Asia

Kashmiri student develops Covid -19 tracker to help residents of Valley
28Aug mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Kashmiri student develops Covid -19 tracker to help residents of Valley

In an effort to spread accurate information about coronavirus and how to contain it, a Kashmiri student has developed a web page (COVID-19 Kashmir Tracker) that provides information about COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).Haider Ali Punjabi, a Srinagar resident, developed the page (covidkashmir.org) with the help of his friends on the lines of covidindia.org and other informative websites on coronavirus."Barely minutes after the idea came up, we started working on the project. We decided to make a full-fledged website that will provide adequate information to the people. District-wise break up of COVID-19 cases, map, and the daily updates on coronavirus cases are the main features of the tracker," Ali said.Ali said he relies mostly on the information provided by the official so...
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Pakistan’s Defence Housing Authority Bahawalpur, three business groups sign MoUs
26Aug mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia

Pakistan’s Defence Housing Authority Bahawalpur, three business groups sign MoUs

Pakistan’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Bahawalpur has signed MoUs with three renowned business groups in order to build premier and smart residencies for the people of Bahawalpur city.MoUs were signed with PACE Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, for construction of modern shopping mall and affordable housing units in DHA Bahawalpur; Delta Centauri Real Estate Development, for establishment of theme park and signature villas; and SOLIS Energy Solutions, for provision of green and clean energy solution including smart metering.At the occasion, General Officer Commanding 35 Div, Major General Muhammad Ejaz Mirza said that the MoUs will add customer confidence and “will surely add further colors to the canvas of DHA Bahawalpur”.Welcoming the guests, Project Director DHA, Brig Muhammad Usman said that 21s...
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Pakistan promoting anti-India propaganda to distract its citizens from mishandling of COVID-19, economy: Expert
24Aug mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia

Pakistan promoting anti-India propaganda to distract its citizens from mishandling of COVID-19, economy: Expert

Despite a significantly improved security situation and dip in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year, Pakistan continues its propaganda and anti-Indian vitriol, according to The National Interest.Michael Rubin, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, in an article explains how Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has issued a directive to the press for describing Kashmir, Pakistani journalists, risk their employment if they do not use their government's nomenclature regarding Kashmir and forcing them to wear black solidarity armbands. The journalists are forced to term India's actions in Kashmir as "demographic apartheid" and "military siege" instead of "lockdown." Distracting its people from mishandling of COVID-1...
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J&K Lt Governor seeks Centre’s intervention in apple sale
21Aug mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, USA

J&K Lt Governor seeks Centre’s intervention in apple sale

Jammu and Kashmir’s Lt Governor GC Murmu has taken it upon himself to highlight the issues faced by apple growers who haven't been able to sell their crop because of the coronavirus induced lockdown.In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Lt Governor Murmu has demanded an extension of the Market Intervention Scheme under which the government procures the produce."The breakout of COVID-19 has disrupted the market supply chain yet again and has created unique challenges for marketing apples. This has necessitated the extension of scheme for at least one more year. I request the Government of India to extend the market intervention scheme for apple of Jammu and Kashmir for 2020-21. An agreed implementation mechanism with NAFED is already in place," Murmu said in the lette...
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J&K: Better infrastructure under Central govt scheme boosts grape production in Ganderbal
21Aug mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

J&K: Better infrastructure under Central govt scheme boosts grape production in Ganderbal

After the Indian government’s decision to revoke Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on August 5 last year, the horticulture sector witnessed a sudden boost which lead to more self-employment opportunities and better income.A large section of people in J&K depend on the horticulture sector for their livelihoods and grape cultivation. One such place is Ganderbal, popularly known as the 'district of lakes', which has now become the hub of grape cultivation after the implementation of Central government’s Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.After J&K was made a Union Territory last year, there have been major improvements in the horticulture sector under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, and grape cultivators say that the quality and quantity of the crops have since seen a lot of impr...
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Fierce competition starts between US, China for energy corridors in central asia
21Aug mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia, China, World

