The Kolkata and Bagdogra airports in West Bengal will handle domestic services from May 28, senior government officials said on Sunday. 

 

A day before resumption of domestic commercial passenger flights across India, states expressed their reluctance to deal with so many incoming passengers amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Therefore, the Hyderabad airport will deal with only 30 domestic flights per day from Monday, and there will be no domestic services at the Vijaywada and the Vizag airports on Monday, they said.

"Kolkata and Bagdogra will each handle only 20 flights per day from May 28 onwards," the officials said. -- PTI  

China on Sunday accused the United States of pushing the bilateral ties to the brink of a "new Cold War" by spreading "lies" about the coronavirus and said it was open to international efforts to identify the source of the deadly virus.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said the lawsuits filed against China in the US demanding compensation for COVID-19 is an attempt to blackmail a victim with fabricated evidence.

Under constant attack from US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over the origin of the coronavirus and failure to provide timely information, Wang launched a broadside against Washington in his annual press conference.

He accused American politicians of spreading "political virus" to smear China. 

"It is the most regrettable that while the coronavirus is still out there, a 'political virus' is also spreading in the US and jumping at any opportunity to attack and slander China," he said in a video media conference on the sidelines of China's annual session of the National People's Conference.

"Some political forces in the US are taking China-US relations hostage and pushing our two countries to the brink of a new Cold War," Wang said.

Some politicians ignored the basic facts and made up countless lies and conspiracy theories concerning China.

"The longer the list, the more it says about how low the rumour-mongers are willing to go and the more stains they will leave in history," Wang, who is also the State Councillor, said.  

He was scathingly critical of especially the lawsuits against China.

A lawsuit was filed by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt against the Chinese government, the ruling Communist Party of China, and other Chinese officials and institutions in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

It alleges that during the critical weeks of the initial coronavirus outbreak, the Chinese authorities deceived the public, suppressed crucial information, arrested whistle-blowers, destroyed critical medical research and permitted millions of people to be exposed to the virus, causing a global pandemic that was unnecessary and preventable.

Observers say the Missouri lawsuit could pose a problem to China given the US courts' claim of universal jurisdiction.

Asked whether Beijing is concerned that China's overseas assets could be seized, Wang said "some people are clamouring for so-called accountability and compensation from a victim of COVID-19.

"They are fabricating so-called evidence for frivolous lawsuits. These people are tramping on international rule of law and betraying human conscience," he said. 

"If anybody thought they could use some ludicrous lawsuits to undermine China's sovereignty and dignity to deprive the Chinese people their hard-won gains they will be daydreaming and bring disgrace to themselves," he said.

 

He also struck a reconciliatory note saying that both the US and China should work together.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the common enemy of China and the US and it is the shared wish of the people of the two nations to support and help each other.

China and the US should share the experience of the epidemic fight and learn from each other to boost their respective responses, Wang said. -- PTI

President Ram Nath Kovind has asked citizens to reaffirm their belief in sharing with and caring for the most vulnerable sections of society.

 

In his message to fellow citizens on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, he also asked people to resolve to adhere to social distancing norms and all other precautions to stay safe and overcome the coronavirus challenge soon.

"This festival is an expression of love, peace, brotherhood, and harmony. On this occasion, we reaffirm our belief in sharing with and caring for the most vulnerable sections of the society," Kovind said.

The president also greeted citizens, including those settled abroad, on Id-ul-Fitr that comes in wake of prayers and fasting during the holy month of Ramazan, a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday 

said.

"Let us carry the spirit of giving (Zakaat) more vigorously at a time when we are faced with an unprecedented crisis created by COVID-19 virus. Let us also resolve to adhere to social distancing norms and all other precautions to stay safe and overcome this challenge soon," he said.

Kovind said: "May this Eid-ul-Fitr usher in universal values of mercy, charity and hope in the world!" -- PTI 

Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur has exhorted India Inc to take advantage of the recent government initiatives and step up investments to make the country ''Atmanirbhar 

Bharat''. 

 

In these difficult times, local industries should become the flag-bearers in showcasing that India is an attractive investment destination, he told PTI in an interview. 

 

As part of the Rs 20.97 lakh crore Atmanirbhar Bharat package, Thakur said the government has announced a slew of long-pending structural reforms concerning the industry, especially land, labour and laws, in a bid to improve investment climate and ease of doing business. 

 

Besides, the minister said other bold reforms announced, including easing of limits on foreign direct investment in defence manufacturing, privatisation of six more airports, and allowing private sector in commercial coal mining, provide newer avenues for investment. 

 

To take care of liquidity needs, various schemes have been unveiled to provide cash to industries to kickstart their business, he said. 

 

"I personally believe that we need more investment from the local industries, Indian industries to showcase to others that India is an attractive destination. We need both investment from the domestic industries, and also from other countries," he said. 

 

Talking about new avenues for investment, the minister said, "Agriculture, agro exports, manufacturing of defence equipment within the country and making it a hub for exports. Also, the area of space where you (private players) can get more investment and mining of coal and other mineral sectors could be looked at. So, there could be many sectors."   

 

Industry can also think of innovative ways, for example, importing something cheap, doing value addition and then exporting the goods at substantially higher prices so that the export sector gets a push, he added. 

 

Stressing that economic reform is a continuous process, Thakur said, "I'll say the year 2020 will be known as the year of reforms." 

