Chennai rains LIVE: Flight arrivals resume at airport, red alert withdrawn

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4:22 PM

Fight against Covid-19 at final stage, should not let our guard down: Mandaviya

Stating that the fight against COVID-19 is at the final stage, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday cautioned against letting the guard down before it is completely over and requested states to enhance the vaccination coverage and motivate the over 12 crore beneficiaries who are due for their second dose to take it, PTI reported.

 

He also urged states and union territories to ensure the entire adult population is administered the first dose during the ongoing 'Har Ghar Dastak' campaign.

 

During a virtual interaction with the health ministers of states and union territories, Mandaviya observed that the fight against COVID-19 is at the final stage, a health ministry statement said.

4:21 PM

Chennai airport partially closed, incoming flights diverted

The Airports Authority of India has suspended arrival of flights at Chennai airport till 6 p.m. but departures will function as usual, IANS reported.

 

Chennai airport Director Dr Sharad Kumar, in a statement, said that the decision was taken for the safety of the passengers.

 

A decision on whether the aircraft should be allowed to land will be taken after 5 p.m., he added.

3:56 PM

Amarinder Singh asks Punjab government not to politicize national security issues

Rejecting the Punjab government resolution moved in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today against the proposed move of the centre to extend the operational jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) from 15 km to 50 km, former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh asked the state government not to politicise the issue of national security for petty partisan ends and motives, ANI reported.

 

"The operational jurisdiction of the BSF concerns national security and not law and order in the state, which the current powers that be in Punjab are apparently not able to understand," he remarked in a statement issued here today.

 

Singh said that it was sad that the government was trying to politicize an issue, which concerns national security and concerns all border states including Punjab.

3:56 PM

Chinese leaders preparing official history to elevate Xi

Chinese leaders are preparing to issue a political history that would give President Xi Jinping status beside the ruling Communist Party's most important figures, setting the stage for Xi to extend his rule next year, AP reported.

 

A meeting of some 200 Central Committee members that was ending Thursday was considering a resolution on the party's major achievements and historical experience."

 

That would be only the third statement of its kind in the party's 100-year history after one issued under Mao Zedong, who led the party to power in 1949, and Deng Xiaoping, who launched reforms that turned China into an economic powerhouse.

 

3:37 PM

Booster dose required if virus gets mutated, says Bharat Biotech MD

People will need booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine would be required if the COVID-19 virus gets mutated, said Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, Dr Krishna Ella.

 

Talking to ANI, Dr Ella said, "If there is a mutated COVID-19 virus and a booster is required. What type of booster would be needed and how do we deliver it on a fast track basis. On that, we are working on various strategies that can be contained. Even if something comes up; we know how to handle situations."

3:12 PM

India's plans for 20% ethanol-blending will cut sugar subsidy: Oil secretary

India's plans to blend 20% ethanol with petrol from April 2023 will help cut sugar export subsidies, Oil Secretary Tarun Kapoor told reporters on Thursday, according to Reuters.

 

India on Wednesday approved a proposal to achieve 20% ethanol-blending with gasoline by 2025, five years ahead of its previous target.

 

Higher ethanol output will cut India's sugar production, reducing the need to give incentives for the export of the sweetener.

3:10 PM

CAG hauls up Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala govt over disaster management

2:53 PM

11 NDRF teams deployed in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry

2:52 PM

Chennai faces waterlogging due to incessant rainfall

2:20 PM

Thunderstorm with moderate rain expected in several Tamil Nadu districts

2:09 PM

Tamil Nadu to provide free food through Amma Canteens till rain spell ends

2:08 PM

China, US pledge to increase cooperation at UN climate talks

The world's top carbon polluters, China and the United States, agreed Wednesday to increase their cooperation and speed up action to rein in climate-damaging emissions, signalling a mutual effort on global warming at a time of tension over their other disputes, AP reported.

 

In back-to-back news conferences at UN climate talks in Glasgow, Chinese climate envoy Xie Zhenhua and U.S. counterpart John Kerry said the two countries would work together to accelerate the emissions reductions required to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

 

It's beneficial not only to our two countries but the world as a whole that two major powers in the world, China and the U.S., shoulder special international responsibilities and obligations, Xie told reporters.

1:41 PM

Scindia launches online platform to provide 298 services of DGCA

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday launched an online platform through which aviation regulator DGCA will provide its 298 services including pilot licensing and medical examination, PTI reported.

"Two hundred and ninety-eight services have been moved to the e-GCA platform -- 99 in the first two phases and 198 in the next two phases. The first 99 cover about 70-75 per cent of what DGCA does including pilot licensing, medical examinations, permission to flying training organisations and connecting regional offices to the headquarters," he stated.

The next two phases cover the remaining 30 per cent services of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), he said in his speech after launching the online platform 'e-GCA' here.

1:38 PM

Amid rains, arrivals at Chennai Airport to remain suspended till 6 pm

1:23 PM

Actor Srabanti Chatterjee quits BJP, returns to Trinamool

Bengali actor Srabanti Chatterjee quit the BJP and returned to the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. The BJP had "lack of initiative and sincerity to further the cause of West Bengal," she said, according to the PTI.