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[ad_1] As much as Rs 80,000 crore investment is envisaged in setting up city gas infrastructure in 61 geographical areas (GAs), including Jammu, Nagpur, Pathankot and Madurai, that were put on bid in the latest licensing round, oil regulator PNGRB said. Bids for the 65 GAs offered in the 11th city gas licensing round came in on December 15, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) said in a statement. The 65 GAs spread over 215 districts in 19 states and one Union territory covering 26 per cent of India’s population and 33 per cent of its area. “This round attracted an overwhelming response from investors with more than 430 bids against 61 GAs with no single bid in these GAs. The technical bids would be opened between December 17 to 22,” PNGRB said. “This initiative would help in creating a robust CGD infrastructure and play a significant role in transforming to a gas-based economy. This would bring investment of more than Rs 80,000 crore and generate employment.” Presently, there are 228 geographical areas authorised by PNGRB in 27 states and UTs covering approximately 53 per cent of the country’s geographical area and 70 per cent of its population. In the last city gas distribution (CGD) bidding round – the 10th CGD bidding round, 50 GAs were authorised for the development of CGD network. In the present round, 215 districts clubbed into 65 GAs are being offered. Bids were received for 61 GAs, according to PNGRB. During 2018 and 2019, PNGRB gave out licences to retail CNG to automobiles and piped cooking gas to household kitchens in 136 GAs. This extended coverage of the city gas network to 406 districts and around 70 per cent of the country’s population. The push for city gas expansion is part of the government’s plan for raising the share of natural gas in the country’s energy basket to 15 per cent by 2030 from the current 6.3 per cent. The 65 GAs to be bid out in the 11th CGD bidding round include Jammu, Udhampur, Samba and Kathua districts in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Nagpur in Maharashtra, Madurai in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan’s Bikaner and Churu districts are among the areas being offered for bidding. Nizamabad in Telangana, the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, East Medinipur in West Bengal and Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand are also on the list. Kurnool, Guntur and Prakasam districts in Andhra Pradesh, Assam’s Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts, Darbhanga and Madhubani in Bihar and Chhattisgarh”s Rajnandgaon and Kanker districts will be offered. In Himachal Pradesh, Mandi, Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti districts have been clubbed into one GA for the bidding and Kangra and Chamba into another. Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur, Kerala’s Idukki and Kottayam, Madhya Pradesh’s Hoshangabad, Sagar and Vidisha districts, Jalgaon and Amravati in Maharashtra, Koraput in Odisha, Pathankot and Tarn Taran in Punjab and Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu are other areas being offered for bidding. While 86 GAs, made up of 174 districts, were offered for bidding in the 9th round that concluded in August 2018, 50 GAs, comprising 124 districts, were offered in the 10th round in 2019. [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Coronavirus Vaccine Registration, Coronavirus Omicron Variant Cases in India Live Updates: India recorded a total of 7,145 new Covid-19 cases and 289 deaths in last 24 hours, as per the data shared by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday morning. The data also highlighted that a total of 8706 recoveries were made in last 24 hours which has taken the total recovery toll to 3,41,71,471. The recovery rate currently stands at 98.38% which is the highest since March 2020. India’s active caseload stands at 84,565 which is the lowest in 569 days. A decline of 1,850 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.57 per cent. It has been less than 2 per cent for last 75 days, PTI reported. The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 0.62 per cent. It has been below 1 per cent for the last 34 days, according to the health ministry. Over 136 crore vaccine doses have also been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive. But this achievement seems to have been overshadowed by the rising number of Omicron cases in the country. In a weekly press briefing on Friday, Lav Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry highlighted the increasing global threat of Omicron cases and urged the people to avoid unneccessary travelling. Agrawal said that India has so far reported 101 cases of the Omicron variant across 11 states. The ministry also flagged the fast spread of Omicron which is a major cause of concern for the government. “Omicron is spreading faster than the Delta variant in South Africa, where Delta circulation was low. It also appears to spread more quickly than Delta in places where the incidence of Delta is high, such as in the United Kingdom,” Agrawal said. The Ministry has been warning people to avoid mass gatherings, especially around New year due to the rising number of Omicron cases, and the caution was again raised on Friday by Dr. Balram Bhargava, DG ICMR. “This is the time to avoid non-essential travel, mass gatherings and it is very important to observe low-intensity festivities (Christmas, New Year),” Bhargava said. In another global development, the World Health Organization has issued an emergency use listing for Covovax, the anti-Covid vaccine being produced by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) under license from Novavax. