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Yes Bank shares zoom over 32 per cent after SBI announces stake in crisis-hit lender

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The scrip witnessed a sharp rise, spiking 29.63 per cent to Rs 21 on the BSE. On the NSE, it jumped 32.20 per cent to Rs 21.35.

Customers at Yes Bank Dwarakanagar branch in Visakhapatnam on Saturday

NEW DELHI: Shares of Yes Bank on Monday zoomed over 32 per cent after State Bank of India (SBI) said it will pick up 49 per cent stake in the cash-strapped lender for Rs 2,450 crore.

The scrip witnessed a sharp rise, spiking 40.7 per cent to Rs 22.80 on the BSE during the day.

It closed 31.17 per cent higher at Rs 21.25.

On the NSE, it jumped 41.17 per cent to Rs 22.80 during the trading hours.

It settled 32.20 per cent up at Rs 21.35.

In terms of volume, over 72 crore shares were traded on the NSE while BSE saw an exchange of more than 6.9 crore units.

The spurt in volume was more than 3.22 times during the day on the BSE.

SBI on Saturday announced it will pick up 49 per cent stake in Yes Bank for Rs 2,450 crore and clarified that all the deposits and liabilities of the reconstructed bank will continue in the “same manner”.

“Yes Bank has 255-crore shares of Rs 2 per share. SBI will be issued 245 crore shares at a price of Rs 10 per share for Rs 2,450 crore. This will be 49 per cent of the share capital of the reconstructed bank,” SBI said in a statement.

SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar had earlier said it had set a maximum investment limit of Rs 10,000 crore for Yes Bank reconstruction process.

SBI shares were trading over 4 per cent lower at Rs 258.50 apiece on the BSE.

Yes Bank has been struggling to raise capital amid its dwindling financial health.

It sought to raise USD 2 billion initially during this fiscal, which was then pruned to USD 1.2 billion as it could not rope in any investor.

Yes Bank shares had plunged 56 per cent in the last trading session.

Global coronavirus toll tops 4,000 with 17 more deaths in China

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There were just 19 fresh cases reported on Tuesday, the lowest number since the government started tallying infections on January 21, according to the National Health Commission.

Residents go about their grocery shopping at a supermarket in Beijing on Sunday

BEIJING: The global death toll from the new coronavirus passed 4,000 on Tuesday, according to AFP figures, as China reported 17 new deaths. The toll reached 4,011 in the outbreak that has spread to over 100 countries with more than 110,000 cases of infection.

The epidemic has disrupted global travel and forced the cancellation of everything from conferences to sporting events. But in China, new cases have steadily declined in recent weeks, in a sign that the country’s unprecedented lockdown measures appear to be working.

There were just 19 fresh cases reported on Tuesday, the lowest number since the government started tallying infections on January 21, according to the National Health Commission. All the new infections were in the virus epicentre, the central city of Wuhan, except for two imported cases brought in from overseas.

This means there were no indigenous cases in the rest of the country. The 17 new deaths were all in central Hubei province – 16 in Wuhan, the capital of the province – bringing the country’s nationwide toll to 3,136.
It is the lowest daily toll since late January.

More than 80,750 people have now been infected in China, which has imposed unprecedented lockdown measures to try to control the spread of the virus. But fears are growing that as cases of the disease grow overseas, China’s progress could be undermined by the virus being brought back into the country from other nations.

There have now been 69 imported cases, according to Chinese health officials. The World Health Organization said Monday that more than 70 percent of those infected with the new coronavirus in China have recovered, adding that the country was “bringing its epidemic under control”.

And there were tentative signs in recent days that some of the measures to restrict the movement and gathering of people could be lifted, with some regions reopening schools or announcing dates to resume classes.

Most of the 16 makeshift hospitals opened in Wuhan have been closed — with the last two expected to shut Tuesday. And Shanghai Disney said it was reopening its shopping and entertainment Disneytown zone in the “first step of a phased reopening”, although the amusement park remains closed.

American technology company Apple Inc reopened 90 per cent of its 42 retail stores in the Chinese mainland on Monday with the novel coronavirus outbreak showing signs of abating.

Apple reopened 38 Apple stores which were temporarily closed after the epidemic, state-run China Daily reported.

Only four stores remain closed.

Apple announced closures of all its stores when the COVID-19 outbreak reached its peak in January.

The move to reopen follows Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook’s statement that China is getting the virus situation under control, and Apple manufacturing units in China will reopen.

Contrary to the earlier market forecast that the epidemic will heavily hurt smartphone sales in China, some experts said its negative impacts may be lower than expected, the China Daily reported.

