INDIA COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO SURGE

With the highest one-day national surge of 6,634 new coronavirus disease

(Covid-19) cases, India on Sunday overtook Iran to become the 10th biggest

hot spot of the pathogen, which has rapidly swept the globe.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the country doubled over the course of 13

days, even as graded relaxations in the fourth phase of the national

lockdown were likely to push up the contagion over the coming days.

Concerns, however, are rising in India, where new cases showed another

record jump on Sunday, going past 6,000 for the third straight day as the

two-month lockdown eased. States with relatively few cases have seen spikes

in recent days as residents, including migrant workers travelling in special

trains, have returned home.

According to worldometers, India currently has 8,944 serious/critical cases.

This number was not available earlier. Only US, at 17,134, has more

serious/critical cases than India.

THERE WILL BE NO DELAY IN SUPPLY OF RAFALE JETS TO INDIA: FRANCE

.

There will be no delay in delivery of 36 Rafale jets to India as the

timeline finalised for the supply of the fighter jets will be strictly

respected, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain has said.

France is reeling under swelling cases of coronavirus infection and there

were apprehensions that the delivery of Rafale jets could be delayed due to

the pandemic. However, Lenain asserted that the original timeline for the

delivery of the jets will be adhered to.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh received the first Rafale jet at an airbase

in France on October 8.

India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September

2016 for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs

58,000 crore.

INDIA-CHINA FOREIGN OFFICES DOWNPLAY LAC DISAGREEMENTS

The Foreign Offices of India and China have so far sought to underplay

recent disagreements between their border troops at several places along the

Line of Actual Control.

A 90-minute press conference by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday

covered a number of topics but did not touch the LAC question which has been

dominating the Indian social media and TV channels.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) here issued two statements on the

incidents in one week – on May 14 and 21 – which is unusual. While

expressing resolve to stand the ground and blaming Chinese troops for

obstructing usual Indian patrols, the statements expressed hope in the

existing mechanisms for sorting out troops disagreements.

Wang at his press conference had two options if he wanted to flag the LAC

flashpoints. He could have made a suo motu statement, as he did on Hong Kong

for instance or, the Chinese Foreign Office could have sounded out a

resident Indian newsperson to query Wang about the tensions on the border.

“That Wang chose neither option suggests that either the incidents are not

grave enough in BeijingÂ’s security calculus or it is occupied with other

pressing matters,” said a China watcher.

The MEA too has declined to be drawn in over reports that have given varying

accounts of the incursions.

At the same time, India and China are locked in a tense military posture at

three separate points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern

Ladakh.

The series of protocols ensured that the two sides knew which were disputed

sections of the LAC and decided upon conduct of troops in disputed areas.

The 3,488-km LAC running all along the Himalayan ridgeline in un-demarcated

and has several points which are disputed. The perception of where the LAC

runs varies by several km at certain places and troops of either side patrol

in these disputed sections.

These incidents fly in the face of the 2005-inked “protocol on modalities

for implementation of confidence building measures in the military field

along the LAC in the India-China border areas”. The mandate of the agreement

is: “Neither side shall use force or threaten to use force against the

other.” It also calls upon both sides to stop their activities (like

patrols) in the disputed area and not advance any further. On coming

face-to-face troops unfurl a banner at each other asking to back off the

present positions of patrolling.

There are some 400-500 such banner drills done annually and in this case the

system has not worked.

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

(Indian data from covid19india / and World Data from

worldometers.info/coronavirus/ )

Total Cases 1,38,527 (+7,112) / 54,98,577 (+94,598)

Total Deaths 4,024 (+156) / 3,46,688 (+2,713)

Total Recovered 57,692 (+3,307) / 23,02,004 (+54,774)

Active Cases 76,811 (+3,649) / 28,49,885 (+37,111)

Serious / Critical Cases 8,944 (N.A.) / 53,223 (-339)

