India - The Purbottar

20 Jul

India logs 30,093 new COVID-19 cases, lowest in 125 days

editor0 CommentsCovid-19, IndiaCovid-19

India has recorded 30,093 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, lowest in 125 days, as per the Union Health Ministry. India’s active caseload stands at 4,06,130, lowest in 117 days. The active cases constitute 1.30% of total cases. 3,03,53,710 people have recovered across the country so far. The recovery rate has risen to 97.37%. 41.18 crore vaccine doses were administered so far under a nationwide vaccination drive. 45,254 patients recovered during last 24 hours. The weekly positivity rate remains below 5%, currently at 2.06%. The daily positivity rate is at 1.68%, less than 3% for 29 consecutive days.…

20 Jul

If not fully vaccinated, RT-PCR Report mandatory for flyers Coming to Bengal

editor0 CommentsCovid-19, Health, India, West Bengalcovid vaccine, west bengal

All passengers flying to West Bengal, on both commercial and non-commercial flights, now it's manadatory to get fully vaccinated. The decision will be implemented with immediate effect, West Bengal Home Secretary BP Gopalika wrote to Civil Aviation secretary PS Kharola. Meanwhile, there was no Covid-19 death in the city while three fatalities each were reported in Darjeeling and Paschim Medinipur on Monday. So at the time of boardig Passengers need to produce proof of their full vaccination certificate or a COVID-19 negative test report. The RT-PCR test must be conducted within 72 hours of the departure of the flight. So…

19 Jul

SC chides Gujarat govt. for a fire safety notification in covid hospital

editor0 CommentsIndiaGujarat govt., SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court pulled up the Gujarat government for bringing a notification to reverse its order on fire safety norms in Covid hospitals, warning that putting off the adherence till 2022 would mean “people will continue to die by burning”. “The notification gives the impression that the state is protecting illegality,” the bench said, telling the Gujarat government to withdraw the notification extending the deadline for hospitals in connection with building use permissions. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, on his part, submitted that the court should visualise the impact, if a 10-story building with a hospital, required for Covid treatment now,…

19 Jul

FASTag to enhance contactless refueling at Indian Oil fuel outlets

editor0 CommentsIndia, TechnologyFuel, IndianOil

State-run Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and ICICI Bank are offering cashless and contactless refuelling through FASTag at the country’s largest oil marketing company’s outlets to reduce wait time for customers. “ICICI Bank FASTag users can now enjoy a fully digitized experience at IndianOil’s fuel stations which will reduce wait time for customers,” the firms said in a joint statement. To avail of this facility, customers must inform the customer attendant while fuelling, then scan the vehicle’s FASTag/car number plate. The customer will then receive an OTP to validate the transaction. The transaction will be completed when the OTP is entered…

19 Jul

HDFC Bank shares tumble 3 pc after Q1 data disappoints investors

editor0 CommentsBusiness, IndiaHDFC Bank

Shares of HDFC Bank dipped over 3 per cent on Monday as the company’s June quarter earnings failed to impress investors. At 3.57 pm, the banks stock went lower by 3.34 per cent to Rs 1,470.95 on the BSE and it dipped 3.28 per cent to Rs 1,472.40. HDFC Bank’s consolidated net profit for the June quarter increased 14 per cent to Rs 7,922 crore, but the largest private sector lender reported reverses because of the second wave of the pandemic, which compressed its growth. When compared with the preceding March quarter’s Rs 8,434 crore, there was a decline in…

19 Jul

Two ministers, three opposition leaders, journalists, industrialists, bureaucrats . everyone is trapped by Pegasus

editor0 CommentsCrime, India, Technologycyber attack, pegasus

Modi government has two ministers. Three important leaders of the opposition camp. A person holding a constitutional position. More than forty journalists. A group of businessmen and industrialists. Current and former heads of security agencies. In addition, social workers, government bureaucrats, lawyers. All of them allege that their phones were eavesdropped on by Pegasus spyware made by the Israeli NSO. An investigation report called 'Pegasus Project' claims that the Modi government tried to eavesdrop on more than 300 phones in India before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Media representatives from 16 countries, including India, conducted the investigation. However, the government claims that allegations of government surveillance against certain individuals…

19 Jul

R. Madhavan begins shooting in Mumbai, says ‘feels great’

editor0 CommentsEntertainment, IndiaR. Madhavan

Actor R. Madhavan took to social media on Sunday to inform his fans that he is back on the shooting floor in Mumbai. “Mumbai shoot… Feels great to be back on the floors,” Madhavan tweeted along with a photograph of himself standing in front of a mirror. However, the actor did not disclose which film or project he is shooting for. Madhavan turns director with the upcoming film “Rocketry: The Nambi Effect” on the work front. The film is based on the life of framed ISRO scientist and aerospace engineer S. Nambi Narayanan. Apart from directing the film, Madhavan also…

19 Jul

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Lok Sabha, on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament

editor0 CommentsIndia, PoliticalLok Sabha, PM Modi

On the first day of Parliament’s monsoon session, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood up to introduce the new ministers inducted into the Cabinet after the recent reshuffle, the Opposition began raising slogans on the rising prices of fuel. The Opposition’s sloganeering continued while speaker Om Birla appealed for silence and let the “customary” introduction of the ministers occur. The Prime Minister said that instead of a hue and cry, he had expected that the ministers would be honoured with claps. “But it seems that Dalits, women… OBCs of the country becoming ministers do not go down well with many…

19 Jul

The Political Fix: What can Prashant Kishor bring to the Congress – or the anti-Modi Opposition?

editor0 CommentsIndia, PoliticalINDIA, politicians

Mamata Banerjee’s big win in the high-prestige and high-octane West Bengal assembly election last winter has triggered the possibility of a new federal front against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Regional parties, party factions, small and big political family firms — all seem to be involved in parleys, political intrigue and even publicity-generating photo-ops. Inciting speculation and working across regions, a ‘coalition’ to take on the behemoth that is the BJP’s election machinery seems to be afoot. Weakened states and regional parties in the Modi-Shah era have made the repeat of a 1990s-style anti-BJP coalition at…

17 Jul

Reliance Retail to acquire controlling stake in Just Dial for Rs 3,497 cr

editor0 CommentsBusiness, IndiaReliance Industries

Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL), Just Dial and VSS Mani and others on Friday executed definitive agreements which will entail preferential allotment of 2.12 crore equity shares, equivalent to 25.33 per cent post preferential share capital, at a price of Rs 1,022.25 per share. Post the agreements, RIL will acquire 1.31 crore equity shares by RRVL from VSS Mani (equivalent to 15.62 per cent post preferential share capital) at a price per share of Rs 1,020. RRVL will hold 40.95 per cent and would make an open offer to acquire up to 26 per cent stake in accordance with takeover…