Live: Ukraine now seen as a war of attrition amid new bombings

Live news updates: Chinese says NATO shouldn't expand east; India's forex reserves record biggest drop in 2 years.

10:10 PM

COVID-19 hasn't gone away, warns US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy

The COVID-19 pandemic has not gone away, Indian-origin US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned on Sunday, saying that cases may rise and fall in the months to come.

Murthy also expressed his concern over the lack of funding to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

When we look at what's happening around the world and over the last two years, we recognise that when cases increase in one part of the world, that often leads to increases in the other part of the world. And we should be prepared that, you know, COVID hasn't gone away, he told Fox News in an interview.

There may be rises and falls in cases in the months ahead. But here's the key, our goal is to keep people out of the hospital, it's to save their lives, and we have more tools to do that than ever before. So our focus should be on preparation, not on panic. And if we get people these tools, vaccines, boosters, treatments, then we can actually get through waves that may come and go.

The thing that concerns me right now is that as much work as we've done in the last two years to get the right tools, we've got to continue funding them and supporting them so they are available to people across the country. That's what Congress moving to provide that funding is so cortical, Murthy said.

During the last wave of the omicron variant, most sick were unvaccinated.

So, the bottom line is those vaccinations and boosters work and the treatments that we now have in greater quantities than ever before, those also help to reduce our risk, but you'd rather prevent an infection than get it and treat it. That's why these vaccines and boosters are essential, he asserted.

10:09 PM

Celebrate Shivaji Jayanti but follow pandemic norms, Maha govt tells people

The Maharashtra government has issued guidelines ahead of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary (celebrated as per Hindu tithi) on Monday and asked people to observe it while adhering to COVID-19 norms.

The state home department's guidelines said cultural programmes must be organised keeping in mind pandemic norms and rules as laid down by the local administration and police.

Maharashtra has been witnessing a sharp drop in COVID-19 cases over the past few days, with the addition to the tally being 113 on Sunday.

It has a caseload of 78,72,413, which includes 1,43,767 deaths.

9:56 PM

Cyclone Asani to move off Andaman Islands towards Myanmar: IMD

Cyclone Asani is projected to move along and off the Andaman Islands towards Myanmar and south Bangladesh coast, India Meteorological Department Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Sunday.

He clarified that the cyclone will not make a landfall in Andaman Islands.

The weather system is expected to intensify first into a deep depression and later into a cyclonic storm on Monday.

As per our forecast, the weather system would move nearly northward along and off Andaman Islands towards Myanmar and adjoining south Bangladesh coast, Mohapatra said.

It is clearly evident from the forecast track as shown in our forecast track graphics. However, it is likely to have continued impact in terms of rainfall wind and waves as predicted and mentioned in the bulletin, he said.

According to a special bulletin issued by the IMD, the depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea moved north-northeastwards at a speed of 12 kmph and lay centered at 17.30 hours (5.30pm) IST on Sunday over north Andaman Sea.

It is likely to move nearly northwards along and off Andaman and Nicobar Islands, intensify into a deep depression during the next 12 hours and into a cyclonic storm during the subsequent 12 hours, the IMD bulletin said.

9:40 PM

Across Europe, Ukrainian exiles pray for peace back home

Alona Fartukhova has been coming to Berlin's Ukrainian Orthodox Christian community every day since she arrived in Germany five days ago from war-torn Kyiv.

The 20-year-old refugee has been attending daily prayers for peace and helped organise donations for her compatriots back home.

On Sunday, Fartukhova joined dozens of other Ukrainian worshippers at a red brick stone church in the German capital who sang together, lit candles, and received blessings from the head of the community, Father Oleh Polianko.

Later they put medical crutches, sleeping bags, diapers, big boxes of gummi bears and countless jars of pickles which were piling up everywhere inside the church into big cardboard boxes to be send to Ukraine.

It's some help for our army, and it is ... a lot of things for children said the university student, who fled by herself and is now living at a hotel in Berlin, as she stacked boxes onto the church pews.

"It is so good that a lot of people support us, we really appreciate it.

Across Europe, Ukrainians gathered for church services on Sunday to pray for peace in their war-torn country.

Newly arrived refugees mingled with long-time members of Europe's 1.5 million-strong Ukrainian diaspora at houses of worship all over the continent from Germany to Romania to Moldova.

 

9:24 PM

Code of ethics has brought discipline to OTT sector: I&B jt secy

The code of ethics for news publishers, over-the-top (OTT) platforms and digital media has helped in bringing about "a lot of discipline" in the sector, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Joint Secretary Vikram Sahay said on Sunday.

The joint secretary was speaking at a roundtable on news broadcasting at the India Pavilion during the EXPO2020 Dubai here.

In India, there's no permission required to launch an OTT platform, Sahay said.

