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3:48 PM

New study shows loss of smell among most prevalent symptoms of long Covid

Smell loss is one of the most prevalent symptoms of long Covid, according to a new study.

 

According to the research, it reveals that almost a third of long Covid patients suffer persistent smell loss, with almost a fifth experiencing loss of taste

3:36 PM

Those supporting terror ecosystem will face action: J&K L-G Manoj Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday that those supporting the 'terror ecosystem' will face action.

 

Addressing a media conference here, Sinha said, "Whosoever supports the terror ecosystem in J&K will face action."

2:54 PM

CM Kejriwal directs health dept to ramp up genome sequencing: Officials

The Delhi government is keeping a watch on the COVID-19 situation and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has directed the health department to ensure genome sequencing of samples and take other steps needed to meet any eventuality, officials said on Wednesday.

 

Amid a sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, China and the US, the central government had on Tuesday urged all states and Union territories to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of emerging variants.

2:42 PM

UN official warns against new Armenia-Azerbaijan clash over disputed land

A senior UN official urged the international community on Tuesday to prevent Armenia and Azerbaijan from resuming their conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region as the two countries accused each other of violating a Russian-brokered peace agreement.

 

UN Assistant Secretary-General for political affairs Miroslav Jenca said a renewed conflict would likely impact the wider south Caucasus region and beyond.

2:31 PM

Covid-19 cases in the US surpass 100 million: Johns Hopkins University

The number of Covid-19 cases registered in the US since the start of the pandemic in early 2020 exceeded a staggering 100 million, Johns Hopkins University has said, amid a sharp spike in caseloads globally and the WHO making a strong pitch for vaccination.

 

Japan, the US, the Republic of Korea, Brazil and China have witnessed a sudden spike in coronavirus cases over the last week. US-based Johns Hopkins University in its latest update said that 100,003,837 coronavirus cases were reported in the country so far.

2:16 PM

Oppn leaders protest in Parl, demand discussion on India-China faceoff

Congress MP Sonia Gandhi and other Opposition leaders on Wednesday protested in front of the Gandhi statue inside the Parliament premises, demanding a discussion on the recent India-China clash at Tawang.

 

Earlier in the day Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Manish Tewari gave Adjournment Motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the border situation with China.

2:06 PM

We appeal to all, especially senior citizens, to take precaution dose: NITI Aayog's Dr VK Paul

NITI Aayog's member, Dr VK Paul, after Union Health Minister's Mansukh Mandaviya meeting on Covid, says, "Only 27-28 per cent of people have taken precaution dose. We appeal to others, especially senior citizens, to take precaution dose. Precaution dose is mandated and guided to everyone."

"Use a mask if you are in a crowded space, indoors or outdoors. This is all the more important for people with comorbidities or are of higher age," he adds.

 

1:55 PM

BFSI Summit | Credit-deposit gap seems divergent due to base, says RBI guv

The wide gap between credit and deposit growth is because of their respective bases and both reflect the fundamentals of the Indian economy, Reserve Bank of India’s governor Shaktikanta Das said at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit on Wednesday.

“Just as credit growth looks very high because of the low base of the previous year, deposit growth also looks pretty low because of the base effect of the previous years. This is because in the Covid period, deposits were growing by around 10 or 11 per cent,” Das said during a fireside chat.

According to latest data released by RBI, bank credit is growing at 17.5 per cent while deposit growth is lagging at 9.9 per cent, as on December 2, 2022. Credit growth during the year-ago period was 7,3 per cent and deposits were growing at 9.4 per cent.

1:36 PM

Why just Bharat Jodo Yatra?: Congress after Mandaviya's letter to Rahul

Accusing the government of selectively picking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress on Wednesday said the BJP was taking out yatras in Karnataka and Rajasthan and asked if Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had sent letters to their organisers too.

The poser from Congress leader Pawan Khera came after the minister on Tuesday wrote to former party president Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to consider suspending the Bharat Jodo Yatra if Covid protocols could not be followed.

Khera, who pointed to the lack of restrictions in public transport, also asked the government to announce Covid protocols and said the party would follow them.

"We are wondering why a similar letter was not sent to the president of BJP in Rajasthan Satish Punia who is carrying out a Janakrosh Yatra there. We understand there is not much of a response to that Janakrosh Yatra, there are no people there," Khera told reporters.

 

1:28 PM

BFSI summit | Next financial crisis will come from cryptocurrency: RBI Guv Das

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Shaktikanta Das, on Wednesday, said that the next financial crisis would come from private cryptocurrencies. Speaking at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit, Das said that he believed that these privately held virtual currencies need to be banned.

"The term 'cryptocurrency' is a fashionable way of describing what is otherwise a 100 per cent speculative activity," Das said.

Das said that these currencies have "no underlying whatsoever" and pose a threat to macroeconomic stability.

