Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) called for a complete ban on the Tablighi Jamaat and its Nizamuddin Markaz on Sunday, after it emerged as a COVID-19 hotspot in the country.

The Tablighi Jamaat's Markaz (headquarters) in Delhi's Nizamuddin West emerged as a coronavirus hotspot as hundreds of people, who attended a religious congregation there in the second week of March, tested positive for COVID-19.

New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan has designed a protocol for its schools in the country to start online classes for students stuck at their homes due to the lockdown and shared "action points" with all principals to implement the programme, an HRD Ministry official said on Sunday.

All Kendriya Vidyalayas have been asked to get in touch with teachers, students and their parents about it through e-mail, WhatsApp and SMS to ensure maximum benefit to students, the official said.

New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) The death toll due to novel coronavirus rose to 109 and the number of cases in the country climbed to 4,067 on Monday, according to the Union Health Ministry

While the number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 3,666, as many as 291 people were cured and discharged, and one has migrated, it stated. The total number of cases include 65 foreign nationals

New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached out to top leaders from across the political spectrum, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, to discuss the situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak.

He also spoke to former presidents Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil, and former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda, sources said.

Details of the discussions were not immediately known.

New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) The government has tightened the export ban norms on anti-malarial drug hydroxycloroquine by including special economic zones (SEZs) under its prohibition ambit to ensure there is no shortfall during Covid-19 crisis.

The drug is also not allowed to be shipped by export oriented units (EOUs) or under any export promotion scheme.

New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) About 40,000 crew and seafarers stranded on cargo and cruise vessels across the globe are awaiting return to Indian shores, with the government assuring to extend help once the nationwide lockdown on account of coronavrius outbreak is lifted, maritime bodies have said.

There are about 15,000 seafarers onboard about 500 cargo vessels across the globe, and another 25,000 on cruise ships.

New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) The Indian macroeconomic situation is bleak and all set to get worse if local or national lockdowns continue for some more time, renowned economist Jean Dreze said on Sunday.

Dreze further said that due to the country-wide lockdown, social unrest in many parts of India has already started.

The country is under a 21-day lockdown as part of larger efforts to curb spreading of coronavirus infections.

New Delhi, Apr 4 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Braziian President Jair Bolsonaro held a telephonic conversation on Saturday about the novel coronavirus and discussed how the two countries could join forces in combating the pandemic.

Modi also had a telephonic discussion with US President Donald Trump earlier, during which the two leaders resolved to deploy the full strength of the India-US partnership to fight the deadly COVID-19 (coronavirus disease).

Amethi (UP), Apr 4 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has sent 12,000 sanitizers, 20,000 face masks and 10,000 soaps for distribution among the people of Amethi, a party leader said on Saturday.

District unit president of the Congress, Pradeep Singhal said Gandhi has instructed to supply these items especially to those who are in the forefront of the fight against coronavirus.

New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) India has submitted its bid documents for hosting the AFC Asian Cup in 2027, a top official of the national federation confirmed on Sunday.

If India wins the bid, it will be the first time the country will host the continental showpiece event.

"We have already submitted our expression of interest to the AFC (Asian Football Confederation). That is what's required as of now," All India Football Federation General Secretary Kushal Das told PTI.