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

Country, Total Cases / Total Deaths / Active Cases /

Serious-Critical Case

1 USA 16,86,436 / 99,300 /

11,35,434 / 17,135

2 Brazil 3,63,618 / 22,716 /

1,90,991 / 8,318

3 Russia 3,44,481 / 3,541 /

2,27,641 / 2,300

4 Spain 2,82,852 / 28,752 /

57,142 / 854

5 UK 2,59,559 / 36,793 / N/A

/ 1,559

6 Italy 2,29,858 / 32,785 /

56,594 / 553

7 France 1,82,584 / 28,367 / 89,600

/ 1,655

8 Germany 1,80,328 / 8,371 /

11,657 / 889

9 Turkey 1,56,827 / 4,340 / 33,793

/ 769

10 India 1,38,536 / 4,024 /

76,820 / 8,944

11 Iran 1,35,701 / 7,417 /

22,483 / 2,615

19 Pakistan 54,601 / 1,133 / 36,270

/ 111

24 Bangladesh 33,610 / 480 / 26,229

/ 1

100 Sri Lanka 1,141 / 9 / 458

/ 1

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

Deaths)

State / Confirmed Cases / Active Case / Recovered /

Deceased

Maharashtra 50,231 / 33,996 / 14,600 /

1,635

Tamil Nadu 16,277 / 7,841 / 8,324 /

112

Gujarat 14,063 / 6,793 / 6,412 / 858

Delhi 13,418 / 6,617 / 6,540 / 261

Rajasthan 7,028 / 3,017 / 3,848 /

163

Madhya Pradesh 6,665 / 2,967 / 3,408

/ 290

Uttar Pradesh 6,268 / 2,569 / 3,538 /

161

West Bengal 3,667 / 2,056 / 1,339 /

272

Andhra Pradesh 2,780 / 883 / 1,841

/ 56

Bihar 2,574 / 1,861 / 702 / 11

Karnataka 2,089 / 1,391 / 654 /

42

Punjab 2,060 / 122 / 1,898 / 40

Telangana 1,854 / 709 / 1,092 /

53

Jammu and Kashmir 1,621 / 791 / 809 /

21

Odisha 1,336 / 779 / 550 / 7

Haryana 1,184 / 403 / 765 /

16

Kerala 848 / 322 / 520 / 6

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

CHINA WARNS US, SAYS BEING PUSHED TO 'BRINK OF NEW COLD WAR';

China on Sunday accused the US of pushing the bilateral ties to the brink of

a "new Cold War" by spreading "lies" about the coronavirus and said it was

open to international efforts to identify the source of the deadly virus.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said the lawsuits filed against China in the

US demanding compensation for Covid-19 is an attempt to blackmail a victim

with fabricated evidence. Under constant attack from US President Donald

Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over the origin of the coronavirus

and failure to provide timely information, Wang launched a broadside against

Washington in his annual press conference.

He accused American politicians of spreading "political virus" to smear

China. "It is the most regrettable that while the coronavirus is still out

there, a 'political virus' is also spreading in the US and jumping at any

opportunity to attack and slander China," he said in a video media

conference on the sidelines of China's annual session of the National

People's Conference (NPC).

"Some political forces in the US are taking China-US relations hostage and

pushing our two countries to the brink of a new Cold War," Wang said. Some

politicians ignored the basic facts and made up countless lies and

conspiracy theories concerning China. "The longer the list, the more it says

about how low the rumour-mongers are willing to go and the more stains they

will leave in history," Wang, who is also the State Councillor, said.

HONG KONG COPS FIRE TEAR GAS AT SECURITY LAW PROTESTERS

The Hong Kong police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands

who, in defiance of curbs imposed to contain Covid, gathered on Sunday to

protest against Beijing's plan to directly impose national security laws on

the city.

In return of the unrest that roiled the financial hub last year, crowds

thronged the bustling shopping area of Causeway Bay, where chants of "Hong

Kong independence, the only way out," and other slogans echoed through the

streets.

To Communist Party leaders, calls for independence for the Chinese-ruled

city are anathema, and the proposed new national security framework stresses

Beijing's intent "to prevent, stop and punish" such acts. As dusk fell,

sporadic standoffs broke out between police and demonstrators in the bar and

nightlife district of Wan Chai near the heart of the business district.

The security laws have also sent a chill through financial markets and drawn

a rebuke from foreign governments.

THE REST

========

SOMBRE EID CELEBRATIONS AMID COVID

With major pre-Eid shopping hubs staying shut, the people on Sunday appeared

to be readying themselves for a subdued and sombre celebration of the

festival, striving to “connect hearts” instead of embracing each other.