 

In bold reforms aimed at boosting the coronavirus-hit economy, the government last week announced several reforms including a slew of measures for the agriculture sector, defence manufacturing, civil aviation and mining sector. 

 

"The long-pending demand for the change of definition of MSME, taking farmers out of the clutches of the Essential Commodities Act and the APMC Act have been seen as historic steps.  

 

"Opening up of the coal mining and mineral sector at the same time has been a very positive step towards self-reliance," he said. -- PTI

Automakers like Maruti Suzuki, Honda, Toyota and Tata Motors expect demand for personal vehicles to go up in the country as social distancing and fear associated with COVID-19 veer people away from public transport.

   

The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India expects demand to shift towards lower priced cars in the post-lockdown scenario.

 

"People will prefer personal vehicles over public transport and it comes out from different consumer surveys which we have conducted," MSI Executive Director, Marketing and Sales, Shashank Srivastava told PTI.

 

With economic activity slowing down, impacting buying power of consumers, demand will shift towards lower priced or smaller vehicles in personal mobility space, he added.

 

"So the shift is expected towards smaller cars and first-time buyers.We are already witnessing this trend in around 1,800 dealerships which we have been able to re-open in the past few days," Srivastava said.

 

Previous trends have also shown that consumers gravitate towards established brands during stress periods, he noted.

 

Echoing similar views, Honda Cars India Ltd Senior Vice President and Director, Marketing and Sales, Rajesh Goel said that considering people will be extra careful against COVID-19, personal 

mobility will gain much more significance than shared mobility or public transport, and hence can contribute to sales.

 

"Apart from new car sales in different segments, we feel that customers would also consider certified used car sales as they can afford a well maintained nice looking car with much more affordability," he added.

 

Goel, however, felt that more time is required to assess the market situation effectively.

 

A Toyota Kirloskar Motor spokesperson said fear of disease, social distancing and need to maintain hygiene will shape consumer behaviour post-lockdown and may drive some segments of consumers towards personal mobility and move them away from public transport.

Maharashtra on Sunday recorded 3,041 COVID-19 cases, the highest daily spike, taking the state tally to 50,231, a health official said.

With 58 deaths due to the pandemic reported during the day, the death toll in the state rose to 1635, the official said.

This was the eighth consecutive day when the state reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases, he said.

Maharashtra COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 50,231, new cases 3,041, deaths 1,635, discharged patients 14,600, active cases 33,988, people tested so far 3,62,862. -- PTI 

Domestic airlines might be resuming services on Monday after being grounded for two months but scores of pilots and first officers seem to be concerned over lack of clarity on quarantine requirements for them.

 

Several cockpit and cabin crew members have moved to their home towns from their base stations in the wake of the nationwide lockdown imposed on March 25. 

Now, many of them are returning to their base stations to report for duty.

On May 20, minister of state for civil aviation Hardeep Singh Puri announced that domestic passenger flights would resume in a calibrated manner from May 25, two months after the services were suspended due to the lockdown to curb spreading of coronavirus infections.

PTI spoke to many captains and first officers from different airlines, including IndiGo, Vistara and SpiceJet, about preparations for resumption of flights. 

Many of them raised concerns over issues like quarantine procedures, personal and family safety, and flying into regions badly hit by the pandemic.

"There is no clarity on whether I need to go into home quarantine for 14 days after returning to my base or show up for duty on Monday," a pilot said, requesting anonymity.

He said several others like him had left their base stations, undertaking inter-state travel amid the lockdown.

"(What happens) if someone is returning from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal or Rajasthan or going from Delhi to Hyderabad, or Haryana to Gujarat. My airline has sent me a mail stating that I need to be ready for duty but did not say anything about the quarantine procedure," the pilot said.

He noted that several states have a rule that any outsider has to go for a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

"So does that mean I have to go for a 14-day quarantine after every flight? If that is the system, then I find it illogical. There is no clarity on this from the civil aviation ministry nor from my airline," he added.

A woman pilot said that before all operations were suspended in March, there have been incidents of flight and cabin crew being harassed by neighbours and residential societies.

"People have only grown more concerned about the COVID-19 and there is still fear among crew about how are people in their neighbourhood going to react even though the crew are ready to work," she said, wishing not to be identified.

Some airlines have told their employees to abide by the rules laid down by local authorities of their city or district and follow guidelines given by their respective Resident Welfare Associations.

"In Noida, RWAs have a strict rule. If you were onboard a flight, you have to quarantine yourself for 14 days," a pilot from a full-service carrier said.

A leading budget carrier, however, has told its crew that anyone living in a containment zone -- place having positive cases -- would not be put on duty.

A ground handling staff of an airline said companies are relying on the Aarogya Setu app and anyone with a 'safe status' on it can get onboard a flight, be it a passenger or a crew.

"My airline is not even asking for any COVID-19 test or report from the crew and is relying on the Aarogya Setu app.

"I don't know how accurate the app would be in case the crew has travelled far and wide. Not taking their COVID-19 test could put passengers as well as their own crew members at safety risk," the Delhi-based staffer said.

Against the backdrop of rising coronavirus cases, many states have restrictions in place to prevent spreading of the infections. -- PTI

Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik today said that the state has agreed to allow 25 take offs and 25 landings every day for domestic flights from Mumbai. 

"This number will be increased gradually. State govt will issue details and guidelines in this regard soon," he said.

