The cinema chains, which pleaded and lobbied hard, with various state governments and the Central Government to lift lockdown and let cinemas get back into operation, got their wish eventually. However, it was not going to business as usual. There were to be many restrictions like occupancy percentage, sanitising before each show and such.

JAIPUR: Rajasthan government on Saturday announced night curfew in eight districts to check the rising Covid-19 cases.

NEW DELHI: With the two mRNA vaccine candidates from pharma giants Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna showing effectiveness in preventing Covid-19 in an interim analysis, health experts in India on Tuesday said that mRNA vaccine that works on previously unproven technology can be very promising in the fight against the pandemic despite the challenges.

CHANDIGARH:  While reviewing the status of ongoing development works in Faridkot division, Punjab Chief Secretary Ms. Vini Mahajan directed the officials to expedite the implementation of development works which had slowed due to COVID 19 pandemic. This was her third consecutive field visit after Rupnagar and Ferozepur divisions.

MOHALI: Health & Family Welfare Minister, Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu today flagged off two special awareness vans under non-communicable diseases (NCD) program at the Government Dispensary in Sohana.

CHANDIGARH Haryana Health Department is happy to announce that no death due to COVID-19 has been reported today.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has directed the Water Supply and Sanitation Department to ensure clean drinking water and toilets in all Government Schools and Anganwadis in the state by November 30 to protect the health of children, especially in the present Covid situation.

CHANDIGARH: The State Government has augmented its fleet of ambulances by addition of a hundred new ambulances and has pressed them into operation on the auspicious occasion of 150th birth anniversary of the Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, informed S. Balbir Singh Sidhu, Health Minister Punjab.

WASHNGTON: US President Donald Trump has said that he was tested for Covid-19 and was awaiting the results after one of his closest White House aide contracted the virus, according to media reports.

White House adviser Hope Hicks, one of the closest to Trump, has tested positive for Covid-19, an informed source told The Hill news website on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: In a remarkable turn around, Indian Railways has earned more revenue in the month of September as compared to last year inspite of covid related challenges.

In September 2020, Indian Railways earned Rs. 9896.86 crores from freight loading which is also Rs. 1180.57 crores higher compare to last year’s earnings for the same period (Rs. 8716.29 crores). The increase in freight revenue is 13.54%.

NEW DELHI: The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has written to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) seeking temporary suspension of the breath analyser test (BAT) due to fears around the ongoing Covid pandemic.

In the letter to DGCA, FIP said: "As the Covid 19 virus cases are increasing day by day, our members are apprehensive to undergo the BA Test. You will appreciate that in the present scenario of unprecedented crisis, their fears cannot be ruled out and temporary suspension of BA Test is essential."

NEW DELHI: Amazon Business on Friday announced a special anniversary sale from September 25 to September 30 on account of completing three years of its services in India.

In a statement, the company said that the event will feature a wide selection of products from both brands and MSMEs, offering deals and offers across various categories like IT, telecom, services, education, hospitality and healthcare, offering products such as IT peripherals, home and kitchen appliances, office supplies, large appliances and cleaning essentials, among others.

NEW DELHI: Service to humanity and nation has been the tradition of our value system. It has its roots in our tradition where it has been stated that it is difficult to understand and gauge the implications of service motive, President Ram Nath Kovind said in his address on the occasion of conferring National Service Scheme awards at New Delhi today (24th September, 2020).

MUMBAI: The Centre has asked 10 key states contributing 76% of all reported Covid -19 cases to implement targeted public communication campaign at the grass root level to encourage ‘Covid appropriate behaviour’ among the people in the worst affected districts. These 10 states are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Kerala, Telangana and Delhi which have maximum number of active cases. Within Maharashtra, Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Sangli and Kolhapur have been identified as key districts for intensive Covid communication.

NEW DELHI: Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has informed that it has granted test license permission for manufacture of COVID-19 Vaccine for preclinical test, examination and analysis to the following manufacturers in India:

M/s Serum Institute of India Pvt., Ltd., Pune

NEW DELHI: In the wake of the Covid19 pandemic, and the urgent need felt to move oxygen in sufficient quantity, at a short notice, from surplus areas to deficit areas, it was felt necessary to give permission to ISO containers to move liquid oxygen for domestic transport.

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: On completion of one year of Chairmanship of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB), Election Commission of India today hosted an International Webinar on the Theme ‘‘Issues, Challenges and Protocols for Conducting Elections during COVID-19 : Sharing Country Experiences’. It was an occasion for democracies world over to come together to share experiences of conducting elections during Covid19.

NEW DELHI: On completion of one year of Chairmanship of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB), Election Commission of India today hosted an International Webinar on the Theme ‘‘Issues, Challenges and Protocols for Conducting Elections during COVID-19 : Sharing Country Experiences’. It was an occasion for democracies world over to come together to share experiences of conducting elections during Covid19.

