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Noida : Eighteen people were arrested across Noida and Greater Noida on Saturday for allegedly defying restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 lockdown, police said. Gautam Buddh Nagar is among the 15 districts in Uttar Pradesh where coronavirus hotspots have been completely sealed off. "Four FIRs were registered on Saturday for lockdown violations and 18 people arrested. A total of 610 vehicles were checked across 200 barrier points in the district and challans issued to 189 of them, while another four were impounded," the police said in a statement. The FIRs were registered under Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) over violation of prohibitory orders put in place under CrPC Section 144, which bars assembly of four or more persons, they said. Over three dozen localities have been completely sealed off across Noida and Greater Noida due to the COVID-19 outbreak, with the police now stepping up further the vigilance o

Ahmedabad : Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad is scheduled to facilitate operations of three relief flights of British Airways for the UK nationals and their families who are stranded in Gujarat, informed SVPIA Director on Saturday. Out of these three flights, the two flights scheduled for 13 April and 15 April have already been approved. They will arrive from London (Heathrow) at 1245 IST and depart at 1530 IST for London (Heathrow) on the same day, read an official statement. The flight on 17 April will arrive at 2100 hours and depart at 2200 IST, and each flight will carry at least 280 passengers. "Special care will be taken for the facilitation of the passengers and their social distancing in line with directives of Govt of India. SVPI Airport is requesting all the passengers to please follow instructions of the staff on duty," it further read. Meanwhile, the country is under a 21-day lockdown which has been imposed to check the spre

Gurugram : A drive-through sample collection centre has been set up in Gurugram to make COVID-19 testing easier for residents. Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Vinay Pratap Singh, told reporters that the screening for suspected patients can be conducted free of cost for all suspected patients at the drive-through sample collection centres without any hassles. "One can apply for the test by filling details online. The patient can reach the spot by driving himself/herself or can be accompanied by another person. It takes about 1-2 minutes to collect nasal or throat swab and the reports will be given online in no time. It is, however, compulsory for those who want to be tested for COVID-19 to obtain a prescription from a registered medical practitioner," Singh said on Saturday. The facility has been established in collaboration with the Healthians testing group at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Gurugram. Singh also informed that there are plans to open more such drive-throug

New Delhi : Police have arrested the media coordinator of Jamia Coordination Committee, who is accused of organising anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest in Delhi's north-east district. File image of policemen outside Jamia Millia Islamia University. PTI According to Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police, the arrested person, Safoora Zargar, is accused of organising anti-CAA protests in Jaffrabad area where the agitators, majority of whom were women, had begun protests against the amended Act last year. Violence had later broken out between the protestors and CAA supporters this year in which at least 53 people including IB official Ankit Sharma and Head Constable Rattan Lal were killed. Earlier on 6 April, a Delhi court had extended the police custody of a student of Jamia Millia Islamia, who was arrested in a case related to alleged planning of a conspiracy to incite communal riots in northeast Delhi, by nine more days. from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.t

07:54 (IST) Coronavirus in United States Latest Update US COVID-19 toll overtakes Italy's with over 20,000 deaths The United States now has now overtaken Italy to have the highest death toll from coronavirus in the world. The latest data, compiled by Johns Hopkins University, shows more than 20,000 people in the US have now died. The grim milestone comes shortly after the US became the first nation to record more than 2,000 virus deaths in a single day. 07:48 (IST) Coronavirus in Maharashtra Latest Update Dairy farmers in Nashik suffer as milk prices drop to Rs 30 per lt  Dairy farmers in Nashik are facing losses due to the nationwide lockdown imposed in view of the novel coronavirus. The prices of milk slumped on sinking demand as hotels and tea stalls remain shut. Milk is now sold at Rs 30-35 per litre in the city. A farmer said, "We used to sell milk at Rs 50-55 per litre, now we've to sell it at Rs 30-35 per litre. Demand is low as hotels and tea stalls are

