Onset of southwest monsoon in Kerala likely to be delayed, to hit coast on 3 June, says IMD

New Delhi: The arrival of monsoon over Kerala is likely to be delayed by two days and it is now expected to make an onset over the state by 3 June, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday.

IMD Director General M Mohapatra said there is cyclonic circulation along the Karnataka coast which is hindering the progress of the southwest monsoon.

"The southwesterly winds could strengthen further gradually from 1 June, resulting in likely enhancement in rainfall activity over Kerala. Hence the monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to take place around 3 June," the IMD said.

Due to strengthening of lower level southwesterly winds, fairly widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy falls are very likely over northeastern states during next five days.

The normal onset date for monsoon over Kerala is 1 June. This marks the start of the four-month rainfall season for the country.

Earlier this month, the IMD had predicted the arrival of monsoon over Kerala by 31 May with an error margin of plus or minus five days. Monsoon is expected to be normal this year.

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Private jet from Delhi with Mehul Choksi's deportation documents has reached Dominica, confirms Antigua PM

A private jet carrying documents related to the deportation of Mehul Choksi has arrived from Delhi to Dominica, where he was caught while trying to flee to Cuba from Antigua.

The 62-year-old fugitive businessman,, wanted in a Rs 13,500 crore PNB loan scam, has been living in Antigua since 2018 after obtaining citizenship.

Setting speculation about Choksi's likely deportation to India where he is wanted in a bank loan fraud case, the Qatar Executive Bombardier Global 5000 (A7-CEE) took off from its base Doha and reached Delhi at 3.12 pm on Thursday.

Then 12 hours later it took left via Madrid Barajas Airport for Douglas-Charles Airport in Dominica.

Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft of Qatar Executive landed at the Douglas Charles Airport in Dominica; its arrival has raised questions about who it brought to Dominica and who will be leaving Dominica onboard: Antigua media

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2021

Asked about a private jet that arrived in Dominica on 28 May, Antiguan prime minister Gaston Browne confirmed it to a radio show in his country.

Browne told the radio show that the jet came from India carrying necessary documentation needed for deportation of the businessman, Antigua News Room reported, leading to speculations about deportation of Choksi who was detained in the Caribbean island nation after his mysterious disappearance from neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda.

"My understanding is that the Indian government has sent some documentation from the courts in India to confirm that Choksi is indeed a fugitive and my understanding is that the documentation will be utilised in the court hearing next Wednesday," he said.

On Sunday, ANI quoted Browne as saying that Choksi is deported to Antigua, he will continue to enjoy the legal and constitutional protections of citizenship.

He also requested neighbouring Dominica to deport the diamantaire to India.

"We respect the jurisdiction of the court over this matter. My request on behalf of the state, for Dominica to consider deporting Choksi directly to India, as a form of state cooperation to apprehend a fugitive, is perfectly acceptable," he added.

Browne indicated that Choksi will not have the same rights in Dominica as he has in Antigua and Barbuda, where he had been staying since 2018 after taking citizenship in 2017.

"If he is deported to Antigua, he will continue to enjoy the legal and constitutional protections of citizenship," Browne said.

The Dominica High Court has stayed the removal of Choksi from its soil and put a gag order on the developments till the matter is heard in an open court on 2 June.

Choksi has alleged that he was abducted from Jolly Harbour in Antigua and Barbuda by policemen looking like Antiguan and Indian and taken to Dominica.

Purported pictures of Choksi that have surfaced in Dominica shows him with red swollen eye and bruises on his hands.

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted for allegedly siphoning Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank using letters of undertaking.

While Modi is in a London prison after being repeatedly denied bail and is contesting his extradition to India, Choksi took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 using the Citizenship by Investment programme before fleeing India in the first week of January 2018. The scam came to light subsequently.

Both are facing a CBI probe.

With inputs from agencies

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BJP carrying out relief work amid COVID-19, while Opposition goes into quarantine, says JP Nadda

New Delhi: BJP president JP Nadda on Sunday said while his party workers and leaders have been carrying out relief work amid the coronavirus pandemic, the opposition parties have gone into quarantine.

