*CORONAVIRUS - INDIA*

Lockdown set to be extended till April 30 with relaxation for small industry, farmers

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/lockdown-set-to-be-extended-till-april-30-with-relaxation-for-small-industry-farmers/articleshow/75099096.cms

The country is set for an extended lockdown of two more weeks till the end of April after nearly all CMs asked for same in a meeting with PM Narendra Modi on Saturday and the Centre said it was considering the request.“PM emphasized the criticality of the coming 3-4 weeks for determining the impact of the steps taken till now to contain the virus. Talking about the exit plan, PM said that there seems to be a consensus among states on extending the lockdown by another 2 weeks. He underlined that the motto of Govt earlier was ‘jaan hai to jahaan hai’ but now it is ‘jaan bhi, jahaan bhi’,” a Govt statement said.Sources indicated that this was a calibrated evolution in the strategy in dealing with Covid-19. Guidelines to be issued on extended lockdown through PM’s address by Monday may see some relaxations.Haryana CM Manohar Lal said PM suggested dividing areas into red, orange and green zones to allow starting small industries in the latter two zones through a “lock-in” strategy where workers in limited strength would work inside factories with social distancing and sleep inside the unit at night. The red zone will be one with the hotspots and maximum cases while orange zone will be those where people are under surveillance and green zone which has negligible cases.The farm and marine sectors would be exempt from lockdown, PM told CMs. Puducherry CM V. Narayanswam said PM wanted farm activity for harvesting to continue during the lockdown and that Agricultural Produce Market Committee  Act, 2003 would be amended to enable buying produce from farmers' doorstep.economictimes

Centre Considering Request to Extend National Lockdown till April 30 after Consensus among States

Consensus among States to extend lockdown by 2 weeks: PM Modi

COVID-19: Maharashtra becomes third state to extend lockdown till April 30

https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/india-lockdown-extension-maharashtra-6357950/

After Odisha and Punjab, Maharashtra today became the third state to extend the lockdown till April 30 to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The worst affected state in country, Maharashtra today reported 92 more cases, taking the state’s tally of infected patients to 1,666. In a video conference PM Narendra Modi and his counterparts from other states, CM Uddhav Thackeray said that Maharashtra will continue lockdown after April 14.indianexpress

West Bengal schools and colleges closed till June 10, lockdown extended till April 30

https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/west-bengal-schools-and-colleges-closed-till-june-10-lockdown-extended-1665919-2020-04-11

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced on Saturday at a press conference that schools and colleges in the state would be closed till June 10 on account of an extended lockdown for Covid-19 till April 30. West Bengal Govt is set to impose a total lockdown in the state, including the 9-10 sensitive hotspots which have been found to show a number of Coronavirus cases in the last three weeks. The state Govt on Friday had said that it had identified 9-10 hotspots in the state, including one each in Kolkata and Howrah.indiatoday

W. Bengal in favour of extending lockdown till Apr 30:CM

 PM Has Taken Correct Decision to Extend Lockdown, Tweets Kejriwal after Video Conference with Modi

https://www.news18.com/news/india/pm-has-taken-correct-decision-to-extend-lockdown-tweets-arvind-kejriwal-2573849.html

After PMNarendra Modi's video-conference with CMs to discuss issues surrounding the coronavirus crisis and a possible extension of the lockdown, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said Modi "has taken the correct decision to extend lockdown".However, there has been no official announcement of the extension of 21-day nationwide lockdown, which ends on April 14, yet.news18

 Lockdown: Shortage of medicines, medical equipment foreseen, warns Department of Pharmaceuticals

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-lockdown-scarcity-of-drugs-devices-imminent-Govt-warned/article31313501.ece

During nationwide lockdown the supply of medicines and medical devices has depleted leading to a scarcity of these items, Department of Pharmaceuticals has warned Home Ministry, advising it to take immediate steps to help drug makers resume production amid Coronavirus Lockdown. Drug and medical device makers are functioning “…on an average, at only 20%-30% capacity during the lockdown,” as per feedback from various industry formations, Department of Pharmaceuticals Secretary P.D. Vaghela pointed out in a letter to Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on April 9. As the global market offers better price deals, half of India’s output of pharmaceuticals is exported, highlighted Department of Pharmaceuticals saying that this could lead to disproportionate shortages in the domestic market, calling for suitable measures to be taken “in right earnest” to prevent this “avoidable” situation.thehindu

 

Lockdown: Thousands of foreigners remain stranded across country

https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/lockdown-thousands-of-foreigners-remain-stranded-across-country-6358029/

New Delhi:Even as Govt informed Friday that it has evacuated 20,473 foreign internationals till date, there are thousands others who remain stranded in various parts of the country. According to the Ministry of Tourism, “thousands of international visitors are confined to their hotel rooms and cannot fly out due to nationwide lockdown”.On March 31, the Govt had launched a portal for such visitors — strandedinindia.com — which aims to identify, assist and facilitate foreign tourists stranded in the country. As per data shared by the Ministry of Tourism with Indian Express, more than 1,200 foreigners have registered their grievances on the website in the first 10 days. indianexpress

 

UN flagging concern to Govt Covid group says need to fight targeting of certain sects; India calls remarks ‘highly objectionable’

https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/india-united-nations-niti-aayog-covid-19-coronavirus-stigmatization-6357642/

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/un-india-coronavirus-tablighi-jamaat-nizamuddin-6355696/

A day before Union Health Ministry issued an advisory asking people not to label any community or area for the spread of COVID-19, UN representative in India urged the Govt to fight “stigmatisation of certain sects of people”.On Tuesday, at seventh meeting of the empowered group coordinating with the private sector, NGOs and international organisations, Renata Lok-Dessallien, UN Resident Coordinator in India, “pointed out the need to address the issues of migrant labourers and fighting stigmatisation of certain sects of people,” said a source who was part of the meeting chaired by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant. India on Saturday reacted strongly to United Nations’ call for the govt to fight “stigmatization of certain sects of people”, with an Indian representative to the body saying the remark was “highly objectionable” as “such matters are being looked after by the Govt, enlightened citizens and the civil society in the country.”J S Rajput, India’s representative in UNESCO Executive Board, also said that most of the global bodies were “untenable and unsuitable” for the current period and that India would play a key role in them post COVID-19 era. Taking strong exception to “the interference” as he termed it, Rajput said, “UN agencies particularly in the context of India are indulging in issues that are not the part of their international responsibilities. I recall their interference in the issue of J&K when they suddenly became concerned about so called human rights violation.”indianexpress

 

Muslim Organisations Urge Home Minister to Stop 'Harassment' of Activists, Students

https://thewire.in/politics/muslim-organisations-urge-home-minister-to-stop-harassment-of-activists-students

New Delhi: Muslim organisations and civil society members wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging him to stop the “harassment” of social activists and students by the Delhi Police during the ongoing lockdown. The letter claimed that there have been “a series of detentions and arrests” of social activists and student leaders by the Delhi Police.“Upon preliminary study, it appears that the police crackdown is directed against those involved in the peaceful anti-CAA-NRC movement, which was undertaken for the protection of our constitution, democratic ethos and civil liberties,” the letter said.“We have observed that highly respected social activists are being implicated in false cases related to the northeast Delhi riots,” the letter said. A statement issued by the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind mentioned the names of Maulana Tauqeer Raza, president , Milli Ittehad Parishad, former MP Udit Raj, Dr Zafarul Islam Khan, chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission, Syed Sadatullah Hussaini, Ameer Jamaat e Islami Hind, among the signatories of the letter.The activists are being asked to go to police stations for questioning during the lockdown, claimed the letter.At this time, when the courts are partially working and communication is limited due to the lockdown, these steps are tantamount to unnecessary “harassment” by Delhi Police, the letter said. The signatories also included Ravi Nair, Maulana Asghar Ali Salfi Manzoor Alam, Uzma Naheed, Anil Chamadia, Labid Shafi and Siraj Sait.PTI

