‘Islamophobic’ posts cost three UAE Indians jobs
Dubai: Three more Indians based in the UAE have either been fired or suspended from their jobs for ‘Islamophobic’ posts on social media, days after the Indian ambassador to the Gulf nation warned the expatriates against posting such provocative updates online, a media report has said. Chef Rawat Rohit, storekeeper Sachin Kinnigoli and a cash custodian, whose identity was withheld by his employer, are the latest additions to a list of about half a dozen Indians who have faced action for their social media posts, the Gulf News reported on Saturday. “It seems that the warnings of the Indian mission have fallen on deaf ears as the list of Indian expats facing action over vile Islamophobic remarks on social media keeps getting longer,” it said. On April 20, India’s ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor had warned Indian expatriates against such behaviour. “India and UAE share the value of non-discrimination on any grounds. Discrimination is against our moral fabric and the Rule of law. Indian nationals in the UAE should always remember this,” he said in a tweet. (PTI)
Fresh dates for NEET, JEE exams
New Delhi: In a relief for engineering and medical aspirants, the HRD ministry will announce fresh dates for competitive exams –JEE and NEET– on May 5. The exams were postponed due to nationwide lockdown announced to contain the COVID-19 spread. “The fresh dates will be announced by HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on May 5. This will put an end to uncertainty for the aspirants. The minister will also interact with students online the same day,” a senior ministry official said. While Joint Entrance Exam-Mains (JEE-MAINS) is conducted for admission to engineering colleges across the country, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is held for medical colleges. More than 15 lakh students across the country have registered for NEET this year, which is the gateway to medical colleges in India, whereas more than 9 lakh have registered for JEE Mains, the entrance exam for all other engineering colleges except IITs. The JEE-Mains is considered as a qualifying exam for JEE-Advanced. (PTI)
CJI directs officers to attend office
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India S A Bobde has directed that Supreme Court officers in the ranks of deputy registrar and above or their equivalent in the registry shall attend office from May 4. The apex court has restricted its functioning since March 23, days before the nationwide lockdown started from March 25, and is presently hearing urgent matters through video-conferencing. An office order, issued on Sunday by the top court’s secretary general Sanjeev S Kalgaonkar, said that remaining staff members shall continue to work from home as per terms and conditions as notified earlier. “In partial modification of orders referred above, the Chief Justice of India has been pleased to direct that all the officers in the ranks of deputy registrar and above, or their equivalent, in the registry shall attend office with effect from Monday, May 4, 2020,” it said. “The remaining staff shall continue to work from home on such terms and conditions as notified earlier, by the orders under reference, however concerned registrar(s) may direct any other subordinate officer/staff to attend office to meet any urgent requirement(s) and, on such direction, such officer and/or staff shall report for duty at office on the date and time so directed,” it said. (PTI)
Brits top list of repatriated foreigners
Panaji: Britons topped the list of foreign tourists repatriated to their respective countries from Goa since the March 22 lockdown, according to the government spokesperson here on Sunday. Of the 6,117 foreign tourists repatriated, 2,339 were from the United Kingdom, 1,173 from Russia, 692 from Germany, followed by France and Italy. “The flight arrangements were made by co-ordinating with the respective countries’ embassies and all the protocol as mandated by Union Ministry of Home Affairs were strictly adhered to till the departure of the flight from the Dabolim international airport,” the spokesperson said. Goa is a major beach tourism destination for European tourists, especially during October to March. Last year, of the 7 million tourist arrivals to the state, half a million were foreign nationals, mostly from Europe. (IANS)