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  • Indians in Kuwait fired for malicious posts against Muslims

    A civil engineer from Mangaluru, working in an MNC in Kuwait for the past two decades, was fired after he allegedly posted derogatory comments against Muslims and the Tablighi Jamaat congregation.

    Another Indian working as a hotel supervisor was fired after he shared a cartoon related to the congregation. Both have been asked to leave the country once airlines resume operations.

    They aren’t the only ones who’ve come under scrutiny. A woman who works as an anaesthesia technician in Kuwait could lose her job after an old anti-Islam Facebook post resurfaced. A voice message (TOI is in possession of it) of her purportedly apologising is doing the rounds.

    Indians working in the Gulf posting derogatory and offensive comments against Muslims and Islam on social media are not only being summarily sacked, but are also being jailed.

    Sources say many countries in the region have teams who monitor social media posts and flag up offensive comments. Complaints are filed and employers tagged. With complaints increasing, Indian embassies in Gulf countries have stepped up efforts to educate Indians working abroad.

    The issue came to the fore after Tablighi Jamaat delegates were accused by some media in India of deliberately infecting people with the Covid-19 virus.

    “Voluntary cyber soldiers in the Gulf are monitoring anti-Islam posts on social media,” said an Indian working in an oil-rich country. “They take a screenshot and tag it with the individual’s company as well as a government enforcement body.

    Employers immediately take punitive action.” The source said these individual also lose all benefits and cannot join other firms. “Every Indian should respect the law of the land,” the Indian said.

    With inputs from TOI

  • 3 more Indians in UAE lose jobs for ‘Islamobhobic’ social media posts

    On April 20, India’s ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor had warned Indian expatriates against such behaviour.

    PTI

    Three more Indians based in the UAE have either been fired or suspended from their jobs for “Islamophobic” posts on social media, days after the Indian ambassador to the Gulf nation warned the expatriates against posting such provocative updates online, a media report has said.

    Chef Rawat Rohit, storekeeper Sachin Kinnigoli and a cash custodian, whose identity was withheld by his employer, are the latest additions to a list of about half a dozen Indians who have faced action for their social media posts, the Gulf News reported on Saturday.

    “It seems that the warnings of the Indian mission have fallen on deaf ears as the list of Indian expats facing action over vile Islamophobic remarks on social media keeps getting longer,” it said.

    On April 20, India’s ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor had warned Indian expatriates against such behaviour.

    “India and UAE share the value of non-discrimination on any grounds. Discrimination is against our moral fabric and the Rule of law. Indian nationals in the UAE should always remember this,” he said in a tweet.

    Over the weekend, at least three more have been fired or suspended after their offensive posts were brought to the attention of employers by social media users, the report said.

    A spokesperson for Azadea Group that operates Eataly, a chain of high-end Italian restaurants in Dubai, confirmed that Rohit had been suspended and was facing a disciplinary probe.

    Sharjah-based Pneumics Automation have also said they suspended their storekeeper Kinnigoli until further notice.

    “We have withheld his salary and told him not to come to work. The matter is under investigation. We have a zero-tolerance policy. Anyone found guilty of insulting or showing contempt for someone’s religion will have to bear the consequences,” the firm’s owner was quoted as saying in the report.

    Dubai-based Transguard Group said they have cracked down on an employee who had posted several anti-Islamic messages on his Facebook page under the name of Vishal Thakur.

    “Following an internal investigation, the actual identity of this employee was verified and he was stripped of his security credentials, terminated from our employment and handed over to the relevant authorities as per company policy. As of this statement, he is in the custody of Dubai Police,” a Transguard spokesperson said in a statement.

    The new sackings and suspensions come days after both the former and current Indian Ambassadors to the UAE cautioned their countrymen about the UAE’s strict hate speech laws. Similar warnings were issued by missions in other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

    Last month, Sharjah-based businessman Sohan Roy had to apologise for “unintentionally hurting religious sentiments” through his poem, which alluded to a Muslim religious group.

    In March, chef Trilok Singh was fired from a restaurant in Dubai for an online threat against a student in Delhi over her views on the Citizenship Amendment Act.

  • A big jump in COVID cases as 8 minors among 35 test positive, J&K tally at 701

    J&K breaks barrier of 2000 tests a day, says Rohit Kansal

    Srinagar: As the Jammu and Kashmir government increased its testing capacity, 35 fresh cases of COVID-19 were reported on Sunday taking the tally of total number of positive cases to 701 in the Union Territory.

