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Sat, 30 May 2020
26 from Gujarat stranded in Pak seek MEA help

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22:48   26 from Gujarat stranded in Pak seek MEA help
Twenty-six people from  Godhra in Gujarat, stranded in Pakistan due to the lockdown,have sought help of the Ministry of External Affairs to cross the Attari-Wagah border on June 4.

They had gone to Karachi in February-March to attend weddings and meet relatives but were forced to stay after lockdown for coronavirus came into force in India, trains and flights were canceled and the Attari border point was sealed.

In a letter to the Indian High Commission, the group requested that the MEA ensure that they were allowed to cross the Attari-Wagah border on June 4 for boarding train for Godhra.

'Kindly let us know immediately so that we can leave Karachi on June 2, and reach Wagah-Attari border on time on June 4.

'Hopefully, you will make every possible effort tomake proper arrangements for us,' the letter said.

'Crossing the border is the only impediment for us now,' said Ishaq Bokda, one of the stranded Indians, in a video message from Karachi, shared by his son back in Godhra.

"On May 21, we gave undertaking as per the direction of the High Commission of India in Islamabad that we will follow Indian government's rules and regulations regarding lockdown and will remain in self-quarantine after reaching home.

"But despite that, we have not yet received any reply from them," Ishaq Bokda said.

"As train services in India resume from June 1, my sixfamily members and twenty others from Godhra currently stuckin Karachi have booked confirmed tickets on Golden Temple Mailfor June 4," said Arman Bokda, Ishaq's son, while sharing the letter and video message.

"They will board the train from Amritsar. But they are still uncertain about crossing the border," he said.

"There are around 300 Indians stuck in Pakistan due to the lockdown. They had earlier appealed to the government to bring them back on special flights under Vande Bharat Mission. However, no such arrangement was made. We hope the government will ensure their return home this time by allowing them to cross the Wagah border," Bokda said.  --  PTI
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22:17  
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22:02   2,940 Covid cases, 99 deaths in Maha in 24 hrs
Maharashtra on Saturday reported 2,940 new coronavirus patients, taking the total number of cases in the state to 65,168. 99 patients succumbed to the disease during the day taking the death toll to 2,197, the state health department said.

On the other hand, 1,084 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals, taking the number of recovered patients in Maharashtra to 28,081.

Out of 99 COVID-19-related deaths, 54 were reported from Mumbai alone.

However, 40 of the 99 deaths took place in the last two days while the rest occurred between May 6 to 27 but were reported late, the health department said.

So far 4,33,557 people have been tested so far in the state.

There are 3,169 containment zones, 5,51,660 people are in home quarantine and 72,681 are in institutional quarantine.

The doubling rate of patients is 17.5 days, better than 11.3 days last week, the statement said.

The state's recovery rate is 43.07 percentwhile the mortality rate is 3.37 percent.

Out of the total 65,168 cases, 38,442 are from Mumbai alone.

The state capital has also reported 1,227 deaths.

The worst-affected Mumbai Metropolitan Region area which includes Mumbai and surrounding areas accounts for 49,575 cases and 1,478 deaths.

Pune city has reported 6,583 cases and 300 deaths, Solapur city 826 cases and 66 deaths, Aurangabad city 1,425 cases and 64 deaths, Malegaon city 747 cases and 52 deaths.   -- PTI
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21:47   Vaccine to prevent COVID-19 will take long time: Mazumdar-Shaw
A safe Vaccine to prevent COVID-19 could take a very long time to be ready, so there is a need to deal with the pandemic for next few years and invest more in healthcare, Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said on Saturday.

She was speaking in a webinar on 'Pharma and Healthcare's New Normal: Engaging With Customers in Uncertain Times; Business Model Post-COVID-19', organised by CorpGini.

"...We believe that it will take a very long time before you can actually have a safe vaccine that can be accessible to the entire country. We must understand that vaccine development is a very complex process. Shortest time taken for any vaccine is not less than 4 years," Mazumdar-Shaw said.

Trying to develop vaccine in less than a year is a very daunting and almost impossible task.

Vaccine development involves a large number of processes to establish the safety, efficacy and endurance of the vaccine, she added.

"We need to deal with this pandemic for the next few years before we really get a reliable vaccine... We need to invest much more in healthcare. If this pandemic has exposed one ugly truth about every country, not just India, it is about the appalling state of public and primary healthcare, appalling state of under investing in healthcare," Mazumdar-Shaw said.

Healthcare is a capital intensive sector, it is a skill intensive sector, it is a employment generation sector, she added.

"There needs to be a very systematic data led approach to see how can we deal with the infection and keep people safe," Mazumdar-Shaw said.

This is one opportunity for us to invest in healthcare infrastructure, because this what will save India and the world, she added.

In similar vein,Apollo Hospitals MD Suneeta Reddy said: "This pandemic has clearly shown us the need for medical infrastructure. There needs to be an investment in healthcare, not only in infrastructure but also in skilling".   

Impetus given to the IT sector needs to be given to the healthcare sector to create additional infrastructure, she added.

We hope the government considers healthcare as next IT sector, Reddy said.  -- PTI
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20:51   Punjab extends lockdown till June 30
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday announced a four-week extension of the coronavirus lockdown till June 30.