 

Relief camp shut, no home to return to, Delhi’s riot victims shelter with do-gooders

https://theprint.in/india/relief-camp-shut-no-home-to-return-to-delhis-riot-victims-shelter-with-do-gooders/398495/?fbclid=IwAR2f0P8bUQT7l42FEMtU6AocLqQOKlkSXSApWhLx9FRQDDOhRw7Itj7yQx0

New Delhi: Sageer Ahmed and wife Reshma Ahmed lost everything in the Northeast Delhi riots in February — their home attacked and belongings looted. Just when it seemed things couldn’t get any worse for them, the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent nationwide lockdown struck a blow.The couple with their 3 children moved to the Eidgah relief camp in Mustafabad, a place that doubled up as their home for the next one month, in the aftermath of the riots that left at least 53 dead. But on 24 March, the camp that housed close to 300 families was cleared up, with the riot victims given just 24 hours to find a place before the lockdown was imposed.For two days, they had no roof over their heads.“We spent two days just looking for a place to stay. There wasn’t a chance that we could go back to our destroyed home,” Sageer told ThePrint.Finally, a landlord in Mustafabad decided to give a room to the family to stay in — without charging them anything. “They didn’t take a single penny from us. If it weren’t for them, we would have died somewhere on the streets,” Reshma told ThePrint. theprint

 

Please Don’t Forget Delhi Violence Victims in Coronavirus Din: Civil society volunteers

https://thewire.in/rights/north-east-delhi-violence-victims-coronavirus-civil-society

New Delhi: Civil society volunteers who have been working for the welfare of the violence victims of North East Delhi have urged Delhi govt to go for immediate universalisation of the food distribution system and provide foodgrain through its fair price shops.The rights group, comprising activists like Farah Naqvi, Rahil Chatterjee, Yash Kumbhat, Jaya Sharma, Shalini Joshi, Vani Subramanian, Dipta Bhog, Nandini Rao, Apeksha Vora, Malini Ghose, Chayanika Shah, Satnam Kaur, Shabani Hassanwalia, Nidhi Kol, Purwa Bharadwaj and Janani Ganesan, among others, has stated that while it was working as an emergency response to displaced families in North East Delhi, Delhi govt now “needs to open its heart and its public distribution system to every hungry working class family in every corner of the city”.“Civil society volunteers are out there, day and night, but they cannot fill the gap for long. The homeless and migrant workers need cooked food, but working class families need dry rations they cook at home to survive the lockdown,” the group said.It demanded expeditious opening of all fair price shops and the release of foodgrain through them to all those in need, irrespective of whether they possess a ration card or not. “Now you need to move in, with free rations to anyone who comes to a fair price shop… they are not there for an afternoon stroll risking coronavirus infection. They are there because they are confronting starvation,” it said.thewire

 

Covid-19: ‘Religious gatherings shouldn’t be allowed during lockdown,’ Centre tells states, UTs

https://scroll.in/latest/958859/covid-19-religious-gatherings-shouldnt-be-allowed-during-lockdown-centre-tells-states-uts

Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday directed states and Union Territories to prevent social gatherings and religious processions during the upcoming festivals, and ensure lockdown measures were strictly followed. In a letter to the chief secretaries of states, the home ministry wrote: “In view of the ensuing festivals in April, you are requested to ensure strict compliance of lockdown measures and not allow any social/religious gathering or procession.” Union Home Ministry also asked the states and Union Territories to ensure appropriate vigilance on social media to prevent circulation of any objectionable content.scroll

 

No basis yet to blame Tablighi for Coronavirus: Scientists

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/coronavirus-outbreak-no-basis-yet-to-blame-tablighi-says-scientists/cid/1764004?fbclid=IwAR1HYMvmzMxVQucx5jx-UeBUhjvTfYDXvaCo1dMMETmGHu_YeMe1n3YifAA

New Delhi: A group of Indian scientists has said the available data do not support speculation that primary blame for the continued growth of the novel coronavirus disease in the country lies with the Tablighi Jamaat convention in Delhi last month.Indian Scientists’ Response to Covid-19 (ISRC), a group seeking to provide authentic information and bust myths about the pandemic, has expressed concern that some media outlets and politicians have suggested the primary blame lies with Jamaat event.Over 2,300 people from India and other countries had assembled for Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi last month with approval from multiple Govt agencies. The health ministry had earlier this month indicated that at one point, a third of India’s cases could have been linked to the Jamaat event.The Govt’s statements that highlighted Jamaat event-linked cases among the total number had triggered anti-Muslim comments, including the hashtag “coronajihad”, on social media. One website had posted that the Tablighi Jamaat event had turned into a coronavirus bomb.“We strongly condemn any attempt to communalise the pandemic,” the ISRC said, citing WHO’s statement not to profile cases on racial, religious or ethnic lines.ISRC has also cited the health ministry’s own document that says: “Do not label any community or area for the spread of Covid-19.”While Tablighi Jamaat had erred by not cancelling the event, ISRC said, the central and state govts should acknowledge their administrative lapses.This (congregation) was a “pre-approved event and arms of Govt were aware that foreigners from infected countries would be participating”, ISRC said.ISRC said the Govt had not released data on how many tests were conducted among the attendees of this event and their contacts. telegraphindia

 

Avoid 'Islamophobia fuelling' Nizamuddin updates from bulletins: Minority panel tells Delhi govt

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2020/apr/10/stop-mentioning-islamophobia-fuelling-nizamuddin-updates-in-covid-19-bulletins-minority-panel-tells-delhi-govt-2128230.html

Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) has asked Delhi Govt’s health department to stop mentioning Nizamuddin Markaz in its daily bulletins on coronavirus cases, stating that the “thoughtless classification was feeding into the Islamophobia agenda”. In a letter to the secretary, Delhi Health Department, chairman of the panel Zafarul Islam Khan asked department to drop any mention of “religious undertones” which can be exploited for political or communal purposes by “vested interests”.The daily bulletins update the number of fresh coronavirus cases and deaths due to the epidemic including figures of those who were evacuated from Tablighi Jamat Markaz after they were stranded there due to lockdown.Khan’s letter comes a day after he issued notices to the Delhi Police Commissioner seeking action in cases of hate crimes against Muslims, following the incident at Nizamuddin, which has become the country’s largest hotspot for coronavirus.newindianexpress

 

Zee News caught spreading fake news on Tablighi Jamaat once again, this time Arunchal’s BJP govt shames TV channel

 http://www.jantakareporter.com/entertainment/zee-news-caught-spreading-fake-news-on-tablighi-jamaat-once-again-this-time-arunchal-pradeshs-bjp-Govt-shames-tv-channel/287309/

Pro-BJP Zee News TV has faced one more round of public shaming after Arunachal Pradesh Govt caught it of spreading fake news on Tablighi Jamaat. The latest round of public humiliation for Zee News has come just days after UP Police had caught one of its sister TV channels of peddling similar fake news about Muslim group in Firozabad. According to the publicity department of Arunachal Govt, Zee News had claimed that 11 members of Tablighi Jamaat had tested positive for coronavirus in the state. But the Arunachal IPR termed it a fake news as it wrote, “This is to clarify that Arunachal has got only 1 COVID-19 positive case till date. The reporting by Zeenews is false and does not carry any authenticity.” The role of Arunachal IPR is to disseminate ‘Govt News /programmes /schemes /policies to general public timely and effectively.’According to the health ministry data, only 1 person has tested positive for coronavirus so far.  jantakareporter

 

