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 ( +(,- and Maharashtra while 140 of delegates were reported n its biggest spike till date, untraceable in Hyderabad. IIndia over the past 24 hours Over 250 foreign nationals till Wednesday night recorded have been quarantined or 386 new cases of coronavirus admitted to isolation wards in taking the tally to 1,906 with various States in the country the Government blaming the following the disclosure that spurt in cases on the travel by they had attended the Tablighi members of Tablighi Jamaat conference. A total of 16 States and asserted that it was not a have been searching for national trend. Tablighi members. “The number of positive According reports, at least cases has gone up since 200 from Karnataka, 140 from Tuesday. One of main reasons Andhra Pradesh and 45 from for it is travel by members of Telangana have been identi- Tablighi. This is not a nation- fied. The total number of al trend,” said Lav Agarwal, those who attended the con- Joint Secretary in the Union ference varies from State to Ministry of Health. State with Maharashtra listing According to Ministry’s 185 and Karnataka estimating website, the total number of 342 to have participated in the active COVID-19 cases meeting. reached 1,637 in India by With the Tabligh incident Wednesday noon, whereas the               $P spiking the coronavirus num- death toll has risen to 42 from    !"#$%&'    (  -# bers in the country, Prime                   32 recorded on Tuesday. Minister Narendra Modi spoke    
  !"#$%&'$ (  *+$ -  Globally, the death toll due for doctors and their contacts chological and emotional trau- quarantine centres, while try- to Maharashtra Chief Minister to novel coronavirus in the US of lab confirmed cases care- ma in lockdown situations. ing to reach to their native and asked the State to trace out   
 Maulana Saad has been to,” said Saad in the audio clip. has reached 3,400, surpassing givers and data will be analysed Immediate concerns faced places, are filled with anxieties the missing Jamaat members untraceable since March 28 On Tuesday, a First China. The global death rate which will tell if we can rec- by such migrant workers relate and fears stemming from var- who attended the Delhi con-    after he was served a notice by Information Report (FIR) was has reached past the 44,000- ommend or not the drug to the to food, shelter, healthcare, ious concerns, and are in need ference. The State DGP held a the Delhi Police. filed against seven people, mark while around 9 lakh are people who come in their con- fear of getting infected or of psycho-social Press conference to give his  
    
  “Police teams are raiding including Saad, Zeeshan, Mufti infected by COVID-19 across tacts,” he said. spreading the infection, loss of support. account on the issue. several places across the west- Shehzad, M Saifi, Younus, nearly 170 countries. Agarwal said 74 flights wages, concerns about the fam- Meanwhile, several State The aim of the search for   R   
ern Uttar Pradesh and Mewat Mohammed Salman and Dr R Gangakhedkar, sci- operated till date under Lifeline ily, anxiety and fear. Governments have continued Tabligh attendees is to prevent region in Haryana to nab Saad,” Mohammed Ashraf. entist from ICMR, said so far, Udan for transporting medical “Sometimes, they also face the difficult task of tracking the them from inadvertently cre-
 " #$ %  said a senior police official. The police have registered 47,951 tests for COVID-19 cargo across the country. So far harassment and negative reac- movements of Tablighi atten- ating new clusters of infection Police have also recovered the FIR under sections of the conducted in country out of over 22 tonnes cargo was trans- tions of the local community. dees in the Delhi conference, across the country. The mag-  ( +(,- an audio clip in which Saad can Epidemic Disease Act and which 4,562 tests done at ported on March 31, he said. All this calls for strong social including foreigners and their nitude of the task is immense: be heard saying there is no bet- other sections of the IPC, for ICMR network labs on Following the Supreme protection,” the Ministry said in “human contacts” as more Three southern states — Tamil ven as the authorities have ter place to die than in a not following Government Tuesday. On a query, he said Court directives, the Health a document. Jamaat delegates who transited Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Ecleared Tablighi’s mosque. The audio clip is orders on the management of Hydroxychloroquine is not to Ministry on Wednesday called It further said migrant through Jamaat Markaz (cen- Karnataka — were trying to Nizamuddin headquarters and believed to be of March 18. the Markaz in relation to a be used on every person. for providing a social protec- workers faced the situation of tre) in Nizamuddin East were track at least 2,500 people, evacuated 2,361 people in 36 “Leaving mosques would bring social, political or religious “This is not for everybody. tion to migrant workers, saying spending a few days in tempo- quarantined in Telangana, many of who had tested posi- hours till Wednesday evening, no good. Do not leave mosques gathering and thus endanger- It is just a demonstration study they are prone to social, psy- rary shelters, which may be Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu tive for coronavirus. Nizamuddin Markaz cleric even if trusted doctors ask you ing the lives of the people.  (   ) 


                 
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                  % & .- “We are identifying people who may have     O   come in contact with the Malaysian lady who  !     "#   olice on Wednesday found 10 more foreign tested positive. I would also like to request every         % Presidents – all from Nepal and attendees of person who came in contact with her to vol- &        the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi untarily contact the district administration       – from a house near a Mosque in suburban and get themselves tested,” said Director General      ! !   Ranchi’s Pithoria block, the Officer In-charge of of Police MV Rao.   % the Pithoria police station confirmed. According to sources in the police depart- Meanwhile, cops swung into action across ment, around 40 residents of Ranchi had    Jharkhand and identified several men and attended the Tablighi Jamaat, and the police are     women who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat tracing them. The religious event held in the first  & '!  congregation in New Delhi’s Nizamuddin – a week of March saw participation of several hun-   () !  locality that is said to be the hotspot of COVID- dred people, including preachers from Indonesia, !         19 in India. Malaysia and Saudi Arabia – countries that were          On Wednesday, police found 14 such sus- already suffering from a COVID-19 outbreak      pects from Bokaro and eight from Giridih. back then, news reports said. !  !       Tablighi Jamaat members from Hazaribag, At least nine Indians who attended the reli- !  ! !    Godda and Koderma were also apprehended, gious congregation have reportedly died of the  *'    % sources said. Highly placed sources in the police viral infection so far. Six of them were from department said that raids were on to identify Telangana, and one each from Tamil Nadu,    more people who attended the religious meet in Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir, a leading     the national capital. Around 40 people were English daily reported.  !  !  apprehended across Jharkhand on Wednesday Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Rai     in connection with the Tablighi Jamaat con- Mahimapat Ray said that the district adminis-     
 gregation. The development comes hardly 48 tration was also identifying locals who had come  !   !   hours after 17 foreign nationals were appre- in contact with the State’s first COVID-19    % hended from a mosque in the State capital’s patient. “I request people not to pay attention Hindpiri locality and one of them tested posi- to rumours. Suspects are being tested regular-    tive for COVID-19. ly, and we will keep you informed,” he said.    “After the first case being reported in While the administration could not provide "#$ &     Ranchi, all OCs were directed to identify for- the exact figures of the people who came in con-         eign nationals living under the jurisdiction of tact with the COVID-19 positive woman from       their police station. We found 10 Nepali citizens Malaysia, sources said that around 64 people     !   here, and medical team is testing them,” said from five different buildings in Hindpiri local-   
   % Pithoria OC Vinod Kumar. ity were tested for the virus on Wednesday. '     *  R
  


    

 
    #+,   ple in the said Gram Panchayat     ( +(,- () /&(+ continue to get their food grains smoothly. o ensure that not even a ,(& + & ( Minister Mithilesh Thakur Tsingle citizen sleeps hungry informed the Chief Minister in Delhi, when lakhs of daily 0(./&1* that ration has not been prop- wagers have become unem- erly distributed for the last 3 ployed, the Delhi Government *1( &(,,* months in Arangi Panchayat on Wednesday announced that under Khandshi block of those without ration cards will 0(10,( Garhwa district. DC Garhwa also be given food ration if they told the Chief Minister that an apply online through E-district FIR has been lodged at the said portal. However, some criti-  .- dealer. His license will also be cised the requirement to apply compulsorily cancelled in the online when they can’t even hief Minister Hemant next 15 days by asking for rea- afford food for themselves CSoren today said that it is ward and get tested,” he said. sons. "We can't issue ration card time to be united and alert. “If Meanwhile, following the Also, the Chief Minister but with this process we will we do not take full precaution, Chief Minister's directive, an was told that the Dalit families have a record of these people everyone is at risk from the FIR has been lodged against the in Palamu have not received and we will provide them corona virus. dealer of the public distribution any ration so far. Urgent action ration," Kejriwal said. This virus does not recog- system of Arangi Panchayat is required in times of crisis. "Non-ration card holders nize any religion, community, under Khaardhi block of The Chief Minister gave the will be given ration. To avail it, caste or creed. Become each Garhwa district. above instructions to the such people need to apply other's support. So that those The Chief Minister has Deputy Commissioner after online and on that basis, we will who have symptoms, they must ordered Deputy Commissioner getting the information of the provide them ration," Kejriwal have the courage to come for- Garhwa to ensure that the peo- case. said.

    ! !

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  fight the virus. People can con- In another incident, panic   tact the committee members gripped the vegetable sellers at    required for the assistance. Sonari after a man in mid-30s   The committee will also lend its came in a car and developed
  support to the health depart- breathing difficulty and had to  +,&19? past so that arrangements can ment. be rushed to hospital by the be made for such fellows to   Meanwhile, an official of health department on suspicion alamu police located a have a health check up of them   ?)*-(+0/ MGM Medical College and of having novel coronavirus. PTablighi Jamaat fellow fol- which is more to the benefit Hospital said that they have Jamshedpur Notified Area lowing inputs from intelligence and advantage of the fellows he State Health Minister already started testing of throat Committee (JNAC) the local sleuths in this regard to SP and in the larger context to the Tand Jamshedpur West and nasal swab for novel coro- civic body sanitised the veg- Palamu Ajay Linda after the society in general.” Congress MLA Banna Gupta navirus. Though there has been etable market at Christian Hindpiri episode, which broke Linda said, “There is no on Wednesday formed a five- no positive case in the city but Maidan near Sonari Airport on out on Tuesday in Ranchi, room or reason for any hesita- member Covid-19 assistance they are keeping an eye on sus- Wednesday morning after where a 20 year old girl having tion or reluctance to not come committee and released their pected cases. “The man who developed a foreign travel history has forward with travel details.” mobile number for any assis- It may be mentioned here breathing problem is a resident been found coronavirus posi- Sounding tough Linda said tance on Covid-19 issues 24x7. that as of now MGM Medical of Sonari and had come for tive. if police get any clue or hint The committee would function College testing unit can test a purchasing vegetable at around This senior Tablighi Jamaat that such fellows have con- from the MGM Hospital at maximum of 40 samples daily 7 am and suddenly developed member here in Palamu, who cealed their travel history then Sakchi. The committee com- while RIMS in Ranchi can fits while coming out of car. was examined twice at the they must get ready to face the prises Dinesh Pandey accommodate 90 in a day. The locals informed the district Palamu medical college hospi- consequences of it under the (9279283285). Meanwhile, district police control room for Covid-19 and tal here in Daltonganj was ambit of law. Gupta said that the detained 74 persons across the we rushed to the spot and found ‘healthy’ said civil sur- SDPO Sadar Sandip Government is keeping an eye city for violation of lockdown admitted the man in the isola- geon Palamu John F Kennedy. Kumar Gupta said, “This man on the spread of the virus and and released them on PR bonds tion ward of the MGM He said that nevertheless the had been to Nepal in February proactive masures are being from local police stations. The Hospital and took his throat fellow has been put in isolation 2020 in connection with the taken to control the situation. administration wants people to swab. He does not have any from Wednesday in the Palamu Jamaat. The call details of his He went on to add that the remain inside but despite travel history. We will get his medical college hospital and 10 phone indicated he returned situation is better in the state. orders bikers are spending time -     
       /    
   (  -    report from lab of MGM of his family members have from Nepal to Daltonganj on The committee will help in any on road. Concerned over the Medical College tomorrow,” been home quarantined. February 19.” type assistance required to prevailing situation, the district traffic police have embarked on a drive checking the helmets of riders and pillion-riders too. said an official. Sources said DC Palamu Asked if this fellow has any Shantanu Kumar Agrahari had travel history of going to Delhi directed civil surgeon to take all based Nizamuddin Markaz health measures in such cases either in February or in this  !    and nothing be left to chance. March SDPO Gupta again Civil surgeon said the oro-pha- quoting this fellow said “The ryngeal and nasal pharyngeal man vouches he has not been swab of this fellow has been to the Markaz in Delhi. We are " # $ taken for test which has been verifying this from other sent to RIMS Ranchi. Test sources too. His call details so  =1 1 order to implement Section 144 Section-271 and other rele- report is expected in a day or far verified do not indicate he of the Code of Criminal vant sections, order reveals. two and. has not been to Delhi in n order to maintain peace Procedure respectively on As per the order issued, all Kennedy said if the report February and March. Our Iand law and order as well as Wednesday. the deputation officers have comes negative this man in iso- entire effort is to help save this the possibility of corona infec- “It bans a gathering or been directed to work in the lation will be able to go home fellow and others too.” tion during the ‘lock down’ moving of more than five peo- district control room at the but home quarantined family Gupta said, “A private bus period announced by Prime ple at one place; all shops, busi- scheduled time in addition to members will have to complete was hired for Nepal journey Minister Narendra Modi sec- ness establishments, offices, their departmental functions. the duration of 14 days. from here where we have tion 144 of the CrPC has been factories, weekly markets (haat- The administration issued He said all 10 members of reports of 45 people have trav- enforced form today in Bokaro bazaars) will be closed for all helpline numbers 06542- this fellow’s family have been elled down to Nepal for the district, which will remain activities; all construction work 247891 / 242402/223475/100 of hand stamped for home quar- Jamaat work there only to effective till 14 April, officials will be postponed with imme- District Control Room Bokaro. antined by him. return here on February 19.” informed. diate effect, said SDO. “All these units must com- SP Palamu Ajay Linda said, Police sources said there Earlier "Epidemic Disease, Under this prohibition, ply with the standards laid “I have directed my SDPOs/ are around 150 or more mem- Kovid-19 Rules 2020" was there will be a complete ban on down during the operation,” he OCs to keep a close tab on such bers of this Tablighi Jamaat in implemented on March 16 by the operation of any public added. This order will not be fellows who have Tablighi tag Palamu and villages like Gurha, notification of Department of transport services, including applicable to five or more on them. I appeal to all such fel- Padma, Bansi, Sakaldeepa, Health, Education, Health and the operation of taxis, auto- Government servants, media lows to come forward and tell Bureebheer etc have just count- Family Welfare, Government of rickshaws, buses, e-rickshaws, or press personnel, volunteers us about their travel history if able numbers of members of Jharkhand. Under that notifi- rickshaws; all state govern- of the permitted NGO related they had had any in the recent this Jamaat. cation, the health department ment offices except casual ser- to disaster relief during their announced complete lockdown vices will remain closed. All tenure, said the SDO. from March 22 till March 31 officers and workers will per- “This order will not apply afternoon in both districts, form government functions to the exception given in Order 
 
 informed District Public from their home, the order stat- No. 98 / HSN / Ranchi of Relations official. ed. The person or establish- Health Department (Paragraph Keeping in mind the pos- ment violating the above deci- 2 of the order). In special cir-  
  sibility of corona infection and sions shall be punishable under cumstances, it would be desir- public health interests, Sub- the Indian Penal Code, 1860, as able to obtain permission from  .- Divisional Officer Bermo per rules under Section-188, the competent officer for the Premranjan has issued the Section-296, Section-270, dead body,” he added. eams of local administration along with Hindalco's Muri Tplant’s medical team are leaving no stone unturned to scan people in the area so that every single suspect can be investigated from the area. Hindalco's medical team is supporting the local %& '()  administration in the ongoing investigation on the Jharkhand- West Bengal border. In addition, infrared thermometers are being provided by Hindalco at Block Medical Center. *  +    In the ongoing war against Coronavirus, Hindalco Industries Limited is discharging its social responsibility in the Muri plant area. The company has started distributing free face masks, san-  9- ))#$* 4$ )) ) itizers and hand washing soaps among the people of the entire !5"#)6 )) $)8 " 9" area. A target has been set by the company to benefit a total of arhwa DC Harsha Mangala has taken seri- 5 # 8($)":6"!"; 31,000 families in Muri and nearly areas. Gously the matter of disappearance of peo- All these materials are also being distributed among the peo- ple from Quarantine ward in Chittavishram )(;" 8))"
$#"6 ple with the help of administration so that every class and per- Panchayat of Shri Banshidhar Nagar Block. " 9"") ) !5 $6 son of society can be kept safe and healthy in this war against He has directed the BDO to file an FIR Corona. The medical team of Hindalco has been prepared at Muri against all the six missing persons immediate- station so that people can be scanned with thermoscanner and ly. The DC has also seized the financial pow- house arrest at a remote Quarantine Center else- help to find more suspects. ers of the Mukhiya of the Panchayat. A report where. The CSR team of Muri Hindalco, under the leadership of HR will also send against Mukhiya to the depart- A letter is being sent to the department to head Rakesh Tigake and plant head NN Rai, is working diligently ment for removal of the Mukhiya from his post. seize the financial power of Mushtaq Ahmad for rescue measures from Corona. Face masks are being made In this regard, Mangla has informed that the Shaikh, the Mukhiya of Chittavishram by women from CSR self-help groups which are being distrib- Quarantine ward was investigated by Shri Panchayat, to depose him. He has informed that uted across the region. Along with this, 15 ambulances operat- Banshidhar Nagar SDO Kamleshwar Narayan the contracted nodal personnel in Quarantine ed by Hindalco CSR have also been engaged in this task so that in the morning. In the course of the investiga- ward will be freed from service by suspending the suspects can be taken to the designated place for medical tion, all six people kept in the quarantine ward their contract. examination. were found missing. "On the complaint of VLW cum in-charge In view of the seriousness of the Corona, the company is orga- Workers deputed to look after the Mukhiya Panchayat Secretary Umesh Ram, FIR lodged nizing an awareness session twice daily for the awareness of the and the people were also found missing. It has against six persons under sections of 188,269,290 employees so that people can be made more aware of its mag- been instructed to file an FIR against all the six and 34 IPC," said thana in-charge of Banshidhar nitude. Keeping in mind all the safety standards, entry of any people missing from the ward. Also, he is under Nagar Pankaj Tiwari. visitors into the plant premises has been completely banned. ! "# ",-!      #  $  *  , & 

