Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

As COVID-19 cases jump to 114, India heads towards shutdown

THE total number of positive COVID-19 cases in India jumped to 114 as on Monday (16), a health ministry official said.

New cases were reported from Odisha, Jammu&Kashmir, Ladakh and Kerala.


The total number of cases including 10 discharged, 3 cured and 2 reported deaths.

As part of stepping up the vigil, India prohibited travel of passengers from member countries of the EuropeanUnion, Turkey and UK to India with effect from March 18, 2020.

"No airline shall board a passenger from these nations to India with effect from March 18, 2020. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure," the health ministry said.

Besides, the country expanded compulsory quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days for passengers coming from/transiting through UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait from March 18, 2020.

India takes steps to close all educational establishments, gyms, museums, cultural and social centres, swimming pools and theatres.

"Students should be advised to stay at home. Online education to be promoted," the health ministry said.

"Non-essential travel should be avoided. Buses, Trains and aeroplanes to maximise social distancing in public transport besides ensuring regular and proper disinfection of surfaces," the ministry said.

As part of the preventive measure, restaurants were asked to ensure handwashing protocol and proper cleanliness of frequently touched surfaces. Ensure physical distancing (minimum 1metre) between tables; encourage open-air seating where practical with adequate distancing.

The country has asked private sector employers to allow employees to work from home wherever feasible.

"Meetings, as far as feasible, shall be done through video conferences. Minimise or reschedule meetings involving a large number of people unless necessary," the health ministry said.

More For You

Milton-Keynes

Eyewitnesses described hearing shouting before the shooting

iStock

Man shot dead by police outside Milton Keynes railway station

A MAN was shot dead by police outside Milton Keynes Central station after reports that he was carrying a firearm.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) said officers were called to the station at 12:55, where they challenged a suspect carrying a knife. The man moved towards officers before police fired at him.

Keep ReadingShow less
EXCLUSIVE: Eastern Eye wins press freedoms to help judges

SCRUTINY: The tribunal’s favourable verdict is an important win for accountability, say current and retired Asian judges (Pic credit: Getty Images/Leon Neal)

EXCLUSIVE: Eastern Eye wins press freedoms to help judges

A tribunal has ordered the body which appoints judges in England and Wales to disclose records it refused to give to Eastern Eye.

The decision is a major victory for press freedoms because it forces the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to become more open and transparent.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sunita-Williams-Reuters

Sunita Williams was part of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission and had been stranded in space for over nine months. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters)

India looks amazing from space, says Sunita Williams

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams described India as "amazing" from space and expressed her intention to visit her "father's home country" to share her experiences on space exploration.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, she responded to a question about how India appeared from space and the possibility of collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Keep ReadingShow less
british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less