PM NARENDRA MODI PAYS EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE TO COVID VICTIMS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid an emotional tribute to over 2.91 lakh Indians who have succumbed to Covid-19.

Addressing doctors and officials of his parliamentary constituency Varanasi through video-conference yesterday, the PM choked up at the mention of lives lost to the pandemic. “Covid-19 has snatched several loved ones from us. I pay my humble tributes to each one of them and extend my condolences to their families,” he said, taking a long pause to gather his composure.

Hailing frontline and health staffers for Covid fight, the PM urged zero vaccine wastage and gave a new slogan to fight the pandemic — “Jahan Bimar Wahan Upchar”. “Bringing treatment to the patient’s doorstep will reduce the burden on the health system,” the PM said.

JAISHANKAR IN US NEXT WEEK ON VACCINE MISSION FOR INDIA AND NEIGHBOURS

Faced with a massive shortage of vaccines in a raging second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic, the Government is sending External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the US next week to meet top officials and vaccine manufacturers to firm up deals for supply.

President Joe Biden announced five days ago that the US will begin shipping 20 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-vaccines to needy countries by June-end, in addition to 60 million shots of AstraZeneca.

There is no clarity yet on the distribution details but India is likely to be one of the beneficiaries. AstraZeneca’s vaccine, which is being manufactured and distributed in India as Covishield, has not yet been authorised for use in the US with several irregularities coming to the fore at the Baltimore plant where it is made along with the J&J vaccines.

Recently, Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen had reached out to Jaishankar for lobbying with the US in this regard. Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives have also been asking for vaccines.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said: “In New York, he (Jaishankar) is expected to meet UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. In Washington DC, he will hold discussions with his counterpart US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He will also be meeting Cabinet members and senior officials of the administration dealing with the bilateral relationship.”

The External Affairs Minister will also engage in two interactions with business forums on economic and Covid-related cooperation between India and the US, the statement said.

KEY COVID NUMBERS

Current Active Cases Countrywide: 29,20,021

New Cases in last 24 hours: 2,54,325

Recovered in last 24 hours: 3,53,116

Change in no. of Active cases in last 24 hours: -1,02,934

No. of deaths in last 24 hours (Total Covid Deaths so far): 4,143 (2,95,508)

Daily Tests: 20,61,683

Daily Positivity Rate (Proportion of Positives among total Tested): 12.6%

Most Affected States:

(S. No. / State / No. of Active Cases / New Cases in last 24 Hrs / Deaths in Last 24 Hrs)

1          Karnataka                     5,14,238           /           32,218  /           353

2          Maharashtra     3,67,121           /           29,644  /           1,263

3          Kerala              3,06,357           /           29,673  /           142

4          Tamil Nadu       2,74,629           /           36,184  /           467

5          Andhra Pradesh            2,09,156           /           20,937  /           104

6          West Bengal     1,32,181           /           19,847  /           159

7          Rajasthan                     1,31,806           /           6,225    /           129

8          Uttar Pradesh   1,06,276           /           7,682    /           172

9          Odisha             98,557  /           12,523  /           27

10        Gujarat             84,421  /           4,251    /           65

11        Chhattisgarh     76,446  /           4,943    /           96

12        Madhya Pradesh           67,625  /           4,384    /           79

13        Punjab              63,470  /           5,253    /           172

14        Uttarakhand      63,373  /           3,626    /           116

15        Haryana                       54,397  /           5,643    /           112

16        Assam              52,816  /           6,066    /           81

17        JnK                  49,893  /           3,848    /           43

18        Bihar                49,311  /           5,154    /           98

19        Telangana                    44,395  /           3,464    /           25

20        Delhi                35,683  /           3,009    /           252

21        Himachal Pradesh         31,519  /           2,662    /           57

22        Jharkhand        24,499  /           2,151    /           46

23        Goa                  19,328  /           1,625    /           30

24        Puducherry       17,936  /           1,702    /           26

25        Meghalaya        6,861    /           828       /           25

26        Tripura             6,844    /           863       /           2

27        Manipur                        6,298    /           656       /           15

28        Chandigarh       5,675    /           406       /           14

29        Nagaland                      4,588    /           309       /           13

30        Sikkim              3,183    /           317       /           3

COVID-19 VAX AVAILABILITY TO SEE EXPONENTIAL RISE IN COMING MONTHS: VARDHAN

India will be in a position to vaccinate at least all of its adult population by the end of 2021, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Friday.

