LIVE! CWC meet on Mon to review performance in polls

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Sun, 09 May 2021

CWC meet on Mon to review performance in polls

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21:10 CWC meet on Mon to review performance in polls

The Congress Working Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday morning to review partys performance in the recently concluded assembly elections, in which it failed to win Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, and drew a blank in West Bengal, a senior party leader in know of the decision said.

The Congress was a junior partner in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led alliance that won the Tamil Nadu elections.

A senior Congress leader said this would also be the first review of the election results, which were declared on May 2.

Last month, the Congress had called a CWC to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the country. .

The 14th edition of the Indian Premier League was suspended earlier this week after COVID-19 breached the bio-bubble of four franchises. At first, the BCCI rescheduled the league stage match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders after 2 positive cases.

As the number of COVID-19 cases increased 6 in the next 24 hours, the board had no other option but to suspend the league. Since the league is suspended and not cancelled, the BCCI will aim to stage the remainder of 31 matches whenever it gets the window.

Also, the venue of the league will be one to watch out for. The BCCI was confident of pulling off the league in India as it had successfully hosted England in a full-fledged series earlier in the year. But the number of COVID-19 cases started to increase in March and also had its impact on IPL.

While the BCCI will stage the remainder of IPL 2021 whenever it finds the window, board's president Sourav Ganguly has confirmed that India will not host IPL 2021. Speaking to Sportstar, the former India captain said that the league 'can't happen in India'. He also revealed that the Indian players will land in Sri Lanka after the World Test Championship final for a white-ball series.

"No (Ganguly on IPL after WTC final). India is supposed to go to Sri Lanka for three ODIs and five T20Is. There are lots of organisational hazards like 14-day quarantine. It cant happen in India. This quarantine is tough to handle. Too early to say how we can find a slot to complete the IPL," he told Sportstar.

20:25 Odisha CM sanctions Rs 60L for feeding strays

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has sanctioned funds from the Chief Minister Relief Fund for a special cause. This sum of Rs 60 lakh will be utilised to feed stray animals during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown in parts of the state.

Like several parts of the country, Odisha has also put measures in place to break the chain of transmission. Such restrictions are being enforced across five metropolitan corporations, 48 municipalities and 61 notified area councils.

"Animals such as stray dogs and cattle are facing a food shortage owing to the lockdown," said a tweet by the Odisha public information department.

The Odisha government decided to make arrangements after taking into account that locals in places where a lockdown is in place will not be able to feed stray animals. This will now be done through volunteers and voluntary organisations.

The amount sanctioned by CM Naveen Patnaik will allow Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Brahmapur metropolitan corporations to spend Rs 20,000 a day for this purpose. Similarly, the municipalities have been permitted to spend Rs 5,000 a day and NACs Rs 2,000 a day on feeding stray animals.

Amid rising cases of coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh, Union Minister Santosh Gangwar has written to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighting Covid management in the state.

In the letter, he has complained that the officials of the Health Department in Bareilly do not pick up the phone. He has also given some suggestions to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister to fix the health services in the state, reports Times Now's Amir Haque.

He has suggested that oxygen plants should be set up in Bareilly like Madhya Pradesh where the government is giving a 50 per cent rebate in setting up oxygen plants to ease in dealing with the increased demand for oxygen in the state

19:30 Ajit Singh's ashes immersed in Ganga

The ashes of former Union minister and farmer leader Ajit Singh, who passed away on May 6, were immersed in the Ganga river by his family on Sunday.

His son and Rashtriya Lok Dal vice-president Jayant Chaudhary immersed the ashes in the holy river following Hindu traditions, according to a video he posted on social media.

Sources said the ritual took place at Garhmukteshwar in Hapur district of western Uttar Pradesh, around 120 km from the national capital, where the family resides.

The 82-year-old Singh breathed his last on May 6 around 8 am at a private hospital in Gurgaon where he was undergoing treatment for COVID-19.

The Jat leader, who was a multi-term parliamentarian and son of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, was diagnosed positive for the infection on April 20 and hospitalised the same evening.

The sources said the 'tervi' rituals of Singh will be performed on May 18, even as his family has urged supporters to stay at home and pay their homage from there only in view of the ongoing pandemic situation.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi besides a host of politicians cutting across party lines and celebrities had condoled the demise of the RLD chief on May 6.