Zee News expresses regret for linking false report with Tablighi

https://www.siasat.com/zee-news-expresses-regret-linking-false-report-tablighi-1872668/

After it was slammed by the Arunachal Govt over fake news related Tablighi Jamaat, Zee News on the channel issued clarification stating in Hindi that “Arunachal Pradesh mein corona sankramit sirf 1 mareez ki pushti huwi hai. Manawya bhool se ZEE NEWS par Arunchal Pradesh mein Tablighi Jamaat kay 11 logaun kay sankramit honay ki khabar dikhayi gayi. Is ghalti kaa hamein khed hai!” (Only one coronavirus patient has been confirmed in Arunachal Pradesh. Due to human error ZEE NEWS showed report of 11 Tablighi Jamaat people affected with it. We regret the mistake.siasat

 

All 46 Jamaat members in Goa test corona negative: CM

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/all-46-jamaat-members-in-goa-test-corona-negative-cm/1799386

All 46 persons from the Tablighi Jamaat who were traced in Goa have tested negative for COVID-19, CMPramod Sawant said on Saturday."All 46 have been tested. All are negative. Not a single Tablighi case is positive," Sawant told reporters on Saturday.According to state Govt, less than 10 persons out of the 46 traced in Goa, had attended the controversial Markaz in Delhi''s Nizamuddin area in March, which had emerged as a hotspot for transmission of COVID-19.IANS

 

 

Coronavirus: Defying lockdown, Karnataka BJP MLA celebrates birthday with hundreds of supporters

https://scroll.in/latest/958878/coronavirus-defying-lockdown-karnataka-bjp-mla-celebrates-birthday-with-hundreds-of-supporters?fbclid=IwAR0MH38R1az_EOvZt0nF6DSlCMWJCpY7LNbOxhe4YIe9ljHkDXcsarwWwBQ

A BJP MLA from Karnataka celebrated his birthday with hundreds of supporters on Friday, in complete violation of the nation-wide lockdown and social distancing measures to fight the coronavirus outbreak, NDTV reported.M Jayaram, the MLA from Turuvekere in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district, cut a large cake and distributed it to hundreds of villagers, including children, in Gubbi taluk. Jayaram was seen wearing gloves in the tightly packed pandal erected for the celebration. The guests were also served biryani.scroll

 

Surat: Migrant workers resort to violence, demand return to home states

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/surat-migrant-workers-resort-to-violence-demand-return-to-home-states-6357071/?fbclid=IwAR3pXQP1PXIlMqsITGIQrHKfsikbuBPOt3VwBk-SC3r1eWH6fYTf7rNix5I

Surat :Thousands of migrant powerloom workers, residing in the labour colonies in Laskana area on the outskirts of Surat city and employed in factories in Diamond Nagar Industrial area, blocked roads and resorted to arson in violation of lockdown on Friday. The workers wanted to go back home after they apparently heard that the lockdown would be extended. Sources said that over 20,000 powerloom workers, who are natives of UP, Bihar, Orissa, broke into a timber godown on the main road and took out wooden blocks and set them on fire. Police reached the spot to control the situation.The workers had also pelted stones on vehicles of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) of Surat unit that provides cooked food packets to around 500 workers.The migrant workers were demanding that necessary arrangements be made for them to return to their native places and are also seeking quick disbursal of unpaid dues, PTI said quoting an official.indianexpress

 

Delhi Shelter Allegedly Set On Fire By Inmates After Fight Over Food

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/fire-at-shelter-home-in-delhi-s-kashmiri-bagh-many-fire-engines-on-spot-2210133?pfrom=home-topstories

New Delhi: A shelter home at Delhi's Kashmere Gate was set on fire on Saturday, allegedly by migrant workers who live there, a day after they had a fight with the staff over food, the police said. The fire was later doused.According to the police, the workers were beaten up by the staff on Friday after which four of them jumped in River Yamuna; one of them drowned.The angry workers were today demanding action against the staff over the death of the migrant. They turned violent and threw stones at the police, and later set the shelter on fire, police said.The shelter was home to 200-250 people.ndtv

 

Officials Attacked In UP's Meerut While Taking Coronavirus Patient To Hospital

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-officials-attacked-in-ups-meerut-while-trying-to-take-coronavirus-patient-to-hospital/350519

A team of officials and medical professionals came under attack in Meerut's Jali Kothi area on Saturday when it reached there to take a coronavirus-infected patient to a hospital for treatment, a senior UP Govt official said.Four people were arrested in this connection, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said here."A team which had gone to take a COVID-19 patient to hospital in Meerut's Jali Kothi area was attacked by some people. 4 persons have been arrested in this regard. Action will be initiated against the accused persons under NSA," Awasthi said.PTI 

 

Indore man, detained under NSA for attacking cop, tests COVID-19 positive

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bhopal/indore-police-constable-attack-accused-nsa-coronavirus-india-lockdown-6357932/                                          

Bhopal :One of 4 accused persons booked under NSA over attacking a police constable in Indore last week has tested positive, forcing jail and police authorities in Madhya Pradesh to be on the alert.As NSA detainees are not kept in the jails in the district to which they belong, two were taken to Jabalpur jail and two to Satna jail. A top jail officer said that one of 2 persons to be kept in Jabalpur prison had showed coronavirus symptoms on the way and both were taken to isolation ward in Victoria Hospital, Jabalpur.indianexpress

 

MP police book 40 for offering prayers at mosque despite lockdown

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mp-police-book-40-for-offering-prayers-at-mosque-despite-lockdown/

Bhopal :Chhindwara Police have booked 40 men who gathered at a mosque in Kharikhurd village on Chhindwara-Seoni Road in violation of prohibitory orders late on Thursday .Inspector Mukesh Dwiwedi of Chourai Police Station said that there was adequate force when the police entered the mosque round 7 pm after learning that many men had gathered there.Dwiwedi said all 40, who belonged to the same village, were released on bail. They were aged between 25 and 60. He said they apologised saying they gathered to offer prayers because it was a festive occasion (Shab-E-Baraat).Indian Express

102 Evacuated From Delhi Mosques, after COVID-19 +ve cases

https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/coronavirus-cases-india-delhi-chandni-mahal-sealed-after-3-deaths-52-covid-19-cases-2209908

Delhi: Amid rising number of coronavirus cases, a locality in central Delhi - Chandni Mahal - has reported 3 coronavirus or COVID-19 deaths in 3 days and at least 52 positive cases after 102 people were evacuated from 13 mosques earlier this week. The area has been sealed under strict containment measures to control the spread of the virus. Many of those evacuated, including some foreigners, came from the Nizammudin headquarters of Islamic sect - Tablighi Jamaat - that held a religious gathering last month.  The city has so far recorded more than 900 cases - third highest in India - and at least 13 deaths. NDTV

Coronavirus: 5 more hotspots added, full list of 30 areas to be sealed in Delhi

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/coronavirus-in-india-full-list-of-30-covid-19-hotspots-sealed-in-delhi-1665684-2020-04-10

5 more novel coronavirus hotspots have been sealed in Delhi as Covid-19 positive cases continue to spike in the national capital.In order to contain the number of cases, authorities in Delhi have now sealed 30 hotspots.While 20 initial hotspots were identified by the state Govt initially, a few areas like Sadar Bazar zone and Bengali Market were added later, taking total number of high-risk areas to 30.Authorities have added Gali no. 18 to 22 of Zakir Nagar and nearby area of Abu Bakar Masjid as buffer zone; E Pocket of GTB Enclave; some blocks in old Seemapuri area and Chandni Mahal and Nabi Karim in Central district.The area in and around G-174, Capital Greens, DLF in Motinagar has also been declared as a hotspot.India Today