"There are about 40-50 OTT platforms in India, none of them have to either register or seek prior permission. All of them have evolved in their own way depending on their business models and plans.

"Not only international platforms like Netflix and Amazon, but also a lot of OTT channels domestically have come up, including the ones in the regional languages. Only on content we have a code of ethics that we evolved a year back," he added.

Last year, the Indian government said a code of ethics and three-tier grievance redressal mechanism would be applicable for news publishers, OTT platforms and digital media.

9:23 PM

J-K: Unemployment rate of 46% in stark contrast to govt claims, says NC

Jammu and Kashmir has the second highest unemployment rate in the country at 46 per cent, the National Conference said on Saturday, citing a report which, it said, contrasts the government's claims on job creation post Article 370's abrogation.

The "Periodic Labour Force Survey April-June 2021" released by the statistics and programme implementation ministry is in stark contrast to the "false realities" projected by the Centre on fostering employment in Jammu and Kashmir after the article was revoked, party spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said.

The data published by the premier government agency flies in the face of the central government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration's claims on swelling employment opportunities in the union territory, he said, adding it has punctured their claims.

"The report hasn't caught us by surprise. We have been saying this all this while that the unemployment charts have soared since the reading down of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. What is worrying here is that the figures have made a quantum jump from previous levels," Dar said.

The article, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated and the state was bifurcated into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The magnitude of the joblessness can be assessed by the fact that key recruiting agency JKSSB has collected Rs 77 crore as examination fee between March 2016 and September 2020 from job hunting candidates, according to an RTI application, he said.

9:21 PM

BJP condemns Gehlot govt for demolition of Salasar temple gate

The gate was demolished by the Public Works Department on March 15 for widening of road.

Opposition BJP condemned the Ashok Gehlot-led state government for the action, while several right wing organisations have threatened to protest against the action.

"Demolishing Ram Darbar and entry gate to Salasar Balaji in the name of development is unfortunate and condemnable. Is this the only development of Congress government?" former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said in a tweet.

BJP Rajasthan tweeted, 'Nocturnal act' of Gehlot government in Sujangarh! In the dark night, the Gehlot government ran a bulldozer on the idols of Lord Ram and his Darbar. Gehlot ji, we will not forget...

Churu MLA Rajendra Rathore threatened to agitate and raise the matter in the assembly, while demanding action against all the guilty officials.

Other BJP leaders including state president Satish Poonia and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also targeted the state government.

Reacting on the issue, Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra said that BJP is trying to make an issue out of a non-issue.

"BJP wants to do politics in the name of religion. The gate was removed as it was coming in the way of road widening," he told reporters.

"They want to make an issue out of a non-issue. They are the people who had demolished 370 temples in Jaipur during their rule."

He said that Lord Ram belongs to everyone and that the Congress has always honoured Gods and Godesses.

He accused the BJP of indulging in hypocrisy because elections are near.

 

8:47 PM

Cong leader Manish Tewari urges Punjab CM to consult adv general on BBMB issue

Congress leader Manish Tewari on Sunday urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to consult the state's advocate general on the Bhakra Beas Management Board issue to explore legal options against the recent change in rules for selection of its members.

The change in appointment rules for top officers to the board has raked up a storm with many political parties in Punjab and Haryana criticising the Centre.

The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), which is a statutory body under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, and manages the water resources of Sutlej and Beas, has a whole-time chairman and two members for irrigation and power.

Political leaders have claimed that according to the BBMB Rules, 1974, the member (power) in BBMB was from Punjab and the member (irrigation) was from Haryana but the requirement has been removed in the amended rules.

"Request Chief Minister Punjab @BhagwantMann to consult with his advocate general to explore the possibility of filing an original suit under Article 131 of COI (Constitution of India) challenging BBMB (Amendment) Rules. 2022, as they discriminate against Punjab," Tewari, the MP from Anandpur Sahib, said.

He also said that as an MP from Punjab, he will file objections.

8:44 PM

Russia-Ukraine war jolts Taiwan into action against threat of Chinese invasion

The war between Russia and Ukraine has galvanized Taiwanese as a poll shows that more than 70 per cent of Taiwanese citizens are willing to militarily defend the country in the event of war against China.

Asia Times reported that there is also growing public support for overhauling military reservists' training and, if necessary, extending mandatory military service in order to ensure "total defense" against any prospective invasion by Taiwan's giant neighbour in the future.

It's almost a month into Russia's action in Ukraine, there is still no definitive end in sight Russia's bombardment of major Ukrainian cities continues unabated, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that is spilling into Eastern Europe.

On Friday, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke virtually for approximately two hours on the "Ukraine situation." Xi told Biden that the action "is not something we want to see," according to Chinese summations of the discussion, and that "the events again show that countries should not come to the point of meeting on the battlefield."

