Most COVID Cases In India Mild, Under Home Care: Sources

Most of the Covid cases reported in various states are mild in nature and the patients are under home care, official sources said amid a rise in cases in some countries.

The matter regarding COVID-19 cases was reviewed by the Union Health Secretary on Saturday with the Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), DGHS and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) etc, they said.

Some COVID-19 cases have been reported mainly from States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, etc. Sources that there is a robust pan India system for surveillance of respiratory illnesses including Covid-19 through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and ICMR's pan India respiratory virus sentinel surveillance network.

"It is observed that most of these cases are mild and under home care," an official source said.

"It may also be mentioned that there have been some media reports regarding increase in COVID-19 cases in Singapore, Hong Kong and other countries in the recent past. It has been ascertained from the respective National IHR focal points that there is no indication that the circulating variants are more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared to the previously circulating variants," the source said The sources asserted that the Union Health Ministry remains vigilant and, through its multiple agencies, is proactively monitoring the situation closely.

Meanwhile, according to the INSACOG data, one case of the newly emerging COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 and four cases of LF.7 have been detected in India.

As of May 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies LF.7 and NB.1.8 subvariants as Variants Under Monitoring (VUMs), not as Variants of Concern (VOCs) or Variants of Interest (VOIs). But these are the variants reportedly driving the rise in COVID cases in China and parts of Asia.

In India, the most common variant remains JN.1, comprising 53 per cent of samples tested, followed by BA.2 (26%) and other Omicron sublineages (20%), according to INSACOG.

As of May 19, the country had 257 active cases. Delhi recorded 23 new cases, Andhra Pradesh reported four in the last 24 hours, Telangana confirmed one, and a nine-month-old in Bengaluru tested positive amid a gradual rise over the past 20 days. Kerala reported 273 cases in May alone.

Officials in several states reported more cases on Saturday, May 24.

In Maharashtra, a COVID-19 patient suffering from severe diabetes died of comorbidities in Thane while eight new cases of the viral infection were reported in the city on Saturday, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) said.

Two men were detected with coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh's commercial capital Indore. In Uttarakhand, a 57-year-old tourist from Gujarat in Rishikesh and a woman doctor from AIIMS Rishikesh have been found infected with Covid.

All 23 recent COVID-19 patients in Delhi experienced only mild symptoms and were under home quarantine, said the health officials in the Delhi government.

A 55-year-old woman was placed under home quarantine after she tested positive for COVID-19 in Noida on Delhi's outskirts.

Telangana Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimh, convened a high-level review meeting to assess the current COVID-19 scenario in the state and the preparedness of the health department.

A COVID-19 case was reported in Hyderabad and the patient, a pulmonologist, has fully recovered, officials said on Friday.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Red Alert For Rain, Storm Issued For Delhi And Nearby Areas

A red alert for rain and storm has been issued for Delhi and the National Capital Region by the weather office, warning of squally winds in the range of 60-100 kmph between 10.30 pm and 12.30 am.

A red alert (which stands for 'most vigil/take action') is the highest category of warning.

In a nowcast issued for Delhi and the National Capital Region on Saturday evening, the India Meteorological Department warned of "Light to moderate rain accompanied with severe thunderstorm/lightning/duststorm/hailstorm. Squally wind (60-100 kmph)".

At least six people - two in Delhi and the same number in Ghaziabad and Greater Noida - were killed when a thunderstorm had hit Delhi and NCR on Wednesday evening. The storm had caused heavy damage, uprooting trees and felling poles. 

Several parts of Delhi and NCR had also seen power cuts. 
 

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Sai Sudharsan's 1st Reaction On Maiden India Call-Up: "Don't Think I Am..."

Sai Sudharsan described his maiden Test call-up as "surreal" after being named in India's squad for the upcoming five-match Test series in England, as per ESPNcricinfo. "It obviously feels great. Feels very special to be honest, and surreal also. Any cricketer, any young cricketer who starts playing cricket, wants to play Test cricket, wants to play for the country," he said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo. "The ultimate goal is always to play Test cricket. So really happy for that," he added.