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan today directed all the Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police, Municipal Corporation Commissioners, Civil Surgeons and senior IAS officers of the state to redouble all efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

NEW DELHI: There has been satisfactory progress of sowing area coverage under Kharif crops, the status of which is given as under:

Sowing Area Coverage of Kharif Crops : as on 18.09.2020, the total Kharif crops has been sown on 1113.63 lakh ha area against 1053.52 lakh ha area during the corresponding period of last year, thus, increase in area coverage by 5.71% compared to corresponding period of last year in the country. 

NEW DELHI: Government has advised public including women to take all precautions for prevention from COVID19, while pursuing professions. Measures such as work from home, on line teaching, tele medicine consultations etc have been encouraged. Anganwadi Workers, ANMs and ASHAs have been engaged in facilitating essential services during COVID19 pendemic.

NEW DELHI: The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said in a written reply in Lok Sabha today that Government of India has taken several measures to support the North Eastern State Governments, including Assam during the pandemic.

NEW DELHI: The full text of the suo-moto statement by  Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Health & Family Welfare today in Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha regarding COVID pandemic and the steps taken by the Government of India is as follows:

I have briefed this august house on two earlier occasions once in February and again in March this year on the Covid Pandemic. I would again like to brief the Hon’ble members on the current situation of Covid-19 Pandemic and the actions taken by the Government of India. 

NEW DELHI: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued a protocol on Post COVID Management on 13th September, 2020. The protocol provides an integrated holistic approach for patients of COVID to care at home and is not meant to be used as preventive/curative therapy. It also states that the recovery period is likely to be longer for patients who suffered from more severe form of the disease and those with pre-existing illness. The protocol is also notable for the induction of various AYUSH practices of healthcare to facilitate faster recuperation of health of recovered Covid 19 patients.

NEW DELHI: A report on the journey of the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) in catalyzing innovation, entrepreneurship, and incubation was launched by the Secretary Department of Science and Technology, Professor Ashutosh Sharma at an online programme earlier this week.

NEW DELHI: Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd -BCPL achieved a highest ever pheneol production of Rs 8.3 Crore in August 2020, which is an all-time record in the 120 years history of the Company. 
Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd is a PSU under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers .

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers D V Sadananda Gowda has congrtatulated the management and the employees of the company for brilliantly achieveing a highest ever production.

NEW DELHI: On mission mode, Indian Railways Freight loading for the month of September 2020 till 6 September 2020 crossed last year’s loading and earnings for the same period.

In the month of September 2020 till 6 September 2020 Indian Railways loading was 19.19 million tonnes which is 10.41% (1.81 million tonnes) higher compare to last year’s loading for the same period (17.38 million tonnes). In this period Indian Railways earned Rs. 1836.15 crores from freight loading which is also Rs. 129.68 crores higher compare to last year’s earnings for the same period (Rs. 1706.47 crores)

NEW DELHI: India continues to report one of the lowest COVID Case Fatality Rates (CFR) when compared to several other countries. While the global CFR stands at 3.3% as on date, the comparative figure for India is 1.76%.

NEW DELHI: On mission mode, Indian Railways achieved a significant milestone of pulling freight traffic ahead. Indian Railways Freight loading for the month of August 2020 surpasses last years loading for the same month.

In the month of August 2020 Indian Railways loading was 94.33 million tonnes which is 3.31 million tonnes higher compare to last years loading for the same month (91.02 million tonnes).

NEW DELHI: Union Department of Fertilizers is observing Swachhta Pakhwada from 1st - 15th September 2020. All PSUs and other Organizations under the Department are participating in the Swachhta Abhiyan in a big way.

Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri DV Sadananda Gowda said in a tweet that Swachhta Pakhwada has gained even greater importance this year in view of the outbreak of COVID 19 pandemic.

PATNA: The migration of labourers is turning out to be a poll issue for the opposition parties in Bihar. Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the opposition, has slammed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for being unable to create jobs in the state. As a result, workers who walked thousands of kilometres to reach their homes from other states during the lockdown are again heading towards states having more job opportunities.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan reiterated that the state is well prepared to handle the current patient load and Punjab government has partnered with the private healthcare sector to ensure greater coverage and better utilization of the available resources in the state for the benefit of the patients.

CHANDIGARH: Taking notice of media reports regarding Ludhiana incident in which Lok Insaaf Party Chief Mr. Simranjit Singh Bains refused to get him tested for COVID-19 even after the notice issued by the Ludhiana Police, the Health & Family Welfare Minister said that Mr Bains should have done that without any delay in larger public interest.

CHANDIGARH: Under Mission Fateh, the Department of Medical Education and Research is taking steps to combat COVID-19 through specialized training of medical colleges, district hospitals and front line workers , working at the grass root level by adopting the latest approach instead of traditional methods.