As consumers stay at home for self-quarantine or to avoid infection, they are spending far more time with their smartphones.

They have stronger demand to upgrade their devices that are relatively old or not performing very well, an independent telecom analyst Fu Liang told the daily.

Germany reports first two coronavirus deaths

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Both fatalities occurred in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state along the border with Belgium and the Netherlands.

coronavirus

BERLIN: Two people have died of the novel coronavirus in the western German city of Essen and virus hotspot Heinsberg, officials told AFP on Monday, the country’s first casualties of the outbreak.

In Essen, an 89-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with the virus on March 3 died despite medical measures to support her breathing and circulation.

“I regret this death very much,” mayor Thomas Kufen said in a statement, offering his condolences to the woman’s family and friends.

Meanwhile, officials in the district of Heinsberg said they would discuss the fatal case there at a 6:30 pm (1730 GMT) press conference.

Both fatalities occurred in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state along the border with Belgium and the Netherlands.

The number of people testing positive for the coronavirus on Monday passed 1,000 in Europe’s top economy Germany.

But so far the only German national to die of the disease had been a 60-year-old tourist in Egypt.

Germany has suffered a comparatively light toll in relation to European Union neighbours, namely in hard-hit Italy, where 366 people have died of the virus and there are thousands of confirmed cases.

“Here in Germany we are ahead in diagnostics, in detection,” Christian Drosten, director of the Institute for Virology at Berlin’s Charite hospital said earlier Monday in the capital.

“The most effective tool against coronavirus is the time factor, slowing down its spread and spreading it over a longer period of time,” Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

She also reiterated government advice on measures such as avoiding bodily contact to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease.

‘Wearing masks unnecessarily will create panic’

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Though there is no definite treatment for the virus, one will not die, he said advising people to avoid public gathering and hand shaking.

BENGALURU: Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar has appealed to people not to wear masks if not needed, as it creates “unnecessarily panic”. He also cautioned the public against fake social media messages on coronavirus.

The minister said on Wednesday that although the World Health Organisation has prescribed a 14-day quarantine for people who return from countries infected with the coronavirus, “Our government has taken it further and advised a 28-day quarantine period.’’No coronavirus case is registered in Karnataka, he said.
“Till date, we have screened close to 40,000 passengers from 11 countries. Of them, 468 people are advised quarantine. Our government has taken all measures and geared up with more beds in all the 50 major government hospitals.  We were screening passengers from infected countries, but now, passengers coming from all the countries (will be screened),’’ he said.

As more than 25 Members of the Legislative Council on Wednesday raised their concern over coronavirus, Dr Sudhakar said many people are wearing masks even before they are advised to do so and this is creating panic.

He also said people should not heed fake messages on social media which are adding to the panic. Though there is no definite treatment for the virus, one will not die, he said advising people to avoid public gathering and hand shaking.

The minister, however, said there is no shortage of funds or masks. “We have ordered masks for the next six months and orders for anti-viral medicines will also be placed for the next six months,’’ he said. He said regular three-layer masks are used widely by people, but WHO has recommended six-layer masks.
Tests are done at virology laboratories at Bangalore Medical College and the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases that are accredited to the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals. The government has told NIMHANS to set up one as it is also accredited to NABH. “There is demand to set up similar labs in other regions in Karnataka, but there are no NABH-accredited hospitals (there)”, he said.

Women’s World T20: India advance to final after washout against England

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Harmanpreet Kaur agreed that the semifinals should have had a reserve day, a request which was made by Cricket Australia but turned down by the ICC.

SYDNEY: An unbeaten run in the group stage propelled India into their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup final after their last-four clash against England was washed out here on Thursday.

Persistent rain since morning delayed the toss and eventually, the semifinal was called off without a ball being bowled, taking Indians into the summit clash and leaving England players in tears.

“Really frustrating. Not how we wanted the World Cup to finish for us. No reserve day, no chance of getting play, and ultimately that loss against South Africa cost us,” a dejected England captain Heather Knight said after the game was abandoned.

Her India counterpart Harmanpreet Kaur also agreed that the semifinals should have had a reserve day, a request which was made by Cricket Australia but turned down by the ICC.

“Unfortunate we didn’t get a game, but there are rules and we have to follow it. Having reserve days in the future will be a great idea,” said Kaur.

Knight said her team paid the price for not starting the tournament well.

“It’s all very English isn’t it, talking about the weather and getting knocked out. It felt that we gained a bit of momentum in the last few games and we were pumped up for the semifinals,” she added.

