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New Delhi: With the threat of the ‘highly transmissible’ Omicron COVID variant looming large across the globe, a set of fresh travel guidelines issued by the Indian government for international travellers began on Wednesday. Hours after the new rules kicked in, the Delhi airport took to Twitter and wrote that the operations for international arrivals from “at-risk” countries are running smoothly so far. It added that a total of 1,013 passengers have completed their arrival formalities, including taking RT-PCR tests. Three flights were from London, and one was from Amsterdam, according to an airport official. Putting out two tweets, the airport authority wrote, “Operations for International arrivals are running smooth after the implementation of the New guidelines laid down by @MoHFW_INDIA.” It further added, “Total 1013 passengers from 4 ‘at risk’ flights, successfully completed arrival formalities due to availability of Rapid PCR Test along with RTPCR test. 792 passengers decided to

New Delhi: People with blood groups A, B and Rh+ are more disposed to catching Covid-19 and those with blood groups AB, O and Rh- are at a much lower risk of the infection, a study at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital has revealed. According to a report in The Indian Express, the study was conducted in 2,586 Covid-19 positive patients who were admitted to the hospital from April 8 2020 to October 4 2020. The findings were published in the November 21 issue of Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. “Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a new virus, and it is unclear whether blood groups have any impact on Covid-19 risk or progression. Therefore, we investigated the association of ABO and Rh blood group with Covid-19 susceptibility, prognosis, recovery time, and mortality in this study,” Dr. Rashmi Rana, Consultant, Department of Research, was quoted as saying in the report. Dr. Vivek Ranjan, Co-author and Chairperson, Department of Blood Transfusion, pointed out

New Delhi: The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder for commercial usage was today hiked again putting more burden on the common man and traders. The price of the 19-kg commercial cylinder has been increased Rs 100 per cylinder. This is a second hike after the price was increased on November 1. LPG Commercial Gas Cylinder Price Today Following the hike, the price of the 19-kg commercial cylinder will now cost Rs 2101 in Delhi. The price of LPG commercial cylinder in Mumbai is Rs 2,051 per cylinder. In Kolkata, the price is Rs 2,174.50 per cylinder. The LPG commercial gas cylinder price in Chennai is 2,234.50 per cylinder. Earlier on November 1 the price of LPG commercial cylinder was hiked by Rs 266 to Rs 2000.50. Prior to the November 1 hike, LPG commercial cylinder used to cost Rs 1734 in the national capital. However, there was no increase in price of domestic LPG cylinders. Meanwhile, the price of non-subsidized 14.2 kg cooking LPG gas cylinder price in Delhi is Rs

New Delhi: Putting an end to speculations surrounding ‘lockdown’ across the state in the wake of new Omicron variant of coronavirus, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaj Bommai asserted that his government had no plans to impose shutdown-like curbs. However, based on the number of cases and scenarios in the coming days certain stringent measures might be taken, said the chief minister. “There is no question of  lockdown, as of now. Normal public life should continue”, he stated, adding that COVID norms should be followed at places where people gather. CM Bommai further assured that his government is taking utmost precautions and keeping strict vigil against the new Omicron variant of coronavirus. Curbs Tightened Across The State Meanwhile, with new clusters emerging in the state, the government has tightened curbs against the Delta variant too. The chief minister asserted that the government has to manage things at two levels to control the further spread of the pandemic. “The state g

London: Tel Aviv, Israel, is now the most expensive city in the world to live in, according to a biannual report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The Israeli city topped the EIU’s December 2021 worldwide cost of living index for the first time ever, climbing up from fifth place last year. The Worldwide Cost of Living Index is compiled by comparing prices in US dollars for goods and services in 173 cities. Tel Aviv climbed the rankings partly due to the strength of the national currency, the shekel, against the dollar, as well increases in prices for transport and groceries. Last year, the survey put Paris, Zurich and Hong Kong in joint first place. Paris and Singapore came joint second, followed by Zurich and Hong Kong. New York was in sixth, with Geneva in seventh. Rounding off the top 10 were Copenhagen in eighth, Los Angeles in ninth and Osaka, Japan, in 10th. 10 most expensive cities in the world 2021 Tel Aviv, Israel Paris, France Singapore Zurich, Switzerland H

