Zhang Chiahou's Blog, page 3
May 4, 2022
Insurance giant LIC’s $2.7 bln IPO, India’s largest, opens for subscription
A logo of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is pictured at one of its offices in New Delhi, India January 24, 2022. Picture taken on January 24, 2022. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
MUMBAI, May 4 (Reuters) – State-owned Life Insurance Corp’s (LIC) $2.7 billion IPO, India’s largest, opened to subscriptions from retail and other investors on Wednesday following strong demand from anchor investors led by domestic mutual funds.
Reporting by Nupur Anand; Editing by Jamie Freed
Source: Reuters.
May 3, 2022
Premium Conversations | On China, we told you so: Tibet’s leader Penpa Tse
Tsering has served as Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile. (AP)Published on May 03, 2022 04:59 PM IST
Washington: During a recent visit to Washington DC, Penpa Tsering, the head of the Central Tibetan administration, met senior officials of the United States (US) National Security Council and the State Department as well as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi and other members of the US Congress. His first visit to the US as Sikyong took place at a time when the competition between the United States (US) and China remains intense, with frequent US statements on China’s human rights violations in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
Sitting in The Office of Tibet in Washington, amid a flurry of meetings, Tsering, who has also served as Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile, spoke to Hindustan Times about the state of the Tibetan struggle, Chinese actions in Tibet, his expectations from the international community as well as India and Nepal, and his engagements in the US. Excerpts:
Source: Hindustan Times.
May 2, 2022
Heatwave over in most parts of north India, rainfall in Delhi on May 3, says IMD
For the past few weeks, several states had been experiencing severe heatwave conditions with the maximum temperature nearing 50 degrees celsius in some cities. The scorching heat had also escalated the power demand in the country, with power cuts being reported from several states.
Several states had been experiencing heatwave conditions in the past few weeks(Rahul Raut/HT file photo)Published on May 02, 2022 02:10 PM IST
ByHT News Desk | Written by Aryan Prakash
Some relief from the simmering heat expected as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted an ‘abatement’ of heatwave conditions across most parts of the country. In a series of tweets, the Met Department said that thunderstorms and gusty winds are very likely to be witnessed over northwest India till Wednesday, over northeast till tomorrow and over eastern and southern peninsular India till Friday.
Also read: Heatwave may abate over Delhi soon, thunder development in these states
“Heatwave is over in most parts of India including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and UP. Western disturbance is quite active. Temp will not rise for next 6-7 days. Northwest India has yellow alert for thunderstorms. Delhi to receive rainfall on May 3rd,” RK Jenamani, senior scientist, IMD, told ANI.
Here are the five big predictions by the Met department over the current weather situation in the country.
1. The Met department has predicted squally winds of speed between 40-60 kilometres per hour over South Andaman Sea & adjoining north Andaman Sea and Eastcentral Bay of Bengal on May 4 and 5.
2. Squally or stormy winds with speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph likely to prevail over Andaman Sea adjoining Eastcentral & Southeast Bay of Bengal on 06th May. Fishermen are advised not to venture into these areas, the weather department predicted.
RELATED STORIES
Rain, cool breeze bring respite from heat wave spell in BiharDelhi: No let-up as searing heat continues,sports complex hottest at 46.4°CApril ends on a fiery note in Delhi: 47.1°C at Sports ComplexHeat wave conditions begin to abate in interior MaharashtraMumbai wakes up to warmest April morning in a decadeBengaluru weather update: April 29 was hottest day of the year, expect rainBREAKING: Fire breaks out at godown in Hyderabad, no casualty reportedNW, central India get hottest April in 122 yrs3. Scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with isolated thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds (speed reaching 40-50 kmph) very likely over Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal & Odisha during next 5 days.
4. Isolated heavy rainfall very likely over sub-Himalayan regions in West Bengal and Sikkim on Monday; over Arunachal Pradesh on Monday and Tuesday.
