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  • From Sunday, Friday prayers and congregational prayers to be held in all mosques, except for the mosques in the holy city of Makkah

    From Sunday, 8 Shawwal until the end of Saturday, 28 Shawwal: Allow Friday prayers and congregational prayers to be held in all mosques of the #Kingdom, except for the mosques in the holy city of #Makkah, with adherence to precautionary measures and preventive measures.

  • ‘Prepare for war’: China’s Xi Jinping tells army to thwart coronavirus impact on national security

    Xi Jinping’s speech comes amid rising tension with the US, frequent references by local politicians and diplomats of reunifying Taiwan. Tension is also escalating with India with troops from the two countries clashing along different areas along the 3,488 kilometre-long disputed border.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday directed China’s armed forces to strengthen training of troops and to be ready for war amid coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic’s visible impact on the world’s most populous country’s national security.

    State media reports quoted the Chinese premier as saying that it was important to “comprehensively strengthen the training of troops and prepare for war”, “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty” and “safeguard the overall strategic stability of the country”.

    Xi’s speech comes amid rising tension with the US, frequent references by local politicians and diplomats of reunifying Taiwan, if necessary by force, and the likely implementation of a new – and controversial – security law meant to crack down on pro-democracy dissidents in the special administrative region of Hong Kong.

    Two days back, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, heavily criticised the efforts of some US politicians to fabricate rumours and stigmatise China to blame it for the pandemic.

    The US, Wang said, is pushing relations with China to “the brink of a new Cold War”. Chinese state councillor and foreign minister also rejected US “lies” over the coronavirus.

    Tension is also escalating with India with troops from the two countries clashing along different areas along the 3,488 kilometre-long disputed border especially, in Ladakh, in May.

    Both armies are said to have deployed additional troops in sensitive areas along the boundary with experts predicting a lengthy standoff.

    Xi said that China’s performance in fighting Covid-19 has shown the success of military reforms and the armed forces should explore new ways of training, despite the pandemic.

    Xi, who chairs China’s powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), made the comments at a meeting of the delegation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and People’s Armed Police Force (PAPF) on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s parliament.

    Xi added that it was necessary to make preparations for military struggle, “…to flexibly carry out actual combat military training, and to comprehensively improve our military’s ability to carry out military missions”.

    Xi, according to the state media, pointed out “…this epidemic prevention and control struggle is a practical test for national defence and military reform, fully embodies the effectiveness of the reform, and also puts forward new requirements for reform”.

    Xi’s strongly-worded speech coincided with a series of “unverified” photographs and videos being uploaded on Chinese social media platforms showing Beijing’s second aircraft carrier — the country’s first indigenously built one — leaving its shipyard for a sail on Monday.

    “The move, if verified, will mark the aircraft carrier, the Shandong’s first known voyage in five months since being commissioned in December and later returning to the shipyard for maintenance,” a state media report said.

    Separately, a military spokesperson said on Tuesday that a moderate and steady increase in the nation’s defence expenditure is right, proper, and necessary.

    It was announced last week that China has set its annual defence budget growth target at 6.6%, as compared to 7.5% last year.

    China has both economic and military development in mind and national defence should be developed in coordination with economic development, said Wu Qian, PLA spokesperson. Beijing’s homeland security and overseas interests are also facing some real threats, Wu added.

    With inputs from Hindustan Times

  • Massive search operation launched in picturesque Aharbal area of South Kashmir

    Pulwama: A massive cordon and search operation has been launched in picturesque Aharbal area of Southern Kashmir.

    Sources told News Agency KNT that the operation was launched after the inputs about the movement of militants in the area.

    The operation was underway till the filing of this report.

    Police sources said that soldiers from 44 Rashtriya Rifles, 183 Battalion CRPF and Special Operation Group personnel from Pulwama are on job and conducting searches.

    Latest reports said that more reinforcement rushed towards the area that has been brought under siege. (KNT) (File Photo)

  • India’s GDP growth seen at 1.2% for Q4 FY20: SBI report

    The fourth quarter GDP growth will be announced on May 29.

    PTI

    The country’s GDP is estimated to have grown at 1.2% in the last quarter of the previous fiscal as economic activity came to a standstill in the last week of March due to the nationwide lockdown to contain spread of COVID-19, a report said.

    According to the SBI’s research report — Ecowrap – the gross domestic product (GDP) growth is likely to be 4.2% for FY20 and (-) 6.8% for FY21.

    The fourth quarter GDP growth number for FY20 will be announced by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on May 29.

    In the third quarter of FY20, GDP growth slipped to a nearly seven-year low of 4.7%. In Q1 and Q2 of FY20, GDP growth was 5.1% and 5.6%, respectively.

    We believe that Q4 (FY20) GDP growth would be around 1.2% as the economic activity in the last seven days of March month was completely suspended due to the nationwide lockdown, the research report said.

    The report sees a loss of at least Rs 1.4 lakh crore during those seven days of lockdown.

    Subsequently, the annual FY20 GDP growth would be around 4.2% as compared to 5% as it was projected earlier, the report said.

    It estimates FY21 GDP growth to be around (-) 6.8% and gross value added (GVA) growth would be nearly (-) 3.1%.

