Blog

China on Tuesday lodged a protest with India over the June 15 violent face-off between the troops of two countries, which it claimed took place when the Indian personnel crossed the border line for “illegal activities and provoked and attacked Chinese personnel” leading to serious physical conflict. The protest was "mentioned" during a meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui, Indian Ambassador here Vikram Misri said. When asked if China has lodged the protest, Mr. Misri said “Yes, it was mentioned in the meeting,” but clarified that he was not summoned. “Summon is a wrong word,” Mr. Misri said…

Twenty new coronavirus cases were reported in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation area on Monday, taking the total number of patients across north Bengal to around 1,100. Siliguri MLA Asok Bhattacharya whose swab sample was taken on Sunday has tested negative for the pathogen. The new Covid-19 patients in Siliguri are in localities like Subhashpally, Nabagram, Tikiapara, Ghogomali, Chayanpara, Samarnagar, Maharaj Colony, Sevoke Road, Bagrakote, Jadavpally, Srawannagar, Bhupendranagar and Darjeeling More, said sources. “All necessary precautions would be taken in the areas concerned,” said an official of the Darjeeling district health department. The rise in the number of patients has made…

Prized delicacy hilsa is likely to be in short supply this year, dashing the hopes of a better catch in cleaner rivers because of the lockdown. Hilsa fishing formally resumed on Monday here — after the annual two-month ban from mid-April to promote breeding — but only around 15 per cent of the trawlers could hit the sea. Most trawlers of East Midnapore and South 24-Parganas fishermen are damaged by cyclone Amphan that hit the state on May 20. Though the state government compensated fishermen with damaged trawlers, repairmen are in short supply. So most trawlers are docked.

Sky lovers in the city are expected to catch glimpses of a partial solar eclipse on June 21, provided clouds do not play spoilsport. An annular solar eclipse, which occurs when the disc of the moon covers the central portion of the sun leaving only a ring-like peripheral region called the “ring of fire” visible — will happen on June 21, Debiprosad Duari, the director (research and academic) of MP Birla Planetarium, said. A similar annular solar eclipse had happened on December 26 last year. The eclipse was prominently visible from a stretch of southern India. Calcutta was tipped to…

Delhi government has directed capital’s premier Taj Man Singh hotel to isolate all their rooms and place them at the disposal of Sir Gangaram Hospital with immediate effect for accommodating Coved 19 patients. The decision of the government follows efforts to hike capital’s capacity to treat coronavirus patients that is expected to rise to 5.5 lakh mark by the end of July and it comes on a day when the Delhi High Court allowed Delhi government to use premises of two other premium hotels in the city as temporary Coved-19 treatment facilities. An expert committee of doctors on Monday told…

New Delhi: Monsoon has advanced into parts of north-western India on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) authorities. It has covered many parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP), western and eastern Madhya Pradesh (MP), they added. IMD scientists are also expecting monsoon to arrive in the national capital, Delhi, earlier than normal, but they will confirm depending on how favourable conditions are for its advancement in the next four to five days. “It will be humid and hot with maximum temperature ranging from 40 to 43 degrees Celsius in most parts of north-western India, including Delhi, but there…