Following the retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Sudharsan is expected to be part of India's new-look top four. Though he typically opens the batting for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy, Sudharsan has expressed his readiness to bat in any position for the national team.

"Sir, I think playing for the country itself is a very big privilege for a cricketer. So I don't think I am in a position to choose where I want to play," Sai Sudharsan said.

"Wherever the coaches tell me to play, I think I will be mentally and obviously skillfully, you know, try and be ready for the opportunity," he added.

"I have a lot of likings. I think I will have to be ready for whichever (position) the team gives me. I will be ready for that," he noted.

Adding to the momentous occasion, his Test debut could come under the leadership of Shubman Gill, his captain at Gujarat Titans (GT), who has just been appointed India's new red-ball skipper.

"I mean, Shubhi (Shubman Gill) is, over the years, I have been a part of his growth as well," Sai Sudharsan said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

"I have seen him for the last four years. Such a talented batsman, such a skillful batsman, anybody can see," he added.

"So I feel he will definitely do laurels and great things for the country and I am grateful and I am very happy to play under him in my first Test series," he noted.

The highly anticipated series begins on June 20, but both Sudharsan and Gill will first join the India A squad for the second four-day match against the England Lions, scheduled to start on June 6 in Northampton.

"I always feel finish the first story, then go to the next one because now the IPL is also most important when we are in IPL (Indian Premier League)," he said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

"So I think it is also most important of finishing this and then obviously we will have time to prepare. So I will use that bracket of days so that we will be ready for the Test series," he added.

For now, however, Sudharsan remains focused on the Indian Premier League, where Gujarat Titans have secured a spot in the knockout stage.

He also acknowledged the unique challenge of transitioning from the high-paced T20 format to the more demanding rhythms of Test cricket.

"Transitioning from white ball to red ball takes a bit of time," he said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

"I think I focus a lot more on my basics. I focus a lot more on my patience even outside the field," he added.

"The more patient you are, the more it reflects inside the field. So, Test cricket is all about patience and longevity. So I feel the more I focus on that, the more I be aware of it, I think it will be a great experience," he noted.

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Schumacher Signs Helmet 12 Years After Accident. F1 Great On The Mend?

Michael Schumacher continues to remain an intriguing name in F1, even after remaining away from public eye for over a decade since a horrific skiing accident in December, 2013.  Since then, details about his health condition have been kept confidential. It has been reported in the past that Schumacher has been residing in Switzerland. Last year, former world champion Sebastian Vettel, who is close to Schumacher and his family, recently revealed that the F1 legend "is not doing well". 

However, now a great news has emerged. According to a report in European media, Michael Schumacher signed a crash helmet last month with the help of his wife Corinna Schumacher. That helmet is to be auctioned for charity. The F1 great those world champions to contribute his signature for the noble cause. In all, 20 world champions have signed on the helmet.

Johnny Herbert, Schumacher's teammate at Benetton in 1994 and 1995, said the act was an 'emotional' moment.

"It's wonderful news that Michael Schumacher signed Jackie Stewart's helmet," Herbert told FastSlots.

'It was a wonderful moment. We haven't seen something emotional like this in years, and hopefully, it's a sign. Hopefully, Michael is on the mend. It's been a long, horrible journey for the family, and maybe we'll hopefully see him in the F1 paddock soon.

"Michael Schumacher making an appearance at an F1 race weekend would be one of those special moments from one of the greatest drivers we have ever seen.

"It would be so welcomed, not just from everyone in the paddock, but everyone around the world. Considering the awful situation he found himself in, and to battle back against it, it would be amazing. 

"I hope we continue to hear this positive news more often."

Speaking to Mail Sport, Stewart said: 'It is wonderful that Michael could sign the helmet in this worthy cause - a disease for which there is no cure. His wife helped him, and it completed the set of every single champion still with us.' 