Surat deputy mayor, 17 others booked for violating lockdown  by gathering at Jain temple

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/gujarat-surat-deputy-mayor-temple-coronavirus-india-lockdown-6357890/

Last evening, their guru Acharya Abhaydev Suriji Maharaj too arrived at the temple, examining process. He, however, ended up preaching his followers leading them into a hall of the temple. Surat city police registered an offence against Deputy Mayor Nirav Shah and 17 others on late Friday for violating lockdown by gathering at a Jain temple to feed stray animals and participate in a discourse that followed. Adajan police station officers took cognisance of a video that went viral on social media and showed Shah at the temple in Paal area of the city. President of Jain Shwetamber Murti Pujak Maha Sangh in Surat, Nitin Shah had coordinated with the deputy mayor and started the collection of food items for animals and birds. indianexpress

 

FIR registered against man who attended Tablighi Jamaat meet, hid in truck to return to Palwal

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/fir-registered-against-man-who-attended-tablighi-jamaat-meet-hid-in-truck-to-return-to-palwal-6357931/

Palwal Police have registered an FIR against a resident of the district who had recently travelled to Andhra Pradesh with 11 other Tablighi Jamaat members, and returned earlier this week by hiding inside a truck.“The patient had attended Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi and travelled with 11 Markaz Jamaatis to Ghantur, AP. He returned from there on April 7 by hiding in a truck at night. Although he quarantined himself at home on April 8, the administration was alerted to the matter by sarpanch of his village Meerpur,” said a spokesperson of the district administration.indianexpress

Several mosques in Assam ban Tablighi Jamaat activities

https://www.firstpost.com/india/after-nizamuddin-fiasco-several-mosques-in-assam-ban-tablighi-jamaat-activities-say-groups-superstitious-ways-impossible-to-follow-in-21st-century-8249961.html

A number of mosques in Assam have banned Tablighi Jamaat activities in their premises. Ismail Hossain, Assam-based writer and activist said 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 Tablighi Jamat incident row in Delhi is perceived to have caused communal distrust among Hindus and Muslims in the north eastern state, he said that this has no bearing on the decisions to ban tabligh activities. Mridul Rahman, Advisor to the Rojahauli Masjid Committee, another committee to ban Tabligh Jamaat told Firstpost, "The kind of practices the Jamaat follow cannot be accepted in 21st century."And taking advantage of the mistrust, hate mongers have gone on an overdrive on social media to drive a wedge between the communities."Fake news were spread in the social media labelling persons as Markaz Nizamuddin returned, whereas these persons have no recent travel hitory to Markaz," Rubul Rahman a person based out of Barpeta district said.Firstpost

 

Noida Police arrests people gathered for namaz in violation of lockdown

https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/coronavirus-noida-police-arrest-people-gathered-for-namaz-606480

Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) Police on Friday were told of a group of people gathered at a masjid for namaz in a clear violation of lockdown directives. The incident occurred in Karaunda village where 20-25 people had gathered.The policemen acted on the information input and reached the masjid in Karaunda village. When police arrived, the crowd dispersed and namazis attempted to flee the scene. But 7 of these people were arrested by the police. indiatvnews

 

Masjid Trust Forms Special Team To Guide Mumbai Cemeteries On Burial Process Of Covid-19 Victims

https://www.mid-day.com/articles/masjid-trust-forms-special-team-to-guide-mumbai-cemeteries-on-burial-process-of-covid-19-victims/22725215

Mumbai:  Guardian minister Aslam Shaikh joined hands with  Juma Masjid Trust in co-ordination with other trustees including the Mahin Dargah Masjid trust, Raza Academy to form a special team to help with the burial process of Covid-19 victims in Mumbai city.A meeting was conducted by the Trust, which was attended by members and trustees of various Masjids and Dargahs in the city. Several politicians including Shaikh was also presented in the meeting that. The attendees discussed about the guidelines of the burial process of people who die of COVID-19 infection..mid-day

 

Delhi Waqf Board designates graveyard for Covid-19 victims

https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-waqf-board-designates-graveyard-for-covid-19-victims/story-6tEdJsTW5IS2URKgT99L0J.html

In view of the “major problem” faced by people in paying last rites to Covid-19 victims, Delhi Waqf Board has designated one of its graveyards for the burial of those, who have passed away due to the virus.“As you are aware that we are facing a hard time due to the spread of Covid-19 and its effects. There are so many difficulties emerging on daily basis. One of the major problem faced by the public is to pay the last rites of Covid-19 victims. It has been reported that due to the lack of information, the general public is not allowing to bury the victims of Covid-19 in graveyards of Delhi, which is unfortunate,” Delhi Waqf Board CEO SM Ali said in a letter to Secretary (Health), Delhi Govt.ANI

 

Over 300 labourers face near starvation in this minority-dominated area in UP's Meerut

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/over-300-labourers-face-near-starvation-in-this-minority-dominated-area-in-ups-meerut/articleshow/75088427.cms

Meerut: Every day around 2 pm, Abul Hasan, 45, waits for his one-meal-a-day he receives from the police authorities. “A plate of rice and daal mostly or four pooris and sabzi at times. We have lost our jobs and don’t have any money left with us. The little ration we had is also running out. I do not know how my wife and three kids are surviving in Jharkhand. I have not been able to send them any money since the lockdown,” said Hasan who lives in Islamabad colony, a minority-dominated area that houses nearly 300 labourers from Jharkhand.Many of the residents who tried to venture out to the nearest community kitchen say that they were shunned by the police and asked to return home because of the lockdown.“How can we survive on this one meal a day,” asked 35-year-old Mohd Masiuddin.TOI

 

Rajasthan govt bans photography during distribution of food packets

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/rajasthan-govt-bans-photography-during-distribution-of-food-packets/1798639

Rajasthan Govt on Friday banned photography during distribution of food packets and ration among the needy in the state.CMAshok Gehlot said food and ration distribution among the poor should be taken as a service and should not be made a medium of publicity and competition.Gehlot said the needy should be benefitted and those who are capable should not take undue advantage."Poor and destitute people, who have become completely dependent on the Govt, have the first right on ration and cooked food packets,” he said."Photography during food and ration distribution has been banned in the state. This should not be made a medium of publicity," a release quoting the CMsaid.PTI

 

With 1,035 fresh Covid-19 cases, India records highest single-day spike on Saturday

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-corona-coronavirus-covid19-latest-news-update-confirmed-positive-cases-biggest-highest-spike-april11-1665869-2020-04-11

On April 11, India recorded the biggest spike in daily new cases of coronavirus since the first case was reported on March 1 of this year. Figures furnished by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare along with concerned state health departments point to detection of as many as 1,035 fresh cases of Covid-19 across the country on Saturday.As of April 11, the country has a total of 7,447 confirmed cases of the infection. This figure includes 239 deaths and 643 patients who recovered after testing positive for Covid-19. Maharashtra (1,574) has highest number of confirmed cases followed by Tamil Nadu (911), Delhi (903) and Rajasthan (553). The state of Maharashtra has also recorded the most number of coronavirus-related casualties at 110. MP has the second-highest number of casualties at 33, followed by Gujarat at 19, and Delhi at 13. India Today

Coronavirus cases in India: No evidence of community transmission yet, repeats Govt | India News

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/coronavirus-cases-in-india-no-evidence-of-community-transmission-yet-repeats-Govt/articleshow/75089422.cms

Govt on Friday once again reiterated that it has found no evidence yet of any community transmission in India and that the rate of infection remains low with just 2% of 16,002 samples tested on Thursday testing positive.It also, once again, gave an assurance that the public would be informed if the coronavirus outbreak reached Stage 3 spread.TOI

 

