LIVE: Stay alert, be prepared for Covid management, HM says to states

Catch live updates from across the globe here

9:28 PM

India a vital partner in trade, investment among key areas of bilateral ties: South Korea Foreign Minister

9:05 PM

Covid is not over, it is still among us: Chhattisgarh Health Minister TS Singh Deo

It will keep increasing and decreasing. Worrying factor is what if a new variant comes that can cause death. There was one death due to covid in both March & April. I appeal to people to be careful, must wear mask while going out & senior citizens must be extra careful. Those who haven’t taken booster dose yet must do so.

 

9:04 PM

Jaishankar, his South Korean counterpart Park Jin hold discussions to take ahead Special Strategic Partnership

7:55 PM

BJP is saying that our Nal-Jal Yojana is unsuccessful: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

The PM wrote that in Chhattisgarh 17 lakh people got tap water, 34 lakh got houses, and 35 lakh got cylinders...On one side, PM is praising our govt and on the other side, BJP people are shedding crocodile tears.

 

6:56 PM

926 new COVID cases & 3 deaths reported in Maharashtra in the last 24 hours

6:37 PM

Foreign Minister of Republic of Korea meets Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar

Discussion on significance of cultural & people-to-people ties in strengthening India-Republic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership: Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President.

 

4:45 PM

Thunderstorm alert in Maharashtra: IMD

Thunderstorm very likely to occur over Dhule, Nandurbar,Nashik, Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Solapur, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg during next 3 to 4 hours. Possibility of hail at isolated places ( Kolhapur, Dhule, Aurangabad): Regional metrological center, Mumbai.

 

3:33 PM

Govt to launch special scheme to provide financial support to poor prisoners: MHA

In a move expected to decongest the prisons, the Centre has decided to launch a special scheme to provide financial support to poor people languishing in jails as they are unable to afford the penalty or the bail amount.

"This will enable poor prisoners, majority of whom belong to socially disadvantaged or marginalised groups with lower education and income level, to get out of prison, the Home Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

3:19 PM

India received 6.19 mn foreign tourists in 2022 compared to 1.52 mn in 2021

India received 6.19 million foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) during 2022 as compared to 1.52 million during the same period of 2021.

There were 10.93 million FTAs in India during the pre-pandemic year 2019.

3:04 PM

Congress' candidates for about 60 seats in Karnataka unsuitable, party will lose badly: Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday commented that the Congress didn't have suitable candidates in about 60 seats and the party would lose badly in the May 10 Assembly polls, performing worse than last time.

He said the Congress lacked not only candidates, but a base in the State as well as clarity on its policies.

2:45 PM

Israel reinforces troops after violence along Lebanon, Gaza borders

Israel reinforced troops near its borders with Lebanon and Gaza on Friday following a flare-up in violence that threatened to spiral out of control after police raids this week on the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

 

But even as major salvoes of rockets were fired at northern and southern Israel over the past day and Israel's military replied with strikes in Lebanon and Gaza, no serious injuries were reported and neither side seemed keen to broaden the conflict.

 

"Nobody wants an escalation right now," an Israeli army spokesman told reporters. "Quiet will be answered with quiet, at this stage I think, at least in the coming hours." Much hinged on Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem's walled Old City, which draws large crowds and has been a flashpoint during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

2:41 PM

Country won't forgive Opposition for disrupting Parliament over Rahul's disqualification: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday claimed that people would not forgive the opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha based on a legislation brought by the Congress-led UPA government.

Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the Kaushambi Mahotsav, he exhorted people to elect Narendra Modi as prime minister once again in 2024 for the all-around welfare of all sections of society.

"The country will not forgive opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification... Democracy is not in danger, it is casteism and dynastic politics ('parivarwad') which are in danger," Shah said.

2:40 PM

Nitish urges Centre to provide fresh COVID vaccine stocks

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday urged the Centre to provide fresh stocks of Covid vaccine vials so that administering of jabs, which is currently on hold, could be resumed.

Talking to reporters here on the sidelines of a function, he also asserted that his government was "alert" in view of rising incidence of COVID cases in some parts of the country, though Bihar was not one of them.

"Our testing rate is much higher than the national average, which is six lakh tests per one million people. We are conducting eight lakh tests. Bihar accounts for about one fourth of the total number of tests conducted across the country", claimed Kumar.

