LIVE: Coronavirus' changing nature continues to pose danger, says Mandaviya

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2:49 PM

No need to panic, but should voluntarily follow Covid norms: Anil Vij

In the wake of a sudden spurt in Covid cases in some countries, Haryana's Health Minister Anil Vij on Thursday said there was no need to panic, but asked people to voluntarily follow precautionary measures like wearing of masks in crowded places and using hand sanitiser.

Vij said if any specific guidelines or directions pertaining to Covid come from the Centre, they will be fully implemented in the state.

"There is no need to panic. But people must themselves follow measures against Covid like wearing masks, using sanitisers etc. Everyone should voluntarily follow these measures," Vij said in a statement.

He said Haryana has adequate stocks of medicine and RT-PCR test facility in every district. Ventilators are also available in sufficient numbers.

"We are fully prepared to fight against corona. Taking experience from the previous Covid waves, we are ready in all respects," he said.

 

2:35 PM

PM Modi to take call on extending PMGKAY beyond Dec: MoS Shobha Karandlaje

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take a call on extending the PMGKAY scheme to provide free ration to the poor beyond December, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje said, said stressing that the government has sufficient foodgrains stock.

If Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) has to be extended, the decision will be taken by the Cabinet, headed by the prime minister. The Cabinet meeting is scheduled tomorrow.

In September, the government had extended PMGKAY for three months till December 31.

"Covid-19 cases are coming. The scheme is till December. ...After that, the decision (on extending it) will be taken by the prime minister," Karandlaje, Minister of State for Agriculture, told reporters.

In last 28 months, the government has spent Rs 1.80 trillion on distribution of free ration to the poor under PMGKAY, she said.

 

2:32 PM

Goyal withdraws remark on Bihar, says no intention to insult state, people

Union minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday withdrew his remark to RJD leader Manoj Jha that his party would one day turn the entire "country into Bihar" if they have their way, saying he had no intention of insulting the state or its people.

At the start of Rajya Sabha proceedings on Thursday, Jha, who had on Wednesday shot off a letter to Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar about the minister's "demeaning" remark, demanded an apology from the BJP leader.

Goyal, the Minister of Commerce and Industry as well as the Leader of the House, said he will immediately withdraw the statement if it has hurt anybody.

"At the outset, let me clarify that there is absolutely no intention of insulting either Bihar or the people of Bihar. And if at all it has hurt anybody, I will immediately withdraw that statement. It was not made with any malice to anybody at all," he said.

2:23 PM

Parliament Winter Session | Lok Sabha adjourned till 4 pm

Parliament Winter Session | Lok Sabha adjourned till 4 pm amid relentless protest by opposition parties demanding debate on border issue with China.

 

2:21 PM

Random sampling of arriving int'l travellers has started at airports: Mandaviya tells Lok Sabha

Amid rising Covid concerns, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tells Lok Sabha, "Random sampling of arriving international travellers has started at airports."
"States asked to conduct genome sequencing of every Covid case, it would enable tracking of new variants," the Union health minister adds.
He further says, "In view of festive season ahead, states asked to be alert, create awareness about masks, sanitisers."

2:18 PM

Ever-changing nature of coronavirus continues to pose danger to health: Mandaviya tells LS

"Ever-changing nature of coronavirus continues to pose danger to global health," says Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in Lok Sabha

 

1:24 PM

IMA issues new advisory in wake of Covid surge in different nations

The Indian Medical Association on Thursday issued a new advisory in the wake of the sudden surge of Covid cases in diferent nations, including China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, France and Brazil. In its advisory, the IMA advised everyone to; a) wear face mask in all public places; b) maintain social distancing; c) avoid public gatherings and international travel; d) take Covid vaccine including booster dose and e) to follow the government advisory issued from time to time.

1:06 PM

Irdai to introduce 'Bima Vahaks' to expand insurance force: Rakesh Joshi

To enhance the insurance force in India, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) will soon introduce "Bima Vahaks" in each gram panchayat, Rakesh Joshi, a member of the insurance regulatory body, said on Thursday.

"Each Gram Panchayat will have a 'Bima Vahak' who would be tasked to sell and service simple parametric bundled insurance products, Bima Vistar, covering health, property, life and personal accident," Joshi said at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2022 in Mumbai.