-- PTI

A document written by Chinese scientists and health officials before the pandemic in 2015 states that SARS coronaviruses were a "new era of genetic weapons" that could be "artificially manipulated into an emerging human disease virus, then weaponised and unleashed, reported Weekend Australian.

The paper titled The Unnatural Origin of SARS and New Species of Man-Made Viruses as Genetic Bioweapons suggested that World War Three would be fought with biological weapons. The document revealed that Chinese military scientists were discussing the weaponisation of SARS coronaviruses five years before the COVID-19 pandemic. The report by Weekend Australian was published in news.com.au.

Peter Jennings, the executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), told news.com.au that the document is as close to a "smoking gun" as we've got.

"I think this is significant because it clearly shows that Chinese scientists were thinking about military application for different strains of the coronavirus and thinking about how it could be deployed," Jennings said.

"It begins to firm up the possibility that what we have here is the accidental release of a pathogen for military use," Jennings added.

He also said that the document may explain why China has been so reluctant for outside investigations into the origins of COVID-19.

"If this was a case of transmission from a wet market it would be in China's interest to co-operate ... we've had the opposite of that."

Hitting out at the Centre for continuing the construction work for the Central Vista redevelopment project amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the country needs breath and not the prime minister's residence.

The redevelopment project of the Central Vista -- the power corridor of the country -- envisages a new triangular Parliament building, a common Central Secretariat, the revamping of the three-km-long Rajpath from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate and new residences for the prime minister and the vice president.

The government has brought the construction work for the ambitious project under the ambit of "essential services" to ensure smooth movement of labourers during the ongoing lockdown in Delhi.

"The country needs breath, not the prime minister's residence," Gandhi said in a tweet, sharing pictures of people standing in a queue for refilling oxygen cylinders and the construction work for the Central Vista project on Rajpath.

Amid rising COVID-19 cases, several states have been facing a crippling shortage of oxygen, leaving hospitals and family members of patients scrambling to ensure a steady supply.

Gandhi and his Congress party have been asking the government to shelve its plans on the Central Vista project and give priority to improving the country's medical infrastructure amid the COVID-19 pandemic to save people's lives.

-- PTI

18:31 Mumbai's Covid caseload rises by 2,403 cases

In a major relief, Mumbai registered 2,403 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday.

According to the BMC, 32,590 tests were conducted. Meanwhile, 3,375 recoveries were reported. But the number of deaths is still a cause for concern with 68 more deaths registered in a single day.

The recovery rate has increased to 91 per cent.

The National Investigation Agency has taken over the probe into the recovery of natural uranium in Mumbai. A fresh case was registered in this regard by the anti-terror agency in pursuance of an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to the NIA's spokesperson, the case has been registered under Section 24(1)(a) of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.

Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad arrested two men on May 5 in possession of the radioactive metal. A total of 7.1 kg of natural uranium worth Rs 21.3 crore was seized from the duo identified as Jigar Jayesh Pandya (27) and Abu Tahir Afzal Choudhary (31).

A case was initially lodged against the two at the ATS Kalachowki police station.

According to officials, Pandya and Tahir had been trying to sell off the uranium online for Rs 25 crore. The Maharashtra ATS sent a dummy customer and secured a sample of the substance.

Tests run on the sample by experts at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre confirmed that the substance was natural uranium.

It is still unclear how the two managed to get their hands on the radioactive metal. Some reports suggest that Tahir's father owns a scrap yard in Mankhurd and bought a truck with factory waste almost two years ago. Uranium was among the many forms of industrial waste on this truck.

The Railways has delivered nearly 4,200 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen in more than 268 tankers to various states since April 19, the national transporter said on Sunday.

So far, 68 'Oxygen Express' trains have completed their journeys, it said.

Till now, 293 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen has been unloaded in Maharashtra, 1,230 tonnes in Uttar Pradesh, 271 tonnes to Madhya Pradesh, 555 tonnes in Haryana, 123 tonnes in Telangana, 40 tonnes in Rajasthan and 1,679 tonnes in Delhi, it said.

The Railways also delivered oxygen to new cities including Kanpur, which received 80 tonnes on Sunday.

"More loaded 'Oxygen Expresses' are expected to start their journeys later in the night," the Railways said.

The railways started running 'Oxygen Express' trains to transport liquid medical oxygen last month when the country reported acute shortage of the life-saving gas amid a deadly second COVID-19 wave.