 =()1 demic, said Shyama  =1 1 also cleaned by the Kumari. fire tenders of BSL n the wake of COVID-19 The school headmistress SL conducted intensive fire. It is notewor- Ischools have been asked to said the door to door delivery Bcleaning and sanitization thy that BSL is con- deliver rice to students from of rice began on March 20 at campaign in Sector-12 Hatia stantly running a door to door. In this connec- Shankar UMS, Bokaro Market, near the airport, main cleanliness and tion Reshmi Devi, president of Thermal, amid the lockdown to road of Sector-1 and other sanitization drive Shankar Utkramit Middle combat the Coronavirus threat, parts of the township under the in the library school, Bokaro Thermal of the and a large number supervision of the district grounds of the Bermo block, Sanjojika Sabita of students have already been administration to prevent township, Sector-9 Kumari and Headmistress given rice, but in the meantime corona virus. During this peri- Hatia and other Shyama Kumari, on the official had declared closure od, SDO (Chas) Shashi Prakash areas to prevent the Wednesday said that the rice of schools to curb spread of Singh, BSL Chief General corona virus. Apart was provided to the school Covid-19. Manager (Municipal from this, sanita- children of class I to class After getting direct order Administration) Bibhakar and tion campaign in VIII. by District superintendent of officers of BSL Public Health all office buildings The children are at home education, and Block and CSR Department were and fogging in because schools have been shut Education Officer, again they present.During this campaign, by the Public Health every sector is also going on down for the month of March have started delivering rice to disinfectant spraying and fog- Department of BSL. Apart continuously as proactive pre- because of the coronavirus epi- their doors. ging was done at various places from this, the water tender was ventive measures.

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 .- charged their duties with immense found or informed by the people, responsibility. Along with their the team will take him in an fter the confirmation of first safety, they should follow the ambulance and reach the isolation Acoronavirus positive case in given guidelines thoroughly; com- ward and then he will be exam- State Capital in Jharkhand, the ply with social distancing in every ined. Ranchi district administration has situation.” The DC further said that Meanwhile, the Ranchi &'234#// 
/    /    - +4 mobilised officials for possible if any suspected patient is identi- Municipal Corporation team will * ( 5/  $  /* 
 /6   spread of infection. Various teams fied or if no quarantine is being take charge of cleanliness in /  5/ *$      4 -    constituted by Ranchi District found, inform the district admin- Hindpiri and surrounding areas. Administration were dispatched to istration immediately so that nec- Sanitation fogging, bleaching and Hindpiri area on Wednesday to essary steps can be taken in time. basic sanitation work will be the check cleanliness and people’s Moreover, the district admin- focus of the team so that the infec-   P      exposure to the infected woman istration teams will find out per- tion does not spread. along with prevention of the infec- sons, who came in contact with the 0    
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  !"#$%&' Security has also been taken tion. Malaysian woman, who was found        0      
   
 care of the team screening people      Deputy Commissioner Rai corona virus infected. The district * (  " -  in the Hindpiri and its surround- Mahimapat Ray on Wednesday administration teams will find ings. Team members will use &# '()*+,- No official update was available by the addressed various teams in Ranchi out the houses the woman visited People will also be made aware that The medical team formed by Protective Care. By showing a  #!  time this report was filed on Collectorate. He appreciated the in last few days especially the five the virus infection as it spread the district administration will go demo of Heptato Protective Care, Wednesday. efforts taken by the district admin- houses she visited, where she through human to human. Also, to the five houses where the infect- team members were given infor- According to sources in the police istration staff and employees in this went, how many people came in people will be told who needs to ed woman lived, as well as the sur- mation on how to wear it, how to  .- department, at least 46 residents of crisis management. The DC said, contact with her, the team will get do quarantine after coming in con- rounding areas and screen people. remove it, how to disinfect and Ranchi had attended the Tablighi “Employees have come and dis- detailed information about it. tact with the infected woman. When any suspected patient is how to dispose. State Minister’s son, who also hap- Jamaat, and the police are tracing Apens to be an office bearer of the them. The religious event held in the Tablighi Jamaat, was sent to a first week of March saw participation Government quarantine centre along of several hundred people, including )*.*     !   with seven others on Wednesday in preachers from Indonesia, Malaysia and Deoghar district, highly placed officials Saudi Arabia – countries that were in the district administration said. The already suffering from a COVID-19  .- have urged devotees to celebrate of shop at Mahavir Chowk said, “It Minister too was put in home quaran- outbreak back then, news reports have the festival at their homes. Ram is first time in history of Ram tine along with his family, they added. said. he deadly Novel Coronavirus Navami procession is one of the Navami celebration in Capital that “We have sent eight people to At least nine Indians who attend- Tscare has affected religious biggest festival in Ranchi as lakh no Ram Navami procession will be Government quarantine centre after ed the religious congregation have functions in State Capital as of people from different parts of taken out. People voluntarily have learning that one of them was an office reportedly died of the viral infection so Mahavir Mandal the religious Capital such as Ratu, Itki, Kanke, decided to keep away from Ram bearer of the Tablighi Jamaat. While the far. Six of them were from Telangana, group which organizes Ram Bariatu, Harmu and other regions Navami procession due to person has said that he did not attend and one each from Tamil Nadu, Navami procession here has decid- reach Tapovan temple in Doranda Coronavirus scare.” Gupta said the congregation in Delhi, we are try- Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir, a ed to cancel this year’s procession. area.Meanwhile, Mahavir Mandal the entire Upper Bazaar area ing to find out if he visited New Delhi leading English daily reported. This is for the first time in 91 year patron Pawan Bajaj, president including Mahavir Chowk used to in the recent past,” said Deoghar Deputy Meanwhile, police here have been raid- history of Ram Navami celebration Tilak Raj Ajmani and others have epicenter of Ram Navami proces- Commissioner Nancy Sahay. ing different localities across the State in Ranchi that no procession will urged people to celebrate the fes- sion. Even residents have decid- The developments come at a time to identify and apprehend people who be taken out. Mahavir Mandal tival from home. ed to celebrate the festival from when the Government has been may have attended the congregation at president, Jai Singh Yadav said, Huge processions are taken out their homes. Ganesh Jaiswal a tightlipped about the exact figures of Nizamuddin Markaz. On Wednesday, “This year we have decided not to by hundreds of participants, divid- $
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*  resident of Mahavir Chowk said, Coronavirus suspects in Jharkhand around 40 people were apprehended for take out any Ram Navami proces- ed into small and big groups, led (  *1-  “We have decided to celebrate the since 17 foreign nationals were appre- Tablighi Jamaat links, police sources sion due to Coronavirus scare. As by marching troupes of devotees festival from home. We have pur- hended from a Mosque in Hindpiri said. According to latest figures shared lakhs of people participate at Ram holding aloft in their hands huge drums marching towards Tapovan As there will be no Ram chased flags and bamboo and locality of Ranchi in the intervening by NHM on Monday, more than 200 Navami procession which can eas- saffron flags with beautiful pictures Temple. Navami procession this year, peo- other items from market for festi- night of Monday and Tuesday. The people were tested for COVID-19 and ily spread the disease we have of Lord Hanuman in flying pos- Ram Navami is celebrated ple’s crowd at Upper Bazaar the val.” Apart from Mahavir Mandal National Health Mission (NHM), which none of the reports came out positive. decided to cancel all the religious ture, hooked up on top of tall and every year by the Hindus to com- market place was very thin for buy- various religious associations such provides data of Coronavirus tests On Tuesday – the day first Coronavirus procession.” dry bamboos. The devotes also memorate the birth of Lord Rama, ing Ram Navami flags. Only hand- as Vishwa Hindu Parishad too have being conducted and the number of case was reported in Jharkhand – the Yadav, however, said that play drums, bugles and nagaras or who is believed to be one of the ful of shops selling Puja item were asked people to celebrate the fes- people put in quarantine, has not NHM did not share its daily bulletin of though Ram Navami procession staging mock war-like dances in Dashavatara (ten incarnations) of opened selling flags. tival at home and maintain social shared any official figures since Monday. Coronavirus situation in the State. has been cancelled this year we the background of high beats of Lord Vishnu. Mukesh Gupta, owner of one distancing.    ! !    %23    