INDIA NEWS
2:05
‘Bodily integrity is…’: SC rules against vaccine mandates, says ‘no one can be forced to get jabbed’2 hours ago
2:35
Osmania University snubs Rahul Gandhi, declines permission for campus visit; Cong fumes, moves HC3 hours ago
2:32
‘Hanuman Chalisa on double volume’: Raj Thackeray sets May 4 deadline for ban on mosque loudspeakers3 hours ago
3:10
Prashant Kishor’s cryptic tweet creates buzz; Poll strategist to embark on new political journey?3 hours ago
3:23
‘Vande Matram’ chants for PM Modi in Germany; Warm welcome from Indian diaspora I Watch4 hours ago
3:11
PM Modi departs for Germany on ‘3-day, 3-nation’ tour; Europe ties in focus7 hours ago
3:45
‘Ready to tackle challenges’: Gen Manoj Pande lists top three priorities as Army ChiefYesterday
3:54
Top U.S lawmaker Nancy Pelosi’s surprise Kyiv visit as Russia rains fire on Ukraine cities and townsYesterday
3:51
‘Will destroy synagogues’: Hamas’ warns Israel against raiding Al-Aqsa mosque in JerusalemYesterday
2:01
Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande visits National War Memorial; Pays respect to India’s fallen soldiersYesterday
5. “Isolated heavy rainfall over Assam-Meghalaya & Nagaland-Manipur-Mizoram-Tripura during between Monday and Wednesday. Isolated very heavy rainfall likely over Assam-Meghalaya & Tripura on Tuesday,” the prediction read.
For the past few weeks, several states had been experiencing severe heatwave conditions with the maximum temperature nearing 50 degrees celsius in some cities. The scorching heat had also escalated the power demand in the country, with power cuts being reported from several states.
Source: Hindustan Times
India’s factory activity quickens in April amid high inflation
A worker operates a lathe machine as he makes a steel cutter at a manufacturing unit in Noida, on the outskirts of New Delhi November 3, 2014. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee
Bengaluru, May 2 (Reuters) – Factory activity in India picked up last month, bolstered by a solid increase in demand as pandemic restrictions were eased, but rising energy prices pushed input costs to a five-month high, a private survey showed.
Reporting by Shaloo Shrivastava; Editing by Kim Coghill
Source: Reuters.
May 1, 2022
Europe visit comes at a time when region faces many challenges, choices, says PM
This would be PM Modi’s first foreign visit this year. He would be visiting Germany, Denmark and France.
File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.(HT Photo)Published on May 01, 2022 12:33 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday issued a departure statement before he leaves for Germany in his first visit to Europe this year. “My visit to Europe comes at a time when the region faces many challenges and choices. Through my engagements, I intend to strengthen the spirit of cooperation with our European partners, who are important companions in India’s quest for peace and prosperity,” the prime minister said.
PM Modi’s Europe visit comes at a time when the Ukraine war is in its ninth week. He is set to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen and France’s Emmanuel Macron in Paris, who was recently re-elected as the president for a second term.
“President Macron has very recently been re-elected, and my visit just ten days after the result will not only allow me to convey my personal congratulations in-person, but also reaffirm the close friendship between the two countries. This will also give us the opportunity to set the tone of the next phase of the India-France Strategic Partnership,” the prime minister said in the departure statement published on his official website.
RELATED STORIES
PM Modi to visit Germany, Denmark, France from May 2-4China back on radar as PM Modi-Biden to meet at QUAD Summit in Japan next monthPM Modi to CMs at event with judges: ‘Nix laws obsolete for common man’Jaishankar conveys PM Modi’s invitation to Sheikh Hasina to visit IndiaPM Modi calls for judiciary to deliver ‘easy and speedy’ justice for allPM Modi inaugurates Semicon India conference in Bengaluru‘India First…’: How PM Modi lauded NRIs as India’s envoys to the world I WatchPM Modi cites NE border deals, AFSPA removal to laud ‘double-engine’ govts“PM Modi will exchange India’s perspectives on Ukraine during his visit to Germany, France and Denmark,” foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
An exchange of views “on strategic, regional and global developments that concern us both” is set to be the focus of his meeting with the German chancellor, he said.
The prime minsiter will be in Germany for two days from Monday. The next two days, he will be in Denmark for the second edition of the India-Nordic Summit, and then he is set to make a stopover in Paris before returning.
