COVID-19 has infected 8,356 people in India, killed 273, the Union Health Ministry said today, adding that 909 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, 34 people died. The latest figures come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held a four-hour meet with at least 13 chief ministers on video conference on Saturday, indicated that the nationwide lockdown would be extended by two weeks. The “total lockdown” began on March 25 to control the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. This time, however, as the government extends the shutdown, it is likely to expand its focus to salvaging…
Author: Our Correspondent
In Bangladesh, a former army officer convicted of killing country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975 has been executed. Abdul Majed was hanged in the capital Dhaka after his appeal for presidential clemency was rejected this week. He was arrested on Tuesday after spending 25 years on the run for the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Rahman – the father of the current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina – was killed during a military coup in 1975, along with most of his family. His death came just four years after Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan. Masjed continued to live in…
President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday asked people to learn from the teachings of Jesus Christ and work together to advance the common good of the entire humanity. In his message on the eve of Easter, he hoped that this festival instil in us the sense of unity and reinforce our commitment to the well-being and prosperity of our nation and a shared society. In these testing times, when we are fighting COVID-19, let us all resolve to celebrate this sacred festival with our families while staying at home, following ‘social distancing’ norms and other government instructions, Kovind said. It…
A senior Delhi Government official on Saturday said that door to door sampling will be done in the national capital by medical teams as a precautionary measure to identify coronavirus patients. “Door to door sampling will be done by the medical teams and ASHA workers for COVID-19 testing,” said Nidhi Srivastava, District Magistrate, Central Delhi. She added it has been ensured that the phone numbers of essential commodities providers are given to people in order to aid them during lockdown. “We have ensured that market associations, Station House Officers (SHOs) and Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) provide the phone numbers of essential…
The doubting Thomases “should be careful” about what they wish for as there is no second coming for a once-in-a-generation player like Mahendra Singh Dhoni if people “push him into retirement”, former England captain Nasser Hussain said on Saturday. Hussain, one of the most respected voices in world cricket feels that the soon-to-be 39 year old former India captain still has a lot to offer in Indian cricket. “Once Dhoni is gone, there is no getting him back. There are some legends of the game, appreciating while around, because they are once-in-a-generation cricketer and dont push him into retirement too…
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya today demanded strict action by the CBI against DHFL promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan, both facing non-bailable warrants in a Yes Bank-related case, who are currently under quarantine for travelling during the coronavirus lockdown period. Mr Somaiya said he spoke with Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh earlier in the day and requested that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) takes strict action against the brothers. A controversy erupted recently over the travel of the Wadhawan brothers and their family members and friends from Khandala in Pune district to Mahabaleshwar in…
A massive fire broke out at a shelter home in Delhi’s Kashmere Gate area. According to reports, several homeless people were living in the shelter. Several fire engines are on the spot. Fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot to douse the flames. Heavy smoke could be seen billowing out from the place that has caught fire. Police teams were also seen at the site. A big cloud of smoke was seen billowing out of the building. No casualty has been reported as of now.
After taking feedback from the chief ministers on the current Coronavirus situation in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday agreed with the states that the 21-day lockdown should be extended by another two weeks till April 30 to contain the deadly virus. Speaking at the video conference, PM Modi said that the focus should be on “jaan bhi, jahaan bhi” (if there’s life, there’s everything) and it is essential for “India’s bright future, and prosperous and healthy India”. “While announcing the lockdown, I had said ‘jaan hai to jahan hai’… Most people in the country understood it and…
Rajnandgaon Collector JP Maurya on Friday directed all the followers of Tablighi Jamaat in the district to disclose their travel history since March 1, 2020, to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Maurya in his order said that if the concerned persons are found hiding any information “they will be booked under IPC 302 or 307 (murder or attempt to murder)”. “As there has been a significant number of positive coronavirus cases among the people who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event, they are requested to disclose any travel history after March 1, 2020, or if anyone has visited their place from…
The birth of a “highly unusual hybrid” between a zebra and donkey – also known as a zonkey – has delighted social media. Two days ago, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust – an organisation that works to rescue and rehabilitate animals in Kenya – shared the story of the “wayward” zebra and her zonkey on Facebook, where it has gone viral. In their account of the incident, the Trust explained that in May last year, a stray zebra ventured out of the Tsavo East National Park and soon became an honorary member of a local woman’s cattle herd. When the peculiar incident…