ICMR Revises Strategy, Will Test People With Influenza-Like Symptoms in Hotspots

https://science.thewire.in/health/icmr-coronavirus-testing/

New Delhi: Revising its strategy to fight the spread of COVID-19, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday said people having symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose and residing in hotspots or cluster areas and in evacuee centres will now be tested for coronavirus infection.Till now, all hospitalised patients with severe acute respiratory illness, shortness of breath and having fever and cough were being tested for COVID-19 infection.Also, asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of a confirmed case are also tested once between day 5 and day 14 of coming in his or her contact.PTI

 

India's anti-malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine  powers global coronavirus war

https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/india-malaria-drug-hydroxychloroquine-powers-global-coronavirus-war-1665736-2020-04-11

New Delhi:An ever-rising global demand for anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine or HCQ to treat Coronavirus patients has turned the spotlight on India. The country meets 80-85% of the medicine's requirement worldwide and has agreed to export it to the US and Brazil, among other nations, after requests from their Presidents.As India said that it would help countries that need HCQ, US President Trump tweeted: "Extraordinary times require even closer cooperation between friends. Thank you India and the Indian people for the decision on HCQ. Will not be forgotten! Thank you PMModi for your strong leadership in helping not just India, but humanity, in this fight!" indiatoday

 

Sudden Hydroxycholoroquine Shortage Is Forcing Indian Doctors To Make Tough Choices

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/hydroxychloroquine-shortage-covid-coronavirus_in_5e8f4b6ac5b6b371812d5b02?utm_hp_ref=in-homepage

Chandigarh:For the past couple of weeks, Paramjit Kaur, a 48-year-old school teacher in Mohali, Punjab, has been trying desperately to find tablets of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), the anti-malaria drug that is also prescribed for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.For the latest news and more, follow HuffPost India on Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe to our newsletter.“The chemists are selling HCQ to only regular customers and not to walk-ins. Also, they provide a single strip every time. Last week, my chemist told me he would get more supply but this time when I visited, it’s out of stock,” Kaur told HuffPost India over the phone. Kaur is now down to her last two tablets and is dreading the recurrence of swelling and acute pain in her joints if she skips her daily dose. Her mother-in-law, who also suffers from the same disease, has already switched to ayurvedic medicine.As India prepares to begin exporting HCQ again to some countries after a brief ban, pharmacists and patients say it has almost disappeared from the market.huffingtonpost

 

Mumbai: 9-month pregnant, Nalasopara woman, who died of coronavirus, was rushed to four hospitals

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/nine-month-pregnant-nalasopara-woman-who-died-of-coronavirus-was-rushed-to-four-hospitals-6355639/

Mumbai: A 27-year-old was pregnant, her due date was April 8. On the night of April 3, she could not breathe. Over the next 12 hours, her husband, a scrap dealer, rushed her to four hospitals covering 70 km between Nalasopara and Mumbai. The next afternoon, the woman, nine-month pregnant, passed away. The unborn child could not be saved. Her death has led to an immediate lockdown of Dhanev, a slum settlement in Nalasopara, a suburb north of financial capital Mumbai.Now, contact-tracing health workers are fighting rumours in the area that they are collecting details for NPR. As they resist the health workers, 25,000 slum-dwellers are also grappling with a severe water shortage and fast-depleting rations.indianexpress

 

Kashmir:Pulwama officials say police not honouring curfew passes, assaulting personnel; Police deny

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pulwama-officials-say-police-not-honouring-curfew-passes-6356795/

Srinagar:Civil administration officials in Kashmir’s Pulwama are up in arms against the district police. They allege that police are not honouring curfew passes issued to officials on emergency duty and are assaulting said officials. Police have dismissed the allegations saying they were “exaggerated”. While several officers have shot off complaint letters to their seniors, many have raised the issue with district admin. The officials, which include officers on magisterial duty, have also raised the matter in an official WhatsApp group, saying it is becoming difficult for them to perform their duties. “Magistracy, or for that matter any other COVID-related duty is as important as policing in this hour of crisis. A food department official sent to fetch food items for a migrant labourer camp in Pampore and carrying a valid pass was beaten up near Circle Road Pulwama, even after I spoke to PCR Pulwama,” reads one of the complaint posts on the group. “Even after letting a policeman know that I am Tehsildar Pampore and proceeding to attend a meeting at Pulwama, I was warned not to move without pass at Circle Road by policemen. I strongly feel there is an urgent need to counsel and impart necessary instructions to the policemen on ground,” reads another post.indianexpress

 

Gujarat: Wakf Board warns of action against trusts for denying burial

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coronavirus-wakf-board-warns-of-action-against-trusts-for-denying-burial-wakf-board-warns-of-action-against-trusts-for-denying-burial-6355609/

Gujarat State Wakf Board has warned trust and Mutawallis administering Islamic cemeteries across the state of action for refusing burials of those who succumb to coronavirus from the community.In a letter to the trusts and Mutawallis, CEO of GWB, said, “It has come to the notice of the Gujarat State Wakf Board that in many cases, those (from the Muslim community) who died due to COVID-19 are not allowed to be buried in the Qabrastan. This letter is to state that all the Islamic burial grounds and cemeteries in the state, whether registered with the Wakf Board or not, must allow burial of any member of the Muslim community, who has died due to the COVID-19, at the nearest Qabrastan from his home or hospital and also extend full cooperation to the families… If any trust or Mutawallis of any Qabrastan deny burials for Muslims deceased in the pandemic, action will be taken against them under Wakf (Amendment) Act, 2013.” indianexpress

 

VHP-Bajrang Dal leader held for making remarks ‘hurting sentiments’

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/vhp-bajrang-dal-leader-held-for-making-remarks-hurting-sentiments-6355477/

Surat :President of VHP and Bajrang Dal Bhavnagar units, Ashoksinh Gohil, was arrested for his alleged remarks “hurting religious sentiments of a community” and sharing them on social media, police said. A scrap dealer from Bhavanagar city, Abid Pacha, was also arrested for allegedly making comments “prejudicial” to a religious group. Police saying the remarks originated from difference of views over spread of coronavirus infection in the country.“A few days ago, a post went viral on WhatsApp, calling for the boycott of Muslim street vendors, holding them responsible for the spread of coronavirus. Pacha called up one Kamleshbahi, complaining about the same. Audio clip of this conversation was later shared in WhatsApp groups. Taking note of that, we filed a complaint against Pacha,”police said.indianexpress

 

Covid-19 patient commits suicide at Maharashtra hospital

https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/coronavirus-patient-assam-resident-suicide-akola-maharashtra-hospital-6357770/

Nagpur:  An Assam native who had tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted in Govt Medical College and Hospital in Akola allegedly committed suicide in the bathroom of isolation ward on Saturday morning.“30-year-old from Assam’s Nagaon district had himself approached the health authorities in Akola and was admitted to the isolation ward on April 7 and was tested positive for the virus on Friday. On Saturday morning, he was found lying in the ward’s bathroom with a neck injury and was rushed to the operation theatre, where he died during surgery due to excessive bleeding,” Akola Collector said. indianexpress

 

Nearly 15% Staff of MP Health Directorate Including Senior Officials Test Coronavirus Positive, Says Report

https://www.news18.com/news/india/nearly-15-staff-of-mp-health-directorate-including-senior-officials-test-coronavirus-positive-says-report-2573809.html

A district administration report has affirmed that as many as 47 staffers including the senior officials of MP Directorate of Health Services have contracted coronavirus. Senior officials, who contracted the virus include – former Principal Secretary Pallavi Jain Govil, Health Director J Vijay Kumar, Additional Director Kailash Bundela, Joint Director Upendra Dubey, Additional Director Dr Veena Sinha, Deputy Directors Pramod Goyal, Dr Ruby Khan, Dr Saurabh Purohit, Dr Himanshu Jayaswar and Director Dr Ranjana Gupta. Others who have contracted the virus are technical staff, a computer operator, peons, a gunman and a few others. Some of kin of these staffers too have contracted the disease.news18

