LIVE: Covid rising in many nations; be careful, wear masks, says PM Modi

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9:39 PM

'Strom Warning Cage 3' has been mounted at Pampan port in Rameswaram to warn of the danger of distant storms

9:38 PM

People gather at St. Joseph's Cathedral Church in Lucknow to celebrate Chritsmas

9:37 PM

PM Modi congratulates Pushpa Kamal Dahal on being elected as PM of Nepal

"The unique relationship between India & Nepal is based on deep cultural connect & warm people-to-people ties. I look forward to working together with you to further strengthen this friendship," tweets PM.

 

 

5:22 PM

About 25-30 primary health centres were found running without even a peon: HP CM SS Sukhu

No recruitment was done. Rs 3,000 Cr is required to run these institutes, but HP already has a debt of Rs 75,000 Cr. You should have made a provision of Rs 3,000 Cr before opening them.

 

4:19 PM

Passenger laptop fire forces plane evacuation at JFK Airport

Emergency responders evacuated a JetBlue flight at JFK International Airport in New York City as a result of a small fire in a passenger's laptop on Saturday evening, officials said.

 

Officials from the FAA, JetBlue and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the aircraft was taxing to a gate at Terminal 5 when a lithium battery in a passenger's laptop caught fire, the New York Daily News reported.

4:14 PM

Normal services have resumed on Magenta Line: DMRC

Services were disrupted between Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh to Botanical Garden due to security reason. About an hour ago, a drone carrying medical supplies fell on the metro track near Delhi's Jasola Vihar. Due to this, metro service from Jasola Vihar, Shaheen Bagh to Botanical Garden was disrupted but now metro service has resumed: Delhi Police

 

3:45 PM

Around 60,000 litres of illicit liquor worth Rs 3.80 cr seized by Noida police

Around 60,000 litres of illicit liquor worth Rs 3.80 crore seized by Noida police destroyed in pursuance of court orders, said a senior official.

 

 

2:35 PM

Indian smartwatch players gear up to beat Chinese, global rivals in 2023

The Indian smartwatch market has not only grown exponentially on the home turf, but also performed exceptionally well at the global level. And the domestic players expect to repeat the feat in 2023, with the expectation to overtake both Chinese and global rivals.

In Q2 2022, India overtook China to become the second-largest smartwatch market globally for the first time, growing 347 per cent (year-on-year), according to Counterpoint Research.

China, which ranked second in Q1, was pushed down to the third place with a 10 per cent (year-on-year) decrease in its shipments.

According to Prabhu Ram, Head-Industry Intelligence Group, CMR, homegrown smartwatch brands will seek to raise their domestic value addition to further increase their overall competitiveness, not just against the Chinese, but global smartwatch brands.

 

2:12 PM

Twitter didn't remove suicide prevention tool, it is fake news: Musk

Twitter CEO Elon Musk has denied that the micro-blogging platform removed suicide prevention feature for its users, said the reports were "fake".

Media reports earlier claimed that Twitter removed a feature that promoted suicide prevention hotlines and other safety resources.

"False, it is still there," the new Twitter owner said in a tweet.

The reports, quoting Twitter executives, claimed the feature was removed and was being revamped.

Replying to a user, Musk said: "Twitter doesn't prevent suicide".

"The message is actually still up. This is fake news," he added.

1:45 PM

Millions of Indians living near airports may not get to enjoy 5G in 2023

The roll-out of 5G in India, which was kicked-off in October 2022, is happening at a much faster scale in India compared to 4G or 3G and millions of people will soon have an agile and faster streaming, gaming and work experience on their devices. Some serious concerns, however, remain to be addressed.

Industry experts believe that consumers who live in the proximity of airports are not likely to get 5G on their devices. And that number runs into millions.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently sent a letter to telecom providers Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone not to install C-band 5G base stations within the 2.1 km range of Indian airports with immediate effect, as C-Band 5G can create problems with the radio (radar) altimeters of aircraft. During takeoff and landing, and to help avoid crashing into mountains, pilots depend entirely on radio (radar) altimeters).

