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  • Restrictions to be enforced strictly in Red & Orange Zones: Cabinet Secretary

    Standard protocols for movement of students/migrant labour to be developed by States/UTs

    Jammu: Government of India has asked all the States and Union Territories to delineate the districts as per the laid down criteria and implement the restrictions accordingly in the areas for effective containment of the virus.

    This was stated by the Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gaubawho was holding a video conference interaction with the Chief Secretaries of all States and UTs.

    Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Health Secretary, Preeti Sudan and other senior officers of concerned Ministries attended the meeting.

    Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam, Financial Commissioner, Health, Atal Dulloo and MD NHM, Bhupinder Singh participated in the interaction with the Cabinet Secretary.

    While having detailed deliberations on preparations to be made for post May 3 scenario in the country, the Cabinet Secretary asked the States/UTs to follow the categorization of the Districts into Red, Orange and Green Zones based on total active cases, doubling rate, extent of testing and surveillance feedback. States/UTs could add Red/Orange category districts based on their assessment, the Cabinet Secretary said.

    Cabinet Secretary asked for implementing the restrictions in these identified areas as per their status and follow the guidelines strictly being issued by Government of India time to time. While moving forward, we have to treat the Districts/Areas differently as per the local situation and need to do micro planning while dealing with the containment zones.

    Cabinet Secretary reiterated that there should be no laxity while implementing the restrictions especially in the containment zones. The Districts which have luckily not reported any positive case so far need to remain extra alert and more cautious, because our relaxed approach can put us in difficult situation. He said that as there are active cases in both Red and Orange Zones, restrictions are to be strict and surveillance along with monitoring should be ensured effectively.

    Regarding movement of students and migrant labour stranded in different states, the Cabinet Secretary asked the States/UTs to develop standard protocols for receiving and sending such people. He asked the Chief Secretaries to coordinate with their counterparts in other States so that action plan is worked out for the movement of people. Besides, he asked all to nominate Nodal Officers for the purpose.

    While discussing the movement of people with the Chief Secretaries, it was decided that proper health screening of students/migrant labour will be done at the both ends before sending and at the time of reaching their native States. It was asked to plan the whole exercise in a systematic manner so as to avoid any threat of transmission of virus from one place to another.

  • Covid-19 | J&K Toll rises by 33

    J&K Crosses 600-Mark As 33 Test Positive

    Srinagar: Thirty Three persons on Thursday tested positive for novel coronavirus in Kashmir Valley, pushing the overall tally of COVID-19 patients past 600-mark.

    Official sources told Kashmir Today that people who tested positive include 11 from Baramulla, one each from Budgam, Srinagar and Shopian districts, 12 from Anantnag district, 04 from Kulgam.

    As per the official data, there are now 614 cases in Jammu and Kashmir and 58 of them are in Jammu division and remaining in Kashmir.

  • J&K Police appeals general public not to share personal details on phone

    Jammu: Due to ongoing corona virus (COVID-19) Reserve Bank of India has provided a facility of EMI deferment for three months. Fraudsters are using this panic situation to defraud the customers by calling them and asking sensitive details like OTP, PIN, Account Number etc in order to defer their EMIs.

    Posing as bank representatives, fraudsters calls the customer and asks for his/her account number/mobile number/debit card details for verification. Using the details, they initiate an online transaction and ask for the OTP saying that it is required for completing the process of deferment of EMIs on loan. One OTP is provided by a customer, money is siphoned away. The fraudster may send a malicious link in SMS or email in connection with EMI which if clicked, may install malware to compromise the mobile/computer.

    To make general public aware about these type of cyber frauds, Jammu and Kashmir Police appeals that EMI deferment does not require OTP sharing. Never share OTP/PIN / password with anyone. Banks never ask for any such information. Never click on links shared by unknown numbers/emails. Never share your bank account number, card details, CVV and OTP with any caller. Banks never ask for such details. In case of need or doubt, contact customer care number given at the back of your Debit/Credit Cards or that mentioned on official website of bank/card company.

  • Oman orders firing of expats from state sector companies

    Sources, however, claimed that the move was unlikely to immediately affect the private sector which also is a major employer of expat workers from South Asia

    Agencies

    In a dramatic development which is being closely studied here, the Gulf monarchy of Oman has asked all state-owned companies to fire expat workers and replace them with local Omanis. The order shows that the “Omanisation” campaign, which was launched during the rule of Sultan Qaboos who passed away on January 10, has intensified. Sources, however, claimed that the move was unlikely to immediately affect the Omani private sector which also is a major employer of expat workers from South Asia.

    The order was part of a financial guidelines issued by the government to state-owned companies on Wednesday which laid down the path of indigenisation of the Omani economy. According to some estimates, around a third of Oman’s 4.6 million residents are expatriates who work in state-owned and private sectors. There are at least 8,00,000 Indian workers in the kingdom and a part of them are likely to be impacted by the order. Though the order is limited to the state-owned companies, it is understood that in the long run, the private sector will be under pressure to follow the state sector.