 

Bhopal’s health dept, led by its IAS secy, becomes new corona hotspot, half city’s cases linked

https://theprint.in/india/bhopals-health-department-becomes-coronavirus-hotspot-half-the-citys-cases-linked-to-it/399989/

Of 121 coronavirus cases in MP’s capital, Bhopal, more than half are linked to its health department employees and their families. The health department, which is responsible for fighting Covid-19 in the state, has itself become a hotspot.A senior official of the department, who didn’t want to be named, told ThePrint that “this was the failure of planning by the bureaucracy and a result of their overconfidence”, adding that “with 35 officials of the health department testing positive for Covid, we have been kept in quarantine. Now, tests of our family members have also started coming positive. There are over 50 coronavirus cases in the city which are related to health dept, which is over half the cases in Bhopal.”So far, MP has recorded 483 coronavirus cases with the highest number, 249, in Indore. ThePrint

 

Bengaluru :Muslim leaders use tech to reach people over Covid-19

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2020/apr/11/muslim-leaders-use-tech-to-reach-people-2128546.html

Bengaluru: Extending support to the state Govt, maulvis, leaders and elected representatives of Muslim community appealed to their fellow community members to immediately come forward if they have attended the Nizamuddin congregation in Delhi. Mohammed Maqsood Imran Rasheedi, Maulana of Jama Masjid in Bengaluru said they are using technology to spread awareness. “If you have attended or know anyone who attended the congregation, please inform the nearest police station or hospital. If needed, arrangements are made at Haj house for people to be quarantined,’’ he said.Dr Belgami Mohammed Saad, president , Jamat-e-Islami Hind Karnataka, said they were delivering messages as well during Azaan time so that people who cannot read and write can understand too. newindianexpress

 

Contributions to CM fund will not qualify as CSR expenditure

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/contributions-to-cm-fund-will-not-qualify-as-csr-expenditure/article31317943.ece?homepage=true

New Delhi: Ministry of Commerce has clarified that the contributions to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund or the State relief fund will not qualify as Corporate Social Responsibility expenditure, while any donation to PM CARES Fund will. “‘Chief Minister’s Relief Fund’ or ‘State Relief Fund for COVID-19’ is not included in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013, and therefore any contribution to such funds shall not qualify as admissible CSR expenditure,” it has said in a circular. The circular has said donations to the State Disaster Management Authority to combat COVID-19 can be counted as admissible CSR expenditure. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury flagged the circular on Twitter and said it was discriminatory and went against the constitutional principle of federalism.  thehindu

 

Amid lockdown, UP Police serves notice on ‘The Wire’ editor for comments about Adityanath

https://scroll.in/latest/958875/amid-lockdown-up-police-gives-notice-to-the-wire-founding-editor-for-comments-against-adityanath

Adityanath Govt in UP on Friday served a notice to The Wire’s Founding Editor Siddharth Varadarajan amid the nation-wide lockdown to appear in Ayodhya on April 14 for making an allegedly “objectionable comment” about the chief minister.The matter pertains to an article published in The Wire on March 31 against backdrop of the controversy over the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area that left many participants infected with the coronavirus.

 

'Attempts to Muzzle the Media': More Than 100 journalists Condemn FIRs Against The Wire

https://thewire.in/media/more-than-100-journalists-condemn-firs-the-wire

New Delhi: More than 100 journalists have condemned the FIRs filed against Siddharth Varadarajan, founding editor of The Wire, by UP Govt.“The manner in which the U.P Govt and its police have been pursuing this with a single-minded agenda smacks of vindictiveness. The state has an extra responsibility to exercise restraint on use of its powers when citizens are restricted in exercising many of their usual democratic rights,” the statement says.thewire

 

Pornography gets a pandemic boost, India reports 95 % rise in viewing

https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/pornography-gets-a-pandemic-boost-india-reports-95-per-cent-rise-in-viewing-1665940-2020-04-11

Indians seem to be leading the world in porn consumption, reporting a 95 % spike in traffic to adult sites during 3-week lockdown.Data show the country, the fastest-growing smartphone market, registered a 20 % jump in consuming porn content even before the official restrictions kicked in late March.Although several Indian telecom operators have blocked a number of adult sites, their content still can be accessed on mirror domains.indiatoday

 

*CORONAVIRUS – WORLD*

 

Global Coronavirus death toll crosses 100,000; 70% from Europe

https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/coronavirus-global-updates-april-11-covid-19-cases-deaths-6357505/

The global death toll due to the coronavirus crossed 102,800 on Saturday as the number of cases rose to nearly 1,700,000, according to a tally by John Hopkins University. Nearly 70 %of the global infections were reported from the hard hit continent of Europe. US is not far from overtaking Italy with the highest number of deaths — Italy has so far reported 18,884 deaths against US’ 18,679. The number of infections in US (500,399) exceeds the total number of cases in the next four worst affected nations — Spain (158,000), Italy (147,000), Germany (122,000) and France (112,000). In China, the govt reported 3 fresh deaths and 46 additional cases in the last 24 hours. This presents a decline in the number of new daily cases in the country allowing the Chinese Govt to reopen its factories and stores. China reported 3,339 deaths and more than 81,000 confirmed cases till Friday midnight. indianexpress

 

US reports 2,108 coronavirus deaths in a day

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/overtake-italy-coronavirus-deaths-live-updates-200410232614536.html

US has reported 2,108 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, the highest daily increase in the country since the outbreak began, pushing the total US death toll to 18,781. Cases in US topped 501,000 on Saturday. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said public schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year. aljazeera

 

Iran begins lifting restrictions after brief virus lockdown

https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/coronavirus-global-updates-april-11-covid-19-cases-deaths-6357505/

Iran began reopening Govt offices Saturday after a brief nationwide lockdown to help contain the worst coronavirus outbreak in Middle East, which has killed more than 4,300 people in the country. Authorities had ordered most Govt agencies and all non-essential businesses to remain closed for a week after Nowruz holiday ended on April 4.Govt offices outside Tehran, reopened today with 2-thirds of employees coming in and the remainder working from home, state media reported. Women who have young children were given priority in deciding who works remotely. Businesses outside the capital were also allowed to reopen Saturday, the first day of the work week. Businesses in Tehran will be allowed to reopen next Saturday, provided they register with authorities and follow guidelines on social distancing set out by Health Ministry. Govt offices in the capital will reopen with 2-thirds of employees coming in and the rest working remotely. The ministry meanwhile reported another 125 deaths, bringing the overall toll to 4,357. The country has reported over 70,000 confirmed cases, and authorities say over 40,000 have recovered.indianexpress

 

Turkey imposes 48-hour curfew in major cities to curb virus

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/turkey-imposes-48-hour-lockdown-major-cities-curb-virus-200411084517572.html

Dozens of Turkish cities, including Istanbul, have been placed under lockdown for two days from midnight on Friday to combat the spread of the coronavirus, as the country's death toll from the pandemic crossed 1,000.The restrictions, which will last until midnight on Sunday, were imposed in 31 provinces across the country and scaled up existing curbs, under which people under the age of 20 and over 65 have been told to stay at home.aljazeera

 

Turkey to provide Israel with medical supplies on condition of issuing medical aid to Palestinian Authority

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200411-turkey-to-provide-israel-with-medical-supplies-on-condition-of-issuing-medical-aid-to-palestinian-authority/

