CENTRE SOUNDS COVID ALERT, ASKS STATES TO TRACK POSITIVE SAMPLES

With Covid-19 cases on the rise in several countries including China, the Union Health Ministry raised an alert Tuesday and directed all states and UTs to sequence all positive case samples on a daily basis.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a meeting Wednesday with senior officials and experts to review the Covid-19 situation in the country — India has been reporting around 1,200 cases a week.

In a letter to the states and UTs, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, “In view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, United States of America, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network. Such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate undertaking of requisite public health measures for the same.”

“…all states are requested to ensure that as far as possible samples of all positive cases, on a daily basis, are sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) that are mapped to the States and UTs,” he said.

Other than increased surveillance, there has been no change in protocol for international arrivals as of now. The protocol revised last month does away with the need for either a negative RT-PCR or complete vaccination certificate. It said in-bound passengers should “preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against Covid-19 in their country.”

THE Health Secretary has underlined that India, with its focus on a five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour, has been able to restrict transmission. The country is reporting around 1,200 cases a week.

Globally, the number of Covid-19 cases has remained almost stable at around 3.3 million in a week. However, the number of deaths increased by 10% over the preceding week, according to the latest situation report of the World Health Organisation released on December 14.

MODI, KHARGE SHARE MILLET LUNCH AFTER CONG CHIEF'S 'DOG' REMARK

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday enjoyed a millet lunch at Parliament along with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other MPs.

The lunch was hosted by agriculture minister Narendra Tomar to mark Millet Year 2023.

"As we prepare to mark 2023 as the International Year of Millets, attended a sumptuous lunch in Parliament where millet dishes were served. Good to see participation from across party lines," Modi tweeted along with some pictures of the lunch.

Interestingly, the lunch was hosted conducted after the Parliament was disrupted as the Bharatiya Janata Party demanded an apology from the Congress over Kahrge's controversial comments Monday while hitting out at the BJP for mocking Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra as "Bharat todo (Divide India)".

At a rally in Rajasthan on Monday, Kharge claimed that while the Congress stood for the country and helped attain Independence after its leaders gave supreme sacrifices, 'not even a dog of the BJP was lost' for the country. He had also alleged that the BJP govt 'talks like a lion but acts like a mouse' as it is not taking on China for indulging in incursions along the border and is running away from a debate on the issue in Parliament.

The BJP on Tuesday demanded an apology as soon as the session began. "We condemn Mallikarjun Kharge's comments, the way he used offensive language and tried to spread a lie. He should apologise..," said Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Rajya Sabha.

Kharge defended his statements by repeating the points he had made on the Congress’s contribution to India’s independence. He said there was no need to discuss the issue in the House as the remarks were made at Alwar during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

“If I repeat here what I said outside, it will create difficulty for these people. The people who pleaded for mercy during the freedom struggle are asking for apology from those who fought for freedom,” Kharge said.

GAMBIA LAWMAKERS SAY INDIAN DRUG MAKER MAIDEN TO BLAME FOR CHILD DEATHS

A parliamentary committee in Gambia said on Tuesday that India-based drug maker Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd was responsible for the deaths of at least 70 children from acute kidney injury and called on the govt to pursue legal action.

The WHO in October said four medicinal syrups made by Maiden and imported by a local wholesaler were likely linked to the deaths, which have shocked the West African country since July. The drugs were pulled from the shelves and Maiden’s production licence in India was suspended.

After its investigation, Gambia’s select committee on health reached a similar conclusion.

Earlier this month India told the WHO that tests of samples from the same batches of syrups that were sent to Gambia were compliant with govt specifications.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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CHINA LIFTING COVID LOCKDOWN COULD KILL UPTO 2.1MN PEOPLE: REPORT

Between 1.3 and 2.1 million lives could be at risk if China lifts its zero-COVID policy given low vaccination and booster rates as well as a lack of hybrid immunity, according to London-based global health intelligence and analytics firm.