“Lessons are to win the first game I guess (laughs). It’s become a trend, not to start well in tournaments, and that has cost us.”

India had topped Group A with four victories in as many matches while England had finished second in Group B with three wins and a defeat.

“From day one, we new we have to win all the games because in case the semis don’t happen, that would be hard for us. In that sense, credit to the team for winning all the games,” said Kaur.

“Everybody is looking in great touch – Shafali (Verma) and Smriti (Mandhana). They are giving us good starts, and that helps. Me and Smriti are trying to spend more time in the nets,” she added reflecting on her and Mandhana’s so far indifferent form.

“We are looking more positive now. Unfortunately, we haven’t come up with big innings, but our teammates are, and at the end of the day it’s a team game.”

England had ended runners-up in the previous edition.

If the second semifinal between South Africa and reigning champions Australia is also washed out then the Proteas will advance to the summit clash since they topped their group.

Coronavirus outbreak: Death toll in China crosses 3,000, confirmed cases surge to over 94,000 globally

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The death toll due to the deadly disease across the world mounted to 3,123 and confirmed cases surpassed 91,783, official media here reported.

South Korean army soldiers spray disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus on a street in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, March 5, 2020.

BEIJING: The death toll of coronavirus in China has crossed 3,000 with 31 new fatalities and the total number of confirmed cases jumped to over 94,000 globally according to World Health Organisation.

Coronavirus cases also surged to over 84,400 in China, and President Xi Jinping has called for “undiminished vigilance”, saying the situation in virus-hit Wuhan still remains severe despite positive progress.

China’s National Health Commission said on Thursday that it received reports of 139 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection and 31 deaths on Wednesday on the Chinese mainland.

All the deaths were in the epicentre of the virus, Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan, which continued to be ground zero of the COVID-19.

Also on Wednesday, 143 new suspected cases were reported while the number of severe cases decreased by 464 to 5,952, the NHC said, adding that 522 people were still suspected of being infected with the virus.

The overall confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland have reached 80,409 by the end of Wednesday.

This included 3,012 people who have died of the disease, 25,352 patients still undergoing treatment and 52,045 patients who have been discharged.

Also on Wednesday, two “imported cases” (people arriving from abroad) of the novel coronavirus infection were reported on the mainland, all of which were in Zhejiang Province.

By the end of Wednesday, 20 imported cases have been reported, the commission said.

By the end of Wednesday, 104 confirmed cases, including two deaths have been reported in Hong Kong, 10 confirmed cases in Macao and 42 in Taiwan, including one death, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Forty-three patients in Hong Kong, nine in Macao and 12 in Taiwan have been discharged from hospital after recovery.

In Hubei province, from where the COVID-19 originated in December reported 134 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection and 31 new deaths on Wednesday, the local health commission said.

The latest report brought the total confirmed cases in the hard-hit province to 67,466 and that of total deaths to 2,902, which included 2,305 fatalities in Wuhan.

The province also saw 1,923 patients discharged from hospital after recovery on Wednesday, bringing the total number of discharged patients in the province to 40,479.

Among the 20,765 hospitalised patients, 4,747 were still in severe condition and another 1,041 in critical condition, it said.

Hubei province also reported 67 new suspected cases of the virus on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for undiminished vigilance on the prevention and control work of the COVID-19 as the situation in the Wuhan City and Hubei Province remains severe.

After arduous efforts throughout the country, the current situation of the epidemic prevention and control has continued to improve, and production and people’s living have been recovering, Xi said in a meeting of the Political Bureau of the ruling Communist Party of China, (CPC) on Wednesday here.

He called for more efforts to accelerate the establishment of an economic and social order that is compatible with the prevention and control work of the epidemic, so as to consolidate and expand this hard-won good momentum and create condition to build a moderately well-off society in all respects, and completely eliminate absolute poverty, state-run CGTN reported.

The epidemic prevention and control work remains tough in Hubei province and Wuhan city, and the risk of the epidemic spreading is increasing due to increased movement of people and gatherings in other regions, he pointed out.

He asked relevant authorities to deepen global cooperation and play China’s role as a responsible major country.

It is imperative to promptly advance various tasks of economic and social development, orderly promote the resumption of work and production, realise the orderly flow of people and property, the connection of production, supply and marketing, and the effective integration of domestic and foreign trade, and minimise the loss caused by the epidemic, Xi said.

The CPC meeting highlighted the importance of COVID-19 prevention and control work in Beijing and called for more efforts in preventing the situation from rebounding.

The meeting also urged more scientific research into test kits, vaccines and medical supplies.