Addressing party workers virtually on the seventh anniversary of the Narendra Modi dispensation at the Centre, the BJP chief said all party MPs, ministers and MLAs will serve people in at least two villages following COVID-19 protocols and lockdown guidelines to mark the occasion.

BJP workers standing with the people during the pandemic unlike the Opposition leaders who are only visible in virtual press conferences, he said.

BJP workers and leaders have been carrying out relief work amid the coronavirus pandemic, while the Opposition parties have gone into quarantine, he said.

Nadda said party workers in one lakh villages and hamlets are serving the needy to mark the occasion.

Targeting the Opposition parties, Nadda said those making a noise about COVID-19 vaccine now are the ones who earlier raised doubts about the jabs.

BJP workers is observing the anniversary as "Seva Diwas". In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BJP has decided not to celebrate the seventh anniversary of its government at the Centre, but instead organise relief works across the country.

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COVID-19 deaths, positivity rate in West Bengal less than first wave, claims Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that the average death rate due to COVID-19 and the positivity rate were much less now than what they were during the first wave of the pandemic last year.

Stating the West Bengal government has been able to vaccinate over 1.40 crore citizens, she claimed that the state is in the "No 1 position" in the country in terms of inoculating people.

Follow LIVE updates on COVID-19 here

"It is good news for us that the positivity rate has come down from 33 percent to 18 percent and it has become possible only because people abided by the strict restrictions imposed," she told reporters at the secretariat.

"The average death rate during the ongoing second wave is around 0.56 percent, much less than the figure of 1.67 percent during the first wave," she said.

On the inoculation of people, Banerjee said that if the Centre provides the state with three crore vaccine doses as demanded by her, one crore would be given to the private sector and the health department will use the rest in vaccinating people below 18 years.

"If we can use these two crore vaccines, I believe we will be able to cover 80 per cent of the population below 18 years," she said.

Meanwhile, West Bengal on Saturday registered 11,514 fresh Covid-19 cases taking the tally to 13,54,956, the bulletin released by the state health department said.

The toll rose to 15,268 after 148 more people succumbed to the disease, it said.

Altogether 18,774 recoveries were registered in West Bengal during the day, improving the discharge rate to 91.32 percent. So far, 12,37,290 people have been cured of the disease.

Accordingly, the number of active cases slipped to 1,02,398.

Out of the 148 deaths, 70 were due to comorbidities where Covid-19 was incidental.

The city accounted for 44 fresh fatalities while North 24 Parganas district reported 36 deaths. The remaining casualties were registered in several other districts of the state.

The new positive cases included 2441 from North 24 Parganas 1,735 from Kolkata.

Since Friday, 63,518 samples were tested for coronavirus in West Bengal, taking the total number of such examinations to 1,23,01,819, the bulletin said.

Altogether 2,67,010 people were vaccinated in the state on Saturday.

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COVID-19 lockdown: Haryana extends curbs till 7 June; malls to reopen, shops to follow odd-even rule

Chandigarh: The Haryana government on Sunday extended the coronavirus-induced lockdown in the state by another week till 7 June, easing restrictions on shop timings which will now be allowed to stay open from 9 am to 3 pm on odd-even days.

The state government termed the lockdown "Mahamari Alert/Surkshit Haryana (Epidemic Alert/Safe Haryana)".

Addressing a virtual press conference, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said even though the COVID-19 situation has improved in the state, it has been decided to extend the "Mahamari Alert/Surkshit Haryana" lockdown till 5 am on 7 June with some more relaxations.

He said shops which were earlier allowed to open as per odd-even basis from 7 am to 12 pm will now be open from 9 am to 3 pm.

"We had received representations from market associations after which we decided to change the timings. However, the shops will continue to open as per teh odd-even system," Khattar said.

Malls will now be allowed to open from 10 am to 6 pm, subject to certain conditions, he said.

Number of visitors allowed inside a mall will depend on the size of the structure, the chief minister added.

"For example, in a 1,000 square feet mall, 40 people will be allowed at a time, and if it has an area of 2,000 square feet, the number of people allowed at a given time will be 80," he said.