    Austerity measures

    Oman has been implementing new austerity measures in the public sector during the last few months. The Finance Ministry of Oman had asked all state sector companies to avoid new projects this year and asked them to limit operational and administrative expenses in 2020 to 10%. These moves were partly necessary as Oman is among the worst affected by the ongoing global oil-price war.

    Significantly, Wednesday’s order comes weeks after Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tarik assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the salaries and well-being of the Indian community in Oman would be protected as the country dealt with the economic downturn which had resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Oman has been a strategic partner of India, and a large number of local workers are from South Asia. Diplomatic sources said that the order was not connected with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic-related economic downturn in the Gulf. “It has been a part of a long-drawn plan to create more job opportunities for the Omani youth who are educated and are looking for employment at home,” said a source familiar with Oman’s official policies. He pointed out that the critical component of the decision was that it showed Oman was determined to go ahead with the indigenisation move.

    Oman has been part of India’s international consultations on the pandemic and Mr. Modi spoke with the Sultan on April 7 to discuss the challenges posed by the pandemic to both the countries. The ruler of Oman had thanked Mr. Modi for India’s support to Omani citizens who are affected by the ongoing lockdown. Oman has been a steady economy despite the war in Yemen which is a neighbour and tension among the GCC member-states.

  • No salaries for April, May; hours flown-based pay for those operating cargo flights: SpiceJet to pilots

    The budget carrier has a total of 116 passenger planes and five freight aircraft in its fleet.

    PTI

    SpiceJet on Wednesday told its pilots that they will not be paid salaries for April and May, and said those who have been operating cargo flights will get paid for “block hours flown”.

    SpiceJet’s flight operations chief Gurcharan Arora told pilots through an email that “as of today, 16 per cent of our aircraft and 20 per cent of our pilots are flying”.

    “We are doing this by flying our five cargo aircraft and also flying more ‘cargo on seat’ on our passenger aircraft,” he said.

    The budget carrier has a total of 116 passenger planes and five freight aircraft in its fleet.

    India has been under lockdown since March 25 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. All commercial passenger flights have been suspended.

    Mr. Arora told pilots: “We will not be getting any salary for April and May 2020. Those of us who have been flying cargo, will get paid for the block hours flown.”

    Block hours is the duration of a pilot operating the flight.

    The email, which has been accessed by PTI, stated: “Over the coming weeks, we intend to increase the number of aircraft flying (cargo+cargo on seat) to more than 50 per cent and the number of pilots flying to 100 per cent.”

  • EMI: JK Bank continues to debit accounts of borrowers amid lockdown

    Srinagar:  Bank borrowers, including small businesses, startups and individuals, who have sought EMI deferment, are finding that their accounts are getting debited.
     
    All borrowers from Jammu Kashmir Bank are complaining that RBI directions, the Bank continued to debit their accounts in times of harsh lockdown period.
     
    Muhammad Iqbal from Rajbagh, who is a contractor by profession told KNT that he like many others have not sought EMI deferment, but were hoping that their accounts will not get debited due to emerging crisis.

    “We were wrong. Jammu Kashmir Bank didn’t show any courtesy and continued to debit the accounts of borrowers,” he said.
         
    An entrepreneur Adil Ahmed who employs over 12 people in his venture said that he had asked for a deferment of his monthly EMI, as early as April 1. However, the amount was debited from his account on April 29.
       
    Reyaz Ahmed said that he had taken a car loan and the monthly EMI is Rs 14,295. Despite requesting for deferment my account got debited.”

    “I have an EMI debit of Rs 4,500 on the end of every month for my LCD loan. I am jobless but somehow arrange the amount. I was hoping the bank will not debit my account this time, but I was wrong,” Tanvir Ahmed said.
     
    An official from Jammu Kashmir Bank said that in wake of Covid-19 threat, Bank is operating under reduced staff strength and processing delays, say they are working on delaying debits so that they can attend to all the moratorium requests. (KNT)

  • Rishi Kapoor, veteran Hindi actor, passes away

    The 67-year-old actor was admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday after he was not keeping well

    PTI

    Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor has passed away at a private hospital in Mumbai at 8.45 a.m. on Thursday, his brother Randhir Kapoor said.

    The 67-year-old actor was admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday after he was not keeping well.

    “Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last,” the family said in a statement.

    “He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him,” the statement said.

    Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 following which he was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment. He returned to India in September last year.

    Post return to India, Kapoor’s health has frequently been in focus. In February, Kapoor was hospitalised twice due to his health issues.