“My visit to Berlin will be an opportunity to hold detailed bilateral discussions with Chancellor Scholz, whom I met at G20 last year in his previous capacity as Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister. We will co-chair the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC), a unique biennial format which India conducts only with Germany. Several Indian ministers will also travel to Germany and hold consultations with their German counterparts,” he said.
Source: Hindustan Times.
April 30, 2022
Gap between second Covid vaccine dose, precaution jab to continue to be 9 months
The members of the government’s technical expert panel on immunisation are yet to reach a consensus on revising the gap between the second covid vaccine dose and precaution dose.
Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla had been advocating for reducing the gap to 6 months for quite some time. (Photo by Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times))Published on Apr 30, 2022 03:30 PM IST
NEW DELHI: It may take longer to revise gap between the second covid vaccine dose and precaution dose as members of the government’s technical expert panel on immunisation are yet to reach a consensus on the matter, according to people familiar with the matter.
“The matter is being discussed but for anything to be decided conclusively, a consensus has to be reached. There are voices in favour but also some that feel the gap is just fine at the moment. The discussion should continue on this in the next meeting,” said a person aware of the matter, requesting not to be named.
Serum Institute of India’s chief executive officer, Adar Poonawalla, had been advocating for reducing the gap to 6 months for quite some time.
Precaution dose was opened under the national Covid immunisation programme on January 10 for the high-risk group, before the government took a stand on expanding it for all adults from April 10.
The Centre clarified that the precaution doses will be homologous, which means that if you have received the Covishield vaccine for your first and second doses, your third dose will also be of Covishield and similarly if your first two doses were of Covaxin, the booster shot will also be the same.
RELATED STORIES
No Covid vaccine booster dose for 18-59 age group in Panchkula amid communication delayTips on diagnostics and precautions to keep your baby healthy amidst pandemicSore throat to runny nose; experts on common Covid symptoms in fully vaccinated peopleOver 5 million Covid vaccine doses given to children in 12-15 age group in Uttar PradeshMalaysia scraps Covid-19 tests, outdoor mask mandate for all incoming vaccinated travellersEXPLAINER: Covid-19 pills must be taken within 5 daysState to ask Centre to reduce 9-month gap for booster doseKarnataka COVID-19 vaccination guidelines as of April 28, 2022: BBMP says…The two vaccines that are the mainstay of national Covid immunisation programme are Covaxin and Covishield. Bharat Biotech developed Covaxin in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research, and Serum Institute of India locally manufactured Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine under the brand name Covishield.
The government has not yet allowed mixing and matching of precaution dose as several trials are currently going on in the country to know the effect of existing vaccines as boosters.
Also, no fresh registration is required for the precautionary dose as all due beneficiaries are already registered on the Co-Win portal.
Source: Hindustan Times.
India seizes heroin-soaked yarn worth $58 mln
AHMEDABAD, India, April 30 (Reuters) – Indian authorities seized 90 kg (198 lbs) of drugs worth $58 million from a port in the western state of Gujarat, a police officer said on Saturday, the third such haul in two weeks.
Reporting by Sumit Khanna in Ahmedabad; Editing by Clarence Fernandez
Source: Reuters.
March 23, 2022
Tripura: Survey completed for second Indo-Bangladesh railway line
ANI | Agartala | March 23, 2022 9:20 am
(File Photo)
Surveys for several railway projects in Tripura including the second Indo-Bangla railway link through the Belonia sub-division of the South Tripura district have been completed by the officials.
Tripura Transport Minister Pranajit Singha Roy informed the State Assembly that Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is expected to visit the state on March 25 to inspect the ongoing projects.
Some new projects may also be launched by the minister during his visit to the North-East state. Roy was addressing the house on Calling Attention motion moved by treasury bench Chief Whip MLA Kalyani Roy on ”The need to further improve the overall management of passenger and freight traffic, including increasing the number of passenger trains through the introduction of double lane rail services in the state of Tripura”.
Replying to the query, the Transport Minister said that on June 4, 2020, the Tripura government sent a proposal to ‘North East Region Vision 2035’ to transform the existing single line tracks into double lines to enhance railway connection as well as improve the number of passenger and freight engines.
