Asia

India’s Cabinet Secretary reviews arrangements for COVID vaccine roll-out
3Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, USA, World

India’s Cabinet Secretary reviews arrangements for COVID vaccine roll-out

In a high-level meeting, Cabinet Secretary of India, Rajiv Gauba asked all the states and union territories to prepare and maintain a database of the prioritized group of people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during the initial stages.Chief Secretary of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, BVR Subrahmanyam, and Director General of J&K Police, Dilbag Singh along with Chief Secretaries of all the states/UTs participated in the meeting.While reviewing the public health response to COVID-19, the Cabinet Secretary said that at present, three companies are frontrunners in developing COVID-19 vaccines in India, which are currently in the third phase of clinical trials and will be shortly available for usage.He asked the States/UTs to “develop respective databases to prioritize various g...
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J&K: GRA Insurance policy for 3.5 lakh Govt employees renewed
2Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

J&K: GRA Insurance policy for 3.5 lakh Govt employees renewed

The Finance Department under the Jammu and Kashmir administration has renewed Group Personal Accidental (GRA) Insurance Policy for 3.5 lakhs gazetted and non-gazetted Government employees of J&K including consolidated, contractual, adhoc and daily wagers.Meanwhile, sanction has also been accorded to the advance withdrawal of an amount of Rs 12.10 crores (Rs 345.74 per employee) under various heads for subsequent release of the amount to M/s Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. as per premium for group personal accidental insurance policy for 3.50 lakhs employees in J&K Government for a period of one year, from the date of payment of premium.
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J&K: Revenue dept asks presiding officers to fix all cases within 15 days
2Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

J&K: Revenue dept asks presiding officers to fix all cases within 15 days

The Revenue Department of the Jammu and Kashmir government has issued directions to review all administrative actions which have been held-up due to court orders from the last six months in J&K.It asked presiding officers in revenue courts to fix all the cases within the next 15 days.“The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Kashmir, Commissioner Survey and Land Records, J&K, All Deputy Commissioners, all additional deputy commissioners, all assistant commissioners (revenue), all regional director survey and land records/Tehsildars are impressed upon to review all administrative actions/procedures held upon on account of interim court orders and in case, the court orders are more than six months old, treat them orders as expired and proceed accordingly,” read the circular issued by the ...
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12 new imported COVID-19 cases in Singapore, largest increase in more than a week
2Dec By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, Singapore, World

12 new imported COVID-19 cases in Singapore, largest increase in more than a week

SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 12 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday (Nov 22), all of which were imported infections, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). This is the largest increase in infections since Nov 13, when 12 imported cases were reported as well. No locally transmitted cases were reported for the 12th consecutive day. All the imported COVID-19 cases were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, MOH said. They were asymptomatic, and detected from proactive screening and surveillance, the ministry added. Of the 12 cases, three are Singapore permanent residents who returned from India. Two other cases also arrived from India, a dependent's pass holder and a student's pass holder. Five are work permit holders currently employed in Singapore who arrived from the Philippi...
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Commentary: After years of demonising China, the US has to start an honest dialogue
1Dec By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, China, World

Commentary: After years of demonising China, the US has to start an honest dialogue

Biden’s presidency offers a chance to change the tone and approach in dealing with China, which will not be cowed by threats, say two observers. HONG KONG: Americans don’t agree on much of anything nowadays. Yet they are largely united in their belief that China represents an existential challenge to their country and the international order it has long led. This combination of internal division and external demonisation has made the Sino-American rivalry increasingly inescapable – and potentially catastrophic. America’s internal divisions have been fueled in recent years by social media, which, by populating users’ feeds with tailored content, creates “echo chambers” that reinforce, rather than challenge, their beliefs and values. When alternative ideas do make it into the echo ch...
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J&K Admin Council clears 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project
30Nov mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, USA

J&K Admin Council clears 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project

In a significant decision, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Administrative Council has approved the proposal for the development of an 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project in a joint venture of the JK Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).“The Rs 5300 crore project would be executed by a new Joint Venture Company - Jammu Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited to be formed between the JK Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC),” an official statement said.“The equity contribution of JKPDC in the company pegged at Rs 776.44 crore will be provided as a grant from the government of India”, it said.The statement further said that all the clearances for the project are already in place, he...
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’36 Sarpanchs, 768 Panchs elected unopposed’: J&K State Election Commissioner
30Nov mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

’36 Sarpanchs, 768 Panchs elected unopposed’: J&K State Election Commissioner

Jammu and Kashmir’s State Election Commissioner, KK Sharma has said that 36 Sarpanchs and 768 Panchs have been elected unopposed, mostly in Kashmir Valley.“368 Panch constituencies will go for by-elections tomorrow in J&K in which a total of 852 candidates are in the fray including 635 males and 217 females,” he said.None of the candidates in DDC has won unopposed, he said, when asked during a press conference in Jammu.Regarding Sarpanch by-polls being held in the first phase (November 28), he said: “279 candidates are contesting for 94 Sarpanch constituencies. Out of 279, there are 203 male and female 76.”He said that 57 lakh voters will participate in Panchayat elections in eight phases whereas 7 lakh voters will participate in the first phase of elections and around 2001 polling sta...
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J&K: Snowfall unlocks Kashmir tourism
29Nov mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, World

J&K: Snowfall unlocks Kashmir tourism

After witnessing a slump for more than seven months due to outbreak of Covid-19 in Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, there is a ray of hope for the valley’s ailing tourism sector as the fresh snowfall in higher reaches is attracting tourists once again.Gulmarg in Baramulla district, which recorded almost two feet of snowfall, has come to life as tourists have started thronging this popular ski-resort. On November 15, as many as 574 tourists arrived at the Srinagar International Airport from different cities, mostly Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai to spend their ongoing Diwali vacations here, officials said.As per J&K Tourism department officials, November 15’s tourist arrivals are the “highest single-day visitor arrivals to the Valley registered during the last seven ...
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J&K launches relief drive for 1.45 lakh workers to tide over COVID crisis
29Nov mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

J&K launches relief drive for 1.45 lakh workers to tide over COVID crisis

The Jammu and Kashmir government has registered 2.4 lakh building and other construction workers so that they can be provided social benefits amid the covid-19 pandemic.According to government sources, on the direction of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Rs 70 crore was disbursed among the registered workers as welfare measures in October this year.Besides, rules have been formulated and processes have been sped up under his direction and marriage assistance scheme has also been approved for the registered labourers.“The registered workers shall be eligible for marriage assistance of Rs 25,000 for his or her marriage and the marriage of his/her dependent daughter,” sources said.Around 1.45 lakh workers will be eligible to receive the benefits. The transport workers who have migrated to the...
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Despite growing tensions, China buying computer chips from Taiwan firms
27Nov mmBy Walter ParezNo Comments
Asia, China, Market, World

Despite growing tensions, China buying computer chips from Taiwan firms

Despite growing tensions between Taiwan and China, Chinese technology companies have increased orders for computer chips or semiconductors made in Taiwan.According to media reports, Taiwan has reported a six per cent jump in export from July through September this year.Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief Asia-Pacific economist with the French investment bank Natixis said, “They (Chinese firms) know they’re not yet able to produce at least the highest-end semiconductors needed for 5G.”She added that Taiwan makes top-level semiconductors and is unlikely to give up as a leader in the field. Taiwan factories produce some of the world’s top computer chips. But during the past four years, it has pushed companies to depend less on the Chinese market.The two countries have been locked in a political disp...
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