US Bloomberg TV revealed that Turkish Govt agreed to provide Israel with medical supplies to help it counter the spread of the coronavirus.The channel quoted well-informed sources stating that Turkish Govt agreed to sell medical supplies, including face masks and sterile gloves for “humanitarian reasons”, and it is expected that Israel will allow a similar shipment of Turkish aid to reach Palestinian Authority without imposing any obstacles, as stated by a senior Turkish official, according to Russia Today.The official, who asked not to be named, announced that it is expected that three aircraft coming from Israel will land at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey to transport the cargo next Thursday.MEMO

 

Arab League: Israel exploited coronavirus to escalate aggression on Palestinians

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200410-arab-league-israel-exploited-coronavirus-to-escalate-aggression-on-palestinians/

Israeli occupation authorities are exploiting the world’s preoccupation with confronting the novel coronavirus to escalate its ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people, Arab League (AL) warned. AL said that Israeli violations included “killing, arresting and displacing civilians, annexing new settlements, and Judaising and attacking Palestinian holy sites.”middleeastmonitor

 

Israel’s COVID-19 cases top 10,000; deaths at 95

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200411-israels-covid-19-cases-top-10000-deaths-at-95/

The number of coronavirus cases in Israel has topped 10,000, with 95 deaths, the health ministry said.The ministry said nine people died and 440 more tested positive for COVID-19, raising the total number of cases to 10,408, including 167 who are in critical condition while at least 1,061 have recovered. Govt has taken a number of steps to stem the spread of the virus, including closing all educational institutions and banning gatherings of more than 10 in open or closed public areas.middleeastmonitor

 

Coronavirus tally soars in several Arab nations

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200411-coronavirus-tally-soars-in-several-arab-nations/

Arab states of Morocco, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, and Palestine all reported new coronavirus cases on Saturday, Anadolu Agency reports.In Morocco, authorities recorded three deaths, bringing the total death toll to 110 and total cases to 1,527. A total of 141 patients have so far recovered. In Kuwait, the Health Ministry confirmed 116 new cases, raising total to 1,154, including 113 recoveries.Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed 10 new cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 619. The death toll stands at 20.In Oman, Health Ministry reported the third coronavirus death and 62 new cases, pushing the total to 546, including three deaths and 109 recoveries. In Palestine, the Health Ministry reported another case of the fatal disease, raising the total to 109. The death toll in the occupied territories stands at two.middleeastmonitor

 

Covid-19: Apple, Google team up on contact-tracing technology as global cases cross 17-lakh mark

https://scroll.in/latest/958894/covid-19-apple-google-team-up-on-contact-tracing-technology-as-global-cases-cross-17-lakh-mark

Tech giants Apple and Google have announced a collaboration to help countries in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic by developing smartphone technology to enable contact tracing. 2 companies have partnered to create smartphone technology that is capable of alerting users if they have been in the proximity of a person infected with Covid-19. “Apple and Google will be launching a comprehensive solution that includes application programming interfaces [APIs] and operating system-level technology to assist in enabling contact tracing,” Apple said.

 

*OTHERS*

 

Unlike corona, PM Modi yet to call for unity against anti-Muslim violence; CAA unjust: HRW

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/unlike-corona-pm-modi-yet-to-call-for-unity-against-anti-muslim-violence-caa-unjust-human-rights-watch

International human rights organisation Human Rights Watch has released a report on the amended Citizenship Act and NRC brought in by Modi Govt.India’s discriminatory new citizenship law and policies have spurred violence against Muslims, HRW has said in its 82 page report.CAA, along with a planned nationwide verification process to identify “illegal migrants” can threaten the citizenship rights of millions of Indian Muslims“In December 2019, Hindu nationalist BJP-led Govt adopted CAA, which for the first time makes religion a basis for citizenship,” reads the report. Cops and several other officials have repeatedly failed to intervene when Govt supporters attacked those protesting the new citizenship policies, says the 82-page report titled, “Shoot the Traitors’: Discrimination Against Muslims Under India’s New Citizenship Policy.”“The police, however, have been quick to arrest critics of the policy and disperse their peaceful demonstrations, including by using excessive and lethal force.”“India’s PMhas appealed for a united fight against COVID-19, but has yet to call for unity in the fight against anti-Muslim violence and discrimination,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at HRW. HRW report is based on more than 100 interviews with victims of abuse and their families from Delhi and the states of Assam and UP, as well as with legal experts, academics, activists, and police officials.

 

SC decision to send activists Navlakha and Teltumbde to jail 'disappointing': Amnesty

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sc-decision-to-send-activists-navlakha-and-teltumbde-to-jail-disappointing-amnesty/articleshow/75098535.cms

Amnesty International India has described as "disappointing" the Supreme Court's recent direction asking civil rights activists Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde to surrender before jail authorities within a week in connection with 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case. AII executive director Avinash Kumar, in a statement, said the SC order is also at odds with court's previous ruling where it directed the states to decongest the country's overcrowded prisons to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, thereby posing a risk to the health of 2 activists.PTI

 

India rejects China reference to J&K at UN

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-rejects-china-reference-to-jk-at-un-6355719/

New Delhi :A day after the Chinese mission to UN said that Jammu and Kashmir remains high on UN Security Council’s agenda, India rejected the reference and asked Beijing to refrain from commenting on its internal affairs. Anurag Srivastava, spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, said New Delhi also expects that China would “respect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and that it would “recognise and condemn the scourge of cross-border terrorism that affect the lives of people of India, including in Jammu and Kashmir”.A spokesman for Chinese mission to UN had said that Beijing’s position on Kashmir remains unchanged as he rejected claims that the country, during its presidency of the Security Council in March, had ignored Pakistan’s call for urgent consideration of the decades-old dispute at the 15-member body.“The question of Kashmir remains high on the Council’s agenda,” the spokesman had said in a statement. “China pays close attention to the current situation, and China’s position on the Kashmir issue remains unchanged,” he added.indianexpress

 

Hindu American group urges Modi to give asylum to persecuted Sikhs & Hindus from Afghan

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/americans-modi-asylum-to-persecuted-sikhs-hindus-afghanistan-6357637/

Washington: A Hindu American group has urged PM Narendra Modi to grant asylum to the persecuted Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan.In a letter dated April 9 to Modi, Hindu American Foundation said it is imperative to alleviate the dire situation of religious minorities in Afghanistan who look to the secular Republic of India as the only safe haven in the region.PTI

IAS officer who quit to protest J&K lockdown refuses to join duty despite Centre’s order

https://scroll.in/latest/958834/covid-19-ias-officer-who-quit-to-protest-j-k-lockdown-refuses-to-join-duty-despite-centres-order

IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan has refused to resume work after the Centre summoned him to immediately resume duty in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Gopinathan had resigned from his post as the collector of Dadra and Nagar Haveli last year in protest against the manner in which the Govt revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.The bureaucrat took to Twitter to share the details of the letter sent to him on the direction of the administration of Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The Govt asked him to resume his service on the grounds that his resignation has not been accepted yet.scroll

 

*WORLDS*

 

Yemen: Saudi envoy reveals upcoming meeting between govt, Houthis and Arab coalition to discuss ending war

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200410-yemen-saudi-ambassador-reveals-upcoming-meeting-between-Govt-houthis-and-arab-coalition-to-discuss-ending-war/

Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Jaber, revealed an upcoming meeting between legitimate Govt, Houthis and Arab coalition, under the auspices of UN envoy, to discuss a permanent ceasefire in Yemen, without specifying a date.Al-Jaber attempted to explain, in a series of tweets, the initiative of the leadership of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen to implement a 2-week ceasefire, as a means to endorse the efforts of UN special envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, in combating the coronavirus pandemic in the country.He added that a meeting will be held between the Yemeni Govt, the Houthis and a military team from the coalition, to discuss proposals for a permanent ceasefire in Yemen, and confidence-building steps. Supervisor-General of Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) confirmed that Saudi Kingdom stands with the brotherly Yemeni people and pledges to support them economically, and provide food and medical relief to confront COVID-19, noting that Saudi authorities have allocated $500 million to UN humanitarian response plan for Yemen, including $25 million to combat the spread of coronavirus. On Wednesday evening, Arab coalition announced a 2-week extendable ceasefire in Yemen.MEMO