New omicron variant: Brazil and Japan joined the rapidly widening circle of countries to report cases of the omicron variant, while new findings indicate the mutant coronavirus was already in Europe close to a week before South Africa sounded the alarm. The Netherlands’ RIVM health institute disclosed that patient samples dating from Nov. 19 and 23 were found to contain the variant. It was on Nov. 24 that South African authorities reported the existence of the highly mutated virus to the World Health Organization. That indicates omicron had a bigger head start in the Netherlands than previously believed. Together with the cases in Japan and Brazil, the finding illustrates the difficulty in containing the virus in an age of jet travel and economic globalization. And it left the world once again whipsawed between hopes of returning to normal and fears that the worst is yet to come. Much remains unknown about the new variant, including whether it is more contagious, as some health auth

Mumbai: Amid growing concern over the new Omicron variant of coronavirus, the Maharashtra government has made institutional quarantine mandatory for passengers coming to the state from ‘at-risk’ nations. As per the reports, the order to place passengers into compulsory quarantine centres will come into effect immediately. Speaking to a leading news channel, a source close to the development said that flyers arriving into the state will have to pay for the quarantine at designated hotels. Following the order, mass cancellation of flights to Mumbai is likely. The list of countries designated “at-risk” for now includes South Africa, all 44 countries in Europe, the United Kingdom (UK), Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Israel and Singapore. #FlyAI : Intl Passengers for Maharashtra kindly note, order issued by Govt of Maharashtra require quarantine for all arriving from countries at risk & RTPCR test for other countries. Domestic pas

New Delhi: Just a day after Parliament passed the bill to repeal the three contentious agricultural laws against which farmers have been protesting for a year, the Centre has reportedly sought five names from the Samkyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) to constitute a committee for discussion on MSP and other issues, and it will be decided by the umbrella body of farmer unions in its December 4 meeting, farmer leader Darshan Pal said on Tuesday. “Today, the Centre has asked for five names from SKM for the committee that will deliberate on the issue of minimum support price (MSP) for crops. We have not yet decided on the names. We will decide this in our December 4 meeting,” said Pal. The SKM, an umbrella body of over 40 farm unions, has been spearheading the farmers’ movement against the three farm laws and their other demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that a committee would be formed to take decisions on the subjects of

Bihar Panchayat Election Result 2021 Live: The counting of votes for the ninth phase of the Bihar Panchayat Elections 2021 is underway. The ninth phase of panchayat elections was held peacefully on November 29 in 53 blocks spread over 35 districts across the state. The results today will decide the fate of over 97,878 candidates. Multi-layer security arrangements have been made inside and outside the centre to avoid any untoward incident.  For the unversed, Panchayat polls in Bihar are being conducted in 11 phases. First phase : September 24 – 12 blocks of 10 districts; Second phase : September 29 – 48 blocks of 34 districts; Third phase : October 8 – 50 blocks of 35 districts; Fourth phase : October 20 – 53 blocks of 36 districts; Fifth phase : October 24 – 38 districts in 58 blocks; Sixth phase : November 3 – 57 blocks of 37 districts; Seventh phase : November 15 – 63 blocks of 37 districts; Eighth Phase : November 24 – 55 blocks of 36 districts; Ninth phase : November 29 – 53 b

WASHINGTON: A panel of U.S. health advisers on Tuesday narrowly backed a closely watched COVID-19 pill from Merck, setting the stage for a likely authorization of the first drug that Americans could take at home to treat the coronavirus. The Food and Drug Administration panel voted 13-10 that the antiviral drug’s benefits outweigh its risks, including potential birth defects if used during pregnancy. “I see this as an incredibly difficult decision with many more questions than answers,” said panel chair Dr. Lindsey Baden of Harvard Medical School, who voted in favor of the drug. He said FDA would have to carefully tailor the drug’s use for patients who stand to benefit most. The recommendation came after hours of debate about the drug’s modest benefits and potential safety issues. Most experts backing the treatment stressed that it should not be used by anyone who is pregnant and called on FDA to recommend extra precautions before the drug is prescribed, such as pregnancy tests for