 
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 % that rocked Northeast Delhi. The HRD ministry also required for promotion and assessment will be issued soon,” ( +(,- “The exams in the area for directed the CBSE to conduct crucial for university admis- he said. P 
    class 12 will begin on March 31 class 10 and 12 board exami- sions. The CBSE also announced he Union HRD Ministry and conclude on April 14, nations for only 29 main sub- Whenever CBSE is in a that it will not conduct pend- Ton Wednesday directed the while exams for class 10 will jects which are crucial for pro- position to hold board exams, ing class 10, 12 exams in  ( +(,- ed developments in Malaysia, members spread across the Central Board of Secondary begin on March 21 and con- motion and admission to high- it shall conduct for 29 subjects schools affiliated to the board Indonesia did not allow the country, spreading the coron- Education (CBSE) to promote clude on March 30,” a senior er educational institutions. by giving adequate notice. For in foreign countries. ndia’s external and internal Tablighi to hold the congrega- avirus to the interiors of the all students of Classes 1 to 8 in HRD Ministry official said. “Have advised CBSE to rest of the subjects, CBSE will The exams were postponed Iintelligence agencies failed to tion from March 17 to 19. country and posing a major the country to the next Class in The board also announced conduct board exams only for not hold board exams and in view of the coronavirus out- read, assess and report the However, a number of the threat to public health amid the view of the nationwide lock- to promote all students of 29 main subjects that are instructions for their marking, break in the country. warning signals emerging from Tablighis who had already ongoing lockdown in the coun- down due to the deadly coro- classes 1 to 8 in the all the CBSE the Tablighi Jamaat stable with- arrived on the venue in try to counter the COVID-19 navirus. affiliated schools across the in and outside the country. Indonesia infected a number of pandemic. Besides, it also announced country. As Tablighi Jamaat contin- co-participants. This is not the first time that CBSE Class 10th and 12th “In view of the current sit- 
     ued its ijtema (congregation) in While the COVID-19 out- that the Research and Analysis results are expected to be uation due to #COVID19, I Kuala Lumpur (Feb 27-Mar 1), break trend was developing in Wing, responsible for gathering declared by May end provided have advised @cbseindia29 to Lahore (March 13), Sulawesi, the region in Tablighi’s con- external intelligence, did not the CBSE board exams 2020 get promote ALL students study- Selatan in Indonesia (Mar 18), gregations, hundreds of the meet the expectations of the over in April. ing in classes I-VIII to the next    26 Covid-19 positive Jamaat Jamaat members were assem- Government as it could not CBSE exams for class 10 class or grade,” HRD Minister members were reported in bled in the Nizamuddin area assess the mood in the and class 12 were postponed on Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’  % quate placement not below and exams suspended due to Malaysia and 45 in Lahore despite concerned citizens European Union after the pas- March 18 given the coron- said in a series of tweets. ( +(,- the levels of past years may the nationwide lockdown in and an unknown numbers in expressing concerns to the sage of the Citizenship avirus pandemic across the He also said that the stu- take place in these institutes. view of the coronavirus out- Indonesia. But India’s external authorities over the presence of Amendment Act by the country. These exams, sched- dents of classes 9 and 11 will be RD Minister Ramesh Academic calendar of the break that has claimed 38 lives Intelligence agency Research so many people in a relatively Parliament here. A resolution uled between March 19, 2020 promoted on school-based HPokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on institutes may be prepared so in the country till now. and Analysis Wing (R&AW) small facility amid the push for against the CAA was moved to March 31, 2020 will be con- assessments conducted dur- Wednesday directed the that students do not lose The Minister also did not report the viral epi- social distancing. recently and the agency was ducted post the 21 day lock- ing the year, adding that those Indian Institutes of summer and winter intern- instructed the IITs to ensure demic at Tablighi events in the The returning jamaats were caught unawares. down imposed by the govern- who failed to get promoted this Technology (IITs) to ensure ships,” Nishank told the IIT that they should conduct region or issue an alert to the given clear instructions by Likewise, the IB has also ment. CBSE, however, is yet to time due to low assessments that placements of students heads. active research work in the effect. Tablinghi Jamaat chief recorded back to back lapses revise the Class 10 and Class 12 can appear in school based tests are not affected due to the sit- “Mental health-related area of COVID19. Pokhriyal Similary, the Intelligence Mohammad Saad to access with the agency not being able examination dates. online or offline. uation arising out of the coro- challenges of students during Nishank advised the institutes Bureau ignored the foreign more and more mosques after to generate any credible inputs “Students are advised to “Students studying in class- navirus pandemic. the lockdown period also to continue with its research Tablighi members’ movement going back from Nizamuddin. ahead of the communal riots in keep a watch on the official es IX & XI will be promoted to In a meeting with heads need to be addressed by all work already across the country spreading Scores of foreign Tablighi the national capital last month. CBSE website for latest infor- next class/grade based on the of 23 IITs through video the institutes and a helpline be being done but given the pre- the pandemic to the hinterland. mation on results,” said a CBSE school-based assessments conferencing, he directed that established in this regard. sent circumstances it is The issue of the Jamaat’s circular. including projects, periodic a task force be set up for the There should be a task force responsibility of all citizens to congregation in Kuala Lumpur This is not the first time tests, term exams, etc. con- purpose. set up by every institute which contribute for welfare of the was highlighted there in the @
 !   that CBSE exams have been ducted so far. Students not “A task force call for should include psychologists nation and IITs have to play media due to the threat it postponed. The CBSE Class 10 promoted this time can appear placements may be set up in to handle mental health a crucial role for technologi- posed to public health amid the and Class 12 exams were also in school-based tests, online or institutes to liaise with various issues,” he added. cal advancements including coronavirus pandemic. Taking ! N&  !O postponed due to the violence offline,” Nishank tweeted. companies to ensure that ade- The institutes are closed medical equipments. cognisance of the Jamaat-relat-  ( +(,- gious gathering in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area amid the out- ./0)10'*!2 n one of the strongest con- break of novel coronavirus.      Idemnations of the Tablighi Naqvi also posted on his Jamaat, Union Minority Affairs social media accounts mes- Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi sages by Muslim religious lead-       '* * *   on Wednesday termed its reli- ers appealing to people to strict- gious congregation a “Talibani ly follow the coronavirus lock- crime”and an “unpardonable down and other guidelines to ? ( +(,- caused by them affected crops in January-February 2020 According to Skymet, the sin” committed “intentionally” control the virus.   
 in Madhya Pradesh, besides the kharif crop losses. country as a whole received 110 by the organisation. Reacting on the Tablighi he Centre may disburse Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat, “The ministry is pushing per cent of the long period The National Commission Jamaat gathering at  ( +(,- ers in these days of gravest cri- Tover 8,000- 10,000 crore Karnataka, Assam, Andhra insurance companies to release average (LPA) of 89 centimetres for Minorities also said the Nizamuddin area, Naqvi said, sis, the vendors association of to farmers as compensation for Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha and the compensation at a time of rainfall during the four- Jamaat caused a “big damage” “They have put lives of many ith railway stations shut Indian railways network too the loss of kharif crop which Bihar. Bihar has not sought when farmers are facing severe month-long southwest mon- and asked states to ensure strict people in danger. Strict action Wdown for passengers due seeks measures to help lakhs of got damaged due to excessive compensation for kharif crop problems during lockdown,” soon period, making it to the compliance of the lockdown by should be taken against such to Covid-19 lockdown, the people associated with this busi- rains in October and loss due to excessive rains and officials added. The above normal category. Among madrasas and other religious people and organisations that Akhil Bharatiya Railway Khan ness. November last year. The flood. Maharashtra government has meteorological divisions, places. It is said many congre- defy government directions. Paan Licence Welfare “While Ministry of Railways amount is expected to be “ The maximum payout sought 7,207-crore financial Central India and Southern gation participants in Delhi This has been done intention- Association (ABKPLWA) has has granted relaxation in demur- released by April 20. The now would be going to Madhya assistance from the Centre to Peninsula received the maxi- stayed in as many as 16 ally and this is unfortunate. sought intervention of Prime rage-wharfage and Ministry of Ministry of Agriculture has Pradesh where 2,500 crore- compensate farmers for their mum rainfall of 129 per cent mosques in the national capital. People who are not obeying the Minister Narendra Modi and Finance for payment of wages to also asked states to conduct 3,000 crore would be disbursed, crop damages due to unsea- and 116 per cent of their LPA, “Talibani Crime by Tablighi lockdown should not be for- Railway Minister Piyush Goyal outsourced persons it is high yield assessment of rabi crop followed by Karnataka (1,500 sonal rain. Unseasonal rain respectively. Among the 36 Jamaat. This is not negligence. given.” seeking relief on license fees of time to forego license fee as well also to assess the damage. The crore), Rajasthan (1,200 has damaged more than meteorological sub-divisions, It’s a serious criminal act. When In a letter to chief secretaries the vendors involved in catering as GST of small catering vend- Centre disbursed compensa- crore), Andhra Pradesh ( 800- 67.52% of the total kharif crop western Madhya Pradesh with the entire country is fighting of states and union territories, needs to passengers at railway ing licenses for March 2020 tion of around 4,500 crore to 1,000 crore) and Chhattisgarh sown this year. As per the 161 per cent of its LPA emerged united against Corona, such a NCM chief Syed Ghayorul stations. onwards so that they may be able farmers in Maharashtra a few (600 crore),” officials added. Maharashtra government as the largest surplus, while the sin is unpardonable,” the minor- Hasan Rizvi said the “As all small licensees have to help lakhs of families of rail- weeks ago. The compensation for farmers claim, it has damaged 94 lakh subdivision that includes ity affairs minister said in a Nizamuddin incident was a deposited considerable amount ways catering vending vendors, Officials of agriculture in Rajasthan includex losses hectares of crop and 103.52 Haryana, Chandigarh and tweet. “serious violation” of the lock- of license fee, to provide assis- “ Gupta said. ministry said that excess mon- incurred due to locust attacks, lakh farmers were severely Delhi had a deficiency of 42 per Naqvi said Tablighi Jamaat down, and has put the lives of tance to them, it is urged to take He informed Rail Ministry soon rains and the floods which damaged standing crops affected. in the state. cent. cannot be pardoned for the reli- fellow citizens at risk. immediate decision and issue that soon after the lockdown the instructions to forego license fee association issued advisory to all and 18 per cent GST periodically small licencees and their vendors as per contracts, “ said Rajinder working over Indian Railways Gupta, ABKPLWA president, platforms network to take all "B ..  ;B77 !      in a letter to the Railway precautionary measures. Minister. “Since complete closure of Gupta said since Finance Railways has been declared Ministry has taken a note of the there is absolute shut down of / 000 R   !  fact that likely intensity of coro- catering vending stalls, trolleys, navirus disease necessitates trays and lakhs of vendors’  ( +(,- central government in this cru- said assistance to Nepal in the mobilisation of financial help to workers and their families are cial time. form of medical equipment needy people and announced affected so financial benefits ontinuing with their efforts Chief of Defence will be delivered shortly. various relief packages for weak- extended to all will be appreci- Cto fight the coronavirus Staff(CDS) General Bipin Secretary Department of er sections and daily wage work- ated,” the letter said. pandemic, the Armed forces Rawat informed Singh that Defence R&D and Chairman have taken several measures to separate hospitals have been Defence Research and meet any exigency in the com- identified to exclusively deal Development ing days including readying with COVID-19 and more Organisation(DRDO)G &   more than 9,000 beds, 8,500 than 9,000 hospital beds have Satheesh Reddy said 50,000 doctors, nurses and support been made available. Over litres of sanitizers made by * .)2# staff and airlifting more than 25 1,000 evacuees are quaran- DRDO labs were supplied to tons of medicines to the north tined at facilities in Jaisalmer, various security entities, east and Ladakh in the last Jodhpur, Chennai, Manesar, including the Delhi Police and   ,    five days. Hindan and Mumbai. Their another one lakh litres were Giving these updates in a quarantine period will end by supplied all over the country.  % ( +(,- video conference review meet- April 7, 2020. He said, a five-layered nano ing held here on Wednesday by Air Chief RKS Bhadauria technology face mask N99 are ongress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday wrote to Prime Defence Minister Rajnath informed that the Air Force being made on war footing. CMinister Narendra Modi urging him to consider giving Singh, the Services also said planes conducted several sor- More than 10,000 have already Services(AFMS) Lt General tributed 40 crores of their cor- Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval advance wages to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment 25,000 National Cadet ties within the country in the been made and soon per day Anup Banerji informed the porate social responsibility Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers hit by the nationwide lock- Corps(NCC)cadets were last five days to transport production will be extended to Defence Minister that neces- (CSR) funds to Prime Chief of Air Staff Air Chief down. Congress too reiterated its demand on Wednesday that the mobilised to assist the local approximately 25 tonnes of 20,000, Reddy said adding the sary equipment has been pro- Minister’s Citizen Assistance Marshal R K S Bhadauria, union government should announce minimum three months loan administration and the armed medical supplies. DRDO laboratories have also cured and dispatched to vari- and Relief in Emergency Chief of Army Staff General M interest waiver on EMIs for salaried, middle class and medium small forces were in constant touch He said, critical opera- supplied 40,000 other face ous hospitals. Retired health Situations (PM-CARES) fund. M Naravane, Defence Secretary and micro enterprises (MSME). with the civil authorities. tional work is continuing while masks to the Delhi Police. professionals have also been In addition, they have also Ajay Kumar, Secretary This is the third such letter that Sonia has written to Modi in The Defence Minister ensuring all necessary precau- The DRDO Secretary, kept in readiness to volunteer contributed one day salary of (Defence Production)Raj the last one week urging the union government to take steps to tack- appreciated the efforts being tions. Navy Chief Admiral being a member of the empow- their services. Approximately all their employees to the PM- Kumar, Secretary (Ex- le on financial aspects in the midst of Corona outbreak and lock- made by various Services, Karambir Singh said naval ered Group of Secretaries, is 25,000 National Cadet Corps CARES fund. Servicemen Welfare) down. “Social distancing norms have rendered all works unfeasi- organisations and Defence ships are on standby to extend coordinating closely with (NCC) cadets are being Following the direction Sanjeevanee Kutty, Secretary ble under lockdown. Furthermore even after the work commences, Public Sector any required assistance. He Ministry of Health and Family mobilised to provide necessary from the Defence Minister, (Defence Finance)Gargi Kaul, MGNREGA workers have to wait for more than a month to receive Undertakings(DPSUs)s in said, the Navy is also extending Welfare regarding the require- local assistance. the DPSUs conveyed to him Secretary Department of wages,” Sonia said in the letter. terms of evacuation, provision assistance as required by local ment of medical equipment. Various DPSUs such as that they have made salary pay- Defence R&D and Chairman “Given the urgency of providing support to the rural poor, due of health care in quarantine civilian administration. Another DRDO laboratory has Hindustan Aeronautics ment to all the casual and Defence Research & to lost wages, the government may consider immediate advance pay- facilities and research & pro- Army Chief General M M also made arrangements to Limited (HAL), Bharat contractual workers also. The Development Organisation ment of wages for 21 days to registered and active MGNREGA work- duction of medical equipment Naravane said more than 8,500 make 20,000 PPE per day. The Electronics Limited (BEL), Ordnance Factory Board (DRDO)G Satheesh Reddy, ers. The advance may be adjusted against the work to be done by such as sanitisers, facemasks doctors and support staff are DRDO is also engaged in Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (OFB) is also engaged in man- Director General Armed the workers, once MGNREGA sites are opened up,” she added. and Personal Protective available to extend necessary minor modification of ventila- (MIDHANI), Bharat Dynamics ufacturing hand sanitisers, face Forces Medical Services Last week Sonia had written to Modi to consider direct cash Equipment (PPE). He directed assistance to civilian adminis- tors so that one machine can Limited (BDL), Bharat Earth masks and PPE. (AFMS) Lt General Anup transfers to the poor, a six-month suspension of recoveries from farm- all the organisations to redou- tration. Referring to the support four patients at the Movers Limited (BEML), The video conference was Banerji, heads of Defence ers, waving off equated monthly instalments (EMIs) for the salaried ble their efforts and work in defence minister’s direction same time. Hindustan Shipyard Limited attended by Minister of State Public Sector Undertakings class for six months and a sector-wise relief package for business- close coordination with other that help should be provided to Director General Armed (HSL) and Goa Shipyard for Defence Shripad Naik, (DPSUs) and other senior civil es in view of the Covid-19 outbreak. Ministries/organisations of neighbouring countries, he Forces Medical Limited (GSL) have con- Chief of Defence Staff General and military officials. $ 
 
  
  
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 % types of coronavirus strains the virus is mutating very rapid- is mutating very rapidly. In sim- and Resources Institute(TERI). found in India is less virulent viral genome in the population ( +(,- are doing round in the country. ly. It means that the vaccine pler words, we can say the virus On why people are dying when we compare it with the of US. Simply to say the virus In an in-depth genomic developed for one strain might is cor hanging its structure more in Spain, Italy and now in US’’.” During the study, Indian strain in US is quite threaten- mid the coronavirus pan- analysis of rapidly revolving not work for other strains cir- quickly...which means it will be the US, scientist Vipin Gupta, microbiologist discovered that ing for humans”. Ademic, a study by top SARS-CoV-2(COVID-19) culating in other countries. difficult to develop a vaccine for a key member of Lal’s team, said genomes of six isolates, specif- Lal said that different Indian microbiologists have viruses, a team of scientists led If the virus after entering a prevention from this dreaded in their study it was discovered ically from the US, were found strategies are required and see- claimed that the strain of the by top Indian microbiologists human body mutates rapidly virus. that virus which changed itself to harbour unique amino acid ing the fast changing charac- virus that causes Covid-19 dis- discovered that strain found in then it often becomes difficult “Even if we develop a vac- rapidly in Europe and then in and showed amino acid sub- teristic of the virus, treatment ease in India is not as deadly India, matches with the to counter it. cine, we are not sure that the the US, was more devastating. stitutions in proteins. would also be difficult. as the ones which are taking a sequence of new coronavirus The study analysed the same vaccine will work in other On being asked about the Interpreting the scientific ter- “Our study is on, and the toll in Italy, Spain and the US. found in Wuhan, and is less vir- data taken from different coun- parts of the world, looking at virus isolated here in India, minology for common man, more we look deep into the On Tuesday, the Indian ulent. tries including, Italy, Spain, the nature of different strains of Gupta said: “We cannot con- Gupta, who specialises in sequence the more facts we will Council of Medical Research However, while the strain is scientists also suggested that US, China, Nepal and India. COVID-19,” said Rup Lal, a clude but safely say at this Bioinformatics said, “This sug- be able to dig out,” added Vipin (ICMR) had said that three comparatively less virulent, the based on data, it is assumed that “The study shows that virus senior scientist with The Energy point, that strains of virus gests the severity of mutating Gupta.  3    ! !  %23  

