Breaking News February 20 | Highlights

Strengthening the preventive measures against COVID-19 in the wake of the rising cases in some states of the country, authorities in Kashmir on Saturday ordered that inbound travellers will not be allowed to leave the airport until their test report is received.

Ghana will begin to vaccinate some 20 million persons against Covid-19 from the first week of March, said Kwame Amponsa-Akyianu, Ghana's program manager for the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) on Friday. 

The Common Entrance Test (CET) for professional courses by Karnataka Examination Authority will be conducted on July 7 and 8, Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan said on Saturday.

Kerala took a major step forward in its progress towards a knowledge society with the inauguration of the country's first Digital University, based in Technocity at Mangalapuram near Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presided over the function, where Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who is also the Chancellor of the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology(KUDSIT), unveiled the varsity plaque.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived here in the Maldivian capital on Saturday on a two-day visit during which he will call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, hold talks with several other political leaders in the country and review the entire gamut of bilateral ties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam and West Bengal on February 22. He'll dedicate to the nation important projects of the oil and gas sector in an event organized in Dhemaji, Assam. Later, he will dedicate the nation and inaugurate several railway projects in Hooghly, West Bengal.

Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan met actor Rajinikanth at his residence at Poes Garden in Chennai, Tamil Nadu today.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke on fuel price hikes in a press conference. She said, "It's a vexatious issue in which no answer except for fall in fuel price will convince anyone. Both Centre and State should talk to bring down retail fuel price at a reasonable level for consumers..."

On average, 4000-5000 cases being reported in Kerala and 5000-6000 in Maharashtra daily. We share borders with them. So, we issued circulars. Unless we see RT-PCR negative certificates from those coming from these states they won't be permitted to enter Karnataka, said Health Minister Dr. K Sudhakar.

"We have not found any South African strain or Brazilian strain (of COVID-19). All that we have found is the UK strain, only in those passengers who travelled from the UK to Bengaluru. We have not allowed it to spread in the society," he added.

A fire broke out at a factory in north Delhi's Narela Industrial area on Saturday, officials said. Fire Department officials said they received information regarding the incident at 12.05 pm.

Seven to eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot, they said, adding that the blaze was brought under control. Further details are awaited.

Onion prices reach Rs 4500 per quintal in Nashik's Lasalgaon Mandi, Maharashtra. "Onion prices rising due to rains. They are expected to go up in the coming days. Today's rate ranged between Rs 3500 to Rs 4500 per quintal", said a trader.

Fire breaks out at a manufacturing factory in the Sanaswadi area of Pune district, Maharashtra. Six fire tenders rushed to the spot. No casualties or injuries reported so far. Fire fighting operations underway. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to hold a meeting with farmer leaders tomorrow at the Vidhan Sabha. Farm laws and other issues related to the farmers to be taken up in the meeting. 

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari approves 6 Lane Kantakapalle-Sabbavaram sector of NH-130-CD worth Rs 824.29 crore Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economics Corridor and development of 6 Lane Korlam-Kantakapalle sector of NH-130-CD worth Rs 772.70 crore under Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor in Andhra Pradesh. 

PM Narendra Modi chaired the 6th meeting of Governing Council of NITI Aayog via video conferencing. Here are some highlights from the meeting:

• The Foundation of India's development is that the Centre and States work together and head towards a certain direction and make cooperative federalism even more meaningful. Not only this, we have to try to bring competitive, cooperative federalism not only among states but also districts.
• In the COVID period we saw how the Centre and States worked together, the nation succeeded and a good image of India was built before the entire world. Today, when we are going to complete 75 years of independence, this Governing Council meet becomes even more significant. 
• In the past few yrs, we saw that the opening of bank accounts, increase in vaccination and health facilities, free electricity connection, free gas connection to empower the poor has reflected a phenomenal change in their lives. 
• The positive response received for this year's Budget has expressed the mood of the nation. The country has made up its mind that it wants to progress rapidly and doesn't want to lose time. The youth is playing a major role in setting the mood of the nation. 

India reported 13,993 new COVID-19 cases, 10,307 discharges, and 101 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry 

• Total cases: 1,09,77,387
• Total discharges: 1,06,78,048
• Death toll: 1,56,212 
• Active cases: 1,43,127
• Total Vaccination: 1,07,15,204

India and China to hold 10th round of Corps Commander level talks at Moldo on the Chinese side of LAC at 10 am today to discuss disengagement from other friction points, including Gogra, Hot Springs and Depsang plains, said Indian Army Sources

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday greeted the people of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram on their statehood days and heaped praise on their culture and traditions.

"Greetings to the wonderful people of Arunachal Pradesh on the special occasion of their Statehood Day. The people of this state are known for their culture, courage and strong commitment to India's development. May Arunachal Pradesh keep scaling new heights of progress," Modi tweeted. 

"Best wishes to my sisters and brothers of Mizoram on their Statehood Day. The entire nation is proud of the great Mizo culture. The people of Mizoram are known for their kindness and commitment towards living in harmony with nature. Praying for the state's continuous growth," he said in another tweet.

Petrol and diesel prices in Delhi stand at Rs 90.58 per litre (increase by 39 paise) and Rs 80.97 per litre (increase by 37 paise), respectively.

An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 hit Myanmar at 5:31 am today, as per National Center for Seismology.