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Cyclone Amphan: IMD issues alert for West Bengal, Bangladesh coasts

Cyclone
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Cyclonic storm “Amphan” over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a “Very Severe Cyclonic” storm during the next 12 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said today, while issuing a fresh warning for West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts.

Cyclone Amphan is likely to intensify and cross West Bengal and Bangladesh by May 20 evening, IMD said. Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal are likely to be affected while Odisha also braces for a severe storm. IMD has also predicted heavy rainfall in these areas and 12 coastal districts are on alert. The department has issued a Yellow alert.

“It is very likely to intensify further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours. It is very likely to move nearly northwards slowly during next 24 hours and then re-curve north-northeastwards and move fast across northwest BoB and cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) during afternoon/evening of 20th May 2020 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm,” the IMD said in a statement today.

(Source: IMD)

“Yesterday’s depression over southeast Bay of Bengal (BoB) intensified into a deep depression in the same afternoon (1430 hrs IST of 16th May), into cyclonic storm ‘AMPHAN’ (pronounced as UM-PUN)’in the same evening (1730 hrs IST of 16th May) over the central parts of south BoB,” it added.

The weatherman had issued a warning for the cyclone yesterday as well. The cyclone further intensified into a severe cyclonic storm at 8:30 am (0830 hrs IST) today and lay centred over the same region near latitude 11.4°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 990 km south of Paradip (Odisha), 1140 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1260 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), the IMD said.

(Source: IMD)

In view of the approaching cyclone, 17 teams of National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in Odisha and West Bengal, General SN Pradhan, Director, NDRF said.

While issuing the warning, IMD said light to moderate rainfall at most places is very likely over Andaman & Nicobar Islands during next 24 hours.

Fishermen are advised not to venture into south Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours, to central Bay of Bengal during 17th to 18th May and North Bay of Bengal during 18th to 20th May 2020.

Maharashtra extends Covid-19 lockdown till May 31

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New Delhi (NVI): Maharashtra, which is the most affected state by coronavirus in the country, has extended the lockdown till May 31 to curb the spread of coronavirus disease.

The decision by Maharashtra government comes on a day when the third phase of nationwide lockdown comes to an end. The Centre is expected to announce fresh guidelines for the fourth phase of lockdown this evening.

“To take certain emergency measures to prevent and contain the spread of the virus, the government in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act 2005, it is expedient to extend the lockdown in the entire state of Maharashtra further till the midnight of May 31, 2020,” a notification by Department of Revenue and Forest, Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation, read.

The state has reported 30,706 cases so far, with 1,135 deaths. Yesterday, the state reported 1,606 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours.

Mumbai, which has a huge number of coronavirus cases, saw a surge of 884 cases yesterday.

A few days back, the liquor shops in Mumbai were also closed after reopening after BMC withdrew relaxations given from lockdown. The step was taken after huge crowds were seen at shops selling liquor.

However, three days back, the Maharashtra government permitted home delivery of alcohol to avoid overcrowding outside liquor shops.

Additional Rs 40,000 crore allocated for MGNREGA: FM Sitharaman

New Delhi (NVI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said that the Centre will now allocate an additional Rs 40,000 crore to MGNREGA to provide a fillip to employment and the move will help generate nearly 300 crore person days in total.

The earlier budget estimate for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was Rs 61,000 crore.

The Finance Minister today gave details of the fifth and last tranche of funds under the Rs 20 lakh crore economic package that was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 12. During his address to the nation, the PM had announced the stimulus to tide over Covid-19 crisis.

The FM further said that the borrowing limit of states has been raised from 3 per cent of gross state domestic product (GSDP) to 5 per cent in 2020-21. This will make available an extra of Rs 4.28 lakh crore.

The Rs 20 lakh cr economic stimulus includes Rs 8.01 lakh crore of liquidity measures by RBI and Rs 1.92 lakh crore package in March, she added.

The finance minister also summarised the funds allocated under all 5 tranches, totalling over Rs 20 lakh crores. The overall stimulus provided by Atmanirbhar Bharat Package includes Rs 5.94 lakh crore in 1st tranche, Rs 3.10 lakh crore in 2nd; Rs 1.50 lakh crore in 3rd and Rs 48,100 crore in 4th and 5th tranches.

During the press conference yesterday, Sitharaman said that eight sectors will undergo structural reforms including coal, minerals, defence production, airspace management and airports, MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), power distribution companies in Union territories, space and atomic energy.

Covid-19: Brazil overtakes Spain, becomes world’s fourth biggest hotspot

brazil
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Brazil has surpassed Spain and Italy, once the worst affected countries by Covid-19, in number of coronavirus cases. The Latin American country reported 14,919 new infections yesterday, taking its total to 2,33,000.

The country is behind the US, Russia and UK, in the number of cases now. What is alarming is that Brazil has done just a fraction of the testing seen in these three countries.

Brazil also lost a second health minister in a month on Friday. The country has recorded 15,662 deaths so far, while 89,672 patients have recovered.

Meanwhile, over 4.6 million have been infected with the virus globally, while over 3 lakh have died so far. United States has the most number of fatalities, followed by the UK and Italy.

In another development, Canada has approved first clinical trial of a potential Covid-19 vaccine. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, at a press conference in Ottawa yesterday, said the Canadian Center for Vaccinology at Dalhousie University has been given the approval by Health Canada to begin trials for the vaccine.

Covid-19 cases in India rise to 90,927; death toll at 2,872

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India today rose to 90,027 while 2,872 people have died from the virus so far.

There are 53,946 active cases now and 34,108 patients have been cured or discharged till now, according to the latest Health Ministry data.

4,987 new cases and 120 fresh deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours.

