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Don't blame Muslims for spread of COVID-19: Omar

 Tue, 31 March 2020
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23:44

Don't blame Muslims for spread of COVID-19: Omar

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National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said Muslims should not be blamed for the spread of coronavirus in the country.   He was reacting to netizens' response to reports that several people who tested positive for COVID-19 had attended a congregation of Tabligh-e-Jamaat, a...
23:19

US coronavirus death toll overtakes China's

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The number of deaths in the United States from coronavirus has surpassed those reported by China, where the pandemic began in December, according to a toll published on Tuesday by Johns Hopkins University.  There have been 3,415 deaths in the US from the virus, the Baltimore-based university...
22:43

Global coronavirus death toll tops 40,000

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The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 40,000 people worldwide with nearly three-quarters of the deaths in Europe.  A total of 40,057 deaths have been recorded across the world, including 29,305 in Europe, with Italy registering 12,428, followed by Spain with 8,189 and China with...
22:23

Modi, Macron hold discussion on COVID-19

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday agreed that expert teams of the two countries would actively share information on measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus as well as about ongoing research on treatment and vaccines.  During their...
22:13

New York governor's brother and CNN anchor infected with coronavirus

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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, has tested positive for coronavirus.  He is going to be fine. He's young, in good shape, strong -- not as strong as he thinks -- but he will fine. But, there is a lesson in this, Governor Cuomo said after calling...
21:41

UK reports record 381 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours

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Britain reported a record daily coronavirus toll of 381 on Tuesday, more than double the number of nationwide deaths posted in the previous 24 hours.  As of 5 pm (1600 GMT) on 30 March, of those hospitalised in the UK, 1,789 have sadly died, the health ministry said on its Twitter page, up...
21:15

Second mohalla clinic doctor tests positive

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A second doctor of Mohalla Clinics in Delhi has tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Tuesday.  The doctor belonged to the clinic in Janata Mazdoor Colony in Babarpur area, according to a notice issued by Shahdara district authorities.  The doctor serving at the clinic in...
20:47

At least 66 doctors in Italy have died during coronavirus pandemic

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Five more doctors have died in Italy from coronavirus, the Italian Federation of doctors said on Tuesday.There have now been at least 66 deaths of doctors since the outbreak in Italy started. At least 8,956 health care workers have been infected with Covid-19. Thats an increase of more that...
20:21

Maulana who led Nizamuddin gathering booked

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Delhi police on Tuesday booked the cleric, who led a huge religious congregation in Nizamuddin West earlier this month, for violating government orders on not organising public gatherings and maintaining social distance to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, official said.  The markaz (centre) in...
19:54

Naqvi slams Tablighi Jamaat over coronavirus spread

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Union minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi lashed out at the Tablighi Jamaat on Tuesday after authorities blamed a meeting organised by it for spreading coronavirus infection, saying the organisation has committed a Talibani crime and its sin is unpardonable.   Talibani...
19:41

Tribute to Floyd Cardoz: From one chef to another

Floyd Cardoz at work at his restaurant Tabla in the early 2000s. Photograph: Paresh Gandhi
Floyd Cardoz at work at his restaurant Tabla in the early 2000s. Photograph: Paresh Gandhi
'It still hasn't fully sunken in for me that he's no more. Being someone who's terrible at grieving, I hark back to all the tough times Floyd has gone through in his own life. Just thinking of his resilience in times of adversity gives me some strength to at least begin to cope with this deep...
19:26

72 COVID-19 cases reported in Maha in one day

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As many as 72 new coronavirus cases were detected in Maharashtra on Tuesday, 59 of them in Mumbai alone, taking the total number of COVID-19 patients in the state to 302, a health official said.This is the largest increase in the number of cases within a day probably in the country, the...
19:01

Chartered accountants' body clarifies on extension of March 31 deadline

The finance ministry notification issued on Monday night, on the date of applicability of stamp duty, has led to much speculation as to what other deadline has extended, despite the revenue department clarifying that only the provisions of the amended Indian Stamp Act, which were to come into...
18:53

