Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 6 (PTI) India on Thursday said there was no "material change" in the situation that would allow holding of the stalled SAARC Summit, days after Pakistan reiterated its offer to host it.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday said Islamabad was ready to host the summit and that India could attend it virtually if it does not want to participate in-person.

New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) The single day rise in coronavirus infections was recorded above one lakh after 214 days, taking India's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 35,226,386 which includes 3,007 cases of Omicron reported across 27 states and UTs, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

Out of the total Omicron cases reported so far, 1,199 people have recovered or migrated.

Maharashtra recorded the maximum number of 876 cases followed by Delhi at 465, Karnataka 333, Rajasthan 291, Kerala 284 and Gujarat 204.

New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) Amid a surge in Covid cases, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has asked Delhi and neighbouring districts to immediately strengthen health infrastructure, maintain buffer stocks of essential drugs and ensure that oxygen supply equipment is fully functional.

At a meeting convened to review the COVID-19 situation in the national capital and adjoining districts on Thursday, Bhalla also favoured ramping up of testing in all districts of Delhi-NCR where the number of tests is low.

New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Launching a scathing attack on the Congress over the breach in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security, the BJP on Wednesday alleged the ruling party in Punjab "tried to physically harm him".

Modi's Punjab visit was cut short on Wednesday after a "major security lapse" as he was stranded on a flyover for 20 minutes due to a blockade by protesters, prompting the Union Home Ministry to seek an immediate report from the state government and strict action against those responsible.

New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Amid a surge in cases of coronavirus and its Omicron variant, the Delhi government has asked its nine hospitals to increase their cumulative Covid bed capacity to 4,350 from the existing 3,316, an official order said on Wednesday.

New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) The Delhi zoo has been closed to visitors for an indefinite period in view of an alarming spike in coronavirus cases in the capital, officials said on Wednesday.

An official said the zoo was closed to the public on Tuesday but a few people who had already bought tickets online were allowed on Wednesday.

"The link for booking tickets online on our website has been disabled," he said.

04 Jan 2022; MEMO: The racism faced by India's monitories under the far-right ultra-nationalist government of Narendra Modi reached a new low after it emerged that Muslim women were being offered for sale in a fake virtual auction.

Several prominent Muslim women appeared on the auction website, Bulli Bai, which takes its name from a slur against Muslim women. The site was filled with profiles of dozens of Muslim women who were put up for sale.

Lucknow, Jan 4 (PTI) Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP of mocking women after BJP president JP Nadda made a comment on its 'ladki hoon lad sakti hoon' campaign aimed at women empowerment.

"BJP President Nadda on Monday mocked a strong slogan like 'ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon' and the voice of women of Uttar Pradesh. This is not the voice of Congress but of every girl of Uttar Pradesh who wants to fight for her rights, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate told media here.

New Delhi, Jan 4 (PTI) Nearly 5,500 fresh cases of Covid have been reported in Delhi on Tuesday with a positivity rate of about 8.5 per cent, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said while asserting that the weekend curfew imposed in the city should not be treated as a lockdown.

Interacting with reporters, he said experts have been saying that the spike in Covid cases in Delhi should be considered largely due to the Omicron variant.

New Delhi, Jan 4 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19 and isolated himself at home.

The chief minister urged people who came in contact with him in the last few days to quarantine and get tested.

"I have tested positive for Covid. Mild symptoms. Have isolated myself at home. Those who came in touch wid (with) me in last few days, kindly isolate urself (yourself) and get urself tested," Kejriwal tweeted.