India

New Delhi, Apr 14 (PTI) The World Health Organization on Tuesday lauded "India's tough and timely actions" against the coronavirus spread as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of current lockdown till May 3.

Bengaluru, Apr 14 (PTI): The Karnataka labour department has directed private sector employers in the state not to lay off workers and pay them wages on the due date without any deduction during the lock down.

"The labour department has issued a circular directing the private sector employers to abstain from layoffs or unpaid leaves during this countrywide lockdown.

Palghar, Apr 14 (PTI) Three persons were arrested for allegedly storing used N-95 masks worth over Rs 50 lakh at a residential locality in Vasai town of Maharashtra's Palghar district, police said on Tuesday.

At least 25,000 used N-95 masks worth Rs 51.34 lakh were seized from a house in Gadgapada area of Virar in Vasai, inspector Sidhhava Jaibhaye of the local crime branch said.

Mumbai, Apr 14 (PTI) A mosque in suburban Sakinaka area of Mumbai is offering meals to around 800 labourers who have lost their jobs because of lockdown.

It is also providing ration of rice and pulses to people in nearby localities, said Maulana Atif Sanabali of the Jama Masjid Ahle Hadis, located on Khairani road.

Kochi, Apr 14 (PTI) The Indian Navy's Naval Aircraft Yard here has developed a smart evacuation pod for evacuation of COVID-19 patients safely from remote areas such as islands and ships.

The indigenously designed and fabricated an Air Evacuation Pod (AEP) will help the evacuation team to safely shift coronavirus-infected persons from ships and islands in a fully sealed patient transfer capsule.

NEW DELHI, April 14 (NNN-BERNAMA) — India on Tuesday extended the nationwide shutdown to contain the coronavirus until May 3 as the number of infections crossed 10,000.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the measure was needed to stop the pandemic’s spread to new areas and urged people to maintain discipline during the lockdown that would keep 1.3 billion people indoors.

The lockdown was initially announced for 21 days starting March 25, but many Indian states were in favour of continuing it for some more time.

KANPUR: Complete lockdown has been effective in different areas of Jajmau. During the morning time, people's activity and movement remain visible. Medicine shops, petrol pumps, mobile recharge kiosks are opened. On the roads,  vegetable vendors along with fruits sellers also appear.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the world’s largest coronavirus lockdown on Tuesday to head off the epidemic’s peak, with officials racing to make up for lost time as the caseload crossed 10,000.

Modi ordered India’s 1.3 billion people to continue to largely stay inside until May 3, but said some restrictions away from infection hotspots would be eased on April 20 to help poor people dependent upon daily wages.

New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking quashing of the decision to set up the PM CARES Fund, where people can donate money, to deal with the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde described the PIL filed by lawyer M L Sharma as "misconceived" and dismissed it in a hearing conducted through video conferencing.

Mumbai, Apr 13 (PTI) An Australian doctor arrested in November last year for alleged possession of drugs has approached Bombay High Court seeking bail claiming he is working towards medicinal use of cannabis.

Reza Borhani, in his plea, said he should be granted bail in view of directions passed by the Supreme Court on the temporary release of inmates to reduce jail crowding in view of the coronavirus outbreak.