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 %&'!     Benglauru: The Karnataka Guwahati/Agartala/Imphal: for COVID-19, a 52-year-old ing for the remaining seven. Government has confirmed Five people have so far tested man is undergoing treatment at "The state cabinet Chaired      1.- the spread of coronavirus pan- saw battle as the number of that 342 persons from the State positive for coronavirus in the Silchar Medical College by Chief Minister Biplab demic went on a tailspin since positive cases shooting over the had gone to the Tablighi Assam, who attended the con- and Hospital after his samples Kumar Deb approved a Rs 233 Jaipur: Around 183 residents he number of persons test- Tuesday following a sudden roof following the exodus from group's headquarters in gregation at Nizamuddin in tested positive on Tuesday. The crore package to deal with of Rajasthan, including five Ted positive for coronavirus spurt in the number of cases Delhi’s Nizamuddeen. Nizamuddin area of southwest Delhi and the number of pos- four people who tested positive coronavirus and related relief to foreigners from Nepal, who and admitted to various hos- detected positive with COVID- According to the office of Delhi, Home Minister itive cases in the State might for on Wednesday are also the needy," Nath told media. attended the Tablighi Jamaat pitals in Tamil Nadu crossed 19. the Chief Secretary K Basavaraj Bommai said on cross the double digit, Assam undergoing treatment in dif- Tripura Chief Minister event held in Delhi last month the 234 mark by Wednesday Tuesday alone saw 57 per- Shanmugham, 1131 persons Wednesday. Health Minister Himanta ferent medical colleges and Biplab Kumar Deb in a tweet have been identified. evening, according to Beela sons testing positive for coro- had attended the religious con- "From Karnataka, 342 peo- Biswa Sarma said on hospitals," the Health Minister said that if there is anyone from They reportedly entered Rajesh, Secretary, department na virus and more than 50 of gregation in New Delhi. “We ple attended the congregation. Wednesday. said. Tripura who attended the reli- 13 districts of the state recent- of Health. them were those who had have detected 515 of them and In the beginning of March, 142 Addressing the media, the The four people are aged gious congregation of Tablighi ly and will be screened, said Speaking to reporters at attended the religious congre- once we trace the remaining people visited the Tablighi HQ minister said the Central between 19 to 55 years. Jamaat at Hazrat Nizamuddin Director General of Police Chennai, Rajesh said 110 per- gation in New Delhi. With the individiuals, we will be able to from the State and the govern- Government has communi- According to the Ministers in Delhi must report immedi- Bhupendra Singh on sons tested positive on admission of 57 patients on prevent the progress of corona ment has since quarantined cated to the state government and officials of different north- ately to the nearest government Wednesday. He said these peo- Wednesday alone. “All of these Tuesday, the number of persons virus in the State,” said them at their homes," Bommai that 456 people from Assam eastern states, over 500 people hospital or to call the control ple entered Jhunjhunu, Dausa, persons who returned from the undergoing treatment for coro- Shanmugham. said. had attended the congrega- from several northeastern room. Alwar, Tonk, Shri Ganganagar, religious congregation held at na virus in the State has crossed The seriousness of the sit- He said that there is a pos- tion organised by the Tablighi states, mostly from Assam, In Manipur, the state gov- Bharatpur, Karauli, Jodhpur, New Delhi. Efforts are on to the 125 mark. This includes uation could be understood sibility of increase in the num- Jamaat in Delhi. have either attended or visited ernment officials said that 14 Barmer, Hanumangarh, Churu identify and trace all the 1,103 ten foreign nationals who are from the words of the State ber of suspect cases of coron- "Out of the 456 people, 230 the vicinity at the religious con- people who were linked to the and Jaipur City. persons from the State who had religious preachers by profes- administration which accepted avirus. have been identified and 68 gregation organised by the religious congregation held in It is possible that Tablighi attended the congregation. The sion. that the New Delhi returnees Medical Education have not yet returned to the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi forc- Delhi's Nizamuddin, have been members coming here from patients admitted to hospitals This is the highest figure had turned the trajectory of Minister Suresh Kumar said state. Of the 230 people, swab ing all the seven northeastern identified. According to the other states also came in con- on Wednesday include two recorded in Tamil Nadu in a COVID-19. four Tablighi followers from samples of 196 were collected states to launch an all-out officials associated with the tact with Markaz in Delhi. religious preachers from single day since the pandemic Chief Minister Edappadi Chamarajanagar have since and five have tested positive for search to identify and test the COVID-19 Central Control "Directions have been issued to Myanmar and Indonesia broke out in the country. The Palaniswamy himself came out been traced. Covid-19," Sarma said, adding samples of these attendees. Room in Imphal, three have the District Magistrates and respectively,” said the Health State has been one with mini- on Wednesday morning and Health Minister B. that by Wednesday evening The attendees' family been taken for testing and the District Superintendents of Secretary. mum Corona positive cases paid a surprise visit to some of Sriramulu said 62 foreigners the test reports of the samples members and the people they remaining 11 are being exam- Police to screen these people Officials of the department ever since the administration the Amma Restaurants in the from Indonesia and Malaysia of remaining people would be came in close contact are also ined. and then opt for medical iso- of health and local bodies are commenced issuing bulletins city that offer subsidised food who visited the HQ also visit- received. being examined or sent to Manipur Director General lation and quarantine pro- on a house-to-house search in about the number of patients to the common man. Amma ed Karnataka, out of whom 12 Search is also on to trace quarantine. of Police L. M. Khaute said any- ceedings," said Singh. Tamil Nadu to trace more than tested with the Restaurants were launched by were quarantined. out the other unidentified peo- In Tripura, Education one from the state who attend- A thorough investigation 500 persons who had attended pandemic. late Chief Minister J He said the Health ple who have attended the Minister Ratan Lal Nath said at ed the religious congregation or was made to identify the resi- the religious congregation held Tamil Nadu, the focus of Jayalalithaa and this had earned Department is on the lookout congregation. He said four least 22 people from Tripura who stayed in the vicinity of the dents of Rajasthan who went to in New Delhi early last month which was to prevent commu- her a lot of good will among for the remaining foreigners more persons from Assam, attended or went to the hotspot venue or passed near it should attend the Tablighi Jamaat in and had gone missing since nity transmission of the virus migrant workers and low still staying in the state. who have attended the con- at Nizamuddin in Delhi. get themselves tested at the Nizamuddin, Delhi and came then. Most of them are feared and was confident of checking income employees because Meanwhile, some relatives gregation but still remained in According to the Minister, 15 nearest government hospital in touch with other members to carry the deadly COVID- 19 the progress of local transmis- they could get of five returness isolated at Delhi, have also tested positive of the 22 people identified and failing which legal actions are of the Jamaat, and then the cause for corona disease. sion to community transmis- breakfast/lunch/dinner for Nelamangla flouted quaran- for coronavirus. their swab samples were tested being contemplated against returned to the state, Singh The State’s efforts to control sion was seen fighting a see- five each. tine facility norms. IANS "Of the five tested positive negative. Authorities are look- them. IANS said. IANS     *   ,% 0 4 4 5,     ! &89(%:$/       ,5     Meerut: The second coronavirus patient died on  ( +(,- not being adhered to complaints, down", five "essential supplies not Jaipur: A total of 13 new cases of COVID- patients from the same family also tested Wednesday in Meerut medical college. His son-in-law essential supplies related complaints, being provided", four were related to 19 positive patients was reported on positive. is also admitted in the same hospital with Covid-19 n the recommendations of the examination related complaints, "harassment" and one was on "prob- Wednesday in Jaipur, taking the total tally Now, with 13 patients testing positive, infection. Both of them had been on ventilator since OEmpowered Group of Officers rescheduling of interest repayments lem in donating to the PM-CARES to 89 in Rajasthan which when counted it seems Ramgunj is coming up as yet the past two days. 10, the Centre on Wednesday on loans, evacuation requests from Fund", the officials said.It aims to with 17 evacuees from Iran, who tested another hotspot in the state with 25 The father-in-law, aged 72, had apparently got the launched the National Monitoring foreign countries.“Out of the total 336 ensure timely redress of COVID-19 positive in Jodhpur, counted 106 in State, patients earlier testing positive from the infection from his son-in-law who had come to Meerut Dashboard to ensure timely imple- public grievances, 28 were on "lock- grievances. Directions have been confirmed health officials. same location. form Amravati in Maharashtra. Sixteen members of mentation of COVID 19 Response down not adhered to", 25 were issued to all ministries and depart- All 13 are the contacts of the first per- On Tuesday, Additional Chief the same family have also tested positive for Covid- Activities. "requests for rescue from foreign ments to prioritize these grievances son who tested positive in Ramganj a few Secretary Rajeev Swaroop ordered the seal- 19 and are under medical observation. Over 300 public grievances, countries" and 14 were related to and provide redress in three days ago. They have been kept in isolation ing of all the boundaries of the walled city The chief medical officer and other senior officials including those related to non-adher- "quarantine”. On Day 1 of the launch, days.There were 101 suggestions at the Rajasthan University of Health in Jaipur, which has been already under had also visited the hospital to take stock of the ence of the ongoing lockdown and the dashboard received 43 griev- received by the government and 136 Services and NIMS and samples were taken curfew since last four days. arrangements. Though the government spokesman request for rescue from foreign coun- ances of Ministry of Health and public grievances fell under "others" from there, said Additional Chief Secretary Except essential services, he ordered confirmed the death, he parried questions about the tries, have been received by the cen- Family Welfare, 31 grievances of categories, they said. Giving further Rohit Kumar Singh. zero mobility in this area and appealed to doctors and other medical staff, attending on the tral government under a recently- Ministry of External Affairs and 26 details of grievances related to non- The man who tested positive a few all residents to cooperate with the health patients, being quarantined. This is the second coro- launched mechanism. The dashboard grievances of Ministry of Finance. A compliance of lockdown, an official days ago after returning from Oman is now teams who are visiting the locality to con- navirus death in Uttar Pradesh. The first case was was launched by Minister of State for total of nine were related to "inade- said, people claimed that "private sec- been termed as a super-spreader as he also duct health surveys. reported form Gorakhpur where a youth from Basti Personnel Jitendra Singh.According to quate facilities in hospitals", seven tor employees were still being called infected his friend a day after he returned. He also said legal action shall be taken died on Monday evening in the BRD hospital. His sam- officials, the nature of grievances relat- were "examination-related", six were at work" and also "postal department Thereafter, his mother and son tested against those flouting the curfew norms in ple report confirmed him as corona positive on ed to quarantine facilities, lockdown "stuck at some place due to lock- was calling employees to work". positive and then on Monday, 10 more this region. IANS Wednesday. IANS %  $6    ?F  '  
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  1, & the closure of all business.” Banerjee who has earned appreci- Howrah district died on Tuesday night,      
  The letter further read that regard- ations for aptly managing the corona another person of the same age suc- engal Chief Minister Mamata less of the grim situation on account of crisis till now later appealed to the peo- cumbed at a private hospital at    ?))/ ed positive in J&K, he added. ernment, thoroughly restricting BBanerjee has asked for 61,000 the lockdown the State has “somehow ple not to come out of their houses and Belghoria in the northern suburbs of "Out of these 58 are active cases movement of people from one crore from the Centre to ward off the been able to pay the salaries, wages and throng places. “The coming two weeks Kolkata. Neither of the victims had a dopting a more aggressive including 48 from Kashmir place to another. crisis arising out of the corona endem- pensions of Government employees this are very crucial for us and it is a time travel history, Health Department offi- Aapproach towards contain- division and 10 from Jammu At present, 52 patients have ic. This amount includes the financial month though some major states of the we all should cooperate with each cials said adding they were trying to ing spread of Covid-19, the division". been kept in hospital isolation, dues that the "Centre owes" to the State. country could not do that on full. And other to ward fight the disease by gather further information. Jammu & Kashmir adminis- Kansal said, a total number 516 under hospital quarantine, A day before her video meeting even with the massive debt trap left remaining indoors…. Please do not The Chief Minister later said that tration on Wednesday decided of 17041 cases are under sur- and 3961 under home surveil- with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the behind by the previous Government we come out of your houses and crowd the the man died of kidney ailments. The to conduct testing of over 2000 veillance. Kansal told reporters, lance. Out of 977 samples, 911 Chief Minister has written a letter to the were able to service the debt so far but streets… you will get time for gossip- doctors too said he had been suffering contact persons of positive Jammu & Kashmir has been have tested negative and reports former seeking a financial package of future remains uncertain.” ing in future but now it is time to han- from diabetes for the past 20 years and cases with immediate effect. testing cases aggressively. Our of four are awaited. 25,000 crore to meet the expenses for Asking the Centre to sanction a spe- dle the crisis,” she said. had been a renal patient adding how- At present 58 active cases, testing rate has been nearly 77.5 Meanwhile, in Srinagar, providing free ration to the people of the cial grant of 25,000 crore Banerjee The Chief Minister’s appeal came at ever that he tested positive for the coro- 48 in Kashmir division and 10 per million,one of the highest two hundred and thirty-six State along with other public welfare wrote that her Government “required a time when thousands of people were navirus. Family members of both the in Jammu division, are under- in the country and next only to (236) persons who were shift- schemes planned amid massive short- to meet our commitments towards girl seen thronging the rural markets and deceased have been placed under quar- going treatment in different Kerala. ed into administrative quaran- fall in the State’s revenue during post child, students, farmers, unorganized ration shops --- throwing all cautions antine, the official said. hospitals.Addressing a press Due to sudden spike in tine upon their return to corona lockdown. workers, weaker sections, minorities, to the wind --- to procure 5 kgs of free More patients from Sheoraphuli in conference late Wednesday positive cases, concerns were Srinagar two weeks ago were Apart from this the Chief Minister SC, ST and OBCs. We are also having rice promised by the Government. Hooghly district Egra in East evening, spokesman of Jammu raised as it became clear that discharged Wednesday after has also asked the Centre to clear the to honour our commitments of pro- Large gatherings were seen at Midnapore tested positive taking the & Kashmir Government and large number of suspected cases successfully completing their past dues amounting to about 36,000 viding free ration to almost 9 crore peo- Coochbehar, North and South 24 total number of such cases in the state Principal Secretary, Rohit of coronavirus, who may have 14-day quarantine period. crore, senior officials said. The Chief ple who need this so crucially to sur- Parganas, Burdwan and elsewhere Food to 37, sources said on Wednesday. Kansal told reporters, "we plan come in contact with religious All these persons had Minister had earlier committed free vive in this perilous time.” and Civil Societies Minister JP Mullick Tension ran high at Dhapa burning to test every single one of the teachers and identified positive returned from different over- ration to the 9 crore strong population Besides she reminded that the said appealing to the people to main- ground in eastern parts of Kolkata 2000 contacts that we have cases, went untraceble and may seas countries with most of of the State that started on Wednesday Centre was “yet to pay 36,000 crore” tain social distancing. where hundreds of locals gathered to identified". lead to further spread of cases them having returned from amid large-scale crowding of market due to the State. Meanwhile, the death rate com- protest the burning the corpse of one He said, these contact per- in rural pockets of vulnerable Bangladesh. At present there are places throughout the districts. The timing of the letter is crucial as pared to the number of Corona infec- of the corona victims, sources said sons were traced as a result of districts. around 1900 persons who have In the letter the Chief Minister it was written a day ahead of the video tions remained a cause of concern for adding they were afraid that the burn- a vigorous contact tracing More than 30 villages been put under administrative wrote that her State’s finances “like many meeting the Prime Minister was likely the doctors even as Bengal recorded its ing of the victim might spread infection exercise undertaken by the dif- across eight districts of Jammu quarantine in Srinagar after other States” were in a “dire situation to hold with the Chief Ministers on 6th death late on Tuesday night. in that area. The people were still ferent wings of the administra- & Kashmir have already been their return mostly from over- with practically no revenue flows after Thursday. While a 57-year-old man from protesting when reports last came in. tion. So far 62 cases have test- declared 'red zones by the gov- seas countries.  !   <-  
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"48# 6 )#9)$ TCabinet that met here on cabinet decided that each one Assembly and Samajwadi Samajwadi Party MLA said on Wednesday. floor surgical shop to Government The incident took place in Wednesday has given the in- of them will contribute one MLA Ram Govind Shailendra Yadav Lalai has "We have arrested Keshav agencies and any private individ- Allipur village where Vinay whose name also figured in principle clearance to have a lakh each and it has already Chaudhary has directed the given one lakh for jour- under IPC section 420 for selling ual. "These days everybody wants Yadav had prepared a list of the list given to the officials. salary challenge from all State been done by Vijayan. District Magistrate of Ballia nalists in his constituency in the fake thermometers at 16,000 a thermometer, even you feel like persons, mostly migrant He had an argument with Government employees to col- On Tuesday, Vijayan held to spend one lakh from Jaunpur district. each," Deputy Commissioner of you should have a thermometer to workers, who had come to the Vinay Yadav and the matter lect funds to handle the vari- talks with a section of the his MLA funds to buy the According to Ashish Police Kuldeep Jain told IANS. check," he said, explaining how village from other cities. took a serious turn when ous activities of Covid-19 of employee's representatives and protective gear for journal- Singh Patel, he has seen Keshav was nabbed in some people are taking advantage Vinay Yadav and his sis- Shailendra opened fire, killing the Kerala Government. it has been more or less agreed ists exposed to coronavirus journalists visiting hospitals Rajajinagar, within the limits of the of the COVID-19 fear in the ter-in-law Sandhya informed Sandhya Yadav on the spot. All State Government upon, even as talks have to take risk during field work. and other places during the Subramanyanagar police station. masses. the local administration about Shailendra has been employees have to contribute place with a few other organ- Apna Dal MLC Ashish course of their professional Jain said Keshav procured the Similarly, the Central Crime the people coming to the vil- arrested and the body of the one month's salary to the CM isations. Singh Patel has also given duties, which makes them thermometers from Chennai at Branch police arrested Shivkumar lage after which health officials deceased has been sent for Distress Relief Fund and it Meanwhile, Leader of 12 lakh from his funds for susceptible to corona infec- 2,000 each, purported to have for making and selling fake hand conducted medical examina- post mortem. could be done in instalments Opposition Ramesh journalists in Lucknow (2 tion."I feel that masks and been manufactured in China. sanitisers at an exorbitant tion of all the migrant work- The state government has also. Chennithala reacting to the lakh), Noida (3 lakh) and sanitizers should be made "Because they were imported price."We have arrested Shivkumar ers. asked everyone to inform it Kerala has at present 215 salary challenge told the media 1 lakh each in Varanasi, available to them to protest there is no MRP, people were just and seized 5,000 fake sanitiser bot- One of those who had about people coming to the positive coronavirus positive that they have no issues with Prayagraj, Kanpur, Faizabad, them from the virus," he buying and preliminary investi- tles. He was booked under IPC come to the village, recently, is villages during the Corona cases, with over 1.60 lakh peo- this. Meerut, Bareilly and said. IANS gation suggested that a few taluka Section 420," Jain said. IANS an army jawan Shailendra scare. IANS    ! !  5 !   !   % !3   2&+0    !% !3 3  )*+" +,#  (
#     ;               *  * <; )"( !     !  -  8 (99 have disturbed the existing period, China has taken over passage of time. Considering the wide- with disastrous results. It is now order. This has not gone well 360 European companies, rang-        -  %          spread human interest involved, some of known that the 2009 pandem- &-( ., with Western powers, who in ing from Pirelli & cSpA of Italy      )         5  $ these continue to be kept alive by conspir- ic, which was popularly known .,1/& 1>( any case had been increasing- to Kuka AG robotics of )S              acy theories. In the context of Coronavirus, as the Swine flu, was actually ly looking inwards. Besides, Germany. ChemChina, a a lot has already appeared in the media but spread by humans and not .(& there has been the question of chemical firm in China, has                  in a latest salvo, US President Donald pigs. But in its attempt to pre- &(&1, financial support to such insti- acquired the Swiss giant     8       %       Trump has targetted the World Health vent contagion, a country in the tutions, too. This is bound to Syngenta for $46 billion. The   %  5   # <%5#=        #  Organisation (WHO) while China has spo- Middle East mistakenly slaugh- *&&/&1* make an impact on the post- penetration of the communica- ken strongly in support of the global tered a few lakh pigs. Corona economic revival. In tion giant Huawei with its 5G                health body. However, there is a back- Undeniably, there appears &-( .-(*( the given situation, the Chinese networks has already raised -               ground to the accusations made by America to be a certain degree of poli- ->( +*&/=(+ stand to gain substantially at the enough of hackles among the #               8  vis-a-vis the WHO. tics attached with the nomen- cost of others and emerge as a NATO countries. Its contention is that despite the disease clature of labelling such fatal &-( (4*&9 domineering influence cannot It is in the backdrop of      #                ( in its initial stages remaining confined to diseases. In this regard, the 1+(% &-* -* be ruled out. these developments that the                   ( Wuhan, where the virus first caused an out- decisions are taken at the level Such a situation was in the post-Corona scenario must be   8                     break, it was neither tagged with China nor of the WHO, which hosts the 1& 91( (,, making for a long time. In fact, viewed. The Chinese are mak- the province. Even when all the details were International Classification of &- (*&( ever since the economic down- ing a quick economic revival                 )     not available, it could have been tagged geo- Diseases (ICD). The current turn of 2008-09 and with the with heavy investments while         *         ( graphically or simply named as the Chinese guidelines for nomenclature 01(* -1  drying up of resources, there other nations are still reeling                ( virus. It was much later that the WHO have been criticised by a num- 5 .*( appeared to be some kind of a under the virus onslaught. This named it as COVID-19, avoiding any ber of scientific organisations. vacuum as far as investments in coupled with China’s outreach                   mention of China. On the other hand, we It is the general opinion -+ =(( Europe were concerned. This programme for medical and       have seen in the past, Spanish flu, Japanese that by simply giving numbers .(*9,5 space was readily occupied by humanitarian aid are bound to encephalitis, German measles and some to alphabetic codes, people at China. pay it handsome dividends. other country or place specific diseases, large are unable to appreciate ,11 9 According to data com- For the decades to follow, the breaking the geographical barriers to the gravity of the disease. For +* piled by the Institute for Studies next few months are going to be    become international pandemics. China has instance, the letters HN denote in Industrial Development crucial for politics, economy, somehow managed to escape this the genetic size and sequence of (ISID), New Delhi, the Chinese diplomacy and the world order. ;  *    $ 00    tagging. the virus Hemagglutinin investments in Europe between (The writer is a former We are aware that both H5N1 bird flu Neuraminidase. On the other 2010-17 have been of the order Governor and a Senior Advisor      <3   *   *  = and Severely Acute Respiratory Syndrome hand, geographical labels tend of $318 billion, which is 45 per at the Pranab Mukherjee (SARS) had originated from the Chinese to convey some very useful cent more than their invest- Foundation)  )           # #    (        '  & * 6)7                    *  & & ?!O     !        !   
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%&'$$ *80 #*   !! !    !    *> *       ) (.9   F                 , 5     ( &                   #              <    =             (   #           BD0D9D         @;/:;     @0::  (       )      G  5  9 died because of the Coronavirus, the global scenario but the power game will ber of sick people would be unimagin-                   but it has fostered deep interdependence between other big casualty of the pandemic is the remain unhampered because China, able and would take the country back by firms and nations that makes them more vulner- O/. ,5 global village-based world order, as even in the wake of the crisis, is not leav- decades, something which would not be *    A    (  (    +(.*>(,5          6 F   able to unexpected shocks. Now, firms and now every country has sealed its borders ing any stone unturned to make its pres- in favour of New Delhi and its allies as nations alike are discovering just how vulnerable + +(0&,5 and even flights have been grounded for ence felt in the Indo-Pacific. they look to stop China’s march.            S     &1 & (        F 8         they are. now. Currently, the only thing that is Although it was felt that the In this context, it would be appro- Another major impact of the Coronavirus is +>&9( 1 keeping the world united and linked is COVID-19 outbreak would halt China’s priate to highlight that while in the  )     (   -       ( the fact that it is challenging and redefining the &-( 10(9 the internet as the Google village is avail- overseas investments, interestingly the domestic sector, India is taking all nec- ?0      #   world order as we know it. The inability of the US .(&(+ =5 able for accessing and exchanging infor- signals coming from China right now essary steps to contain the outbreak, it +        1           to quickly control the spread of this virus and save &/)0O* mation and ideas. indicate that it is not likely to stop invest- is also at the forefront of the fight against     -      ;0000     8  the lives of its citizens has exposed the weakness )*& (* After being castigated and ostracised ment in its ambitious Belt and Road Coronavirus internationally. )  J            and lack of vision of the US leadership in taking ,,9 &-( by the world community for hiding and Initiative (BRI) project and will also keep Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call O               stock of the situation and providing the much- spreading the virus globally, the Chinese on exploring the possibility of grabbing for cooperation to fight the pandemic in needed guidance to the administration. As a result, >.//) President sought India’s support to con- new markets for its goods, commodities the SAARC countries places the nation  "     #  &1 01*&1 8S       #        the number of casualties today in the country has front its isolation and face the world and investments. Because, through this at the front and centre of the fight against crossed the number of deaths in China, where the &*(, bravely. Even in the time of a crisis, it can fill the power gap and make its the pandemic in the region and gives it                * &-(   8             S   whole nightmare began. China has not forgotten its world-dom- presence and power felt in the Indo- a place at the global power high table. The status of the US as a global leader has been 9,1=, ination ambitions and in order to show Pacific region, particularly in the BRI With the creation of the $10 million                 built not just on wealth and power but also on the ,(+(  its greatness and maintain its status as countries. SAARC Emergency Fund to fight       8  S           K legitimacy that flows from its domestic gover- (*01*( a major power on the world stage, as a According to reports, recently COVID-19, India has also supplied S P  Q *    #      nance, provision of global public goods and the &1  )?1 goodwill gesture, it is willing to share its Chinese military aircraft carried out anti- testing equipment and sanitisers to the              ( ability and willingness to muster and coordinate .** experiences and strategy with India. submarine drills in the contested South Maldives, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal        P  Q        a global response to crises. The Coronavirus pan- As the US fumbles around, China is China Sea (SCS), to respond to patrols and Bangladesh. In a recent meeting, the      8  )         demic is testing all three elements of US leader- moving quickly and adeptly to take by US warships, which suggest that G-20 group also pledged to introduce $5    ;;          ship and so far Washington is failing the test. advantage of the opening created by Coronavirus or no Coronavirus, China trillion into the global economy to        6          On the other hand, as this deadly virus trav- Trump’s mistakes, filling the vacuum to is not going to mend its ways, tone down blunt the effect of the virus. Prime +                elled from China’s Wuhan province to virtually position itself as the global leader in the its assertiveness and leave any opportu- Minister Modi has also advocated the       < S      = +  ( every part of the globe, therefore, primarily China response to a major crisis. It is working nity to exhibit its power politics. The need for developing a new crisis man- is being considered the villain by the world. This to tout its own system, provide materi- claims of controlling the COVID-19 in agement protocol to deal with global             is also in major part due to the fact that it con- al assistance to other countries and even Wuhan have made it more aggressive health issues, which indicates patient and   (              cealed the information about the contagion for a organise other Governments. But the than ever. Even though the People’s good leadership and signals India’s                  ( long time. Had it informed the global village in world community, including the US, is Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) activities on effective presence in the global power        time, the precautions, which are being taken now, not going to forget what China has done the Tibetan plateau have reduced due to scenario. The seriousness and gravity -               could have been taken earlier and the large-scale and how Beijing is using this opportu- the outbreak, PLA intrusions were shown by the Indian leadership and                    spread of the virus could have been averted. nity to increase its military and econom- recently reported from Naku-la, south appeals to people for restraint and            1     At present, the concerns about the dominance ic might by offering to supply the med- of the watershed in northern Sikkim, a determination are a great example of eth-    A -  S    1    of the world order through economics, expansion ical necessities to Europe and the US. border said to be “settled” by China. ical leadership in the time of a crisis. The )  8  5  !     G4   G5 of trade, commerce and route connectivity have Beijing’s move to block the recent- In view of China’s obvious moves well-timed lockdown and appeals by the <      = %        taken a back seat and the control of the pandem- ly-called United Nations Security for domination, most of the countries, leadership for social isolation are allow- ic has taken a front seat. Though by locking down Council meet on the Coronavirus pan- including the World Health ing all of us to forget the concept of glob-   P  Q               -  Wuhan province through draconian measures, demic also indicates that China is aspir- Organisation, are looking at the other al village and just turn into a Google vil- S        China succeeded in containing the spread of the ing hard to maintain its image of a gen- major power in the region India’s lage with limited exposure to people but <S  R      outbreak to other parts of the country, hiding the erous leader of the world, ready to help response and efforts to confront this unlimited contacts for our well-being. !""#$S= news of the contagion, it was unable to prevent with loans and equipment. challenge, with interest and anxiety. (The writer is Vice-Chancellor HNB its spread to the rest of the world. Apart from the Chinese attempts clearly hint that If this crisis is not handled careful- Garhwal University, Srinagar, Garhwal) ;       2                                   1'0)2&8                      lockdowns have brought with them (NO2) levels due to the restrictions kind, which claim lives of children and hearted manner. Compliance with how nations and governments mea- fresh air, clearer skies and the revival imposed in the wake of the virus con- the elderly. regulations then is not anywhere sure the real-time improvement or of urban wildlife. tainment efforts. The European Space The study’s findings were even- near the current level of obedience deterioration of the environment. Social media is abuzz with citizens Agency (ESA) also reported similar tually published in the interdiscipli- that we are witnessing regarding the The authoritative and authentic satel- posting pictures of the night sky glit- findings of a drop in NO2 levels across nary group, Global Food, Environment lockdowns. This is unfortunate as it lite visuals of the ESA and NASA were tering with stars that were not visible Europe, especially Italy. The canals of and Economic Dynamics (GFEED). shows that we humans respond with relied upon to draw conclusions on &-( =(4& * till now in most cities due to the pol- Venice, now devoid of the boat traf- Other research data from across the sincerity only when our lives are the state of the environment of China lution. They are also posting videos fic, sport clearer waters with a fresh world also supports these findings and threatened. and Europe. India, too, must stop pol- *&,, 1 of wildlife like deer, Blue Bulls, the rare spurt in aquatic life. additionally suggests that China is The current phase can be a major itics over environmental assessment & !     Indian Civet and so on, straying into Furthermore, the suspension of currently experiencing a 25 per cent learning curve for the Indian and data collection and instead rely ! !      "#(0)09 towns. There are more birds singing all air traffic in most parts of the drop in carbon dioxide emissions Government and environmental on impartial international data. This these days and the flora is actually world, including India, and the lack which is equivalent to 200 tonnes. authorities. The pattern of public will provide the real picture and dis- =  =   s the old proverb goes, “Every looking green instead of the usual of vehicular traffic on roads due to the Research aside, the fact that it behaviour and response to a matter able any attempts at manipulation of    dark cloud has a silver lining.” dusty brown. The light showers in the lockdowns have considerably reduced required a pandemic for the environ- of community emergency is evident State agency data by vested interests.     % AThe ongoing COVID-19 crisis, last few weeks have only helped to fur- pollution levels and especially eased ment to experience this much- here and the Government must take The rejuvenation of the Earth       too, has a silver lining as it has given ther bring down pollution and fresh- particulate matter (PM) 2.5 woes. required relief and recovery is note of the same. So that in future, comes as a succor at the time of   

