PM Modi dials former presidents, Opposition leaders to discuss Covid-19 situation
Amid the ongoing 21-day lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached out and held a discussion with former presidents, former prime ministers as well as opposition leaders on the coronavirus pandemic which has infected 3,374 people and claimed at least 77 lives so far. According to sources, Modi spoke to former presidents Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil and former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and Deve […]
How high-level group formed by govt has stepped up Covid-19 fight
A group of senior bureaucrats has held six meetings with international organisations, over 40 NGOs and several industry bodies in just six days since its formation, highlighting the sense of urgency in the Narendra Modi government to tackle the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The empowered group on “Coordinating with Private Sector, NGOs, and International Organisations for COVID-19-related Response […]
Won’t spare those spreading fake news, communal messages on virus: Uddhav Thackeray
Two days after BJP president J P Nadda urged his party leaders to refrain from giving any communal colour to the COVID-19 outbreak, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray warned that strict legal action would be taken against people spreading “fake news” and “communal hatred” over the pandemic. “Like coronavirus, there is another virus that is emerging, which is creating a rift […]
Virus, lockdown take toll on mental health: Stress, anxiety, insomnia rise as people fret over future
Noida resident Preeti (name changed) has not slept for four days because she has been experiencing “paralysing” anxiety. The nationwide lockdown has aggravated her paranoia over COVID-19 and intensified her depression and anxiety. It doesn’t help that she can’t get the face-time she needs with her counsellor. To make up for this, they speak multiple times a […]
India Inc awaits fiscal push from Centre to keep afloat
As businesses around the country reel under the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown it has necessitated, business owners, executives and experts are looking to the government to do enough to keep companies afloat and healthy and, more importantly, to ensure that they do not engage in mass retrenchments. The government has hinted […]
Home ministry adviser, CRPF DG in quarantine after indirect contact with Covid-19 patient
New Delhi: The Union home ministry’s senior security adviser, K. Vijay Kumar, and top officers of the CRPF, including Director General A.P. Maheshwari, have gone into self-quarantine as a precautionary measure after coming in indirect contact with the force’s chief medical officer. The CMO tested positive for the novel coronavirus Thursday, security sources told ThePrint, adding […]
Trump urges PM Modi to lift export hold on anti-malaria drug for Covid-19 treatment
President Donald Trump on Saturday said he requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release orders placed by the United States with Indian pharmaceutical companies for hydroxychloroquine doses, which he has personally touted as a game-changer in the fight against the coronavirus. Trump told reporters at the daily White House briefing on the coronavirus outbreak that […]
Coronavirus Lockdown: Cancer Train’s Suspension Agonises Patients In Punjab
Out of all the passenger trains in the country, one particular train which runs between Bhatinda and Bikaner, is a lifeline for hundreds of cancer patients of Malwa region of Punjab. Popularly known as the cancer train, its 30 per cent of total daily passengers are cancer patients who travel to Bikaner for treatment in […]
Indian Railways asks zones to plan phase-wise restoration of services
Indian Railways has got back to the drawing board to prepare a plan for phased resumption of its passenger services post lockdown, even as the government is yet to take a final call on the matter. As the Railway Board awaits instructions from the government on this, it has asked its zonal railways to prepare […]
New direct tax regime kicks in from today
NEW DELHI : Big changes in India’s direct tax regime will come into force on Wednesday, covering a host of stakeholders, including non-resident Indians (NRIs), company shareholders, digital firms and individual income taxpayers, with provisions of the Finance Act taking effect on 1 April. One of the key changes that take effect applies to non-residents. NRIs […]