The statement came hours after Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray sought more time from the civil aviation ministry for restarting the operations at the Mumbai international airport. 

He also said that minimum possible domestic flights from Maharashtra be initiated from Monday. 

In an online briefing, Thackeray said, "I spoke to civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri today and told him that the Mumbai international airport needs more time to resume its operations."

People are more worried about economic crisis than health issues emanating from coronavirus pandemic, according to an online study conducted by IIM Lucknow on "Understanding public sentiment during lockdown".

 

The study -- conducted by Centre for Marketing in Emerging Economies at IIM Lucknow -- revealed that majority (79 per cent) of people are worried and surrounded by feeling of fear (40 per cent) and sadness (22 per cent).

The study, based on responses of participants from 104 cities across 23 states, said majority of respondents are worried about the economic impact of the lockdown.

The other dominant fear among the people is the irrational behaviour of people, once the lockdown is lifted.

"Worries of economic impact are top most in mind of people (32 per cent) while fear of others behaving irresponsibly during lockdown (15 per cent) and the uncertainty of it all (16 per cent) are the other key fears.

"The single largest reason for worry voiced related to the economic impact of the lockdown following by the uncertainty around how long this will last. Worry of getting infected was not actually their biggest worry (14 per cent)," it said.

The research study was conducted by Satyabhusan Dash and Avinash Jain (IIM Lucknow) in association with Ashu Sabharwal and Ankita Singh ( Qualisys research & consulting) and Mohankrishnan (Former VP, Kantar).

It also showed that about 3 out of 5 expressed confidence in the government actions to help India combat the pandemic.

Confidence increased from 57 per cent in Lockdown 1.0 to 63 per cent in Lockdown 2.0 as health infrastructure improved with news of masks, PPE kits arriving and better protocols being set.

"Most of the confidence stems from the early lockdown undertaken by government and its efforts to maintain social distancing and contact tracing (70 per cent)," it said.

Twenty nine per cent people surveyed felt good about people cooperating and adhering to required rules, 26 per cent expressed satisfaction with lower number of cases, and 19 per cent appreciated the strong leadership shown by the government, said the study based on 931 respondents.

"Fear and sadness are the most dominant emotions for most with over 40 per cent expressing fear and 22 per cent expressing sadness...Between the Lockdown 1.0 & 2.0, while there is not much change in fear as an emotion," it said.

CMEE said the study was conducted online in English across various social media platforms like Facebook, Linkedin and covered the Lockdown 1.0 and 2.0 period (March 25th to May 3rd).

Given the nature of these platforms, the survey has a skew predominantly towards male (62 per cent) versus female (38 per cent), higher education (63 per cent post graduation and over) and upper income participants with 40 per cent of over 10 lakh annual income, it added. -- PTI 

There will be no delay in delivery of 36 Rafale jets to India as the timeline finalised for the supply of the fighter jets will be strictly respected, French ambassador Emmanuel Lenain has said.

   

India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore.

 

"The contractual delivery schedule of the Rafale jets has been perfectly respected till now, and, in fact, a new aircraft was handed over to the Indian Air Force in end-April in France, in keeping with the contract," Lenain said.

 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh received the first Rafale jet at an airbase in France on October 8.

"We are helping the Indian Air Force in arranging for the ferry flight of their first four Rafales from France to India as soon as possible. So there's no reason today to speculate that the schedule will not be maintained," the envoy said.

 

France is reeling under swelling cases of coronavirus and has emerged as one of the worst-hit in Europe. Over 1,45,000 people were infected by the virus while the death toll stood at 28,330.

 

There were apprehensions that the delivery of Rafale jets could be delayed due to the pandemic.

 

However, Lenain asserted that the original timeline for delivery of the jets will be adhered to.

 

The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets.

 

Meteor is the next generation of BVR air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden.

 

Besides the missile systems, the Rafale jets will come with various India-specific modifications, including Israeli helmet-mounted displays, radar warning receivers, low band jammers, 10-hour flight data recording, infra-red search and tracking systems. -- PTI

Former Pakistan opener Taufeeq Umar has tested positive for COVID-19 but said his "symptoms are not at all severe".

   

The 38-year-old is the fourth cricketer to be infected with the coronavirus after Majid Haq (Scotland), Zafar Sarfraz (Pakistan) and Solo Nqweni (South Africa).

 

"I got myself tested last night after feeling a little sick last night, and the result came positive. My symptoms are not at all severe," Umar told Geo News. 

 

"I have isolated myself at home. I appeal to everyone to pray for my swift recovery," added the southpaw.

 

Umar played 44 Tests and 12 ODIs, scoring 2963 and 504 runs respectively for Pakistan.

 

His last game for Pakistan was in 2014, a Test against New Zealand in Dubai. -- PTI  

With temperatures surpassing the 45 degrees Celsius-mark across several parts in north India, the India Meteorological Department on Sunday issued a "red" warning for Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Rajasthan for the next two days.

   

The IMD has also issued an orange warning for heatwave for east Uttar Pradesh, said Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of IMD's Regional Meteorological Centre.

 

He cautioned that temperatures could soar up to 47 degrees Celsius in some parts over the next 2-3 days.

 

This is also for the first time this summer season that a red warning has been issued for heatwave, Srivastava said.

 

This season, the temperatures did not rise the way it usually does in north and central India because of significant rainfall activity during April that continued till mid-May.