Though experts have advised against opening of hospitality services and shopping malls in the state, the chief minister said his government will take into account the Centre's guidelines for lockdown 5.0.

The Centre on Saturday issued fresh guidelines relaxing the nationwide lockdown, the fourth phase of which ends on May 31.

The countrywide lockdown in containment zones has been extended till June 30, while hospitality services, hotels and shopping malls will be allowed to open from June 8, the Union home ministry said.

Singh announced his decision after an on-ground assessment of the COVID situation through a video conference with health experts and cabinet ministers Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Balbir Singh Sidhu and Tript Singh Bajwa, according to a government release.

During his weekly Facebook live session, the chief minister said the threat of COVID-19 was not over yet and if necessary, he would continue to take tough measures to save the lives of people.

Underlining the need to exercise extreme caution, he lauded citizens for following all health norms to help the state government in containing the spread of the disease to a great extent.   --  PTI
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20:17   Special trains to take labourers to workplaces
The Centre on Saturday said it would arrange special trains to facilitate the return of labourers to their workplaces, following concerns raised by industries regarding shortage of labour hitting production and logistics.

Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Singh Thakur, after listening to the problem of labour shortage from the industries, assured that special trains would be arranged so that labourers can return to their workplaces, Bharat Chamber of Commerce said in a statement.

Thakur interacted with the members of the chamber through video conference.

The minister urged the industries to get in touch with their workers, who have returned home during the lockdown.

According to the Railway Board, 3,840 'Shramik Special' trains have been operated till May 28 since the services commenced from May 1.

Responding to other suggestions by the chamber, Thakur said an ordinance will soon be passed on the new rules of Tax deduction at source (TDS). -- PTI
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20:03   Parliament sanitised after latest case of coronavirus
Government agencies undertook a massive drive on Saturday to sanitise all buildings in the Parliament House Complex after a fourth case of COVID-19 was reported from the complex, officials said.

Of the four cases, three had contracted the infection after Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Secretariats resumed functioning when Lockdown 2.0 ended.

A Rajya Sabha Secretariat official tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, they said.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat said in a statement the comprehensive drive included sanitisation of all indoor and outdoor areas, individual offices, restrooms and common areas.

It previously conducted a similar exercise on March 21. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla then said awareness and restraint are key to prevent COVID-19 spread.

Thereafter, several such exercises were undertaken.

"In the exercise held today, CPWD, NDMC and other allied agencies, working within Parliament, used specialized equipment and strong chemical disinfectants like sodium hydrochloride in order to ensure sanitation in and around Parliament House Complex," the lower house secretariat said.

According to the orders issued by the secretariat, a certain number of staffers are required to work from home and employees are allowed to enter Parliament only after proper screening.

All vehicles are sanitised before entering the complex.  -- PTI
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19:17   Lockdown to continue in containment zones till June 30
Lockdown to continue in containment zones till June 30, only essential activities allowed, says ministry of home affairs.

MHA issues national directives for COVID-19 management, including compulsory use of face masks and social distancing norms.  -- ANI


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19:01   Movement of people to be restricted
Movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited between 9 pm to 5 am throughout the country, except for essential activities, says Ministry of Home Affairs.  -- ANI
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18:56   Govt orders phased re-opening of all activities
BREAKING: Government issues new guidelines for phased re-opening of all activities outside containment zones for the next one month.

Phase I: Religious places and places of worship for public; hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services; and shopping malls; will be permitted to open from June 8, 2020. Government to issue guidelines in this regard.

Phase II: Schools, colleges, educational/ training/ coaching institutions etc., will be opened after consultations with States and UTs.

Phase III: Dates for their opening of International air travel of passengers; operation of Metro Rail;  cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks etc will be decided based on assessment of the situation.

More details to follow.  -- ANI
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18:39   Salman Khan donates 1 lakh sanitisers to police
Superstar Salman Khan has donated one lakh hand sanitisers to the Mumbai Police, who are at the frontline in the fight against coronavirus pandemic.

The sanitisers donated by the actor are manufactured under his recently launched grooming and personal care brand FRSH.

The official Twitter handle of chief minister of Maharashtra thanked the actor for donating sanitisers.

'Thank you @BeingSalmanKhan for providing 1Lakh hand sanitisers to our @MumbaiPolice #WarAgainstVirus,' the tweet read.

Replying to the post, Salman wrote, Thank You.

Praising the actor, Yuva Sena member Rahul Kanal said, Thank you @BeingSalmanKhan bhai for being there for our frontline warriors, thank you @CMOMaharashtra @AUThackeray ji @MumbaiPolice for being there for one and all...FRSH sanitisers to be distributed to all our frontline warriors in the Police Dept.

The 54-year-old actor has been constantly extending support to those affected due to the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

He was the first one to provide financial aid to the daily wage workers of the film industry.

The actor has also supplied ration to the villages near his Panvel farmhouse and has urged his fans to help those in need.   -- PTI
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18:09   18 test positive after attending COVID-19 patient's funeral
At least 18 mourners, who attended the funeral of a COVID-19 patient, have tested positive for the infection in Ulhasnagar town of Maharashtra's Thane district, a civic official said on Saturday.

Defying prohibitory orders, at least 70 persons had attended the funeral of a 40-year-old woman, who had tested positive for the virus post her death, a spokesperson of the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation said.