India registered an increase of 768 coronavirus cases and 36 deaths in 24 hours on Saturday taking the tally to 7,529 and the toll to 242 while a consensus seem to emerge among states to extend the ongoing lockdown for another two weeks. While the number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 6,634, as many as 652 people have been cured and discharged, and one had migrated, it said. The total number of cases include 71 foreign nationals. However, according to, a PTI tally of figures reported by various states as on Saturday showed at least 8,016 cases and 261 deaths. Doctors interact with people at a slum area in Mumbai during the lockdown. AP The virus continued to spread further in Maharashtra, the worst-affected state in the country, now accounting for one-fifth of the total cases and nearly 46 percent of the 242 deaths in the country while numbers in Tamil Nadu surged to 969 and confirmed cases in the National Capital Delhi crossed the 1,000 mark. A broad "consensus"

New Delhi: Ex-gratia payments made to temporary, casual and daily wage workers by companies will be considered as CSR expenditure under the companies law, provided that such payments are over and above disbursement of wages. Weeks after announcing that contributions by companies to PM-CARES Fund to tackle the pandemic would be considered as CSR, the corporate affairs ministry has come out with a set of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) to clarify various aspects. Migrant workers being screened at Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. ANI According to the ministry, contributions made to State Disaster Management Authority to combat COVID-19 would qualify as CSR expenditure. However, contribution towards 'Chief Minister's Relief Fund' or 'State Relief Fund for COVID-19' would not be considered as spending towards CSR work. Under the Companies Act, 2013, certain classes of profitable entities are required to spend at least 2 percent of their three-year average annual net p

NEET PG 2020 | The Medical Counselling Committee on Saturday declared the result for Round 1 of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG Counselling 2020. Candidates who appeared in the exam for securing seats in MD, MS, Diploma or MDS courses can access their allotment letters from 5 pm of 11 April (today) through the official website of the MCC. Representational image. Wikimedia Commons The selected candidates have been requested to appear for physical or online reporting (e-joining) to their allotted colleges from 13 April onwards. “The candidates can forgo their allotted seat but will still be eligible during Round-2 of counselling,” the official notice read. It added that the option of “free exit” will be also available in accordance to the scheme of counselling. A list of allotted institutes and quota has been attached to the notice . The National Testing Agency (NTA) had on Friday announced that it was extending the deadline of making corrections to the N

Mumbai: Budget carrier IndiGo on Saturday said one of its staff passed away due to coronavirus infection in Chennai. While the airline did not provide details, a source told PTI that the employee was an aircraft maintenance engineer and he passed away on Friday. The engineer was in his mid-50s and had been working with the carrier since 2006. He was posted in Chennai, the source said. "We are extremely sorry and saddened by the demise of one of our beloved employees in Chennai due to infection of COVID-19 virus," an airline spokesperson told PTI on Saturday. This is possibly the first case of death of an aviation personnel due to coronavirus infection in the country. "This is a heartbreaking moment for all of us at IndiGo and in this time of sorrow we stand with his family and request that we respect the privacy of our employee and his family," the spokesperson said. The number of infections in the country has crossed 8,000 and more than 260 people have di

As India’s coronavirus cases surged past the 7,400 mark, it became clear that the state of Maharashtra is facing the worst of the pandemic in the country with confirmed cases nearing the 2,000 mark. A recent study from the Public Health Department of Government of Maharashtra has revealed that not only does the state account for nearly a fifth of the national burden of COVID-19 cases with the highest nationwide tally, it also has the highest mortality rate. According to a report by  Maharashtra’s Medical Education and Drug Department , dated 11 April, the mortality rate in Maharashtra at 6.98 percent, which is higher than the world average of 6.10 percent and more than double the national average of 3.21 percent. The data used in the report is prepared on the basis of information published by the World Health Organisation Daily Situation Report, Ministry of Health Family Welfare mohfw.gov.in and Daily Press Note released by the state's Public Health Department. It accounts for