Those allowed entry can stay inside for a limited duration, and entry of others will be permitted based on how many are inside the mall at a particular time, Khattar added.

"Mall operators will have to come out with a mechanism for this, and they will have to take necessary permission from deputy commissioners concerned,” he said.

The daily “corona curfew” timing in the state will continue to be from 10 pm to 5 am, he added.

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COVID-19 vaccine: Centre assures 50% more allocation than May, says 12 crore doses will be supplied in June

New Delhi: Nearly 12 crore doses of coronavirus vaccine will be available in June, the Union health ministry said on Sunday. This is a 50 percent jump from the allocation in May, when 7.94 crore doses were available to states and union territories.

In a statement, the ministry said the allocation of supplies to states and union territories is decided on the consumption pattern, population and vaccine wastage.

"Visibility for availability of vaccines for the entire month of June 2021 has been provided well in advance to states/UTs," it said.

"For the month of June, 6.09 crore (6,09,60,000) doses of COVID vaccines will be supplied to the states and UTs for vaccination of priority group of Health Care Workers (HCWs), Front-Line Workers (FLWs) and person aged 45 years and above as free supply from Government of India," the ministry said.

"In addition, more than 5.86 crore (5,86,10,000) doses will be available for direct procurement by the state/UTs and private hospitals. Therefore, in June 2021 close to 12 crore (11,95,70,000) doses will be available for the national COVID vaccination programme," it said.

The ministry said the delivery schedule for this allocation will be shared with states in advance.

"States have been requested to direct the concerned officials to ensure rational and judicious utilization of allocated doses and minimize the vaccine wastage. The basic objective behind informing the states/UTs in advance of the quantum of free vaccine doses to be made available from Centre for 15/30 days and the total vaccine doses which are available for direct procurement by states/UTs is to ensure better planning and delivery of vaccine by states/UTs," it said.

For the month of May, 4,03,49,830 vaccine doses have been made available by the Union government to states.

In addition, 3,90,55,370 doses were available for direct procurement by the states as well as private hospitals in May.

"Therefore, in May, 2021, a total number of 7,94,05,200 doses were available for the national COVID vaccination programme," the ministry said.

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Class 12 Board Exams: CBSE, ICSE considering truncated tests and cancellation among other options

New Delhi: Keeping in mind the COVID-19 situation, the CBSE and CISCE are contemplating various options about the pending class 12 board exams, including cancellation and adopting alternative assessment route or going ahead with the exams in truncated format, according to sources.

"While majority states have favoured the option proposed by the CBSE about shorter duration exams for major subjects in August, the COVID-19 situation is still being reviewed and cancellation of exams and marking students on basis of previous exams is still an option," a source said.

Meanwhile, the CICSE board has asked its affiliated schools to submit average of marks obtained by class 12 students in class 11 and during this session.

While there is no clarity from board whether the exercise hints at possible cancellation of exams, schools have already started working to meet the 7 June deadline set by the board.

The Ministry of Education, however, maintained that nothing has been finalised yet and a final decision will be announced by 1 June. The minister has already stressed that safety of students is a priority but these exams are crucial too".

The Supreme Court will also hear on 31 May a plea seeking directions to cancel the class 12 exams of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) amidst the surge in COVID-19 cases across the country.

"Be optimistic. Maybe by Monday (31 May), some resolution will be there," a bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari told the petitioner in a hearing on Friday.

Amid continuing demands for cancellation of exams by a large section of students and parents, the ministry had called a high-level meeting last Sunday to deliberate on the issue which was also attended by state education ministers and education secretaries.

The CBSE had proposed two options -- conducting regular exams for only major subjects at notified centres or holding shorter-duration exams at the school where a student is enrolled.

The proposed timeline for conducting the exams was between July 15 to August 26 and declaring the results in September.

States were asked to submit detailed suggestions by 25 May.

Majority states opted for the second option which included conducting 90 minutes exams for major subjects at student's home schools.

Few states also insisted on vaccinating students before going ahead with the exams.

The CICSE which has been completely silent so far about its plan for the class 12 exams, sent out a letter to its affiliated schools on 27 May to submit average of marks obtained by class 12 students in class 11 and during this session.