The woman's body was handed over to her family with specific instructions to not open the bag, but they opened the wrapped body to perform the last rites on May 25, the official said.

The police were first alerted about the funeral, following which the civic authorities were notified, he said.

When the 70 mourners, including close relatives, were tested for the infection, reports of 18 came out positive on Friday, he said.

A case has been registered against the deceased's family for violating provisions of the Epidemic Act, the official added.

In a similar incident earlier this month, when a 50 -year-old patient died of the infection, the deceased's family unwrapped the body to perform last rites and at least 20 people contracted the infection.  -- PTI
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18:02   Maha criminalises spitting, smoking in public
The Maharashtra government has made spitting, smoking and consumption of tobacco products in public punishable offences in the state, which has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country so far.

State Health Minister Rajesh Tope made this announcement in a statement.

The first-time violators will have to pay Rs 1,000 fine and perform public service for one day, he said.

The second-time offenders will have to pay Rs 3,000 fine and perform public service for three days, the minister added.

"After that the punishment would be Rs 5,000 fine and five days of public service," he said.

Apart from this, as per various sections of the Bombay Police Act andthe Indian Penal Code (IPC), the punishment will range from six months to two years of jail or fine, Tope said in the statement.

Till Friday night, Maharashtra had recorded 62,228 coronavirus positive cases, while the total number of deaths till then was 2,098.   -- PTI
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16:49   IMA not to invite parents at passing out parade
For the first time in its history, the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun has decided not to invite parents in the passing out parade of its gentleman cadets due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The passing out parade is scheduled for June 13.

"In the passing out parade of gentleman cadets parents will not be participating. The decision is taken by IMA administration in the light of coronavirus pandemic," said PRO, IMA Lt Colonel Amit Dagar while speaking to media.

According to the Health Ministry, Uttarakhand has so far recorded 716 cases of coronavirus, out of which 609 are active cases. Out of the total, 102 have been cured/discharged and six have died.

India witnessed the highest ever spike of 7,964 coronavirus positive cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 1,73,763, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.  -- ANI
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16:43   Arrest warrant against Sharif for failing to appear in court
An accountability court in Pakistan has issued an arrest warrant against embattled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is currently in London for medical treatment, for failing to appear before it in a corruption case that accused him of receiving luxury vehicles and gifts from the national treasury.

The court in Islamabad on Friday heard the case against Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari and former premier Yusuf Raza Gilani for allegedly receiving luxury vehicles and other gifts presented by foreign dignitaries, which were property of the state.

The country's anti-graft body National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed the case on March 2 and Judge Syed Asghar Ali on May 15 issued summons for the three leaders as well other accused -- Khawaja Anwar Majeed and Abdul Ghani Majeed of the Omni Group.

Gillani and Ghani appeared before the court whereas Sharif and Zardari did not.

An application for exemption from appearance was filed by the former president which was granted by the accountability court.

However, no one appeared on behalf of the deposed prime minister, so the judge issued warrants for his arrest.

The court directed all the accused, including Sharif and Zardari, to appear in the court for the next hearing on June 11.   -- PTI
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15:58   Raj, TN further relax lockdown norms
Monuments coming under the archaeology and museum department of Rajasthan will reopen for tourists across the state from June 1 in areas that do not fall under containment zones and curfew areas, an official said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced further relaxation in curbs for shooting of TV serials, allowing more professionals to be employed on the sets.

In Rajasthan, the monuments, except for the ones falling in containment zones and curfew areas, will be opened four days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) for the first two weeks with social distancing protocols to be properly followed, Director of the archaeology and museum department, Prakash Chandra Sharma, said.

The monuments will be open from 9 am to 2 pm in the first week and from 9 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm in the second week.

From the third week onwards, the monuments will be open to tourists daily. Entry to 32 monuments out of the total 342 monuments under the department's functioning is ticketed but it will be free in the first and second week while 50 per cent of the ticket amount will be charged from the third week onwards, he added.

The decision was taken to restart tourism activities in the state. Social distancing, sanitisation and other arrangements in view of the coronavirus pandemic will be ensured, Sharma said.

Apart from reopening the monuments, it was also decided to restart performances by folk artists inside the monuments and all the officials have been issued instructions for making the arrangements.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami recalled he had earlier allowed filming of TV serials on May 21 with a maximum of 20 actors and technicians but said the industry had pleaded to enhance the number.

Two industry bodies had informed the government that it was not possible to shoot serials with the said cap of 20 professionals, he said in a statement.

"Heeding their request, a maximum of 60 actors and technicians can be employed for the shoots from May 31," he said.

A one-time approval should be obtained from Chennai Corporation Commissioner or District Collector, based upon the jurisdiction, before commencement of the shooting, he said.

Those involved in the making of the serials should follow all 'restrictions' imposed by the Central and state governments "without fail" and the producers should ensure that, he said.   -- PTI
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15:00  
An Air India flight from Delhi to Moscow on Saturday had to return midway after the airline's ground team found out that one of the pilots had tested positive for novel coronavirus, officials said.
 
"When the A320 plane, which did not have any passengers as it was heading to Moscow to bring back stranded Indians under Vande Bharat Mission, had reached Uzbekistan's airspace, our team on ground realised that one of the pilots had tested COVID-positive," senior Air India officials said.

