PM MODI TO TAKE AERIAL SURVEY OF BENGAL TODAY AS TOLL RISES TO 72

Cyclone Amphan weakened Thursday, a day after tearing through West Bengal

where 72 people were killed . The fiercest cyclone to hit West Bengal in 100

years destroyed mud houses and crops, and uprooted trees and electric poles.

It also wreaked havoc in Odisha damaging power and telecom infrastructure in

several coastal districts. Odisha government officials estimated that the

cyclone has affected around 44.8 lakh people in the state.

"So far as per the reports we have received, 72 people have died in the

state due to Cyclone Amphan. Two districts-North and South 24 Pargana-are

completely devastated. We have to rebuild those districts from scratch. I

would urge the Central government to extend all help to the state," Chief

Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters after conducting a review meeting

with officials. "I have never witnessed such a fierce cyclone and

destruction in my life. I would request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come

and visit Cyclone Amphan-affected areas."

The chief minister also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh

for the family members of each of the deceased.

The extent of the structural damage caused by Cyclone Amphan is evident from

visuals of airport hangars in Kolkata collapsing and water inundating

runaways.

The Prime Minister said no stone will be left unturned in helping those

affected by the cyclone. "Have been seeing visuals from West Bengal on the

devastation caused by Cyclone Amphan," he tweeted. In this challenging hour,

the entire nation stands in solidarity with West Bengal, he said.

The Indian Meteorological Departmnt (IMD) said the cyclone has weakened

significantly and moved to Bangladesh where 10 people have been killed.

Senior state officials said it was too early to estimate a toll on life or

damage to property as the hardest hit areas were still not accessible.

There was a massive power cut in large parts of Kolkata, North 24 Paraganas

and South Paraganas. The mobile and internet services were also down as the

cyclone had damaged several communication towers. Streets and homes in low

lying areas of Kolkata were swamped with rainwater.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bengal today to review the aftermath

of cyclone that wrecked the state.

'INACCURATE': MEA ON CHINA'S CHARGE THAT INDIAN TROOPS TRESPASSED BORDER

Reacting on the recent flare-up of border tensions between India and China,

the Ministry of External Affairs Thursday rejected China's allegations that

Indian troops crossed over to the Chinese side of the frontier in Ladakh and

Sikkim. It asserted that "all Indian activities are entirely on the Indian

side of the Line of Actual Control".

The MEA's response came after China claimed that the Indian Army had

"entered Chinese soil on the Baijing and Lujin duan section of the

Sino-Indian border, obstructing the normal patrol of Chinese border troops,

and was "attempting to unilaterally change the status quo of border

territory".

"Any suggestion that Indian troops had undertaken activity across the LAC in

the Western Sector or the Sikkim sector is not accurate," MEA spokesperson

Anurag Srivastava said. "Indian troops are fully familiar with the alignment

of the LAC in the India-China border areas and abide by it scrupulously."

INDIA NOW HAS 5TH HIGHEST NO. OF ACTIVE CASES

India's COVID-19 tally crossed 1.16 lakh on Thursday with more than half of

it getting reported in just about a fortnight amid large-scale movement of

migrants in special trains and arrival of stranded Indians and expatriates

from abroad. The government, however, stressed that the mortality rate in

India has remained less than half of the global average of 6.65 per cent.

The nationwide death toll due to the deadly virus infection has neared 3,500

with a mortality rate of about 3 per cent, while more than 47,000 have

recovered so far. At least 15 other countries have recorded more deaths than

India so far.

However, India's tally of active cases at over 65,000 is now the fifth

largest in the world after the US, Russia, Brazil and France.

While India is the 11th worst-hit in terms of the number of overall cases

detected so far, some of the 10 most affected countries now have fewer

active cases than India and those include Spain, Italy, Germany, Turkey and

Iran.

'DEMARCATE ZONES PROPERLY, ENFORCE NIGHT CURFEW': MHA TO STATES

Indicating that states were not notifying zones for Covid-19 containment

properly, the Ministry of Home Affairs has written to them, to strictly

follow Ministry of Health and Family Welfare directives in the matter.

It has also told states that its lockdown guidelines are being violated and

emphasised the need to strictly enforce night curfew.

The letter comes in the backdrop of reports that in some states,

particularly Delhi, while cases have been rising, containment zones have

been decreasing.