 

On Saturday, Pilani in Rajasthan recorded 46.7 degrees Celsius.

"Heatwave conditions over some parts with severe heatwave over isolated pockets are very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Telnagana during the next five days," the IMD said in its daily bulletin.

 

It added that heatwave conditions in isolated pockets over Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Gujarat, central Maharashtra and Vidarbha, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Rayalseema and north interior Karnataka are also likely during the next 3-4 days.

 

A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature is at least 40 degrees Celsius and the departure from normal temperature is 4.5 degrees Celsius to 6.4 degrees Celsius.

 

For the plains, a heatwave is declared when the actual maximum temperature is 45 degrees Celsius and severe heatwave when it is 47 degrees Celsius or above.

 

The IMD issues colour-coded warnings depending on the intensity of any weather system in ascending order green, yellow, orange and red.

 

Srivastava said the red warning has been issued to caution people not to step out during 1 pm to 5 pm, when the intensity of the heat is the most. -- PTI

Low-cost carrier AirAsia India has started bookings for 21 destinations ahead of resumption of domestic flights from Monday.

 

In a release, the airline said it would strictly follow the SOPs (standard operating procedures) and guidelines laid out by the regulatory bodies to enable safe travel.

AirAsia flights are open for booking for travel to all its 21 destinations where it flies to in the country, the release issued on Saturday said.

"We are appreciative of the government working collaboratively with all stakeholders to define the new protocols to help open up domestic flying in a calibrated manner keeping the health and safety of passengers and the airline crew in focus.

"The new SOPs and guidelines will pave the way for ensuring and instilling a sense of confidence amongst passengers," Sunil Bhaskaran, AirAsia India Managing director and chief executive officer, said.

Among other measures, the airline would facilitate regular disinfection procedures to control or kill infectious agents using cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting products approved by the public health authority and aircraft manufacturer.

According to the release, passengers would have to mandatorily web check-in, complete their self-declaration form and download the Aarogya Setu app before they arrive at the airport. They have also been advised to report two to four hours prior to the departure time to allow enhanced health and safety processes to take place.

Reverse zone boarding process starting from the rear of the aircraft would be followed, it added.

Commercial flight services remain suspended since March 25 when the nationwide lockdown to prevent spreading of coronavirus infections was imposed. -- PTI 

Hyundai Motor India Ltd on Sunday said its three employees at Chennai-based manufacturing plant have tested positive for COVID-19.

 

The second largest carmaker in the country had resumed operations at Irungattukottai-based plant (near Chennai) on May 8.

"In the first week of our plant operations, three of our employees have shown mild symptoms of cough and cold and were immediately asked to meet medical expert team for further evaluation. They subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 and immediate medical attention was provided to them," HMIL said in a statement.

All three employees are recovering fast towards normalcy and as per the safety protocol, essential information was shared with the district health authorities, it added.

In addition to that all the necessary measures are being taken for contact tracing, self-isolation and complete sanitation, the South Korean firm said.

Well-being of employees is of utmost priority to the company and as a responsible brand it is adhering to all the guidelines set by the Centre, state and district health authorities, HMIL said.

On Saturday, Maruti Suzuki India had stated that an employee at its Manesar-based manufacturing plant has tested positive for COVID-19.

The company is also investigating a second case of infection at the facility.

MSI had re-opened Manesar facility earlier this month after around 50 days of closure due to coronavirus-led lockdown. -- PTI 

The health ministry on Sunday issued guidelines for domestic travel, advising passengers to download the Aarogya Setu application on their mobile devices and asking states to ensure thermal screening at departure point of airports, railway stations and bus terminals.

   

Asymptomatic passengers should be permitted to travel after being asked to self-monitor for 14 days, the ministry said.

Dos and Don'ts shall be provided along with tickets to travellers by agencies concerned, said the ministry's guidelines for domestic travel (air/train/inter-state bus travel).

All passengers shall be advised to download the Arogya Setu application on their mobile devices, it said.

The guidelines come after the Indian Railways last week issued a list of 100 pairs of trains that it will operate from June 1, putting in operation popular trains such as Durontos, Sampark Krantis, Jan Shatabdis and Poorva Express.

Also, after a two-month hiatus, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri has announced resumption of domestic flights from May 25.

In its guidelines for domestic travel, the health ministry said suitable announcement about COVID-19 including precautionary measures to be followed shall be made at airports, railway stations and bus terminals as well as in flights, trains and buses.

The states/UTs shall ensure that all passengers undergo thermal screening at the point of departure and only asymptomatic passengers are allowed to board the flight, train or bus.

During boarding and travel, all passengers shall use face covers or masks and will also follow hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene and maintain environmental hygiene, the ministry said in its guidelines.

At airports, railway stations and bus terminals, required measures to ensure social distancing shall be taken, the guidelines said.

Airports, railway stations and bus terminals should be regularly sanitised or disinfected and the availability of soaps and sanitisers shall be ensured, the health ministry said.

Thermal screening at exit point shall be arranged and asymptomatic passengers will be permitted to go with the advice that they shall self-monitor their health for 14 days, the guidelines said. 

"In case, they develop any symptoms, they shall inform the district surveillance officer or the state/national call centre (1075)," they said.

Those found symptomatic will be isolated and taken to the nearest health facility and will be assessed for clinical severity at the health facility, the guidelines said.

