The number of lives claimed by the Covid-19 coronavirus in India escalated sharply to 681 on Thursday morning, with the total tally of positive cases breaching the 21,000 mark. As India’s lockdown comes to complete a month on Thursday, the World Bank has said that lockdown in India has impacted 40 million internal migrants. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that the coronavirus continues to be extremely dangerous and will remain for a long time.
Meanwhile, on the economic front, the Global stock markets rose due to the recovery in the crude oil prices.
Global stock markets rose due to the recovery in the crude oil prices. The key Indian equity indices opened on a positive note on Thursday, with the Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange trading over the 9,200 mark.
The Ministry of Finance issued a notification this afternoon freezing Dearness Allowance (DA) to its employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners at current rates till July 2021. The additional installments, due on January 1, 2020, July 1, 2020 and January 1, 2021, will not be paid. However, DA and DR at current rates will continue to be paid.
Ramadan moon has been sighted in Kozhikode’s Kappad region. Kerala will begin the Ramadan fasts from tomorrow. The hilal bodies in J&K are yet to take the final call. Stay tuned here for the updates. Crescent moon has also been sighted in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka. The state would also begin the Ramadan fasts from tomorrow, along with Kerala. The decision of Jammu & Kashmir is meanwhile awaited.
Ramzan to be observed from tomorrow in Kerala. The crescent moon was sighted at Kappad in Kozhikode.
Attempt to sight the moon will also be made today in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), United Arab Emirates (UAE), Algeria, Morocco and other parts of Middle East. In neighbouring India, attempt to sight the crescent would be made by ulemas and religious groups in Jammu and Kashmir. All other parts of India and Bangladesh will look for the 29th crescent on Friday.
Regional Meteorological Centre warns of thunderstorm & lightning with light to moderate rainfall at a few places over the districts of Kendrapara, Puri & Khurda between 5PM & 8PM today
CWC demands utilisation of remaining lockdown period for preparation and publication of 'exit strategy', road map for future.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar urged Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to run special long-distance trains from Mumbai and Pune after the lockdown ends on May 3 to ferry migrants workers stuck in Maharashtra to their native states. According to an official statement, in a letter to Goyal.
The Indian Railways has offered to supply 2.6 lakh meals daily from its kitchens across the country to districts which are willing to pick up cooked meals for distribution among the needy.
A meal will be available at the cost of Rs 15.
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayansamy and Assembly Speaker V P Sivakolundu were among a host of ministers, MPs and MLAs to be tested for the coronavirus today at the legislative assembly premises.
In a shocking incident, A 51-year-old Mira Road resident was arrested on Wednesday from his Srushti Complex home after he allegedly refused to accept groceries from a Muslim delivery boy. He was produced before the Thane sessions court and remanded in judicial custody. Read more
Republic TV founder and Editor Arnab Goswami was allegedly attacked by two unknown persons while he was on his way back from his studio in Mumbai. Both Arnab and Samia Goswami were unhurt in the attack.