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9:40 PM

Maharashtra reports one Covid death, 334 new cases in last 24 hours

Amid rising Covid-19 cases in the country, Maharashtra on Wednesday reported one Covid death and recorded 334 new cases, the state Public Health Department said on Wednesday. With the fresh infections, the active cases in the state stand at 1,648. According to the bulletin, the recovery rate in the state is 98.16 per cent.

 

Out of 86,563,502 laboratory samples, 8,140,479 have tested positive (09.40 per cent) forCOVID-19 until today.

 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today chaired a high-level meeting to assess the Covid-19 and influenza situation in the country in terms of preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, the status of the vaccination campaign, the emergence of new Covid-19 variants and influenza types and their public health implications for the country.

9:39 PM

Zelensky visits frontline

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he visited military positions near the frontline town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, as a Russian strike battered a residential building leaving dozens injured.At least one person was killed and 32 more injured in the block of flats in Zaporizhzhia, a city near the frontline, just before Zelensky announced his visit to the front, the mayor said.And officials announced the death toll from a separate overnight drone attack by Russia on a school south of the capital Kyiv had risen to seven, with another nine injured.

 

9:37 PM

Amritpal's mentor Papalpreet helped him escape police dragnet

The brains behind pro-Khalistan fugitive Amritpal Singh's escape from the police dragnet was 38-year-old Papalpreet Singh, who was in close contact with Pakistan's ISI and was taking instructions from it, officials said on Wednesday. They said Papalpreet Singh is considered one of Amritpal Singh's mentors who had been advising him on various issues. Papalpreet had been working with Amritpal closely since he returned to India last year and took over the reins of 'Waris Punjab De', an organisation founded by actor Deep Sidhu, who died in a road accident in 2021

 

9:36 PM

A giant Tricolour put up by the Indian High Commission team atop the High Commission building in London, UK

9:36 PM

Union Home Minister Amit Shah meets Padma awardees as he hosts a dinner for them

8:39 PM

President Murmu confers the Padma Bhushan award on Kumar Mangalam Birla in the field of Trade & Industry

8:20 PM

PM Modi's meet to assess Covid-19, Influenza situation

PM directed officials to enhance Whole Genome Sequencing of Positive Samples with the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories. This will support tracking of newer variants, if any, and timely response: PMO

 

PM emphasized Covid appropriate behaviour including wearing of masks in hospital premises by both patients, health professionals and health workers. He also stressed that wearing of masks is advisable when senior citizens and those with co-morbidities visit crowded areas: Prime Minister's Office (PMO)

 

He directed that effective monitoring of IRI/SARI cases, and testing for Influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and Adenovirus be followed up with States. Further, Prime Minister stressed the need to ensure availability of required Drugs & Logistics for Influenza & Covid-19 across Health Facilities along with availability of sufficient beds & health human resources: PMO

 

He highlighted that Covid-19 pandemic is far from over and there is a need to monitor the status across the country on regular basis. Prime Minister advised to continue focusing on 5-fold strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination & Covid Appropriate Behaviour, enhance Lab Surveillance & testing of all Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases. Mock drills should be conducted regularly to ensure that our hospitals are ready for all exigencies: PMO

8:20 PM

The month of Ramzan to begin on 24th March 2023, announces Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali

8:18 PM

Boris Johnson faces high-stakes grilling over 'partygate'

Boris Johnson is back where he likes to be: at the center of attention. But he's not so happy about the reason. Britain's former prime minister faces a grilling Wednesday by a committee of lawmakers over whether he misled Parliament about rule-breaking parties in government buildings during the coronavirus pandemic

 

8:18 PM

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma shares on Twitter, the resolution adopted by Assam Assembly against BBC

2:58 PM

Chandrayaan 3, Aditya L1 will be possibly launched in middle of 2023: ISRO chief

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath on Wednesday said the launch of Chandrayaan-3, India's third lunar mission, and the first solar mission Aditya L1 will possibly happen by the middle of 2023.

He was delivering the inaugural talk on "Indian Capabilities for Space and Planetary Exploration" at the 4th Indian Planetary Science Conference organised at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) here.

2:29 PM

Delhi Budget: Focus on infra; Rs 8,241 cr assistance to local bodies

Presenting the budget for the national capital on Wednesday, Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot said that it focuses on enhancing the city's infrastructure, sanitation and transportation facilities besides the health and education sectors.

Gahlot announced that the local bodies will be given financial assistance of Rs 8,241 crore in the financial year 2023-24.

He proposed Rs 722 crore for new flyover projects and Rs 320 crore for the double-decker flyover in the city.

2:04 PM

No barter on JPC, Rahul's case is matter of distortion: Jairam Ramesh

The Congress on Wednesday said that there could not be barter on the demand for a JPC in lieu of Rahul Gandhi's apology.

While addressing a press conference here, Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh, said, "There could be no middle path. The opposition will not back down from the demand of a JPC in Adani Group. There cannot be a barter on the JPC as Rahul Gandhi's case is a matter of distortion."

He said Rahul Gandhi has already written to the Lok Sabha Speaker to allow him to speak in the Parliament under rule 357.

1:54 PM

Congress making fake promises, says CM Bommai as campaigning intensifies

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday hit out at the Congress for "trying to fool people" by making "fake" promises in its bid to return to the helm of the state after a gap of five years.

Karnataka is expected to go to the polls in May this year to elect representatives from 224 assembly seats.

"Rahul Gandhi came here many times. He did Bharat Jodo Yatra, but nothing happened. He also made a bogus announcement a few days ago but nothing will happen," CM Bommai told media at his Hubballi residence in the wake of poll promises made by the grand old party.

1:28 PM

MP Cabinet approves establishment, upgradation of 184 health institutions

A cabinet meeting, chaired by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Tuesday evening approved the establishment and upgradation of 184 health institutions with an aim to improve the health facilities in the state.

Of these health institutions, there are 10 Civil Hospitals, 6 Community Health Centres, 11 Primary Health Centres, and 157 Sub Health Centres.

The cabinet also approved the formation of nine new project implementation units by Madhya Pradesh Jal Nigam. The approval was given for the formation of new project implementation units in Rewa, Sagar, Barwani, Chhindwara, Sehore, Alirajpur, Chhatarpur, Katni and Mandla district headquarters.