THIRD PHASE OF LOCKDOWN BEGINS WITH SEVERAL RELAXATIONS

India yesterday entered the third phase of lockdown with considerable

relaxations in orange and green zones, and some in the red zones too. In

the last 24 hours, a record 1,074 recoveries were reported, taking the total

number of cured patients to 11,761 and the recovery rate to 27.52 per cent.

Non-essential businesses and cab services resumed in zones barring red,

leading to an increase in traffic on roads. E-commerce websites also began

taking orders for non-essential items but only for areas with less or nil

Covid-19 cases. There was a noticeable increase in road traffic as

non-essential stores lifted shutters, including liquor shops, where people

threw social distancing norms to the wind. The easing of the lockdown

measures came with its own set of challenges for police personnel as they

struggled to manage the crowds outside liquor shops, and in some areas in

Delhi, they resorted to lathi charge to bring the situation under control.

The Delhi government will be forced to seal areas where people violate

social distancing norms, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Monday,

expressing concern over reports of crowding across many parts of the city —

especially in front of liquor shops — on the first day of lockdown

relaxations.

The relaxations, Kejriwal said, are aimed at gradually reopening the city

and restart economic activities. “For how long will we under be lockdown?

ItÂ’s been one-and-a-half months already. We must act responsibly. And if

there are reports of violations in a particular shop, we will seal that

shop. Shopkeepers will have to take responsibility,” he added.

By the evening, the Delhi government announced a 70% hike in the price of

liquor across categories in the capital, starting Tuesday.

Kerala yesterday reported that out of the total 500 COVID-19 positive

persons found till now in the state, 462 have recovered while 4 have died.

The current active cases stand at 34 only.

MIGRANT TRAINS: PAYING 85%, SAYS CENTRE AS SONIA TELLS CONG TO PICK UP TAB

As a political storm raged on Monday over stranded migrant workers being

made to pay for their journey home, the Central government stood firm on the

fare policy for its Shramik Special trains, and said it was bearing the bulk

of the cost.

Sources in the Railways said that there was no move to revise the guidelines

or Standard Operating Procedure issued on Saturday vis-à-vis fares, and that

the Railways would continue to charge states, at whose request these trains

were being run, for tickets.

Fifty-eight Shramik Special trains have been run so far, including 13 on

Monday from cities like Bengaluru, Surat, Sabarmati, Akola, and Kota.

In the face of criticism, the govt said that through the fares, it was

asking states to pay only 15 per cent of the overall cost incurred by the

Railways to run these trains.

“Government of India or Railways never said anything about charging the

migrants. We said we will bear 85 per cent of the cost and states will bear

15 per cent, and the process was set in place based on the statesÂ’ request

to send limited migrant labourers for some very particular reasons, back to

their states. All states are coordinating this process accordingly, except

one or two,” Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the Ministry of Health, told

reporters at the official briefing on COVID-19 measures.

Sources said the calculation offered by the Railways was based on the fact

that the trains were running at only two-thirds capacity, and returning

empty to their bases after each run. Each rake is being sanitised upon

return.

Also, passengers were being provided food and water for free every 12 hours

during the journey. Each train was being escorted by the Railway Protection

Force, which was adding to the cost, officials said.

The non-AC Sleeper Class fare for all passengers adds up to only 15 per cent

of the running cost of the train, which the Railways is seeking from the

states, these officials said.

Early in the day, Congress president Sonia Gandhi announced that state units

of her party would pay for the migrantsÂ’ fare. The government had denied

workers and migrant labourers the opportunity to return to their homes by

announcing the lockdown without notice, she said, and had then forced them

to walk several hundred kilometres without food, medicines, or money. “What

is particularly disturbing is that the central government and the Rail

Ministry are charging them for train tickets in this hour of crisis,” she

said.

PM MODI AT ONLINE NAM SUMMIT: TERRORISM, FAKE NEWS ‘DEADLY VIRUSES’

In his first address to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit since assuming

office in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday flagged the issues of

“terrorism” and “fake news”, calling them “deadly viruses” at a time when

the world fights the novel coronavirus.

Modi said they should develop a platform for NAM countries to pool their

“experiences, best practices, crisis-management protocols, research, and

resources”.

Over 30 Heads of State and other leaders joined the online summit.

“NAM should call upon the international community and the WHO to focus on

building health-capacity in developing countries. We should ensure equitable

, affordable and timely access to health products and technologies for all,”

he said.

