Breaking: Govt to collect sewage samples to check intensity of Covid circulation

The central government will now collect sewage samples to ascertain the intensity of Covid-19 circulation in a community and also to detect new variants of the virus.

The national capital on Wednesday saw no deaths due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), while 67 more cases were recorded, taking the caseload to 1,436,518, according to the health department’s bulletin. The total recoveries have climbed to 1,410,947 after 73 patients were discharged on Wednesday and the active cases have come down to 513. Read more

The Centre on Wednesday advised states to actively consider imposing local Covid-19 curbs in observation of upcoming festivals such as Muharram, Onam, Janmashtmi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja etc, where large public gatherings are expected. Read more

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar announced on Wednesday that schools for students of classes 9-10 will reopen on August 7. Schools for classes 1-8 will reopen on August 16.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each from PMNRF for families of those killed in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal floods. The injured from both states will receive ₹50,000.

The Jagannath Temple in Odisha's Puri will reopen for devotees from August 16, after it was closed for more than four months due to a surge in Covid-19 cases. Devotees will be allowed entry into the temple only after producing double dose vaccination proof or negative RT-PCR test report which is not older than 96 hours.

Bengaluru will be placed under a night curfew from 10pm-6am till August 16 to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation into the death of Dhanbad additional district judge Uttam Anand, days after the Jharkhand government recommended a probe by the central agency into the case.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday expressed concerns over rising cases of the coronavirus disease in the state and urged all residents to follow regulations such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. "I urge you to wear masks and follow social distancing compulsorily. It is time to be very cautious. The cases are rising in neighbouring Chhattisgarh," Chouhan said.

The Jabalpur Police has started with 'Roko Toko'- a campaign to spread awareness about wearing masks due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "People will be motivated to wear masks. Wearing mask is necessary to prevent threat of third wave. Action will be taken against officials if found flouting Covid rules," Jabalpur SP told news agency ANI on Wednesday.

Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya will open for devotees by December 23, news agency ANI reported on Wednesday.

Kerala health minister Veena George said on Wednesday that weekend lockdown in the state will only be imposed on Sundays, adding shops will be allowed to function from 7am-9pm for six days in a week. "A maximum of 20 people will be allowed in weddings & funerals. No lockdown on August 15 and 23, considering Onam," George said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Srinagar on August 9 where he is expected to meet party workers, news agency ANI reported on Wednesday.

Amid a massive sure in daily Covid-19 cases, the Kerala government on Wednesday extended the virus related guidelines in the state which will be in effect from August 5.

On Wednesday afternoon, Karnataka's new cabinet ministers led by chief minister Basavaraj Bommai took oath. Earlier in the day, Bommai had said that there are seven legislators from backward classes, three from scheduled castes, one from scheduled tribe, seven Vokkaligas and eight Lingayats.

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jairam Thakur said on Wednesday that coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases were gradually increasing in the state, adding the state cabinet decided that apart from allowing people with negative RT-PCR test , those who have been vaccinated will also be allowed to enter the state.

"We're closely monitoring the situation, if the situation worsens, further decisions will be taken. It has been issued as an advisory now, it will be made mandatory later," Thakur added.

The Taliban on Wednesday claimed responsibility for an attack on the residence of Afghanistan's acting defence minister in Kabul.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the group targeted the residence on Tuesday night, adding that an important meeting was underway at the time.

The defence minister survived, but the attack marked a major escalation in the Taliban's campaign. The attack targeted a heavily fortified area of the capital, which has in recent weeks largely been spared the violence hitting other parts of the country.

The Kerala government is following the ICMR and WHO guidelines to report covid deaths in the state, Veena George Kerala Health Minister said on Wednesday in the Assembly over the allegations of discrepancies in covid related deaths across the state.

A total of 13,325 covid deaths has been reported in the state till June 15, 2021, said Kerala health minister while replying to the questions of MLAs' in the Assembly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain after she won the Bronze medal in the women's welterweight category (64-69kg) at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday.

Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said: "Well fought Lovlina Borgohain! Her success in the boxing ring inspires several Indians. Her tenacity and determination are admirable. Congratulations to her on winning the Bronze. Best wishes for her future endeavors. #Tokyo2020".

Rajya Sabha MP Kirori Meena's wife and former minister Golma Devi offered prayers at the Ambagarh Fort temple here on Wednesday as it reopened days after a dispute over the removal of a saffron flag atop the shrine by members of the Meena community.

Devi along with several members of the Meena community and supporters offered prayers at the Shiva temple, according to her aide.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday assured his support to the family of the minor girl who was allegedly raped, murdered and cremated without her parents' consent in Delhi's Old Nangal crematorium.

The Wayanad MP met and spoke with the family of the minor girl today.

"I spoke with the family, they want justice and nothing else. They are saying that justice is not being given to them and they should be helped. We will do that. I have said that I am standing with them. Rahul Gandhi is standing with them until they get justice," said the Congress leader.

A nine-year-old girl was allegedly raped and killed by a priest and three employees of a crematorium near Delhi Cantonment in south-west Delhi on Sunday, the police said.

The apex child rights body NCPCR has sought a detailed action taken report from the Delhi Police in the alleged rape and murder of a nine-year-old Dalit girl in southwest Delhi.

The Dalit girl died under suspicious circumstances, even as her parents alleged that she was raped and her body was forcibly cremated by a crematorium's priest, according to police.

The US is trying to provide for countries like India the capacity to produce Covid-19 vaccines themselves, President Joe Biden has said, as he highlighted the efforts of democratic nations to help the world stem the surge of the pandemic.

With a need for several billion doses around the world, the US was committed to providing half a billion ( 50 crores) shots, Biden said during a press conference at White House on Tuesday.

The capital is likely to witness partly cloudy sky and light rain on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department said.

The Safdarjung Observatory, considered the official marker for the city, recorded a minimum of 25.4 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal.

The maximum temperature is predicted to settle around 34 degrees Celsius.

Light to moderate rain is expected for the next three to four days, according to the IMD forecast.

Amid the logjam over the 'Pegasus project' media report, several Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Manish Tewari on Wednesday gave adjournment notices in the Lok Sabha to discuss the issue.

The Opposition has alleged that names of several Indian politicians, journalists, lawyers, and activists have appeared on the leaked list of potential targets for surveillance by an unidentified agency using Pegasus spyware. This comes following reports published in The Wire.