"This bundled product could be bought in units of the sum insured. App-based infrastructure will be put in place to ensure that the policyholder's journey is seamless," he added.

Joshi also said that the insurance companies are developing state-level insurance plans with the state governments. Read more

 

12:58 PM

IndiGo passenger locked in heated argument with crew member; DGCA launches probe

A high-pitched argument between an air- passenger and one of the crew members of an IndiGo flight has gone viral on social media.

The argument started on the airline's Istanbul-Delhi flight over food. Reacting to the issue, in a statement, the airline said that they were looking into the incident and assured that "customers' comfort has always been our top priority.

Sources said that aviation regulator DGCA was looking into the matter.

About the incident, a passenger in the flight Er. Gurpreet Singh Hans said on Twitter he unfortunately booked a ticket on the IndiGo flight.

"Every international long distance (we can manage from Dubai to India) flight has a food choices video in front of seats but can't. Some people can manage but some can't, they need a choice of food," Hans said in his first tweet.

 

12:40 PM

China likely seeing 1 mn Covid infections; 5,000 virus deaths every day

China is likely experiencing 1 million Covid infections and 5,000 virus deaths every day as it grapples with what is expected to be the biggest outbreak the world has ever seen, according to a new analysis.

The situation could get even worse for the country of 1.4 billion people. This current wave may see the daily case rate rise to 3.7 million in January, according to Airfinity Ltd., a London-based analytics firm. There’ll likely then be another surge of infections that will push the daily peak to 4.2 million in March, the group estimated.

Its modeling of the scale and toll of China’s outbreak, which uses provincial data, shows the impact of the country’s abrupt pivot away from Covid Zero far exceeds the government’s tally.

 

11:57 AM

No lockdown in country as 95% population vaccinated: IMA's Anil Goyal

There won't be a lockdown situation in the country since 95 per cent of the people here are vaccinated. The immunity system of Indians is stronger than that of the Chinese... India needs to go back to the basics of the Covid-19 - testing, treating, tracing," says Dr Anil Goyal of the Indian Medical Association.

11:54 AM

UP CM meets entrepreneurs to discuss investment possibilities in state

A group of Indian entrepreneurs met Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and discussed the possibilities of investment in various sectors in the state, according to an official statement.

The delegation, which met the chief minister on Wednesday, also expressed enthusiasm for participation in Global Investors Summit to be held in February next year.

"With the aim of increasing the per capita income in the state, it is our endeavour that the country and the world can be benefited from the immense business opportunities available in the state," the statement quoted him as saying.

The chief minister said the state government is working on several industrial projects in UP.

Industrial development is being carried out through policy-driven governance by formulating around 25 policies to attract investment in various sectors including IT, data centre, defence & aerospace, electric vehicles, warehousing & logistics, tourism, textile, MSME, etc, he said.

 

11:33 AM

Former Delhi Prisons chief Sandeep Goel suspended after connam Sukesh's claim

Former Delhi Prisons chief Sandeep Goel has been suspended. Ministry of Home Affairs issued his suspension order last night. The action was taken a month after he was transferred and asked to report to Delhi Police Headquarters.

The Home Ministry's action comes as conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar last month claimed that he paid Rs 12.5 crores to Goel as "protection money" for his safety in Mandoli Jail where he is lodged in connection with a Rs 200 crore money laundering case.

 

11:31 AM

Amid fear of Covid resurgence, Dhankar, Birla, some MPs mask up in Parl

11:30 AM

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned till 12 noon amid Oppn uproar

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned till 12 noon amid protest by opposition over various issues

 

10:51 AM

Japan sees 8th wave of Covid pandemic, records 206,943 new cases

Amidst an ongoing eighth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Japan registered 206,943 new cases, marking the first time that the single-day tally has surpassed the 200,000-mark since August 25, health authorities have confirmed.

According to the Health Ministry, this is an increase of 16,100 new cases from the same day a week earlier, reports Xinhua news agency.

Of the total infections, Tokyo confirmed 21,186 new cases, with the figure for the capital rising week-on-week for a 16th straight day, and up by 2,374 cases the same time a week ago, the Ministry said on Wednesday.