    A third generation actor, Rishi Kapoor, was the second son of actor Raj Kapoor and a grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor. He began is career as a child artiste in Mera Naam Joker (1970), for which he received the National Award. As an adult protagonist, his first film was Bobby in 1973. Kapoor went on to act in over 90 films in the next four decades.

    He was last seen in 102 Not Out co-starring Amitabh Bachchan, where the latter played Kapoor’s centenarian father.

    His autobiography Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored… was published by Harper Collins and launched at ‘The Hindu Lit for Life 2017’.

    The actor recently announced his next project, a remake of Hollywood film The Intern, also featuring Deepika Padukone.

    Family’s statement

    In a statement to the media, the Kapoor family asked that Rishi Kapoor be remembered with a smile rather than tears.

    “He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears,” it added. 

    The family requested the public to respect the laws surrounding the national lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus.

    “In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force. He would not have it any other way,” said the statement.

    Rishi Kapoor is survived by his wife Neetu and son Ranbir, both actors, and daughter Ridhima.

  • Muslims will soon return to Holy Mosques: Imam-e-Kaaba

    JEDDAH: Imam-e-Kaaba Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais assured Muslims that worshipers will soon return to the Grand Mosque in Makkah in Saudi Arabia to perform prayers, reported the Saudi Gazette.

    ‘Days would come (soon) when worshipers return to the Two Holy Mosques,’ said the head of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.

    In a video that went viral on social media accounts, Sheikh Al-Sudais, said ‘Days (will come) when the sorrow will be driven away from the Islamic Ummah and we return to the Two Holy Mosques for tawaf (circumambulation around the Holy Ka’ba), sa’i (the ritual of hastening between the hills of Safa and Marwa) and praying at Al-Rawdah Sharif and greet the Prophet (peace be upon him).’.

    He added that, ‘Things will return, God willing, as they were, as the State is keen on creating a sound and healthy environment.’

    Meanwhile, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in a statement posted on its official Twitter account also reassured Muslims that worshipers will return to Makkah and Madinah under the ‘wise leadership’ of King Salman.

    Saudi Arabia partially lifted the curfew in all regions of the kingdom starting Sunday through Wednesday May 13 but a round-the-clock lockdown will be maintained in Makkah and in previously isolated neighbourhoods, where the highest number of infections have been recorded in recent days despite the city being sealed off.

  • Weather update for JK and Ladakh | Forecast for next 1 week

    Srinagar: Currently weather is cloudy to overcast at most places of Kashmir and Pirpanchal area, mainly clear in plains of Jammu and cloudy with strong winds at many places of Ladakh region, especially in LEH district.

    The officials of weather department told news agency KNS that mainly clear Weather is expected till 3rd May and A spell of light to moderate rain with thunderstorm is most likely at most places of J&K and at scattered places of Ladakh region during 4 to 7th May.

    However, a brief spell of rain with thunderstorm at isolated places of J&K is also possible from 30th to 3rd May due to local weather Development.

    There’s no forecast of any continuous heavy rainfall during nxt 7 to 10 days.

    Advisory: Farmers, especially orchardists are advised to spray their fruit plants before 4th to avoid any loses.

  • Hotels not to remain closed till Oct 15: Tourism ministry on social media rumours

    The government has clarified that no order has been issued directing the hotels and restaurants to remain closed till October 15 in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

    India Today

    HIGHLIGHTS

    • Hotels and restaurants have not been asked to remain shut till October 15, says government
    • A letter circulating over social media claimed hotels are to remain closed
    • Tourism ministry has termed the letter as fake and misleading

    The government on Wednesday dismissed rumours that hotels have been directed to remain closed till October 15. The tourism ministry clarified that no such notification was issued directing the hotels and restaurants to remain shut until October 15 in the wake of novel coronavirus outbreak.

    This has come in response to a letter doing rounds on social media claiming that the government has asked hotels and restaurants not to resume operation before October 15. The tourism ministry has termed the letter as fake.

    Identifying that this may create panic in tourism sector, the ministry issued a formal clarification. It said “no such letter has been issued by Ministry of Tourism” and that “people must not believe such kind of fake news.”

    The ministry’s note adds that the PIB fact check has already clarified it on twitter.

    As Covid-19 has had massive impact on tourism sector, the ministry has decided to use technology to let people visit places and destinations virtually and plan the travels for a later date.

    “In these unprecedented times, technology is coming handy to maintain human contact and also keep faith that times will be good to be able to travel again soon,” reads a department’s note issued on April 16, when it launched “DekhoApnaDesh” webinar series. The first in the webinar series was ‘City of Cities– Delhi’s Personal Diary’, which touched upon the long history of Delhi.

    Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Prahlad Singh Patel said webinar series will be a long-term feature of the ministry’s programme. It will work towards showcasing history and culture of India including its monuments, cuisine, arts, dance forms, natural landscapes, festivals and other aspects of rich Indian civilisation.