to nearby medical facility for treatment.

Sources in the police said that the two slain militants had recently joined militancy and were affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit.

20 more test positive in J&K, Covid tally mounts to 454

Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Twenty more persons have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Kashmir today, pushing the total tally of cases in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory to 454.

J&K government officials told NVI that all fresh Covid positive cases were confirmed at Viral Diagnostic Lab of SKIMS hospital, Soura. “Of them, nine are from Bandipora, five from Shopian, four from Kupwara and two from Baramulla district,” they said.

The officials said that among total 454 cases, 57 are from Jammu division and 397 from Kashmir division. Apart from that, total number of active cases in Kashmir is 301 and 39 in Jammu division.

They said that 109 persons have recovered in Jammu and Kashmir so far. Among them, 92 are from Kashmir division while 17 persons have recovered in Jammu division. “Four persons in Kashmir division and one person in Jammu division have died due to Covid-19,” said officials.

Dr GH Yatoo, Nodal officer for Covid- 19 at SKIMS Soura, said that out of 395 samples tested today, 20 were tested positive while 375 were tested negative.

Among 20 positive cases, nine are from Bandipora, five from Shopian, four from Kupwara and two from Tangmarg and all positive cases have contact history, he said, adding that one more patient was discharged from SKIMS after recovery.

As per officials figures, 79 positive cases, including one death and 27 recoveries are from Srinagar, 108 positive cases including 22 recoveries and one death are from Bandipora, 52 including two deaths and 12 recoveries are from Baramulla, 45 including six recoveries from Kupwara, 60 including 11 recoveries are from Shopian, 14 including two recoveries are from Ganderbal, 14 including nine recoveries are from Budgam, 6 are from Kulgam, 16 from Anantnag and three cases (all recovered) are from Pulwama in Kashmir division.

In Jammu division, 26 including five recoveries are from Jammu district, 20 including one death and eight recoveries are from Udhampur, 4 from Samba and 4 from Rajouri including three recoveries, one from Kishtiwar who has also recovered and one from Ramban.

As per the daily information bulletin, 65,722 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while as 6,162 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Apart from that, 340 persons are in hospital isolation while 260 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 46,985 persons have completed surveillance period and 11,979 persons are under home surveillance. Besides that, results of 11,764 samples are available.

Out of the 11,764, the number of samples that tested negative stand at 11,310 while as 454 have been tested positive. Among them, 340 are active and 109 persons have recovered. J&K has reported five deaths so far.

Oil refineries in Pakistan suffer huge losses, seek bailout package

New Delhi (NVI): With the global oil industry bearing the adverse impact of Covid-19, the oil refineries in Pakistan have suffered huge losses and are left with no option but to shut down their operations, according to a The News report.

Pakistan’s refineries have apprised the government of their situation while seeking a bailout package if it wants to keep the industry afloat, the Pak daily reported.

Crude oil prices plunged below zero dollars a barrel for the first time in history earlier this week, owing to low demand across the world amid the pandemic situation.

Oil markets crashed in the US, where the prices of oil went into negative zone due to lack of demand, even as there was a recovery later.

The spread of the novel coronavirus recently and a price war between Gulf nations and Russia on crude has also sent oil prices into the negative zone. As a result, refineries in Pakistan have to bear the brunt of the severe price fluctuations, in recent months, resulting in huge losses, The News reported.

Three out of five refineries have already braved over Rs 16 billion in losses in the last nine months, according to the newspaper.

The two other refineries are also running huge losses and that they plan to make it public in the coming days, reports The News.

According to the newspaper, the Managing Directors of the five refineries including National Refinery Limited (NRL), Attock Refinery Limited (ARL), Pak-Arab Refinery (PARCO), Attock Refinery Limited (ARL), and BYCO told the government in a meeting yesterday that they were close to shutting down.

However, the Pakistan government has asked the refineries to come up with proposals for the bailout package.

Covid-19: India reaches out to nationals stuck in Nigeria

Officials at the Indian Embassy in Nigeria (Source: Twitter @india_nigeria)

New Delhi (NVI): Amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the Indian Embassy in Nigeria has reached out to Indians stuck in the African country and assured them of every possible support.

In this regard, the mission officials interacted with Indian community organizations, Samajams and businesses in Nigeria yesterday, through a video conference in which more than 200 people participated, the embassy said in a tweet.


The officials addressed the concerns of Indian citizens in the country and reassured them of the mission’s constant support.

Earlier today, External Affairs Ministers S Jaishankar also had a conversation with his Nigerian counterpart Geoffrey Jideofor Kwusike Onyeama. The two leaders had a discussion on coronavirus cooperation between the two countries. Jaishankar also reiterated India’s commitment to providing medicines.

In a tweet, the EAM said: “Good conversation with FM @GeoffreyOnyeama of #Nigeria. Discussed our #coronavirus cooperation; India is committed to provide key medicines. Thanked him for the welfare of the Indian community. Exchanged views on the Commonwealth.”