-- PTI

India will approximately get 361 million doses of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V's by the end of March 2022 which can be innocualte an estimated 36 crore Indians, officials coordinating the entire vaccine measure in the country claimed.

On May 1, India received the first consignment of 1.5 million doses of the vaccine, and the second consignment of the same number of doses will reach India soon.

India will get 18 million ready-made Sputnik V doses -- 3 million in May, 5 million in June, 10 million in July. Russian direct investment fund which is the Russian sovereign wealth fund that has funded the vaccine has signed pacts with 5 Indian companies to produced 850 million doses.

The doses will not only be produced in India but also, exported to third country. Between June 2020 to March 2021, around 238 million doses will be produced in the country. India also expected to get 11 million doses in form of fill and finish.

Sputnik V vaccine is the third vaccine after Covishield and Covaxin that Indian regulatory authorities have given approval to. More than 60 countries have given approval to Sputnik V and as of May 5, more than 20 million people globally have received the first injection of the Sputnik V vaccine. Interestingly, a combination of vaccines like Sputnik and Astrazeneca for use is being talked about.

17:13 'Heinous crime by govt to export vaccines...'

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Sunday attacked the Centre over the export of coronavirus vaccines, saying a large number of lives could have been saved in India if the doses were given to people in the country first.

"It's a heinous crime committed by the Central government to sell vaccines to other countries only for its image management at a time when people were dying in our own country," he told an online briefing.

Citing a newspaper report, Sisodia said the Centre sold coronavirus vaccines to 93 countries of which 60 percent had COVID-19 under control, and also where there was no threat of loss of life due to the virus.

A large number of youths in the country perished to the coronavirus in the second wave of the pandemic, he said, adding their lives could have been saved if the vaccines were given to them instead of exporting the doses.

He said the Centre should now ensure that the vaccines manufactured in the country are provided to the states that are facing a shortage.

He reiterated the Delhi government can vaccinate everyone in the city within three months if adequate doses are made available to it.

-- PTI

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and suggested to convene an all party meeting and virtual meetings of Parliament Standing Committees to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Kharge made a total of six suggestions to PM Modi for tackling the ongoing surge in number of COVID-19 cases. "Use Rs 35,000 crore allocated in Union Budget to ensure free vaccine for all. Leverage compulsory licensing to increase production of vaccines," read the letter.

He further suggested to expand the scope of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to 200 days.

"Expedite the distribution of relief material and proactively disclose where it is shipped and leverage our collective strengths by governing consensually and inclusively," the letter added.

Earlier on Saturday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi also called for an all party meeting and a meeting of Parliament Sanding Committee on Health to discuss COVID-19 situation.

-- ANI

Delhi received just 499 metric tonnes of oxygen on May 8 against the average supply of 700 MT ordered by the Supreme Court, AAP MLA Raghav Chadha said on Sunday.

Over the last week, the city got an average of 533 MT oxygen daily, which is 76 percent of the quantity directed by the SC.

On Saturday, only four healthcare facilities in the national capital, with 1,271 oxygen beds, sent out oxygen shortage SOS calls, the city government said.

The Delhi government supplied 15.50 MT of oxygen to these hospitals, according to official data.

-- PTI

15:46 273 deaths, over 13K cases in Delhi

Delhi reported 273 more coronavirus deaths on Sunday, the lowest since April 21, and 13,336 new infections with a positivity rate of 21.67 per cent, the Health Department said.

The low number of new cases, the lowest since April 12, can be ascribed to a smaller number of tests -- 61,552 -- conducted on Saturday.

At 21.67 per cent, the positivity rate is the lowest since April 16 when it stood at 19.7 per cent, according to government data.

-- PTI

Gujarat Congress working president Hardik Patel's father died on Sunday at a hospital in Ahmedabad where he was being undergoing treatment for COVID-19, a party leader said.

Later, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani spoke to Patel over phone and conveyed his condolences, a government release said.

"Hardik Patel's father Bharat Patel died on Sunday morning at the city's UN Mehta Hospital where he was getting treated for coronavirus," the Indian Youth Congress' state unit vice president Nikhil Savani said.

-- PTI

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians on Sunday said that all their foreign players and support staff have reached their respective destinations safely after the IPL 2021 was indefinitely suspended midway into the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lucrative league was suspended last week after COVID positive cases were reported in its bio-bubble.

