Forty-one teams of the National Disaster Response Force, including seven reserves, have been deployed in West Bengal and Odisha in view of the super cyclonic storm 'Amphan' which has now weakened into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm.

NDRF chief S N Pradhan said on Tuesday that Cyclone Amphan is a second disaster coming in the time of already prevailing COVID-19, hence preparations have been made to that scale.

A measure of the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Britain soared in April, the first full month of the government's coronavirus lockdown, data published on Tuesday showed.

The claimant count rose by 856,500 to 2.097 million, the Office for National Statistics said.

The rupee appreciated 20 paise to 75.71 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday as initial success in Covid-19 vaccine trial boosted investor sentiment world over.

Forex traders said besides the encouraging results in Covid-19 vaccine trial, higher opening of domestic equities and weakening American currency supported the local unit, news agency PTI reported.

Employees working in the private sector will now receive a greater amount of take-home salary for three months – May, June, and July – as the central government has notified a reduction in the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) contribution for these three months of May, June, and July.

In the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' fiscal package, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman had on part of the central government announced that the contribution provided to the EPF would be curtailed to 10% (from the pre-existing 12%) to give more money in the hands of employees.

A day after the Uttar Pradesh government accepted an offer by Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to allow the party to ferry migrant labourers back home in buses arranged by it, the Yogi administration has slightly tweaked its response on the matter. In a new letter sent to the Congress leader, the UP government has asked for 500 buses each to be sent to Noida and Ghaziabad that border Delhi.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, said that he takes hydroxychloroquine, a drug that he often vouches as a potential treatment for the novel coronavirus.

According to recent reports of The Hill, Trump claimed that he already consulted with the White House doctor about taking the drug.

Delhi government on Monday announced a detailed set of restrictions and relaxations including allowing industrial firms in the national capital whose name starts with A to L to function from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm, while those firms with names from M to Z to operate from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm.

In order to ensure staggering of work/business hours, industrial establishments shall be permitted to function in staggered business hours. Industrial firms whose registered name starts with M/s A to M/s L may function from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm, whereas firms whose registered name starts with M/s M to M/s Z may function from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm, read the order issued by Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases in India crossed one lakh on Monday with Maharashtra registering over one-third of total infections.

While the official Health Ministry data on Monday morning put the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 96,169, a DNA tally figures updated by different states and UTs as of 11 PM put the number of total cases at 1,00,293. The death toll has risen to 3,155 while the Health Ministry update shows 3,029 total COVID-19 deaths.

An encounter broke out between terrorists and a joint team of security forces in the Nawakadal area of central Kashmir's Srinagar district in the wee hours of Tuesday, confirmed Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police.

Sources told Zee Media that the encounter started after security forces had a specific input about the presence of some terrorists at the Kanemazar area in Nawakadal in old Srinagar city.

Super Cyclonic Storm 'Amphan', in addition to being the maiden cyclone of this pre-monsoon season, also holds the distinction of becoming the only super cyclone in the Bay of Bengal since 2000, Skymet Weather reported on Tuesday. It warned that the cyclone is still intensifying, and the wind speed is likely to cross 275kmph, which has rarely ever been achieved in the past.

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