The DoT letter said that the telecom service providers (TSPs) are advised that "in the area 2,100 meters from both ends of runway and 910 meters from centre line of runway of Indian Airports shall have no 5G/ IMT base stations in the 3,300-3,670 MHz".

 

1:02 PM

Railways aims to boost MSME markets through DFC infrastructure project

Indian Railways has undertaken a mega-infrastructure project namely the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), comprising Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC- from Dadri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust 1506 Km) and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor(EDFC- from Ludhiana to Sonnagar-1337 Km) covering 2843 route Km in totality.

This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

A total route length of 1610 Km (799 Km of EDFC and 811 Km of WDFC) has been completed out of total 2843 Km till October, 2022.

In this regard, a pilot project for 'JPP' has been launched on 31.03.2022, by attaching a Parcel Van in Tapti Ganga Express (19045/46) between Surat and Varanasi.

 

12:42 PM

Road transport and highways sector has maximum delayed projects: Report

The road transport and highways sector has the maximum number of delayed projects at 358, followed by railways at 111 and the petroleum sector at 87, showed a government report.

In the road transport and highways sector, 358 out of 769 projects are delayed. In railways, out of 173 projects, 111 are delayed, while in the petroleum sector, 87 out of 154 projects are running behind schedule, as per the latest flash report on infrastructure projects for November 2022.

The Infrastructure and Project Monitoring Division (IPMD) is mandated to monitor central sector infrastructure projects costing Rs 150 crore and above based on the information provided on the Online Computerised Monitoring System (OCMS) by the project implementing agencies.

 

12:14 PM

Beijing ready to work on relations with India: Chinese FM Wang Yi

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on Sunday, said that China is ready to work with India through steady and sound growth of the relations, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry website.

While addressing the reporters on China's relations with India, Wang said, "China and India have maintained communication through the diplomatic and military-to-military channels, and both countries are committed to upholding stability in the border areas. We stand ready to work with India in the direction toward steady and sound growth of China-India relations."

This statement came in the backdrop of the December 9 faceoff between the Indian and Chinese soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector.

 

12:08 PM

India reports 227 fresh Covid-19 cases; active tally rises to 3,424

India recorded 227 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases increased to 3,424, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,77,106).

The death toll stands at 5,30,693 with two fatalities with one reconciled by Kerala and one death reported in Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.

The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the ministry.

An increase of 27 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

 

11:44 AM

PM concludes last address of 2022 through 'Mann Ki Baat,' wishes best for next year

PM Modi concludes his last address of this year through 'Mann Ki Baat,' says, "Next time we will meet in the year 2023. I wish all of you the best for the year 2023. May this year also be special for the country, may the country keep touching new heights, together we have to take a resolution as well as make it come true."

 

11:40 AM

Covid rising in many nations, we need to be careful, wear masks and wash our hands: PM

"We are seeing that Covid-19 cases are rising in many countries in the world. We need to remain careful, wear masks and wash our hands," PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat

 

11:31 AM

Legacy of cleanliness now being carried by all Indians together: PM Modi

"Namami Gange mission has also helped improve the biodiversity. 'Swachh Bharat Mission' has become firmly rooted in the mind of every Indian. The legacy of cleanliness is now being carried by all Indians together," says PM Modi in his last monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' of this year

 

11:22 AM

We eradicated smallpox, polio-like diseases from India, now time for Kala Azar: PM

"In the last few years, we overcame various challenges in the health sector. We eradicated smallpox and polio-like diseases from India. Now, Kala Azar disease will also be eradicated. This disease is now only in four districts of Bihar and Jharkhand," says PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat

 

11:17 AM

Research show that yoga effective for patients with breast cancer: PM Modi

PM Modi says, "I am glad that in the era of evidence-based medicine, Yoga and Ayurveda are now standing up to the tests and tests of the modern age."