“Even as the world fights COVID-19, some people are busy spreading other

deadly viruses. Such as terrorism. Such as fake news, and doctored videos to

divide communities and countries,” he said.

This was the first time Modi participated in a NAM summit — he had become

the first Indian Prime Minister to skip the NAM summit in 2016 and in 2019

too.

Calling it the “most serious crisis” humanity has faced in decades, Modi

underlined that at this time, NAM can help promote global solidarity. “NAM

has often been the worldÂ’s moral voice. To retain this role, NAM must remain

inclusive.”

“Following the Summit, leaders adopted a Declaration underlining the

importance of international solidarity in the fight against COVID-19.

Leaders also announced the creation of a ‘Task Force’ to identify needs and

requirements of member States…,” a statement by the Ministry of External

COVID-19 DASHBOARD – (Nos. IN INDIA / Nos. WORLDWIDE)

(Indian data from covid19india / and World Data from

worldometers.info/coronavirus/ )

Total Cases 46,433 (+3,891) / 36,46,099 (+79,869)

Total Deaths 1,566 (+175) / 2,52,407 (+4,122)

Total Recovered 12,847 (+1,072) / 11,97,708 (+43,683)

Active Cases 32,020 (+2,644) / 21,95,984 (+32,064)

Serious / Critical Cases (Not Available) / 49,637 (-409)

Top impacted nations so far: (And some of IndiaÂ’s Neighbours)

Country / Total Cases / Deaths / Total Deaths per 1M Pop.

USA 12,12,835 / 69,921 / 211

Spain 2,48,301 / 25,428 / 544

Italy 2,11,938 / 29,079 / 481

UK 1,90,584 / 28,734 / 423

France 1,69,462 / 25,201 / 386

Germany 1,66,152 / 6,993 / 83

Russia 1,45,268 / 1,356 / 9

Turkey 1,27,659 / 3,461 / 41

Brazil 1,08,620 / 7,367 / 35

Iran 98,647 / 6,277 / 75

India 46,437 / 1,566 / 1.0

Pakistan 21,501 / 486 / 2.0

Bangladesh 10,143 / 182 / 1.0

Sri Lanka 751 / 8 / 0.4

Top 17 impacted Indian States so far: (Total No. of Confirmed case / No. Of

Deaths)

State/UT Confirmed Deceased

Maharashtra 14,541 / 583

Gujarat 5,804 / 319

Delhi 4,898 / 64

Tamil Nadu 3,550 / 31

Rajasthan 3,061 / 77

Madhya Pradesh 2,942 / 165

Uttar Pradesh 2,766 / 50

Andhra Pradesh 1,650 / 33

West Bengal 1,259 / 133

Punjab 1,232 / 23

Telangana 1,085 / 29

Jammu and Kashmir 726 / 8

Karnataka 651 / 27

Bihar 528 / 4

Haryana 517 / 6

Kerala 500 / 4

Odisha 169 / 1

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

======================

US WARNS CHINA OF VERY SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT HONOURING TRADE DEAL

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday warned China of “very

sizeable consequences” for not honouring the trade deal signed among the two

nations early this year.

“I have just about every reason to hope that they honour this settlement.

And if they really donÂ’t, there would be pretty major penalties in the

connection and in the world-wide economic system as to how individuals would

do small business with them,” Mnuchin explained to Fox News.

MnuchinÂ’s warning to China came a working day just after President Donald

Trump explained that he will terminate the trade deal with China, if they do

not honour the dedication of obtaining an supplemental $200 billion worth of

agricultural items from the US.

Trump has also alleged that the Chinese government was either incompetent in

preventing the deadly virus from spreading globally or did it for a reason.

Meanwhile, the WHO said Monday that Washington had provided no evidence to

support “speculative” claims by the U.S. president that COVID-19 originated

in a Chinese lab.

EUROPE BEGINS TO EMERGE FROM VIRUS LOCKDOWN

Millions of Europeans emerged with relief from coronavirus confinement on

Monday, with hard-hit Italy leading the way out of the world's longest

lockdown.

Lockdowns imposed on half of the planet have derailed economies, and

politicians are now grappling with how to get the wheels turning again

without sparking a second wave of infections.

Italy — second only to the U.S. in its death toll and the first to impose a

national lockdown — was gingerly emerging into the spring sunshine on

Monday, with construction sites and factories resuming work.

Restaurants reopened for takeaway orders, but bars and ice cream parlours

will remain shut. The use of public transport is being discouraged and

everyone will have to wear masks in indoor public spaces.

