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Economic Times | 06 Nov, 2021 | 08.58AM IST
COVID Live News Updates: Britain allows early booking of booster shots to speed up rollout
Britain's health ministry on Saturday said it would open up bookings for booster shots a month before people were eligible to receive the shots to help speed up the rollout ahead of the challenging winter months. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is relying on booster doses as a major plank of his plan to avoid lockdown this winter through COVID-19 vaccines rather than social distancing rules or mask mandates, but has been criticised for a slow start to the programme.Around 3 in 5 eligible over-50s have had booster shots in England, with more than 9 million people getting booster doses in Britain overall so far.
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Uttarakhand: Portals of Kedarnath temple closed for the winter season, today at 8 am.
Global Covid-19 caseload tops 249 mn
- The global coronavirus caseload has topped 249 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.03 million and vaccinations soared to over 7.18 billion, according to the Johns Hopkins University.
- In its latest update on Saturday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload, death toll and the total number number of vaccine doses administered stood at 249,087,384, 5,037,731 and 7,189,437,027, respectively.
- The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 46,435,555 and 753,900, according to the CSSE.
- In terms of infections, India follows in the second place with 34,333,754 cases and Brazil third with 21,862,458 infections.
Air Quality Index (AQI) from Delhi
Air Quality Index (AQI) from Delhi - PM10 in Connaught Place at 654, PM 2.5 at 628; PM10 is at 382 and PM2.5 at 341… https://t.co/Dg5XcUGPzh
— ANI (@ANI) 1636166584000Formula One extends Chinese Grand Prix contract to 2025
Formula One announced on Saturday that the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, which will be absent from the calendar for the third year in a row in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had extended its contract until 2025. The race was first held in 2004 and China is seen as an important growth area for the sport.
Barcelona confirm return of club icon Xavi as coach
- Barcelona confirmed the return of Xavi Hernandez as coach on Saturday, adding that the legendary midfielder was expected back in the city this weekend to take up his new role.
- The Spaniard left Camp Nou to play for Al Sadd in 2015, after making 767 appearances for the Catalan club, which included winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
- "It's time to come home. Welcome, Xavi," Barca tweeted. "It wasn't goodbye, it was see you later," it wrote, along with a video montage of the player's departure in 2015.
Tesla to open Canada battery gear factory in Markham, Ontario: Mayor
- Tesla Inc opened a factory to produce battery manufacturing equipment in the Canadian city of Markham, Ontario, the city said on Friday, as the electric carmaker ramps up the production of cheaper, higher-range 4680 battery cells.
- In 2019, the U.S. electric carmaker acquired Canada-based Hibar, which manufactures pumps used in fast-speed battery assembly that Tesla is introducing for its new 4680 cells.
- "I'm delighted to share that Tesla Canada is joining our already robust automotive and technology ecosystem by locating a manufacturing facility in the City of Markham," the city mayor Frank Scarpitti said on Twitter.
Boeing 737 MAX negligence case ends with $237.5 mn settlement
- Boeing shareholders have reached a $237.5 million out-of-court settlement with the US aircraft manufacturer's current and former directors in a 737 MAX aircraft safety negligence case, according to documents released Friday.
- Shareholders had accused Boeing board members and several executives, as well as current CEO David Calhoun, of failing to ensure that control and information instruments on the 737 MAX were functioning effectively.
- Under the agreement, still to be validated by a judge, the $237.5 million compensation will be paid out by insurers, not the board members and executives.
Congress seeks 8 points feedback of bypolls results from in-charges, state presidents
- Following the results of three Lok Sabha and 30 Assembly bypolls, Congress general secretary (Organization) KC Venugopal on Friday sought a report from the in-charge of all the election states and the state presidents for the reasons for the party's victory as well as defeat.
Delhi's overall air quality continues to be in 'severe' category, with overall air quality index (AQI) standing at 533: System of Air Quality & Weather Forecasting & Research
SAD to move resolution in Punjab assembly session against Tytler's appointment to Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee
- Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday slammed Congress's decision of appointing Jagdish Tytler as one of the permanent invitees to the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee and said that his party will move a resolution in the upcoming Punjab assembly session on November 8 demanding his arrest.
- Addressing a press conference in Ludhiana, Badal said, "Akali Dal would move a resolution in upcoming Punjab Assembly session on November 8, demanding arrest of Jagdish Tytler and other Congressmen responsible for the 1984 Sikh massacre and action against Gandhi family at whose instance it was conducted."
- "Congress is supporting the butchers instead of punishing them. Tytler, who is one of the accused in those riots, should immediately be punished," he said.
After Evergrande, another Chinese real estate developer Kaisa at risk of default
- After China's property giant Evergrande Group faced a debt repayment deadline, another real estate developer Kaisa Group is at risk of default, escalating fears of further problems in the country's embattled property sector.
- Shares of Kaisa Group, a Shenzhen-based developer, were suspended from trading on Friday in Hong Kong. The company's subsidiaries, which were also halted from trading, cited a "pending" announcement about the group in stock exchange filings, reported CNN.
US employers shrugged off virus and stepped up hiring
- America's employers accelerated their hiring last month, adding a solid 531,000 jobs, the most since July and a sign that the recovery from the pandemic recession is overcoming a virus-induced slowdown.
- Friday's report from the Labor Department also showed that the unemployment rate fell to 4.6% last month from 4.8% in September. That is a comparatively low level though still well above the pre-pandemic jobless rate of 3.5%. And the job gains in August and September weren't as weak as initially reported: The government increased its estimate of hiring for those two months by a hefty combined 235,000 jobs.
Congress to launch agitation, make fuel price, inflation agenda for upcoming Assembly polls
- Congress will launch agitation against fuel price and inflation in the coming days while making these issues prime agenda for the upcoming state Assembly elections.
- Speaking to ANI, a top source said, "Congress party is going to launch an agitation drive against the inflation and fuel price hike from November 14. Congress Party will take out padayatra and rallies from the district level to the state level. The party is also planning to hold a massive rally in the national capital ahead of Parliament Session."