At a meeting to review the pandemic situation in nine states and union territories, the minister said, "Between August and December 2021, India will have procured 216 crore vaccine doses, while by July this year, 51 crore doses will be procured."

Vardhan touched upon the speculation that the virus might mutate in future and endanger children, and said that the health facilities are being upgraded to deal with any such exigency, according to a health ministry statement.

Vardhan also cautioned against the emerging trend in the country. He highlighted that now the smaller states are showing an upward trend and there is a dire need to be extremely cautious, the statement said.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

PALESTINIANS SEE VICTORY IN GAZA CEASEFIRE, ISRAEL WARNS HAMAS

Palestinians rallied by the thousands on Friday after a ceasefire took effect in the latest Gaza war, with many viewing it as costly but clear victory for the Islamic militant group Hamas. Israel vowed to respond with a “new level of force” to any further hostilities.

The 11-day war left more than 200 dead — the vast majority Palestinians — and brought widespread devastation to the already impoverished Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. But the rocket barrages that brought life to a standstill in much of Israel were seen by many Palestinians as a bold response to perceived Israeli abuses in Jerusalem, the emotional heart of the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned against further attacks, saying, “If Hamas thinks we will tolerate a drizzle of rockets, it is wrong.” He vowed to respond with “a new level of force” against aggression anywhere in Israel. The Israeli leader, who has faced criticism from his hawkish base for ending the offensive prematurely, said Israel had done “daring and new things, and this without being dragged into unnecessary adventures”.

He added that Israeli forces had caused “maximum damage to Hamas with a minimum of casualties in Israel”. Israeli strikes killed more than 200 militants and hit more than 100 km of militant tunnels, Netanyahu said.

President Joe Biden on Thursday pledged humanitarian and reconstruction aid for Gaza as he hailed a deal to end 11 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas that tested his negotiating skills and exposed him to criticism from fellow Democrats.

COVID DEATHS MAY BE DOUBLE, TRIPLE THE OFFICIAL TALLY: WHO

Deaths from Covid-19 and Covid-related causes are likely to be two to three times the number that countries have recorded in their official data, the WHO said on Friday. Some 6 million to 8 million people may’ve now died from Covid-19 or its effects since the start of the pandemic, compared with 3.4 million deaths recorded in countries’ official reporting, Dr. Samira Asma, assistant director of the WHO’s data division, said.

The WHO also estimates that at least 3 million people may have died from Covid-19 in 2020, compared with1.8 million recorded in official data, the WHO reported in annual statistics released on Friday.

The WHO based its assessment on a statistical model that estimates the excess deaths attributable to Covid-19. The technique involves taking the total number of officially recorded deaths and then subtracting the number of deaths that would have been expected on the basis of previous mortality trends. On that basis, the WHO said it estimated that 1.1 million to 1.3 million people in 53 European countries died from Covid-19 in 2020, roughly double the number recorded in official data. It also calculates that, over the same period, 1.3 million to 1.5 million people died in 35 countries in the Americas, compared with the 9,00,000 deaths officially recorded.

The discrepancy between the WHO’s estimates and official data underscores the limited capacity of many nations to test their populations for the coronavirus and other weaknesses in health data.

THE REST

=========

THREATEN TO INTENSIFY STIR: FARM LEADERS WRITE TO PM TO RESUME TALKS

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of farmer unions protesting against the Centre’s three agricultural laws at Delhi borders now for almost six months, Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his “immediate intervention” to resume talks.

In an email, the SKM said, “Mr Prime Minister, this letter is to remind you that, as the head of the government of the largest democracy in the world, the onus of resuming a serious and sincere dialogue with the farmers lies with you.”

In the email, coming exactly four months after the last round of talks between the government and farm leaders, on January 22, SKM leaders reiterated their demand for repeal of the three farm laws, and threatened to intensify their stir if they did not get a “positive response” for resumption of talks by May 25.

All nine leaders of the SKM are signatories to the letter, including Balbir Singh Rajewal, Darshan Pal, Gurnam Singh Chadhuni, Hannan Mollah, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Shiv Kumar Kakka, Yogendra Yadav and Yudhvir Singh. The email is copied to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Prakash, who represented the government in earlier talks with farm leaders.