Those having moderate or severe symptoms will be admitted to dedicated COVID health facilities and managed accordingly, the guidelines said.

Those having mild symptoms will be given the option of home isolation or isolated in the COVID Care Centre (both public & private facilities) as appropriate and tested as per ICMR protocol, they said.

"If positive, they will continue in COVID Care Centre and will be managed as per clinical protocol. If negative, the passenger may be allowed to go home, isolate himself/herself and self-monitor his/her health for further 7 days," the health ministry said.

In case, any symptoms develop they shall inform the district surveillance officer or the state or the national call centre (1075), it said.

The ministry said that states can also develop their own protocol with regards to quarantine and isolation as per their assessment. -- PTI 

Further easing curbs, the Tamil Nadu government on Sunday allowed 17 industrial estates in Chennai to resumework from tomorrow with conditions, including confining the workforce to 25 per cent and implementing safety measures.

     

The industrial estates situated in non-containment zones, inclduing the Ambattur and Guindy clusters can resume work from May 25, the government said, adding however employees residingin containment zones would not be allowed to report for work.

     

The strength of the workers should be capped at 25 per cent and thermal scanners must be used for screening employees, an official release said. 

     

Following social distancing, disinfecting work places twice a day and practising personal hygiene were among the other norms that should be implemented.

     

The industries in the clusters are expected to resume work partially from tomorrow after a gap of two months. -- PTI

The World Bank has restored Pakistan's budgetary support after four years and approved a policy loan of $500 million to help the cash-strapped country mitigate adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a media report.

   

The World Bank's board of executive directors on Friday approved a $ 500-million programme to help Pakistan improve access to quality healthcare and education, support economic opportunities for women and strengthen social safety nets as the country braces to limit the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Express Tribune reported, citing a statement by the local office of the Washington-based lending agency.

"Political risks are high because COVID-19 response adds uncertainty to the relations among the federating units," said the World Bank documents.

The lender warned that elite capture would continue to be challenging with more demand placed for concessions that could erode fiscal space.

However, it delayed the approval of another $500-million loan due to a lack of consensus on the conditions regarding restructuring of Pakistan's Debt Policy Coordination Office, reforms in state-owned enterprises and enforcement of a new national fiscal framework.

The World Bank country office did not send the second $500-million loan request for the Resilient Institutions for Sustainable Economy programme for board approval.

The Securing Human Investments to Foster Transformation programme worth $500 million is the first budget support since February 2016. 

 

The World Bank had suspended Pakistan's budget support loans due to the deterioration in macroeconomic indicators in 2017.

Initially, the size of SHIFT was $250 million, which the World Bank decided to double after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Pakistan will repay the $500-million loan in 30 years and it is financed by the World Bank's concessionary arm -- the International Development Association.

Historically, project loans have remained more effective than policy loans as successive governments have failed to fully implement reforms after the disbursement of policy loans, the daily said.

SHIFT would improve the targeted safety net programmes that would benefit 12 million people impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, both at the federal and provincial levels, said the World Bank.

"The global COVID-19 pandemic is impacting day-to-day life in Pakistan -- not solely from economic disruptions but also additional stress on public services that jeopardise human capital accumulation," said World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Illango Patchamuthu.

This programme underscored the criticality of universal healthcare and social protection services that were durable to exogenous shocks such as that Pakistan was facing now, he added. -- PTI

The novel coronavirus death toll in Delhi rose to 261 on Sunday, while the number of infections climbed to 13,418 with 508 new cases, the government said.

 

A total of 6,540 patients have recovered, while 6,617 are undergoing treatment, according to a health bulletin. 

The city has 86 containment zones.

On Saturday, the number of coronavirus cases in the city was 12,910 and fatalities 231. -- PTI 

India will have an important role to play in the mass production of medicines and vaccines for coronavirus infection once the treatment for the deadly disease is found, French ambassador Emmanuel Lenain has said.

   

Dozens of researchers across the globe are racing against time to come out with a vaccine for coronavirus that has infected nearly five million people and killed over 3,30,000 globally.

"It is very important for states to coordinate if we want the COVID-19 vaccine and/or medicines to be produced and distributed equitably worldwide. India will have an important role to play as a producer of medicines and vaccines," French ambassador Emmanuel Lenain told PTI in an interview.

 

India is a leading manufacturer of vaccines and generic drugs globally. 

Several research institutes in India are also working on separate programmes to find a vaccine for the coronavirus.

 

The French ambassador's comments also came in the backdrop of efforts by a large number of countries as well as the 27-nation European Union to ensure equitable access to any vaccine or medicine for treatment of coronavirus infection through their mass production under voluntary patenting.

 

The issue figured prominently at the recent two-day conference of the World Health Organisation where many countries pressed for making the vaccine available to all countries and not only to those who have deep pockets.

 

"France and India have supported the European resolution (at the WHO) for universal, timely and equitable access to all necessary products for countering the pandemic, and underscored the role of extensive immunisation against COVID-19 as a global public good," he said.

 

Since the coronavirus crisis broke out, India has been pitching for a coordinated global approach in containing the pandemic. India has already supplied 446 million Hydroxychloroquine tablets and 1.54 billion Paracetamol tablets to 133 countries, drawing praise from a number of global leaders.

 Last week, India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the coronavirus pandemic has reaffirmed India's role as a "pharmacy of the world.