    The loss is maximum (around 50%) in red zones and where almost all the big districts of the country are located. The combined loss of orange and red zones is around 90% of total loss.

    State-wise analysis indicates that top 10 states accounted for 75% of total GDP loss with Maharashtra contributing 15.6% of total loss followed by Tamil Nadu (9.4%) and Gujarat (8.6%).

    These three states also have the largest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.

    The report further said COVID-19 cases in the country could peak anytime in the last week of June.

    Based on the current 7-day moving average of new cases witnessed in the country, we believe that new cases are likely to peak somewhere in the last week of June, beginning June 20, the report said.

    Following that, the new cases are expected to witness steep fall till the beginning of August after which it is expected to gradually reduce to flatten by mid-September.

    The report, however, said the estimates are purely based on an assessment of current trends that can quickly change given the cyclonic disaster in West Bengal and the continued return of migrant labourers.

    The number of COVID-19 cases in the country stood at 1,45,380, as per health ministry data.

  • Bharti Airtel parent eyes $1 bn from stake sale to pay off loans

    Move to help telco clean up debt overhang as promoter debt also impacts ratings

    Bharti Telecom, the promoter firm of Bharti Airtel, plans to raise $1 billion by selling a 2.75% stake in the mobile services provider

    The block deal, which is likely to take place on Tuesday, will be conducted at a floor price of ₹558 per equity share through secondary placement, according to a person aware of the development.

    This is a discount of 6% to the last closing price of ₹593.20 on May 22 (Friday) on the National Stock Exchange.

    The stock exchange was closed on Monday (May 25) on account of Eid-Ul-Fitr.

    Another source said the move will help make Bharti Telecom debt free. “Post the deal, there will be zero debt at promoter level,” the source said. Bharti Telecom’s shareholding in Bharti Airtel stands at about 38.79%, as per information available on the BSE.

    The source added that this will help Bharti Airtel by cleaning up debt overhang as many rating agencies take into account the promoter company’s debt as well.

    “The move will also create capacity at Bharti Telecom for any further capital or shareholder support requirement at Bharti Airtel.”

    The block deal, involving about 150 million shares, will be conducted by J.P. Morgan India Pvt. Ltd.

    Shares at record highs

    Interestingly, the move comes at time when Bharti Airtel shares have been trading at near record highs since it announced its financial results last week.

    The company had posted a loss of ₹5,237 crore for the January-March 2020 quarter due to an exceptional charge on account of reassessment of statutory dues.

    Without the exceptional item, the net loss for the quarter was ₹471 crore, the company had said.

    Bharti Airtel’s revenue for the quarter, however, grew 15% to ₹23,723 crore year-on-year.

    Higher ARPU

    Following the hike in tariffs last December and an increase in 4G customer base, Bharti Airtel also saw its ARPU (average revenue per user) going up to ₹154 in the reported quarter.

    This is against an ARPU of ₹135 in the October-December 2019 period, and ₹123 in the year-ago quarter.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Top Army commanders to deliberate on situation in Eastern Ladakh

    The first phase of the Army Commanders Conference is scheduled from May 27 to 29 and the second phase in the last week of June

    The biannual Army Commanders Conference, postponed in April due to COVID-19, will be organised in two phases, the Army said on Tuesday. It comes amid the standoff at several points on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Eastern Ladakh which is likely to figure prominently.

    “The first phase of the conference is scheduled from May 27 to 29 and the second phase in the last week of June,” the Army said in a statement.

    The leadership will brainstorm on the emerging security and administrative challenges and chart the future course, the Army said. To ensure due diligence, decisions are taken through collegiate system comprising commanders and senior officers.

    During the first phase to be organised at the South Block, aspects pertaining to operational and administrative issues including studies on logistics and human resources will be discussed, the statement said.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Afghanistan to free 900 more Taliban amid peace push

    Announcement comes day after release of 100 Taliban prisoners during rare holiday truce

    Kabul, Afghanistan: As a rare cease-fire draws to an end, the Afghan government on Tuesday announced it will free 900 more Taliban fighters, hoping to extend the truce and push forward the peace process.

    Javed Faisal, spokesperson of the National Security Council, said the release process had started and the government was keen to start the long-due direct talks with the Taliban.

    The announcement came a day after Kabul released 100 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture, following the Taliban’s unexpected three-day truce declaration for the Muslim holiday festival of Eid al-Fitr.

    On Sunday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ordered the start of the process to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners and said his government was ready to begin the long-awaited talks with the insurgent group.

    “The winner of peace will be the Afghan people. War only brings destruction and misery, especially to Afghan women, who suffer the most,” the president said in an address outside the presidential palace’s mosque on the first day of Eid.

    The international community welcomed the unexpected cease-fire, which was only the second such brief truce in the otherwise deadly insurgency, now in its 19th year.

    Zalmay Khalilzad, US envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg advised both sides to use the opportunity to move the peace process forward.

    Germany, Indonesia, Norway, Uzbekistan, and Qatar also voiced their support and urged Kabul and the Taliban to pursue the proposed intra-Afghan peace talks without further delay.