Spraying chemical on migrants: CM orders action

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Terming the hosing down of home-bound migrants with a chlorine solution in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district 'rude and indecent', Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed officials on Tuesday to initiate strict action against the guilty, a senior state government official said.The incident,...
18:41

Maha man booked for not informing cops about foreign tenant

A resident of Ellora in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district was booked for not informing police about his foreign national tenant, an official said on Tuesday.He identified the house owner as Shaikh Nazir (45) of Rajwada area of Ellora.The British national, who is here on a tourist visa, was...
18:32

Not the time to find faults: Govt on Markaz case

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Amid apprehensions of substantial spread of COVID-19 after a religions congregation in Nizamuddin in the national capital left many infected with the virus, the Health Ministry on Tuesday said it was not the time to find faults but to take action.The Delhi Police has cordoned off a major area in...
17:39

227 new COVID-19 cases, tally 1251 in India

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As many as 227 new coronavirus cases and three deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, the Centre said on Tuesday. A total of 1,251 cases have been reported in the country so far.227 new cases of COVID-19 and three deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, thus, taking the total...
17:32

No community spread in Delhi yet: Kejriwal

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Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal o the situation in the national capital: Out of the 97 cases in Delhi, 24 cases are from Markaz, Nizamuddin. 41 have travel history to foreign countries and 22 are family members of the foreign travelers. 10 cases yet to be ascertained. No local community...
17:09

Jio offers 100 minutes of free Talktime, 100 free SMS to help poor in lockdown

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Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio on Tuesday offered its users 100 minutes of free talktime and 100 free SMS till April 17, 10-times more than its rival have offered as help to the distressed during nationwide Covid-19 lockdown. All JioPhone users will continue to receive incoming calls...
17:07

Adityanath to hold meeting on Nizamuddin fallout

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Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cut short a western Utter Pradesh trip on Tuesday, rushing back here to discuss the possible spread of coronavirus from the religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin. Adityanath visited Ghaziabad in the morning, but called off the rest of the trip. Initially,...
17:04

RBI reappoints dy guv for 1 year

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The Central Government has re-appointed B P Kanungo as Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India for a further period of one year with effect from April 3, 2020, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, upon completion of his existing term on April 2, 2020: RBI
17:02

World Bank: S Asian economies will bleed

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East Asia and the Pacific could see up to 11 million people driven into poverty, with low wage and informal sector workers becoming the most vulnerable, the World Bank has warned in a report on the economic impact as experts predict dire economic fallout in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic....
16:34

COVID-19 updates at this hour

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-- Ministry of External Affairs has identified suppliers from South Korea, Turkey and Vietnam to increase the availability of logistics items in the country. DRDO is also working with local manufacturers to increase supply of N95 masks, Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, says.-- The...
16:25

China's wet markets, likely source of nCoV, back

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China's notorious 'wet markets' have reopened -- selling bats, pangolins and dogs for human consumption. The move is dangerous as scientists believe that the Covid-19 causing coronavirus first lurked in a bat in China and hopped to another animal, before getting passed on to humans. Various...
16:12

Sensex rallies 1028 pts; energy, FMCG stocks soar

ITC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack
ITC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack
Equity benchmark Sensex surged over 1,028 points on the last day of the 2019-20 fiscal on Tuesday, led by gains in energy, financial and FMCG stocks amid recovery in global peers even as the number of Covid-19 cases continued to mount. The 30-share BSE barometer settled 1,028.17 points or...
16:04

Low oil prices don't mean much for India at this stage: Expert

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The prevailing low global oil prices do not mean much for India facing serious economic downturn due to the impact of the lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus, according to a former Indian diplomat. Talmiz Ahmad, who had served as Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the...
15:51

Consumers who booked LPG cylinder in panic don't have empty cylinders to accept delivery

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Consumers who had booked LPG cylinders in a state of panic, fearing the stocks will get exhausted due to the lockdown announced by the Centre, now are not taking the delivery of booked cylinder as they do not have empty cylinders, according to officials of oil marketing companies.An official of...
15:48