   the environment the much-needed en up nature. Stanford University has conduct- appalling. Our daily routines do not when environmental conditions wors- anguish and pain to mankind. Every break from the relentless degrada- The city of Wuhan, the epicentre ed a research on the long-term ben- offer any concessions or respite for the en and require a community-based human being pauses, even if it is for +!O    (/ tion and exploitation by mankind. of the COVID-19 pandemic, has efits of this current rejuvenation of the environment. Neither do the period- action, the Government can follow a a second, to marvel at the beauty of   !    The Earth is healing itself even as been witnessing clear blue skies and planet and the study showed that ic climate conferences, which become similar methodology. This is essential nature and forgets the hardships  % .1>+'6K ! its biggest “parasite” humanity, fresh air instead of the usual low- humanity will stand to benefit a battleground of opposing views but because the current lockdown rules being faced in this difficult time. If 
   grapples with the virus by practising hanging smog. In fact, satellite images tremendously in future due to the witness very little meaningful action — though not 100 per cent success- humanity needs a break from this  !     social distancing amid strict lock- of China collated by the National respite received by the environment. in the best interests of the planet. In ful — have been followed sincerely by pandemic, the environment needs a downs. Suddenly, the urban as well as Aeronautics and Space These benefits would translate into India, too, the peak polluting months many of the citizens. break from us.  
 !
   peri-urban areas have started experi- Administration (NASA), showed lives being saved on account of compel us to adopt environmental- The current situation also high- (The writer is an environmental  % encing a resurgence of nature as the major reduction in Nitrogen Dioxide reduced pollution levels of the PM 2.5 conservation measures in a half- lights another important aspect of journalist) I   J  :    ! !  %23  

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  0*3)++ for three in every four deaths Cancellations of key events is the most challenging crisis cial to “ensure that the economic leading central bankers have ingly borne out by science. health sector in the hardest hit on the continent, as the grim on the global calendar have we have faced since the Second crisis unleashed by the virus pumped billions of liquidity Researchers said China’s countries remains the scramble he worldwide number of tally hit another milestone even swept both the sports and cul- World War.” doesn’t become a security crisis,” into the system. decision to shutter Wuhan, for available facilities to treat Tofficially confirmed fatali- though half of the planet’s tural worlds, with the With most business activ- he warned. The economic pain In the European Union, the ground zero for the pandemic, patients. Emergency hospitals ties from the novel coron- population is already under Edinburgh arts festival the lat- ity grinding to a halt for an of lockdowns is especially acute terms of a rescue plan threat- may have prevented hundreds are popping up in event spaces avirus rose to 45,309 on some form of lockdown in a est to be scrapped. undetermined period of time, in poorer nations. ened to divide the bloc. of thousands of new cases. while distressed medical staff Wednesday. More than 902,715 battle to halt contagion. For UN Secretary-General scenes of economic desperation In Tunisia several hun- Worst-hit Italy and Spain are “Our analysis suggests make grim decisions about declared cases have been reg- Spain reported a record Antonio Guterres, the extraor- and unrest were emerging dred protested a week-old lock- leading a push for a shared debt that without the Wuhan travel how to distribute limited pro- istered in 186 countries and ter- 864 deaths in 24 hours, push- dinary upheaval spurred by the across the globe. down that has disproportion- instrument — dubbed “coron- ban and the national emer- tective gear, beds and life-sav- ritories since the epidemic first ing the country’s number of virus presents a real danger to In Italy, queues were ately hit the poor. “Never mind abonds”, but talk of shared debt gency response there would ing respirators. emerged in China in fatalities past 9,000. the relative peace the world has lengthening at soup kitchens coronavirus, we’re going to die is a red line for Germany and have been more than 700,000 In scenes unimaginable in December. Of these cases, at The toll is only dwarfed by seen over the last few decades. while some supermarkets were anyway! Let us work!” shouted other northern countries. confirmed COVID-19 cases peacetime, around a dozen least 1,90,639 are now consid- Italy’s, where the virus has The disease “represents a reportedly pillaged. one protester in the demon- The tone sharpened this outside of Wuhan” by mid white tents were erected to ered recovered. killed nearly 12,500 people. threat to everybody in the Half a million more people stration on the outskirts of the week, with some Italian politi- February, said Oxford serve as a field hospital in The coronavirus pandem- President Donald Trump world and... An economic now need help to afford meals, capital Tunis. cians even taking out an adver- University’s Christopher Dye. New York’s Central Park. But ic has claimed more than has warned of a “very, very impact that will bring a reces- Italy’s biggest union for the Africa’s biggest city Lagos tisement in a major German At the same time, focus is even with the extended capac- 30,000 lives in Europe alone, a painful two weeks” as the sion that probably has no par- agriculture sector Coldiretti was just into its second full day newspaper to remind Europe’s now turning to how asympto- ity, doctors say they are still global tally showed on United States registered its allel in the recent past,” he said. said, adding to the 2.7 million of lockdown on Wednesday — biggest economy of WWII matic cases may be fuelling the having to make painful choic- Wednesday, in what the head of deadliest 24 hours of what he “The combination of the already in need last year. but with some of the world’s debts to jolt it into action. spread. es. “If you get a surge of patients the United Nations has called a “plague”. In a scramble two facts and the risk that it “Usually we serve 152,525 biggest slums, home to millions The economic cost of the Germany and France were coming in, and you only have described as humanity’s worst to halt the contagion, govern- contributes to enhanced insta- people. But now we’ve 70,000 who live hand-to-mouth, con- crisis was still piling up as lock- also ramping up testing of the a limited number of ventilators, crisis since World War II. ments have shut schools, most bility, enhanced unrest, and more requests,” confirmed tainment will be a challenge. downs remain at the forefront population to establish how you can’t necessarily ventilate Italy and Spain bore the shops, and ordered millions of enhanced conflict are things Roberto Tuorto, who runs a Wary of a collapse of the of official disease-stopping many already have immunity. patients,” Shamit Patel of the brunt of the crisis, accounting people to work from home. that make us believe that this food aid association. It was cru- world’s economy, the globe’s arsenals — a strategy increas- For now, the focus of the Beth Israel hospital said.    6(   <;   =>>      , 

 


