Kashmir.Watch

Author: hamid

  • Kashmir University makes attendance optional

    Srinagar, Mar 16, KNT: In wake of Coronavirus threat, Kashmir University Monday made the attendance of employees optional and has informed them that their attendance will not be mandatory till the advisory related to Coronavirus is in force.


    The Varsity issued an order, a copy of which lies with KNT on Monday, that reads: “Pursuant to the Advisory issued by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi and the University of Kashmir vide number I (Coronavirus) Reg/KU/20 dated 11/3/20, it is notified for the information of the bonafide research scholars in the Departments / Research Centres / Satellite Campuses that their attendance in the respective Departments / Centres shall not be mandatory, instead shall be optional during the period the Advisory remains in force.”
    The circular further says that all the teachers, supervisors and scholars are also advised to strictly follow the social distancing measures in the laboratories, libraries, seminar rooms and other similar places.(KNT)

  • JKYJA felicitates journalist Bilal Bashir Bhat on his appointment as VP Media Federation of India

    Srinagar, Mar 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Young Journalist Association has extended it warm wishes and felicitations to eminent young journalist of Kashmir Bilal Bashir Bhat on his appointment as Vice President (Kashmir Province) Media Federation of India.
    Pertinently, Media Federation of India is an umbrella body of about 20 media organizations of India with some 15000 members from 24 states and UTs, existing since last 14 years.
    The association said that it is a matter of pride that a senior member of the body has been elected to this prestigious post and hoped that Bilal Bashir Bhat would continue to work with more dedication and enthusiasm.
    Important to mention, Bilal Bashir Bhat is the editor of the daily Srinagar-e-Jang published from Srinagar. He also runs a news portal, www.onlykashmir.in which is among the first portals of Jammu and Kashmir launched a decade ago.

  • COVID-19: CAPA says most airlines will be bankrupt by May-end unless there is coordinated govt-industry action

    GK News Network

    CAPA said the failure to coordinate the future will result in protectionism and much less competition.

    Due to the coronavirus pandemic, most airlines in the world will be bankrupt by the end of May and only a coordinated government and industry action right now can avoid the catastrophe, said global aviation consultancy firm CAPA in a note on Monday.

    “As the impact of the coronavirus and multiple government travel reactions sweep through our world, many airlines have probably already been driven into technical bankruptcy, or are at least substantially in breach of debt covenants,” it stated.

    Across the world, airlines have announced drastic reduction in their operations in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. For example, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines stated on Sunday that it would be grounding 300 aircraft in its fleet and reduce flights by 40 per cent.

    The US has suspended all tourist visas for people belonging to the European Union, the UK and Ireland. Similarly, the Indian government has suspended all tourist visas and e-visas granted on or before March 11.

    CAPA, in its note on Monday, said, “By the end of May-2020, most airlines in the world will be bankrupt. Coordinated government and industry action is needed – now – if catastrophe is to be avoided.”

    Cash reserves are running down quickly as fleets are grounded and “what flights there are operate much less than half full”, it added.

    “Forward bookings are far outweighed by cancellations and each time there is a new government recommendation it is to discourage flying. Demand is drying up in ways that are completely unprecedented. Normality is not yet on the horizon,” it said.

    India’s largest airline IndiGo — which has around 260 planes in its fleet — said on Thursday that it has seen a decline of 15-20 per cent in daily bookings in the last few days.

    The low-cost carrier had stated that it expects its quarterly earnings to be materially impacted due to such decline.

    CAPA said the failure to coordinate the future will result in protectionism and much less competition.

    “The alternative does not bear thinking about. An unstructured and nationalistic outcome will not be survival of the fittest.

    “It will mostly consist of airlines that are the biggest and the best-supported by their governments. The system will reek of nationalism. And it will not serve the needs of the 21st century world. That is not a prospect that any responsible government should be prepared to contemplate,” the consultancy firm said.

    (This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • Yes Bank: ED summons Anil Ambani

    GK News Network

    Ambani’s statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) upon deposition, they said.

    Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani has been summoned by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe against Yes Bank promoter Rana Kapoor and others, officials said on Monday.

    They said Ambani was asked to depose at the Enforcement Directorate office in Mumbai on Monday as his group companies are among the big entities whose loans went bad after borrowing from the crisis-hit bank.

    The officials said Ambani, 60, has sought exemption from appearance on some personal grounds and he may be issued a new date.

    Ambani’s group companies are stated to have taken loans of about Rs 12,800 crore from the bank that turned NPAs.

    Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said in a March 6 press conference that the Anil Ambani Group, Essel, ILFS, DHFL and Vodafone were among the stressed corporates Yes Bank had exposure to.