    Government spokesman, Rohit Kansal in a tweet said that the Jammu and Kashmir has increased the testing capacity, saying that over 2500 people were tested in a day, thereby the target of 2000 tests a day stands broken.

    He said that the positive cases have crossed 700 mark 35 more people tested positive today, taking the toll of positive cases to 701, adding 648 among them belong to Kashmir division.

    “Finally J&K breaks the 2000 tests a day barrier. Over 2500 tests conducted in a day. New positives 35; Recoveries 33. Total Cases now 701(Kashmir 640, Jammu 61),” Kansal tweeted.

    Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that out of 35 new cases, 34 are from Kashmir division and one from Jammu division, adding that out of 34 tested positive in Kashmir division, 24 were tested positive at SKIMS Lab, 10 were tested positive at CD hospital Lab and one from Jammu.

    Among the new 34 new cases from Kashmir division, 11 are from Kupwara, 10 from Anantnag, 05 from Budgam, 04 from Shopian, 03 from Baramulla and one from Pulwama

    Dr G H Yatoo Nodal officer for covid-19 at SKIMS said that out of 826 samples tested in last 24 hours, 24 were found positive, adding that among them 11 are from Kupwara, 05 from Budgam, 04 from Shopian, 03 from Baramulla and 01 from Pulwama.

    Dr Salim Khan Nodal officer for covid-19 at GMC Srinagar told KNO that out of 846 samples tested, 10 were tested positive who all belong to Anantnag district.

    He further added that out of 10, 04 belong to Pushroo, 03 to Kharpora, 02 to Hillar and one to Shangus.

    Officials from SKIMS said that out of 24 cases tested positive at SKIMS, 6 are of the age 3 and 14 while as officials from GMC Srinagar said out of ten new positive patients, 2 are of age of 3 and 14.

    Officials from Kupwara said all new 11 cases belong to Gonipora village and are contacts of earlier positive cases. They said that with new 11 cases total number of active cases in district have reached to 43.

    Officials from Anantnag said that out of 10 tested positive on Sunday, 9 are females and one is male. “The ages of females are 3, 14,26, 30, 31,31,55,66 years while age of male is 33 years,” they said, adding that total number of positive cases in district have reached to 109 including one death and one recovery.

    Officials from Shopian said that out of 145 samples tested 04 were found positive who all belong to Hirpora village and total number of positive cases in district have reached to 81.

    Officials from Pulwama said that a seven year-old grand-daughter of a couple who were tested positive three days before was found positive on Sunday.

    Officials from JVC Bemina said that 27 more patients were discharged from the hospital after their recovery and were advised to go for quarantine for 14 days.

    Among 27, 19 belong to Bandipora, 7 to Baramulla and 1 from Budgam, they said, adding that so far 77 patients were discharged from the hospital after their recovery and 96 patients are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

    Officials from the Jammu said that a new case is from Samba belonging to Saroor area and with new case total number of positive cases in district have reached to 07 including four recoveries.

    Pertinently with new 35 cases, the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 701 including 61 from Jammu and 640 from Kashmir division.

    As per officials figures 128 positive cases including one death and 55 recoveries are from Bandipora, 109 positive cases including one death and recovery are from are Anantnag, 106 including two deaths and 70 recoveries are from Srinagar, 91 including 34 recoveries and 3 deaths are from Baramulla, 81 including 19 recoveries are from Shopian, 66 including 23 recoveries are from Kupwara, 26 including 12 recoveries are from Budgam, 14 with all fourteen recoveries are from Ganderbal, 11 including 03 recoveries are from Kulgam and 08 including 03 recoveries are from Pulwama.

    In Jammu division, all 26 patients have recovered in Jammu district , 20 including one death and 19 recoveries are from Udhampur, 7 with four recoveries are from Samba and 4 including three recoveries are from Rajouri , one from Kishtwar who has also recovered and one active case each from Ramban, Kuthua and Reasi.

    As per the daily information bulletin 75,838 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while as 10751 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 406 persons are in hospital isolation while as 183 persons are under hospital quarantine.

    According to the bulletin, 57,386 persons have completed surveillance period and 7,104 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 26,038 samples are available.