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 the total number of COVID-19 cases. It follows the conversion  *-9&1 when the confirmed number of deaths in the country to 2,352. of London’s ExCel Centre into coronavirus infections in the The Department of Health NHS Nightingale — a 4,000-   =(, much lower rates than in he US is headed for a “very US, according to the Johns said 29,474 people have tested bed hospital facility. neighboring countries? Ttough two weeks”, President Hopkins Coronavirus Resource positive for the virus, an A push for more ventilators ate last year — long before The numbers are remark- Donald Trump has warned, Center website, zoomed to increase of 4,324 cases since on is also in place as a new set of Lmost people had heard of able: As confirmed cases in advising people to be prepared over 1,89,500, adding more Tuesday, as the country manufacturers plan to deliver the new coronavirus now Germany passed 71,000, the for the “hard days” than 25,000 new cases in a sin- remains under lockdown with the first batch by early next sweeping the globe — scien- death toll Wednesday was 775, ahead, as the country was at gle day and the fatalities rose to the Government’s advice for week. “We are doing everything tists in Germany sprang into according to a tally kept by war with a deadly coronavirus over 4,000. people to stay at home and we can to support our NHS staff action to develop a test for the Johns Hopkins University. In pandemic that the White “I want every American to observe strict social distancing fighting this battle on the front- virus that was causing an contrast, Italy has reported House projects could claim be prepared for the when outside for exercising or line, and it’s crucial we get even unusual respiratory disease in almost 106,000 infections and one to two lakh lives during the hard days that lie ahead,” a buying essentials. more ventilators there as soon central China. more than 12,400 deaths, while next fortnight. grim-faced Trump told reporters The latest virus positive as possible,” said UK Health They had one by mid- Spain has more than 102,000 Trump’s remarks came as on Tuesday at a briefing which tests mark an increase of near- Secretary Matt Hancock. January — and labs around the cases with over 9,000 deaths. Deborah Bix, a member of has now become his daily ly 20,000 confirmed cases in “We have seen a fantastic country were ready to start France has four times as White House Task Force on coronavirus press conference at the UK in just one week. response from businesses to using it just weeks later, around many virus deaths as Germany coronavirus, based on a model the White House for more than The Government has said our call for a national effort -- the same time that Europe’s and Britain has twice as many, from actual data from the 10 days. its focus remains on ramping and I’m delighted these com- most populous country regis- even though both countries ground, said the death toll in “We’re going to go through up testing for frontline National panies accepted the challenge tered its first case. have fewer reported infections. the US could be between a very tough two weeks and Health Service (NHS) staff, to save lives across the country,” “It was clear that if the epi- There may be many factors 1,00,000 to 2,00,000, with the then, hopefully, as the experts who are treating the rising he said. demic swept over here from at play, but experts said early on strict implementation of the are predicting, as I think a lot number of patients coming The Government said it China, then we had to start that fast and widespread test- existing mitigation measures of us are predicting after hav- through hospitals and clinics. frontline staff in England have said on Tuesday that a shortage has provided a number of let- testing,” said Hendrik Borucki, ing gave Germany an edge. including social distancing till ing studied it so hard, we are Downing Street spokesper- been tested for coronavirus of chemicals needed for the ters of intent to purchase a spokesman for Bioscientia “The reason why we in April 30. going to start seeing some real son for British Prime Minister since the outbreak began in a tests meant the NHS, which potentially thousands more Healthcare, which operates 19 Germany have so few deaths at If no steps were to be light at the end of the tunnel. Boris Johnson who remains in push to get healthy self-isolat- employs 1.2 million in England, ventilators with companies labs in Germany. the moment compared to the taken, the death toll could But this is going to be a very self-isolation after his COVID- ing medics back to work. could not screen greater num- who have credible designs, That quick work stands in number of infected can be range between 1.5 million and painful, very, very, very painful 19 diagnosis last week — con- UK Cabinet Office bers of its staff for the virus. subject to them passing the reg- stark contrast to delays and largely explained by the fact 2.2 million, Brix said on a day two weeks,” Trump said. firmed more than 2,000 NHS Minister Michael Gove had Meanwhile, several ulator and strict safety tests. missteps in other countries. that we are doing an extreme- Coupled with Germany’s large ly large number of lab diag- #  number of intensive care beds noses,” said virologist Dr.  
 &=9&   and its early social distancing Christian Drosten, whose team  !  ! 6/4 .#4   measures, it could explain one developed the first test for the of the most interesting puzzles new virus at Berlin’s Charité !"#$%&'       of the COVID-19 pandemic: hospital — established over Why are people with the virus 300 years ago to treat plague  
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  0* Food and Agriculture ability of agricultural labour Organisation (FAO), Tedros and the inability to get food to he heads of three global Adhanom Ghebreyesus, direc- markets. Tagencies warned on tor-general of the World Health “Such disruptions includ- Wednesday of the risk of a Organization (WHO) and ing hampering the movement worldwide “food shortage” if Roberto Azevedo, director of of agricultural and food indus- authorities fail to manage the the World Trade Organisation try workers and extending bor-  ? O 0! )   ongoing coronavirus crisis (WTO). der delays for food containers, ?       ! properly. Many Governments “In the midst of the result in the spoilage of per- PK !        around the world have put COVID-19 lockdowns, every ishables and increasing food  /* .   .  their populations on lockdown effort must be made to ensure waste,” said the three leaders. *     
 causing severe slow-downs in that trade flows as freely as pos- They also stressed the need *     % & international trade and food sible, specially to avoid food to protect employees engaged      !  =(?9 Besides the asymptomatic supply chains. shortage(s)” from developing, in food production, processing       !    cases, there are reports of 35 Panic buying by people they said in their statement. and distribution, both for their ?  #8% *    or the first time since the new imported cases and one going into confinement has “When acting to protect the own health and that of others,  
 !     FCOVID-19 outbreak, China domestic infection, NHC said already demonstrated the health and well-being of their as well as to maintain food sup-
      @ on Wednesday revealed the on Wednesday. The total num- fragility of supply chains as citizens, countries should ply chains. “It is at times like  *    ' @    presence of 1,541 asympto- ber of imported cases has risen supermarket shelves emptied in ensure that any trade-related these that more, not less, inter-
       ! matic cases carrying the dead- to 806, it said. Seven more peo- many countries. measures do not disrupt the national cooperation is essen-  ?     ly novel coronavirus, raising ple have died of the disease, tak- “Uncertainty about food food supply chain,” they added. tial,” they said. “We must ! # ' R%   '   concerns of a second wave of ing the total number to 3,312. availability can spark a wave of Over the longer term con- ensure that our response to    '     infections amid the relaxation As of Tuesday, a total of export restrictions, creating a finement orders and travel COVID-19 does not uninten- Taipei: It may be the global day for pranks but with the world       of stringent measures in the 81,554 confirmed cases of the shortage on the global market,” restrictions risk causing dis- tionally create unwarranted under assault from the deadly coronavirus pandemic many  +    country initiated to contain the COVID-19 had been reported said the joint text signed by Qu ruptions in agricultural pro- shortages of essential items Governments on Wednesday were warning against virus-       !!   deadly disease. on the Chinese mainland. Dongyu, head of the UN’s duction due to the unavail- and exacerbate hunger and themed April Fools’ jokes — some even threatening jail.
     % Asymptomatic coronavirus The announcement about The April 1 tradition sees families, web users and corpora- &        cases are those who carry the asymptomatic cases came as the tions embrace practical jokes. But few are in the mood as the glob-     "7  virus but do not show any other countries are including al death toll mounts and billions remain under some form of lock-   PB  -   symptoms and can cause spo- asymptomatic cases in their down. Google, a company renowned for its elaborate annual stunts, & +!  radic clusters of infections. In a number of confirmed cases for told its employees it would “take the year off from that tradition &   % & 
 surprise announcement on their potential to infect others. out of respect for all those fighting the Covid-19 pandemic,”    1   % Tuesday, China’s National Hong Kong-based South China according to an internal email obtained by Business Insider. &       Health Commission (NHC) Morning Post reported that the The deadly outbreak has already been accompanied by a del-       said it would begin to release the data suggested that by the end of uge of online misinformation, making it harder for governments        data of asymptomatic patients. February, more than 43,000 peo- to keep their citizens safe. Some are now threatening jail for virus   A total of 1,541 asymptomatic ple in mainland China had test- pranks. Taiwan, which has been held up as a model for how to  0 0! )  ! patients infected with COVID- ed positive for the coronavirus tackle an outbreak, warned people who spread false rumours that     19 have been put under medical but had no immediate symp- they faced up to three years in jail and a TW$3 million fine        
 observation in China by the end toms. They were not included in ($100,000). !   
 of Monday, including 205 the official tally of the con- “On April Fools’ Day we can exercise our sense of humour @!        imported cases, state-run firmed cases. There is no official if we have to but we can’t make jokes on the pandemic to avoid      Xinhua news agency quoted the explanation why these cases breaking the law,” President Tsai Ing-wen posted on Facebook   
   ! NHC in a statement. have not been included earlier. alongside a photo of one of her cats. AFP  .1>+'6K      "66"     % &   ! !        
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   9((> Any reductions in pollu- conference. much,” he said. world will start going back to down to an “artificial halt” to reflected on China shutting PB777     tion and carbon dioxide emis- Riishojgaard said there was While in the short term, work and with that, the CO2 normal activity. down much industrial pro-  & /* .  9  hough factories have shut, sions are likely to be temporary, a lot of media speculation carbon dioxide emissions emissions will pick up again, “You could see it as maybe duction during the Beijing      Tplanes have been ground- said Lars Peter Riishojgaard, about what impact the global would go down as cars stay put maybe or maybe not to quite science experiment: what hap- 2008 Olympics.       ed and cars left in the garage, from the infrastructure depart- pandemic might have on the and aircraft remain on the the same level.” pens if all of a sudden we turn “They demonstrated very        the coronavirus pandemic is ment of the WMO, a United climate, greenhouse gas emis- ground, “we expect the impact He said visibility in cities the whole thing off?” said clearly that you can    @ having very little impact on cli- Nations agency based in sions and longer-term global will be fairly short-lived,” such as New Delhi had Riishojgaard. absolutely, if you have enough L   M     mate change, the World Geneva. warming. Riishojgaard said. improved because there were “It will lead some people, control over the situation, you    
  ! Meteorological Organization “It does not mean much for “The answer to that is it “The pandemic will be fewer traffic-emitting fumes, and perhaps also some gov- can turn off the air pollution,” said Wednesday. climate,” he told a virtual press probably does not mean very over at some point and the but cautioned that it was only ernments, to rethink.” He he said.  -    ! !  %23   + =2 
 

 
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 =(?9 People’s Republic of China. various fields, and constantly benefits to the two countries ber of areas, including political, benefit serve the fundamental     In his message to Kovind, improving coordination on and contribute more positive economic and people-to-peo- interests of the two countries hina-India relations are Xi said China-India relations important regional and inter- energy to Asia as well as the ple ties. and peoples and will benefit Cstanding at a new starting have experienced “extraordi- national affairs, Xi, who held world, state-run Xinhua news Messages of felicitations Asia and the world.    P  point and facing new oppor- nary development” during the two informal summits with agency reported. were exchanged between the Modi, in his message to Li, tunities, Chinese President Xi past 70 years. With joint efforts Prime Minister Narendra Modi President Kovind, in his presidents, prime ministers said coravirus pandemic is a Jinping said on Wednesday, of both sides, the two countries in Wuhan and later in letter to his Chinese counter- and external affairs ministers of reminder of the interconnect-   =/, that a “technical team” was in exchanging congratulatory have established a strategic Mamallapuram in 2018 and part Xi, conveyed warm greet- India and China on the occa- ed nature of the world and the Kabul purely to facilitate the messages with his Indian coun- and cooperative partnership 2019 which stabilised the bilat- ings, felicitations and good sion of the 70th anniversary of need for adopting a global fghan Government repre- prisoner swap, and not for terpart Ram Nath Kovind on for peace and prosperity, and eral ties, said. Xi said he attach- wishes to the government and the establishment of diplomat- response to it. Modi also said Asentatives have met with additional negotiations. the 70th anniversary of bilateral are endeavouring to build an es great importance to the the people of China. ic relations between the two good bilateral relations are the Taliban in Kabul for the “The prisoners to be diplomatic ties. even closer partnership of development of bilateral rela- He noted that the two sides countries. conducive not only for the first time to discuss a prisoner released should be those whose On April 1, 1950, India development, he said. tions with India and is willing have made considerable In his message to Prime two countries, but also impor- swap aimed at jump-starting a names are on the list... That is became the first non-socialist The two sides enjoy to work with President Kovind progress, especially in the last Minister Modi, Chinese tant from the perspective of floundering peace process, offi- why our technical team is there... country in Asia to establish increasingly deepening bilateral to elevate China-India ties to a few years, in enhancing their Premier Li Keqiang said friend- peace, stability and prosperity cials said on Wednesday. It is not a negotiation, and there diplomatic relations with the exchanges and cooperation in higher level, so as to bring more bilateral engagement in a num- ly cooperation and mutual of the region and the world. The two sides met on will be no political talks there”, Tuesday and would meet again Mujahid said. Washington on Wednesday for further talks signed a deal with the Taliban in being observed by the late February that promised the (    
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   *-9&1 said it would increase exports barrels per day under an out- ket; it will also make it harder Office of the National Security July next year, provided the further to a record 10.6 million put reduction agreement for renewable energy to com- Council said on Twitter. Taliban start talks with Kabul Beirut: The war in Syria killed more than double that of S President Donald Trump barrels per day from May, among a 24-member produc- pete with fossil fuels,” said “The two sides held face- and adhere to other guarantees. 103 civilians in March, marking March in February, when a Usaid on Tuesday he was deepening a global supply glut er alliance known as OPEC+, Bernard Haykel, a Saudi expert to-face negotiations about the The deal required the the lowest monthly non-com- regime offensive on Syria’s last ready to help resolve an esca- as crude recorded its biggest which included Russia. at Princeton University. release of Afghan National Afghan Government — which batant death toll since the start major rebel bastion was still in lating oil price war between monthly and quarterly price OPEC+ failed to reach an The price war has also hit Defense and Security Force was not a signatory to the of the conflict in 2011, a war full swing. According to the Russia and Saudi Arabia that plunges in history. agreement on further produc- shale oil producers in the US, personnel as well as Taliban accord — to free 5,000 Taliban monitor said on Wednesday. Observatory, the number of has helped push crude bench- Trump said he had spoken tion cuts to shore up sagging with Trump telling Tuesday’s prisoners,” the security council prisoners and for the insurgents Of the total deaths, some 51 deaths that month stood at 275. marks to 17-year lows. with his Russian counterpart prices as the coronavirus bat- press conference that the pro- said. It was the first time the to release 1,000 pro-govern- people were killed in shelling The war in Syria has left more The threat of a global Vladimir Putin and Saudi tered the global economy last duction dispute threatened hardline Islamists had been ment captives in return. The and air strikes by the Syrian than 380,000 people dead since recession triggered by the coro- Crown Prince Mohammed Bin month. “thousands and thousands” of invited to Kabul to meet direct- imbalance is one of many regime, the Britain-based Syrian it started nine years ago. navirus pandemic had already Salman by phone with the aim Analysts say Riyadh is jobs. ly with Government officials aspects of the agreement that Observatory for Human Rights The highest civilian death hammered prices when of halting the slide. engaged in a deliberate long- In a letter last week to US since they were toppled in the observers say gives the Taliban said. The bulk of the remaining toll recorded in a month since Riyadh said last month it would “The two countries are term strategy to capture greater Secretary of State Mike US-led invasion of 2001. The the better bargain. The swap casualties were caused either by the start of the conflict was raise exports after a produc- discussing it. And I am joining market share by pressuring its Pompeo, a group of US sena- two sides had spoken previ- was supposed to have taken explosive remnants or mysteri- 1,590 in July 2016, when bat- tion-cut agreement among top at the appropriate time, if need high-cost rivals. tors accused Saudi Arabia and ously in a videoconference to place by March 10, at which ous “assassinations”, the tles between rebels and the producers flopped in early be,” Trump said. “Saudi policy will not just Russia of waging “economic discuss the prisoner issue. point peace talks between the Observatory added. regime raged in the northern March. Saudi Arabia had been drive more expensive forms of warfare against the United Taliban spokesman Taliban and the government The civilian death toll was province of Aleppo. AFP On Monday, Saudi Arabia exporting around 7.0 million oil production out of the mar- States”. Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP were meant to begin. "# (  

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5" reported a double-digit decline Sales of utility vehicles, Covid-19 and the disruption in nationwide lockdown, Tata in domestic sales last month. including Vitara Brezza, S- our BS-VI ramp-up plan,” Motors Passenger Vehicles ?(=*2
  