"The CISCE is in the process of collating and collecting data from all our schools presenting candidates for class 12 examination. You are, therefore, requested to provide the requested information for class 12 candidates," CISCE Secretary Gerry Arathoon said in a letter to school principals marked as "strictly confidential".

The information sought by the board includes — the average marks of subjects scored by the candidates in class 11 (2019-20) and average marks of subjects scored in various tests and examinations conducted by the school during class 12 (2020-21).

There was no response from Arathoon about whether the exercise hits at alternative assessment instead of offline exams, affiliated schools, however, confirmed that they have received the letter.

Both the boards had postponed the class 12 exams scheduled in May-June in view of the aggressive second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

Both CBSE and ICSE had also cancelled class 10 exams.

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Centre assures COVID-19 vaccine supply of 12 crore doses in June, up by 50% from allocation in May

New Delhi: Nearly 12 crore doses of coronavirus vaccine will be available in June, the Union health ministry said on Sunday. This is a 50 percent jump from the allocation in May, when 7.94 crore doses were available to states and union territories.

In a statement, the ministry said the allocation of supplies to states and union territories is decided on the consumption pattern, population and vaccine wastage.

"Visibility for availability of vaccines for the entire month of June 2021 has been provided well in advance to states/UTs," it said.

"For the month of June, 6.09 crore (6,09,60,000) doses of COVID vaccines will be supplied to the states and UTs for vaccination of priority group of Health Care Workers (HCWs), Front-Line Workers (FLWs) and person aged 45 years and above as free supply from Government of India," the ministry said.

"In addition, more than 5.86 crore (5,86,10,000) doses will be available for direct procurement by the state/UTs and private hospitals. Therefore, in June 2021 close to 12 crore (11,95,70,000) doses will be available for the national COVID vaccination programme," it said.

The ministry said the delivery schedule for this allocation will be shared with states in advance.

"States have been requested to direct the concerned officials to ensure rational and judicious utilization of allocated doses and minimize the vaccine wastage. The basic objective behind informing the states/UTs in advance of the quantum of free vaccine doses to be made available from Centre for 15/30 days and the total vaccine doses which are available for direct procurement by states/UTs is to ensure better planning and delivery of vaccine by states/UTs," it said.

For the month of May, 4,03,49,830 vaccine doses have been made available by the Union government to states.

In addition, 3,90,55,370 doses were available for direct procurement by the states as well as private hospitals in May.

"Therefore, in May, 2021, a total number of 7,94,05,200 doses were available for the national COVID vaccination programme," the ministry said.

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Class 12 exams: CBSE, ICSE considering truncated tests and cancellation among other options

New Delhi: Keeping in mind the COVID-19 situation, the CBSE and CISCE are contemplating various options about the pending class 12 board exams, including cancellation and adopting alternative assessment route or going ahead with the exams in truncated format, according to sources.

"While majority states have favoured the option proposed by the CBSE about shorter duration exams for major subjects in August, the COVID-19 situation is still being reviewed and cancellation of exams and marking students on basis of previous exams is still an option," a source said.

Meanwhile, the CICSE board has asked its affiliated schools to submit average of marks obtained by class 12 students in class 11 and during this session.

While there is no clarity from board whether the exercise hints at possible cancellation of exams, schools have already started working to meet the 7 June deadline set by the board.

The Ministry of Education, however, maintained that nothing has been finalised yet and a final decision will be announced by 1 June. The minister has already stressed that safety of students is a priority but these exams are crucial too".

The Supreme Court will also hear on 31 May a plea seeking directions to cancel the class 12 exams of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) amidst the surge in COVID-19 cases across the country.

"Be optimistic. Maybe by Monday (31 May), some resolution will be there," a bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari told the petitioner in a hearing on Friday.

Amid continuing demands for cancellation of exams by a large section of students and parents, the ministry had called a high-level meeting last Sunday to deliberate on the issue which was also attended by state education ministers and education secretaries.

The CBSE had proposed two options -- conducting regular exams for only major subjects at notified centres or holding shorter-duration exams at the school where a student is enrolled.