"The flight was immediately asked to return. It came back to Delhi at around 12.30 pm on Saturday," the officials said.

The crew has been quarantined.

Another plane would be sent to Moscow to bring back the stranded Indians, according to the officials.   --  PTI
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14:55   Sunday curfew relaxed in Karnataka
The Karnataka government on Saturday eased the norm of curfew on Sundays while retaining the order of lockdown from 7 pm to 7 am in view of coronavirus.

In the beginning of the fourth phase of lockdown from May 19, the state government had ordered that total lockdown would be enforced throughout the day on Sundays to contain COVID-19 in the state.

Last Sunday, a day prior to Eid-ul-Fitr, it was implemented across the state. In the state capital, the curfew was imposed from Saturday evening itself.

In his order, Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar said there would not be complete lockdown on Sundays from 7 am to 7 pm following public request.

However, the lockdown during nights will continue, he said in the order.  -- PTI
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14:25   MP CM orders analysis of each COVID-19 death in state
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed the health department and doctors to conduct an analysis of each death caused by COVID- 19 in the state so far.

He gave this direction on Friday during a meeting held to review the coronavirus situation in the state.

'The chief minister directed the doctors and administrative officials to analyse each death caused by COVID-19,' an official statement said.

Till Friday night, coronavirus has claimed the lives of 334 people in the state.

During the meeting, state's Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Mohammad Suleman, revealed that the COVID- 19 mortality rate of Madhya Pradesh stands at 4.3 per cent, which is more than the national average.

The national level death rate was 2.8 per cent, he said.

"The death rate has to be reduced by ensuring the best system of COVID-19 treatment in the state. Every life is precious to us," the chief minister told the medical teams and officials from the administration during the meeting.

During this meeting, Chouhan started a review of COVID-19 deaths in Indore, the worst-hit district in the state.

Till Saturday morning, 129 deaths were reported in Indore. Suleman also said that there has been a decrease in active cases in the state.

On Friday, as many as 192 new COVID-19 patients were found in the state, while 219 patients were discharged the hospitals after the recovery.

The number of active cases in the state is 3,042.

During the meeting, Suleman said that the state's COVID-19 recovery rate has gone up to 56 per cent, while the country's recovery rate stands at 42.8 per cent.

The number of coronavirus patients in the state till Friday night was 7,645.  -- PTI
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14:21   Delhi is 4 steps ahead of COVID-19: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday that his government was 'four steps ahead' of the novel coronavirus and was over prepared to deal with the situation.

"I want to assure Delhi residents that your government is four steps ahead of the coronavirus," Kejriwal said at an online press conference.

"We are making of plenty arrangements that are much more than the requirements. We are more than prepared to tackle it," he said.

The chief minister underlined that the aim of the government was to ensure that the number of deaths from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) should not rise even if the count of patients were rising.

According to Kejriwal, cases of the pathogen went up by 8,500 in the past 15 days, but only 500 people were admitted in hospitals and most were recovering at home.

"We have arranged for enough beds," he said.

"More beds are being arranged." Kejriwal added that the government was also developing an app to give people information about the availability of beds in hospitals.

Referring to allegedly fake videos being circulated on social media, the chief minister said: "We have to leave politics behind. The country going through a bad time."   --  PTI
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13:44   HC seeks status report on migrants from Maha
Bombay high court has asked Maharashtra government to file a status report over migrants gathering in Mumbai and nearby areas amid the ongoing coronavirus-induced lockdown.

A bench comprising of Bombay high court Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice KK Tated asked the State to file a status report, which contains details of the procedure for travel and arrangements made for migrants workers, and slated the matter for further hearing on June 2.

The bench was hearing a petition, filed by Centre of Indian Trade Unions, raising concerns over the procedure in the state for migrant workers' travel back to their home states.

The court said that the report shall indicate the whole procedure that a migrant worker is required to follow in order to be eligible for leaving the state, the likely time within which they could board a train/bus, the nature of shelter he is provided with during the waiting period as well as provisions made available to him for their sustenance.

According to the petitioners, the migrant workers who have submitted applications for leaving the state availing Shramik special trains and buses, have been left in the dark about the status of their applications and made to live in cramped and unhygienic shelters, without being provided with food and other essentials.

Speaking to ANI, CITU member Dr Montiero said that the union took the matter to the court after seeing the situation of the various migrant labours from West Bengal stranded in Mumbai and nearby areas.

"The court has taken our issue very positively and agreed as this is an important issue. Responding to our petition, the court has also asked the Centre and State Government to file an affidavit by June 2," Dr Montiero said.

During the hearing, additional solicitor general Anil Singh appearing for the Central government submitted that the Supreme Court is seized of the matter and a detailed order had been passed on May 28, 2020, taking care of the plight of such migrant workers.

"Indeed, on perusal of the order dated May 28, 2020, we find that certain directions have been issued by the Supreme Court to all the States for simplifying and speeding up the process of registration of migrant workers as well as to provide a help desk for registration at the places where they are stranded.

"All the state governments have been directed to file their responses and the suo motu petition is due to be listed next on June 5, 2020," Singh said.

The court said that at this stage, neither is it empowered nor does it wish to make any order contrary to the spirit of the order of the Supreme Court.