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

(Indian data from covid19india / and World Data from

worldometers.info/coronavirus/ )

Total Cases 1,18,219 (+6,198) / 51,94,210 (+1,08,706)

Total Deaths 3,584 (+150) / 3,34,621 (+4,890)

Total Recovered 48,553 (+3,131) / 20,80,966 (+59,300)

Active Cases 66,082 (+2,917) / 27,78,623 (+44,516)

Serious / Critical Cases (Not Available) / 45,620 (-182)

Top impacted nations so far: (And some of India's Neighbours)

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

1 USA 16,20,902 / 96,354 / 291

2 Russia 3,17,554 / 3,099 / 21

3 Brazil 3,10,921 / 20,082 / 95

4 Spain 2,80,117 / 27,940 / 598

5 UK 2,50,908 / 36,042 / 531

6 Italy 2,28,006 / 32,486 / 537

7 France 1,81,826 / 28,215 / 432

8 Germany 1,79,021 / 8,309 /

99

9 Turkey 1,53,548 / 4,249 / 50

10 Iran 1,29,341 / 7,249 / 86

11 India 1,18,226 / 3,584 / 2.6

19 Pakistan 48,091 / 1,017 / 4.8

28 Bangladesh 28,511 / 408 / 2.5

102 Sri Lanka 1,055 / 9 / 0.4

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

Deaths)

State / Confirmed Cases / Active Case / Recovered /

Deceased

Maharashtra 41,642 / 28,462 / 11,726 /

1,454

Tamil Nadu 13,967 / 7,590 / 6,282 /

95

Gujarat 12,910 / 6,649 / 5,488 / 773

Delhi 11,659 / 5,898 / 5,567 / 194

Rajasthan 6,227 / 2,591 / 3,485 /

151

Madhya Pradesh 5,981 / 2,866 / 2,844

/ 271

Uttar Pradesh 5,515 / 2,173 / 3,204 /

138

West Bengal 3,197 / 1,745 / 1,193 /

259

Andhra Pradesh 2,605 / 846 / 1,705

/ 54

Punjab 2,028 / 170 / 1,819 / 39

Bihar 1,987 / 1,407 / 571 / 9

Telangana 1,699 / 618 / 1,036 /

45

Karnataka 1,605 / 992 / 571 /

41

Jammu and Kashmir 1,449 / 745 / 684 /

20

Odisha 1,103 / 703 / 393 / 7

Haryana 1,031 / 336 / 681 /

14

Kerala 691 / 177 / 510 / 4

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

US SENATE PASSES BILL TO DELIST CHINESE COMPANIES FROM AMERICAN STOCK

EXCHANGES

The US Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation Wednesday that could lead

to Chinese companies such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Baidu Inc. being

barred from listing on U.S. stock exchanges amid increasingly tense

relations between the world's two largest economies.

The bill was approved by unanimous consent and would require companies to

certify that they are not under the control of a foreign government.

U.S. lawmakers have raised red flags over the billions of dollars flowing

into some of China's largest corporations, much of it from pension funds and

college endowments in search of fat investment returns. Alarm has grown in

particular that American money is bankrolling efforts by the country's

technology giants to develop leading positions in everything from artificial

intelligence and autonomous driving to internet data collection.

Shares in some of the biggest U.S.-listed Chinese firms, including Baidu and

Alibaba, slid Thursday in New York while the broader market gained.

If a company can't show that it is not under such control or the Public

Company Accounting Oversight Board isn't able to audit the company for three

consecutive years to determine that it is not under the control of a foreign

government, the company's securities would be banned from the exchanges.

OPEN SKIES TREATY: US TO WITHDRAW FROM ARMS CONTROL DEAL

The US has announced it will withdraw from a major accord that permits

unarmed aerial surveillance flights over dozens of participating countries.

The Open Skies Treaty came into force in 2002 and is designed to boost

confidence and assure against attacks.

But senior US officials said the country was withdrawing due to repeated

Russian violations of its terms.

US President Donald Trump later said there was a "very good chance we'll

reach a new agreement" with Russia.

"I think we have a very good relationship with Russia, but Russia didn't

adhere to the treaty," Mr Trump said on Thursday, adding: "Until they adhere

we will pull out."

The US will formally withdraw from the accord in six months, officials said.

CHINA'S NEW PLAN FOR HONG KONG HAS TRUMP FUMING

China is set to impose new national security legislation on Hong Kong after

last year's pro-democracy unrest, a Chinese official said on Thursday,

drawing a warning from President Donald Trump that Washington would react

"very strongly" against the attempt to gain more control over the former

British colony.

The US State Department also warned China, saying a high-degree of autonomy

and respect for human rights were key to preserving the territory's special

status in US law, which has helped it maintain its position as a world

financial centre, the Reuters reported.