"Mark my words, the next financial crisis will come from private cryptocurrencies...After the FTX episode, don't think we need to say anything more on crypto," he said. Read more

1:22 PM

Rupee premiums likely to stay above 2% after RBI's push: Report

The Indian rupee's forward premiums could rise further after the recent intervention by the Reserve Bank of India through public sector banks lifted them from multi-year lows, analysts said.

The 1-year USD/INR implied yield was at 2.08% on Wednesday, hovering near its highest level in about a month. The yield is up about 45 basis points (bps) from its decade low hit on the day of policy outcome on Dec. 7.

The RBI looks comfortable with the current level of forward premiums, especially since it has lifted informal restrictions on banks for trading in the non-deliverable forward (NDF) market, said the treasury head of a private lender, who declined to be named.

 

1:08 PM

Rahul Gandhi attacks BJP, its ideology as Bharat Jodo Yatra enters Haryana

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday targeted the BJP, saying while one ideology gives benefits to a select few, another is the voice of the people, farmers and labourers.

 

As the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by him crossed over into Haryana from Rajasthan this morning, Gandhi also said that inflation and unemployment are the biggest issues affecting the country.

12:52 PM

Maha will rethink about water supply to K'taka if irresponsible remarks continue: Minister

Amid the simmering border dispute, Maharashtra minister Shambhuraj Desai on Wednesday said if Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai does not stop making irresponsible statements, Maharashtra will have to rethink about water supply from its dams to the neighbouring state.

 

The Maharashtra government last month appointed cabinet members Chandrakant Patil and Shambhuraj Desai as nodal ministers to coordinate with the legal team regarding a court case on the state's border dispute with Karnataka.

11:54 AM

Mandaviya chairs meeting with health officials over Covid-19 situation

11:47 AM

Winter Session: Sonia Gandhi chairs Congress Parliamentary Party meeting

Amid the Opposition's offensive against the government over the India-China border tensions, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday chaired a meeting of all party MPs in Parliament to discuss the strategy for the remainder of the Winter Session.

The Congress Parliamentary Party meeting was held at Parliament's Central Hall with party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and all party MPs in attendance.

Gandhi is the chairperson of the CPP.

Later in the day, the Congress will stage a protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex to demand a discussion on the India-China border tensions.

 

11:19 AM

Results of Delhi, Gujarat unfortunate, time to fulfil promises made to Himachal: Sonia Gandhi

"Results of Delhi civic polls, Gujarat assembly elections unfortunate, time to fulfil promises made to people of Himachal Pradesh," says Congress leader Sonia Gandhi

 

11:12 AM

Railways to start tracking 30,000 wagons using GPS

Indian railways will reportedly initiate Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking for 30,000 wagons to prevent pilferages under its Wagon GPS Project. The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has invited expressions of interest for participating in a knowledge gathering exercise on the freight wagons, a report in the Economic Times (ET) said.

Officials said that theft of goods has been a long-standing concern of the railways. The "missing wagons" also lead to disputes with the companies. Also, there have been instances when the return of goods trains that cross Indian borders has been delayed.

This is one of the many initiatives Indian Railways has undertaken recently, focussing on efficiency. Read more

10:53 AM

Manish Tewari gives sixth adjournment notice in LS on Tawang faceoff

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Wednesday gave a notice to move an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss the Chinese transgression at the Arunachal Pradesh border.

This is Tewari's sixth notice on the issue. The earlier notices were not allowed by the chair.

The notice stated, "That this House do suspend Zero Hour and other businesses of the day to have a detailed discussion on the grave situation at the border with China in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh. This is the first physical clash between the two armies since August 2020 which took place at Rinchen La in eastern Ladakh. We have had the Hon'ble Defence Minister give a statement.

 

10:41 AM

Follow Covid protocols in Bharat Jodo Yatra: Mandaviya writes to Rahul Gandhi, Gehlot

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has written a letter to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot asking to follow the Covid-19 guidelines strictly during the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra.

"Follow the COVID guidelines strictly during Bharat Jodo Yatra which is going on in Rajasthan. Use of masks-sanitiser should be implemented. Only vaccinated people should participate," Mandaviya said in his letter written on Tuesday. Mandaviya has also requested to postpone the foot march if the following protocol is not possible.

"If following Covid protocol is not possible then the Bharat Jodo Yatra be postponed in the national interest, taking note of the public health emergency," the letter further stated.

10:34 AM

Sonia Gandhi, other Oppn leaders protest outside Parliament over Tawang faceoff

Congress MP Sonia Gandhi and other Opposition leaders protest in front of the Gandhi statue inside the Parliament premises demanding a discussion on the faceoff between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang

10:28 AM

Health minister to hold meeting over Covid situation in India

"Today we're holding a meeting under the chairmanship of Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya. We will review as to what's the situation of Covid-19 in other countries and what needs to be done for India. Yesterday's guidelines were issued for doing genome sequencing," says MoS Health Dr B Pawar, quotes ANI.