"However, having regard to the peculiar local conditions, we consider it fit and proper to call upon the State to file a report indicating therein how the plight of the migrant workers, who have been assembling at the railway stations/bus stands in Mumbai and places around it, are being addressed," the court said.

"In fact, we have come across photographs in newspapers showing congregation of migrant workers not only on railway platforms but also on the streets adjoining the railway stations.

"Such congregation, if allowed, would run counter to the object, for which the lockdown has been imposed," it added.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had taken up a suo motu petition over the plight of the migrant workers and directed that the migrant workers found walking home should immediately be taken to shelters and should be provided with food and all other basic facilities.

The court had, on Thursday, also directed the Centre and state government not to charge any fare from the migrant workers for their travel, via train or bus, back home. -- ANI
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13:00   Cop who kneeled on George Floyd's neck charged with third-degree murder
A former Minneapolis police officer involved in the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.

'Derek Chauvin has been charged by the Hennepin County attorney office with murder and with manslaughter,' The Hill quoted Hennepin County attorney Mike Freeman as saying during a press conference.

'He has been charged with third-degree murder,' Freeman said.

The charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to 25 years in Minnesota.

Chauvin had been taken into custody earlier in the day.

Chauvin was one of four officers fired on Tuesday after the footage of Floyd's arrest went viral.

Floyd was detained and subsequently died in police custody in Minneapolis on Monday.

A bystander video recording showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for at least eight minutes, while Floyd was saying that he could not breathe.

The video shot by bystanders sparked controversy and protests in Minneapolis.  -- ANI
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12:26   Govt considers opening up hotels, beaches
In a bid to overcome economic stress due to COVID-19 lockdown, the Centre is working on a slew of suggestions given by some states that have demanded further graded opening up of the tourism and hospitality sector.

The economies of states and union territories such as Puducherry, Kerala, Goa, etc and some North-eastern states are heavily dependent on tourism and hospitality, which is yet to get relaxation from lockdown restrictions.

For Lockdown 5.0, the Centre is exploring ways to fulfill the demand of opening hotels, restaurants, beaches, etc.

It is expected that the Union Government may come up with more relaxations which will kick start economic activities in the states.

"Those states which rely on tourism and hospitality are still struggling and these States have demanded to ease out rules for such sectors. It is expected that lockdown 5.0 may get a breather for tourism and hospitality industry," a senior government official claimed.

"States have suggested ways to open hotel, restaurants, tourism, etc by limiting number of visitors and also maintaining mandatory social distancing. States have said that they can allow dine-in facilities with a limited number of sitting capacity, temperature check of visitors and Aarogya Setu App must for all visitors.

"States have requested Centre that through this, they can augment revenue collections required to run the state," the official added.

In lockdown 5.0, the government is focusing and planning a road map to further ease out norms which will give the required economic push.

However, a detailed discussion is on and the Centre is yet to take a final decision.

Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that he spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the phone.

Sawant feels that the lockdown may be extended for 15 more days.

However, the Goa Government has demanded that there should be some relaxations -- restaurants should be allowed to function with social distancing at 50 per cent capacity.

Many people also want gyms to resume, he added.In another development, Bengaluru's hotels are likely to open in June if the State government issues guidelines for the resumption of their services.  -- Ankur Sharma/ANI
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12:11   Woman, son killed in blast at house in Bihar's Munger
A woman and her six-month-old son were killed in a massive blast that rocked a house in Bihar's Munger district in the early hours of Saturday, police said.

The blast happened in one Dashrath Sah's house near Bariyarpur Bazaar Pul around 3 am, said Superintendent of Police Lipi Singh.

Sah's daughter Roma Kumari, 30, and her son were killed in the blast, she said.

The intensity of the blast was so massive that six adjacent houses also got damaged, police said.

However, no injuries were reported in the incident, Singh said.

It is difficult to say anything about the cause of the blast as investigation is on, she said, adding that dog squad and forensics team have been called for collecting the samples from the spot.

Following the incident, angry villagers blocked the Bhagalpur-Munger Road demanding compensation for the victim's family.

District officials assured them to look into their demands, following which the blockade was lifted.   -- PTI
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11:44   114 Maha cops test positive in 24 hrs; 1 dead
JUST IN: In last 24 hours, 114 Maharashtra Police personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 and one personnel has died due to the disease.