Despite the missing tell-tale signs of a boisterous festivity, people did

not appear to be complaining and seem headed to celebrate the Eid in a new

light and spirit.

LucknowÂ’s prominent Muslim cleric Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali,

while asking people to celebrate Eid while staying at home, appealed to them

to spend half of their celebration budget with the poor and needy.

Shia cleric Maulana Yasoob Abbas too echoed Maulana MahaliÂ’s sentiments.

“The best Ramzan ever: Limited delicacies, no iftaar parties and no Eid

shopping. Wow...isnÂ’t this the right way to rejoice this holy month every

year? We all should feel blessed that for the first time, we got the

opportunity to actually celebrate Ramzan and not indulge in distractions to

show off on Eid,” said Uzma Talha, a Lucknow-based freelance writer in a

post. “We should not feel that this pandemic has dampened the spirit of

Eid,” she said, adding “we must thank this month of Ramzan” for imparting us

a “spiritual experience in a difficult phase” making us all “to strive to

become more humane, compassionate, kinder & selfless”.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS RESUME TOMORROW: HERE ARE THE RULES FOR PASSENGERS IN

DIFFERENT STATES

With domestic passenger flights have resume today after a hiatus of two

months due to the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, confusion prevailed on

Sunday as different states imposed their own set of conditions on reopening

airports.

On Sunday evening, Civil Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted: “It

has been a long day of hard negotiations with various state govts to

recommence civil aviation operations in the country. Except Andhra Pradesh

which will start on 26/5 & West Bengal on 28/5, domestic flights will

recommence across the country from tomorrow.”

Despite being vocal against resumption of domestic flights, Maharashtra bit

the bullet and allowed Mumbai airport to handle 50 domestic flights (25 take

offs and 25 landings) per day.

After the Centre announced the resumption of services, many states had

expressed reservations. Most states have announced their respective

quarantine measures for passengers arriving at their airports. These range

from 14 days of institutional quarantine, to part institutional and part

home quarantine to just home quarantine. There are some exemptions for

people coming in for urgent short visits, provided they bring a very recent

Negative Test report. Some states have stricter quarantine protocols for

passengers coming from states with higher prevalence of infections.

GUIDELINES ISSUED FOR INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Sunday made it

mandatory for stranded Indians arriving from abroad to check into an

institutional quarantine for 14 days at their own expense followed by seven

days of home isolation.

Specifying guidelines for the international arrivals, the ministry said that

before boarding, all the travellers would have to give an undertaking that

they would stick to the above rule to ensure least chances of transmission.

Exceptions will be given in a few cases — human distress, pregnancy, death

in family, serious illness and parents accompanied by children below 10

years of age. They will be asked to self-isolate at home for 14 days.

On Saturday, Union Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the ministry

will try to start some percentage of international passenger flights well

before August this year. “We will try to start a good percentage of

international passenger flights before August,” he said. However, evacuation

of Indians in foreign countries would go on under Vande Bharat Mission.

UDDHAV THACKERAY: SUDDEN LOCKDOWN WAS WRONG, WILL BE EQUALLY WRONG TO LIFT

IT IN ONE GO

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said that a sudden lifting of

lockdown regulations would be detrimental for the fight against Covid-19

pandemic. He also took a swipe at the economic package announced by the

Centre, stating that many a times, fancy looking packages turn out to be

nothing but hollow promises.

In a televised speech to the state, Uddhav said: “It was wrong to impose the

lockdown suddenly. It will be equally wrong to lift it in one go. We need to

be careful while removing restrictions as we try to restore normalcy.”

Uddhav also took a swipe at the Centre over its reluctance in operating

trains for migrants before announcing the lockdown. “We had been asking for

trains from the Centre before the lockdown was implemented. We had told them

that we would bear the cost, as the migrants were keen on returning home.

Unfortunately, for some reason, the permission was denied. Trains were

started only after the dangers increased.

YOGI ADITYANATH: STATES WILL HAVE TO SEEK NOD BEFORE EMPLOYING UP WORKERS

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said states seeking to employ

migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh in the future will need to take his

governmentÂ’s permission.