The third phase of nationwide lockdown ends today and the Centre is planning to ease some restrictions now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on May 11 said that India will enter into the fourth phase of lockdown from May 18 but with a different set of rules and guidelines.

In a virtual meeting with the Prime Minister on May 10, Chief Ministers of some states, including Assam, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Punjab had recommended an extension of the lockdown till the end of this month.

Some other states including Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka had suggested a gradual easing of restrictions.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will announce the last tranche of the Rs 20 lakh crore economic package today.

Over 4.6 million have been infected with the virus globally, while over 3 lakh have died so far. United States has the most number of fatalities, followed by the UK and Italy.

COVID-19 casualties in Bangladesh cross 300-mark

(Image source: United News of Bangladesh)

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of deaths from coronavirus in Bangladesh surged past 300 today after 16 more people lost their lives in the last 24 hours, taking the total casualties in the country to 314, according to United News of Bangladesh.

The total number of coronavirus infections rose to 20,995 after 930 new infections were reported in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, 235 coronavirus-infected people fully recovered during this period, taking the total number of recoveries  to 4,117 in the country.

Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Nasima Sultana said that 33 coronavirus testing laboratories across the country have tested 6,782 samples.

349 new COVID cases in Afghanistan; tally hits 6,402

Representational Image (Credit: TOLO News)

New Delhi (NVI):Afghanistan witnessed a rise in coronavirus cases with 349 new cases, taking the overall tally to 6,402 across the country, according to Afghan media reports

In the last 24 hours, among the new Covid-19 cases, 126 were reported in Kabul, 56 in Paktia, 37 in Nangarhar, 31 in Balkh, 29 in Herat.

In addition, 10 cases recorded in Kandahar, 10 in Logar, 11 in Baghlan, 8 in Laghman, 5 in Badghis, 7 in Takhar, 8 in Sar-e-Pul, 1 in Wardak, 3 in Kunduz, 5 in Jawzjan, 1 in Panjshir and 1 in Bamiyan.

The health officials have again called on Afghans to take the virus seriously to curb its further spread. This comes after the lockdown was eased in cities including Mazare-e-Shari in northern Balkh province, according to media reports.

So far, 21,969 people have been tested in the country.

According to the Health Ministry, 15 people lost their lives over the past 24 hours, taking the death toll from coronavirus to 168.

At least, 745 patients have been cured from virus or discharged.

Covid-19: J&K records 12th death; total cases reach 1,121

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today witnessed the highest ever surge in the Covid-19 cases since the outbreak of pandemic in the UT as 108 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours while one more person lost his life due to the disease.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the Union Territory has reached 1,121 with the total death toll being at 12.

Of the total positive cases, 22 were reported from Jammu division and 86 from Kashmir division.

The deceased was identified as a resident of Chadoora area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials stated, adding that he succumbed at SKIMS Soura hospital in Srinagar after testing positive for the virus.

They officials further added that out of the new 108 cases, 17 belong to Anantnag, 3 to Srinagar, 47 to Kulgam, 2 are from Baramullah, 12 from Kupwara, 5 from Budgam, 10 from Kathua and 12 from Ramban.

They further added that 51 people were tested positive at Army’s Command Hospital Udhampur, 27 at SKIMS, 17 at CD hospital and the rest at Private Lab Srinagar.

As per the officials figures, 162 positive cases including one death and 28 recoveries are from Anantnag, 156 including four deaths and 84 recoveries are from Srinagar, 125 including one death and 135 recoveries are from Bandipora, 119 including 6 recoveries are from Kulgam, 118 including 80 recoveries are from Baramulla, 107 including 64 recoveries are from Shopian,  97 including 48 recoveries are from Kupwara, 57 including 28 recoveries are from Budgam, 23 including 14 recoveries are from Ganderbal and 15 including 5 recoveries are from Pulwama.

In Jammu division, 39 including 27 recoveries and one death are from Jammu district , 24 including one death and 19 recoveries are from Udhampur, 31 including one recovery are from Kuthua, 11 including 6 recoveries from Samba, 18 including 1 recovery from Ramban, 5 including four recoveries from Rajouri, 3 including one recovery from Reasi and one who has already recovered is from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 1,09,092 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 29,243 people have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 567 people are placed under hospital isolation while 107 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 65,049 persons have completed their surveillance period and 14,114 persons are under home surveillance. So far results of 76,191 samples have been made available.

COVID-19 cases exceed 39,000 in Pakistan; 847 dead

COVID-19: Pakistan imposes mini-lockdown in Islamabad

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of positive coronavirus in Pakistan has increased by more than 1,000 cases, taking the overall tally to 39,473 with at least 847 fatalities recorded so far.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 15,590 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 14,201 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 5,678 cases, Balochistan is at 2,457, Gilgit-Baltistan at 518, Islamabad at 921 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 108 cases so far, according to Geo News.

Meanwhile, the first domestic flight, post lockdown, destined for Karachi has taken off from the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.

In addition to this, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the situation is under control across the country, warning in the same vein that the number of cases will inevitably rise.

J&K: Cop shot dead in militant attack in Kulgam

Abid Bashir

Jammu (NVI): A Jammu and Kashmir cop was shot dead by militants in Kulgam district of South Kashmir, officials said.

The officials said that Head Constable, Muhammad Amin, was posted at a check point at Frisal area of Yaripora in Kulgam when militants first lobbed a grenade and then opened fire indiscriminately.

“Amin received multiple bullet injuries and was immediately rushed to a hospital, but was declared brought dead by the hospital administration,” a police official said.

The official also added that soon after the incident, a massive manhunt was launched in the area to nab the attackers. Joint teams of security forces have sealed a vast area in Frisal, Yaripora and all the check points have been alerted to trace the militants, who fled the scene after the attack.

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