LIVE: Lack of information on China's Covid outbreak stirs global concerns

Live news updates: The US, in announcing a negative test requirement on Wednesday for passengers from China, cited both the surge in infections and what it said was a lack of information

3:01 PM

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman discharged from AIIMS

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman discharged from AIIMS, where she was admitted on Monday with viral fever like symptoms: Sources

2:42 PM

Lack of information on China's Covid outbreak stirs global concerns

Moves by the US, Japan and others to mandate COVID-19 tests for passengers arriving from China reflect global concern that new variants could emerge in its ongoing explosive outbreak and the government may not inform the rest of the world quickly enough.

There have been no reports of new variants to date. But given the country's track record, the worry is that China may not be sharing data on any signs of evolving strains that could spark fresh outbreaks elsewhere.

The US, in announcing a negative test requirement on Wednesday for passengers from China, cited both the surge in infections and what it said was a lack of information, including the genomic sequencing of the virus strains in the country.

2:40 PM

5G services to be launched in Odisha before 2023 Republic Day celebrations: Vaishnaw

Asserting that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 5,600 crore for telecom services in Odisha, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said 5G services will be launched in the eastern state before the Republic Day celebrations next year.

In an apparent reference to the ruling BJD in the state, Vaishnaw also said "now, no one can make an allegation that the Centre is neglecting Odisha's telecom sector.

"The Modi government has sanctioned a total of Rs 5,600 crore for telecom services in Odisha, and 5G services will be launched in the state before the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2023, he said.

1:11 PM

BJP, Cong spar over cough syrup related deaths in Uzbekistan, Gambia

The alleged role of Indian pharma companies in the deaths of children abroad led to a verbal tussle between the BJP and the Congress on Thursday. While the opposition party asked the government to stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world and take strictest action, the ruling party accused it of deriding India in its "hate" for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has initiated a probe in connection with the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan allegedly linked to a cough syrup manufactured by an Indian firm, official sources said on Thursday.

Before that, were reports linking the deaths of children in Gambia to India-made cough syrups. The Drugs Controller General of India had claimed the WHO drew a premature link.

1:01 PM

US to sell Taiwan anti-tank system amid rising China threat

The US State Department has approved the sale of an anti-tank mine-laying system to Taiwan amid the rising military threat from China.

The department on Wednesday said the Volcano system and all related equipment would cost an estimated USD 180 million.

It's capable of scattering anti-tank and anti-personnel mines from either a ground vehicle or helicopter, the type of weapon some experts believe Taiwan needs more of to dissuade or repel a potential Chinese invasion.

12:40 PM

Ukraine facing another Russian missile attack

Authorities in Ukraine say several regions of the country, including its capital, were facing a Russian missile attack on Thursday.

 

Air raid sirens rang out in many regions of the country early on Thursday. In Kyiv, the regional administration said that air defence systems have been activated to fend off the ongoing missile attack. Sounds of explosions were heard in Kyiv.

 

Ukrainian authorities in several regions said that some Russian missiles have been downed.

12:31 PM

PM to visit Bengal tomorrow, to dedicate several projects to nation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal on Friday to lay foundation stone and dedicate to the nation projects worth more than Rs 7,800 crore there.

He will chair the second meeting of the National Ganga Council in Kolkata.

Modi will lay foundation stone and dedicate to the nation multiple sewerage infrastructure projects in West Bengal worth over Rs 2,550 crore.

He will also flag off Vande Bharat Express connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri and will also inaugurate Joka-Taratala stretch of Purple Line of Kolkata Metro.

12:26 PM

'India-Australia FTA to help bilateral trade cross $70 bn in next 5 years'

The free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Australia, which comes into effect from Thursday, will help boost bilateral trade in goods and services to cross $70 billion in the next five years, according to economic think tank GTRI.

The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) has come into force from December 29.

Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said trade of value $23 billion would become duty-free from day one.

This is 93 per cent of merchandise trade of $25 billion in 2021-22 between India and Australia. This creates opportunities for more trade in tough times. GTRI estimates suggest that the bilateral trade will cross $70 billion in the next five years due to buoyant trade relations and Australia's gradual weaning away from China, GTRI Co-founder Ajay Srivastava said in a statement.