 In the interview, Lenain also said that the coronavirus crisis has shown that France and India's push for multilateralism is the right option for the current century.

 

"None of the major issues that structure the future of the world like healthcare and environment can be dealt with in an isolated manner," he said.

 

"I am delighted that the reform of the WHO, which France encourages, has found favour in India. India and France have coordinated well and continue to do so. However, we can do much more together," he said. 

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli says his maternal aunt has passed away in Chicago after an eight week long battle with coronavirus. 

 

The filmmaker said it was heartbreaking for the families to not be together in these testing times due to the pandemic. 

"Lost my Masi to Covid after an 8 week struggle. In Chicago. We're a large family that's really close. We can't be together at this time. This is as painful as the loss. Seeing my Mom Masi's & Mama's not being able to be together at this time is really hard," Kunal posted on Twitter on Saturday. 

The director recalled how during the treatment, his cousin sister would go to the hospital, sit in her car "and pray for her mother."

"This is how harsh COVID is. This isn't the way to go. Five sisters, three brothers too, but sisters are different, their bond unbreakable. Only death could break it. 

"They taught a family and everyone they touched, the meaning of love, family, giving. Covid has been harsh to our family. Won't break our love and memories. Miss you Masi," he added. 

The pandemic has killed at least 340,000 people worldwide and infected about 5.3 million, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. -- PTI 

Army and National Disaster Response Force teams on Sunday helped forest department and civic agencies to get cyclone-ravaged West Bengal back on its feet.

    

The teams reached areas likes Salt Lake, Behala and Golpark in the morning to clear the arterial and other link roads blocked by uprooted trees.

 

Army personnel equipped with road and tree clearance equipment started working at Roy Bahadur Road and Parnashree in Behala, Ballygunge in south Kolkata and Salt Lake area, a Defence official said.

 The Army was deployed in Kolkata and neighbouring districts on Saturday, hours after the West Bengal government sought its help and other support for immediate restoration of essential infrastructure and services in the state ravaged by Cyclone Amphan.

Five columns of the Army were deployed in different parts of the city and North and South 24 Parganas districts, a Defence official said.

These three parts of the state reported the maximum damage due to the cyclone which claimed 86 lives, flattened homes and damaged crops.

The Forest department and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation have also engaged their staffers in the road clearance work.

Electricity and water supply remained affected in many parts of the city. Agitated residents blocked roads in several areas in south Kolkata on Saturday, demanding restoration of electricity and water supply which are not available since Wednesday afternoon.

In places like Mudiali in south Kolkata, locals stepped in with saws to clear roads blocked by uprooted trees.

 

Mobile and internet services were restored in some areas of the city even as many places in South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore remained cut off.

On Friday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee described the situation as "more than a national calamity" and put the estimated loss at more than Rs 1 lakh crore. She had stated that more than six crore people have been affected by the cyclone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Banerjee had conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas in South and North 24 Parganas districts on Friday. -- PTI 

Health infrastructure should be ramped up to ensure preparedness for the next two months in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has conveyed to eleven municipal areas in the country that have accounted for 70 per cent of India's coronavirus case load.

 

Eleven municipal areas from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan account for 70 per cent of the active caseload, the Union health ministry said in a statement.

The government has asked the eleven municipal areas to step up monitoring in old cities, urban slums and other high density pockets like camps and clusters for migrant workers for management of COVID-19 cases.

Union health secretary Preeti Sudan, who held a high-level meeting on Saturday through video conferencing with principal health secretaries and municipal commissioners along with other officials from the 11 municipal areas, urged them to focus on prevention through active screening of high risk and vulnerable population along with effective and sturdy clinical management of the admitted cases to reduce fatality rate.

COVID-19 cases in India saw the biggest spike for the third consecutive day on Sunday with 6,767 new infections reported in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 1,31,868, while the death toll due to the disease rose to 3,867 after 147 more fatalities, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday.

The active cases of the coronavirus disease rose to 73,560. 

While 54,440 people have recovered, one patient has migrated to another country, according to the ministry's bulletin.

"Thus, around 41.28 per cent patients have recovered so far," a health ministry official said.

During the meeting on Saturday, a presentation was made to highlight the trend in case trajectory with respect to total confirmed cases, case fatality rate, doubling time, tests per million and confirmation percentage, the ministry said.

"It was told that a major challenge lies in those corporations having shorter doubling time, higher mortality rate and a higher confirmation rate than the national average," the ministry said in its statement.

The officials were briefed about the factors to be considered while mapping the containment and buffer zones and the activities mandated in containment zones like perimeter control, active search for cases through house to house surveillance, contact tracing, clinical management of the active cases.

They were also asked to undertake surveillance activities in the buffer zone like monitoring of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and influenza like illness (ILI) cases and promoting social distancing and hand hygiene among others.

It was pointed out that testing needs to be stepped up in some municipal areas to ensure early detection of cases, timely clinical management and a reduction in fatality rate. 

"They also need to be mindful of ramping up the health infrastructure to ensure preparedness for the next two months with special focus on isolation beds with oxygen, ventilators and ICU beds," the health ministry statement said. 