 

10:43 AM

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain gives Suspension of Business Notice over Tawang clash

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain gives Suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha for a "meaningful discussion over the status quo of clash between India and China and asking the PM and the Govt of India to make a statement in above terms"

10:42 AM

'Chhello Show', 'All That Breathes', 'RRR' song enter Oscars 2023 shortlist

India's official entry to the upcoming Oscars "Chhello Show", acclaimed documentary feature "All That Breathes", documentary short "The Elephant Whisperers", and "Naatu Naatu" -- the song from period action blockbuster "RRR" have made it to the 95th Academy Awards shortlist, the organisers said Thursday morning.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the body behind the awards, announced the shortlists in 10 categories: documentary feature film, documentary short film, international feature film, makeup and hairstyling, music (original score), music (original song), animated short film, live action short film, sound, and visual effects.

Directed by Pan Nalin, "Chhello Show" (titled "Last Film Show" in English) is a Gujarati-language coming-of-age story of a young boy's love affair with cinema in a village of Saurashtra.

 

10:19 AM

India logs 185 new Covid infections; active cases decline to 3,402

India logged 185 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases declined to 3,402, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

The total tally of Covid cases was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,76,515). The death toll stands at 5,30,681 with one fatality being reported from Delhi 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 website.

A decrease of six cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

 

10:18 AM

Rupee rises by 10 paise against US dollar tracking early gains in equities

The rupee strengthened against the US dollar in opening trade on Thursday due to a weak greenback in the overseas markets and early gains in domestic equity markets.

Firm crude oil prices and forex outflows from capital markets, however, restricted the rupee's gains, according to forex dealers.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened higher at 82.78 to a dollar against the previous close of 82.84.

The domestic unit appreciated further to hit a high of 82.73 before trading at 82.74 at 0930 hrs, showing gains of 10 paise over the previous close.

 

10:01 AM

Zelenskyy tells US Congress he proposed 10-point peace formula to Biden

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the US Congress that he proposed a 10-point peace formula during his meeting with President Joe Biden, which he hoped would result in joint security guarantees for decades ahead.

Zelenskyy, 44, met President Biden in the Oval Office and jointly addressed a press conference at the White House on Wednesday.

He was given the rare distinction of addressing a joint session of the US Congress on a day packed with back-to-back meetings.

We need peace. Ukraine has already offered proposals, which I just discussed with President Biden, our peace formula, ten points which should and must be implemented for our joint security guarantees for decades ahead. And the summit, which can be held, Zelenskyy said in his historic address to the joint session of the Congress.

 

9:39 AM

PM Modi to review Covid situation in India at high-level meeting today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will review Covid situation in India at a high-level meeting today afternoon, reports PTI quoting officials

9:16 AM

Ensure genome sequencing, boost scrutiny as Covid surges: Centre to states

Amid a fresh global surge in Covid-19 cases, the central government has briefed all states to conduct genome sequencing of samples, the additional chief secretary of Health informed on Wednesday.

Speaking to ANI, Additional Chief Secretary of Health, Manoj Agarwal said the central government briefed all states to ensure proper screening international passengers, as well as genome sequencing, on Tuesday.

"Yesterday (Tuesday), the central government briefed all states on the increasing trend of Covid-19 variants in parts of the world and asked them to ensure that whole genome sequencing is done in all states," he said.

There has been an alarming surge in Covid cases in China, Japan, South Korea, France and the United States.

The spike is being blamed on new Omicron sub-variant BF.7, which has also been detected in four Indian states.

 

8:54 AM

Russian military announces plan to expand to 1.5 mn, create new units

Russia on Wednesday announced an ambitious plan to beef up its military from 1 million to 1.5 million and create multiple new units, an attempt to bolster the forces that have lost momentum and many soldiers in the war in Ukraine.

Russia's military chief cited NATO's plans to incorporate Finland and Sweden as a factor in the buildup. Here is a glance at Moscow's military plans.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu declared Wednesday that the country needs a force of 1.5 million to guarantee the fulfillment of tasks to ensure Russia's security.

8:47 AM

Congress to 'resolve' Gehlot-Pilot rift after Bharat Jodo Yatra

As the Bharat Jodo Yatra completed its Rajasthan leg and despite a presumed reconiciliatory meeting between chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, there seems to no sign of a "full stop" to the feud between Chief Minister and his former deputy.