In the email to the PM, the SKM leaders say, “This is to reiterate that we remain firm on our core demands: repeal of the three anti-people Farm Acts and legal guarantee for every farmer securing MSP (@C2+50%, besides protecting farmers from the adverse impact of the proposed Electricity Bill.”

Warning they might intensify the agitation, they say, “We do not wish to distract the government at this juncture, even though the hardship we face is mounting every day… But if we do not have a constructive and positive response from your government by 25th of this month, we shall be constrained to announce a further intensification of our struggle in the next phase, beginning with the national day of protest on the 26th of May.”

In all, 11 rounds of talks have been held between the Centre and the farm leaders, without a breakthrough.

WHY'S COVID MORTALITY SO HIGH, IF CASES ARE DECLINING, ASKS CHIDAMBARAM

Congress veteran P Chidambaram yesterday asked why there were deaths over 4,000 a day if cases were indeed declining. “Is it because of lack of proper medical care because of shortage of oxygen, medicines, ventilators, hospital beds, etc? The Medical experts who are giving numerous interviews should answer the following questions: When the number of daily fresh infections has come down from 4 lakh+ to 2.5 lakh+, why is the number of deaths still above 4000 per day?” Chidambaram asked.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan responded: “Such a travesty! Political compulsions forcing P Chidambaram to raise such questions. By order of toolkit party I am sure. Certainly he’s privy to general knowledge that time duration between contracting COVID19 and recovery/mortality mostly exceeds a few weeks!”

JUDGES SPLIT ON BAIL TO TMC LEADERS, LARGER BENCH WILL DECIDE

With a two-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court differing on whether to vacate its stay on bail to four Trinamool leaders arrested in the Narada case, the court on Friday ordered that the leaders be held in house arrest.

The court also announced a larger, five-judge bench would hear the matter.

Triamool leaders Firhad Hakim, Subrata Mukherjee, Madan Mitra and Sovan Chatterjee have been in judicial custody since their arrest by the CBI on Monday in the Narada case. While the CBI special court had on Monday granted bail to the four leaders, hours later, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Arijit Banerjee of the Calcutta High Court had put a stay on the bail order.

On Friday, as the court assembled virtually, Justice Banerjee said that there was a difference of opinion between the two judges and that he was in favour of granting interim bail to the accused. At this, the Acting Chief Justice said he was in favour of house arrest. In view of this difference of opinion, the court held that the matter would be referred to a larger bench and in the meantime, the four accused would be sent to house arrest.

DOCTRINE OF IMPOSSIBILITY: SC STAY ON ALLAHABAD HC COVID ORDER

The Supreme Court Friday stayed the May 17 order of the Allahabad High Court asking the UP government to consider a series of Covid measures after the state contended that most of the directions were “unrealistic” and “incapable of being performed in the timelines granted”.

An apex court vacation bench of Justices Vineet Saran and B R Gavai said High Courts should consider the possibility of execution of their directions, and they may not be passed if they cannot be implemented. “The doctrine of impossibility is equally applicable to courts,” the bench said.

When the UP government pointed to suggestions in the May 17 order on vaccine manufacture, the bench stated that when the Supreme Court hears matters with national and transnational ramifications, High Courts should avoid passing orders on them.

However, the bench rejected a prayer to direct that Covid-related matters in various High Courts be heard by a bench comprising the respective Chief Justices. “We will not pass sweeping orders…we cannot demoralise the High Courts. We have balanced our order,” the bench said.

The bench, while appreciating the efforts of High Courts to take up Covid issues, said: “…however, while dealing with such matters and the concerns the Courts may have for patients and general public and anxiety of Courts to give utmost relief to those suffering, sometimes, unwittingly the Courts overstep and pass certain orders that are not capable of being implemented”.

DROP ‘MANIPULATED’ TAG FROM TOOLKIT TWEETS: CENTRE TO TWITTER

The controversy around the alleged Covid-19 toolkit of the Congress raged on Friday with the Centre asking Twitter to drop “manipulated media” label from BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra’s post that accused the Congress research department of developing a toolkit to defame India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over pandemic management and subsequent retweets of the said post by some ministers and leaders.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT has written to Twitter demanding that the label be withdrawn as the case and the veracity of the BJP claims and counter claims is still under investigation.