2:12 PM

World food prices fall for 12th month running in March: FAO

The United Nations food agency's world price index fell in March for a 12th consecutive month, and is now down 20.5% from a record high hit one year ago following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 126.9 points last month against 129.7 for February, the agency said on Friday. It was the lowest reading since July 2021.

The February reading was originally given as 129.8.

A combination of ample supplies, subdued import demand and the extension of a deal allowing the safe export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea contributed to the drop, FAO said. The Rome-based agency said the decline in the index reflected lower prices for cereals, vegetable oils and dairy products, which offset rises in sugar and meat prices.

1:58 PM

Toyota to sell 1.5 mn EVs by 2026, roll out 10 new models

Toyota Motor Corp.’s new Chief Executive Officer Koji Sato unveiled the beginnings of a long-awaited plan to electrify the automaker’s vehicle lineup during his first press conference, but stopped short of outlining concrete steps about how exactly the company will match its EV rivals abroad.

 

The Japanese automaker, often describing itself as a mobility company whose wish is to change the future of cars, on Friday said it will release 10 new EV models by 2026 and sell 1.5 million battery electric vehicles annually while “strengthening hybrids and plug-in hybrids” in order to honor its pledge to halve emissions by 2035 and become carbon neutral by 2050. 

1:46 PM

Puducherry govt makes wearing masks compulsory in public places

The Puducherry administration on Friday made mask wearing compulsory in the union territory with immediate effect owing to the rise in number of Covid-19 cases.

 

District Collector E Vallavan said with the union territory currently witnessing a surge in coronavirus positive cases, the territorial administration has enforced with immediate effect a slew of precautionary measures "to minimise the risk of increase in transmission of Covid-19 in the coming days." Vallavan, who is Member-Secretary of the Executive committee of the Disaster Management Authority here, told reporters "public shall compulsory wear masks in public places, on the beach road, parks and theatres." He said the government has also issued an order enforcing the "precautionary measures in the whole of the Union Territory of Puducherry with immediate effect and there would be focus on test, track, treat and vaccination.

 

1:45 PM

Network Planning Group under PM Gati Shakti approves 4 infra projects

The Network Planning Group (NPG) under the PM Gati Shakti initiative has approved four infrastructure projects related to railways, an official statement said on Friday.

 

In October 2021, PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan was launched with an aim to develop an integrated and planned infrastructure to reduce logistics costs.

 

All logistics and connectivity infrastructure projects, entailing an investment of over Rs 500 crore, are routed through NPG.

1:37 PM

Mandaviya chairs meeting with State Health Ministers on Covid-19 situation

1:28 PM

ONGC Tripura Asset posts high ever gas production

The ONGC Tripura Asset has recorded the highest ever annual gas production at 1,675 Million Standard Cubic Metres (MMSCM) in the northeastern state for 2022-23 FY breaking all its previous records, a senior official said on Friday.

 

Prior to this, the maximum amount of natural gas produced by ONGC in the northeastern state was during 2020-21 FY, when the company registered a gas output of 1,634 MMSCM.

 

1:25 PM

Centre regularly issuing guidelines to states, UTs: MoS Health Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar amid Covid spike

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, on Friday said the Centre has been regularly issuing guidelines to the states and Union Territories amid a nationwide upward spiral in the Covid-19 cases.

Speaking to ANI, Pawar said, "The Centre has been issuing guidelines to states and UTs regularly in view of the spike in Covid cases. PM Modi also held a review meeting with all states and UTs to assess their Covid preparedness."

"Today, Health Minister Dr Mandaviya will hold a review meeting with health ministers of states and UTs," MoS Health Dr Pawar added.

On Wednesday, the Covid Empowerment Working Group also conducted a review meeting featuring Dr Rajiv Bahl, DG, ICMR and other senior health officials.

1:17 PM

Telangana BJP President pays tribute to Ambedkar in Karimnagar after bail in SSC paper leak case

12:57 PM

Former Andhra Pradesh CM Kiran Kumar Reddy joins BJP, slams Congress leadership

Former Congress leader and last chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh N Kiran Kumar Reddy joined the BJP on Friday, lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi and slamming the leadership of the opposition party.

 

Reddy joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and hit out at the Congress leadership for its inability to accept people's verdict and make course correction.

 

They believe they are correct and all others, including the people of India, are wrong, he said.

12:57 PM

Srinagar airport to spruce up amenities to handle increased footfall

Setting up more baggage checking machines and introducing electric vehicles to ferry passengers are among the key measures to be undertaken to handle increased footfall at the international airport here ahead of G20 events and the tourist season, officials said on Friday.

