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Away from her child, migrant worker bursts into tears

New Delhi, May 15 (ANI): As uncertainty looms over their work due to coronavirus lockdown and no signs of hope in the near future, migrant labourers decided to head back to their native places on foot. However, they were stopped by police at Delhi-UP Border. While talking to media persons, a migrant worker burst into tears. "We will walk and go home on foot, please don't stop us. If you can't provide a transport, let us walk home. My child is in Jhansi, he is crying continuously, I want to go back to him," said a migrant worker. "We will try to get them vehicles to reach their native places," said a police official. Despite Shramik special train services, many migrants remain stranded in different states.

Coronavirus lockdown: Assumed to be dead, Uday returns home after 3 years

Chhatarpur (Madhya Pradesh), May 15 (ANI): A boy from Dilwari village in Chhatarpur, named Uday, who was assumed dead after he went missing three years ago, has returned home amid coronavirus lockdown. Uday said, "I fled to Delhi as some people were trying to falsely accuse me in a theft case. I am happy to be back." The family, who lost hope of getting their son back, is now feeling thrilled.

'Difficult to sustain without money', say Maharashtra auto drivers enroute to native places

Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh), May 15 (ANI): India's lockdown has made it difficult for auto drivers to meet their ends. Group of auto drivers from Maharashtra decided to leave the state due to lack of work. An auto driver said, "I'm without work for last 2.5 months. It's difficult to sustain without money. So, I'm returning to Ranchi, Jharkhand with my family."

Portals of Badrinath shrine reopen

Chamoli (Uttarakhand), May 15 (ANI): The portals of Badrinath Temple reopened at 4:30am on May 15 morning. 28 people including the Chief Priest were present at reopening of the temple. Meanwhile, Prime Minister sent his prayer request to the priest of Badrinath Temple. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi sends me prayer request, this is the first prayer request we receive at Badrinath Temple today after reopening," said the priest of Badrinath Temple, Bhuwan Chandra Uniyal. District Magistrate of Chamoli, Swati S Bhadauria said, "The gate of Badrinath shrine were reopened in the presence of permitted people, however tourists are not allowed in the state due to lockdown till May 17."

Speech-generated droplets and COVID-19 transmission

New Delhi, May 15 (ANI): Researchers report that airborne droplets produced through speech could be a potentially significant mode of COVID-19 transmission. Recent experiments have shown that speaking produces thousands of oral fluid droplets per second. The droplets can harbour respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. Philip Anfinrud, Adriaan Bax, and colleagues used laser light scattering to examine the small-sized droplets that can linger in the air for minutes after exiting the mouth and that have been implicated in airborne disease transmission. Based on the rates at which droplets disappeared from the field of view, the authors estimated an average terminal velocity corresponding to a particle diameter of approximately 4 um. Because speech-generated droplets rapidly shrink to an estimated 20-34% of their original size due to water evaporation once they become airborne, the observed 4 um particles would initially have been emitted as 12-21 um droplets. Speaking generated about 2,

Kolkata's idol making hub 'Kumartuli' facing hardships amid COVID-19

Kolkata (West Bengal), May 15 (ANI): The renowned idol making hub of northern Kolkata is facing hardships amid coronavirus lockdown. Kumartuli is a traditional potters' quarter in northern Kolkata of West Bengal. The city is known for its sculpting prowess, which not only manufactures clay idols for various festivals but also exports them in various countries. There are total 2290 confirmed cases of coronavirus in West Bengal. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 active cases rose to 49,219 with 2549 deaths in India.

COVID-19: Entrepreneur turns factory into PPE making workshop to help medical staff

Baramulla (JandK), May 15 (ANI): As the coronavirus pandemic hit across globe, the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for doctors and other front line healthcare workers has made news everywhere. An entrepreneur is providing PPE kits to the medical staff in JandK's Baramulla district. Mohd. Muzzafar Baba has transformed his garment factory into a PPE kit making workshop. He manufactures ready-made garments especially school uniforms for students. The entrepreneur hails from Sopore town of Baramulla. Currently, four employees are working in the factory in order to maintain the norm of social distancing. While speaking to ANI, Mohammad Muzzafar Baba said, "There was very less quantity of protective gears available in various hospitals along with other supplies. I thought to put my efforts in providing materials and started making kits." There are total 971 confirmed cases of coronavirus in JandK. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of CO

COVID-19: PM Modi interacts with Bill Gates via video conferencing

New Delhi, May 15 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates via video conferencing on May 14. The dignitaries discussed global response to COVID-19. They also discussed about the importance of global coordination on scientific innovation and RandD to combat COVID-19 pandemic. PM Modi underlined the conscious approach that the India has adopted in its fight against the health crisis-an approach based on ensuring public engagement through appropriate messaging. He appreciated health related work being done by Gates Foundation not only in India but also in many other parts of world, including for coordinating global response to COVID-19.

Google adding tab grouping feature to Chrome

New Delhi, May 15 (ANI): Search engine giant Google is adding a new tab grouping feature to Chrome, the company announced on Wednesday. If you want to try the feature now, Google says it's available in the latest Chrome Beta and will be rolling out more broadly to the desktop versions of Chrome next week, The Verge reported. The user can make a group by right-clicking on one tab and assigning it a custom name and colour. Then, they'll see the colour of the group under all of the tabs included in the group. The netizen can also drag tabs from group to group if they want to change how it is organised.