"All foreign members of the MI contingent have reached their destinations safe & sound. Paltan, make sure you follow all safety protocols. Stay at home. Stay safe," MI said in a message on its twitter handle.

A total of 14 foreign players and support of MI have left India after the cash-rich tournament had come to a halt on May 4.

According to MI, Kieron Pollard reached Trinidad safely, South African wicketkeeper- batsman Quinton de Kock and Marco Jansen had landed in Johannesburg.

The franchise's Australian players Chris Lynn, Nathan Coulter-Nile and support staff members, including chief coach Mahela Jayawardene have reached Maldives via a charter flight, and they will serve a 14-day quarantine there.

MI's New Zealand players, including the likes of Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham and Trent Boult and support staff, have reached Auckland via a charter flight arranged by the franchise.

India is witnessing a devastating second wave of the pandemic with more than 4 lakh fresh cases and over 4000 deaths being reported in the last two days.

-- PTI

Former US President Barack Obamas dog Bo died after a battle with cancer, the Obamas said on social media.

News of Bos passing was shared by Obama and his wife Michelle on Instagram, where both expressed sorrow at the passing of a dog the former president described as a true friend and loyal companion.

He tolerated all the fuss that came with being in the White House, had a big bark but no bite, loved to jump in the pool in the summer, was unflappable with children, lived for scraps around the dinner table, and had great hair, Barack Obama wrote.

Bo, a Portuguese water dog, was a gift to the Obamas from the late Senator Edward M Kennedy, D-Mass., a key supporter of Obamas 2008 presidential campaign who became close to the family. Bo helped Obama keep a promise to daughters Malia and Sasha that they could get a dog after the election.

A companion dog, Sunny, joined the family in August 2013.

Three new oxygen plants will be commissioned in the Union Territory of Ladakh by the end of May to meet the needs of coronavirus patients.

This was stated at a meeting chaired by Lt Governor R K Mathur here on Saturday to review the preparedness of the health department for COVID-19 handling with detailed discussions on infrastructure, procurement of essential equipment and medicines, an official spokesman said.

The 'Site Readiness Certificates' of the three oxygen generating plants at Drass, Padum and Diskit has been approved by the central government and civil and mechanical works are going on at these sites, an official spokesman said on Sunday.

The oxygen plants would be dispatched by the supplier shortly and the plants will be commissioned by the end of May, 2021, Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education Pawan Kotwal said.

-- PTI

COVID-19 vaccines for people in the 18-44 age group in Bengaluru, which has almost half the number of cases and deaths in Karnataka, would be available from May 10 at all major hospitals and medical colleges, Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Sunday.

"Starting Monday, Covid-19 vaccination will be provided for citizens aged between 18 and 44 years at K C General Hospital, Jayanagar General Hospital, Sir C V Raman General Hospital, Government Medical Colleges, ESI Hospitals and NIMHANS in Bengaluru," the minister said in a statement.

In other districts, the vaccine shots will initially be provided at district hospitals, government medical colleges and all taluk hospitals.

The number of vaccination centres would be increased as and when more vaccines are available, the minister added.

The minister said the government is leaving no stone unturned to vaccinate every citizen at the earliest and was making continuous efforts to secure supply of vaccines.

The virus caseload in Karnataka has been rising at an alarming rate, with the state reporting infections in the region of around 50,000 daily.

-- PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to waive all forms of taxes and customs duty on equipment and drugs being used to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Banerjee also urged Modi to strengthen health infrastructure and augment supplies of equipment, medicines and oxygen for treatment of coronavirus-positive patients.

"A large number of organisations, individuals and benevolent agencies have come forward to donate oxygen concentrators, cylinders, containers and COVID-related drugs.

"Many of the donors have approached the state government to consider exemption of these from customs duty, SGST, CGST, IGST," she said in the letter.

"As the rate structure falls under the purview of the central government, I would request that these items may be exempted from GST/customs duty and other such duties and taxes to help remove supply constraints of the above-mentioned life-saving drugs and equipment and contribute towards effective management of the COVID pandemic," Banerjee said.

She has been attacking the Centre for "failing" to control the spread of the disease in the country.

-- PTI

13:26 Himanta Biswa Sarma to be Assam's new CM

Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is all set to be the next chief minister of the state after the BJP-led coalition won the assembly elections held this year.

According to sources in the party, Sarmas name was proposed by incumbent Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in a meeting of the newly elected MLAs on Sunday afternoon.

