Sitharaman’s liquidity measures a positive for market but worries remain

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 1: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks during a news conference after a lunch meeting with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill February 1, 2022 in Washington, DC. McConnell told reporters he disagrees with fo WASHINGTON - Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is going against the Republican National Committee calling the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services, Dr. Hemanth Herath has slammed the organizing of mass gatherings in the wake of the COVID-19 spread in the island.‘This is not something that needs to be said over again.

Truckers paralysing the Canadian capital in anger at Covid rules show no sign of backing down, as several of the nation's provinces announced it was time to roll back restrictions that count among the world's toughest.

First nasal spray for covid-19 treatment in India: For the treatment of adult patients suffering from Covid-19, pharma company Glenmark has launched Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (FabiSpray) in India. The nasal spray was launched by the pharma company in partnership with SaNOtize. "Phase 3 trial in India met the key endpoints and demonstrated reduction of viral load of 94 per cent in 24 hours and 99 per cent in 48 hours. Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (NONS) was safe and well-tolerated in COVID-19 patients. Glenmark to market NONS under the brand name FabiSpray," the company said in a statement.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

ladies tights such as pantyhose on your face could reduce the risk of getting Covid, more so than masks.A major risk identified with commonly worn face masks is that they do not fit tightly enough to block viral particles from being inhaled or exhaled significantly.Cambridge University researchers have tested seven hacks to improve the fit of masks.Their new study outlined DIY hacks people have used to make masks fit better, including using rubber bands or tape.They found the most effective tactic was to wrap pantyhose around the bottom half of the face or on top of a mask.Researchers have said that this could reduce the number of viral particles by up to seven times more than a loose mask on its own by sealing the gaps around the nose and mouth.They raised that the social and physical impact of wearing tights on your face in public was "unlikely to be tolerated for an extended period of time".Tight-fitting medical masks are great at blocking out the virus, but many describe them as uncomfortable.The study raised that the most common surgical or cloth masks are far less resistant to Covid.Cambridge researchers recruited four volunteers to try seven different mask hacks - the study looked at both surgical and KN95 masks.Other methods included tying the ear bands to make the masks fit more tightly or stuffing the gaps with bandages.Participants did seven minutes of various exercises designed to mimic real-world interactions such as talking, smiling, nodding and eating.The researchers measured how well the masks fit by monitoring the filtration efficiency and calculating a 'fit factor' score.Pantyhose and cloth tape were most effective, increasing the fit factor by 27.7 and 14.7.Surgical masks performed better if worn in

Epik High frontman Tablo has tested positive for COVID-19.OURS, Epik High’s management agency, confirmed the news through a press statement released earlier today (February 9).“Tablo experienced minor symptoms on February 3 and underwent PCR testing, and his results came back negative the next day (January 4),” the agency said, as translated by Soompi. “However, he voluntarily got tested again on February 8, and his results came back positive this morning.”The statement also noted that the rest of Epik High and staff members who were recently in contact with Tablo underwent rapid antigen testing following the hip-hop artist’s diagnosis.

New Zealand anti-vaccine mandate protesters faced off with police outside parliament today, as demonstrators camped inside the Wellington legislature's grounds vowed to stay "as long as it takes".

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has announced the province’s public health restrictions will now be lifting, while a blockade of protesters demanding an end to mandates resumes at the U.S.-Canada border crossing near Coutts. Heather Yourex-West looks at the province’s plan, and whether it will be enough to satiate demonstrators.

Director Kamika Bianca Guerra-Walker joins Global News’ Linda Olsen to discuss how she is using her experiences growing up Black in Calgary and how that has inspired her art.

NEW DELHI: As the restaurant industry stares at significant job losses amid a slump in business due to the covid-19 lockdown and after the government's stimulus package offered little relief to the sector, the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) met finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to seek policy and liquidity support.

In a letter sent to FM on Wednesday, FIDC, the representative body of NBFCs, has sought changes to the three liquidity schemes - ₹30,000 crore liquidity support scheme, ₹45,000 crore partial credit guarantee scheme and ₹3 lakh crore guaranteed loans for MSMEs

NEW DELHI : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold a review meeting with CEOs of public sector banks (PSBs) on Friday to discuss various issues, including loan disbursement, as part of efforts to revive the economy reeling under the COVID-19 impact, sources said.

NEW DELHI : As industrial and economic activities resume with easing of restrictions amid the Covid-19 countrywide lockdown, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday that the government will make plans for migrant workers to return back to cities and towns.

Just as India was showing initial signs of emerging from a slowdown, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman was forced to confront a totally unexpected challenge: a pandemic. The government had to redraw battle plans and impose a lockdown, which triggered an economic collapse. Over the course of last week, the finance minister has outlined the contours of a ₹20 trillion stimulus package. In an interview on Tuesday, Sitharaman defended the government’s decisions and said it will not hesitate to take more steps to support Indian businesses. Edited excerpts:

MUMBAI : Liquidity is the latest elixir in town. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman used the term about 40 times in the five presentations she made to the media between May 13-17 to lay out the ₹20-trillion economic package. Not surprisingly, a significant portion of the package ( ₹20.97-trillion to be exact) served up liquidity—and not fiscal stimulus as businesses and investors were expecting.

The government’s much-hyped ₹20-trillion fiscal package disappointed companies who were expecting big-bang stimulus measures to revive the economy that has remained almost idle for most of the past two months, leaving stock markets vulnerable to a swift pullback.

The sector was expecting relief measures as a part of government ₹20 lakh crore package which is aimed to build economy and support industries which are badly hit by the pandemic

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the ... moreFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the final tranche of the economic package.

