LIVE: RT-PCR to be mandatory for passengers from China, Japan, S Korea, HK

Live news updates: Any passenger from these countries found symptomatic or testing positive for coronavirus would be quarantined, Mandaviya said

3:03 PM

Access to fundamental rights 'far cry' for Tibetans in Tibet under CCP's authoritarian rule

The situation of Tibetan people in Tibet continues to deteriorate under the authoritarian rule of China as there has been no end to the ongoing political and religious persecution.

Above everything else, religion has been more suppressed throughout time, and China's more significant objective to entirely sinicize Tibet continues to involve this ongoing assault on Tibetan Buddhism and its practices, according to TibetPress.

Under strict policies, monks and nuns in Tibet are forced to remove their robes and live as commoners, ultimately denying them the freedom to practice or study their religion.

3:00 PM

Over 50,000 int'l tourists visit Sri Lanka in Dec

Sri Lanka recorded over 50,000 international tourist arrivals in December so far, a significant improvement compared to previous months, according to latest data released by the tourism authority.

The daily average of arrivals in December is over 2,500 and in the first 11 months of this year, the figure was around 1,900, data from Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) showed.

The total number of international tourist arrivals for the year to December 20 was 678,392, Xinhua news agency quoted the SLTDA as saying.

2:59 PM

Mathura court orders survey of Shahi Idgah from Jan 2

A Mathura district court on Saturday, ordered the survey of the Shahi Idgah mosque, which is said to be built on the birthplace of Lord Krishna, by the Archaeological Survey of India from January 2.

The court passed the order on a lawsuit filed by Vishnu Gupta of the Hindu Sena.

The report will be submitted on January 20.

The lawsuit is one of the many by Hindu outfits demanding the removal of the 17th century Shahi Idgah Masjid from the Katra Keshav Dev temple, claiming that the mosque has been built on the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

2:57 PM

Revision of pension of armed forces personnel commendable move: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Saturday termed the revision of the pension of armed forces personnel under the 'One Rank One Pension' scheme by the Union Cabinet a "commendable move".

According to the defence ministry, the decision taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet on Friday presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will result in an additional annual expenditure of Rs 8,450 crore.

It said Rs 23,638 crore will be paid as arrears to the pensioners from July 2019 to June 2022.

2:55 PM

COVID-19: K'taka CM says no need to panic, but follow safety norms

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday appealed to the people not to panic but exercise caution, amid rise in COVID-19 cases in certain countries and said his government has taken adequate measures to manage the situation.

 

Speaking to reporters here, Bommai said, We will continuously monitor the situation, but there is no need to panic. Only thing is that people should be cautious. The government, people, organisations and the society have to face COVID together.

 

The CM said he recently held a meeting to review the COVID situation and gave directions to officials concerned to implement the decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state as well. 

2:51 PM

Centre should issue mandatory Covid protocols, all must follow: AAP over 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'

The Centre should issue "mandatory" protocols to prevent spread of COVID-19 and everyone, be it a political party or someone taking out a march, must follow them, the AAP said on Saturday in a veiled reference to Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' led by Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing a press conference, the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) national spokesperson Raghav Chadha said the Centre should issue mandatory protocols to avoid the situation that the country witnessed during the first and second wave of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

The country witnessed a major crisis during the last two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the Centre's failure in understanding the "seriousness" of the initial scientific indications about the spread of the virus, he also charged.

2:44 PM

Pak central bank criticises Shehbaz Sharif govt's policy of prioritising growth over price, fin stability

Pakistan's central bank has criticised the cash-strapped Shehbaz Sharif government for prioritising growth at the expense of price and financial stability.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in its annual report issued recently said international experience has repeatedly shown the countries that prioritise growth at the expense of price and financial stability are not able to sustain growth and face repeated boom-bust cycles, rapid economic growth followed by a financial crisis, the Dawn News reported.

The present government led by Prime Minister Sharif avoided focusing on growth for the fiscal year FY23 with the result that a steep fall in the growth is expected. But, even then it has failed to bring price stability along with financial stability.

2:41 PM

Covid fears: K'taka CM says guidelines soon for New Year celebration

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated on Saturday that guidelines will be announced soon for celebration of New Year in the state in the backdrop of fresh Covid-19 scare.

Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, Bommai said Health Minister K. Sudhakar and Revenue Minister R. Ashoka will be holding a meeting on Sunday regarding the handling of Covid situation in the state.