The total number of COVID-19 infected personnel is now 2,325 in the state and 26 have died so far, Maharashtra Police said.   -- ANI
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10:59   New York City to begin re-opening on June 8
New York City, the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, will begin reopening in a phased manner on June 8, bringing about 4,000,000 employees back to work, Governor Andrew Cuomo has said.
New York City has been shut since mid-March as coronavirus ravaged the metropolis, which has reported over 199,038 coronavirus cases so far and close to 20,000 deaths. US has so far reported more than 1,747,085 COVID-19 cases and over 102,835 fatalities -- both the numbers highest in the world.
Regions across New York State began their phased re-opening this month but New York City remained shut as it did not meet the seven health-related criteria necessary for the first phase of reopening.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, New York Governor Cuomo said the city is on track to meet all the metrics and will enter phase one of reopening on June 8.
"Phase one should bring about 4,000,000 employees back to work in New York City. Remember that reopening does not mean we're going back to the way things were...It is reopening to a new normal, it's a safer normal," Cuomo said.
The first phase of re-opening allows construction; manufacturing and wholesale supply chain; retail for curbside pickup and drop-off or in-store pickup; and agriculture, forestry and fishing to resume operations.
The seven metrics that define whether a region can re-open businesses are decline in total hospitalisations, decline in deaths measured by the three-day rolling average of daily new hospital deaths not exceeding 5, fewer than two new hospitalisations per 100,000 residents, hospital bed capacity regions must have at least 30% of their total hospital beds available before a phased re-opening, availability of 30% of ICU beds in a region, diagnostic testing capacity and contact tracing capacity.  
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said, "We are excited to get to the point of a restart for New York City and when I talked to the people of this city this morning I told them that the indicators were moving absolutely in the right direction."
He said the city is making sure that as it reopens, "we are driving back the disease every day, watching constantly for any indicators, any evidence that the disease might reassert, because we want to address that instantaneously". 
"But we also recognise a strong restart means making sure that our businesses can come back effectively, can come back quickly. We're talking about 200,000 to 400,000 New Yorkers who can, and will be going back to work in a matter of weeks. We have to make sure it goes well, and that means supporting the businesses, not only listening to them, but helping them in very real ways," he said.
Cuomo said five other regions in the state --Central New York, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, North Country and Southern Tier -- can now enter Phase-2 of reopening, under which office-based workers, real estate services, in-store retail shopping and some barbershop services will be allowed to resume services. -- PTI
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10:57   China reports six new coronavirus cases
China has reported six new coronavirus cases, including four asymptomatic infections, health officials said on Saturday.
Of the six new COVID-19 patients, two were imported cases and were reported from Shandong and Shanghai on Friday, China's National Health Commission said. 
Of the four new asymptomatic cases, three were reported from the coronavirus epicentre Wuhan, it said.
As for Friday, there were a total of 396 asymptomatic cases, including 331 from Wuhan, the NHC said. All the asymptomatic patients were under medical observation. 
Asymptomatic cases refer to people who are tested COVID-19 positive but develop no symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat. 

However, they pose a risk of spreading the disease to others.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in China now stands at 82,999. The deadly virus has claimed 4,634 lives in the country so far. -- PTI 
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10:56   Trump bans entry of some Chinese students to US
United States President Donald Trump has issued a proclamation banning the entry of Chinese students and researchers having ties with the People's Liberation Army to dismantle China's efforts to use graduate students to acquire intellectual property and technology from America.
Trump's announcement came amidst escalating confrontation between the US and China over trade, the origins of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Beijing's security crackdown in Hong Kong and the communist giant's aggressive military moves in the disputed South China Sea. 
Issuing the proclamation on Friday, Trump said China is engaged in a wide-ranging and heavily resourced campaign to acquire sensitive US technologies and intellectual property to modernise its massive military -- the People's Liberation Army.
This action of China is a threat to the US' long-term economic vitality and the safety and security of the American people, he said.
Trump alleged that China uses some Chinese students, mostly postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers, to operate as non-traditional collectors of intellectual property. Therefore, Chinese postgraduate students or researchers who are or have been associated with the PLA are at high risk of being exploited or co-opted by the Chinese authorities and provide particular cause for concern. 
"In light of the above, I have determined that the entry of certain" Chinese nationals "seeking to enter the US pursuant to an 'F' or 'J' visa to study or conduct research in the US would be detrimental to the interests" of America, he said.
China on Friday had termed Trump's threat to slap sanctions on its students in America as racist, saying it is a brazen political persecution and reminiscent of the McCarthy era. McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the plan exposes a deep-rooted Cold War and zero-sum mentality that permeates the thinking of some Americans and warned the US not to violate the legal rights of the Chinese students in America.
While the F-1 visa is for students attending a full-time degree or academic programme at a school, college or university in the US, the J-1 visa offers cultural and educational exchange opportunities in America through programmes overseen by the US State Department. 

The F-1 visa is valid for as long as it takes the student to finish his or her course of study. 

An F-1 Visa also allows students to work on campus and in some situations even off campus. -- PTI
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10:44   Stuck in Germany for 3 months, Vishy Anand to return home
Former world chess champion Viswanathan will be finally reaching India late on Saturday after being stuck in Germany for over three months due to the travel restrictions imposed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.     
 
"Yes.. Anand will be returning today," the chess maestro's wife Aruna told PTI on Saturday morning.
        
Anand, who boarded an Air India flight (AI-120) from Frankfurt on Friday night will reach Bengaluru via Delhi.
        
He is expected to reach Bengaluru at 1.15 pm.
        
The five-time world champion will undergo 14 days quarantine as per rules laid down by the Karnataka government.
     
"He will complete quarantine procedures and come to Chennai as per protocol," Aruna Anand said.
       
The flights from Germany are only scheduled to land only in Delhi and Bengaluru.
      
The chess ace was in Germany to play in the Bundesliga chess league and was to return to India, but was  forced to stay put after the COVID-19 outbreak disrupted sporting schedules across the globe, apart from restricting movement.
       
He was staying near Frankfurt and was doing online commentary for the Candidates tournament which was called off mid-way due to the pandemic and led the Indian team in the Online Nations Cup early this month.
      
Anand had been in touch with his family in Chennai on a regular basis via video calls and kept himself busy with chess related work. 
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10:27   2 terrorists killed in Kulgam encounter
Two unidentified terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.
   