Other issues that need focused attention include active coordination with government and private labs to address delays in sample collection, partnership with private hospitals to augment the health/bed capacity, waste disposal and disinfection of COVID positive areas, management of camps for migrant labourers, creating awareness regarding issues such as stigmatization of patients and medical professionals in local languages, actively involving community leaders, youth groups, NGOs and SHGs in accompanying surveillance teams for awareness and confidence building measures, it said. -- PTI

The Dean of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi has tested positive for coronavirus infection.

 

Dr Rajeev Sood, who is looking after the management of COVID-19 manpower at the hospital, tested positive for the infection on Saturday.

He is now under home isolation and contact tracing has been initiated by hospital authorities.

"I have fever and mild upper respiratory infection and got myself tested for COVID-19...it came out positive. I am under home isolation now," Dr Sood, who is also the head of the department of urology, told PTI over phone. -- PTI 

A Delhi court has allowed the Enforcement Directorate to interrogate alleged middleman Christian Michel at the Tihar central jail in New Delhi, where he is lodged in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case.

 

Special Judge Pulastya Pramachala on Saturday allowed the ED to interrogate Michel on May 25 and 26 in the jail premises.

The court allowed the ED's plea moved by the agency's special public prosecutor N K Matta after he submitted during a hearing held through video conferencing that the accused was required to be confronted with certain documents during its ongoing probe in the case.

Michel, extradited from Dubai, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on December 22, 2018.

On January 5, 2019 Michel was sent to judicial custody in the ED case. He is also lodged in judicial custody in the Central Bureau of Investigation case related to the scam.

He was arrested in the UAE and extradited to India on December 4, 2018. The next day, he was produced before the court which allowed his custodial interrogation by the CBI. 

Later, he was arrested by the ED.

Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the ED and the CBI. The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

The CBI has alleged that there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million.

The ED, in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. -- PTI 

An Air India flight carrying 93 Indians who were stranded in the United Kingdom arrived at the Indore airport in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday morning, an official said.

As part of the Centre's 'Vande Bharat' mission, the flight from London reached here via Mumbai at 8.04 am, Indore's Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport Director Aryama Sanyal said.

The special flight carried 93 Indians from the UK, she said.

A health checkup of the passengers was conducted and their belongings were sanitised, she said. 

The passengers will be kept under the mandatory 14-day quarantine, the official said.

Indians stranded abroad due to travel restrictions following the coronavirus outbreak are being flown back home under the central government's 'Vande Bharat' mission. -- PTI  

Various places in Karnataka on Sunday wore a deserted look as the state imposed a complete lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The state government decided to impose a complete lockdown in the state on Sunday to contain the virus and said that all the shops will remain closed till 7 am on May 25.

Places including Shivajinagar, Hubli, Gadag, Shimoga and Kalaburagi witnessed fewer crowds. 

All commercial establishments, including Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus terminal, remained closed.

Meanwhile, people living in these areas also supported the move and remained at their respective home.

"This is a great move by the state government and it is in the public interest. I have not seen many people on the road. Today is Eid that's why some people are seen on the roads otherwise nobody gets out on the streets unnecessarily," Balqis, a resident of Shivajinagar said.

Dakshina Kannada also witnessed complete lockdown in the district. Masjid' s remained closed and people celebrated Eid in their homes.

Speaking to ANI, Dr Nuhman said, "It is my first experience celebrating Eid without going anywhere, and without mass prayer in the mosque. We are celebrating in the simplest way at our home."  

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat has started donating Rs 50,000 from his salary every month for the next one year to the PM CARES fund created to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March, the CDS had written to the authorities concerned that for the next one year, Rs 50,000 be deducted from his salary and be deposited in the PM-CARES fund, defence sources told ANI.

After the letter was written, the first deduction of Rs 50,000 was done from the salary of April and deposited in the fund created for the fight against coronavirus, they said.

The CDS had also donated one-day salary for the PM CARES fund along with all other defence services' personnel who had donated in March soon after the fund was started.

Now the defence ministry employees have been given an option of donating one-day salary every month for the next one year and this would be done voluntarily.

Sources said the decision to donate Rs. 50,000 every month to the PM CARES fund by the CDS is likely to encourage other senior officers also to make their contribution towards the fight against coronavirus.

National Disaster Management Authority member and former Coast Guard Chief Rajendra Singh has also donated 30 per cent of his salary to the PM CARES fund.

A number of senior officers in Army Headquarters have contributed for the PM fund. -- ANI

As India is set to resume its domestic civil aviation operations from May 25, the Delhi airport will be handling around 380 flights on Monday, a senior official said.

As per the directions of the Civil Aviation Ministry, domestic flight operations will resume after remaining suspended for about two months following the nationwide lockdown imposed to constrain the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Delhi airport will be handling around 380 domestic flights on Monday. There will be 190 departures and around 190 arrivals," a senior government official said.

On Saturday, the Delhi airport's operator DIAL said it has taken several measures including installation of automatic hand sanitisers at various places, putting floor markers, allocation of entry gates and check-in islands for departing passengers.

These steps have been taken to enforce social distancing norms and minimise human contact at the airport, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said.   -- PTI

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over a meeting of Central Military Commission, wherein 'important military steps and organisational and political measures to further bolster up the overall armed forces' were discussed, state media reported on Sunday (local time).

KCNA in its report said: 'Set forth at the meeting were new policies for further increasing the nuclear war deterrence of the country and putting the strategic armed forces on a high alert operation in line with the general requirements for the building and development of the armed forces of the country.'

