Sputnik
Moscow, Jan 9: The chief of the World Health Organization slammed high-income countries on Friday for scooping up COVID-19 vaccines and called for their equitable distribution.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a daily news briefing that the WHO’s vaccine distribution mechanism COVAX had secured contracts for 2 billion doses of vaccines, but better-off countries were draining vaccine supplies by making additional bilateral deals.
“I urge countries that have contracted more vaccines that they will need and are controlling the global supply to also donate and release them to COVAX immediately,” Tedros told reporters.
He estimated that 42 countries were already rolling out vaccines, including 36 high-income countries and six middle-income ones.
“At the outset, rich countries have bought up the majority of the supply of multiple vaccines … This potentially bumps up the price for everyone and means high-risk people in the poorest and most marginalized countries don’t get the vaccine,” he explained.
Tedros warned that “vaccine nationalism hurts us all and is self-defeating.” When rolled out equitably, vaccines would spur a global economic recovery and limit the virus’s opportunity to mutate by curbing its transmission.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 9: Influential Shia leader and Peoples Conference general secretary Imran Raza Ansari has accused PAGD leadership of fielding proxy candidates in DDC elections and asked his party Chief Sajad Gani Lone to go for introspection for trusting PAGD .
Ansari in a letter to Sajad Lone said, “I am writing to you in reference to the recent statements made by Abdul Gani Vakil. From the outset, I would strongly urge you take this letter of mine in the proper spirit and not in any manner think that this is a letter challenging your decisions and authority in the party. “
“The call of introspection made by Vakil must be taken in the proper spirit in which it has been made. It does not mean that we are against the spirit of PAGD or the objectives of the PAGD. But in wake of the deceitful behavior shown by our allies by fielding proxy candidates in almost all DDC constituencies, we need to seriously think whether PAGD collectively possesses the sincerity that the people of J & K deserve. In the context of proxy candidates, I will narrate my own personal experience. Pattan had two DDC segments and both were allotted to Peoples Conference and we fielded two candidates on behalf of the PAGD. Would you care to explain why did the NC leaders including the current Parliament member of NC, and their constituency head hold indoor meetings and campaigned against these two candidates of PAGD. Their involvement in Pattan was so much that the member of Parliament fared very badly in his own Assembly constituency because he was solely focused on defeating the Peoples Conference candidate fighting on the PAGD mandate,” reads the letter.
“Seventeen months have passed since August 5 2017. It is too little time for us political leaders to go back to the old and cheap political rhetoric. There is a lot that has to be achieved and that can only be achieved in a fair and transparent manner. Please don’t underestimate the forces that you are pitted against. It will be a mammoth job. We are with you. And we believed in your vision of collective action. But collective action will work if there is sincerity. The past two months have shown that there is no sincerity in this alliance,” the letter further reads.
“I implore upon you to convene a meeting of the working committee and also of the newly elected DDC members. With all humility Sajad sahib you have to be ready to answer questions that we all have,,” Imran asked Sajad. (KNS)

Authorities ask Deptts to stay alert; samples collected, sent for testing
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Jan 9: Amid Bird Flu scare, authorities have asked all the government departments to stay alert in Jammu and Kashmir after reports of death of birds from various districts of Jammu province poured in.
Officials said reports of death of crows were received from Jammu, Rajouri and Udhampur districts following which field staff has been asked to remain vigilant.
“We are keeping close vigil on the situation and 24 hours surveillance is being kept at Gharana wetland where migratory birds visit,” Anil Atri, Wildlife warden Jammu said.
He said after reports of death of birds in Udhampur, Rajouri, Jammu areas, the expert teams were pressed and samples were collected which have been sent to laboratories outside Jammu and Kashmir also. (KNO)

Bhat Imran
Srinagar, Jan 9: The government on Saturday approved holding of winter Camps and Tutorials for 8th to 10th standard in Kashmir division.
A communiqué issued by the government states that the approval has been given for the current winter vacations.
“I am directed to convey administrative approval for holding winter camps of classes 8th to 10th in addition to the class 11th and 12th during the current winter vacations by strictly adhering to the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) issued by the government from time to time with the consent of parents,” it reads.
Pertinently last month, the School Education Department said that the online classes for the 11th and 12th will be held by following the prescribed COVID-19 SOP’s—(KNO)