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the Covid-19 deaths occurred due to comorbidities, reported PTI. “Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website. However it also stated that the state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation. Financial Express Online brings you the latest updates on the Coronavirus pandemic. Stay tuned. [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Ghislaine Maxwell declines to testify as defense rests case in sex abuse trial [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] US officials intensified calls Friday for unvaccinated Americans to get inoculated in the face of the new omicron variant that contributed to a record number of infections in New York and threatened to wipe out a second holiday season in Europe.Though the calendar is about to change, Friday had a distinctly 2020 feel: NFL games were postponed because of COVID-19 infections. The Rockettes Christmas show was canceled for the season. European governments imposed a spate of restrictions that ground travel to a halt and saw travelers lying low. Much remains unknown about omicron, but officials warn that it appears more transmissible than the delta variant, which has already put pressure on hospitals worldwide. The uncertainty alone was enough for many people to change their plans.In the United States, President Joe Biden’s administration resisted tightening any restrictions, but also sketched out dire scenarios for the unvaccinated in a plea for hesitant Americans to get the shot. “For the unvaccinated, you’re looking at a winter of severe illness and death, for yourselves, your families, and the hospitals you may soon overwhelm,” White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients said Friday, echoing the president’s own comments earlier this week.The new variant is already in “full force” in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said, with new cases hitting a one-day record of more than 8,300 on Thursday. But new hospitalizations and deaths – so far – are well below their spring 2020 peak and even where they were this time last year, city data shows. The coronavirus also interrupted sports in the U.S. again. The NFL announced Friday that three games would be pushed from the weekend to next week because of outbreaks. The league has not specified whether the cases came from the omicron variant.The Radio City Rockettes called off four performances scheduled for Friday because of breakthrough COVID-19 cases in the production, and plans for upcoming shows were still being assessed. The popular holiday program generally has four shows per day in December at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan.Dr. Stanley Weiss, a Rutgers University epidemiology professor, said officials need to react faster, citing a willingness to redefine fully vaccinated to include booster shots, for example. “Everyone wants us to be through with this pandemic, but in order to get us through it, we can’t ignore the realities of what’s going on and what is needed,” Weiss said.Denmark decided to close theaters, concert halls, amusement parks and museums in response to virus cases. In Spain, friends and classmates canceled traditional year-end dinners. Scotland and Wales on Friday pledged millions of pounds for businesses hurt in Britain’s latest infection surge, a move that heaped pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government to do the same in England.Treasury chief Rishi Sunak held talks with business representatives who have demanded more support, decrying a “lockdown by stealth” in which government officials recommend people cut back on socializing as much as possible without officially imposing the strict rules of past shutdowns. Britain reported record numbers of infections three days in a row this week, the latest on Friday with more than 93,000 cases tallied.Businesses ranging from vacation providers to pubs and theaters saw a wave of cancellations as customers decided to skip merrymaking for now rather than risk being infected and missing family celebrations later. Even Britain’s Christmas pantos — beloved and raucous holiday performances — are under threat. The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry in western England had to refund 180,000 pounds ($240,000) in ticket sales after customers decided not to go to shows. It was also forced to cancel 12 performances of “Beauty and the Beast” because half the cast tested positive.“There’s been a real dent of confidence,” Executive Director Joanna Reid told the BBC. Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said Friday that financial assistance for business must come from the central government because it has the borrowing power to finance the scale of aid that is needed.