An FIR has been registered in the matter with the government sources today said Twitter’s advance tagging of the Patra post looked like an attempt to prejudge and prejudice the pending probe into the matter by an authorised Indian law enforcement agency.

On Thursday, Congress had complained to Twitter against Patra’s post which was retweeted by BJP president JP Nadda, minister Smriti Irani and BJP leader BL Santosh. The Congress social media head in a letter to Twitter has asked for permanent suspension of Twitter accounts of BJP leaders and ministers and sought action following which Twitter tagged Patra’s post as manipulated media.

NOW W BENGAL BRACES FOR A CYCLONE

West Bengal Minister of Power Aroop Biswas on Friday met Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation officials to review preparations for Cyclone Yaas, which is likely to hit the Bengal coast on May 26.

The minister said adequate arrangements were being made to prepare for the aftermath of the cyclonic storm. Biswas said transformers and electric poles were being kept ready since cyclonic storms tend to affect the electric supply.

Last May, the city and several districts in south Bengal were without electricity for a long stretch of time after cyclone Amphan left a trail of devastation.

This time, the state government is preparing to combat the post-cyclone situation. A control room that will function round the clock will be opened on May 25 to supervise and monitor the cyclone situation.

RBI OKAYS TRANSFER OF RS 99K CR SURPLUS TO GOVT

The RBI yesterday decided to transfer Rs 99,122 crore as surplus to the exchequer, a move that will help the government to channelise more resources to combat the second wave of pandemic.

The decision to transfer the surplus amount for the accounting period of nine months ended March 31, 2021, was taken at a meeting of the central board of the RBI, held through video-conferencing, under the chairmanship of Governor Shaktikanta Das. The surplus is commonly called ‘dividend’.

The accounting year of the RBI is truncated as it has aligned its July-June accounting year with the government’s April-March fiscal year. The RBI had followed a July-June financial year since 1940, when it moved away from a January-December financial year. The RBI also decided to maintain a Contingency Risk Buffer at 5.50 per cent in line with recommendations of the Jalan committee report.

AIR INDIA SERVERS HACKED; PASSENGERS' PASSPORT, CREDIT CARD DATA LEAKED

Air India's passenger service system provider SITA faced a sophisticated cyberattack in February leading to leak of personal data of certain number of the national carrier's flyers, an official statement said on Friday.

Personal data -- including name, date of birth, contact information, passport information, ticket information and credit card data -- which was registered between August 11, 2011, and February 3, 2021, has been leaked of a certain number of Air India's passengers, the statement issued by the airline said.

"While we and our data processor continue to take remedial actions...We would also encourage passengers to change passwords wherever applicable to ensure the safety of their personal data," it said.

INDICATORS

Sensex 50,540 (+976), Nifty 15,175 (+269), Trading Value NSE (Rs.crores) 75962.62

Nasdaq 13,471 (-65) Dow 34,208 (+124), S&P 4,156 (-3)

US$-Rs. 72.87 GBP-Rs. 103.29, Euro-Rs. 88.94, UAE Dhm-Rs.19.83, Can$-Rs. 60.39, Aus$- Rs. 56.46

GBP 0.70 /US$, Euro 0.81 /US$, Jap.Yen 108.83 /US$, Aus$ 1.29 /US$, Sing 1.33 /US$, Bang Taka 83.31 /US$, Can$ 1.20 /US$, Mal Ring 4.13 /US$,

Pak Re 153.15 /US$, Phil Peso 47.88 /US$, Russian Rouble 73.50 /US$, NZ$ 1.39 /US$, Thai Baht 31.33 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 27.31 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 37,938

Dollar Index 90.01 Brent Crude 60.44  BDI 2,869

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,881 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 4,700 / 4,600, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 76,400

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The only thing that walks back from the tomb with the mourners and refuses to be buried is the character of a man. This is true. What a man is survives him. It can never be buried. - J.R. Miller

OFF TRACK

Smith went on a date in a brand new Range Rovers Sport ride with his new girlfriend of 1 month.

Smith: I have been hiding a secret from you and I think you'll break up with me if I tell you the truth.

Girl : What is that my love ?

Smith: Am already married and have 3 kids.

Girl: (Pat him on the lap and hissed) You scared the hell out of me... I thought you wanted to say this beautiful car is not yours.