    Out of 26,038 the number of samples tested negative stands at 25337 while as 701 have been tested positive, among them 406 are active and 287 persons have recovered and 8 persons have died—(KNO)

  • Post-coronavirus, India knows how to handle countries like Pakistan, says Ram Madhav

    In the post-COVID period there will be a flight of capital from China and India will certainly be an attractive destination for them, Ram Madhav said.

    PTI

    The post-COVID19 world order will be “markedly different” and it will be in Pakistan’s own interest to change its actions like supporting terrorism, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said on Sunday, asserting that India knows how to handle such countries.

    In an exclusive interview to PTI, he also said that there will be a flight of capital from China in the post pandemic phase and India will be an attractive destination for investments by global corporate giants.

    Strongly rejecting allegations of “Islamophobia” in India, Mr. Madhav said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is enjoying support of all communities in the fight against coronavirus and those suffering from “Modi-phobia” are trying to communalise the country’s discourse.

    In an apparent reference allegations of Muslims being targeted for the spurt in COVID-19 cases after a Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi, the BJP general secretary said: “It will not be fair to blame an entire religious community for perceived mistakes of some members of a group. It doesn’t help the community and country at large.”

    On Pakistan, Mr. Madhav said the country has not relented on its anti-India and pro-terror campaigns even when the entire world is focusing on dealing with the coronavirus crisis.

    “It shows that somewhere something is hugely amiss in Pakistan’s leadership. It doesn’t want to improve relations with India,” he said.

    Mr. Madhav said “Pakistan itself will be forced to decided what place it wants in the post-COVID19 global order. It is as much a question to Pakistan as much to China.”

    He further said “It will be in Pakistan’s own interest to change its actions in emerging new world order and India knows how to handle such nations.”

    Pakistan has been unrelenting in its efforts to push militants into India as there have been rising incidents of unprovoked firing by Pakistan military along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir in the last few weeks notwithstanding the coronavirus crisis, according to military officials.

    Talking about China, Mr. Madhav said he felt many companies will move out of the neighbouring country in the wake of the coronavirus crisis and India will be an attractive destination for them.

    In the post COVID period there will be a flight of capital from China and India will certainly be an attractive destination for them, he said.

    The BJP leader said the allegations of Islamophobia are nothing but some sort of propaganda and are not based on the ground reality.

    There has been a wave of angry reactions on Twitter by leading citizens and rights activists from various Arab countries following allegations that Muslims are being blamed for spreading COVID-19 in several parts of India.

    The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, a powerful bloc of 57 countries, recently accused India of “Islamophobia”. India rejected the charges as regrettable.

    Crediting Mr. Modi’s leadership for effectively handling the pandemic, Mr. Madhav said: “India has set a shining example that how visionary leadership, democratic governance and popular support can work together to face such challenges.

    He said one of the major reasons for successful handling of coronavirus crisis is that the country is “unitedly” standing behind the government.

    Referring to surveys showing higher approval ratings for Mr. Modi among global leaders, Mr. Madhav said they reflected that he is enjoying the support of Muslims, Christians and all other minorities.

    “Look at the way the country has responded to his clarion calls to light lamps or clap for corona warriors. But some elements are trying to communalise the discourse as they are suffering from Modi-phobia,” he said.

  • Over 1,50,000 Indians in UAE register to return home

    The Indian missions in the country last week opened online registration for the expatriates who wish to fly back home after getting stuck in the country amidst the lockdown

    PTI

    Over 1,50,000 Indians in the UAE, who wish to return home amid the coronavirus lockdown, have applied through the online registration process to the Indian missions here, according to media reports.

    The Indian missions in the country last week opened online registration for the expatriates who wish to fly back home after getting stuck in the country amidst the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    As of 6 p.m. on Saturday, we received more than 1,50,000 registrations, Consul General of India in Dubai, Vipul told the Gulf News on Saturday.

    A quarter of them want to return to their homeland after losing their jobs, he said.

    According to a report in the Khaleej Times on Sunday, about 40% of the applicants who have registered are blue-collared workers and 20% are working professionals.

    “Roughly 20% have suffered job losses and about 55% of the total applicants are from Kerala,” Neeraj Aggarwal, Consul, Press, Information, Culture was quoted as saying in the report.

    Mr. Aggarwal said that the figures would change as they are expecting registrations from workers from other states, including Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

    About 10% of the applicants are visit and tourist visa holders who got stranded here due to the ongoing lockdown in India.