India's goods exports to Australia stood at $8.3 billion and imports from the country aggregated to $16.75 billion in 2021-22.

12:23 PM

Rahul Gandhi himself 'violated' security guidelines: Govt officials on Cong's security concerns

Full security arrangements were made for Rahul Gandhi in accordance with laid down guidelines but he himself "violated" the security protocols, government officials said Thursday, a day after the Congress alleged security breaches during the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in the national capital.

The Congress on Wednesday wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging security breaches during the Yatra in the city and demanded immediate steps to ensure the security of Gandhi and others taking part in the march.

The security arrangements have been fully made for Rahul Gandhi as per the guidelines, the officials said.

Dismissing the allegations, the officials said the security arrangements made for the protectee works fine when the protectee himself adheres to the laid down security guidelines.

12:21 PM

NTA to conduct CUET-PG from June 1-10: UGC Chairman

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct CUET-PG from June 1-10 2023, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar, said on Wednesday.

 

The application process will start in mid-March 2023, added the UGC Chairman.

 

This will be the second edition of CUET-PG.

 

This year, more than 30 central universities participated in the common entrance exam for postgraduate admissions.

 

For 2023, NTA has announced an advance calendar for all the major entrance examinations.

 

The CUET for undergraduate admissions will be conducted between May 21 and May 31, 2023.

 

11:38 AM

Uttarakhand makes masks compulsory at private, government schools amid COVID concerns

Amid COVID-19 fear, the Uttarakhand government made masks mandatory in private as well as government schools.

 

Uttarakhand Director General of Education Bansidhar Tiwari said, "Students, teachers and other employees of private and government schools will have to come wearing masks and use sanitiser-thermal screening."

 

Tiwari said that instructions have been given to the principals of all private and government schools that every employee, teacher and child will have to wear masks in the school.

11:31 AM

Govt closely monitoring exports of products used to deal with Covid

The government has started close monitoring of exports of products used to deal with Covid infections such as PPE kits, masks, ventilators and certain medicines like paracetamol on account of rising infections in various countries, including China, an official said.

 

The move is aimed at dealing with any possible emergency situation on account of a spurt in coronavirus cases.

 

"We are keeping a close watch on exports of all these products. We are monitoring the situation to take appropriate decisions, though the situation at present is not alarming. We should be prepared for everything and for that our domestic requirement should be ready,” the official said.

11:27 AM

India logs 268 new Coronavirus cases, active cases rise to 3,552

India recorded 268 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases increased to 3,552, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

 

The Covid case tally was recorded at 44,677,915).

 

The death toll stands at 530,698 with two fatalities with one reconciled by Kerala and one death reported from Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.

 

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.11 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.17 per cent, the ministry said.

 

It said 2,36,919 tests for detection of Covid have been conducted in the last 24 hours.

 

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.

11:25 AM

Uttar Pradesh CM pays tributes to Guru Gobind Singh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday paid tributes to 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh on his birth anniversary and said he dedicated his life to the protection of humanity.

 

"Millions of salutes to Guru Shri Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, the unique model of struggle against unrighteousness and tyranny, the unique warrior, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, the great saint, the founder of the Khalsa Panth on his Prakash Parv, a million salutes!" the chief minister tweeted.

 

He said, "Your sacrificial life dedicated to the protection of religion and humanity is a precious path for human civilisation.

11:25 AM

Delhi to ring in New Year in chilly weather

Cold wave and cold day conditions are predicted to wallop parts of Delhi on New Year's eve and the winter chill would intensify further in early January, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.

 

Cold conditions have abated in north India, including Delhi, for now under the influence of a western disturbance, characterised by warm moist winds from the Middle East.

 

However, the minimum will start dropping again from December 31, meteorologists said.

 

The minimum will drop to 6 degrees Celsius on Saturday and further to 4 degrees Celsius by Monday (January 2), the IMD forecast.

11:08 AM

Congress mukt Bharat not possible: Sharad Pawar

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday, during his visit to the Congress office in Pune on the party's foundation day celebrations, said, "Congress mukt Bharat is not possible" as no one can ignore the ideology and contribution of the party.