Several states aren't giving permission for 'shramik special' trains which pains me: Railways Minister

New Delhi, May 15 (ANI): While speaking to ANI in the national capital on May 14 amid COVID-19 outbreak, the Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal spoke on 'shramik special' trains. He said, "It pains me that several states such as West Bengal, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are not giving enough permission for 'shramik special' trains to enter their states." "West Bengal first gave permission for only two trains, but after Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote to state Chief Minister then announcement was made that eight more trains will be allowed. But until today (May 14) afternoon, only 5 out of those 8 trains were allowed by the WB government," Piyush Goyal added. "I once again appeal to West Bengal Government, instead of allowing 105 trains in 30 days, please give permission for 105 trains every day. We will send back all the migrant labourers of WB who want to go back home," the Railways Minister further stated.

COVID-19: Financial measures announced by FM Sitharaman will boost economy, says Railways Minister

New Delhi, May 15 (ANI): While speaking to ANI in the national capital on May 14 amid COVID-19 outbreak, the Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal spoke on economic relief package. He said, "I think all measures announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 14 will give a big boost to the economy and help us bring back economy on track." "It will help different segments of society to make a fresh start and get back their work into fast track lane once again," the Railways Minister added.

COVID-19: Migrant workers walk on foot in MP to reach home town

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), May 15 (ANI): A group of migrant workers was seen walking on foot in Madhya Pradesh amid coronavirus pandemic. They were walking towards their homes amid lockdown 3.0. Migrant workers were walking despite harsh summer in order to reach to their native places. While speaking to ANI, one of the migrant workers said, "We started walking from Indore day before yesterday, there is no vehicle. We are going to Chhindwara." There are total 4173 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 active cases rose to 49,219 with 2549 deaths in India.

Vande Bharat Mission: Air India's special flight arrives in Hyderabad from Kuala Lumpur

Hyderabad (Telangana), May 15 (ANI): Air India Express special flight landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Telangana's Hyderabad. The flight carrying around 117 passengers came from Kuala Lumpur. Repatriation flight Air India AI 1385 came at around 10:12 pm on May 14. The stranded Indian nationals across the globe are being brought back to their home country under Centre's Vande Bharat Mission. There are total 1367 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Telangana. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 active cases rose to 49,219 with 2549 deaths in India.

Vande Bharat Mission: 1st flight in Odisha lands from Dubai

Bhubaneswar (Odisha), May 15 (ANI): Air India Express special flight landed at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI) in Odisha's Bhubaneswar on May 14. The flight carrying around 149 passengers came at around 09:15 pm from Dubai. The stranded Indian nationals across the globe are being brought back to their home country under Centre's Vande Bharat Mission. While speaking to ANI, one of the passengers said, "I am from Odisha and stay in Cuttack district. We went to Dubai and got stuck over there. I am very happy and want to thank Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and Dharmendra Pradhan." There are total 538 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Odisha. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 active cases rose to 49,219 with 2549 deaths in India.

Deep Dive with AKB: Govt's Rs 20-trn package to fight Covid-19 slump

How large Modi’s economic package really is? From where will the govt get the money to finance it? What did the PM really imply when he spoke of ‘Atma-nirbhar’ Bharat? Let’s take a Deep Dive with AKB to understand.

COVID-19: Govt to launch affordable rental housing scheme for migrant workers

New Delhi, May 14 (ANI): Central government to launch affordable rental housing scheme for migrant workers or urban poor in the view of coronavirus pandemic. While addressing a press conference on May 14, Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman said, "Government to launch a scheme for affordable rental housing for migrant workers/urban poor to provide ease of living by converting government funded housing in cities into Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) under PPP mode through concessionaire."

'One Nation One Ration Card' will ensure national portability by Mar 2021: FM Sitharaman

New Delhi, May 14 (ANI): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 14 announced that "One Nation One Ration Card" will be implemented and will cover 67 crore beneficiaries in 23 states covering 83% of PDS (Public Distribution System) population will be covered by national portability by August 2020.

COVID-19: 7,200 new self-help groups formed in last two months, says FM Sitharaman

New Delhi, May 14 (ANI): Union Finance Minster, Nirmala Sitharaman on May 14 informed that 7,200 new self-help groups (SHGs) for urban poor (including migrant workers) have been formed during COVID-19 critical period, in last two months. "12,000 self-help groups (SHGs) have produced more than 3 crore masks and 1.2 lakh litres of sanitisers during COVID-19 period. 7,200 new SHGs for urban poor (including migrant workers) have been formed during the last two months," said Sitharaman.

Govt actively enrolling returnee migrant workers in MNREGA: Nirmala Sitharaman

New Delhi, May 14 (ANI): While briefing the economic package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 12, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Day 2 in Delhi said, "We have already generated 14.62 crore person-days of work till 13th May, which is 40-50% more persons enrolled as compared to last May. Migrant workers who are going back to their states are being actively enrolled in MNREGA." Finance Minister unveiled the first tranche of the Rs 20 lakh crore on May 13.

FM Sitharaman announces Rs 5,000 crore special credit for supporting 50 lakh street vendors

New Delhi, May 14 (ANI): Nirmala Sitharaman on May 14 announced relief measures for street vendors who have been hit hard by the COVID-19 lockdown. Sitharaman said the government will start a special credit line worth Rs 5,000 crore which will benefit about 50 lakh street vendors who had to shut their shops since the imposition of coroanvirus-induced lockdown.