The BJP Legislature Party in Assam met to elect the new chief minister of the state. Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar and party General Secretary Arun Singh were present as central observers. Baijayant Panda, BJPs Assam in-charge was also present on the occasion.

Later in the day, around 4 pm, the BJP unit of Assam will meet Governor Jagdish Mukhi to stake claim to form the government. In the results announced for the 126-member Assam Assembly last Sunday, the BJP won 60 seats while its alliance partners AGP got nine seats and UPPL six. The swearing-in ceremony of the new chief minister will take place on Monday. BJP national president J P Nadda will be be present at the the oath-taking event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to the chief ministers of Punjab, Karnataka, Bihar and Uttarakhand on the COVID-19 situation in their states, official sources said.

Modi has been speaking to state chief ministers and lieutenant governors of union territories for the last few days to asses the pandemic situation there and offer suggestions.

Chief ministers have also briefed him on the measures being taken by them to deal with the raging second wave of the pandemic.

India recorded 4,03,738 fresh COVID-19 cases in a day, which pushed the tally to 2,22,96,414, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

The death toll climbed to 2,42,362 with 4,092 daily deaths, the data updated at 8 am showed.

-- PTI

The government of India has so far provided more than 17.56 crore vaccine doses to states/UTs free of cost.

More than 72 lakh doses are still available with the states/UTs to be administered.

Over 46 lakh doses in addition will be received by the states/UTs in the next 3 days.

12:23 Delhi lockdown extended by another week

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today extended the lockdown by another week. "The lockdown will be stricter this time", Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal said the extension is meant to ensure that the city does not let its guard down. "The positivity rate has gone down but still we can't afford leniency. We need to extend to lockdown," Kejriwal said.

The positivity rate has dropped from 35 per cent to 23 per cent, but doctors say even this is very high.

"During the lockdown we utilised the time to enhance our healthcare infrastructure. The main issue in Delhi was oxygen shortage. With Centre's help, the condition is better now," he added.

This would be the fourth week of the lockdown imposed as the Covid numbers in the national capital skyrocketed, bringing the hospitals to their knees and pushing patients and doctors to look to social media for help amid a huge crisis of oxygen, beds and drugs.

Amid growing coronavirus cases in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday decided to increase the duration of the lockdown to May 17, an official spokesman said.

All shops and establishments will now remain closed till May 17, he said.

This arrangement has been extended for a week, he said adding that decision has been taken to break the chain of second wave of coronavirus that persists to grip the country.

Outgoing Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal submits his resignation to Governor Jagdish Mukhi.

Taking a dig at its former ally BJP, the Shiv Sena said that systems created over 70 years by previous prime ministers such as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh helped India survive through the tough times being faced today while the present government was not even ready to suspend work on the Central Vista amid a devastating pandemic.

The Sena said that even as the world is battling a second wave of Covid-19, experts have predicted that the third wave will be more severe; but the ruling BJP is doing all it can to corner Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal even after the election result.

The UN has expressed fear that there is a threat to the world from India due to the pace at which the coronavirus is spreading in the country. It has also made an appeal that the maximum number of countries should help India in the fight against Covid-19. Bangladesh has sent 10,000 remdesivir vials, while Bhutan has sent medical oxygen. Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka have also offered help to Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) India, the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana.

In clear terms, India is surviving on the systems created by the Nehru-Gandhi family. Many poor countries are offering help to India. Earlier, countries like Pakistan, Rwanda and Congo used to get help from others. But due to the wrong policies of todays rulers, India is going through that situation now, it said.

But while poor countries were helping India in their own way, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not ready to stop the ambitious Central Vista project worth Rs 20,000 crore, the Sena added.

As states are conducting large-scale vaccination drives against coronavirus, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have received fresh stocks of COVID-19 vaccines.

Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar informed that the state received 3.5 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine on Saturday night, while Andhra Pradesh government said that they have received 3.60 lakh doses of the same on Sunday.

Karnataka has received a total of 6.5 lakh doses of vaccines out of the two crores ordered, he informed further.

He further informed that the central government has so far supplied over 1.1 crore doses.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote, 'In the order placed by Karnataka government to procure 2 crore doses of Covishield, we received 3.5 lakh doses on Saturday night taking the total delivery to 6.5 lakh doses.

'So far GoI has supplied 1,10,49,470 doses including 99,58,190 doses of Covishield and 10,91,280 doses of Covaxin.'