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday concluded the 5-day-long series of announcements on the Rs20 trillion financial package that the government hopes will revive the covid-struck economy. Built on the pillars of land, labour, liquidity and laws, today’s package is aimed at increasing government spending on rural jobs; privatizing government companies while ensuring former have a role in strategic sectors; scrapping or rewriting laws for a more business-friendly environment and removing fear of law among firms facing bankruptcy due to covid.

NEW DELHI : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday pushed for promotion of digital-education in India in a post-coronavirus era and announced 'PM eVIDYA' programme for multi-mode access to e-education under which top 100 universities would be permitted to start online courses by May 30.

NEW DELHI: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said the government’s technology-driven direct benefit transfer (DBT) has been crucial in implementing PM Garib Kalyan Yojana that was rolled out to provide relief to the poor and vulnerable amid the covid-19 crisis.

NEW DELHI : Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to make some key announcements today as she addresses the fifth and last press conference on the ₹20 lakh crore economic package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier. To revive the Indian economy hit by the impact of coronavirus, the Modi government has decided to make India 'self-reliant' with a combination of several reforms, fiscal and liquidity measures. PM Modi has said that the measures and reforms will create many business opportunities and contribute to economic transformation.

In big-bang reform measures, Centre has decided to raise the limit for FDI for defence manufacturing from 49 to 74% under the automatic route and has also allowed commercial mining of coal, whereby any party can bid for coal block and sell it in the open market

Experts said the measures announced on Saturday were much needed industrial reforms addressing the supply side rather than being stimulus measures

'It will lead to better services to consumers and improvement in operational and financial efficiency in distribution,' FM Nirmala Sitharaman said

Restrictions on the utilisation of Indian air space will be eased so that civilian flying becomes more efficient, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said while announcing details of the ₹20 lakh crore stimulus package. "This will bring a total benefit of ₹1,000 crore per year for the aviation sector," Nirmala Sitharaman said.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman said the government would also put out a list of weapons and platforms that would only be purchased from the domestic industries and not from foreign vendors

NEW DELHI : After having announced economic package and relief measures for farmers, migrant labourers, MSMEs, SMEs, NBFCs, MFIs and other categories, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will release the fourth tranche of her ₹20 lakh crore economic package today. As announced the Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier, the stimulus to revive the Indian economy hit by coronavirus is being released in several tranches. Equivalent to 10% of India's GDP, the economic package includes both fiscal and liquidity measures to make India self-reliant under the 'Aatmanirbhar Abhiyan'.

NEW DELHI : Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday unveiled a ₹10,000-crore scheme to support local micro food enterprises to go global.

A facilitative legal framework would be created to enable farmers for engaging with processors, aggregators, large retailers, exporters etc in a fair and transparent manner, the FM said

NEW DELHI : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is releasing the third tranche of the ₹20 lakh crore economic package today with a focus on agriculture, fisheries and allied activities. In the previous two parts of the package, FM's focus was on MSMEs, NBFCs, MFIs, migrant workers, street vendors and small farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that the package is aimed at making India self-reliant. He has also hinted at bringing in several reforms to revive the Indian economy hit by the nationwide spread of the contagious coronavirus disease and the prolonged lockdown.

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NEW DELHI : Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced a series of measures to provide credit and relief to farmers, including a ₹2 trillion credit scheme that will cover 2.5 crore farmers not possessing Kisan Credit Cards and ₹30,000 crore additional emergency working capital funding through National Bank For Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

NEW DELHI : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced the second tranche of ₹20 trillion economic stimulus packages to reboot in the Indian economy hit coronavirus pandemic. The finance minister’s today stimulus packages aimed at helping thousands of street vendors, migrant workers, small traders, the self-employed and small farmers worst hit by COVID-19.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the second tranche of ₹20 lakh crore economic stimulus package today. Today's packages aimed at helping thousands of migrant labourers who were the worst hit by COVID-19.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said that PDS ration cards will be made portable, allowing migrant workers to use them at any fair price shop in the country.

While announcing measures for migrant workers, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said that 100 per cent of ration cardholders will be covered in 'one nation, one ration card' scheme by March 2021. This was the second day when Nirmala Sitharaman, along with Minister of State (Finance) Anurag Thakur, addressed the media on ₹20 lakh crore Covid-19 relief package announced by PM Narendra Modi while addressing the nation on 12 May.

NEW DELHI : A day after announcing a set of 15 relief measures related to MSMEs, NBFCs, real estate sector, etc, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will release the second tranche of the ₹20 lakh crore economic package today.

Gadkari said measures such as setting up a Fund of Funds with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore will provide equity funding support and will support MSMEs

These stimulus measures come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' package worth ₹20 lakh crore to kickstart the economy following the nationwide lockdown

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the announcements made by the government on Wednesday to boost the economy will go a long way in addressing issues faced by businesses, especially MSMEs.

The industry body, which has about 850 companies as its members, said that the measures announced by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday would give a big boost to the MSME sector, which has been under severe stress

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday announced a series of liquidity measures to prop up the economy amid the pandemic, which senior Congress leader and former FM P. Chidambaram said "is a cruel blow to those who toil every day".

Here is the full text of finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcements during the press-meet

FM Sitharaman today released the details of the ₹20 trillion stimulus packages to restore the health of Indian economy hit by Covid-19 pandemic. Here are the 10 things to know about the mega package

NEW DELHI: As part of its strategy to bring India's battered economy back on track, India will provide ₹90,000 crore liquidity injection for the fund-starved electricity distribution companies (discoms).

NEW DELHI : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold a review meeting with CEOs of public sector banks (PSBs) on Monday to discuss various issues, including credit offtake, as part of efforts to prop up the economy hit by the COVID-19 crisis.