International passenger capacity for India reduced by 89 per cent so far this month due to the Covid-19 pandemic as compared to a business-as-usual scenario, according to the latest projections from the United Nations specialised agency for international civil aviation.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) said that by September, the world could have 1.2 billion fewer international air travellers, compared to regular originally planned or business-as-usual.

The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a coronavirus pandemic relief bill that aims to provide funding worth $484 billion to small businesses, hospitals and for COVID-19 testing.

The bill was the fourth such aid passed to deal with the pandemic that has badly hit the country. It was passed in the Democratic-led House by a 388-5-1 bipartisan vote.

The chief of All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Delhi on Thursday said that the societal stigma attached to COVID-19 patients is leading many people to not come forward and get tested or treated.

Speaking at a press briefing by the Union Health Ministry, Prof Randeep Guleria said the tendency to not come forward due to stigma is leading not only to huge mental agonies and problems but also higher morbidity and mortality.

Twelve districts in the country have not reported a fresh case of coronavirus infection for the last 28 days despite having reported COVID-19 patients before, the Centre said on Thursday.

There are 78 districts where no case has been reported in last 14 days, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said during a press briefing.

Recalling India's move on SAARC for a regional strategy, New Delhi appreciated Pakistan finally showing enthusiasm for regional calls on COVID-19. Pakistan on Thursday hosted a SAARC meet on the coronavirus pandemic and had also invited India along with other grouping members.

India was represented by Director General of Health Services, assisted by experts from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Most SAARC countries were represented at the official level.

A fresh war of words erupted between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar Thursday after the former wrote a scathing letter accusing Dhankhar of repeatedly interfering in the functioning of the state administration.

In a strongly worded five-page letter to the governor, which Mamata released to the public, she asked him to judge who has crossed the limit of constitutional dharma and decency between the two constitutional functionaries.

The aerosol levels over northern India has plummeted to a 20-year-low for this time of the year, according to satellite data published by US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The US space agency's satellite sensors observed aerosol levels at a 20-year low post the countrywide lockdown, implemented to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Thursday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and said that the entire world is praising the way he handled the coronavirus pandemic in India.

The Minister took to Twitter to praise PM Modi, saying that the truth is 'self evident'.

The central government on Wednesday directed all the states and Union Territories (UTs) to encourage more corona warriors to undergo online training courses in order to handle the Covid-19 pandemic efficiently.

The government said that brave and dedicated doctors, healthcare workers, police and other volunteers require enhanced capacity and updated information to keep in-step with the latest advances in techniques and global understanding of the virus.

India ordered airlines this week to stop selling tickets. Hardly any listened.

Four of the country’s top six airlines, which together control 80 per cent of the local market, are selling domestic flight tickets for as soon as the third week of May, searches on their websites showed.

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