Breaking News LIVE Updates Dec 1, 2021: A low-pressure area off Maharashtra coast is likely to bring rainfall over India’s western coast and north Maharashtra, and Gujarat starting from Wednesday while a low pressure over south Thailand is likely to emerge as a cyclonic storm over the east coast on December 4, the IMD said. The already rain- and flood-battered eastern coast is set to witness more rainfall as a low pressure lay over south Thailand and neighbourhood on Tuesday and is likely to emerge into Andaman Sea by early Wednesday. “Thereafter, it is likely to move west-north-westwards and concentrate into a depression over southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal by December 2 and intensify into a cyclonic storm over central parts of the Bay of Bengal during the subsequent 24 hours,” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday. Subsequently, it is likely to move north-westwards, intensify further and reach north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coasts around December

Michigan: A 15-year-old sophomore opened fire at his Michigan high school on Tuesday, killing three students and wounding eight other people, including at least one teacher, authorities said. Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said at a news conference that investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the shooting at Oxford High School in Oxford Township, a community of about 22,000 people roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Detroit. McCabe said he was aware of allegations circulating on social media that there had been threats of a shooting at the roughly 1,700-student school before Tuesday’s attack, but he cautioned against believing that narrative until investigators can look into it. He also downplayed the significance of an incident in early November when a deer head was thrown off the school roof, which he said was unrelated to the shooting. The vandalism prompted school administrators to post two letters to parents on the school’s website this month, s

IRCTC Latest News Today : For the convenience of the passengers, the Indian Railways on Tuesday said it will operate a pair of unreserved mail-express trains between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. As per the fresh announcement, these new trains will commence operation from December 1 from Pathankot to Volcano road. Speaking to News 18, Northern Railway Spokesperson Deepak Kumar said that train no. 01605/01606 Pathankot-Jwalamukhi Road-Pathankot Unreserved/Mail/Express trains will be operated in both directions. Full list here: Train No. 01605 Pathankot – Jwalamukhi Road Unreserved/Mail/Express will leave from Pathankot at 05.15 PM from Dec 1 and arrive at Jwalamukhi Road at 09.45 pm the same day. Train No. 01606 Jwalamukhi Road – Pathankot Unreserved/Mail/Express will leave Jwalamukhi Road at 04.35 AM from Dec 2 and reach Pathankot at 07.59 AM the same day. Notably, the train number 01605/01606 Pathankot – Volcano Road – Pathankot Unreserved/Mail/Express Trains have been given vario

Thiruvananthapuram : In an effort to make everyone get vaccinated, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said anyone not following COVID prevention measures, like vaccination, will not be provided free treatment. He also said that non-vaccinated teachers and employees who work from offices or interact with public will have to submit weekly results of RT-PCR tests. “No more free treatment for those who do not cooperate with Covid prevention measures. Non vaccinated teachers and employees who work from offices or interact with public, will have to submit weekly results of RT-PCR tests, paid for by themselves, to ensure safety of all,” Vijayan said in a tweet. No more free treatment for those who do not cooperate with Covid prevention measures. Non vaccinated teachers and employees who work from offices or interact with public, will have to submit weekly results of RTPCR tests, paid for by themselves, to ensure safety of all. — Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) November

New Delhi: India on Tuesday removed Bangladesh from a list of ‘at-risk’ countries that was issued as part of measures initiated in view of the emergence of new coronavirus variant Omicron, people familiar with the development said. Travellers from the ‘at-risk- countries will require to follow additional measures on arrival in India. Bangladesh was removed from the list after the country took up the matter with India, the people cited above said. Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said in Dhaka that the issue was taken up with India. “Due to (our) request, India High Commission has informed that Bangladesh has been removed from the red list of India,” he said in a message to media. According to the updated list, the countries designated as “at-risk” are the European countries, the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Israel. The original list that figured Bangladesh was issued four days back. The strict norm

