(LiveMint) The states across India reported over 6,500 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. The total number of COVID-19 cases in India increased to 158,333 today, according to the data released by ministry of health and family welfare. Maharashtra alone reported a lion’s share of the fresh COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. The state registered 2,190 new cases in last 24 hours. Delhi saw the biggest spike in COVID-19 count — 792 fresh cases were added on Wednesday. The number of deaths related to COVID-19 infection rose to 4,531. The states confirmed 194 deaths in last 24 hours, second highest in a single…
Author: Aruna Sharma
(PTI) The government has for the second time extended the deadline for bidding for privatisation of India’s second-biggest oil refiner Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) by over a month to July 31. While the Cabinet had in November last year approved the sale of government’s entire 52.98 per cent stake in BPCL, offers seeking expression of interest (EoI), or bids showing interest in buying its stake, were invited only on March 7. The EoI submission deadline was May 2, but on March 31 it was extended up to June 13. On Wednesday, the government said this deadline is further being extended up to July 31. “In view…
(ET) The BJP will hold “virtual rallies” across the country and organise over 1,000 conferences online as it readies to celebrate the first anniversary of the Modi government’s second term whose “historic achievements”, the party said, will be written in golden letters. In a communication to state units and other senior office-bearers, BJP general secretary Arun Singh said all big state units will hold at least two virtual rallies and smaller units will hold one, adding that more than 750 people should attend each of these programmes. There will also be 1,000 conferences using internet, he said. The spread of coronavirus, which…
(ET) Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh may be continuing to witness an increase in Covid-19 cases with the return of migrant workers to their native places, but the Centre has expressed satisfaction over the recovery rate among patients in these three states exceeding 50% and over key urban centres showing an improvement on this count. MP has reported a 51% recovery rate among Covid-19 patients while Rajasthan has done better at 54% and UP is the best among the three states with a 56% recovery rate. In all these states, the number of active cases is hence below the number…
(ET) The Centre plans to double its Covid-19 testing capacity to 200,000 a day, with a special focus on states facing an influx of migrant workers. The testing infrastructure is being quickly strengthened and fine-tuned in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha, among others, under the watch of the Centre’s empowered groups. As the migrants return home, 17 testing labs in Bihar, 17 in Odisha, 27 in UP and 36 in West Bengal are ready to begin testing. Testing facilities with an output of 1,400 samples a day have been operationalised at the National Institute of Biologicals in Noida…
(ET) Moving ahead with its asset monetisation process IL&FS has invited expressions of interest (EoI) to divest the 26 per cent stake the crisis-hit company holds through IFIN and IEDCL in OTPC. IL&FS has invited Expressions of Interest for acquisition of 26 per cent of the issued and outstanding shares of OTPC owned by IFIN and IEDCL. Through IEDCL, IL&FS holds 12.03 per cent and through IFIN, the group holds 13.97 per cent. The other shareholders of OTPC are state-run ONGC, with 50 per cent stake, India Infrastructure Fund-II with 23.5 per cent, managed by Global Infrastructure Partners and the Government of Tripura holding 0.5 per…
(Tribune) India and China continue to be on the edge with both sides at a series of military-level meetings failing to find a solution to the ongoing crisis in eastern Ladakh. For now, Army and IAF deployments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, HP and Uttarakhand have been stationed to ‘mirror’ China’s movement. Sources say some military movement is taking place in China across the Tibetan plateau to its key base at Nygari, 100 km south-east of Demchok. The Indian effort is to use UAVs to find out exact points where the Chinese can attempt a military move. The…
(Tribune) With Himachal Pradesh witnessing a sharp spike in Covid cases to 225 over the past few days, the state government has decided to extend the curfew by a month till June 30. The caseload increased mainly on account of state residents who returned from other states, particularly Maharashtra, and tested positive for the virus here. Though the curfew would be extended, public and private transport, including taxis and autos, are to resume operations from June 1. Officials said all Deputy Commissioners had already issued orders for the extension of the curfew for another month. The highest 63 Covid cases are…
(PTI) The Centre has released Rs 1,000 crore to the West Bengal government, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and a team of the Union government will visit the state soon to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Amphan. The rescue-and-relief operations in West Bengal were discussed at a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, here on Monday. As announced by the prime minister after his aerial survey and review of the relief efforts with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a sum of Rs 1,000 crore has already been released to…
(HT) Coronavirus restrictions are being eased across the world as economies look to begin countering the long-term slump the Covid-19 brought to the economy. Several nations will see growth in the negative zone. Germany has seen businesses reopen but their index reminds far below normal readings. India wants to give infrastructure and consumption of FMCG a boost in the rural areas to bring back demand in the economy. Despite over 2.3 lakh people recovering, Covid-19 cases have crossed the 5.5 lakh mark across the planet. India has recorded more than 1,45,380 cases with 4,167 deaths and more than 60,000 people…