Govt issues manual for use of homemade masks

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The office of the government's Principal Scientific Advisor on Tuesday issued a detailed manual to prepare homemade masks using easily available items like old vests, t-shirts and handkerchiefs, stressing they are 70 per cent effective' in curbing the spread of coronavirus. Masks lower the...
15:16

LIVE! GoM discuss Nizamuddin Markaz COVID-19 spread

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Group of Ministers discussed the Nizamuddin Markaz issue today in the meeting on COVID-19. A detailed briefing was given to the ministers, Govt sources tell ANI.AAP MLA Atishi on Tuesday sought strong action against the Nizamuddin Markaz authorities for organising a three-day congregation, which...
15:07

COVID-19 cases in UP cross 100 mark

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With five more people testing positive for coronavirus in Bareilly on Tuesday, the total count of COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh has crossed the 100 mark, said officials. Five cases have been found positive in Bareilly.The samples of 6 members of a family of a youth, working in Noida and...
14:59

How Tablighi Jamaat emerged as the largest known Covid-19 source in South Asia

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From Malaysia to Thailand, Pakistan and now India, Tablighi Jamaat has spread the coronavirus further from its large congregations. Read the report here. Markaz Nizamuddin, the place in Delhi where a religious congregation left several people affected with coronavirus, on Tuesday said it has...
14:47

No bail for Bhima Koregaon accused

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Special NIA court in Mumbai has rejected bail pleas of Varavara Rao and Shoma Sen, both accused in Bhima Koregaon conspiracy case. They had filed pleas for interim bail in wake of COVID-19 pandemic. The Maharashtra government has released 601 inmates from 37 prisons in the last three days to...
14:45

Uttarakhand CM donates 5 months' salary

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has taken the decision to donate his 5 month's salary to CM's relief fund. CM's wife Sunita Rawat has donated Rs 1 lakh & his two daughters have also donated Rs 52,000 towards the CM relief fund: Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office
14:41

22 lakh migrants being fed: Centre tells SC

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The Central government on Tuesday filed a status report in the Supreme Court on a petition seeking directions to provide basic amenities like food, water and shelter to the migrant workers across the country in the wake to coronavirus lockdown.A bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and...
14:21

Mithai shops stay open in WB

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West Bengal government has allowed sweet shops to remain open for four hours a day during the lockdown period. Pic: ANI
14:18

Tourism Ministry launches site to help stranded foreign tourists

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Extending support to foreign tourists stranded in India, the Ministry of Tourism has launched a portal to disseminate information regarding services that can be availed by them in the country. The portal titled 'Stranded in India' aims to act as a support network for foreign tourists stuck in...
13:31

60% pay cut for Maha CM, all MLAs, MLCs

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Maharashtra Deputy CM and state Finance minister Ajit Pawar has issued orders that salaries of all elected representatives, including CM and all MLAs-MLCs, will be cut by 60% for the month of March. Salaries of Grade A and B officers will be deducted by 50% and that of Grade C employees, by 25%....
12:59

Karnataka govt clarifies on use of mask

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With many departmental stores, shops and establishments insisting on people to wear masks, Karnataka government on Tuesday clarified that as a rule every one need not wear a mask. The Commissionerate of Health and Family Welfare Services in an advisory said a person is suppose to wear mask...
12:56

$2.5 tn COVID-19 pkg for developing nations?

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With two-thirds of the world's population living in developing countries (excluding China) facing unprecedented economic damage from the COVID-19 crisis, the United Nations is calling for a 2.5 trillion dollars package for these countries to turn expressions of international solidarity into...
12:36

300 foreigners who attended Nizamuddin event may be blacklisted

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India is likely to blacklist about 300 foreigners who came from 16 countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, on tourist visas but attended an Islamic congregation at Nizamuddin i Delhi that has become a key source for the spread of coronavirus in the country, officials said on Tuesday. These...
12:29

20,000 quarantined homes under watch in Delhi: LG

Delhi LG Anil Baijal
Delhi LG Anil Baijal
Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday announced that the Delhi government is strictly monitoring more than 20,000 homes in the national capital which have been identified for home quarantine. Baijal added that food distribution centres in Delhi will be increased to 2500 to ensure that social...
12:20