    India extended the ongoing lockdown by two weeks from May 4 to contain the spread of the coronavirus that has affected nearly 40,000 people in the country.

    Mr. Aggarwal said that a small number of the applications constitute those from pregnant women and other medical cases.

    Since the online registration process was launched, the Consulate’s website crashed several times due to the heavy rush of applicants wishing to register to fly back home.

    The site has been working fine now though it took a lot of time for it to stabilise in the initial phase due to the heavy traffic, the counsel general said.

    He said that the missions here have not yet received any information from the Indian government about the mode of transport of the stranded citizens, the prices of the tickets or how the COVID-19 test results of applicants would be assessed for their journey.

    There are high-level discussions going on regarding these things, he said in the report.

    Meanwhile, Norka (The Non Resident Keralites Affairs) said it has received a total of 398,000 applications from Keralites across the globe who wish to return home.

    “Of which, the highest numbers are from the UAE. At least 175,423 applicants have signed up from the UAE,” Norka said in an official statement on Saturday.

    It also received 54,305 registrations from Saudi Arabia, 2,437 from the UK, 2,255 from the US, and 1,958 from Ukraine from those who wish to return to India, the Khaleej Times reported.

    The coronavirus has infected 13,599 people and claimed 119 lives in the UAE, the Ministry of Health and Prevention said on Saturday.

  • COVID-19: Positive cases cross 700-mark in JK as 35 more test positive

    Testing capacity increased further, 2500 tests conducted today: Kansal

    Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday informed that 35 people were tested positive for deadly Coronavirus today while 33 patients have also recovered.

    Government spokesman, Rohit Kansal in a tweet informed that the Jammu and Kashmir has increased the testing capacity, saying that over 2500 people were tested in a day.

    He said that the positive cases has crossed 700-mark too as more 35 persons were tested positive today, taking the toll of positive cases to 701, adding 648 among them belong to Kashmir division.

    “Finally J&K breaks the 2000 tests a day barrier. Over 2500 tests conducted in a day. New positives 35; Recoveries 33. Total Cases now 701( Kashmir 640, Jammu 61),” Kansal tweeted—(KNO)

  • SKIMS Bemina emerges major hospital to treat COVID patients, highest recovery rate in J&K
    27 patients discharged today

    Srinagar: The SKIMS Bemina has emerged a major hospital to treat COVID-19 patients with the recovery percentage 50 so far, which is highest in any hospital of Jammu and Kashmir.

    The SKIMS Bemina has been designated as COVID-19 hospital in view surge of coronavirus cases in Kashmir. The coronavirus infections are touching 700 in Jammu and Kashmir and around 80 percent cases reported in the valley alone.

    However, the valley is showing a healthy recovery rate better then national average. The national average recovery rate is 29 percent.

    As per official details accessed by news agency KINS, at least 149 COVID-19 patients have been admitted to SKIMS Bemina since April 3. Among them 74 have been fully recovered. The recovery percentage of COVID patients at SKIMS Bemina is 50 percent which is highest in any hospital across Jammu and Kashmir.

    On Sunday, 27 more patients were discharged from the hospital.

    “These patients were referred from various hospitals and were admitted to SKIMS Bemina over two weeks before. They have been treated and have fully recovered. Among them 19 are from Bandipora, seven from Baramulla and one from Budgam,” a senior doctor of SKIMS Bemina said.

    The treatment administered to patients as per the doctor is being given as per the Indian Council of Medical Research guidelines.

    The doctor told KINS that the SKIMS Bemina has witnessed highest recovery rate in Jammu and Kashmir despite some people tried to show the hospital in a bad light.

    “We have highest recovery rate because doctors and nurses have been at the forefront to treat patients.

    The doctors are being given fully protective gear. Despite some people post on social media that SKIMS Bemina doctors were not given proper protective gear, we have highest percentage of recovery rate in J&K. This clearly indicates some people deliberately target the hospital for their vested interests,” the doctor added. (KINS)

  • Good News | After recovering from Covid-19, 27 patients discharged from hospital

    Srinagar: 27 persons, who were hospitalized, after testing positive for Coronavirus in the first week of last month, were discharged from JVC SKIMS Hospital here in Bemina Srinagar, after repeatedly testing negative for the infection, they had contracted.

