HIGHLIGHTS

    New Delhi, Dec 3 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 5 pm:
    
    NATION

    PAR16
    LS-MANDAVIYA
    18 of 16000 fliers from at-risk nations test positive; genome sequencing for Omicron underway: Govt
    New Delhi: Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday informed Parliament that RTPCR tests of 16,000 passengers from 'at-risk' countries have been conducted so far, of whom 18 have tested positive for COVID-19.
    
    DEL48 PM-DISABILITIES DAY
    Govt actively working to empower persons with disabilities: PM
    New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appreciated the stellar achievements and contributions of persons with disabilities to India's progress.

    DEL62 CONG-RAHUL-FARMERS
    Rahul slams govt for 'no record' of farmers' deaths statement
    New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the Modi government for stating that it had "no record" of farmers' deaths during the farm laws agitation and accused it of being "insensitive" and "arrogant".

    DEL29 PM-LD FINTECH
    Need to convert Fintech initiatives into Fintech revolution for financial empowerment of masses: PM
    New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday underlined the need for converting Fintech initiatives into a Fintech revolution with a view to ensure financial empowerment for every single citizen.

    DEL8 VIRUS-LD CASES
    Active COVID-19 cases in country increase to 99,976
    New Delhi: With 9,216 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, the country's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,46,15,757, while the active cases increased to 99,976, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

    DEL47 PM-UKD-RALLY
    PM Modi to address rally in Doon on Saturday
    Dehradun: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to kickstart the poll campaign for the upcoming Uttarakhand assembly elections by addressing a rally here on Saturday.

    PAR17 LS-2ND LD SUPPLEMENTARY DEMANDS
    Govt seeks Par nod for Rs 62K cr infusion in AIAHL as part of Rs 3.73 lakh cr extra spending
    New Delhi: The government on Friday sought Parliament's nod to infuse over Rs 62,000 crore into the company that holds residual assets and liabilities of Air India after its privatisation, as part of over Rs 3.73 lakh crore additional spending planned in the current financial year.

    MDS2 KA-VIRUS-MEETING
    K'taka CM to chair high-level meeting to discuss 'Omicron' variant, new guidelines likely
    Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be chairing a meeting with experts, senior Ministers and officials on Friday in the wake of two cases of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus detected in the state, during which a new guidelines aimed at controlling its spread is likely to be formulated.

    DEL45 IMD-CYCLONE-LD JAWAD
    Deep depression intensifies into Cyclone 'Jawad', to make landfall around Puri on Dec 5
    New Delhi: A deep depression in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into cyclonic storm 'Jawad', the India Meteorological Department said on Friday.
    
    LEGAL

    LGD1 SC-POLLUTION
    Implement orders of panel on air quality management to curb pollution, SC tells Centre, NCR states
    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and the states in NCR to implement the orders of the panel on air quality management to curb air pollution while ruing that some sections of the media have "portrayed" it as a "villain" which wants to close down schools here.

     LGD2 SC-WADHAWAN
    PMC Bank fraud case: SC refuses to entertain bail plea of Rakesh Wadhawan, asks him to approach HC
    New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday refused to entertain the bail plea filed on health grounds by jailed businessman Rakesh Wadhawan, accused of money laundering in the multi-crore rupees Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank fraud case, saying that he has been in hospital more than the jail.

     FOREIGN

    FGN21 IMF-LD GOPINATH
    Gita Gopinath to take No.2 role at IMF as First Deputy Managing Director    
    Washington: Gita Gopinath, the IMF's Indian-American chief economist has been promoted as its First Deputy Managing Director, recognising her exceptional intellectual leadership in helping the global economy and the Fund to navigate the "twists and turns" of the "worst economic crisis of our lives". By Lalit K Jha

    FGN24 LANKA-CHINA-LD PROJECT
    China suspends energy projects in Sri Lankan islands located close to India over 'security concern' from 'third party'
    Colombo: China has suspended a project to install hybrid energy plants in three islands of Sri Lanka, citing "security concern" from a "third party", amid reports of India raising concern over its location.

    FGN28 VIRUS-WHO-SAFRICA-OMICRON-TEAM
    WHO rushes experts’ team to S Africa to help combat COVID-19’s new variant Omicron
    Johannesburg: The WHO has rushed a team of experts to South Africa's Gauteng province, the epicentre of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19, to ramp up surveillance and contact tracing efforts as the country grapples with rising cases of infections. By Fakir Hassen

    FGN30 SINGAPORE-INDIA-DEVELOPMENT
    Singapore fits into India's development journey: India’s Principal Economic Advisor Sanyal
    Singapore: Singapore fits very much into what India will do in the next 30 years as part of the ongoing reform process and building on the past three decades of liberalisation, acclaimed economist and Principal Economic Advisor to the Indian government Sanjeev Sanyal has said. By Gurdip Singh. PTI
     RHL

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)