“Business is already bleeding, every 24 hours counts,” Sturgeon said during a briefing in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. “There is no time to waste.” The already beleaguered travel and tourism industry is being particularly hammered. Eurostar, which operates trains across the English Channel, sold out of tickets to France on Friday before new rules restricting travel to and from Britain took effect. Long lines snaked around the parking lot at the Eurotunnel, which runs the tunnel that drivers use to cross the water. Ryanair originally expected to carry about 11 million passengers in December, but that figure dropped to 10 million, chief executive Michael O’Leary told the Guardian. Europe’s biggest airline will also cut about 10% of its capacity in January.Amanda Wheelock, 29, a graduate student at the University of Michigan, canceled a trip to France with her partner as cases spiked there. Even though the surge isn’t necessarily due to omicron, the uncertainty about the new variant, and a new requirement that all U.S. travelers have to test negative before flying back to the U.S., made her worry that the trip would be more stressful than fun.Instead, she’s traveling to the Anchorage, Alaska, area to see friends. “A vacation with a lot of stress is probably not a great vacation,” said Wheelock, who is from Arvada, Colorado.The Advantage Travel Group, which represents about 350 U.K. travel agents, said business fell by 40% in mid-December from a month earlier. Those numbers, including flights, cruise bookings and package holidays, add to the travel industry’s existing slump, which had already seen business fall by two-thirds since the pandemic began, CEO Julia Lo Bue-Said. “Our members are dealing with customers who are really nervous about traveling now,” she said “They’re really nervous about bookings for the New Year because they fear that there’s a risk that the government will make more knee-jerk reactions.” Many in the travel and hospitality trades hoped they had put the worst behind them, nearly two years into a pandemic that has devastated those industries. They saw this holiday season as a chance to

[ad_1] If you’ve never applied for a mortgage before, you may be surprised to learn it’s a more complex process than, say, applying for a credit card or even an auto loan. From application to closing, the process can take 30 days or more. This is why it’s so important to get approved for a home loan, especially if you’re looking to purchase a new home. That approval – commonly known as a pre-approval – will greatly improve the chances of getting the home you want when you want it. 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We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad #ap7306-w-map{max-width:600px;padding:20px 0 10px;margin:0 auto;text-align:center;font-family:”Lato”, Arial, Roboto, sans-serif}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-title{color:#212529;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;line-height:27px}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-subtitle{color:#9b9b9b;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;line-height:24px}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-disclosure{margin-top:10px;font-size:12px;color:#9b9b9b}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map{max-width:98%;width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:65%;margin-bottom:20px;position:relative}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map svg{position:absolute;left:0;top:0}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map svg path{fill:#e3efff;stroke:#9b9b9b;pointer-events:all;transition:fill 0.6s ease-in, stroke 0.6s ease-in, stroke-width 0.6s ease-in}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map svg path:hover{stroke:#1261C9;stroke-width:2px;stroke-linejoin:round;fill:#1261C9;cursor:pointer}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map svg g rect{fill:#e3efff;stroke:#9b9b9b;pointer-events:all;transition:fill 0.6s ease-in, stroke 0.6s ease-in, stroke-width 0.6s ease-in}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map svg g text{fill:#000;text-anchor:middle;font:10px Arial;transition:fill 0.6s ease-in}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map svg g .ap00646-w-map-state{display:none}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map svg g .ap00646-w-map-state rect{stroke:#1261C9;stroke-width:2px;stroke-linejoin:round;fill:#1261C9}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map svg g .ap00646-w-map-state text{fill:#fff;font:19px Arial;font-weight:bold}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map svg g:hover{cursor:pointer}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map svg g:hover rect{stroke:#1261C9;stroke-width:2px;stroke-linejoin:round;fill:#1261C9}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map svg g:hover text{fill:#fff}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-map svg g:hover .ap00646-w-map-state{display:initial}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-btn{padding:9px 41px;display:inline-block;color:#fff;font-size:16px;line-height:1.25;text-decoration:none;background-color:#1261c9;border-radius:2px}#ap7306-w-map #ap7306-w-map-btn:hover{color:#fff;background-color:#508fc9} Before you put your home on the market, make sure you can buy a new one. Getting pre-approved early in the process can make your path