Karnataka Lockdown News Today: Joining other states in taking preventive measures, the Karnataka government on Tuesday enhanced restrictions and issued fresh guidelines for international travellers. In the fresh order, the Besavaraj Bommai government said the international travellers arriving in the state will have to mandatorily undergo RT-PCR test and be in seven days home quarantine amid the rise of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Speaking to news agency ANI, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said around 2,500 international passengers arrive in Karnataka every day and it is now mandatory for everyone to undergo RT-PCR testing. However, he said that the passengers who test negative will be home quarantined for 7 days. “Those who are symptomatic and negative will have to undergo testing at home on 5th day. Asymptomatic will be tested on 7th day. If positive, they’ll be immediately hospitalised and treated separately,” he added. Saying that the RT-PCR test is being ca

London: Face coverings are mandatory in shops and public transport from Tuesday as part of targeted measures” to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, 22 cases of which have now been detected in the UK after Scotland and England reported further infections. Individuals linked with all new cases, identified in the East Midlands, the East of England, London, and the North West, are all isolating and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said work is underway to identify any links to travel to southern Africa. “It is very likely that we will find more cases over the coming days as we are seeing in other countries globally and as we increase case detection through focused contact tracing, said Dr Jenny Harries, UKHSA Chief Executive. The enhanced measures, announced last week as a precaution while more information is gathered and assessed on the new variant’s transmissibility and any possible effect on current COVID-19 vaccines, also include compulsory PCR tests on arrival for all int

Panaji : As the threat from Omicron variant looms large, the Goa government on Tuesday night issued fresh guidelines for international passengers and made RT-PCR Test must on their arrival. In the guidelines, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said all passengers will have to follow COVID protocols strictly. He said that the people coming from 12 ‘at-risk countries’ will have to follow 14-day quarantine strictly. “All international passengers coming here – whether at Goa Airport or Mormugao Port – will have to follow protocols strictly. They will have to strictly undergo COVID tests. People coming from 12 ‘at-risk countries’ will have to follow 14-day quarantine strictly, Sawant said in the order. He also added that the people from other nations will have to undergo 14-day self-isolation after tests. All international passengers coming here – whether at Goa Airport or Mormugao Port – will have to follow protocols strictly. They will have to strictly undergo COVID tests. People coming

New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality this November was the worst for the month in seven years with the city witnessing severe pollution on 11 days and not a single “good” air quality day, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. Experts attributed this to the shifting of the peak stubble burning period by around a week due to a prolonged monsoon season. The 30-day average of the capital’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 376. It was 328 in 2020, 312 in 2019, 335 in 2018, 361 in 2017, 374 in 2016, and 358 in 2015, according to the CPCB. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. Delhi saw 11 ‘severe’ air quality days in November this year, the highest in the month since the CPCB started maintaining air quality data in 2015. Seven ‘severe’ air quality days were recorded in the first half of the month, which saw rampant cracker bursting on Diwali an

Bank Holidays in December 2021: Just like the previous months, December is also a month of festivals. And several banks will be shut for festive occasions in December. Before visiting any bank branch in December, you must take a note of the important days during which the bank branches will remain closed. As per the Holiday List shared by the RBI, the public and private banks will remain closed for up to 12 days in December. On account of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, a total of seven holidays apart from Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays have been announced for December. The bank customers must note that the bank holidays differ from state to state. Notably, the bank holidays are listed under three categories such as Holiday Under Negotiable Instruments Act, Holiday Under Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement Holiday, and Banks’ Closing of Accounts. The bank customers need to know that the Christmas holiday is overlapping with the fourth Saturd

New Delhi:  The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday asked all States and Union Territories (UTs) for rigorous screening of international passengers arriving in India and also extended Covid-19 protocols till December 31. In an order issued on November 30, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, in the capacity of the Chairman of the National Executive Committee, asked all Secretaries of the Central Ministries, States Chief Secretaries and Administrators of UTs for rigorous screening and testing of all international arrivals, as per their guidelines issued from time to time. “The contacts of these international travellers must also be closely tracked and tested as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) guidelines and the samples of travellers turning positive are sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) promptly as per the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) Guidance Document,” the MHA order said. The Home Secretary also directed all