By the end of Wednesday, there have been 12,600 confirmed cases of the coronavirus outside China, with over 214 deaths, statistics from the World Health Organisation showed Thursday.

In the past 24 hours, 2,103 newly confirmed cases outside China have been reported and four new member states–Argentina, Chile, Poland and Ukraine–have reported cases of COVID-19, the state-run People’s Daily reported.

South Korea confirmed 438 more cases of COVID-19, raising the total number of infections to 5,766, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Japan confirmed over 1,037 coronavirus cases, and so far 12 people have died due to the infection.

Italy reported a total of 107 deaths of the deadly coronavirus, taking the total number to 3,089.

In Iran, the deadly infection claimed 92 lives out of more than 2,922 cases.

The US’ death toll from the COVID-19 rose to 11 on Thursday and nationwide there are nearly 160 confirmed cases.

France said that 21 new cases of COVID-19 had been identified with a total of 285 cases now diagnosed, of which 12 were cured and four have died.

11 people suspected of coronavirus symptoms in isolation in Andhra Pradesh; test results awaited

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Their samples had to be sent to Hyderabad for testing, and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has told officials to purchase equipment to perform such tests in the State.

All of them had been abroad in the last two weeks and were screened on arrival in India.

KAKINADA/VIJAYAWADA/ELURU/VISAKHAPATNAM: At least 11 people, including one from South Korea and some from the Gulf, have been kept in isolation in various hospitals across the State after they were suspected to have shown symptoms of coronavirus. All of them had been abroad in the last two weeks and were screened on arrival in India. Medical reports are awaited to confirm if they have been infected.

Their samples had to be sent to Hyderabad for testing, and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has told officials to purchase equipment to perform such tests in the State.

In East Godavari district, an anonymous late-night call made to the State helpline led to the isolation of a software engineer who returned from Seoul in South Korea. South Korea has recorded more than 5,300 coronavirus cases and 32 deaths.

Officials said they received the call from Vadapalem in Kothapet mandal alerting them about the techie, who had a cold and cough. The 35-year old landed in Delhi on February 22, and went to Hyderabad for five days. He reached his native place on February 29, and from Vadapalem, went to his in-laws’ house in Godasivaripalem in Mumadivaram mandal.

After receiving the call, health officials swooped down on the village, where they unsuccessfully searched for the techie. They then went to Godasivaripalem, found him, and performed medical tests. He was shifted to the Kakinada Government General Hospital and kept in isolation.

District Collector D Muralidhar Reddy, Superintendent of Police Adnan Nayeem Asmi and medical and health officials rushed to the hospital to take stock of the situation and the facilities available. Muralidhar Reddy said the patient is showing no signs of coronavirus, but will be kept in isolation till the test results confirm the same.

Medical and health officials are implementing mandatory safety measures in both villages the techie visited, the Collector said, adding that the house he stayed in has been isolated and residents of the village are being checked for symptoms such as cold and cough.

Meanwhile, eight people suspected to have COVID-19 symptoms were isolated in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts on Wednesday. Five cases were reported in Visakhapatnam and three in Srikakulam district.

Of the five in Visakhapatnam, three persons hail from the same family. They arrived from Malaysia on Tuesday night and had also visited Singapore recently. They were taken directly from the airport to the isolation ward at Chest (ID) Hospital.

The other two persons, including a woman from Gajuwaka, arrived from Bahrain 10 days ago and complained of cold and cough on Wednesday. They too were shifted to the hospital’s isolation ward, State nodal officer for COVID-19 K Rambabu said.

Meanwhile, three persons from Kanchili were admitted to the isolation ward at Srikakulam government hospital. They returned from Dubai a week ago, and complained of cold and cough.

Similarly, two persons were placed in isolation at the Eluru government hospital after one of them returned from Muscat a few days ago and was staying in his uncle’s house in Pentapadu mandal. Both of them developed a cold and cough.

In Vijayawada, a 42-year-old man who returned from Germany and visited Hyderabad was isolated in the Government General Hospital.

Karnataka heightens vigil as more suspect cases surface

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Meanwhile, three people showing COVID-19 symptoms were admitted at Bidar Institute of Medical Science on Wednesday.

BENGALURU: With the number of COVID-19 affected persons seeing a sudden sharp rise in the country, Karnataka has stepped up surveillance and also sent out messages on social media to prevent rumour-mongering by threatening to press charges.

Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar on Wednesday said two Indians returning from Saudi Arabia and Japan were found to be symptomatic and have been isolated at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) in Bengaluru. In all, five people, including the Hyderabad techie’s roommate and a co-worker, are also isolated at RGICD as on Wednesday. While the test reports of three returned negative, the results of two others are awaited.