 

Besides these, a police unit to cater to complaints and grievances of tourists and a police facilitation counter would also be setup, they said.

 

The measures were announced on Thursday at a meeting to review the security aspects and functioning of the Srinagar international airport, the officials said.

12:36 PM

Boosting connectivity between holy sites, local economies at centre of Vande Bharat train push: Officials

Improving connectivity between pilgrim centres and helping local economies are at the centre of the government's push for Vande Bharat Express trains, sources said on Friday.

 

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to flag off the semi high-speed modern train between Secunderabad and Tirupati on Saturday, four of the 13 operational Vande Bharat Express routes will connect some of India's most revered pilgrimage sites, the government sources said.

12:25 PM

By transgressing powers, BJP-appointed governors 'trampling upon democracy': Chidambaram

BJP-appointed governors are "trampling upon democracy" by transgressing their powers, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Friday as he hit out at Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi's remarks on his discretion to withhold bills passed by the state legislature.

 

During his interaction with civil service aspirants for the 'Think to Dare' series at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai on Thursday, Ravi commented on assembly bills forwarded to him for presidential assent and said that "the governor has three options: give assent, withhold - meaning the bill is dead - which the Supreme Court and Constitution uses as decent language to mean reject, and third, reserve the bill for the President".

 

12:02 PM

Toyota says to launch 10 new battery EV models by 2026

Toyota Motor Corp said on Friday it aims to introduce 10 new battery electric vehicle models by 2026 - a long awaited ramp-up in an area that the Japanese automaker has been slow to embrace.

 

Toyota will also set up a new, specialised unit to focus on next-generation battery EVs, senior executives said at a briefing, in an apparent response to widening concern that it is losing out to Tesla Inc and other rivals.

 

11:52 AM

No entry for heavy vehicles on Noida expressway from 7 am to 10 pm

Entry of heavy vehicles on the Noida-Greater Noida expressway has been banned from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. as a trial method to deal with increasing traffic.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Traffic, Anil Kumar Yadav, in an advisory stated that heavy vehicles will not be allowed to enter the expressway during the day from Friday.

However, vehicles carrying essential commodities such as fruits, vegetables, milk, medicine and fuel, etc., will be allowed to ply. Traffic police will be deployed on the route to check the same and initiate action against the ones found violating rules.

11:51 AM

India provided medicines, vaccines to over 180 countries during Covid-19 pandemic: Mansukh Mandaviya

On World Health Day, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya today said that 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' is India's heritage and the country has fulfilled its responsibility by providing medicines and vaccines to more than 180 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"On the occasion of World Health Day, I wish for the health of the whole world. The concept of Vasudev Kutumbakam is our heritage and in this series, the country is fulfilling its responsibility for the world in the health sector under the leadership of Modi ji. During the Corona period, we had seen that there was a shortage of medicines all over the world, then our country made medicines available to more than 180 countries, and along with it vaccines were also made available," the Health Minister told ANI.

Mandaviya arrived at Delhi's Vijay Chowk to take part in the walkathon on the occasion of the World Health Day. The medical staff and paramedical staff walk from Vijay Chowk to Nirman Bhawan.

11:49 AM

Pak Finance Minister pulls out of IMF spring meetings citing political uncertainty

In a major development, Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has cancelled his visit to the US where he was scheduled to meet the International Monetary Fund (IMF) management for the removal of bottlenecks in the way of the staff-level agreement regarding the revival of the stalled bailout package.

Highly placed sources told The Express Tribune that Dar would not attend the spring meetings of the World Bank-IMF that were taking place from April 10-16 in Washington.

Dar, who is also leader of the house in Senate, was scheduled to land in Washington on Sunday.

11:48 AM

Nepal, China to hold bilateral diplomatic consultation today in Beijing

The 15th meeting of the bilateral diplomatic consultation mechanism between the foreign ministries of Nepal and China will be held today in Beijing, EPardafas reported.

For the meeting, Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal will lead Nepal's delegation. The delegation has already arrived in China for the meeting. China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong will lead the Chinese delegation, according to the news report.

Various issues of bilateral relations are expected to be discussed between the foreign ministries of Nepal and China, as per the EPardafas report. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, border, security and several other issues will be discussed in the meeting. China seeks to hold a discussion on the Global Security Initiative (GSI), a new security architecture floated by Beijing and wants Nepal's support.