to buying your dream home smoother and easier. Select your state to get started! HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew MexicoSouth DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas Get Started Today! Pre-approval vs. Prequalification This is an area of some confusion for home loan applicants, especially those looking to purchase a home. Preapproval and prequalification are sometimes used interchangeably, which may cause a consumer to believe they’re simply two names for the same process. It isn’t. Prequalification Prequalification is where you contact the mortgage lender, or supply information on their website, mostly as a way to get a loan quote. You’ll provide general information, including your income, estimated credit score, debts, and current house payment. You’ll also provide the loan amount requested. If the prequalification is a purchase you’ll also need to provide the purchase price of the home and the amount of your anticipated down payment. Based on that information, the lender will determine if you are qualified for the loan amount you are requesting. However, a prequalification is not binding upon the lender! More than anything else, a prequalification is simply a summary estimation of the loan amount you may qualify for, and the approximate rate which you can expect to pay. But since none of the information you supply has been verified by the lender, the prequalification is based entirely on your representations. It should never be interpreted as a guarantee of ultimate approval by the lender. For that reason, prequalification letters are not well received by real estate agents and property sellers. Pre-approval A preapproval works much the same way as a prequalification, except that it represents a lender’s approval of the loan amount you are applying for. During the pre-approval application process, you’ll provide similar information as you would for prequalification. But you will be required to supply documentation relating to your employment, income, assets, and even certain debts. The lender will then make a formal underwriting review of your application and supporting documentation, and issue a pre-approval. The approval will be subject to the selection of a property to purchase, a sales contract on the same, and any customary closing conditions. Basically, a preapproval means the lender has approved you for the loan requested based on your employment, income, and asset information. 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We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad #ap10379-w-text{padding:20px 0 10px;margin:0 auto;text-align:center;font-family:”Lato”, Arial, Roboto, sans-serif}#ap10379-w-text #ap10379-w-text-title{color:#212529;font-size:20px;font-weight:700;line-height:30px}#ap10379-w-text #ap10379-w-text-subtitle{color:#9b9b9b;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;line-height:24px}#ap10379-w-text #ap10379-w-disclosure{color:#9b9b9b;margin-top:10px;font-size:12px}#ap10379-w-text #ap10379-w-text-btn{margin-top:25px;padding:9px 13px;display:inline-block;color:#fff;font-size:16px;line-height:20px;text-decoration:none;background-color:#1261c9;border-radius:2px}#ap10379-w-text #ap10379-w-text-btn:hover{color:#fff;background-color:#508fc9} Getting pre-approved for a mortgage helps you get closer to your dream home. Find out how much house you can borrow before you start looking. Click below to talk with a Mortgage expert. Get Started How to Get Preapproved for a Home Loan Getting preapproved for a home loan starts with choosing a lender. Even though you’re only at the preapproval stage, you’ll want to be sure to apply with a company you are very likely to get your final loan from. That’s because once you have pre-approval, the home buying or refinancing process moves very quickly. Ideally, you’ll want to get a preapproval, choose a home (or refinance your current home) as quickly as possible. Where to Get Preapproved for a Home Loan Four of the top home loan sources in the industry are Quicken Loans, Rocket Mortgage, Veterans United and Credible – but each for a different reason. Quicken Loans is the largest retail mortgage lender in the country and provides most loan types. However, Quicken Loans are made primarily through Rocket Mortgage. That’s the online version of Quicken Loans, although they are the same company. Rocket Mortgage is well known for fast approvals and an entirely online process where you can upload any required documentation to speed the process. What’s more, they can often obtain verification of employment and assets directly with employers and institutions, minimizing the need on your part to supply any documents at all. Veterans United is leading VA mortgage lenders in the country, providing more VA loans than any other company. That’s largely because it’s an extremely

[ad_1] Radio City Music Hall Cancels Its Remaining Rockettes Christmas Shows  The New York Times Rockettes Radio City shows canceled  FOX 5 New York Dallas Theater Center cancels A Christmas Carol performances due to COVID-19  CultureMap Dallas Radio City Rockettes cancel entire 2021 season due to COVID outbreak  FOX 5 NY Rockettes cancel some performances due to COVID-19  Fox Business View Full Coverage on Google News [ad_2]

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