Sudhakar also announced that the state will start its third phase of the vaccination drive for people aged 18-44 years from May 10, which was earlier postponed due to the unavailability of COVID-19 vaccines in the state.

In many other states, the third phase of the vaccination drive for the newly added age group commenced on May 1, as per schedule.

'COVID-19 vaccination will be provided for citizens aged between 18 to 44 years at KC General Hospital, Jayanagar General Hospital, Sir C.V.Raman General Hospital, Government Medical Colleges, ESI Hospitals and NIMHANS from Monday, 10th May,' he said in another tweet.

Further elaborating on how the third phase will begin, he wrote, 'In other districts, initially vaccination will be provided at District Hospitals, Government Medical Colleges and all Taluka Hospitals. Number of vaccination centres will be increased as and when more vaccines will become available.'

He also stated that walk-ins would not be allowed.

It is mandatory for people to register on the CoWIN portal or Aarogya Setu app.

'All Vaccination Centres providing vaccination for this age group 18 to 44 will have an exclusive session site earmarked for them. Vaccination will be provided to only those who have registered and scheduled an appointment on the Co-win portal and walk-ins will not be allowed,' added Sudhakar.

Assuring that everyone will be inoculated in the vaccination drive, he said, 'Government is leaving no stone unturned to vaccinate each and every citizen at earliest and is making continuous efforts to secure supply of vaccines. I urge all citizens, especially my young friends, to wait for your turn and government will ensure you will surely get your jab.'

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government said that they have received 3.60 lakh doses of Covishield from Serum Institute Pune via airway on Sunday morning.

"The vaccine was unloaded at Gannavaram Airport, and from there it is being sent to state vaccine store at Gannavaram," they said. -- ANI

10:51 IPL suspension: 1st lot of Kiwis arrive home

A group of New Zealand cricketers and coaches, who were involved in the now-suspended Indian Premiere League, arrived home by a private jet while another lot is expected to land in Auckland on Sunday.

Cricketers Trent Boult, Finn Allen, Jimmy Neesham, Adam Milne and Scott Kuggeleijn, coaches and former players James Pamment and Shane Bond, and Royal Challengers Bangalore's director of cricketing operations Mike Hesson landed in Auckland late on Saturday night.

They arrived on board a Bombardier Global Express private jet via Tokyo in the first of two chartered flights repatriating the Kiwis after the IPL 2021 was suspended in the wake of multiple COVID-19 cases inside its bio-bubble.

They went into managed isolation upon arrival, according to a report in stuff.co.nz.

A second flight carrying Lockie Ferguson, Brendon McCullum , commentators Simon Doull and Scott Styris, umpire Chris Gaffaney, former captain Stephen Fleming and Kyle Mills was expected to leave India on Saturday night.

Wicket-keeper batsman Tim Seifert, who tested positive for COVID-19, is still in India and was awaiting for his transfer to a private hospital in Chennai, the same facility in which former Australia player Michael Hussey was being treated after testing positive earlier in the week.

New Zealand's UK-bound Test contingent, Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, and physio Tommy Simsek, have been transferred to Maldives.

As per original plan, they were supposed to stay in New Delhi.

The decision to transfer the players to the island nation came in the light of advice that their entry into the UK, initially thought to be around May 11, was likely to be delayed further by a week.

New Zealand play a two-match Test series against England beginning on June 2 before facing India in the World Test Championships final at Southampton from June 18. -- PTI

Power consumption in the country grew 25 per cent in the first week of May to 26.24 billion units (BU) over the same period last year, showing consistent recovery in industrial and commercial demand of electricity, according to power ministry data.

Power consumption in the first week of May 2020 was 21.05 BU.

The power consumption in the entire month of May last year was 102.08 BU.

On the other hand, peak power demand met, which is the highest supply in a day, during the first week of this month remained well above the highest record of 166.22 GW in May 2020 except on May 2, when it was 161.14 GW.

During the first week of May this year, peak power demand met or the highest supply in a day touched the highest level of 168.78 GW (on May 6, 2021) and recorded a growth of nearly 22 per cent over 138.6 GW (peak met) recorded in the same period in 2020 (on May 7, 2020).

The power consumption in April grew 41 per cent to 119.27 BU.

Power consumption in April 2020 had dropped to 84.55 BU from 110.11 BU in the same month in 2019, mainly because of fewer economic activities following the imposition of lockdown by the government in the last week of March 2020 to contain the spread of deadly COVID-19.