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"In The Nuclear Era....:" What UK Analyst Said On Operation Sindoor

The recent military action between India and Pakistan was the first instance of two nuclear weapon states engaging in continuous strikes and counter-strikes, which sparked global tensions, Dr Walter Ladwig, a professor at King's College London, said. 

Mr Ladwig, who has written an analysis titled 'Calibrated Force: Operation Sindoor and the Future of Indian Deterrence' for security think tank Royal United Services Institute, also said India carried out the military action to punish the terrorists behind the Pahalgam terror attack and not provoke a "wider conflict" with Pakistan.

The Senior Lecturer in International Relations at King's College was speaking to NDTV when he made the remarks. 

Mr Ladwig said Operation Sindoor demonstrated a range of abilities the Indian Air Force (IAF) has built over the last decade. "This might also mean that we are in a very undiscovered country when it comes to military operations. In the context of the nuclear era, we do not have an example of two nuclear arms states who have engaged in reciprocal airstrikes like this," he said.

"The year 2019 was a little bit of a watershed moment, and that was very calibrated and orchestrated," he said, referring to the Balakot airstrikes that were carried out in response to the Pulwama terror attack. "We don't have this. The Russians and the Chinese fought in the late 1960s, this was on the ground, and in some cases, the combators were worried about escalation. This is a really new space and this is going to be studied in the decades to come." 

The professor credited the Indian government's policies for its precision strikes on terror infrastructure in the neighbouring country. "I see it as an evolution in the government's policies. If we go back to 2016, the surgical strikes (in response to the Uri terror attack), these sort of cross border raids have happened in the past but they were never publicised. They were never made so public. The 2019 airstrikes in Balakot were a break from past precedent... And now you have the next level, which is to say multiple targets are being struck in multiple rounds," he said.  

On the intervening night of May 6 and 7, the IAF conducted a series of precision strikes and destroyed infrastructure in nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The act - codenamed Operation Sindoor - was in response to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists. The Resistance Front, a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based LeT terror group, claimed responsibility.

As Pakistan responded to the action, both nations engaged in strikes and counter-strikes for three nights. On May 10, India and Pakistan reached an agreement to stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea, with effect from 5pm. 

Operation Sindoor "tried to change the equations that the onus is on the other side", Mr Ladwig said. "...the policy change of not feeling the need to assemble the dossier, connect the dots to say it is incumbent on India to prove in a courtroom sense or beyond the shadow of reasonable doubt that there are these connections... If you fail to deny them (terrorists) the space to operate, then that is enough. We will decide that we may take serious action," he said. 

However, the analyst added, putting the onus on the other side does not mean India stops making efforts to put forward a credible case in front of the global audience. "The immediate aftermath of the (Pahalgam) terror attack saw solidarity pouring in for India. There were messages of understanding and support. In the present moment based on recent history, I think India has the benefit of the doubt from its partners but they shouldn't take that for granted,"  he said. 

The professor also said that India's counter-strikes to Pakistan's attacks on the country, which lasted for three nights after Operation Sindoor, were essential to avoid doubts over its long-term goals. 

"Operation Sindoor sought to inflict punishment on the terrorists and not provoke a conflict. Beyond that, once the tit for tat cycle began, there was a desire to show and demonstrate abilities to strike, do more than the ability to just hit terror infrastructure, and have the ability to show a degree of escalation. It raises questions otherwise as to why did the government stop when it did (Pakistan retaliated) and it gets back to what was the mission in the first place," he said. 

He said India's showcase of its ability to retaliate will only lead to a "cat and mouse game". "After the strikes, the smart terrorists will go underground the moment something big happens. They will not be sitting around in known facilities, waiting for retaliation," he said. 

"The ability to track and monitor and know precisely where the pin points are going to become harder because groups are going to spend a lot more time on concealment and covering their tracks, making it difficult for intelligence officials," he added.