China's action could spark fresh protests in Hong Kong, which enjoys many

freedoms not allowed on the mainland, after often violent demonstrations of

2019 plunged the city into its deepest turmoil since it returned to

Beijing's rule in 1997.

THE REST

========

LIMITS ON AIR FARES SET IN 7 BANDS AS PER FLIGHT DURATION: AVIATION MINISTER

A day after announcing the government's decision to allow the resumption of

domestic air services from May 25, after a two-month halt owing to the

COVID-induced lockdown, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on

Thursday said, only one-third of the normal summer schedule flights would be

permitted to operate, for which the routes had been divided into seven

sections for the purpose of fare control.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said: "For example, a

Delhi-Mumbai (the busiest domestic route) flight tickets will have to be

priced between Rs 3,500 and 10,000 for the next three months, and at least

40 per cent of the seats should be sold at a price, which should not be more

than the mean value of the price band."

Limits on airfares have been set in seven bands as per the flight durations

and they would be in place till August 24, said Civil Aviation Minister

Hardeep Singh Puri, on Thursday.

"All stakeholders, such as airlines, airports have cooperated. So, we took

the decision to resume flights from May 25," Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep

Singh Puri added.

On the issue of compulsory institutional quarantine of passengers after they

reach their destination, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said it

was not feasible as not only the number of flyers were less, but all

precautionary measures were in place before they board a plane for travel.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also clarified that given the

experience the Ministry had gathered while operating flights under the

'Vande Bharat Mission', there was no proposal to keep the middle seat

vacant.

Meanwhile, in a set of detailed guidelines, the Ministry advised the

vulnerable people such as the elderly, pregnant women and the passengers

battling health issues to avoid air travel till the COVID-19 pandemic

abates. People residing in the containment zones will also not be allowed to

travel.

All passengers will have to provide their medical details through the

Aarogya Setu app or by filling up a self-declaration form. They will have to

go for web-check-in as physical check-in counters in airports will not

operate.

FIR AGAINST SONIA GANDHI OVER CONGRESS' TWEETS ABOUT PM-CARES FUNS

An FIR was filed against Gandhi in Karnataka over some tweets made from the

party's official Twitter handle that were alleged to be "spreading rumours"

and "misleading the public" with regard to the PM-CARES fund.

According to the complainant, advocate K V Praveen from Sagar, Shivamogga,

the Congress, in a series of tweets made from the handle @INCIndia on May 11

after 6 pm, made "baseless" and "false" allegations against Prime Minister

Narendra Modi and the Government of India.

Hours after the FIR, the Congress leadership in Karnataka dubbed the

complaint "mischievous"and demanded the BJP-led state government to withdraw

the same. The Congress party alleged that the complaint had a political

motive to cause unrest in the country. According to the party leaders, the

tweets were intended to force the Prime Minister to use the PM CARES fund

for the welfare of the people. "Unfortunately, this was misinterpreted by

the BJP leadership and it has instigated Praveen Kumar (complainant) to file

the complaint against Sonia Gandhi, based on false information and without

examining its truthfulness," a letter written to the state Chief Minister

Yediyurappa mentioned.

President of the Karnataka unit of the Indian National Congress D K

Shivakumar also urged CM Yediyurappa to register an FIR against the police

officer who registered the complaint and suspend him from his duties.

A GIRL WHO CYCLED 1200 KM CARRYING FATHER OFFERED TRIAL BY CYCLING

FEDERATION

Jyoti Kumari, a 15-year-old girl whose story went viral on social media last

week after it emerged that she had cycled 1200 km from Gurugram to Bihar

over eight days with her ailing father in tow, has been offered a trial by

the Cycling Federation of India.

Fearing that they would soon be turned out by their landlord from their

Gurugram lodgings, a tenacious Jyoti had asked her injured father to sit on

the rear side carrier of her cycle as she pedalled home. "Amid the gloomy

situation, Jyoti suggested that we return home. I pointed out that we would

not be able to find any trains or buses and my condition would not allow me

to walk. She said we should get a bicycle," her father had said.

Cycling Federation of India Chairman Onkar Singh told PTI on Thursday that

if Kumari, a class eight student, passes the trial, she will be selected as

a trainee at the state-of-the-art National Cycling Academy at the IGI

Stadium complex in New Delhi.

"We spoke to the girl this morning and we have told her that she will be

called to Delhi next month as soon as the lockdown is lifted. All the

expenses of her travel, lodging and other will be borne by us," Singh said.