Mumbai: At least 1,000 travellers from African countries have landed in Mumbai in the last fortnight from where the potentially more transmissible ‘Omicron’ variant of coronavirus has been detected, a senior official of the city civic body said. Swab samples were collected of at least 100 travellers out of the 466 whose list was received so far, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani told PTI on Monday. Amid these concerns, Kakani said the airport authority has informed that around 1,000 travellers landed in Mumbai from African countries in the last fortnight, but it has handed over a list of only 466 such passengers so far. “Out of the 466 travellers, 100 are from Mumbai. We have already collected their swab samples. Their reports are expected soon. It will be clear if they are positive or negative to coronavirus,” Kakani said. “There won’t be an issue if their test report is negative, but the civic body is going to conduct genome

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday decided to extend the existing validity of COVID-19 guidelines and containment measures till December 31. The decision was announced in the backdrop of the emergence of a worrying new omicron COVID-19 variant and its spread in around 15 countries and more. Issuing an order on the matter, the home ministry has advised state governments to ensure strict compliance with the Health Ministry’s November 25 advisory in the wake of the omicron outbreak. Amid mounting concerns over the potentially more contagious coronavirus variant Omicron spreading to many countries, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan held a review meeting with states and UTs on Tuesday and advised them to ramp up testing for early identification and management of cases. While underlining that the new variant doesn’t escape RT-PCR and RAT tests, Bhushan asked states and UTs to ensure adequate infrastructure and supervised home isolation, a Union Health Ministry official

Mumbai: As the threat of the COVID-19 Omircon variant looms large, the reopening of schools in Mumbai has been postponed. Schools in Mumbai for classes 1 to 7 will now open from December 15 instead of tomorrow (December 1), Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation informed on Tuesday. However, for the rest of Maharashtra schools will reopen from tomorrow. This is part of the new Covid-19 guidelines released amid threat of the new covid-19 variant omicron. “Schools for classes 1-7 will now reopen from December 15, instead of December 1, in view of the emergence of Omicron variant of COVID19 in the world,” Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) told media. Additionally, reports claimed that the mayor of Pune stated that schools for grade 1-7 will not reopen in the city on the proposed day of December 1. Moreover, the Nashik Municipal Commissioner has also stayed the decision until December 10, considering the threat of the new variant. Amid the guidelines issued for the reopening of scho

Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on Tuesday announced the government’s decision to revoke the previous government’s Char Dham Devasthanam Board Management Act, freeing 51 temples from the state government’s control. The announcement comes after a high-level committee set up by the Dhami government to look into the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Act, 2019 submitted its final report to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in Rishikesh. Earlier on Monday, Uttarakhand Tourism and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj submitted the report of a cabinet sub-committee on the Chardham Devasthanam Board to CM Dhami. The report was submitted a day after a high-level committee constituted by the state government to look into the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Act, 2019 submitted its final report to Dhami. The recommendations of the two panels have not been made public yet. Priests of the Chardham — Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri — have

International Travel Update:  The Sri Lankan government on Monday said that it has taken all necessary measures in preventing the entry of the newly found Omicron variant of Covid-19 as many countries were closing their borders for arrivals. The minister for sports and youth, Namal Rajapaksa, told the Parliament legislators that health guidelines have been tightened at all the airports with the health history of passengers being checked upon arrival. “We have also introduced a Health app together with the Technology Ministry and the airport to support the airport staff in this process,” IANS quoted Rajapaksa. Covid Guidelines Over the weekend, Sri Lanka imposed a temporary ban on travellers from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini until further notice and said visitors who have already arrived should undergo a 14-day quarantine immediately and avoid going outdoors, Xinhua news agency reported. Health authorities have urged Sri Lankans not to leave t