Adityanath, addressing a webinar, said, “Now, if any state needs manpower,

the UP government will give the manpower social security. We will give them

insurance and security. But, without our permission, our people cannot be

taken by other states. Because the kind of treatment that was meted out [to

UP residents]. Seeing that, we have taken the peopleÂ’s social security in

our hand.”

The Chief Minister said that the government will carry out skill mapping of

the migrant workers and will stand by them wherever they go, be it other

states or countries.

COMPASSIONATE SUGGESTIONS AND A DANGEROUS IDEA

Some of the renowned economists and activists of the country have come

together to propose a seven-point plan of action to deal with the economic

and humanitarian crisis brought about due to Covid-19.

These experts have recommended that the government provide free health care

for all Covid-19 patients, along with a three-month interest waiver on loans

taken by farmers, small business and homebuyers, apart from enhancing job

guarantees. Then there are suggestions on free food grains and pulses,

support to MSMEs, and a MNREGA like provision for urban poor.

Economists behind the 7-point charter include former Planning Commission

member Abhijit Sen, Former Chief Economic Advisor Deepak Nayyar, R Nagaraj,

from the Indira Gandhi Insititute of Development Research, Prof Pranab

Bardhan, and Jean Drèze, among others.

Social activists Rajmohan Gandhi, Ramachandra Guha, Ganesh Devy, EAS Sarma,

Harsh Mander, Nikhil De, Admiral Ramdas, Lalita Ramdas, and Yogendra Yadav,

among many others, also endorsed the plan.

But what raised the hackles of many concerned citizens is their suggestion

to the govt to do “whatever it takes” to raise resources for these

initiatives. “All the resources (cash, real estate, property, bonds, etc)

with citizens or within the nation must be treated as national resources

during this crisis,” the economists said.

Yogendra Yadav, one of the signatories to the statement, later clarified

that the suggestion to treat all private assets as national resources had

been wrongly interpreted as nationalisation of private property. That, he

said, was far from the intended import of the recommendation. The government

should explore emergency measures to raise resources beyond the usual taxes

and levies to cope with the problem of funding large relief packages, he

said.

‘RED ALERT’ WARNING FOR HEATWAVE IN SEVERAL PARTS OF NORTH INDIA

With temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius-mark across parts in north

India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Sunday issued a “red”

warning for Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh and Rajasthan for the next

two days.

The IMD has also issued an orange warning for heatwave for east Uttar

Pradesh, Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of IMDÂ’s Regional Meteorological

Centre, said. He warned that temperatures could hit 47 degrees Celsius in

some parts over the next two-three days. This is also for the first time

this summer that a red warning has been issued for heatwave, Srivastava

said.

Nagpur Sonegaon (Vidarbha region) recorded the highest temperature of 46

degrees Celsius on Sunday. Apart from this, places in Bihar, Jammu and

Kashmir, Ladakh, East Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh saw more than 3

degrees Celsius rise in temperature.

OVERSEAS INVESTORS ONCE AGAIN STEP UP SELLING

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) are once again stepping on the gas when

it comes to pulling out of Indian markets. In the past fortnight, they have

yanked out $1.7 billion amid rising Covid-19 cases, despite multiple

lockdown extensions.

The two-week rolling average for daily flows is currently at (negative) —

$205 million — worst since March-end, when FII selling was at its peak due

to major global risk aversion.

Since mid-April, FPI investment rally had improved, following aggressive

stimulus measures announced by global central banks. While global liquidity

conditions are benign, experts say overseas investors are preferring to

invest in countries which have been more effective in combating Covid-19 and

with better stimulus measures.

So far in May, India is the worst-performing among major global markets,

with the benchmark Sensex down 10 per cent in dollar terms. In comparison,

Asian peers have fared much better. South Korea is down just 1.5 per cent,

Indonesia and Taiwan are down 2.5 per cent, while Thailand and Malaysia are

in the green.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in

getting money. – Samuel Johnson

OFF TRACK

A drunk is riding his bike through the city in the middle of the night when

a cop stops him. "So," says the cop to the rider, "where have you been?"

"I've been to the pub," slurs the drunk.

"Well," says the cop, "it looks like you've had quite a few."

"I did all right," the drunk says with a smile.

"Did you know," says the cop, "that a few intersections back, your wife fell

off your bike?"

"Oh, thank heavens," sighs the man. "For a minute there, I thought I'd gone

deaf."