The 'peace' that the Congress party was trying to maintain in Rajasthan that disappeared during the party's Presidential elections was shattered just before the yatra reached the state when Chief Minister Gehlot termed Sachin Pilot as "Gaddar" (a traitor).

The Rahul Gandhi-led foot march, however, has completed its party-ruled state without any controversy and rhetoric with party's strategists convincing Gehlot-Pilot to put the "controversy" on the backburner for the sake of Rahul's Bharat Jodo Yatra.

8:32 AM

Mamata asks health officials to form panel, keep tab on Covid situation

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed concern over the surge in COVID-19 cases in China and advised health officials to form a committee of experts to keep an eye on the emerging situation.

Banerjee, during a meeting at the state secretariat, enquired why one of the reporters was wearing masks, which has become a rarity in Bengal, and cabinet minister Arup Biswas subsequently informed her that cases were on the rise in China.

"Is there a new variant of coronavirus in China? But they (Chinese) have not imposed anything (restriction). I will ask the health department to keep a tab on the situation," the CM said.

Turning to Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi, she said, "Set up a team of experts to monitor the situation. The health secretary will be leading the team. Genome sequencing should continue."

 

8:04 AM

India, China and Russia abstain on first UNSC resolution against Myanmar

India, China and Russia abstained in the UN Security Council on a draft resolution that demanded an immediate end to violence in Myanmar and urged the military junta to release political prisoners, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

The 15-nation Security Council, under India's Presidency this month, adopted the resolution Wednesday after 12 members voted in favour, none against and India, China and Russia abstained.

This is the first Security Council resolution adopted on Myanmar in 74 years. The only other UNSC resolution on Myanmar was in 1948 after the country formerly known as Burma got independence from Britain when the Council recommended to the General Assembly that the Union of Burma be admitted to membership in the United Nations.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, presiding over the meeting, delivered the explanation of the vote in her national capacity and said New Delhi believes that the complex situation in Myanmar calls for an approach of quiet and patient diplomacy.

7:48 AM

Zelenskyy says war with Russia ends with Ukraine's sovereignty restored

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid a defiant wartime visit to Washington on Wednesday to thank US leaders and ordinary Americans for their support in fighting off Russia's invasion and pledged there would be no compromises" in trying to bring an end to the war.

President Joe Biden and Congress responded with billions in new assistance and a pledge to help Ukraine pursue a just peace.

Biden welcomed Zelenskyy to the Oval Office, saying the U.S. and Ukraine would continue to project a united defense as Russia wages a brutal assault on Ukraine's right to exist as a nation. Zelenskyy, on his first known trip outside his country since Russia invaded in February, said he wanted to visit earlier and his visit now showed the situation is under control, because of your support.

For me as a president, just peace' is no compromises, Zelenskyy told reporters. He said the war would end once Ukraine's sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity were restored, as well as the payback for all the damages inflicted by Russian aggression.

 

6:55 AM

Tax mop-up enough to fund extra expenses: FM Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman exuded confidence that tax revenue generation in the current fiscal year (FY23) would be sufficient to fund the additional spending of Rs 3.26 trillion, for which her ministry has sought Parliamentary approval. Replying to the debate on Supplementary Demand for Grants in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, Sitharaman refuted the Opposition’s claims that the Centre was not well prepared for global headwinds and said that the budgetary expenditure assumptions were made before the war in Ukraine and its impact on food and commodity prices. Read more

6:52 AM

Mask up, take the jab, Covid is not over yet, Centre cautions citizens

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday chaired a review meeting of top health officials and experts on the country’s Covid preparedness and directed officials to be alert and reinforce surveillance amid a surge in novel coronavirus cases globally. “Covid is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are prepared to manage any situation,” Mandaviya tweeted on Wednesday after the review meet.
Reports of a sudden spike in Covid cases in China, Japan, the US, and Brazil have surfaced. At least three cases of the subvariant BF.7 — responsible for the surge in China — have been detected in India so far. The first variant was detected in July in Gujarat. Thereafter, two more cases were found in Gujarat and Odisha, a senior health ministry official informed Business Standard. The official said no surge in cases was detected after the variant was spotted. Read more