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Indian Students Face Roadblock As Canada Slashes Permits By 31%

Canada's study permit landscape for international students, particularly from India, has undergone significant changes in recent times. The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals a substantial decline in study permits issued to Indian students. In the first quarter of 2025, only 30,640 permits were issued, marking a nearly 31% drop from the same period in 2024, when 44,295 permits were issued.

This downturn is part of a broader trend of decreasing international student intake, following the Canadian government's efforts to curb the influx since late 2023. That year, Canada issued a total of 681,155 study permits, with Indians accounting for 278,045 of them. However, in 2024, the total number of permits slid to 516,275, with the Indian component decreasing to 188,465.

The Canadian government has implemented policy changes in response to record immigration, which was partly blamed for housing unaffordability and pressure on health and transport infrastructure. According to Prime Minister Mark Carney, temporary residents, including students and foreign workers, will not exceed 5% of the country's population by 2028. To achieve this goal, IRCC has set a cap on issuing study permits for 2025 at 437,000, down from the target of 485,000 for this year. This "stabilising" figure will also apply to 2026.

New requirements for study permit applications have also been introduced. As of January 1, 2024, applicants must demonstrate they have sufficient funds, specifically CA$ 20,635 (approximately Rs. 12.7 lakh), a significant increase from the previous CA$ 10,000 (about Rs. 6.14 lakh). Additionally, designated learning institutions (DLIs) are now required to verify the acceptance letters of each applicant through IRCC, a measure aimed at ensuring the authenticity of student applications.

Key Changes In Study Permit Requirements:

- Increased Proof of Funds: CA$ 20,635 (approximately Rs. 12.7 lakh) required for study permit applications received on or after January 1, 2024
- Verification of Acceptance Letters: DLIs must verify acceptance letters through IRCC, starting December 2023
- Cap on Study Permits: 437,000 permits for 2025, down from 485,000 this year
- Temporary Residents Cap: Not more than 5% of Canada's population by 2028

To navigate these changes, prospective students should ensure they meet the updated requirements and stay informed about the application process. The study permit itself costs CA$ 150, and applicants may also need to pay CA$ 85 for biometric collection.
 

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"Congress Leak": Pralhad Joshi's Claim After Raids Against Karnataka Minister

Union minister Pralhad Joshi has weighed in on the huge row over Enforcement Directorate's allegations linking gold smuggling accused Ranya Rao and the Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara, claiming that it is the fallout of a factional fight within the state Congress.

"The Congress's own complained to the Enforcement Directorate," the minster claimed.  

"Who is writing letters to the Enforcement Directorate to take action?" Mr Joshi said.  

"A faction within the Congress is sending information against Parameshwar and now doing drama. Let me say this clearly, we respect Parameshwara. He is a decent politician. But there are people within the Congress who are sending complaints. Siddaramaiah knows. The intelligece is under him. Ask him. Now he is doing drama,' he added. 

The ED, he said, will act when they get information, "Not because he is a home minister or a Congress leader.

The political row in Karnataka snowballed after the Enforcement Directorate raided educational institutions linked to the Karnataka Home Minister in connection with the gold smuggling case.

The central agency, which is investigating the money laundering angle in the smuggling case, claimed they have found that an education trust had diverted funds and made a payment of Rs 40 lakh towards the credit card bill of Ranya Rao, allegedly on the instructions of an influential individual. 

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who met the home minister today, explained the payment was a wedding gift to Ranya Rao.

"I just spoke to Parameshwara, there was a marriage (ceremony), we are in public life, we run institutions. As a gesture to people we know, we give lots of gifts, we give Re 1, Rs 10, Rs 10 lakh, Rs 5 lakh. I think he might have also given a gift. It was a marriage, nothing wrong in it," he said. 

Asked about Mr Shivakumar's remark, Mr Parameshwara said, "You ask DK Shivakumar." Asked if he would cooperate with the investigation, he replied, "Of course."

The Congress has claimed that the state's opposition BJP is politicizing the gold smuggling case to target the ruling party. 
 

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