GermanyÂ’s state premiers will agree on measures to further ease coronavirus

restrictions in a teleconference with Chancellor Angela Merkel scheduled for

Wednesday. The state premiers are expected to give the green light for large

shops to reopen, probably from May 11, the sources said.

German states are also set to allow the Bundesliga soccer league to resume

matches, probably from May 15, under strict conditions without fans in

stadiums.

Spain made face masks mandatory on public transport starting Monday, two

days after finally allowing people out to exercise freely after a 48-day

lockdown.

Slovenia, Poland and Hungary joined Germany in allowing public spaces and

businesses to partially reopen.

PAKISTAN TO LIFT NATIONWIDE LOCKDOWN GRADUALLY: PM IMRAN

Pakistan PM Imran Khan said on Monday that the nationwide lockdown will be

lifted gradually, asserting that Pakistan cannot afford an indefinite

closure, hours after 1,083 new infections were diagnosed, taking the

countryÂ’s total confirmed COVID-19 cases past 20,000.

Khan addressed a ceremony to launch the Corona Relief Tiger Force, a

controversial youth organisation he set up to help the government in

identifying the poor to provide help to them.

“We are thinking of gradually easing the lockdown in the coming days,” he

said, adding that Pakistan cannot afford an indefinite closure. The current

lockdown period will end on May 9.

Khan said that the Corona Relief Tiger Force was not a political group but a

volunteer force to help strike a balance between saving people from the

virus and saving them from hunger and unemployment. He added that the

volunteers will also monitor the ‘Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme’ and give

the centre feedback.

“If you see hoarding anywhere, don’t take action yourself but tell the

administration. They will take action,” he said, adding that the volunteers

will not get any salary for their involvement in distribution of cash to the

people.

The opposition parties criticised the decision of mobilizing youth as a

politically motivated move to launch the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf

supporters into political activities.

THE REST

========

J&K: THREE CRPF MEN KILLED IN MILITANT ATTACK IN HANDWARA

Three CRPF men were killed after militants opened fire on their troop in

Wangam of North KashmirÂ’s Handwara on Monday evening. The fresh attack comes

just a day after five security personnel were killed in a gunfight with

militants that stretched on for over eight hours in the region on Saturday.

The security forces also recovered the body of a boy, a civilian, from the

shootout site. A CRPF official said that the boy, who was present nearby,

died in the “cross-firing”.

“Three personnel of 92 Bn CRPF attained martyrdom,” Srinagar based CRPF

spokesperson said on Monday evening. Soon after the firing, the area was

cordoned off and a manhunt was launched to nab the attackers. The troops

were also deployed to ensure that law and order remained in place, said

officials.

Affairs said.

INDIANS STRANDED ABROAD TO BE BROUGHT BACK FROM MAY 7 IN PHASES

Stating that the government will facilitate the return of Indians stranded

abroad on “compelling grounds”, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday said

the process will start from May 7 in a phased manner.

“The travel would be arranged by aircraft and naval ships. The Standard

Operating Protocol (SOP) has been prepared in this regard,” said a statement

from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The statement further said that the passengers will be medically screened

before taking the flight. Only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to

travel. During the journey, all passengers will have to follow protocols,

such as the Health protocol, issued by the Ministry of Health and the

Ministry of Civil Aviation.

On reaching the destination, everyone will have to register on the Aarogya

Setu app. After scrutiny, they will be quarantined for 14 days, either in a

hospital or in an institutional quarantine on payment-basis, by the state

government concerned. Covid-19 tests will be done after 14 days and further

action will be taken according to health protocols.

In a presentation shared with states during a meeting chaired by Cabinet

Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Sunday, the Centre gave state-wise breakups of

people wanting to return to India and asked them to ready quarantine and

testing facilities for them. In the MEAÂ’s presentation, it was estimated

that of the 1 crore people who are currently abroad on an Indian passport,

about 1,92,000 in dire need may be brought back in socially-distanced

flights, that they themselves pay for, once the states are ready with their

protocols. This, provided they have proof of being Covid-19 negative.

CENTRAL TEAM RED-FLAGS BENGAL

The Inter-Ministerial Central Team that visited Kolkata, Howrah and certain

other districts in West Bengal, to check its coronavirus preparation, has

said that at 12.8 per cent, the state has the highest mortality rate among

Covid-19 patients in the country, and accused it of low testing, weak

surveillance and discrepancies in reporting cases.