"To administer booster doses, camps would be organised on a large scale at taluk and district levels. The actions will be taken to ensure wearing of masks, maintaining distance and other protocols," he further stated.

The directions have been given to stock medicines, vaccines and other health infrastructure. The directions have also been given to ensure that oxygen plants are in good and working condition, Bommai stated. They have been told to conduct dry runs, he added.

2:40 PM

Centre asks states to ensure availability of oxygen, functional life support equipment at hospitals

With some countries witnessing a surge in Covid cases, the Centre on Saturday urged states and union territories to ensure the availability of Liquid Medical Oxygen, adequate inventory of cylinders and functional life support equipment such as ventilators at hospitals to face any challenge.

The health ministry asked them to ensure Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen generating plants are kept fully functional and regular mock drills are conducted to check them.

In a letter to all states and UTs, Health Ministry Additional Secretary Manohar Agnani said the operationalisation and maintenance of these medical infrastructure is of utmost importance to meet any eventuality even though the number of cases in the country is low now.

2:39 PM

COVID-19: Arunachal gears up operational readiness

With sudden spurt of COVID-19 cases in several countries, the Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to gear up operational readiness in the state and maintain strict vigil by enhancing surveillance activities including, early detection, isolation, testing and timely management of suspected and confirmed cases.

Chief Secretary Dharmendra in a notification has directed all districts to prioritize detection and containment of outbreaks of new SARs-CoV-2 variant and micro containment measures as and where needed.

The district health authorities were directed to review preparedness in terms of incident command centres, Covid health facilities, oxygen beds, ICUs including paediatric care units, oxygen concentrators, ventilators, testing kits, rapid response teams, access to ambulances and stock of essential medicines.

2:39 PM

Yogi, PM meet in Delhi, discuss UP Global Investor Summit

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday during which they discussed the UP Global Investor Summit slated to be held in Lucknow from February 10-12, 2023.

A BJP source said: "As the summit is nearing, multiple meetings are taking in Uttar Pradesh as well as with Central leadership. The Chief Minister extended an invitation to the Prime Minister for the summit and shared the updates on the preparations so far."

The source added that Adityanath and Modi was spoke about the MLC elections in Uttar Pradesh.

2:03 PM

Gurukuls responsibly incorporating India's ancient "vaibhav" in the education system: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday virtually addressed the Amrut Mahotsav of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul in Rajkot of Gujarat on the completion of 75 years and said that the organization is doing an excellent job in reviving India's glorious past and incorporating it in the Education system.

Taking a jibe at the Congress governments of the past, Modi said, "When India became independent it became our responsibility to incorporate the ancient 'vaibhav' (splendor) of India in her educational system and revive our glorious past. However, owing to the mentality of slavery the governments did not move in that direction."

"Now, once again the saints and acharyas have taken up this painful responsibility towards the nation," he added and said that Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul is a perfect example of this work.

1:12 PM

With $30 billion bilateral trade turnover in sight, India and Russia plan big for 2023

Riding on large oil shipments and fertiliser purchases, the volume of trade between India and Russia is set to cross $30 billion before 2022 ends next week.

While the 2021 mutual trade turnover between both countries reached 13 billion US dollars, there has been consistent growth of bilateral commerce despite the energy and food security crisis in the world due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

'Already now we can say that we will fulfil the task set by the leaders of our countries to bring the volume of trade to $30 billion ahead of the schedule. This goal was set to be achieved in 2025, but we will reach it by the end of this year,' Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov told the 13th Annual Russia-India Business Dialogue Forum.

12:55 PM

RT-PCR to be mandatory for passengers from China, Japan, S Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand: Mandaviya

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday said RT-PCR test for the detection of COVID-19 would be made mandatory for international passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Any passenger from these countries found symptomatic or testing positive for coronavirus would be quarantined, Mandaviya said.

He also said filling up of the 'Air Suvidha' form to declare the health status will be made mandatory for passengers coming from these countries.

12:46 PM

Uttarkhand governor approves 'anti-conversion' Bill

Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh on Friday approved the Anti-Conversion Amendment Bill passed by the state Legislative Assembly in November this year, said Mahesh Chand Koshiwa, the additional secretary of the state Law department.

 

The approval of the Bill by the Governor has cleared the way for strict action against forced conversions in the state.

 

The Bill, titled, Religion Freedom (Amendment) Bill 2022, was passed by the Assembly during the Winter session.