 

India welcomes Saudi-led coalition''s ceasefire in Yemen

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/india-welcomes-saudiled-coalitions-ceasefire-in-yemen/1798563

 India has welcomed the unilateral ceasefire in Yemen announced by Saudi-backed coalition which has brightened hopes for an end to 5-year-old civil war in the country.PTI

 

US Senator submits bill to withdraw forces from Saudi

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200411-us-senator-submits-bill-to-withdraw-forces-from-saudi-arabia/

A Republican member of US Senate has submitted a bill to withdraw US forces from Saudi Arabia if it does not adhere to the plan to reduce oil production, in order to change the direction of oil price decline that has harmed US energy companies.According to Al Hurra TV,proposed bill submitted by Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the oil-producing state, stipulated to withdraw US forces 30 days after approval, i.e. one month faster than a similar bill introduced by two other Republican members last March.middleeastmonitor

 

Israel army publishes video of Syria and Hezbollah leaders in Golan Heights

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200411-israel-army-publishes-video-of-syria-and-hezbollah-leaders-in-golan-heights/

Spokesman for Israeli occupation army, Avichai Adraee, on Friday accused Syrian regime of allowing Hezbollah to deploy its forces in Golan Heights.Adraee published a video showing alleged leader of the first legion in Syrian Army, General Ali Ahmed Al-Asaad, while he was touring Hezbollah sites accompanied by leader of the movement’s branch in the south, Hajj Hashem.Israeli official stated that the way Hezbollah was positioned in Syria and Syrian part of Golan Heights in particular: “Aims to create a terrorist structure against the state of Israel, with cooperation and support of Syrian regime, which we will not tolerate.”MEMO

 

US offers $10m for information on Hezbollah commander in Iraq

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/offers-10m-information-hezbollah-commander-iraq-200411063153810.html

US has offered up to $10m for information on Hezbollah commander Sheikh Mohammad al-Kawtharani, who was an associate of slain Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Kawtharani was branded a "global terrorist" by US in 2013, accused of funding armed groups in Iraq and helping transport Iraqi fighters to Syria to join President Bashar al-Assad's effort to put down a revolt against his rule.

 

Hamas: ‘We are evaluating occupation’s seriousness about prisoner swap, terms, names already set’

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200411-hamas-we-are-evaluating-the-occupations-seriousness-about-prisoner-swap-terms-and-names-already-set/

Hamas political bureau member Mahmoud Al-Zahar confirmed that the movement’s leadership is studying the seriousness of the Israeli occupation authorities’ proposal to conclude a new prisoner exchange deal, pointing out that Hamas has set the conditions and names, in addition to those who should be released first, specifically the sick and the elderly.Al-Zahar revealed in an interview with local newspaper Falastin: “Basically, we are seeking to free the prisoners in any possible way, and this is a principle that we have adopted for a long time. The most famous instance of this demarche was demonstrated by the Wafa Al-Ahrar exchange deal that took place in 2011.” He added that Palestinian detainees in the occupation prisons are in a very dangerous situation, which urges Hamas to seize all available opportunities to release them.middleeastmonitor

 

Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria with no bread and water

https://english.palinfo.com/news/2020/4/9/Yarmouk-refugee-camp-in-Syria-with-no-bread-and-water

London;Palestinian residents of the Yarmouk refugee camp near the Syrian capital, Damascus, are facing great difficulties in securing basic food needs, including bread, clean water and fuel for heating and cooking.According to the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria, the Yarmouk residents appealed to all concerned parties to supply them with bread and water because there is no transportation means to leave the camp to purchase their basic needs.The residents also expressed fears to leave the camp during the coronavirus pandemic.They called on UNRWA, and Palestinian institutions and factions to take care of them, provide them with medicines and health and social services, open medical centers and spray disinfectants throughout the camp.There are dozens of families and children still living in different neighborhoods of the destroyed Yarmouk camp.PIC

 

Taliban, US commander discuss violence reduction in Afghan

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/taliban-commander-discuss-violence-reduction-afghanistan-200411090220757.html

The commander of US forces in Afghanistan has met Taliban leadership in Doha to discuss the need to reduce violence in the war-torn country, which threatens to derail a fragile peace process, according to spokesmen for both sides. General Scott Miller, commander of US forces and the NATO-led non-combat Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, held talks with Taliban leaders on Friday night."General Miller met with Taliban leadership last night as part of the military channel established in the agreement," a spokesman for US Forces in Afghanistan told Reuters. "The meeting was about the need to reduce the violence," he said.The talks came as the Afghan armed group accused US forces of breaching deal.Another sticking point is the delay in the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners by Kabul Govt that was agreed as part of the deal. The spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Doha said on Twitter that the meeting discussed the implementation of the agreement. Taliban last week accused US forces of supporting Afghan security operations in some parts of the country, and warned that such support could jeopardise the agreement.aljazeera

UN condemns water cutoff to Libyan capital Tripoli

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/condemns-water-cutoff-libyan-capital-tripoli-200411000610599.html

UN humanitarian coordinator for Libya has condemned the cutting off of water supply to the capital Tripoli over the past week as "particularly reprehensible" and said it must stop immediately.An armed group on Monday stormed a control station at Shwerif, stopping water from being pumped and threatening workers, Great Man-Made River Project, which supplies water to much of Libya, said.The armed group is seeking to use the water cutoff as pressure to force the release of detained family members, UN humanitarian coordinator Yacoub El Hillo said on Friday.aljazeera

 

IMF ropes in Raghuram, 11 others to key advisory group

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/imf-raghuram-rajan-key-advisory-group-6357789/

IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva on Friday named ex RBI governor Raghuram Rajan and 11 others to her external advisory group to provide perspectives from around the globe on key developments and policy issues, including responses to the exceptional challenges the world now faces due to coronavirus pandemic.Rajan, who was RBI governor for 3 years until September 2016, is currently working as a professor at the prestigious University of Chicago.PTI

 

*views, Articles, FEATURES*

 

Why the slow drip of anti-Muslim poison in India is now a flood:Samar Halarnkar

https://scroll.in/article/958724/why-the-slow-drip-of-anti-muslim-poison-in-india-is-now-a-flood?fbclid=IwAR0gqr4CXFgmICkcFsBjQFjCVCYnwiR5SoZGrMrFdPPcEQWN-lkky9tL43Q

While World Fights COVID-19, Indians are Busy Communalising It:Sanjiv Krishan Sood

https://thewire.in/communalism/while-the-world-fights-covid-19-indians-are-busy-communalising-it

Jeremy Corbyn was defeated because he refused to defend himself against the Israel lobby

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200411-jeremy-corbyn-was-defeated-because-he-refused-to-defend-himself-against-the-israel-lobby/

Jeremy Corbyn's exit: Farewell to a friend of Palestine:Ghada Karmi

https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/labour-corbyn-exit-farewell-friend-palestine

The argument that jamaat members are hiding, resisting detending is misplaced:Gulam Jeelani

https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/interview/story/20200420-the-argument-that-jamaat-members-are-hiding-resisting-detending-is-misplaced-1665533-2020-04-11

 Deluge of aid requests from developing world set to hit IMF, World Bank: Wall Street Journal.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/imf-world-bank-face-deluge-of-aid-requests-from-developing-world-11586424609

 

 Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 10:11 PM).