The External Affairs Ministry has been receiving several requests regarding Indians stuck in the west Africa nation amid the coronavirus outbreak, from their relatives or family members in India.

India is currently under an extended lockdown till May 3 in the wake of deadly coronavirus outbreak and all domestic and international air travel has been suspended till further orders.

J&K HC rejects bail application of former Finance Minister’s son

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu & Kashmir High Court today dismissed the bail application of former Finance Minister Abdur Rahim Rather’s son in a multi-crore bank fraud case.

A single bench of the High Court headed by Justice Puneet Gupta dismissed the bail application moved by Hilal Rather, son of former Finance Minister Abdur Rahim Rather, on medical grounds.

“The application being without merit is dismissed. The merits of the case have not been argued by the counsels as the application for bail was mainly confined on medical grounds,” reads the High Court order.

The court observed that bail cannot be granted on the mere asking of the accused, nor can the accused claim bail as a matter of right. “Each case has to be decided on its own merits,” the court observed.

It also observed that the case of the accused is not covered by the directions of the Supreme Court for decongesting jails in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

“The other contention of the learned counsel for the accused is that the case of the accused is covered by the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court issued in view of the spread of COVID-19 and the lockdown which is in force. The learned counsel for the respondent has argued that the case of the accused is not covered by the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and in any case the charges in which the accused has been booked carry the punishment for more than seven years,” reveals the court order.

The Court observed that the apprehension raised by counsel for the accused that he may contact infection or even can infect other inmates of the jail due to the prevailing conditions is not borne out from the record. “The court finds no material on record which substantiates the argument of the counsel for the accused. The apprehension of the accused is misplaced as of now. The Jail authorities must be otherwise taking all the measures to keep the jail in hygienic conditions keeping in view the onslaught of COVID-19. The bail cannot be granted on mere assumption that the conditions in the Jail are unhygienic and that the accused will suffer for that reason,” the order read.

Bangladesh reports 4 more COVID-19 deaths, 503 fresh cases

Bangladesh lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of deaths from coronavirus continues to rise in Bangladesh as 4 more people have died in the last 24 hours, taking the total casualties in the country to 131, according to United News of Bangladesh.

Besides, a whopping 503 new cases of coronavirus infection were reported during this period, raising the number of such cases in the country to 4,689.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has set up a five-member COVID-19 related media cell in Bangladesh.

The cell is meant for monitoring and taking steps to release information, hold press briefing and carry out mass awareness campaign and correct misinformation related to coronavirus issues.

In addition to this, many suspected coronavirus carriers are either showing less interest in undergoing tests or hiding information in fear of isolation and social stigma, health experts said warning that this tendency may jeopardise the government’s efforts to contain the pandemic.

Afghanistan Covid-19 cases reach 1,330, death toll at 43

New Delhi (NVI): 95 more COVID-19 cases have been reported in Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, bringing the tally to 1,330, according to Afghan media reports. The country’s death toll due to the virus stands at 43, according to reports.

The Afghan Health Ministry has said that the new coronavirus cases were reported in 12 provinces, including 53 in Kandahar, 11 in Kabul and 3 in Herat province, according to TOLO news.

Apart from this, 10 cases were reported in Takhar, 5 in Panjshir, 5 in Nangarhar, 2 in Farah, 1 in Laghman, 1 in Daikundi and 1 positive case in Parwan.

The Afghan media has reported that five patients have recovered in the last 24 hours in Herat and four in Kandahar, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 188.

One fresh death was reported from Kandahar, bringing the total fatalities in the country to 43, amid concerns over a serious shortage of testing supplies and treatment equipment at health centers.

Meanwhile, according to the Afghan ministry, 7,425 samples have been tested – including 339 samples tested on April 23, reports TOLO news.

COVID-19: 253 health workers infected in Pakistan so far

New Delhi (NVI): At least 253 healthcare providers and medical workers have been infected with coronavirus in Pakistan so far, according to Dawn news.

Based on the report, shared by the National Emergency Operation Centre, 124 doctors, 39 nurses and 90 health workers have been infected in the country.

92 of these healthcare providers are in isolation, 125 are admitted in hospitals while 33 have recovered and have been discharged.

In addition to this, the total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has reached 11,513 with 242 deaths so far.

Nearly half of the total confirmed cases are from Punjab province alone, at 4,851, according to Geo News.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, the Sindh province has reported 3,945 cases while Balochistan has 607 cases so far. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province has 1,541 cases, Islamabad 214, Gilgit Baltistan 300 and 55 in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Another 20 people recovered from the deadly virus in Punjab province, taking the provincial tally to 925. The total number of recovered cases stands at 2,589 in the country.

Pakistan has been under lockdown for over a month now to curb the spread of coronavirus.

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