Army wives chip in for migrants

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In Delhi, the Army Wives Welfare Association has prepared 2500 food packets for migrant labourers. The packets will be handed over to government representatives in Delhi Cantt today.
12:18

Chopper sorties deliver food

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A chopper carrying PDS items for Vijaynagar lands at Miao today. Vijaynagar is situated close to the Indo-Myanmar border and is accessible only through air. Five more sorties planned this week. Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu says his government will make sure essential commodities reach...
12:14

Seven new COVID-19 cases reported in Tamil Nadu

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Seven new coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Tamil Nadu, the National Health Mission said on Tuesday. Tamil Nadu has seven new COVID-19 cases. A 43-year-old male with travel history to Trivandrum, a 28-year-old male coworker of an earlier positive patient at Tiruvannamalai,...
12:03

PPE shortage: Docs in WB use raincoat, sunglasses

A doctor at the Siliguri hospital, WB
A doctor at the Siliguri hospital, WB
News agency reports of a crucial shortage of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) in West Bengal's Siliguri and criminally casual approach of the government in filling the shortfall. Shahriar Alam, a resident doctor, Medicine Dept of North Bengal Medical College, Siliguri, says, We met MSVP...
11:51

7 evacuees from Iran test positive for COVID-19, Rajasthan tally 83

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Seven people, who were evacuated from Iran, have tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 83, said Rajasthan Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rohit Kumar Singh on Tuesday.Four new coronavirus cases had earlier been reported today in the State...
11:48

Puducherry CM lends a hand

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Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today took part in a disinfection drive in Kamaraj Nagar. 
11:43

Memoirs of a chef

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A paean to chef Floyd Cardoz who tragically died last week in New York after testing positive for the novel coronavirus.             With memories and anecdotes pouring in from across the world over the last few days, it is hard to ignore the countless...
11:34

Kerala govt to issue passes for alcoholics

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The Kerala government has decided to issue special passes for tipplers, who have withdrawal symptoms and doctor's prescription, to purchase liquor from the Excise department. A Government Order in this regard was issued on Monday night, despite objection from doctors' association, to...
11:25

24 COVID-19 cases in Nizamuddin congregation

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain
At least 24 people staying at Markaz building in Nizamuddin area of the national capital have tested positive for coronavirus, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday said.All of them are being screened. We are not certain of the number but it is estimated that 1500-1700 people had...
11:05

317 Europeans take off from Goa to Frankfurt amid lockdown

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As many as 317 European tourists stranded in the coastal state amid the lockdown due to the coronavirus, took off for Frankfurt on Tuesday morning, officials said. A special flight carrying the tourists who hailed from Germany and other European Union countries, took off at 5.30 am, the...
11:01

'Life as we know it will be on the mend soon'

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Adil Khan is a hairdresser at a small ladies salon in Mumbai. Ten days ago, the salon sent a WhatsApp to its clients that it was shutting down till the government lifts the lockdown. Adil, along with the 10-member staff, were asked to stay home and be safe.It is the month-end and they do not know...
10:54

Imperative for businesses to join hands with govt: Infy CEO

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CEO and MD of IT major, Infosys Ltd, Salil Parekh has said it's imperative for businesses to join hands with the governments, civil society and healthcare institutions in the battle to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the toughest challenges that the...
10:24

Five more test +ve, Maha COVID-19 tally 225

RK Laxman's Common Man wears a mask at Worli Seaface
RK Laxman's Common Man wears a mask at Worli Seaface
Five fresh coronavirus cases have been reported in Maharashtra taking the total number of positive cases in the State to 225, said Maharashtra Health Department on Tuesday.Out of the five fresh cases, one has been reported from Mumbai, two from Pune and two from Buldhana.Meanwhile, given the...
10:19

Mallya again offers to repay 100% KFA dues

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Embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya, on Tuesday asked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to consider his repeated offer to repay 100 per cent of the amount borrowed by now defunct Kingfisher Airlines, in this time of coronavirus pandemic. Mallya, who is wanted in India on alleged fraud and...
10:14