    As per the US-Taliban peace deal signed in Doha earlier this year, the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 government personnel is a requisite for the intra-Afghan talks.

    According to official sources, there are some 12,000-15,000 Taliban fighters, including militants from Pakistan, Central Asia, and Gulf countries, in government prisons across Afghanistan.

    No figures are available on captives held by the insurgents.

    With inputs Anadolu Agency News

  • Centre’s lockdown strategy has failed: Rahul Gandhi

    He said India was the only country in the world to have relaxed the lockdown when the virus was still “exponentially rising”.

    PTI

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on May 26 said the four phases of nationwide lockdown have “failed” and not given the results that Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected.

    Addressing a press conference, he asked the central government to clarify its strategy on opening up of India and supporting the migrants and the States.

    “What is the central government’s plan to go forward as the disease is growing exponentially in the country,” he asked.

    “The four stages of lockdown have not given the result that the Prime Minister expected,” he said, adding that it is pretty clear that the aim and purpose of lockdowns have failed in India.

    He said India was the only country in the world to have relaxed the lockdown when the virus was still “exponentially rising”.

  • ‘Very heavy’ rainfall expected in Assam, Meghalaya from May 26-28, IMD issues red alert

    PTI

    A red-colour coded weather alert has been issued for Assam and Meghalaya from May 26-28, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday, predicting very heavy rainfall in these two northeastern states. Sathi Devi, head of the IMD’s national weather forecasting centre, said there is a strong flow of south-westerly winds from the Bay of Bengal, bringing a lot of moisture to these two states.

    This is aided by the orographic factors of these two states that will bring in very heavy rainfall, she added.

    The IMD said rainfall is likely at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places. A few isolated will also receive extremely heavy falls, it added.

    “Red-colour coded warning has been issued to Assam and Meghalaya for the next three days,” IMD director general Mrurunjay Mohapatra said.

    He added that northeast India gets maximum rainfall in June, followed by May.

    Meanwhile, advancement of the monsoon which was hindered by super cyclonic storm Amphan will start from Wednesday, Ms. Devi said.

    She added that the monsoon will start moving ahead in other parts of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago and Bay of Bengal from Wednesday.

    According to the IMD, the monsoon is likely to hit Kerala on June 5, four days after its normal onset date.

    A low pressure area is also building up in the Arabian Sea from May 30, Mohapatra said. A low pressure area is the first stage of any cyclone. However, it is not necessary that every low pressure area intensifies into a cyclone.

    The IMD has also cautioned fishermen along the coasts of Kerala, Karnataka not to venture out for deep sea fishing from May 30-June 4.

  • Ten U.P. districts on alert after locust swarms attack crops in neighbouring Rajasthan, M.P.

    The locusts initially entered Rajasthan from Pakistan

    PTI

    At least 10 districts in Uttar Pradesh that border Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have been put on alert after swarms of locusts attacked crops in the two States, an official said on Tuesday. The locusts initially entered Rajasthan from Pakistan. From Rajasthan, locust swarms also entered Madhya Pradesh over the past few days.

    “In view of the threat of locust attack in areas bordering Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, local officials have been put on alert and asked to remain prepared with chemicals in tractor mounted sprayers, power sprayers and fire brigades, and undertake heavy spraying during the night,” a government spokesman here said.

    Besides, local villagers have been asked to make noise by beating ‘thalis’ and bursting crackers to drive away a locust swarm.

    These measures will help in controlling or eliminating locusts at their resting place, the spokesman said, adding that officials have been asked to be in constant coordination with technical teams of the Locust Warning Organisation and farmers.

    He said a swarm of locusts was seen in the jungles of Jhansi on Sunday and 40% of it was destroyed after chemicals were sprayed by state and central government teams.

    Due to the wind direction, there was a threat from this swarm in Mahoba district, which was put on high alert, he said.

    There are reports of partial damage to vegetables in 25 hectares of area and a detailed inspection of the extent of loss is being done, the spokesman said.

    Another swarm was active in Karauli in Rajasthan, following which an alert was issued for Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun and Auraiya and their adjoining districts like Hamirpur, Kannauj ,Etawah and Kanpur Dehat, he said.

    Deputy Director Agriculture Kamal Katiyar said, “The swarm of locusts is moving and is small in size. We have got news that nearly 2.5 km to 3 km long swarm of locusts has entered the country. A team has come from Kota (Rajasthan) to tackle the locusts.”

    He said at present, the locust swarm is at Bangra Magarpur. “Spraying of insecticides will be done in the night,” Mr. Katiyar said.

    The Mathura district administration has started early preparations in view of the growing locust threat and formed a task force.

    Mathura District Magistrate Sarvagya Ram Mishra said 200 litres of chloropyriphos has been kept as reserve and its sellers in the area have been advised not to supply the chemical outside the district.

    The Jhansi administration has also directed the fire department to keep its vehicle ready with chemicals to tackle a sudden movement by locust swarms.

    District Magistrate Andra Vamsi, who chaired a meeting in this regard, said, “The villagers along with the common public has been told to inform control room about the movement. The locusts will go places where there is green grass or greenery. Hence, details about the movement at such places must be shared.”