Precious Kashmir News
Sopore, Jan 9: Police on Saturday claimed to have arrested five Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant associates in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
A police spokesperson said while acting on specific human/technical inputs, Sopore Police, other forces arrested five Over Ground Workers (OGW) of LeT outfit along with incriminating materials.
They were identified as Khursheed Ahmad Lone, son of Abdul Rehman Lone of Nowpora Jagir Kreeri Baramulla, Bashir Ahmad Zargar, son of Ghulam-ud-din Zargar of Behrampora Rafiabad, Javid Ahmad Pandith, son of Nazir Ahmad Pandith of Dangerpora Sopore, Waseem Ahmad Lone, son of Ghulam Rasool Lone of Botingoo Sopore and Arif Ahmad Khanday, son of Shams-ud-din Khanday of Zaloora Sopore.
Police said they were involved in providing logistics and other assistance/ transportation to LeT militants and were also in constant contact with the active militants of the outfit to carry out subversive activities within the jurisdiction of Police District Sopore.
“The arrested OGWs Khursheed Ahmad Lone has been arrested in a case under FIR number 122/2020 of PS Tarzoo, Bashir Ahmad Zargar has arrested in a case under FIR number 154/2020 of PS Dangiwacha, Javid Ahmad Pandith and Waseem Ahmad Lone has been arrested in a case under FIR number 360/2020 of PS Sopore while OGW Arif Ahmad Khanday has been arrested in a case under FIR number 84/2020 of PS Bomai and investigation of these cases are going on,” added the police spokesman.

Banihal, Jan 9: Five people have been arrested for allegedly looting over a dozen of shops in Jammu and Kashmir”s Banihal town, police said on Saturday.
The group of thieves committed the crime on Thursday night, sparking protests by the locals. Acting swiftly, police arrested five gang members, including their leader, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ramban, Haseeb-ur-Rehman told reporters.
He said thieves were active in Ramban, Banihal and Batote in Ramban district and Qazigund in Kulgam district of south Kashmir and were arrested within 24 hours of committing the crime in Banihal town.
Some more gang members are still at large and efforts are on to nab them, the officer said, adding a large quantity of stolen items and Rs 33,000 cash were seized from them.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Jan 9: National Conference Saturday hit out J&K government for reducing the age of eligibility for civil service aspirants by five years terming the step a stab into the future of the youth here.
In a statement, party spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said situation in Kashmir had grossly narrowed the career opportunities’ of youth in J&K. “Given the scenario and to help the aspirants who have not been able to pursue their careers due to it, the previous Governments had increased the age of eligibility. He said classes and academic calendars, as well as qualifying exams and interviews for jobs and services all took a hit in Kashmir in the past few years.”
“The implementation of SRO -103 has put the future of our unemployed youth in lurch and that iniquitous reduction in the upper age limit of the civil services aspirants by five years will further push our youth to the wall. The decision will compound the problems of unemployed youth and closing of a viable job avenue will subsequently add to the frustration in youth,” he said and demanded immediate roll back of the decision.

Precious Kashmir News
Ganderbal, Jan 9: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has transferred 94 kanals and 6 marlas of additional land at Watlar, Tehsil Lar of Ganderbal to the Central University of Kashmir (CUK) for establishment of residential and other utility quarters.
The land is in addition to the 503 acres of land already given to the varsity for the establishment of the university at Tulmulla.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir thanked the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Advisors, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, District Development Commissioner, Ganderbal, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, for their full support and cooperation in this regard.
The VC has convened a special meeting of the Campus Development wing of the university on Sunday to chalk out modalities in this regard.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Jan 9: The Jammu and Kashmir BJP welcomed the new industrial package for the Union Territory
The government on Thursday announced a new industrial development scheme (IDS) with a total outlay of Rs 28,400 crore to encourage new investments and take industrial development to the block level.
“For the first time, an industrial package is announced with a commitment up to 2037 to build confidence among the stakeholders…employment generation is the underlying theme of this scheme that will give a boost to a holistic and balanced development of the Union Territory,” Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina told reporters here.
He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for the mega industrial package.
Raina said the new scheme will go a long way in ushering an era of socio-economic development of the region as it will generate more employment, both in rural and urban areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
The BJP leader stressed that the core objective and vision of the scheme is to lay a special emphasis on sustainable development by creating a favourable ecosystem for new investments as also by fostering the existing partners of growth.
“The scheme will attract unprecedented investments and create direct and indirect employment,” he said.

Jammu, Jan 9:  Jammu and Kashmir Drugs Control authority has disallowed as many as eighteen Retail Sale medical stores u/s 22 (d) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 during market checking.

As per the department, the action against the erring establishments was taken on the spot, which included Six in Jammu District, One in Samba, Six in Rajouri District, Four in Udhampur and One in Poonch District.

Surprise Inspections of Retail Sale Outlets were carried out by the concerned Drugs Control Officers under the supervision of respective Assistant Drugs Controller in Jammu Province under the overall authority of Lotika Khajuria, State Drugs Controller to ensure availability of quality drugs to the end users.

The reasons for suspension ranged from Non maintenance of Sales records, Impersonation, Unhygienic/Insanitary Conditions, Improper storage conditions etc.

The Licenses were warned of strict action in case the deficiencies are not removed within stipulated period of time.

Meanwhile, statutory drug samples of more than one hundred and eighty drug formulations viz Antibiotics, PPI, Steroid, NSAIDs etc were also lifted from private firms and government institutions for determination of strength and purity.

These samples were referred to Drug Testing Laboratories located within the State for framing legal opinion to ascertain their quality parameters.