"Mumbai's Tata Memorial Center's research show that yoga is effective for patients with breast cancer. As per the centre, regularly practising Yoga brought a 15 per cent reduction in the recurrence of the disease among patients," says PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat

 

11:16 AM

Will attend 'Veer Bal Diwas' programme in Delhi tomorrow: PM Modi

"Tomorrow, December 26 is 'Veer Bal Diwas' and I will have the privilege of participating in a program dedicated to the martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh ji in Delhi on this occasion. Sacrifice of the country, Sahibzade and Mata Gujri will always remember," says PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat

 

11:14 AM

Vajpayee was a great statesman, gave exceptional leadership to India: PM Modi

PM Modi adds, "Today is also the birthday of our revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji. He was a great statesman who gave exceptional leadership to the country. He has a special place in the heart of every Indian." 

11:13 AM

Mann Ki Baat | PM Modi greets nation on Christmas

"Today the festival of Christmas is being celebrated with great pomp all over the world. This is the day to remember the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas," says PM Narendra Modi while addressing the nation in his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat.'

11:05 AM

PM Modi addresses nation in his last 'Mann Ki Baat' of 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses nation in his last 'Mann ki Baat' of this year. Watch LIVE:

10:47 AM

BF.7 is Omicron with mutations, won't lead to severe disease: Experts

The current Covid surge in many countries including China is believed to be driven by Omicron sub-variant BF.7. India has also so far reported four cases of this variant that includes two from Gujarat and two from Odisha.

Unlike China, the new substrain of coronavirus has not affected India disastrously even as the first case of this variant was detected months ago. However, the Centre has directed all states and Union Territories to remain cautious and ramp up the genome sequencing to track the variants.

The BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5, which, Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-chairman, National IMA Covid taskforce, calls 'great-grandson of Omicron'.

 

10:33 AM

Elon Musk warns against margin debt on risk of market 'mass panic'

Billionaire Elon Musk is warning against something he himself has done — borrowing against the value of securities one owns — because of the risk of “mass panic” in the stock market.

“I would really advise people not to have margin debt in a volatile stock market and you know, from a cash standpoint, keep powder dry,” Musk said in the All-In podcast released Friday. “You can get some pretty extreme things happening in a down market.”

The Tesla Inc. chief executive officer put up billions of his own money when he purchased Twitter Inc. for $44 billion earlier this year and saddled the company with $13 billion of debt. Bloomberg News has reported that Musk’s bankers are considering replacing some of the high-interest debt he layered on Twitter with new margin loans backed by Tesla stock that he’d be personally responsible for re-paying.

 

10:15 AM

18 dead as strong winter storm brings rain, snow, cold waves across US

A frigid winter storm killed at least 18 people as it swept across the country, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses and leaving millions of people on edge about the possibility of Christmas Eve blackouts.

The storm unleashed its full fury on Buffalo, New York, with hurricane-force winds causing whiteout conditions. Emergency response efforts were paralysed and the city's international airport was shut down.

Across the US, officials have attributed deaths to exposure, car crashes, a falling tree limb and other effects of the storm. At least three people died in the Buffalo area, including two who suffered medical emergencies in their homes and couldn't be saved because emergency crews were unable to reach them amid historic blizzard conditions.

 

9:31 AM

Cold wave conditions observed in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan: IMD

Cold wave conditions were observed in isolated pockets over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and northwest Rajasthan, says the Indian Meteorological Department.

9:21 AM

PM Modi pays tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayeeon his birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 98th birth anniversary, and said his contribution to India is indelible.

Vajpayee led the BJP to power at the Centre in the 90s and remained India's prime minister for six years.

Modi tweets, "Tributes to Atal Ji on his Jayanti. His contribution to India is indelible. His leadership and vision motivate millions of people."

 

9:09 AM

PM Modi to address last 'Mann Ki Baat' of 2022 today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address his last 'Mann Ki Baat' of 2022 today at 11 am

9:01 AM

Visibility reduces as a layer of fog grips Delhi in morning