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  maker MSI saw its domestic declined 53.4 per cent to 11,904 (Automotive Division) Veejay Mayank Pareek said.    wholesales dip 46.4 per cent at units in March. Ram Nakra said. Similarly, TKM said its 79,080 units last month as Hyundai Motor India The latter was planned domestic sales declined 45 per " (; cent), Axis Bank (5.50 per cent) with losses. BSE IT, teck,  ( +(,- against 1,47,613 units in March reported 40.69 per cent decline between February and March cent to 7,023 units last month and SBI (5.26 per cent). bankex, telecom, finance, 2019. Sales of mini-cars com- in domestic sales last month at but was affected due to the as compared to 12,818 units in **  Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj FMCG and power indices fell he country’s leading car prising Alto and WagonR in 26,300 units, compared with challenges of parts’ supply from March 2019. Auto, Bajaj Finance and Titan up to 5.58 per cent. Tmakers Maruti Suzuki March 2020 stood at 15,988 44,350 units in March 2019. global and local suppliers, he “Even though the compa-  )/)= were the only gainers, spurting Broader BSE midcap and India (MSI) and Hyundai units as compared to 16,826 Similarly, M&M reported added. ny has been long successful in up to 2.21 per cent. smallcap indices ended up to Motor reported steep drop in units in the same month last 90 per cent sales drop in the Tata Motors said its total liquidating all BS-IV stock and arkets began the new fis- According to traders, 2.18 per cent lower. Domestic sales in March as the transition year, down 5 per cent. domestic market in March to domestic sales were down 84 transitioning to a 100 per cent Mcal with yet another domestic equities plunged in auto majors like Maruti Suzuki to BS-VI emission norms and Similarly, sales of compact 6,130 units. It had sold 59,012 per cent at 11,012 units as com- BS-VI manufacturing facility, bruising selloff on Wednesday tandem with global stocks as and Hyundai reported up to 47 the COVID-19 lockdown segment, including models units in March 2019. pared to 68,727 units in March last month has been very chal- as global sentiment remained no respite from the coron- per cent decline in March sales, impacted the dispatches. such as Swift, Celerio, Ignis, “Our performance in last year. lenging for us, both in terms of grim due to the Covid-19 pan- avirus pandemic seemed in hit by the coronavirus-trig- Tata Motors, Mahindra & Baleno and Dzire, fell 50.9 per March has been muted on Passenger vehicles’ sales sales as well as production,” demic. Reversing the previous sight. Extensive lockdowns to gered lockdown and weak con- Mahindra (M&M) and Toyota cent to 40,519 units, against account of the impact of the were affected by the COVID- TKM Senior Vice-President session’s gains, the 30-share contain the spread of the virus sumer sentiment. Kirloskar Motor (TKM) also 82,532 cars in March 2019. current lockdown related to 19 outbreak and the subsequent Naveen Soni said. BSE barometer Sensex slumped have severely hit business out- 1,203.18 points or 4.08 per cent look, they said. to finish at 28,265.31. Around the world, total /  
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   cent, to close at 8,253.80. deaths have crossed 42,000.  
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 = O cases pointed to the tough ative global markets and also   /@ A/@ !    '!  road ahead for the world econ- domestic uncertainties with New Delhi: Shares of public The broader market New Delhi: The Cellular !  ! !   omy. Dismal auto sales num- regards to banks’ stressed assets sector banks closed the day on depicted a weak trend, with the  ( +(,- on Wednesday. Operators Association of India ! L !M   !  bers and reports of India miss- and auto numbers. FIIs have a mixed note after the mega 30-share BSE barometer tank- The Government has settled (COAI) said, here on      ing its fiscal deficit targets by a net sold around 62,000 crore merger of PSU lenders came ing 1,203.18 points or 4.08 per ST collections in March 19,718 crore to CGST and Wednesday, no additional spec-  
  O    wide margin further sapped in Equity in March and with into effect from Wednesday. cent to close at 28,265.31. Gslipped below the psy- 14,915 crore to SGST from trum was required for main-  % & = !   investor confidence here, virus infections increasing, As per the mega consoli- The consolidation exercise chological 1 lakh crore-mark IGST as regular settlement. The taining the network stability and   ! @ traders said. markets are anticipating a dation plan, Oriental Bank of assumes significance as it took for the first time in four months total revenue earned by the quality. COAI Director General   !  '!  ! ' Tech Mahindra was the top worsening of the situation,” Commerce and United Bank of place at a time when the entire to 97,597 crore as COVID-19 Central Government and State Rajan Mathews said over the !   !   loser in the Sensex pack, crash- said Vinod Nair, Head of India merged into Punjab country is under the grip of the lockdown that shut most busi- Governments after regular set- past few days, the industry has          ing 9.21 per cent, followed by Research at Geojit Financial National Bank (PNB); COVID-19 outbreak, which nesses compounded tax col- tlement in March, 2020 is seen flattening of traffic demand       !   Kotak Bank (8.81 per cent), TCS Services. Syndicate Bank into Canara has triggered a 21-day lock- lection woes in an already 41,901 crore for CGST and on members’ networks.  .1>+'6K % &  ' (6.23 per cent), Infosys (5.65 per All sectoral indices ended Bank; Andhra Bank and down. State-owned Punjab sluggish economy. 43,516 crore for the SGST, it The clarification comes days  !   L!  ! Corporation Bank into Union National bank on Wednesday Goods and Services Tax added. The ministry further after the telecom operators K    =      Bank of India; and Allahabad said all nation-wide branches of (GST) mop-up in March said that GST revenues from requested the Department of , M * =    @#  7 (
"    Bank into Indian Bank. United Bank of India and recorded a 8.4 per cent decline domestic transactions has Telecommunications (DoT) for      ) %  Shares of Punjab National Oriental Bank of Commerce over March 2019 collection of shown a negative growth of 4 per additional spectrum to meet the 4    Bank dropped 5.72 per cent, has started functioning as PNB 1.06 lakh crore. The collec- cent over March, 2019. Taking rising load on networks due to   while Canara Bank fell mar- branches. The amalgamation tions were lower on account of into account the GST collected the nationwide lockdown. As   ginally by 0.17 per cent on the of Punjab National Bank, dip in revenues from domestic from import of goods, the total streaming services and over-the-    BSE. In contrast, Indian Bank United Bank of India and transactions as well as imports. revenue during March, 2020 has top platforms had reduced con- " ;$) 9"#4 )#$)")# gained 1.86 per cent and Union Oriental Bank of Commerce In the last four months — also decreased by 8 per cent over tent from HD to SD and telecom London: Stock markets sank Bank of India rose marginally has come into effect from November 2019-February 2020 March, 2019. operators had also taken other  ( +(,- on Wednesday after US by 0.17 per cent. April 1, 2020. PTI — GST collection surpassed During this month, the GST measures, pressure on the net- President Donald Trump the 1 lakh crore-mark. In on import of goods has shown work had eased, he said. IANS hree-month moratorium warned of “a very, very February, mop-up was 1.05 a negative growth of (-) 23 per Ton EMI payments offered painful two weeks” to come 6)&'0&0 lakh crore, January (1.10 lakh cent as compared to March, by banks is unlikely to bring for the United States, whose crore), December (1.03 lakh 2019, the ministry added. For  much relief to borrowers hit by coronavirus death toll has   .//  2 crore) and November ( 1.03 the full financial year 2019-20, COVID-19 lockdowns as they overtaken that of China. & .1>+'6K  !        lakh crore). The number of the GST from domestic trans- will have to bear the extra cost European equities fell           01(9+  .  GST returns filed during action has shown a growth rate of interest charged by lenders hard, with London down 3.7 & ! /           "P# March was 76.5 lakh, lower of 8 per cent over the revenues and a longer repayment peri- per cent in afternoon trading.   %     .   .  01(9+  than 83 lakh filed in February in the preceding year. During od, according to experts. Tokyo earlier closed down 4.5   687    0! ) O .     — reflecting poor compliance. 2019-20, GST from import on Experts feel that the three- per cent. Wall Street opened   (!  *  I0)'.(*J       O “The gross GST revenue goods fell by 8 per cent as com- month moratorium on repay- sharply lower, with the Dow      
% collected in the month of pared to the previous year. ment on loans to help people falling 4.0 per cent. Adding to March, 2020 is 97,597 crore of Overall, gross GST revenues fight the impact of coronavirus the gloom, UK banks axed which CGST is 19,183 crore, grew at 4 per cent year-on-year.    & F/  2  seems to be benefiting banks billions of pounds in share- &  .1>+'6K SGST is 25,601 crore, IGST is Tax experts, however, rather than borrowers as they holder dividends and stock 44,508 crore (including raised concern that GST col-  !              will have to pay accumulated buybacks after the Bank of !        ! 18,056 crore collected on lection number is likely to interest through increased England requested the move imports) and Cess is 8,306 decline further next month on % -0. ,!  O !  number of EMIs. to boost liquidity as part of     !     crore (including 841 crore account of disruption in eco- It is an expensive propo- measures to stimulate the -+.         collected on imports),” a nomic activity due to COVID- sition for any borrower to opt virus-hit economy.    B7 .   ! .*   finance ministry statement said 19 outbreak. for three-month suspension as Investor sentiment in 5 "76K'"7   5 "7"7'"6   0) announced by the Europe was also knocked by .(*      ! .  
%  *  .)+ -0. RBI under the relief measures poor manufacturing survey  L1   B7     0) .(*      to mitigate the hardship of data, jangling market nerves           .1>+'6K % -0.   those hit by the outbreak of before Friday’s key US non- -+.     !           COVID-19 pandemic. farm payrolls figures. The   "P  #         !      Last Friday, the RBI had euro dropped against the ! !  %M announced that all term loans, dollar and pound. “Trump’s including retail and crop loans warning is the primary dri-      %  GH and working capital payments, ver of today’s downturn,” + ! 0   will be covered by the three- Oanda analyst Craig Erlam   +  I-J &0. month moratorium. Banks told AFP. “It’s such a shift  % 0      will now have discretion in from his previous views on    
 !    deciding the limits on work- the impact of the coron-           - ing capital, with the RBI say- avirus and finally an accep-   %           ing that no payment miss tance of how severe the sit- I)  )    F .-0 1 J should be considered a default uation is.” Asian bourses also   (!  +
 !  .  I(+.J  and reported to credit infor- dropped after a dire first            mation companies. quarter for markets. AFP     -     6KK#%

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    !       =D )D       * D   &  ,   ! AYURVEDIC +O        + )% !% )O     ' !  
        
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 an you recall the last time you     ' stepped out with your children    Chappily? When did you last shop  !   for yourself? Don’t you miss the coffee breaks with your colleagues? Well, this     conversation might seem far-removed  Use napkins, tissue paper while sneez-     D  from present day reality when the ing and throw them in the bin after use. !
% +  world is facing a crisis. A large part of  Try not to come in contact with any     the world, which wakes up to empty animal. !  ' streets due to COVID-19, has accepted  Drink hot water, also called ushan Jal    the lockdown and empty grocery stores in Ayurveda. It is easily digestible and as a way of life. removes toxins from the body. It also  !   ' The virus has become a social and helps to maintain the immunity of the      economic threat due to its global impact. body and protects it from viral infec-      It has changed the way we eat, socialise, tions and respiratory problems — one M work, play and travel. But what is even of the symptoms of the virus. more scary is that we have not found its cure yet. Doctors and practitioners are    &     still in the process of researching on a  & $ )# vaccine for this virus. Amidst all this You need to focus on building crisis, there are experts who feel that fol- immunity not just to fight Coronavirus  
 lowing some Ayurvedic ways and build- but all diseases caused by bacteria and    ; ing immunity can help us fight this viruses. “You must have seen that many virus. people fall ill frequently or have cough )  ) most of the time while some rarely fall P  &%  % ill. This difference is because of the   %   = immune system. The ones with weak In Ayurveda, strong digestion plays immunity frequently fall ill,” says Acharya /
 4) a vital role in fighting against any virus Manish.

$  and disease. Opting for a healthier He adds that adding tulsi, guduchi lifestyle and shifting towards organic and turmeric in diet can help in increas- # =)P$ products are important steps to fight the ing the immunity of the body. Eating $###   = pandemic. Besides this, here are some healthy food is the first step towards $;)  P tips by Ayurveda expert, Acharya boosting immunity. One should also Manish: consume citrus fruits like oranges and  =4";  As we all know, this is the time of grapes regularly. They have vitamin $ + Navratra and people are fasting. Though C which is believed to be effec- tea. One can make it at home with gin- people usually do it because of religious tive in increasing the produc- ger, tulsi leaves and honey. These ingre-  %  &%
  / reasons but fasting at least once a week tion of white blood cells. dients are good for the respiratory sys- It is one of the oldest systems of tra- $ 4) ) P is good for health. It detoxifies the body Broccoli also helps in tem and immunity too. Not only this, ditonal medicine. The ancient wisdom in and improves the immunity. increasing the immunity these also give the added benefit of stress this system has the potential to cure any ;;
   During fast eat salads, vegetables, dry of the body as it contains relief. disease. But Acharya Manish questions ##   = fruit, seeds, coconut water and herbal vitamin A, C, E and a lot Herbs like brahmi, ashwagandha, that why have people forgotten Ayurveda L& 1   tea. This diet may prevent the spread of of fibre. jatamansi, sankhpuhspi, sarpgandha are and it’s importance? Well, probably the virus. Ayurvedacharya Dr also great for reducing stress. because it works slowly and people want  Take ayurvedic herbs such as giloy, Partap Chauhan, direc- faster results.    turmeric, ashwagandha, tulsi and amla. tor, Jiva Ayurveda, says &   & “In this fast-paced life people are   They are effective in improving the that one should ditch “Yoga is no longer a lifestyle fad, it’s sticking to allopathic medicines more as !   !  ' immunity. regular tea. As we a necessity. Fix 30 minutes every morn- they give faster results. This is because it         Since the virus is caused by coming work from home, our ing for yoga. Composing your mind in only kills the symptoms of the disease. On in contact with infected patients, avoid routines have gone for the morning will fortify it for stress the other hand, Ayurveda works on the      % that and follow hygiene guidelines like a toss. To cope with assaults all day long. Pick a calm spot root cause. We need to focus on the fact *    frequent handwashing and isolating work stress, we increase in your home, like your balcony or that Ayurveda has a solution for all the   D 
' oneself if there are any symptoms. our caffeine doses. But it is near an open window and practice diseases. It takes time but cures the dis-        Avoid heavy meals, eggs, meat and time we replace our regular Padmasana, Shavashana and other eases properly without any side effects,” fish these days. caffeine dose with an Ayurvedic forms,” says Dr Partap. adds Acharya Manish.
          !  !  !  % ctor Priyanka Chopra Jonas has L(
      ' Adecided to donate $100,000 along with the organisation BON V!V Spiked
   %    !        Seltzer to the women out there who are ! !     ! working for the betterment of society     !     amid the coronavirus pandemic. "    *   !      !  Taking to her Instagram Story, Priyanka revealed that she was sup-           posed to launch a promotional cam- *      *    ! 
      paign with the brand in the next few  !     weeks but due to the coronavirus pan- NO    
    demic, she decided to halt the plan. She will now use the resources for the four    NOM   women who are in need.      % She posted a video in which is seen    requesting her users to nominate such women. “Our worlds changed quick- *  $# ly, and needless to say, we couldn’t go  
  " #$#  forward with our original plans to launch this campaign. Each week I’ll ricket is not just a sport, it is the heart of     go live with @BONVIVSeltzer to CIndians. It’s something that unites us.  !     
 share the stories of four women who With its mission to inspire creativity and bring are overcoming the struggles of our joy, TikTok, a platform for short format videos     ! &% new realities in their own powerful has become the go-to platform for cricketers &     ! way. If you know a woman we should from all over to explore their fun and creative     highlight, visit the link in my bio for side.  !    ' next steps. We are all in this together. Cricketers such as 
 &   #togetherwomenrise #partner,” Suresh Raina, Priyanka wrote. Yuzvendra Chahal,     ! The actor also issued a statement, Virender Sehwag,   ==.  which read: “If you know a woman we Irfan Pathan,     should highlight, share her story with Mohammad Shami, !  us, whether she is in the service Chris Gayle and Yusuf industry, from a large business, small also donated  1 crore to Prime Pathan have joined     business owner, or first responders on Minister Narendra Modi’s relief fund TikTok to showcase   ' the front lines. We want to commem- and Chief Minister’s (Maharashtra) their talent apart from 
    ' orate her. #TogetherWomenRise.” relief fund, to lend support to the cricket. Many of them 
% The actor and her husband Nick ongoing battle with COVID-19 pan- can be seen experi-   Jonas have also donated to organisa- demic. menting with the new tions like the PM-CARES Fund, He also shared a note on filters available on the platform such as subma-  
  Unicef, Feeding America and Goonj. Instagram: “While I am blessed rine game, zoom my face and halloween, mak-    There are several other actors enough to be seated with my loved ing fun and comedy videos. They can also be    from the industry who are doing ones in the comforts of my home, there seen participating in the ongoing challenges and    their bit. Actor Ajay Devgn will also are many who are not as fortunate. In sharing their fitness regime, inspiring millions  !' be donating 51 lakh to Federation this time of crisis, I humbly pledge to on the platform. of Western India Cine Employees contribute an amount of  1 crore to With over three million followers on     ' (FWICE) to aid daily wage film work- PM-CARES and Maharashtra Chief TikTok, India’s finest right-arm-leg spinner, !    ers, who have been left without jobs others wanting to provide monetary Filmmaker Rohit Shetty subse- Minister Relief Fund. We are in this Chahal is a big hit on TikTok. His comedy      due to the lockdown amid the ongo- help. We are providing them the quently donated  51 lakh to FWICE. together and we’ll win this together. Let videos and fun banter with fellow cricketers   !% - ing coronavirus pandemic. account details. I hope more and Frames Production Company and us all do our bit for a healthier and leaves his fans in splits of laughter. Sharing his  L  @ Confirming the news, Ashok more people come forward to help Shashi Sumit Productions have also stronger future.” experience on TikTok, Chahal said, “It is amaz- Dubey, general secretary of FWICE, daily wage workers,” Dubey added. provided ration and money for the Many Bollywood celebrities like ing to be on this platform as it helps me explore !  % O  said: “Ajay has pledged to donate  51 Bollywood superstar Salman Khan cause. FWICE will utilise all the Akshay Kumar, Kartik Aaryan, Diljit my fun side. I’ve come across some users who   ! O
  lakh to FWICE. I’m glad that people was the first industry bigwig who took donated money to help its daily wage Dosanjh, Anushka Sharma among are sharing different and exciting content. I’ve  !   like Ajay and Rohit (Shetty) are help- the initiative to help the 25,000-odd workers like junior artistes, stunt many others have come forward to also collaborated with some talented creators    !%M ing the daily wage workers who need daily wage workers of the film indus- artistes, light men, and spot boys contribute monetarily in these times on the platform and was stunned to see their it the most during the downtime. We try whose lives have been affected amongst others. of crisis. dedication and creativity to always deliver the have received more enquiries from owing to the lockdown. Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal L#/ best.”