 

"This place has witnessed several historical moments. Amost all veterans of congress Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi have visited this place. Earlier, the Pune Congress office was the head office of the state," Pawar said while addressing Congress workers at the premises of Congress Bhawan.

 

He added that the contribution and history of the Congress cannoit be ignored.

 

"Some people say that we will make Congress mukt Bharat (congress free India) but it is not possible to make Bharat Congress mukt. In fact, if we want to take India forward we have to take congress forward, one cannot ignore the ideology of the Congress. We cannot forget the contribution and history of congress," he said.

11:07 AM

India extends policy to import refined palm oil at lower duty

India extended a policy to import refined palm oil at a lower duty and allowed imports of 51,000 tonnes of cotton at nil duty in 2023, the government said in a notification late on Thursday.

 

The concessional duty structure for the refined palm oil had been due to expire on December 31. It has been extended "until further orders," the government said.

 

In December 2021, India cut basic import tax on refined palm oil and brought down the total taxes on their imports to 13.75% from 19.25% earlier.

10:47 AM

Lack of info on China's COVID outbreak stirs global concerns

Moves by the US, Japan and others to mandate COVID-19 tests for passengers arriving from China reflect global concern that new variants could emerge in its ongoing explosive outbreak and the government may not inform the rest of the world quickly enough.

There have been no reports of new variants to date. But given the country's track record, the worry is that China may not be sharing data on any signs of evolving strains that could spark fresh outbreaks elsewhere.

The US, in announcing a negative test requirement on Wednesday for passengers from China, cited both the surge in infections and what it said was a lack of information, including the genomic sequencing of the virus strains in the country.

10:46 AM

Always work for those in need: Dalai Lama in Bodh Gaya

Urging people to work for those in need, the Dalai Lama on Thursday said if a person is a believer he needs to think of others.

Addressing a gathering at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, the Dalai Lama said he has no ill will against those who provoke anger in him.

"If you are a believer, you need to think of others. If you only think of yourself that is not what is expected of you, always work for those who are in need," he said.

"We are born human beings, and wherever I may be, I will continue to work for humanity," he added.

10:44 AM

Shah on 3-day visit to K'taka, BJP plans to strengthen base in south

Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah is arriving in Karnataka on Thursday for a three-day visit.

 

Shah is arriving in Bengaluru at 10.20 p.m. at the Yelahanka Air Base. Mandya University has announced a holiday for two days in the backdrop of Shah's visit. He will participate in Jan Spandan Yatra convention on December 30 in Mandya University grounds.

 

Through the visit of Shah, the party hopes to strengthen its base in southern parts of the state.

10:38 AM

China starts work on huge $11 bn desert renewables project

China broke ground on an 80 billion yuan ($11 billion) renewables project in Inner Mongolia, part of a massive clean-power rollout to achieve the nation’s ambitious climate targets. 

 

The project, located in the Kubuqi Desert, will have 16 gigawatts of power capacity when completed, according to a statement by China Three Gorges Group, one of the two builders. It will be able to transmit 40 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province annually, with more than half from clean power, according to a report by state media Xinhua News. 

 

The facility is set to become the world’s largest renewable project in a desert region, the company said. It ultimately will include 8 gigawatts of solar and 4 gigawatts of wind energy, plus 4 gigawatts of upgraded coal power to adjust for peak demand, according to Xinhua.

10:29 AM

TN retains investment destination tag in 2022 with Rs 1 trn investments

Often billed as a favoured investment destination, Tamil Nadu managed to garner over Rs 1 lakh crore investments committed by various companies in 2022, a year that brought both challenges and opportunities to the southern state.It faced the challenge arising out of various issues like Russia-Ukraine conflict or the suspension of the production at US automaker Ford near here among others.

 

This year, Tamil Nadu signed memoranda of understanding with over 60 companies which committed investments of Rs 1.25 trillion that would generate around 75,000 new jobs.

 

Chief Minister M K Stalin has been reaching out to investors at various platforms to make Tamil Nadu become the most attractive investment destination in South Asia and endeavour towards 'Made in Tamil Nadu' products reaching all parts of the world.