Meanwhile, three people showing COVID-19 symptoms were admitted at Bidar Institute of Medical Science on Wednesday.

Two of them had returned from Abu Dhabi and Qatar over a week ago, but started showing symptoms only lately. They are being treated at the isolation wards attached to the institute.

Facebook contractor tests positive for COVID-19, Seattle office shut

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This is the second such case reported at any tech giant in the US, after an Amazon worker in Seattle was found infected with the new coronavirus this week.

Facebook

SEATTLE: Facebook has shut its Seattle office until March 9 after one of its contractors tested positive for COVID-19, suggesting all its employees to work from home for the rest of the month.

This is the second such case reported at any tech giant in the US, after an Amazon worker in Seattle was found infected with the new coronavirus this week.

According to Tracy Clayton, a Facebook spokesperson, a contractor based in the Stadium East Office was diagnosed with coronavirus, komonews.com reported on Wednesday.

“We’ve notified our employees and are following the advice of public health officials to prioritize everyone’s health and safety,” Clayton was quoted as saying.

The infected contractor was last in the Facebook office on February 21.

King County health officials said all Facebook sites should work from home until March 31.

Coronavirus has also hit Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle.

The Amazon employee is based out of the company’s “Brazil” (SEA53) building, according to an internal memo sent out to Amazon workers and seen by The Verge.

“We’re supporting the affected employee who is in quarantine,” the company said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Amazon confirmed that two of its employees have been infected with the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in Italy.

Coronavirus: 21 Italian tourists, three Indians sent to ITBP quarantine centre in Delhi

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Health Ministry sources said these foreigners, 13 women and eight men, were in the same group of which an Italian and his wife have tested positive in Rajasthan capital Jaipur.

A young woman wearing a protective mask in the wake of novel coronavirus or COVID-19 outbreak speaks on the phone at RML Hospital in New Delhi. (Photo | PTI)

NEW DELHI:  Twenty-one Italian tourists and three Indian tour operators were sent to an ITBP quarantine facility in Delhi on Tuesday for suspected coronavirus exposure, a day after an Italian couple tested positive for the virus in Rajasthan. The tourists, who were part of the same touring group as the couple, were shifted from a luxurious hotel to an ITBP quarantine centre, official sources said.  

The foreigners —13 women and eight men — were shifted from a hotel in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj and sent to the ITBP facility in Chhawla area of south-west Delhi. “They have been put in preventive isolation and their initial screening samples have been sent to AIIMS. The reports are expected by Wednesday,” a source said. The centre already has 112 people — 76 Indians and 36 foreigners — since February 27 after they were evacuated by an IAF plane from Wuhan in China.

The first samples of these 112 people had tested negative when reports came in last week. On Tuesday, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force said no fresh symptom of coronavirus infection was seen among the 112 Wuhan evacuees.In the evening, cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba held a review meeting with the secretaries of the ministries concerned and chief secretaries and health secretaries of the states to assess action taken for containment of the virus. Meanwhile, Twitter has asked its employees to work from home while other tech giants like TCS and HCL Technologies instructed staff to avoid non-essential travel

Caution in the air

Air India has asked all the fellow travellers of the flight in which an Italian — who has tested positive for coronavirus infection — travelled from Vienna to Delhi to follow guidelines issued by the health ministry for suspected coronavirus cases

To check virus spread

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry urges all private radio and TV channels to give “adequate publicity” to the travel advisory issued by the Health Ministry

The Air India crew of the flight has also been asked to stay in isolation at their homes for 14 days

CISF provides medical kits containing hand sanitisers, gloves and masks to all its personnel deployed to guard 62 civil airports in the country

Indian Navy postpones a multi-nation mega naval exercise ‘Milan 2020, scheduled to be held off Visakhapatnam coast as a precautionary measure

Four IndiGo crew members, who were on a Dubai-Bengaluru flight on February 20 with a coronavirus-infected Hyderabad resident, have been under home observation since March 2, the airline said

Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary, Civil Aviation and Arvind Singh, Chairman, Airport Authority of India, conducted a video conference with all the airports to review and guide the preparations to take effective steps for preventing the spread

Airports and airlines have been advised to comply with the travel advisory issued for passengers by Bureau of Immigration

DGCA asks airlines and airports to take specific measures such as providing protective gears like surgical masks and gloves to crew members and passengers and having multiple hand sanitising points at terminals

The civil aviation ministry has asked 21 airports across India to screen passengers coming from countries where coronavirus outbreak has been reported

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