With regards to new projects in the pipeline, he said that survey works of three new railway projects that consist of 30 kilometres long Belonia (India) – Feni (Bangladesh), Dharmanagar (North district) – Pancharathal (North district), and Kailashahar (Unakoti district) Railway has been completed.
Another project is underway to link Dharmanagar in North Tripura with Belonia in the South district connecting Unakoti, Dhalai, Khowai, and certain parts of the West Tripura district.
“The survey work for these projects have been completed and Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on January 21, 2022, made a special request to the Union Railway Minister to incorporate the following projects in the Railway Budget and provide necessary financial assistance”, the transport minister told the house.
Apart from that, construction works for Nischintapur Railway Yard which will connect Tripura with Akhaura in Bangladesh are on the verge of completion. “About 98 percent of the work is completed and 75 percent of work for Sabroom Railway Yard has also been complete”, he said.
According to the ministers, all these ambitious projects are expected to be completed by the next financial year.
“The construction of 12.30 kilometres long Agartala-Akhaura in Bangladesh railway link that aims to increase passenger and freight engine movement between these two locations will be completed shortly. The DoNER ministry and Ministry of External Affairs of the Central Government have been extending all sorts of help for speedy completion of the project.”
Source: The Statesman.
EXCLUSIVE Chinese regulators ask some U.S.-listed firms to prepare for audit disclosures – sources
Chinese and U.S. flags flutter near The Bund, before U.S. trade delegation meet their Chinese counterparts for talks in Shanghai, China July 30, 2019. REUTERS/Aly Song
HONG KONG/BEIJING, March 23 (Reuters) – Chinese regulators have asked some of the country’s U.S.-listed firms, including Alibaba, Baidu and JD.com, to prepare for more audit disclosures, sources said, as Beijing steps up efforts to ensure domestic companies remain listed in New York.
Reporting by Yingzhi Yang, Julie Zhu, Xie Yu and Kevin Huang; Editng by Sumeet Chatterjee and Jacqueline Wong
Source: Reuters.
March 22, 2022
Petrol, diesel prices increased after over 4 months, LPG hiked by Rs 50
Statesman News Service | New Delhi | March 22, 2022 1:43 pm
(Photo: IStock)
Petrol and diesel prices were increased by 80 paise per litre today after a period of over four months.
Accordingly, the increase in selling price, which includes state levies, central excise and cess amongst other factors, came days after an astronomical rise in crude oil prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war.
The price of domestic cooking gas (LPG) was increased by Rs 50 per cylinder.
Petrol price in the national capital has gone up from Rs 95.41 to Rs 96.21 per litre while diesel in Delhi will now cost Rs 87.47 a litre.
Petrol and diesel prices per litre in Mumbai will cost Rs 110.82 and Rs 95.00 respectively.
In Kolkata, petrol and diesel will cost Rs 105.51 and Rs 90.62 per litre respectively while the prices in Chennai will be Rs 102.16 and Rs 92.19 respectively.
After November last year, this is the first fuel price hike.
A 14.2-kg LPG cylinder will now cost Rs 949.50 in Delhi from today. Domestic LPG rates were last revised on October 6 by Rs 15. Earlier on March 1, the prices of 19 kg commercial LPG cylinders was increased by Rs 105 in Delhi.
With this increase, 19 kg commercial cylinder costs Rs 2,012 in Delhi.
Till now, fuel prices have been steady since early November when the Centre reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 5 and Rs 10 per litre, respectively.
The OMCs revise the transportation fuel cost based on various factors such as rupee to US Dollar exchange rate, cost of crude oil and demand of fuel amongst others.
Resultantly, the final price includes excise duty, value added tax and dealer’s commission.
It was widely expected that the OMCs will revise the current prices due to high crude oil cost.
Lately, crude oil prices have been volatile surging by nearly 35-40 per cent on fear of tight supplies.
Furthermore, it is feared that current sanctions against Russia will curtail more global supplies and stifle growth.
In case of India, the crude oil price range is a cause of concern as it may ultimately add Rs 15-Rs 25 in petrol and diesel selling prices.
At present, India imports nearly 85 per cent of its crude oil requirements.
Source: The Statesman.