    Officials said promoters of all the big companies who had taken large loans from the beleaguered bank which later turned bad are being summoned for questioning in the case to take investigation forward.

    Ambani’s statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) upon deposition, they said.

    Kapoor, 62, is at present in ED custody after he was arrested by the central probe agency early this month. The ED has accused Kapoor, his family members and others of laundering “proceeds of crime” worth Rs 4,300 crore by receiving alleged kickbacks in lieu of extending big loans through their bank that later turned NPA.

    (This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • COVID-19: Tata Hospital Mumbai issues advisory to cancer patients

    GK News Network

    Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) Mumbai, the leading cancer care centre in the country, has issued an advisory to the cancer patients asking them to avoid any unnecessary travel in view of the Corona Virus risk.

    “If you are not on active treatment or do not have any disease-related complaints, it is recommended that you postpone your OPD appointment at Tata Memorial Hospital by calling us on 02224177000 Ext: 4523,” says the advisory sent to all registered patients through SMS by TMH.

    (This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • Woman booked for selling her daughter to neighbour in UP

    However, the baby was saved by her neighbour, Rekha, who offered to adopt the baby.

    A woman has been booked for allegedly selling her seven-day-old daughter for Rs 10,000 to a neighbour at Kathghar area of Moradabad district in Uttar Pradesh.

    The matter came to light when the woman herself went to the SSP office to lodge a complaint against her neighbour, saying that she wanted her daughter back.

    On being questioned, she admitted that she had sold her daughter to the neighbour two months back.

    The SSP directed the station house officer (SHO) of Kathghar police station to detain the woman and register an FIR against her.

    The police later told reporters that the woman was married nearly three years ago and separated from her husband after she gave birth to a baby girl on January 4. Since she was living alone and her daughter had a medical condition, she allegedly threw the newborn on a railway track.

    However, the baby was saved by her neighbour, Rekha, who offered to adopt the baby.

    As part of the deal, an ‘agreement of adoption’ was prepared on a stamp paper and baby’s mother was reportedly given Rs 10,000 for her ‘consent’.

    Two months after giving up her baby, the woman apparently had a change of heart and approached Rekha and asked to return her daughter, but the latter refused.

    Rekha is unmarried and lives in the same locality as the child’s biological mother. She said, “I adopted the girl on January 8. Her medical condition was critical. A proper agreement was made but at that time, I was not aware that a baby cannot be adopted in such a manner.”

    Additional SP Deepak Bhuker said, “Rekha had adopted the girl when she was on the verge of dying. We have booked the baby’s mother for showing cruelty against her daughter. Decision on adoption will be taken up by child welfare committee.”

  • Army Subedar dies of heart attack

    Body of non-local labourer found in Batamaloo

    Srinagar, Mar 16: An army soldier died of cardiac arrest in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
    Police sources told KNT that Subedar Omjeet Singh (JC-45231) suffered heart attack in the army camp at Trona Baramulla.


    He was shifted to nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.


    Police in this regard have registered a case.


    Meanwhile, locals in Batamaloo Srinagar found a dead body and informed the police. A police official said that the body belongs to a non-local labourer and has been brought to Police Hospital Srinagar. (KNT)

  • TADA Court frames charges

    Jammu and Kashmir: A TADA court frames charges against Yasin Malik and six others in the case of killing of Indian Air Force officer Ravi Khanna & three others in 1990.

  • FB user booked for ‘sensitive remarks’ in Rajouri

    Rajouri, Mar 16: Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday booked a Facebook user for posting ‘sensitive remarks’ on the social media platform.

    According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a senior police officer said that a case under FIR 133/2020 under section 153-A has been registered in Police Station Rajouri.

    He said that investigation has also been started into the matter.

    Police officer also appealed people to use social media in a cautious manner and to refrain from any sensitive posts that can pose harm to the peaceful atmosphere—(KNO)

  • Fresh landslides in Ramban close Srinagar-Jammu Highway temporarily

    Srinagar, Mar 16: The Srinagar-Jammu highway was once again temporarily closed for traffic on Monday due to a fresh landslide in Ramban district leaving more than 2,000 vehicles stranded.

    Official sources told KNT that there have been fresh landslides along the highway near Cafeteria Mode in Ramban district that resulted in the highway getting blocked.

    Due to closure of the highway, over 2,000 vehicles have got stranded at different places enroute the highway, they said.

    Men and machinery are at work to clear the highway of the blockade, they said adding that operation gets halted at several intervals due to falling of rocks from mountain tops.

    Traffic police appealed to people to strictly follow the advisory being issued by the traffic department on a daily basis. They appealed to contact Traffic Control Units (TCUs) at Srinagar, Jammu and Ramban before starting their journey on the highway. (KNT)