Thane: The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation authorities in Maharashtra's Thane district on Saturday sealed off more localities as the number of COVID-19 patients continued to rise. Representational image. AP An order issued by KDMC Commissioner Vijay Suryavanshi stated that Ayregaon, Tukaram Nagar, Mhatre Nagar, Vijay Nagar, Sahakar Nagar, Chedda Road, Samata Nagar localities have been sealed off and restrictions on movement of people and traffic have been imposed. It also said shops in the western part of Dombivli will be open from 9 am to noon every day from here on. "There are 50 COVID-19 patients in KDMC limits, with Dombivli East having 19 of them. We have so far surveyed 10,12,816 people for coronavirus symptoms," an official said. Besides, all panchayat samitis in Thane Zilla Parishad have been asked to set up 50-bed quarantine wards. from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/2JU0N31 Press Trust of India

With continuous spike in COVID-19 cases, the Maharashtra government on Saturday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown period till 30 April, hours after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray attended a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing from Mumbai. In a live webcast, Thackeray said the lockdown, which was supposed to end on 14 April, will be extended till 30 April in view of the lack of any other options. Explaining the broad contours of the plan, Thackeray said while restrictions would be eased in certain areas in the state during the extended period, they will become stricter in others. The chief minister said he had conveyed this decision to the prime minister during the meeting of all the chief ministers. Before Maharashtra, Odisha and Punjab had formally extended the lockdown period till 30 April. Thackeray said the decision regarding pending examinations, restarting of industrial units and the migrant workers stranded in the state will be announced b

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said there seems to be a consensus among states on the extension of lockdown by another two weeks while emphasising that the n ext three-four weeks will be critical to determine impact of steps taken till now to curb spread of the novel coronavirus. Modi made the remarks while speaking with chief ministers of states via video conference on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with chief ministers of states via video conference on Saturday. ANI Though an official confirmation on extension of a nationwide lockdown is still awaited, and two states -- Odisha and Punjab -- have already extended restrictions, on Saturday Maharashtra announced that the restrictions on movement of people will remain in place till 30 April. Maharashtra has been worst-hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak with its tally nearing 2,000 and 110 people reported to have died so far. During his meeting with chief ministers of states, the prime minister also

Lucknow/Meerut:  A team of police and district officials was attacked in Meerut's Jali Kothi on Saturday when it reached there to seal a part of the area following a confirmation about presence of coronavirus patients there, officials said. Four people, including an imam, have been arrested in connection with the incident, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said in Lucknow. "A team which had gone to take a COVID-19 patient to hospital in Meerut's Jali Kothi area was attacked by some people. Four persons, including an imam, have been arrested in this regard. Action will be initiated against the accused persons under the National Security Act (NSA)," Awasthi said in a statement. The NSA allows preventive detention up to 12 months without a charge if the authorities are satisfied that the person is a threat to the national security or law and order. Follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak Circle Officer Dinesh Shukla said the accused pelted stone

New Delhi: A Delhi court has sent to one-month judicial custody Jammu and Kashmir Police officer Davinder Singh, who was arrested while ferrying two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists in a vehicle on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway earlier this year. Special Judge Ajay Kumar Jain sent Singh to judicial custody till 6 May after he was produced before the court on Friday on expiry of his 30 days' custodial interrogation by the Delhi police. File image of DSP Davinder Singh. who was arrested along with two terrorists whom he was ferrying in a car in Kashmir Valley on 12 January. PTI The police told the court the accused was not required for further interrogation. The court also sent three other co-accused arrested in the case — Javed Iqbal, Syed Naveed Mushtaq and Imran Shafi Mir — to judicial custody. The police requested the court that all accused be sent to judicial custody as they may flee or hamper the probe if let free, defence advocate Prashant Prakash said. DSP Davinder Singh w