According to the report, crucial measures for 'considerably increasing the firepower strike ability of the artillery pieces of the Korean People's Army' were taken at the meeting.

As per a report in news agency Yonhap, the state media usually report Kim's activity a day after it happens.

Earlier this month, Kim Jong Un has made his 'first public appearance' after nearly 20 days of absence.

The report of Kim's illness started doing rounds following his absence at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on the birthday of late state founder and his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, last month. -- ANI

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has said it is 'extremely ill-advised' to reopen airports in red zones amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The minister's comments follow Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's announcement that all domestic flights are set to resume in India from May 25 as part of its gradual reboot of air travel services amid the pandemic.

'Its extremely ill-advised to reopen airports in red zone. Mere thermal scanning of passengers inadequate w/o swabs. Impossible to have autos/cabs/buses ply in current circumstances. Adding positive passenger will add Covid stress to red zone,' Deshmukh tweeted on Sunday.

'Getting passengers to come from a green zone to a red one putting them to risk of exposure doesn't make sense. Keeping a busy airport up & running with all Covid-safety measures will need huge staff presence and compound risk in the red zone,' the minister added.

Of the 47,190 cases in Maharashtra, 28,817 are from Mumbai.

The financial capital also accounts for 949 COVID-19 deaths.

The worst-hit Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which includes Mumbai and surrounding satellite towns, has reported 36,173 cases and 1,069 deaths.  -- PTI

JUST IN: Highest ever spike of 6,767 COVID-19 cases and 147 deaths in India in the last 24 hours.

Total number of cases in the country now at 1,31,868, including 73,560 active cases, 54,439 cured/discharged and 3,867 deaths, says Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.   -- ANI

Overwhelmed by the donations that poured in from the society for his help, Phool Mia, the fruit seller in north Delhi's Jagatpuri area whose mangoes were looted by the ordinary people, said that those who helped him have made his 'Eid' and have shown that 'humanity is still alive'.

Video footage that went viral on social media, shows that scores of passers-by looted the unattended crates of mangoes of a fruit seller after a fight broke out in the neighbourhood.

The incident took place on Wednesday.

"My stock of mangoes worth Rs 30,000 was kept there. Some persons were fighting with each other fearing which I left the place to avoid any sort of altercation. When I returned, I saw that they were looting the mangoes kept there. There were 50-100 people who were involved in this act," Phool Mia, narrated the ordeal.

"A video got viral about the incident after which people donated to me on a portal. They empathised with me when I was ruined. I thank the media and all those people who have donated from the bottom of my heart as they made my Eid. Now, I would be able to celebrate Eid with my children. This shows humanity is still alive," he added.

However, four people have been arrested on the basis of video footage, Delhi Police said. -- ANI

The central government on Saturday sent five columns of Indian Army to help restore infrastructure in Kolkata.

The Centre took this decision after receiving a request from the West Bengal government.

'Based on the request from the government of West Bengal, five columns were deployed today in the state to assist the civil administration in the aftermath of Cyclone Amphan. They will be providing assistance in road clearance work tomorrow as well,' the statement from Indian Army read.

The army officials were seen assisting the local administration in clearing out the roads.

A JCB machine was also used by the team to restore infrastructure in state capital Kolkata.

Severe storm Cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal had made landfall around 20 kilometers east of Sagar Island in the Sunderbans on Wednesday afternoons snapping telecommunications, power lines and cutting off roads links.

Due to the cyclone, more than 80 people have lost their lives across West Bengal. -- ANI

Three persons on board separate Shramik Special trains lost their lives due to various ailment, officials said in Kanpur on Saturday.

"Family members of the deceased said all were suffering from serious ailment. The travel history of all the three deceased passengers was taken," Kanpur District Magistrate Brahma Deo Ram Tiwari said.

Giving details about the deceased, he said Naichinalyu Disang (23), a resident of Nagaland, was going from Delhi to Dimapur.

"She was suffering from liver ailments," Tiwari said.

As she coughed and vomited in the train, other passengers got terrified, he added.

The district magistrate said the body reached Kanpur Central Station at around 10 am.

"Sample has been taken to check for the presence of novel coronavirus. She was working at a spa in Himachal Pradesh," he said.

Tiwari said Rajendra Prasad (50), a resident of Unnao, died on the Lucknow-bound special train from Andhra Pradesh.

Munni Devi (80), a resident of Siwan district in Bihar, died onboard the special train going from Surat to Siwan, the senior official informed.  -- PTI

Veteran film and TV actor Kiran Kumar has tested positive for coronavirus and is currently under home quarantine. The 74-year-old actor said he is asymptomatic and is doing 'absolutely fine'.

"I am asymptomatic. On May 14, I went to the hospital for a medical check-up, where the COVID-19 test was mandatory. So I got myself tested and the result was positive.

"But I had no symptoms then, nor do I have any now. There's no fever, no cough, I'm fine and have self quarantined at home," Kumar told PTI.

The actor, who had featured in films like Dhadkan and Mujhse Dosti Karoge, among others, said it has been 10 days since the test happened and he still hasn't developed any symptoms.

"My family lives on the second floor of the building and I'm currently on the third floor. On May 26 or May 27, I am going to get my second test done. At the moment I'm absolutely fine," he added.

As of Saturday, Maharashtra recorded total 47,190 coronavirus cases, with 1,577 death toll, according to the state health department.  -- PTI