Fierce competition starts between US, China for energy corridors in central asia

Amid already heightened tensions between the United States and China, the Trump administration has now called "for a new alliance of democracies" to counter China's aggressive policies, and, in a retaliatory move, Beijing has begun adding more potential new trade and energy corridors linking Central Asia with South Asia and the Middle East.To counter China's aggressive expansionist policies in the South China Sea, the US has decided to have a quadrilateral alliance with Japan, Australia and India.Maleeha Lodhi, who has served as Pakistan's ambassador to Britain, the US and the United Nations said, “Fundamental realignments are taking place across the world at a challenging, transformative time in international affairs when global power is shifting to the East. Our region is no exception an...
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‘We are a battleground now’: In Southeast Asia, U.S.-China tensions flare on social media
19Aug By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, China, Singapore, USA, World

‘We are a battleground now’: In Southeast Asia, U.S.-China tensions flare on social media

Tensions between the United States and China over the South China Sea have erupted into a war of words on social media, in what analysts see as a change in U.S. strategy amid a burgeoning superpower rivalry in Southeast Asia. After Washington last week hardened its position by explicitly rejecting Chinese maritime claims in the South China Sea, U.S. embassies in the region produced an unprecedented flurry of op-eds and statements criticizing Beijing's actions. China's response was fiery, accusing Washington of "defaming China with untrue words so as to mislead the public" in the region. "We are a battleground now," Renato de Castro, an analyst with the Albert Del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Relations in the Philippines, told Reuters by phone. "It will be a long gam...
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Pakistan’s NA committee slams ‘non-serious’ attitude to meeting FATF conditions
15Aug mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Pakistan’s NA committee slams ‘non-serious’ attitude to meeting FATF conditions

Pakistan’s National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue has slammed the government as it lags behind in its compliance with 27-point action plan and 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).The government faced heat from the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue led by MNA Faiz Ullah of the PTI for wasting precious time of the nation without making tangible progress.With deadlines looming next month, Pakistan’s compliance with 27-point action plan and 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) stands at 14 and 10 respectively.While the committee decided to refer three proposed bills — Anti Money Laundering, Limited Liability Partnership and Companies Bill — relating to the FATF to another parliamentary meeting o...
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Parcel delivery, e-commerce service improve due to India Post parcel hub in Srinagar
12Aug mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Parcel delivery, e-commerce service improve due to India Post parcel hub in Srinagar

Following the abrogation of Article 370, parcel delivery and e-commerce services have improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir as the India Post parcel hub in Srinagar has become fully functional.In the absence of parcel hub, people were facing several obstacles due to lack of e-commerce services in the city. India post parcel hub, which was inaugurated in January this year, has added new facilities including district-wise sorting, new weighing machines and online booking of the parcels.Aquib Sultan, a resident of Srinagar said the facility should have come to the city earlier. "It has happened now and people are finding it very convenient. The e-commerce facility will help enhance the business potential in Kashmir valley," he said.Farhan Ahmad, another resident, said it has become very...
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Oil extraction plant in Srinagar helps floriculturists boost their income
12Aug mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Oil extraction plant in Srinagar helps floriculturists boost their income

The scrapping of Article 370 and change from a state to Union Territory has proved to be beneficial for Jammu and Kashmir in multiple ways. In latest development, floriculture in Srinagar has witnessed a boost after the Indian government set up modern oil extraction plant in the city.Jammu and Kashmir has seen an increased focus on boosting floriculture since it became a union territory last year. The step has also provided employment opportunities and boosted the income of locals.Syed Altaf Aijaz Andrabi, Director, Agriculture, Kashmir said the government is making efforts towards crop diversification and enhancing the income of the farmers."There is no problem with money. The government is providing the best financial assistance to the agriculture sector. Through floriculture, the govern...
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