A cordon and search operation was launched following information about the presence of terrorists in Wanpora area of the south Kashmir district, according to a police official.
 
The terrorists fired upon the forces, who retaliated. Two militants were killed in the gunfight, the official said.
 
The identity and group affiliation of the slain terrorists were being ascertained, he added.
 
The search operation is on in the area and further details are awaited.  -- PTI
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09:53   India reports highest spike with 7,964 cases
India reported the biggest single-day jump in the number of new coronavirus patients and deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total 1,73,763 cases and 4,971 deaths. 

In the last 24 hours, 7,964  new patients were registered and 265 patients died. 

This is the second consecutive day that India  has reported over 7,000 cases in a single day. 
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09:28   Rlys running 'Corona Express': Mamata
In the name of Shramik Express, the railways is running "Corona Express", said West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday while alleging that social distancing is not being maintained in special trains transporting migrant workers and other people to their homes.

"Law is equal for all but why all trains are running in full capacity? Why the railways is not maintaining social distancing? Passengers are not being served water and food in the trains," Banerjee said.

"In the name of Shramik Express, Indian Railways is running 'Corona Express'. Why extra trains are not being run. I was Railway Minister once. I had increased coaches, but why it cannot be done now? The railways are bringing people from hotspot areas in huge numbers," she said.

The chief minister said that a decision has been taken to increase the state government's workforce capacity from 50 per cent to 70 per cent.

"With multiple crises in the state, we have decided to increase the state government's workforce capacity from 50 per cent to 70 per cent. Continuation of restoration work is one of the top priorities and workforce increase will ensure that public services are uninterrupted," Banerjee said.

"In the private sector, I urge all to stay safe, work indoors as much as possible and to the best of their abilities. Prerogative lies with the respective managements of private entities to decide on workforce capacity and act accordingly," she added. -- ANI
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09:18   Singapore-China to launch 'fast lane' for essential travel
Singapore and China will launch a "fast lane" arrangement early next month to facilitate essential travel for business and official purposes between the two countries, as they emerge from the coronavirus pandemic with control measures in place, according to a media report.
 
The arrangement would first apply to Singapore and six provinces or municipalities directly under the Chinese central government -- Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Singapore's ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement on Friday night, the The Straits Times reported.
 
This arrangement will be gradually expanded to the other Chinese provinces and municipalities.
 
Both countries agreed to explore the increase of air links between them as part of the fast lane, following a video conference meeting between Chee Wee Kiong, Permanent Secretary of Singapore's MFA, and China's vice-foreign minister Luo Zhaohui on Thursday.
 
The two countries stressed the importance of securing the connectivity of production and supply chains, and agreed to improve the efficiency of freight linkages and customs clearance, including facilitating the flow of goods such as essential medical supplies and food, according to The Straits Times report.
 
Singapore will soon relax its circuit breaker measures, starting from June 2, and gradually resume economic and social activities.
 
Singapore's National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force on COVID-19, had said on Thursday that resuming essential travel was being considered.
 
The city state is working on reopening its borders -- establishing "travel bubbles" with countries where the virus situation is under control and having green lane travel arrangements with certain countries.
 
"The conversations and discussions we're having with countries vary; some (are) at more advanced stages, some we're just starting," Wong had said of resuming travelling.
 
Regular travels were stopped and operations were suspended at two terminals of the four-terminal Singapore's Changi Airport amid the COVID-19 crisis.
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08:49   Trump says US terminating relationship with WHO
United States President Donald Trump on Friday said that America is terminating its relationship with the World Health Organization as he blamed it and China for the deaths and destruction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe.
Stating that the funding of the WHO would now be diverted to other global public health organisations, Trump announced a series of decisions against China including issuing proclamation to deny entry to certain Chinese nationals and tightening of regulations against Chinese investments in America.
Trump also announced that the US will end special treatment of Hong Kong in response to Chinese imposition of new controls.
He said that the US will revise its travel advisory to warn of surveillance in Hong Kong.
"The world needs answers from China," Trump said in his aggressive speech on a bright sunny day from the Rose Garden of the White House.
The president, however, did not take any questions.
For decades it has ripped off the US like no one has ever done before, he said, reiterating his charges against China.
China not only stole intellectual property, took away billions of dollars from the US and offshored the jobs, but also violated its commitment under the World Trade Organization, he said, adding that it was able to get away with the theft, like no one before because of past politicians and past presidents.
China, he alleged, has unlawfully claimed territories in the Indo-Pacific ocean, threatening freedom of navigation and international trade and broke its word to the world on ensuring the autonomy of Hong Kong.
"The United States wants an open and constructive relationship with China, but achieving this relationship requires us to vigorously defend our national interest," he said.
 
Trump alleged that the Chinese government has continually violated its promises to the US and many other nations.
 
"These plain facts cannot be overlooked or swept aside," he said.
 
Observing that the world is now suffering as a result of the malfeasance of the Chinese government, Trump reiterated that China's cover-up of the Wuhan virus allowed the disease to spread all over the world, instigating a global pandemic that has cost more than 100,000 American lives and over one million lives worldwide.
 