As India’s coronavirus cases surged past the 7,400 mark, it became clear that the state of Maharashtra is facing the worst of the the pandemic in the country with confirmed cases nearing the 2,000 mark. A recent study from the Public Health Department of Government of Maharashtra has revealed that not only does the state account for nearly a fifth of the national burden of COVID-19 cases with the highest nationwide tally, it also has the highest mortality rate. According to a report by  Maharashtra’s Medical Education and Drug Department , dated 11 April, the mortality rate in Maharashtra is at 6.98 percent, which is higher than the world average of 6.10 percent and more than double the national average of 3.21 percent. The data used in the report is prepared on the basis of information published by the World Health Organisation Daily Situation Report, Ministry of Health Family Welfare mohfw.gov.in and Daily Press Note released by the state's Public Health Department. It accoun

Born in 1827 to a family of florists in Pune, Jyotirao Phule experienced discrimination early on in his life. These struggles made him more determined to challenge the caste system and work for the upliftment of Dalits and women. 11 April, 2020, marks the reformer’s 193 rd birth anniversary. Phule had to drop out of school and help out his father at his farm, but he did complete his education later.  Phule was married to Savitribai when he was only 13. After reading Thomas Paine’s ‘Rights of Man’, he realised how important women’s education was for a society. Phule taught his wife how to read and write, after which both of them continued to teach girls and Dalits. They strongly opposed social evils like child marriage and stigmatization of widows. Phule propagated his reforms and his idea of the caste system in the books that he wrote –  Gulamgiri  and Shetkarayacha Aasud . Another propagator of Dalit emancipation movement, BR Ambedkar considered Phule to be his guru. Many pai

Tumkur: Despite the nationwide lockdown, BJP MLA from Turuvekere constituency, M Jayaram, was on Friday seen celebrating his birthday with several villagers in Gubbi taluk in Tumkur. A sizable number of people were seen gathering in Gubbi taluk to celebrate the BJP legislator's birthday. Meanwhile, scores of people around the country are getting booked for violating the lockdown. In Uttarakhand alone, more than 4500 people have been arrested until Friday for violating the norms of lockdown. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for a three-week lockdown, urging people to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has mounted to 6,761 of which 6039 are active cases, 516 have been cured/discharged/migrated, and 206 deaths have been reported. from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/3ehwT6S Asian News International

A number of mosques in Assam have banned Tablighi Jamaat activities in their premises after a meeting organised at the congregation's headquarters in Delhi’s Nizamuddin became an epicentre of coronavirus pandemic. Ismail Hossain, an Assam-based writer and activist told Firstpost that at least 50 mosques in Assam have banned Tabligh activities in the last two days should not be less than 50 in number. Though the Tablighi Jamat incident row in Delhi is perceived to have caused communal distrust among the Hindus and Muslims in the north eastern state, he said that this has no bearing on the decisions to ban tabligh activities. "It is merely the embarrassment the Tablighis have brought to the Muslims that has prompted these decisions. They did not like the callous attitude of the Tablighi Jamaat in dealing with the corona virus threat," said Hossain. Out of more than 300 persons who returned to Assam from the event held at the Banglewali Mosque in Delhi’s Nizamuddin 29 h

The rise in number of confirmed cases to 7,598 on Friday illuminates the difficulties India is facing in the fight against the coronavirus. The government’s latest approach bears a striking similarity to the Bhilwara model, named after a city in Rajasthan where aggressive measures were taken to avoid the spread of coronavirus late in March, to classify highly-affected areas as cluster containment zones. When the lockdown was announced, India had reported under 500 cases. Now, the toll has reached 246 and the number of confirmed cases reached 7,598. In this situation, cluster containment zones involve imposition of strict restrictions in areas that have clusters of the virus. The health ministry’s containment plan for large outbreaks states that the current geographic distribution of COVID-19 mimics the distribution of (enter year) H1N1 outbreak, when big cities with substantive population movement were reporting a large number of cases, whereas rural areas and smaller towns with l