The proposed timeline for conducting the exams was between July 15 to August 26 and declaring the results in September.

States were asked to submit detailed suggestions by 25 May.

Majority states opted for the second option which included conducting 90 minutes exams for major subjects at student's home schools.

Few states also insisted on vaccinating students before going ahead with the exams.

The CICSE which has been completely silent so far about its plan for the class 12 exams, sent out a letter to its affiliated schools on 27 May to submit average of marks obtained by class 12 students in class 11 and during this session.

"The CISCE is in the process of collating and collecting data from all our schools presenting candidates for class 12 examination. You are, therefore, requested to provide the requested information for class 12 candidates," CISCE Secretary Gerry Arathoon said in a letter to school principals marked as "strictly confidential".

The information sought by the board includes — the average marks of subjects scored by the candidates in class 11 (2019-20) and average marks of subjects scored in various tests and examinations conducted by the school during class 12 (2020-21).

There was no response from Arathoon about whether the exercise hits at alternative assessment instead of offline exams, affiliated schools, however, confirmed that they have received the letter.

Both the boards had postponed the class 12 exams scheduled in May-June in view of the aggressive second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

Both CBSE and ICSE had also cancelled class 10 exams.

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Mann ki Baat: Daily production of liquid oxygen ramped up tenfold to 9,500 MT, says Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that providing medical grade oxygen to different states during the second wave of COVID-19 was a challenge, but the Indian Air Force, the Railways and scores of tanker drivers worked overtime to ensure that it was delivered to those in need on time.

#MannKiBaat May 2021. Tune in. https://t.co/Yx0U7QzZ3l

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 30, 2021

In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address, he also touched upon his government's seventh anniversary on Sunday and said the nation has followed the mantra of "sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas".

There have been many moments of national pride, he said.

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"Apart from many successes, there were some stern tests as well," he said, referring to the pandemic. The nation fought its first wave with courage, and this too will be defeated, he asserted.

Speaking of various natural disasters, the prime minister said more lives were saved compared to the past.

He underlined that the Centre and the states are working together to mitigate the sufferings of the people.

Modi spoke with a liquid oxygen tanker driver, a woman railway driver and an air force officer involved in transportation of oxygen and related equipment to drive home the point on how these people are working overtime to ensure oxygen reaches those in need.

In normal times daily production of liquid medical oxygen was 900 MT, which has now risen over 10 times to nearly 9,500 MT, the prime minister noted.

He said despite the pandemic, the farmers ensured record production of crop and the government also made record procurement.

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Aadhaar card rule change: Get ATM-like Aadhaar card; visit uidai.gov.in to order new PVC card

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has given a new appearance to the Aadhaar identification card. Aadhar cards will now be in form of the PVC cards. The PVC Aadhaar card comes is in a pocket-friendly size, and is more durable and convenient to carry.

Earlier this week, the official Aadhaar help centre handle announced that it has discontinued the Order Aadhaar Reprint service. This was in response to a Twitter user's query. The Aadhaar Help Centre advised the user to order a PVC card online instead.

Dear Resident, Order Aadhaar Reprint service has been discontinued, you can order Aadhaar PVC card online, instead. You can also take a print of your e-Aadhaar if you wish to keep it in a flexible paper format.

— Aadhaar Help Centre (@Aadhaar_Care) May 26, 2021

Following are the steps to order your PVC Aadhaar card online:

Step 1 – Visit UIDAI’s website (uidai.gov.in or resident.uidai.gov.in).

Step 2 – Enter the Aadhaar card number, registration number, and virtual ID number.

Step 3 – Pay Rs 50 to order your card and it will be delivered on the registered address.

If your phone number is not linked with Aadhaar, you can follow these steps:

Step 1- Visit https://ift.tt/2G5QNFu

Step 2 – Register your Aadhaar card number.

Step 3 – Enter your security code, and click on ‘my mobile not registered.’

Step 4 – Click on ‘send OTP’ after you enter your mobile number

Step 5 – Your registered number will receive an OTP. Enter the OTP.

Step 6 – Now you have to pay Rs. 50 and within 2 weeks you will get your PVC Aadhaar card at your registered address.

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