No help for these migrant workers

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Workers from Tamil Nadu's Usilampatti who were working at pineapple farms in Thodupuzha, Idukki reach the border check post of Bodimettu after walking for 3 days. Workers Arun and Daivam say, We have been walking for the last three days to return to our hometown. CM's suggestion to...
10:07

Man with no symptoms of Coronavirus commits suicide

Chhattisgarh: A 35-yr-old man from Tagapani, Dhamtari, who was put under isolation home by the health dept after his return from Tamil Nadu, commits suicide. He had no symptoms relating to Coronavirus. Police says, Reason for suicide unknown. A year ago, he lost his wife & son.
10:03

Sensex goes green, spikes over 800 points

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Equity benchmark Sensex surged over 800 points in opening session on Tuesday led by gains in index heavyweights Reliance Industries, HDFC twins and Infosys amid recovery in global equities. After hitting a high of 29,316.80, the 30-share BSE barometer was trading 505.20 points or 1.78 per...
10:01

Kerala reports 2nd death; state has highest number of confirmed cases

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A 68-year-old man who had tested positive for COVID-19 passed away on Tuesday morning, taking the toll of the deaths in Kerala due to the disease to two.The man had been on a ventilator for the past five days.The Medical Superintendent, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, said, A...
09:55

In Andhra, COVID awareness goes trotting

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Sub Inspector Maruti Sankar in Kurnool district rides a horse bare-backed painted with images of COVID-19 virus to create awareness among the public about the pandemic.
09:52

Another COVID-19 patient dies in Bengal, death count 3

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A man infected with the coronavirus died at a hospital in West Bengals Howrah district, taking the total number of COVID-19 deaths to three in the state, a health department official said on Tuesday. The man had recently travelled to the northern part of the state, he said. The person died...
09:48

PM urges India to practice yoga

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Whenever I get time, I practice Yoga Nidra once or twice a week. It furthers overall well-being, relaxes the mind, reduces stress and anxiety. You will find many videos of Yoga Nidra on the net. I'm sharing a video each in English and Hindi, the PM tweets. Practise yoga with PM Modi during...
09:43

Crew given substandard PPE: Air India pilots

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The Executive Pilots Association, Air India has in a letter to the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that pilots and cabin crew are given substandard ill-fitting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that tear easily on rescue flights.Our pilots and cabin crew are given substandard ill-fitting PPE...
09:33

Coronavirus: Next 30 days very vital, says Trump

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US President Donald Trump has said that the next 30 days are very vital for America in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, as the confirmed cases of those infected by the deadly disease soured to 164,000 and fatalities crossed 3,100 in the country. His remarks came a day after he...
09:26

Over 12,000 fake N95 masks seized from Bengaluru warehouse

Fake N95 masks
Fake N95 masks
Profiteering in the time of a pandemic: Over 12,000 fake N95 face masks were seized from a warehouse in Bengaluru by the Central Crime Branch, police said on Tuesday. The filtering masks have been in demand since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which has claimed 32 lives and affected...
09:11

68-year-old man dies of coronavirus in Kerala

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A 68-year-old man died of the novel coronavirus in Thiruvananthapuram, taking the number of COVID-19 deaths in Kerala to two, the government said on Tuesday.  The condition of the man was extremely critical, a press release from the state-run Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and Hospital...
08:58

US has performed 1mn COVID-19 tests so far: Trump

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The United States has performed over one million coronavirus tests so far, said President Donald Trump on Monday.Today, we reached a historic milestone in our war against coronavirus. Over 1 million Americans have now been tested, more than any other country by far, not even close, Trump said...
08:26

Israeli PM Netanyahu tests negative for COVID-19

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been tested negative for the novel coronavirus after an adviser and her husband diagnosed with the infection a day earlier. However, Netanyahu will remain in quarantine.Netanyahu's family and other close advisers also tested negative for the...
00:12

France has record 418 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hrs

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France on Monday reported its highest daily number of deaths from COVID-19 since the coronavirus epidemic began, saying 418 more people had died in hospital to bring the toll to 3,024.  There are now 20,946 people hospitalised in France with COVID-19, with 5,056 of them in intensive care,...