"Mainland China has very low levels of immunity across its population. Its citizens were vaccinated with domestically produced jabs Sinovac and Sinopharm which have been proven to have significantly lower efficacy and provide less protection against infection and death," according to analysis by Airfinity.

The global health intelligence company had said China's zero-COVID strategy also means the population has almost no naturally acquired immunity through the previous infection.

"As a result of these factors, our analysis shows if mainland China sees a similar wave to Hong Kong's in February, its healthcare system could be pushed to capacity as there could be between 167 and 279 million cases nationwide, which could lead to between 1.3 and 2.1 million deaths," it added.

On Monday, Chinese health authorities announced two coronavirus deaths, both in Beijing, which is witnessing its worst outbreak since the start of the COVID pandemic.

These were the first officially reported deaths since the dramatic easing of restrictions on December 7, CNN reported. This comes as Chinese social media posts have pointed to a surge in demand at Beijing's funeral homes and crematoriums.

TALIBAN-LED AFGHAN ADMINISTRATION SAYS FEMALE STUDENTS SUSPENDED FROM UNIVERSITIES

Afghanistan’s Taliban-run higher education ministry on Tuesday suspended access to universities by female students until further notice, drawing strong condemnation from the United States, Britain and the United Nations. The decision came as many university students were sitting end-of-term exams.

A letter, confirmed by a spokesperson for the higher education ministry, instructed Afghan public and private universities to suspend access to female students immediately, in accordance with a Cabinet decision.

The announcement by the Taliban administration, which has not been internationally recognised, came as the United Nations Security Council met in New York on Afghanistan.

Foreign govts, including the United States, have said that a change in policies on women’s education is needed before it can consider formally recognising the Taliban-run administration, which is also subject to heavy sanctions.

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KARNATAKA HOUSES TO PASS RESOLUTION ON BORDER ROW WITH MAHARASHTRA

Days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Chief Ministers Basavaraj Bommai and Eknath Shinde in a bid to dial down tensions between the two border states, the Karnataka govt said the state legislature would pass a resolution reiterating its position on the Belagavi border issue.

On Tuesday, during a debate on the border dispute in the winter session of the state Assembly held in Belagavi, Bommai suggested a unanimous resolution in both Houses of the state legislature reiterating the party’s position.

“If everyone agrees, while giving the govt’s reply on the border debate, we will pass a resolution reiterating the state’s stand in both Houses of the legislature. We have already passed several such resolutions, we will reiterate it,” he said, adding that Karnataka’s border interests will be protected.

CM Bommai also criticised Maharashtra politicians for attempting to enter Karnataka, saying it wasn’t right on their part to “forcefully enter the state and create law and order problems… Our stand has been clear and will stick to that forever. The same will be reiterated through a resolution passed by both Houses of the legislature”.

On Monday, the Karnataka Police had prevented several Maharashtra politicians from entering the state.

"ATTEMPT TO END JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE IS...": FORMER SUPREME COURT JUDGE

Efforts to infringe on the freedom of judiciary will not work, former Supreme Court judge Madan Lokur told NDTV yesterday in the backdrop of the judiciary's escalating friction with the govt on the subject of judicial appointments. He also questioned Law Minister Kiren Rijiju's recent statements critical of the judiciary, saying they are "completely unprovoked" and therefore "shocking".

"There is no way the govt can take away the independence of the judiciary through legislation or constitutional amendment," Justice Lokur said, when asked about former law minister Kapil Sibal's accusation that the govt was trying to take away the "last citadel of freedom". 

"It (independence of the judiciary) is part of the basic structure of the constitution. Independence of judiciary is fundamental to democracy. So if there is any attempt to take away the Independence of judiciary by any means, it will be an assault on democracy," Justice Lokur said. 

In an interview with NDTV, Sibal had said: "This (the judiciary) is the last citadel of freedom they have yet to capture. They captured all other institutions (pardon my saying) from the Election Commission to post of Governors to Vice Chancellors of universities to the ED (Enforcement Directorate) and the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), the NIA (National Investigation Agency) and of course the media."