Biden reportedly requested the call after some Chinese officials issued conflicting statements concerning their support for Ukraine and Russia. He also warned of "consequences" if China is found to provide material support to Russia's military action in Ukraine.

Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

Taipei, on the other hand, has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing. China has threatened that "Taiwan's independence" means war.

8:43 PM

On LS Speaker's initiative, free food will be served to attendants of patients at 6 Delhi hospitals

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has taken an initiative to serve food free of cost to attendants of patients admitted at six hospitals in the national capital.

According to a Lok Sabha Secretariat statement, Birla will flag off six "Prasadam Raths" (food trucks) from his official residence in the national capital on Monday.

These trucks, made available by Birla to 'Aao Sath Chale' organisation, have facilities for cooking and heating food.

Hot, hygienic and nutritious food will be served from these trucks to attendants of patients admitted at six hospitals, including Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hardinge Hospital.

Till now the organisation was providing food in packets to the attendants of 1,000 patients admitted at four hospitals every day. The initiative has now been expanded on the initiative of Birla, according to the statement.

There are plans to extend the service to other hospitals in the national capital, it added.

8:42 PM

BJP pushing country towards another division: Mehbooba

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday accused the BJP of pushing the country towards another division by dividing people on religious lines.

The former J&K chief minister hurled the allegation while praising first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru for his secular credentials and steering India on the path of development and prosperity.

(Pakistani founder Muhammad Ali) Jinnah divided this country in the past but today every attempt is being made to divide the country once again on communal lines. These people (BJP) want another division, Mehbooba said, addressing party workers in R S Pura near here.

The former chief minister said the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was killed by Nathu Ram Godse and his ideology is being practised today by hundreds and thousands of Godse's followers.

She said the people have to fight the nefarious designs of the BJP and other fascist forces unitedly.

If we allow this religious division to happen, the sacrifice of freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh will go in vain. Therefore, do not allow Gandhi to die once again, she said, adding her party would not allow the Gandhian ideology to die.

8:41 PM

Covid-19: TN logs 56 fresh cases, zero fatalities

Tamil Nadu on Sunday added 56 new coronavirus cases, pushing the overall caseload to 34,52,390.

Recoveries outnumbered new infections with 106 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 34,13,745 leaving 620 active infections, a medical bulletin said.

The toll remained unchanged with 38,025 fatalities. Chennai was leading with 22 new cases while the 16 districts reported infections in single digit. The state capital also leads with 7,50,900 cases overall.

Ariyalur, Karur, Mayiladuthurai and Villupuram recorded zero active infections, each.

A total of 35,500 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, pushing the cumulative number of specimens examined to 6.52 crore, the bulletin said.

8:41 PM

109 new Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths in Karnataka

Karnataka on Sunday registered 109 fresh coronavirus cases and two related fatalities thereby taking the total case count in the state to 39,44,714 and toll to 40,037, respectively.

As many as 143 patients got discharged on the day and the number of recoveries across the state has now reached 39,02,640, according to a health bulletin.

Of the new cases, 91 were from Bengaluru Urban that also recorded 125 recoveries and one death, the bulletin said.

The number of active cases across the State was 1,995.

While the positivity rate for the day was 0.39 per cent, the case fatality rate was 1.83 per cent.

The two deaths reported today were from Bengaluru Urban and Hassan.

8:40 PM

Isha Vidhya, Byju's join hands to educate children in rural areas

With the aim to empower and provide children across geographies with equal learning opportunities, BYJU's has collaborated with Coimbatore-based Isha Vidhya, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Under the partnership, Isha Vidhya and BYJU's would provide digital learning tools to underprivileged children in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

This initiative of BYJU's would make the nation known for high-quality school education that is accessible and affordable to all, especially children in rural areas, a press release said here on Sunday.

8:38 PM

Quad countries accepted India's position on conflict in Ukraine: Australia

Australia on Sunday said that the Quad member countries have accepted India's position on the crisis in Ukraine and it is evident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been using his contacts to call for an end to the conflict in that country.

The comments by Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell came a day before a virtual summit between Modi and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during which they are set to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

"The Quad countries have accepted India's position. We understand that each country has a bilateral relationship and it is clear from the comments of the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) and Prime Minister Modi himself that he has used his contacts to call for the end of the conflict and no country will be unhappy with that," he told reporters.

The Australian envoy was asked about increasing disquiet in the West over India's position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its purchase of discounted crude oil from Russia.

Separately, diplomatic sources said India's position on the Russian attack on Ukraine appeared to be driven by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's policy in 1957 that India was not in the business of condemnation and it focuses on creating a space for resolution of conflicts.

"No one has ever accused India of supporting what is going on in Ukraine. What India seems to be doing is trying to operate within the policy outlined by Nehru 65 years back," said a source.