The power consumption also fell in May 2020 to 102.08 BU from 120.02 BU in May 2019.

Similarly, peak power demand met or the highest power supply in a day also slumped to 132.73 GW in April last year from 176.81 GW in the same month in 2019, showing the impact of lockdown on economic activities.

The fewer economic activities also resulted in a fall of peak power demand met in May 2020 to 166.22 GW from 182.53 GW in May 2019.

Experts are of the view that high growth in power consumption as well as demand in May this year is mainly due to base effect but the data shows recovery so far even as the second strong wave of COVID-19 forced authorities to impose local lockdowns to contain deadly virus across the country.

They have cautioned that local lockdowns may derail recovery in commercial and industrial power consumption and demand.

After a gap of six months, power consumption had recorded a 4.6 per cent year-on-year growth in September 2020 and 11.6 per cent in October 2020.

In November 2020, the power consumption growth slowed to 3.12 per cent, mainly due to the early onset of winters.

In December 2020, power consumption grew by 4.5 per cent while it was up 4.4 per cent in January 2021.

Power consumption in February this year recorded at 103.25 BU compared to 103.81 BU last year.

But 2020 was a leap year. In March this year, the power consumption grew nearly 22 per cent to 120.63 BU compared to 98.95 BU in the same month of 2020. -- PTI

09:38 India sees over 4,000 Covid deaths for 2nd day

India reports 4,03,738 new COVID-19 cases, 3,86,444 discharges, and 4,092 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Union health ministry.

Total cases: 2,22,96,414

Total discharges: 1,83,17,404

Death toll: 2,42,362

Active cases: 37,36,648

Total vaccination: 16,94,39,663

Representative image only

09:28 Debris of China's biggest rocket lands in Indian Ocean

UPDTAE: Remnants of China's biggest rocket landed in the Indian Ocean, with the bulk of its components destroyed upon re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, Reuters reports.

More details awaited.

08:35 Not being updated on law and order: Bengal Guv

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said West Bengal Chief Secretary and state's director general of police (DGP) called on him without any 'paper or reports' that were sought from them in connection with the post-poll violence.

Dhankhar said in a tweet that he was 'in a sense disgusted' with the state government's stance in the matter, and had directed the chief secretary and DGP to provide him with a 'comprehensive' report.

'Chief Secretary of Mamata Banerjee government and DGP of West Bengal Police called on me at Raj Bhawan at 6 pm today. Unfortunately, both came without any paper or reports sought. Directed them to send the same without delay. In a sense disgusted with such stance. Hope there is appropriate response now,' he tweeted.

Dhankhar said in a tweet earlier the he expected the two senior state officials o be comprehensive and update with the state of affairs, particularly with 'respect to raging post poll retributive violence and vandalism'.

'Chief Secretary Mamata Banerjee government has been called upon to see me today before 7 PM as ACS of West Bengal failed to impart status report on law and order regarding post-poll violence. He even did not forward reports of DGP, West Bengal police and CP Kolkata police sent to him on May 3 (sic),' he said.

'While State faces worst post-election violence- people being made to pay with their lives and freedom only for having exercised right to vote in a democracy, Chief Secretary of Manata Banerjee government comes up with an alibi for not briefing Governor. Directed him to comply by 7 PM today (sic),' Governor said in another tweet.

In a statement attached with the tweet, Dhankhar said, 'there can be no sane takers for the response of CS (as conveyed to ACS to governor) that since the matter is before HC it will be inappropriate for CS to brief Governor. As per CS stand is as per CM directive'.

He said West Bengal is facing the 'worst post-election violence' where people are being made to pay with their lives and freedom only for having 'exercised the right to vote in democratic and state apparatus has virtually abandoned lawful obligation'.

"No input to the constitutional head makes a mockery of the constitution and rule of law. CS stance is shocking to reflect the least and unexpected of a member rpd service to which he belongs. CS be directed to comply and desist from the unconstitutional and undemocratic stand," he added.

The MHA has deputed a four-member team, led by an additional secretary level official and including a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) official, to visit the affected areas and assess the ground situation.Violence has been reported in several parts of West Bengal after the results of the assembly elections were declared on May 2.

The Bharatiya Janata Party alleged that nine of its party workers have been killed in the post-poll violence.

However, the Trinamool Congress is denying the allegations. -- ANI

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