Tag: coronavirus

Visitors flock to J&K’s Bangus Valley to beat COVID blues
23Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Visitors flock to J&K’s Bangus Valley to beat COVID blues

Jammu and Kashmir’s Bangus valley has become the favourite getaway for people who have been feeling down being under lockdown for months due to surging coronavirus cases in the country.Surrounded by Shamsbery ranges and Leepa valley, Bangus valley is a unique ecological combination comprising a mountain biome, which includes grassland biome with flora at lower altitudes and coniferous forests."Since the lockdown, this place has seen a rush in visitors. People don't want to be in the city because the number of COVID-19 cases is rising and it is far away from nature. Here, the air is fresh and cool, the water is sweet and we are free of the Coronavirus," Hafiz Manzoor, a frequent traveller to Bangus Valley said.The valley, often known as the hidden paradise amongst locals, lies at an altitud
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Japanese report receiving mysterious seed parcels from China
21Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Japanese report receiving mysterious seed parcels from China

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, some Japanese nationals have complained that they have received unsolicited mysterious seed parcels that appear to be coming from China.Plant quarantine officials in Japan have had a number of inquiries about unsolicited packages of seeds apparently sent from China. The authorities have urged people not to plant such seeds.A man in Miura City in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo received a silver packet containing a bag of dozens of seed-like objects, each measuring about 2 millimeters. The shipping label suggests it came from China, national media reported.Officials at the Yokohama Plant Protection Station say they have been contacted by people across the country about suspicious seed shipments since late July.Similar incidents have been reported in more than 2...
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China, the artless dodger
17Aug By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

China, the artless dodger

Indulging in aggressive behaviour along the Line of Actual Control with India might have brought immediate tactical territorial gains to China, but it has lost a lot more strategically in terms of trust and goodwill. Beijing's responses have also reinforced the fact that its leaders are perennially unrepentant.This is evident in the comments that come from China over the border confrontation on 15 June in Ladakh. Four days after the clash in which both sides suffered lost their soldiers’ lives, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, "China hopes that India will work with us, follow faithfully the important consensus reached between the two leaders, abide by the agreements reached between the two governments, and strengthen communication and cooperation on properly managing the curren
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Australia rejects China’s claims to historic rights in South Chins Sea: Barry O’Farrell
15Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Australia rejects China’s claims to historic rights in South Chins Sea: Barry O’Farrell

Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell has said that Australia is deeply concerned by destabilizing actions in the South China Sea and that “Australia rejects China's claims to historic rights and internal waters in relation to the South China Sea”.O'Farrell also lodged a note with UN Secretary-General in July refusing China's unlawful maritime claims."We remain deeply concerned by actions in the South China Sea that are destabilizing and could provoke escalation. Last week, Australia launched a note with UN Secretary-General refusing China's unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea," he said."Following a 2016 tribunal which ruled against China's claims, Australia rejects China's claims to historic rights and internal waters," he added.The Australian government has re
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22-Year-Old Kashmiri Man develops low-cost Ventilator out of waste
15Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

22-Year-Old Kashmiri Man develops low-cost Ventilator out of waste

Waseem Ahmad Nadaf, popularly known as 'Unique Waseem' has developed a small-sized ventilator from scrap which he says will prove handy in providing life support to the poor and underprivileged in times of crisisWith 32 innovations under his belt already, Nadaf, 22, said that he was mulling over developing a device to battle the coronavirus pandemic since its outbreak."Ever since the coronavirus pandemic broke out, I was thinking of developing something like this. Solutions can come from anywhere but the most important thing is that you have to be efficient and cost-effective, because poor people living in the slums cannot afford conventional ventilators. So, I collected scrap available at home, observed it and utilized it into developing this model, which can be used as a prototype and la...
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LED Street lights installed in Srinagar under ‘Smart Cities’ mission
12Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

LED Street lights installed in Srinagar under ‘Smart Cities’ mission

Taking advantage of the COVID-19 induced lockdown, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has taken the initiative to install LED street lights in Srinagar under the Smart Cities mission.Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, District Magistrate, Srinagar said the work of installing LED street lights were done for the last five to six months. "The work to install LED street lights was going on in the city for the last five to six months. The old and dysfunctional lights in the market areas across the city were removed and new LED lights have been installed," said Choudhary.Prior to the project completion, locals and business community were facing issues during late hours in the markets. After the installation of the LED lights, locals have now demanded that these lights should be installed in their loca...
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‘Pakistan’s attempt to reconcile with Bangladesh will fall flat’
12Aug By Nectar GanNo Comments
Politics

‘Pakistan’s attempt to reconcile with Bangladesh will fall flat’

The recent telephonic interaction between Pakistan and Bangladesh has worried India over the next course of action Dhaka might take.On July 22, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan called Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina wherein they discussed the flood and COVID-19 situations in both countries, Bangla News 24 quoted statements released from the prime minister's office.During the interaction, they also reportedly discussed strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and boosting regional cooperation through South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Reportedly, Khan also stated his stance on issues with India and hoped for a peaceful resolution.Several believe that improvement of bilateral ties between Islamabad and Dhaka is highly likely to happen given their past h
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PMKVY-trained Kashmiri youth prepare masks, PPEs for earning livelihood
5Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

PMKVY-trained Kashmiri youth prepare masks, PPEs for earning livelihood

After the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 last year, a lot of significant development has taken place in the valley, one of them is Kashmiri youths’ contribution towards Covid-19 fight.According to reports, youth trained under Pradhan Mantri Kushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) are preparing masks and PPEs at a local institute in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district.The institute which is an undertaking of 'She Hope Society for Women Entrepreneurs', train youth in tailoring so that they can earn their living without being dependent.However, this is not the only centre which is contributing to the fight against COVID-19 in Kashmir. There are many such institutes which are proving to be a helping hand in the battle against the virus.Uzafia Jan, a programme manager, said t
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Chinese Consulate in Houston epicenter of espionage: Texas Congressman
4Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Chinese Consulate in Houston epicenter of espionage: Texas Congressman

Texas Congressman Michael McCaul has alleged that China’s Consulate General, which the US has ordered to close, is the epicenter of Beijing’s espionage in terms of stealing US’ bio-medical research.“We had three scientists at M.D Anderson that were fired due to allegations of espionage,” McCaul said.The Congressman said the Chinese are actively trying to steal the vaccine for COVID-19.“We also have vaccine research going on at the Texas Medical Centre. We know that they are actively trying to steal that vaccine so that they can claim to the world they have saved them from the very virus they are responsible for,” said McCaul.“…Just like in San Francisco case where you have a scientist under the PLA, their military, come in and now take refuge in that consulate is really unprecedented, but
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Pompeo slams Chinese for bullying its neighbors in Himalayas
31Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Pompeo slams Chinese for bullying its neighbors in Himalayas

In a scathing attack against China, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged "the entire world" to stand up to Beijing and slammed the Chinese leadership over the “cover-up” of the COVID-19 crisis, saying Beijing’s "exploitation of this disaster to further its own interest has been disgraceful".In a reference to India-China border standoff, Pompeo accused Beijing of bullying its neighbors and accused it of instigating a deadly confrontation with New Delhi in eastern Ladakh."We think that the entire world needs to work together to ensure that every country, including China, behaves in the international system in ways that are appropriate and consistent with the international order. You cannot go make claims for maritime regions that you have no lawful claim to. You cannot threaten countries
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