EXPECTED NEXT YEAR: 3 STRATEGIC TUNNELS IN J&K TO CUT TRAVEL TIME

With the construction of three of the six tunnels, including the strategic Zojila tunnel, expected to be completed by mid-2023, road connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India is set to get a big leg up.

Four of the six tunnels are coming up on National Highway-244, connecting Jammu to Anantnag. They are the Khellani tunnel, the KM 83 tunnel, Shuddhmadev-Dranga tunnel and Singhpora-Vailoo tunnel. Once the four tunnels are ready, travel time between Jammu and Anantnag will reduce from the current 11-12 hours to 6 hours.

The remaining two tunnels on NH-1 — the strategically crucial Zojila and Z-Morh — will provide all-weather road connectivity between Srinagar and Kargil.

72 ARTEFACTS AWAITING REPATRIATION FROM 11 COUNTRIES, LOK SABHA TOLD

As many as 72 antiquities are presently awaiting repatriation from 11 countries, the govt has said. These are the antique idols and sculptures that have already been notified for return to India by the respective countries where they were discovered, but are yet to arrive.

These include eight from Australia, 17 from Singapore, nine from the UK, 31 from the US, and one each from Bangladesh, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland, according to the Ministry of Culture.

The funds for repatriation are spent from the regular allocation of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), said Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy.

Reddy’s statement was part of a written response in Lok Sabha on Monday, to a question by BJP MP Dushyant Singh, on return of the stolen antiquities.

CONMAN SUKESH CHANDRASEKHAR REITERATES HIS CLAIM TO HAVE GIVEN RS 60 CRORE TO AAP

Alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, who is under arrest for duping people of Rs 200 crore, on Tuesday reiterated that he gave “Rs 60 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party” and told reporters that he had given everything in writing.

Sukesh’s lawyer Anant Malik said yesterday that Chandrashekhar alleged that he gave Rs 60 crore to AAP. “A high-powered committee took his statement and the committee has given its recommendations. It held that allegations are serious and a probe should be done,” he added.

As per a report submitted by the committee, Chandrashekhar reiterated his charge of giving Rs 60 crore to Satyendar Jain – Rs 50 crore for securing a Rajya Sabha seat from AAP and Rs 10 crore as “protection money, sources said, adding that he had also claimed to have paid Rs 12.50 crore to the then Director General (Prison), Sandeep Goel.

Earlier, AAP leaders had dismissed Sukesh’s charges saying he was speaking like a BJP spokesperson and that he would join the party after coming out of jail.

RBI CAUTIONS AGAINST DARKENING GLOBAL OUTLOOK

A RBI report on Tuesday cautioned that the balance of risks is increasingly tilted towards a darkening global outlook and emerging market economies (EMEs) appear to be more vulnerable, even though incoming data suggest that global inflation may have peaked.

“Inflation may be slightly down, but it is certainly not out,” the RBI said in its ‘State of the economy’ report. “If anything, it has broadened and become stubborn, especially at its core. An unease hangs over energy prices,” it said.

After hiking Repo rate by 225 basis points since May this year to tame inflation, the RBI report said, “The near-term growth outlook for the Indian economy is supported by domestic drivers as reflected in trends in high frequency indicators. Equity markets touched a string of new highs during November buoyed by strong portfolio flows to India.” Headline inflation moderated by 90 basis points to 5.9 per cent in November driven by a fall in vegetables prices even as core inflation remained steady at 6 per cent.

Waning input cost pressures, still buoyant corporate sales and turn-up in investments in fixed assets are heralding the beginning of an upturn in the capex cycle in India which will contribute to a speeding up of growth momentum in the Indian economy, the report said.

With every passing day, the balance of risks gets increasingly tilted towards a darkening global outlook for 2023, the year that will bear the brunt of monetary policy actions of this year. “Emerging market economies (EMEs) appear even more vulnerable, having battled currency depreciations and capital outflows in addition to slowing growth and high inflation,” it said.