"Chinese officials ignored their reporting obligations to the World Health Organization and pressured the World Health Organization to mislead the world when the virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities. Countless lives have been taken, and profound economic hardship has been inflicted all around the globe," he said. -- PTI
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08:33   1 yr of Modi 2.0: PM lists key achievements
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday listed abrogation of Article 370, settlement of the Ram Temple issue, criminalisation of Triple Talaq and the amendment to the Citizenship Act among the key achievements during his second term, asserting that his government's decisions in the last one year were aimed at fulfilling the dream of making India a global leader.
 
In an open letter to the country's citizens on the first anniversary of his second term as Prime Minister, Modi said in 2019 the people of India voted not merely for continuity but also with the dream of taking India to new heights and making it a global leader. 
The decisions taken in the last one year are directed at fulfilling this dream, he said.
In the last one year, some of the decisions were widely discussed and remain etched in public discourse, Modi said.
"Article 370 (abrogation) furthered the spirit of national unity and integration," he said of the Centre's decision to abrogate Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcation of the state into Union Territories in August last year.
Referring to the Supreme Court's unanimous judgement on the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Modi said it brought an amicable end to a debate persisting for centuries. 
The Supreme Court, in a landmark verdict in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title case last year, paved the way for construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
"The barbaric practice of Triple Talaq has been confined to the dustbin of history," Modi said in reference to the legislation last year that made giving instant oral triple talaq or talalq-e-biddat a criminal offence with provisions of jail term up to three years.
Referring to the amendment to the Citizenship Act, Modi said it was an "expression of India's compassion and spirit of inclusiveness".
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslims from three neighbouring Muslim majority countries on the ground of religious persecution. Its passage last year had prompted intense protests in various parts of the country with the Opposition parties and social groups alleging that it was discriminatory.
Listing other key decisions of his government that added "momentum to the nation's development trajectory", Modi said the creation of the post of the Chief of Defence Staff was a long-pending reform that has improved coordination among the armed forces. 
At the same time, India has stepped up preparations for Mission Gaganyaan, he said.
"Empowering the poor, farmers, women and youth has remained our priority. PM Kisan Samman Nidhi now includes all farmers. In just one year, more than Rs 72,000 crore has been deposited in the accounts of over 9 crore 50 lakh farmers," Modi said.
The Jal Jeevan Mission will ensure supply of potable drinking water through piped connections to over 15 crore rural households, he said.
Modi said a huge campaign for free vaccination is being conducted for better health of the country's 50 crore livestock. 
"For the first time in our country's history, farmers, farm labourers, small shopkeepers and workers in unorganised sector are assured the provision of regular monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after the age of 60 years," he said.
Besides the facility of availing bank loans, a separate department has also been created for fishermen, the prime minister said, enumerating the steps taken by his government. 
Several other decisions have been taken to strengthen the fisheries sector which will boost the blue economy, he said.
"It has been decided to constitute a Vyapari Kalyan Board for timely resolution of the problems of the traders. Higher quantum of financial assistance is being provided to more than 7 crore women attached to self help groups," Modi said in his letter.
Recently the amount for loans without guarantee for self help groups has been doubled to Rs 20 lakh from the earlier Rs 10 lakh, he said.
"Keeping in mind the education of tribal children, we have begun the construction of more than 400 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools," Modi said.
Asserting that several people-friendly laws have been ushered in during the last year, the prime minister said Parliament has broken the decades-old record in terms of productivity. 
"As a result, whether it be the Consumer Protection Act, the amendment to Chit Fund Law or laws to provide more protection to women, children and Divyang, their passage in the Parliament was expedited," he said.
As a result of the policies and decisions of the government, the rural-urban gap is shrinking, Modi said, adding that "for the first time, the number of rural Indians using internet is 10 per cent more than the number of urban Indians".
"The list of such historic actions and decisions taken in national interest would be too long to detail in this letter. But I must say that every day of this year, my government has worked round the clock with full vigour, taking and implementing these decisions," Modi said.
Today, 130 crore people feel involved and integrated in the development trajectory of the nation, the prime minister said. 
"The light of Jan Shakti' and Rashtra Shakti' has ignited the entire nation. Powered by the Mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' India is marching forward in all spheres," he said. -- PTI 
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00:03   Madagascar thanks India for supplying medicines
Madagascar has thanked India for supplying essential medicines in the fight against COVID-19 by deploying INS Kesari, which entered Port Antsiranana on May 27.

"Today the Foreign Minister, M Tehindrazanarivelo Liva Djacoba received Ambassador Abhay Kumar and thanked the Government of India for supplying essential medicines to Madagascar by deploying INS Kesari to fight COVID19," said Embassy of India in Antananarivo, Madagascar and Comoros in a tweet. 
Indian Ministry of Defence, in a release, said that as part of Mission Sagar, Indian Naval Ship Kesari entered Port Antsiranana, Madagascar on May 27.

"The Government of India in these difficult times is providing assistance to friendly foreign countries in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. INS Kesari carried a consignment of COVID related essential medicines for the people of Madagascar," it said.

The assistance to Madagascar is a part of India's outreach amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"The deployment also resonates the vision of our Prime Minister of Security and Growth for All in the Region 'SAGAR' and highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with the countries of the IOR. The operation is being progressed in close coordination with the Ministries of External Affairs and other agencies of the Government of India," the release said.

-- ANI

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