 

10:17 AM

India records 131 fresh Covid-19 cases, tally climbs to 44,676,330

India's Covid-19 tally climbed to 44,676,330 today with 131 fresh infections, while the number of active cases came down to 3,408, according to Union health ministry data. The toll due to the viral disease increased to 5,30,680 with three more fatalities, including two deaths reconciled by Kerala and one reported from West Bengal in the last 24 hours. 

The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections. The nation's Covid-19 recovery rate increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the ministry's website.

 

10:11 AM

Foggy morning in Delhi, visibility drops to 400 m; road, rail traffic hit

Fog cloaked Delhi on Wednesday morning, lowering visibility to 400 metres and affecting road and rail traffic.

A Railways spokesperson said around 18 trains are running late by one-and-a-half to five hours.

Operations at the Delhi airport remained normal, an official said.

On Tuesday night, three flights were returned or diverted to the Delhi airport due to bad weather in Chandigarh, Varanasi and Lucknow, he said.

The Palam airport logged the lowest visibility level of 400 metres at 2:30 am. Visibility dropped to 500 metres at the Safdarjung airport at 5:30 am, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

9:57 AM

US condemns Taliban's restrictions on women's education in Afghanistan

The United States has condemned the recent decision of the Taliban with regard to imposing restrictions on education of women in Afghanistan.

The United States condemns the Taliban's indefensible decision to prevent Afghan women from receiving a university-level education, White House NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said on Tuesday.

This deplorable decision is the latest effort by Taliban leadership to impose additional restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan and prevent them from exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms, he said.

9:27 AM

Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra by Congress enters Haryana

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi-led 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' entered Haryana Wednesday morning in the presence of senior party leaders from the state.

The Yatra entered Haryana from Mundaka border in Nuh. It had crossed over from Rajasthan into Haryana.

While Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accompanied it from his state, it was welcomed in Haryana by senior leaders, including former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, senior leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, Deepender Singh Hooda, state party chief Udai Bhan, among others.

The first phase of Bharat Jodo Yatra in Haryana will conclude on December 23.

 

9:06 AM

IMF approves new program to support Ukraine's macroeconomic stability

The IMF has approved a new programme for Ukraine to support its macroeconomic and financial stability and catalyse donor financing, the National Bank of Ukraine said.

The four-month Program Monitoring with Board Involvement does not directly provide financial assistance, but creates instruments for transitioning to a new, long-term upper-credit tranche programme of the IMF, the bank said in a statement on Tuesday.

The programme is aimed at mobilising state budget revenues, strengthening the financial sector, and improving management transparency and effectiveness for state-owned enterprises, Xinhua news agency reported.

8:41 AM

Russia intensifies crackdown targeting human rights group and maps

The Russian government has intensified its crackdown on critics and what it sees as harmful information about its special military operation in Ukraine with moves to ban a human rights group and publication of maps that omit annexed Ukrainian land.

The crackdown fits a theme Russian President Vladimir Putin sounded Tuesday in a video address honouring Russia's military and security agencies. Putin, a former KGB operative, called on those forces to redouble their efforts to protect the stability of society and the security of the government against direct threats to internal security.

 

8:20 AM

Congress moves to ban TikTok from US government devices

TikTok would be banned from most US government devices under a spending bill Congress unveiled early Tuesday, the latest push by American lawmakers against the Chinese-owned social media app.

The $1.7 trillion package includes requirements for the Biden administration to prohibit most uses of TikTok or any other app created by its owner, ByteDance Ltd. The requirements would apply to the executive branch with exemptions for national security, law enforcement and research purposes and don't appear to cover Congress, where a handful of lawmakers maintain TikTok accounts.

TikTok is consumed by two-thirds of American teens and has become the second-most popular domain in the world. But there's long been bipartisan concern in Washington that Beijing would use legal and regulatory power to seize American user data or try to push pro-China narratives or misinformation.

7:54 AM

Elon Musk says will step down as Twitter CEO after finding successor

Elon Musk on Wednesday said that he will resign as CEO of Twitter CEO as soon as a successor is found. In a tweet, Musk said, "I will resign as CEO as soon as I find someone foolish enough to take the job! After that, I will just run the software & servers teams." On Monday, Musk held a poll on Twitter asking whether he should step down as chief executive officer of Twitter Inc. The billionaire is currently facing a myriad of issues ranging from banning journalists and other social media platforms amid Tesla stock nosediving. Read more

 

7:52 AM

Centre to review Covid situation as cases rise in China, other nations

The health ministry will hold a meeting on Wednesday to review the rising cases of Covid-19 in China and other countries and assess the situation in India. Government has also written to all states to ramp up genome sequencing and send all positive samples to designated Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium-INSACOG laboratories. In a letter to states, Rajesh Bhushan, health secretary said the public health challenge of Covid-19 persists around the world, with about 3.5 million cases reported weekly. “Such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate undertaking of requisite public health measures for the same,” Bhushan said. Read more