ELON MUSK SAYS HE WILL RESIGN AS TWITTER CEO "AS SOON AS..."

Elon Musk said on Tuesday he will step down as chief executive of Twitter after finding a replacement. "I will resign as CEO as soon as I find someone foolish enough to take the job! After that, I will just run the software & servers teams," Musk wrote on Twitter.

This is the first time Musk has mentioned stepping down as chief of the social media platform, after Twitter users voted decisively in a poll for him to step down, which the billionaire launched on Sunday evening.

Wall Street calls for Musk to step down had been growing for weeks and recently even Tesla Inc bulls have questioned his focus on the social media platform and whether that is distracting him from properly steering the electric vehicle business, where he is central to product design and engineering.

Musk has himself admitted he had too much on his plate, and said he would look for a Twitter CEO. He said on Sunday, though, that there was no successor and that "no one wants the job who can actually keep Twitter alive."

SPICEJET’S ‘CONTENTIOUS’ POST FEATURING DHARMENDRA DRAWS NETIZENS IRE

A post from SpiceJet’s official Twitter account is facing netizens ire where airlines shared picture of air hostesses with veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra. As the cabin crew could be seen donning red outfit, SpiceJet captioned its post as,''Garam-Dharam with our red-hot girls.''

As the post got viral netizens found the caption inappropriate as they feel it to be ‘objectifying’ women.

The National Commission For Women too took cognisance of the ‘sexist’ caption and asked airlines’ chairman to pull down the 'contentious' post.

ENGLAND FIRST TEAM TO WHITEWASH PAKISTAN AT HOME

England's bold brand of cricket brought more accolades on Tuesday as they became the first Test team to complete a 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan with their eight-wicket victory in the third and final match in Karachi.

The tourists, having restricted Pakistan to 216 in the second innings, comfortably chased a target of 167 to bring up their third straight victory in the series after wins in Rawalpindi and Multan.

Prior to the tour, England had won only two Tests in Pakistan and it was their first series win in the country since 2000-2001.

England have made huge progress under Stokes and new head coach Brendon McCullum, whose high-risk high-reward 'Bazball' style has brought nine wins in 10 Tests.

Prior to the change in leadership England had been mired in a miserable run of one win in 17 Tests.

Scores: Pakistan 304 & 216; England 354 & 170/2

INDICATORS

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Nasdaq 10,547 (+1) Dow 32,850 (+92), S&P 3,822 (+4)

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GBP 0.82 /US$, Euro 0.94 /US$, Jap.Yen 132.87 /US$, Aus$ 1.49 /US$, Sing 1.35 /US$, Bang Taka 102.69 /US$, Can$ 1.36 /US$, Mal Ring 4.42 /US$,

Pak Re 224.71 /US$, Phil Peso 55.12 /US$, Russian Rouble 69.55 /US$, NZ$ 1.57 /US$, Thai Baht 34.73 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 36.59 /US$)

Bitcoin - USD 16,867

Dollar Index 103.66 Brent Crude 80.07 BDI 1,548

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,816 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 5,411 / 4,960, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 72,500

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A brave heart and a courteous tongue. They shall carry thee far through the jungle, manling. - Rudyard Kipling

OFF TRACK

A guy was driving when a policeman pulled him over. He rolled down his window and said to the officer, "Is there a problem, Officer?" "No problem at all. I just observed your safe driving and am pleased to award you a $100 Safe Driver Award. Congratulations. What do you think you're going to do with the money?"

He thought for a minute and said, "Well, I guess I'll go get that drivers' license."

The lady sitting in the passenger seat said to the policeman, "Oh, don't pay attention to him - he's a smartass when he's drunk and stoned."

The guy from the back seat said, "I TOLD you guys we wouldn't get far in a stolen car!"

At that moment, there was a knock from the trunk and a muffled voice said, "Are we over the border yet?"