India News

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday ordered the continuance of 2G mobile data services in the Union territory till April 15, even as the demand for restoration of high-speed 4G internet grows in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

A man was arrested in Assam for allegedly uploading on his Facebook page an objectionable post pertaining to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, police said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday approved the release of Rs 11,092 crore to all states under the State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF) for setting up quarantine facilities and arranging other facilities for checking the spread of coronavirus.

The United States diverted a delivery of Chinese-made face masks bound for Germany at a Bangkok airport, a Berlin city official said Friday, accusing Washington of "modern-day piracy" as competition for protective gear against the coronavirus heats up.

After a unified backlash from all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir including the BJP's local unit, the centre has changed a law involving government jobs in the union territory. All jobs will now be reserved for permanent residents of the union territory, the amendment said late Friday in a dramatic 180-flip of a move announced just two days ago.

Air India on Friday said it has stopped bookings till April 30 and is awaiting a decision after April 14, when the nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end.

A Dubai-returned man and 11 of his family members have tested coronavirus positive in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district, days after he organised a feast for 1,500 people in the honour of his dead mother.

Director of Bhopal Health Department, J Vijay Kumar has tested positive for coronavirus on Friday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday spoke to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi over telephone to discuss various steps to deal with the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 50,000 lives globally.

Two thousand foreigners from the UK, Russia, Europe and Qatar who were in Goa for holiday but were left stranded after India went into a lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic were flown out in special flights by different countries since last week.

With US President Donald Trump describing hydroxychloroquine as a "game changer" in the fight against COVID-19 and several countries, including India, approving it for emergencies, pharmacies are reporting a surge in demand for the drug yet to be proven as a cure against the disease.

A 38-year-old man from Nashik in Maharashtra was arrested for allegedly uploading a Tiktok video in which he is seen licking currency notes and wiping his nose with it while claiming the novel coronavirus was a "divine punishment" without remedy.

Some leaders from Mamata Banerjee's party, Trinamool Congress, have criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for asking people to switch off lights and hold candles, lamps or mobile flashlights in a show of unity amid the coronavirus pandemic. The West Bengal Chief Minister, a forceful critic of PM Modi, however, reacted with restraint.

BJP's Meghalaya unit chief Ernest Mawrie wrote to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday, seeking permission to open wine shops as alcohol consumption is a "way of life" in the state.

The authorities in Assam's Golaghat district have said several people who have been quarantined in the district civil hospital allegedly spat all over inside the quarantine ward as well as outside through the windows on Friday.