SHIVLING, BROKEN IDOLS FOUND AT RAM JANMABHOOMI SITE: TEMPLE TRUST

A "Shivling" and other relics have been discovered during excavation work at

Ram Janmabhoomi complex in preparation for construction of the proposed

temple.

Ramjanmabhoomi Teerath Kshetra Trust on its official twitter handle said

that other objects of archaeological importance discovered include "flowers

made of stone", "Kalash", "Aamalak", "Dorjamb", and seven and six pillars of

Black Stone and Red Stone, respectively.

The Trust was constituted by the Union government in line with the verdict

of the Supreme Court to oversee the construction and management of the Ram

Temple.

IN JIO'S 5TH BIG DEAL IN A MONTH, KKR PICKS UP 2.32% STAKE FOR RS 11,367 CR

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on Friday announced that KKR will invest

Rs 11,367 crore in Jio Platforms. This transaction values Jio Platforms at

an equity value of Rs 4.91 trillion and an enterprise value of Rs 5.16

trillion.

KKR & Co. Inc. is an American global investment firm and this investment

will translate into a 2.32 per cent equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully

diluted basis.

Over the last month, leading technology investors, such as, Facebook, Silver

Lake, Vista, General Atlantic and KKR have announced aggregate investments

of Rs 78,562 crore into Jio Platforms.

Jio Platforms is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited.

AMAZON FORAYS INTO FOOD DELIVERY, SETS UP DIRECT FIGHT WITH SWIGGY, ZOMATO

E-commerce giant Amazon has announced its entry into online food delivery in

India, even as the country is still going through the lockdown to contain

the Covid-19 pandemic.

Amazon Food, the service, was launched on Thursday in areas with select pin

codes in Bengaluru while the company is learnt to be mulling scaling it up

to other cities in the near future.

Customers are now allowed to order from select restaurants and cloud

kitchens that have passed the company's hygiene certification bar, it said.

Amazon's foray into food delivery puts it in direct competition with

established local players including Tencent-backed Swiggy and Alibaba-backed

Zomato.

GRAEME SMITH BACKS SOURAV GANGULY TO BE NEXT ICC CHIEF

Graeme Smith, former South Africa captain and Director of Cricket of the

present team, on Thursday made a strong call for India's Sourav Ganguly to

be the next chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Smith said that he believed Ganguly is the right person to lead the game at

a time of crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. "It is very important to

have the right person as head of the ICC. Post-Covid, cricket will need

strong leadership and it is time for someone close to the modern game with

leadership credentials to get into the position," said Smith.

"It would be great to see a cricket man like Ganguly to get into the role of

the ICC president. That will be good for the game. He understands the game,

he has played at the highest level and he is respected," Smith said.

INDICATORS

Sensex 30,933 (+114), Nifty 9,106 (+40), Trading Value NSE ,(Rs.crores)

46,596

Nasdaq 9,285 (-91) Dow 24,474 (-102), S&P 2,949 (-23)

US$-Rs. 74.98 GBP-Rs. 91.61, Euro-Rs. 82.20, UAE Dhm-Rs.20.41, Can$-Rs.

53.80, Aus$- Rs. 49.24

GBP 0.81 /US$, Euro 0.91 /US$, Jap.Yen 107.68 /US$, Aus$ 1.52 /US$, Sing

1.41 /US$, Bang Taka 83.27 /US$, Can$ 1.39 /US$, Mal Ring 4.34 /US$,

Pak Re 160.19 /US$, Phil Peso 50.60 /US$, Russian Rouble 70.97 /US$, NZ$

1.63 /US$, Thai Baht 31.80 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 26.38 /US$, Norway NOK 9.93

/US$

Bitcoin - USD 9,095

Dollar Index 99.52 Brent Crude 35.30 BDI 477

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,728 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 4,721 / 4,621

Silver (Rs. Per KG) 48,200

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The fewer data needed, the better the information. And an overload of

information, that is, anything much beyond what is truly needed, leads to

information blackout. It does not enrich, but impoverishes. - Peter

F.Drucker

OFF TRACK

During the latter years of his life, Albert Einstein was one of the most

lionized of men. Once at a party, the hostess led him to the window and

pointing to the sky said, "I can spot Venus. It always shines like a

beautiful woman."

"I'm sorry, " said Einstein, "but the star you're pointing at is Jupiter."

"Oh, Dr. Einstein," exclaimed the hostess, "you're just wonderful. You can

tell the sex of a star so far away!"