Headed by Ministry of Defence Additional Secretary Apurva Chandra, the team

completed its two-week tour of West Bengal on Monday, sending the above as

“Final Observations of the IMCT” in a letter addressed to state Chief

Secretary Rajiva Sinha.

With West Bengal changing protocol since April 30 to reflect all Covid-19

patients in daily statistics and death certificates, the IMCT praised this

as well as the increase in the daily testing in the state from 400 to 2,410,

but flagged the non-cooperation of the state bureaucracy. Yet to submit its

final report to the Centre, it urged the state to take its suggestions “in

the right spirit”.

MAHARASHTRA MOVES SC, SAYS ARNAB BROWBEATING INVESTIGATORS

The Maharashtra government has approached the Supreme Court, accusing

Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami of “browbeating” investigators by

“creating fear psychosis”.

An FIR was filed against Goswami in connection with a news show on April 21

in which he posed questions to Congress president Sonia Gandhi regarding the

lynching of sadhus in Palghar.

The petition, filed on May 2, has sought a direction “to insulate the

investigating agency from any pressure, threat and coercion” and to enable

it to carry out its obligations in a “fair and transparent manner” and to

restrain Goswami from “abusing the interim protection” granted by the court.

The plea has referred to a show on Republic TVÂ’s Hindi channel and said

“statement on his debate… are aimed at browbeating, terrorizing and

intimidating the investigating officer”.

Accusing Goswami of abusing his position as a journalist, it said, “…he has

repeatedly used his position as well as his channel to make unjustified and

unwarranted disparaging, ridiculing, false (as per record) and

DRDO LAUNCHES UV DISINFECTING TOWER FOR HIGH INFECTION PRONE AREAS

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an

Ultra Violet (UV) disinfection tower for rapid and chemical free

disinfection of high infection prone areas.

The equipment named ‘UV blaster’ is a Ultra Violet sanitiser designed and

developed by Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC), the Delhi-based

premier laboratory of DRDO with the help of a private company in Gurugram.

The UV Blaster is useful for high-tech surfaces like electronic equipment,

computers and other gadgets in laboratories and offices that are not

suitable for disinfection with chemical methods.

The product is also effective for areas with large flow of people such as

airports, shopping malls, metros, hotels, factories, offices, etc.

RIGHTS ISSUE CREDIT POSITIVE FOR RELIANCE; TO RESULT IN DEBT REDUCTION:

MOODYÂ’S

MoodyÂ’s Investors Service on Monday said Reliance IndustriesÂ’ rights issue

is credit positive as earnings will decline because of economic shutdowns.

Last week, Reliance announced it will raise Rs. 53,100 crore through a

rights equity offering.

“This is in line with the company’s target to reduce its net debt to zero by

March 31, 2021. The proceeds from the rights issue will reduce RILÂ’s net

debt by about USD 7.8 billion and is credit positive,” Moody’s said in a

note.

Along with the previously announced asset sales to Facebook, Inc and BP Plc,

RIL expects to generate net proceeds of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore, which will

reduce its net debt by the same amount.

INDICATORS

Sensex 31,715 (-2002), Nifty 9,293 (-566), Trading Value NSE ,(Rs.crores)

48,433

Nasdaq 8,711 (+106) Dow 23,750 (+26), S&P 2,843 (+12)

US$-Rs. 75.00 GBP-Rs. 93.29, Euro-Rs. 81.93, UAE Dhm-Rs.20.41, Can$-Rs.

53.17, Aus$- Rs. 48.05

GBP 0.80 /US$, Euro 0.91 /US$, Jap.Yen 106.77 /US$, Aus$ 1.56 /US$, Sing

1.41 /US$, Bang Taka 83.13 /US$, Can$ 1.41 /US$, Mal Ring 4.31 /US$,

Pak Re 159.08 /US$, Phil Peso 50.62 /US$, Russian Rouble 75.15 /US$, NZ$

1.65 /US$, Thai Baht 32.39 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 26.64 /US$, Norway NOK

10.38 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 7,093

Dollar Index 99.45 Brent Crude 28.39 BDI 617

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,698 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 4,631 /

4,531, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 41,220

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted. - Martin

Luther King Jr

OFF TRACK

This year I entered the Mumbai 10k run. The race started and immediately I

was the last of the runners. It was embarrassing.

The guy who was in front of me, second to last, was making fun of me. He

said, "Hey buddy, how does it feel to be last?"

I replied: "You really want to know?" Then I dropped out of the race.