Highlights: Maharashtra eases Covid curbs in 14 districts; allows restaurants and theatres to run at 100% capacity

The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in India reached nearly 178 crores on Wednesday, the Union health ministry said.

The Haryana assembly paid tribute to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar on the first day of its Budget session on Wednesday, reports PTI.

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday urged people to come on tractors and camp near counting centres in Uttar Pradesh, claiming ''irregularities'' could take place. Counting of votes for UP assembly elections will take place on March 10, reports PTI.

Maharashtra on Wednesday recorded 544 Covid-19 cases and two deaths, taking the state's infection tally to 78,66,924, the state health department said.

India's exports up 22.36 pc to USD 33.81 bn in Feb; trade deficit widens to USD 21.19 bn, reports PTI.

Maharashtra government has eased pandemic related restrictions in the wake of a sustained decline in Covid-19 cases. As part of the fresh guidelines, restaurants, cinema halls and theatres will function at 100 pc capacity in 14 districts including Mumbai, reports PTI. Read more

Rafale fighter aircraft will participate in the Vayu Shakti firepower demonstration exercise for the first time. The exercise is scheduled to be held in Jaisalmer on March 7, reports news agency ANI.

The CPIM said Indian students are being forced to travel abroad for medical education as the government has no control over private colleges charging exorbitant fees, reports PTI.

Bombay High Court allows activist Anand Teltumbde, presently lodged at Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai as an undertrial in Elgar Parishad case, to visit his mother for two days in view of his brother and alleged Naxal leader Milind Teltumbde's death

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that it is because of India's "rising strength" that the government was able to evacuate the Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine amid conflict with Russia. Addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Robertsganj, PM Modi said, "It is due to India's rising strength that we are able to safely evacuate our nationals stuck in Ukraine, for which we are running Operation Ganga," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

Bharatiya Janata Party's leader of the opposition in Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis has hit out at the Shiv Sena-led Maha government for trying to save Nawab Malik- NCP leader arrested by ED on the charges of money laundering and alleged links with Dawood Ibrahim.

BharatPe removes co-founder Ashneer Grover from all positions, alleges family engaged in 'extensive misappropriation' of funds, reports PTI

The Kerala High Court, on Wednesday, upheld the ban on Malayalam news channel MediaOne

US has advised its citizens against travelling to Hong Kong, citing strict coronavirus curbs and risk of children being separated from parents as the Chinese city battles wave of infections, news agency AFP reports.

India logged 7,554 new cases of Covid-19 in last 24 hours. The active cases now stand at 85,680.  With 223 new Covid deaths, the rate in India stands at 1.20%.

Oil prices surged another USD 5 per barrel on Wednesday after an agreement by the United States and other major governments to release supplies from strategic stockpiles failed to calm market anxiety over Russia's attack on Ukraine, PTI reports.

US President Joe Biden to deliver his first State of the Union address at 7:30 am.