    An official told KNT that 27 patients were discharged from the hospital after their recovery from lethal Covid-19 infection. He added that out of these 27 recovered patients, 19 hail from Bandipora, 7 from Baramulla and one is the resident of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

    “These patients have recovered successfully but still they have been advised to go for quarantine for two more weeks,” he said.

    The official added that so for 77 patients have been discharged successfully from JVC SKIMS Hospital. He said there are still 96 Covid-19 patients admitted in the hospital.

    Pertinently, there are 666 cases in Jammu and Kashmir out of which 404 are active. (KNT)

  • Expat returnees may have to wait for a year or more before jobs in the Gulf revive

    Serious disruption in revenue stream would stall mega projects reducing the demand for workers from South Asia.

    Atul Aneja

    Indian expatriate workers hit by a combination of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections and a steep drop in oil prices, who are planning to leave in droves from the Gulf countries, may have to prolong their stay at home on return, as economic recovery in the energy-rich region could take at least a year.

    A Regional Economic Outlook Update for the Middle East and Central Asia released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last month points out that because of lower global demand and lower oil prices, oil exporting countries will lose around $250 billion in revenues across the region.

    “Looking at Middle East [West Asia], North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAP), we project the region to contract by 3.1% this year. This comes after an expansion of 0.7% last year. Facing a double whammy, oil exporters in MENAP contract by even more, 4.2%,” said Jihad Azour of the IMF at a virtual press conference last month.

    Analysts point out that the serious disruption in the revenue stream would stall mega projects in the Gulf, reducing the demand for expat labour from South Asia.

    Plummeting oil prices below $30 have upset the budgets of oil producing countries, hollowing out their appetite for big construction and infrastructure projects. According to the ratings firm Fitch Ratings, Saudi Arabia would require a price of $91 per barrel to balance its budget. Oman would need to sell at $ 82, Abu Dhabi at $65, Bahrain at $96, Qatar at $55 to go ahead with their budgeted plans.

    In Saudi Arabia, the price meltdown is expected to badly hit the ambitious Vision 2030 project, to transform the Kingdom by implanting a robust non-oil economy, through massive investments in areas such as health, infrastructure and tourism — all requiring large pools of blue and white collar workers.

    Till the time that oil prices rebound, the Gulf’s oil exporters may have to rely on their sovereign wealth funds to make up for their financial shortfalls for some time. For instance, Saudi Arabia has around $500 billion in its sovereign wealth fund, which it could use to meet its financial commitments for a limited period.

    But the IMF’s update points to a modest economic recovery in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) next year. Growth is expected to plummet by 2.7% in 2020 but is expected to rise by 3.3 in 2021. That could revive some of the stalled labour-absorbing projects, but the scale could be modest because of high indebtedness of the Gulf economies, diverting funds. “Large forthcoming maturing debt presents financing risks in current market conditions. High public debt levels may limit fiscal space available to undertake additional measures,” the IMF observes.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Handwara encounter: Colonel, Major, 2 soldiers, police sub-Inspt; 2 militants killed

    Srinagar: Two army officers – a colonel, major, two soldiers and a police sub-inspector were killed in an overnight gunbattle at Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Two militants were also killed in the encounter, army officials said today.

    A deadly encounter broke out at Changimul area of Handawara late on Saturday evening between militants and the security forces after joint teams of forces laid a siege in the area on the basis of a specific lead about presence of militants hiding in the area. Today’s gunfight has been the deadliest ever in the recent past where security forces suffered heavy causalities. This year, security forces have been able to kill over 50 militants of which 34 have been killed since the outbreak of pandemic Covid 19 alone.

    Defence Spokesman in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that based on the intelligence input that militants were taking the civilian inmates of a house in Changimula, Handwara as hostages, joint operation was launched by army and the police.

    “A team comprising five army and JK police officers entered the house and to evacuate the civilians. However, during the process, the team was subjected to heavy volume of firefight. Two militants were killed,” Colonel Kalia said. He said that in the ensuing encounter, security forces personnel comprising two army officers (a colonel and a major) two soldiers and one JK police sub-inspector were killed.

    Defence sources said that the operation was concluded and the bodies of two slain militants have been recovered from the site of encounter. The bodies of slain army officers, soldiers and the police officer have also been retrieved. It may be recalled that the operation as started by the army’s 15 and 21 RR while as the para commandoes of 9 para were also rushed to the spot. A house where militants were hiding was also damaged in the gunfight—(KNO)