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     n the wake of the nation-wide would be anxious to know about the   -  1 lockdown amid the ongoing results so that they don’t miss out on / -  ICoronavirus pandemic, children college admissions in India and       missing out on their education is a abroad. However, there shouldn’t be     huge cause of concern for parents and any concern or anxiety as all the   P -*H5 teachers. However, the Ministry of boards have deferred the examina- Human Resource Development tions and as soon as the condition is /- #1 %   ?
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 4   the country. Amit Khare, secretary of ed material for their state in their own Another major initiative of NIOS is last two years but now this facility will dents to log in to the online materi- +     education, Government of India, language. the running of four DTH TV chan- be expanded to students. Santosh al, which has been prepared by      personally discussed the plan with the Similarly, the NIOS has made the nels on the SwayamPrabha bouquet Mall, commissioner, Kendriya expert teachers and media profes-    !"#$%&'5 organisations and given directions to content available for secondary and of channels. While Channel 27 Panini Vidyalaya, has assured to provide sionals.” 
   =>   work on a contingency plan. senior secondary classes on the is dedicated to secondary classes, experts and teachers, who would be He added, “It has also been      8>  The CBSE has developed the ‘SWAYAM’ portal of the MHRD Channel 28 Sharda is dedicated to available to take questions through made compulsory for all cable oper-     # < ‘DIKSHA’ portal, through which aca- (www.swayam.gov.in/nios). Through senior secondary and Channel 30 calls on Vagda channel. Anita Karwal, ators to carry DD channels. We     -$ demic lessons in various Indian lan- the portal, learners can log in and Gyanamrit to sign language. There is chairperson, CBSE, is coordinating have also requested to the I&B   5 @!  guages have been placed for different study courses of their choice and also also Channel 32 Vagda which will be with all the three organisations to Ministry to instruct cable operators 
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     ed into two major areas — for teach- lessons. Later, they can also take The NIOS is also starting live ses- school children across the nation. This will be a great service to the    
        ers and students. Students from dif- online tests. The course-coordinating sions for students to ask questions and Parents, whose children sat for approximately 25 crore school-level         
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TPC Ltd, India’s largest cured requisite number of Sundergarh in Odisha. Korba all the projects and stations. to the district hospitals to pro- have been asked to treat the Npower producer, has equipment for the medical Hospital is also being exam- A total of eight ventilators vide foods to nearby localities workers’ absence in these stepped up its vigil against staff to handle such cases effec- ined to be taken over by the are being procured at through NGOs and also for extraordinary circumstances global pandemic of COVID-19 tively. state government. Hazaribagh for district admin- providing essential medicine in as on duty. As far as wages are by converting its hospitals into As many as 121 beds, with The medical staff has also istration. Additionally, there Primary Health Cares (PHCs). concerned, there will be no dedicated Coronavirus units. all facilities, have been turned been trained over video calls are 18 Advanced Level Similarly, NTPC Rihand hindrance and they will be R K Singh, Minister of into isolation wards in these about the use of Personal Ambulances (ALAs) with ven- has assured adequate funds for given timely. In some cases, State (I/c) of Power, New and hospitals. The key medical Protective Equipment (PPE). tilators. distribution of sanitisers and including advances have Renewable Energy and infrastructure is been provid- Mock drills are getting con- It has contributed funds to other protective equipment. already been given. Minister of State of Skill ed by state governments to ducted at all hospitals as per the district administration of The requirement of con- Accommodation, food and Development, has decided to tackle COVID-19 cases, MOHFW guidelines. NTECL Vallur for procuring tractor workers has also been medical facilities for the con- utilise NTPC’s 45 hospitals including the hospital at Furthermore, 1,160 PPEs, 1,000 bedsheets for a hospital. rationalised at NTPC projects tractor workers have also been and healthcare units to make Badarpur in Delhi and the 30,000 masks and 30,000 At NTPC Bhilai, funds stations in accordance with the arranged at many of NTPC’s ;#  / B;#/C   < isolation facilities and pro- medical college hospital of gloves have been dispatched to have been reserved for support GOI guidelines. The agencies project stations. ?
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         &GH Ilockdown due to COVID-19 pan- LIC of India has contributed 200 crore to the Prime Minister’s scale. The design is being shared with   
     5#  demic, the Delhi Development 105 crore to PM-CARES Fund for Citizen Assistance and Relief in all other units of BHEL so that it can       
 !"#$%&'% ! 5N Authority (DDA) has declared that the supporting the efforts of the Emergency Situations Fund (PM- be adapted and used by them as well. monthly membership subscription, Government of India in fighting CARES Fund) to support the battle Also, three-ply masks have been monthly user charges and monthly COVID-19. Out of the 105 crore, against COVID-19. PFC’s employ- made in-house by the company’s coaching fees will not be charged at 5 crore has been donated from LIC’s ees will voluntarily contribute a Jhansi unit to meet the requirement DDA’s sports complexes and golf cours- Golden Jubilee Fund. day’s salary to further strengthen the of the unit’s hospital, guest house, es during the period. The deduction In a statement, LIC’s chairman, nation’s fight against the dreaded dis- security guards and employees work- would be made on pro rata basis. All MR Kumar said, “India is facing a ease. ing under essential services. caddies at DDA Qutab Golf Course and huge challenge in wake of the glob- Earlier, PFC had agreed to pro- Bhalaswa Golf Course, who are not al pandemic. LIC is committed to the vide financial assistance of 50 lakh  paid by management, are also being welfare of India and the people. to Indian Red Cross Society in NHDC, the largest hyrdo power given daily relief of `250 during the Living up to our motto Rajasthan. Under the CSR Initiative, generating company in Madhya lockdown. ‘Yogakshemam Vahamyaham’, which PFC’s financial aid will be used for Pradesh, has contributed 10 crore means ‘your welfare is my responsi- distribution of masks and sanitisers from its CSR fund to PM-CARES bility’, we promise our solidarity with as a part of preventive measures fund to combat the crisis of ( 
 the efforts of the Government and against COVID-19. Coronavirus. will take every step to ensure safety PFC and its employees remain NHDC has also sanctioned 50 / $   B/$ C      and security of people.” vigilant and alert in these testing lakh to District Administrations in  
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     0      implementation of all precautionary Corona in the district. Being a     &>>>>     5    The CGWWA contributed 1.5 measures to deal with the pandem- socially responsible corporate,  &>>   /$  :>> he Government of India has decid- lakh to PM-CARES Fund to further ic. approximately 15 lakh have been    &=>>    5* / Ted to provide Pradhan Mantri Garib strengthen the Government of India’s earmarked for sufficient distribution NMDC Limited, declared that      B0C/$  #! P   50  Kalyan Package, an insurance scheme efforts in tackling the pandemic of  of hand sanitisers, face masks, they will contribute 150 crore to the M#!P     5    cover of 50 lakh for 22.12 lakh public COVID-19. BHEL has made a contribution healthcare items, food grains in the PM-CARES Fund to help in the fight           5N healthcare providers for 90 days includ- CGWWA, with its motto ‘Self of 7 crore through its CSR funds, project areas of NHDC. A total of 5 against COVID-19. This will be the ing community health workers, who Help’, aims at empowering ICG while its employees have made a lakh have also been provided to biggest support offered by any PSE may come into direct contact of women through varied educational humble contribution of donating Sewa-Bharti in Bhopal for distribu- in the country to help the fight        $((  COVID-19 patients. They are at high and skill development programmes. their one-day salary to the PM- tion of food packets to the needy. against Corona so far. N Baijendra risk of being impacted by this. CGWWA has also been extending CARES Fund to bolster the fight Apart from this, employees of Kumar, IAS, CMD, NMDC, said, he competent authority of the Council of Architecture has New India Assurance Company their assistance to women and chil- against this unprecedented medical NHDC have also pledged to con- “Coronavirus is one of the biggest Tdecided to postpone the first test of National Aptitude Test Limited is providing this insurance dren from the underprivileged soci- emergency. tribute one day’s salary to fight the challenges that our country has in Architecture (NATA 2020), which was scheduled to be held cover. Private hospital staff, volunteers, ety through various schemes. It Significantly, BHEL’s Ranipet disease. faced and has been unprecedented in on April 19. The new date of the examination will be announced local urban bodies, daily wage, ad hoc, actively took part in sensitising the unit has developed in-house a spray its severity. We at NMDC, has after the period of complete lockdown amid COVID-19 is over. outsourced, contractual, retired employ- local populace about the preventive assembly that atomises the sanitising %  always been at the forefront in times It has also been decided to extend the registration date upto ees, and staff requisitioned by the measures to be adopted against liquid and can be used for mass sani- To help the nation win the bat- of need for the country. But the April 15. Other important dates such as image uploads allowed states’ or central hospitals or spread of COVID-19. tisation to combat Coronavirus, tle over COVID-19, RVNL has con- biggest need is at this time is to be till, fee payment, candidate correction window, publication of autonomous hospitals of central, state while consuming comparatively less tributed 5 crore CSR Fund to PM- united and strengthen the hands of admit card, also stands revised. The candidates and parents are or UTs, AIIMS and INIs/ hospitals of  liquid. It has been named Bhelmister CARES Fund. RVNL employees the Government of India. Together advised to kindly regularly visit the websites for latest updates. central ministries, will be covered      G H and has been donated to the local have also voluntarily contributed we will be able to defeat this pan- under this scheme. PFC, the NBFC in the power administration of Ranipet for sani- one-day salary for the same. demic.” #     8'"   +/   
  ndia’s top economists, social households. Iscientists, workers’ organisa- - Three to four fold tions and former civil servants increase of the current short- teel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) have appealed for urgent inter- term relief package for impact-      Shas mobilised a large number of vention from PM/CM of states ed informal workers. healthcare services across all five of its to ameliorate the impact on Amid the Coronavirus main hospitals located in the five integrat- Vulnerable Workers and pandemic, while welcoming he Ordnance Factory Board placed an order of 13,000 litres ed steel plants to fight the Coronavirus Populations induced by the central government’s 1.7 Tis in the forefront to fight of hand sanitiser. This is being pandemic. COVID-19 lockout. The mea- trillion package and various COVID-19. The first batch manufactured in a number of The five hospitals include JLN sures are as follows: measures taken by the State comprising 1,500 litre of hand factories. Hospital & Research Centre at Bhilai, - The Centre and States governments, the Indian sanitiser was despatched by Hand sanitisers which con- Durgapur Steel Plant Main Hospital at together should try and ensure Society of Labour Economics the Cordite Factory tain ethanol can only be Durgapur, Ispat General Hospital at a minimum transfer of at least (ISLE) and the signatories to Aruvankadu in Tamil Nadu to processed in a cool environ- Rourkela, Bokaro General Hospital at 6,000 per month to each JDY this letter strongly appeal to the Thiruvananthapuram. The ment with proper ventilation Bokaro, and Burnpur Hospital at IISCO, woman account holder with a government of India all these truck was flagged off remotely and requires extensive safety Burnpur. major part borne by the central requests. In the letter to the by the DGOF and chairman, precautions. Various teams of SAIL has also created isolation wards government over the next three Prime Minister and the State Ordnance Factory Board, Hari officers, staff and workmen with 330 beds, necessary facilities for the months. Chief ministers, we have pro- Mohan, from OFBHQ at toiled ceaselessly to establish quarantine with 592 beds, ICU beds along - All State governments posed urgent additional mea- Kolkata. and then scale up the produc- with other necessary health equipment to for utilisation as well. The company is also health units and work areas. SAIL’s should ensure that at least 10 kg sures that are required to Hindustan Latex Limited tion. Apart from hand sanitis- specially deal with the cases of COVID- producing masks through self-help groups Rourkela steel plant is handing over five free ration per month, along address critical gaps that exist (HLL), which has been nomi- er, the units of OFB are also 19 infections. These facilities have been and providing large quantities of masks, ventilator units to Odisha government to with other necessary items, in the short-term relief mea- nated as the nodal agency, has developing masks and coverall. made available to the local administration PPEs and sanitising facilities across all the cater to their requirements as well. are available for all eligible sures announced so far.    ! !  ,

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imbledon organisers on Wednesday scrapped the old- .3 *!  00 West Grand Slam tennis tourna- ment for the first time since World War II as the coronavirus wreaks further “The USTA is carefully monitoring havoc on the global sporting calendar. the rapidly-changing environment sur- The cancellation of the only grass- rounding the COVID-19 pandemic, court major at the All England Club and is preparing for all contingencies.” leaves the season in disarray, with no ten- Organisers had earlier ruled out nis due to be played until mid-July. playing Wimbledon behind closed doors “Devastated,” tweeted eight-time and postponing the event would also champion Roger Federer, while Serena have created its own problems, Williams, who has won the tournament with shorter days later in the seven times, said she was shocked by the English summer.      F (   momentous decision. The cancellation of Wimbledon was due to run for two Wimbledon could mean     C -! weeks from June 29, with Novak multiple champions Djokovic and Simona Halep set to Federer, Serena  India’s T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur has defend their singles titles. Williams and Venus said India’s domestic scructure is “five-six years behind” But tournament chiefs bowed to the Williams have played at Australia and England, adding that skill wise they are inevitable on Wednesday, saying in a the All England Club for the at par with them. statement that they had made the deci- final time. India lost to Australia in the T20 World Cup final sion with “great regret”. Federer and Serena will be nearly by 85 runs last month. All England Club chairman Ian 40 by the time of the 2021 champi- “Definitely we are five-six years behind them in Hewitt said the decision had not been onships and Venus will be 41. these aspects,” Kaur told Mumbai Mirror. taken lightly. Serena, beaten in last year’s final by “But now girls have understood their responsibil- “It has weighed heavily on our Halep, is stuck on 23 Grand Slam sin- ity towards being fit. Earlier there used to be a huge minds that the staging of The       (         :>:>   
  1   - gles titles — agonisingly one away from difference between a domestic player and what is Championships has only been interrupt- equalling Margaret Court’s record. expected at the international level. But now some 30 ed previously by world wars,” he said. take place this year,” she said. “Last year’s ment was widely expected, with the The US Tennis Association respond- The French Tennis Federation girls are given individual programme by the BCCI. “But, following thorough and exten- final will forever be one of the happiest world struggling to contain the spread ed by saying the US Open was still due provoked widespread anger with its “So when one of them is picked for India, she is sive consideration of all scenarios, we days of my life! But we are going of COVID-19. to take place as planned, from August 31 unilateral decision to move the French not clueless about what is expected of her. As we keep believe that it is a measure of this glob- through something bigger than tennis It also prompted the ATP and WTA to September 13. Open from its original May 24 start improving our domestic level, the performances at the al crisis that it is ultimately the right deci- and Wimbledon will be back! And it to cancel the grasscourt swing in the “At this time the USTA still plans to date to begin on September 20. international level will improve. That is why I said we sion to cancel this year’s Championships.” means I have even longer to look forward build-up to Wimbledon, meaning the host the US Open as scheduled, and we That puts the start only one week are five-six years behind these teams because our Halep tweeted her disappointment. to defending my title.” tennis season will not now recom- continue to hone plans to stage the tour- after the planned date of the US Open domestic set-up is not as good as it should be.” “So sad to hear @Wimbledon won’t The decision to cancel the tourna- mence until July 13 at the earliest. nament,” it said in a statement. men’s final. “Now the players are getting more aware about being fit and following the right daily routines,” Kaur said.  ( +(,- The 57kg is led by reigning world points. “The things we have grasped in the last two-three 4+  :     champion and number one from World Championship Silver- years, England and Australia have been doing from tar Indian wrestler Bajrang Russia Zaur Uguev (60 points). medallist Deepak Punia is ranked sec- long before.” Punia is assured of a top- Russian Olympic champion number three with 25 points World runner-up Suleyman Atli ond in 65kg behind Iranian great Kaur said it is more about fitness and not skills Sfour seeding in the 65kg Gadhzimurad Rashidov leads after his world Bronze medal. He is firmly in the number two position Hassan Yazdani, who underwent knee that separate them from Australia or England. category at next year’s Tokyo the 65kg rankings. Four Points has overthrown world finalist after runner-up finishes at the World surgery earlier this year and had no “Just the fitness. In these two countries fitness is Olympics even if he skips the last separate Rashidov (60), Punia Niyazbekov for the number two and European Championships. He has choice but to skip the Matteo Pellicone part of their culture. Unfortunately, in India we start ranking series tournament, (59) and Kazakshtan’s Daulet ranking. 58 points and is followed by Stevan and Asian Championships. these things late,” Kaur told The Week. going by the latest world stand- Niyazbekov (56) for the top Punia added 16 points to his Micic (48) and Dahiya (45). He commanded a 20-point lead “For the last three years the girls have been work- ings. seeding. world championship total after Dahiya needs a 12-point finish at over Deepak but the Indian wrestler ing hard on fitness. It does not improve overnight, we The fast-rising Ravi Dahiya But the Russian and Indian he erased a three-point deficit the final Ranking Series event to secure closed that gap on Yazdani with a 14- need to work on it for longer durations. Earlier, we also seems set for a top-four wrestlers have such command- against Jordan Oliver (USA) to one of the top-four seeds. There is slim point Asian championship Bronze- would come close to these teams and lose, but now billing at the mega-event, which ing leads over the field that they win the 16-point Matteo chance that the Indian wrestler can medal finish. Deepak leads Russian we are winning matches against them. Skill-wise we will be held from July 23 to can sit out of the final ranking Pellicone Ranking Series Gold grab the number one seeding. Artur Naifonov by seven points after are better batters and bowlers than these two coun- August 8 next year. series event and still earn a top- medal. For that to happen, Dahiya would the conclusion of the continental tries.” Wrestling’s world governing four seeding at the Olympic Although he stumbled in need Uguev, Atli and Micic to sit out championship season. Kaur’s form was poor throughout the World Cup body UWW announced the Games. the Asian finals against 2018 of the final Ranking Series event and No Indian figures in top-10 of the campaign in Australia. But the 31-year old dashing fresh rankings which placed Rashidov owns the top spot world champion Takuto win Gold in a bracket with more than 74kg, 97kg and 125kg categories, the batter said she is not thinking too much about pres- Bajrang at number two in the in 65kg after finally claiming his Otoguro(JPN), Punia collected 11 wrestlers to earn the 16 points he three other olympic weight cate- sure and also captaincy. 65kg category. Dahiya is fourth long-awaited world Gold in 18 points and pushed himself to needs to clear his top-three rivals. gories. “From the outside it may look like that, but per- in the very competitive 57kg cat- Nur-Sultan last season. within one point of the Russian Nurislam Sanayev is ranked fifth The top four in each category will sonally I have never felt so,” she said when questioned egory. Punia began the year ranked defending world champion. in this weight and trails Dahiya by six be seeded at the Tokyo Games. on the captaincy. IANS