10:29 AM

Naxalite movement in Gadchiroli slowed down due to Surajgarh mines project: Maha CM

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said the Naxalite movement in Gadchiroli district has slowed down since the Surjagarh iron ore mines project became operational.

 

Speaking during Question Hour in the state Legislative Council here on Wednesday, the chief minister assured that local people would be given jobs in the project on a priority basis.

 

"Since the project was operationalised, the Naxalite movement in the district has slowed down," he said, replying to a question by Jayant Patil, Ramdas Ambatkar and Abhijeet Wanjari.

10:28 AM

Congress demands action against Uzbekistan's cough syrup deaths claim

The Congress on Thursday slammed the Centre and demanded the "strictest" action against the Uzbekistan government's claim that 18 children died in the Central Asian nation after consuming cough syrup made by an Indian manufacturer.

Taking to Twitter, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said: "Made in India cough syrups seem to be deadly. First it was the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia & now it is that of 18 children in Uzbekistan. Modi Sarkar must stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world & take strictest action."

In a statement, the Uzbek Health Ministry had said that "18 out of 21 children with acute respiratory disease have died as a result of taking Doc-1 Max syrup manufactured by the Indian company Marion Biotech Pvt Ltd".

10:20 AM

Security alert in Bodh Gaya amid Dalai Lama's visit

A security alert was issued in Bodh Gaya in Bihar on Thursday morning amid the visit of the Dalai Lama with the police searching for a Chinese woman, an official said.

 

Police issued a sketch of the woman, identified as Song Xiaolan, besides sharing her passport and visa details with the press, he said.

 

However, it was not immediately clear why the police were looking for the woman.

10:17 AM

PM Modi pays tributes to Guru Gobind Singh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh on his birth anniversary.

 

His unparalleled courage will continue to motivate people for years to come, Modi tweeted, and posted a previous clip of his speech lauding the guru.

 

He tweeted, "On the sacred occasion of his Parkash Purab, I bow to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and recall his contribution towards serving humanity. His unparalleled courage will continue to motivate people for years to come." 

10:17 AM

MCC expresses interest in hosting Indo-Pak Test after T20 WC clash success

The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) has expressed interest in hosting a Test match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan after successfully organising the marquee T20 World Cup clash between the two sides earlier this year.

 

MCC, which manages the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the Victoria government have recently inquired with Cricket Australia (CA) about the possibility of hosting the high-profile Test.

 

MCC chief executive Stuart Fox has revealed his intentions to host the Test following the tremendous success of the T20 World Cup clash in October, which was attended by over 90,000 spectators.

10:15 AM

NIA raids multiple locations linked to PFI in Kerala

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials on Thursday carried out raids at multiple locations including residences of second-rung leaders across of the banned Islamist outfit Popular Front of India in Kerala.

 

The raids, which started late last night are still underway, sources in the Kerala police said.

 

Multi-agency teams spearheaded by the NIA had arrested several functionaries including top leaders of the radical Islamic outfit in September in near simultaneous raids at multiple locations in 15 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country.

 

10:15 AM

RT-PCR report of passengers from China, 4 other nations must: Official

With the next month expected to be crucial for India’s Covid-19 situation, passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore would have to carry a negative RT-PCR report from next week onwards, official sources have said.

 

The Covid-19 spike in these countries has sent alarm bells ringing in India as well, with states gearing up to prepare for any emergencies and taking stock of health infrastructure.

 

A PTI report quoted an official saying, “Previously, it has been noticed that a new wave of Covid-19 hits India around 30-35 days after it hits East Asia.... This has been a trend.”

10:13 AM

Prez Zelenskyy discusses Ukraine's reconstruction with BlackRock CEO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed his country's post-conflict reconstruction with Larry Fink, Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock, one of the world's leading investment managers, the presidential press service reported.

During a conversation through video link, Zelensky thanked Fink for the work of a BlackRock team that had prepared a project to advise the Ukrainian government on how to structure Ukraine's reconstruction funds, the report said on Wednesday.