New Delhi: No case of COVID19 variant Omicron has been reported in India so far, Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said in Rajya Sabha during Question Hour. Speaking in the Upper House on Tuesday, Mandaviya assured that the government is taking all possible precautions including screening of international passengers at airports and doing genome sequencing. “This new variant has been found in 14 countries. There is no case of Omicron in India yet. We are taking all possible precautions and doing genome sequencing as well”, the Health Minister said. No case of COVID19 variant #Omicron reported in India so far: Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said in Rajya Sabha during Question Hour Source: Sansad TV pic.twitter.com/89sFr7uij1 — ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2021 Contrary to the health minister’s statement, Dr. Samiran Panda, head of Epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) asserted that the ‘new strain is possibly already in the country and it may be a m

New Delhi: A 19-year-old Kerala girl was allegedly shot dead in Alabama in United States on Monday. The deceased is identified as Mariam Susan Mathew, a native of Thiruvalla. According to reports, the Mariam was sleeping in her house when bullets from the upper floor pierced through the ceiling and killed her. The incident occurred in Montgomery, the state capital of Alabama. In the meantime, the Montgomery police department has initiated an investigation into the matter. Fr Johnson Pappachan, of Malankara Orthodox Church Diocese of South-West America, in a release, said Mariam Susan Mathew sustained bullets from the gun of an occupant on the upper floor of her house. She was declared dead on the scene, indianexpress.com reported. This is the second shooting incident to rock Montgomery in a span of just 7 days. Earlier, a man was shot dead on Thanksgiving Thursday. Another Keralite was shot dead by a robber in Dallas. Sajan Mathews (56) alias Saji was running a beauty supply store

New Delhi: Amid growing concern over the Omicron variant of coronavirus, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday questioned the delay in stopping flights from countries affected by the new strain. “Several countries have stopped flights from Omicron affected countries. Why are we delaying it? We had delayed stopping international flights in the first wave also. Majority of flights land in Delhi. Delhi is most affected. Kindly stop the flights immediately,” Kejriwal said in a tweet. Earlier on Sunday, the AAP leader had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop flights coming to India from countries affected by the new variant with immediate effect. “We should do everything possible to prevent the new variant of concern, recently recognised by the WHO, from entering India… I urge you to stop flights from these regions with immediate effect. Any delay in this regard may prove harmful, if any affected person enters India,” his letter read. The B.1.1.529 Covid variant or Omic

New Delhi: With the elevation of Parag Agrawal as the CEO of Twitter, over half a dozen global tech companies are now being headed by Indian-Americans.  From Google’s Sundar Pichai to Microsoft’s Satya Nadella , Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen to IBM’s Arvind Krishna , Indians are spearheading global roles in some of the biggest conglomerates  across the world. Here’s a look at 10 people of Indian origin holding key positions at global IT powerhouses.  Sundar Pichai: In August 2015, Sundar Pichai was named CEO of the newly organised Google, becoming only the third chief executive of the company after former CEO Eric Schmidt and co-founder Larry Page. In December 2019, Pichai became the CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet. Pichai wished Dorsey the very best ahead and congratulated Agrawal and Board Chair Bret Taylor, saying he is excited for Twitter’s future! Satya Nadella: In February 2014, Microsoft veteran Satya Nadella was named CEO of the technology giant. MasterCard CEO A

Bengaluru: At least 13 students of a government-run residential school in Karnataka’s Hassan district were found Covid-19 positive, triggering panic among the parents and teachers. According to reports, the cases were reported from Morarji Desai Residential School in Channarayapattana town of the district.  Following the detection of positive cases the school has been sealed off by the authorities. All infected students of the hostel have been shifted to a Covid Care Centre. All are asymptomatic and recovering well according to the health department. It has been decided to conduct tests on primary contacts of the infected students. The infections were found in the routine RT-PCR tests conducted by the health department for every 15 days. The students affected with Covid-19 are studying in Class 6 to 10. All of them have been isolated and are being treated. The district administration has initiated strict monitoring of the situation and is trying to contain the infection within the c