Breaking News, March 8

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced to provide six-month child care leave along with maternity leave to women employees of the Government.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 2.26 crore with 16,96,588 jabs being given till Monday evening, the Union Health Ministry said.

Ruling NDA constituent United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) and the opposition Congress-led grand alliance partner the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) released their first list of candidates for the upcoming Assam Assembly election.

Women officers have been deployed aboard Indian Navy warships for the first time in 24 years, officials said on Monday, adding that their posting on aircraft carrier Vikramaditya and fleet tanker Shakti began in December last year.

The Rajasthan government said on Monday it is fulfilling its election promise of giving allowance to the educated unemployed and so far about 2.5 lakh youths have benefited from it, Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Minister Ashok Chandna said.

The women's safety wing of the Telangana police on Monday launched 'QR code complaint system' wherein harassment against women could be complained just by scanning a QR code.

Women harassed at public places, offices, during travel, online/social media, phone and domestic can have access through the QR code complaint system through QR codes installed at various vulnerable and populous locations like malls, metros, railway stations, bus stations and educational institutes, an official press release said.

US President Joe Biden on Monday welcomed Pope Francis’ historic visit to Iraq, describing it as a "symbol of hope" for the entire world.

"Pope Francis’ visit was a historic and welcome first for the country. It sent an important message, as Pope Francis said himself, that ‘fraternity is more durable than fratricide, that hope is more powerful than death, that peace more powerful than war’," President Biden said in a statement.

 Lok Sabha adjourned for the day amid protest by Opposition over rising fuel prices.

Syrian President Bashar Assad and his wife have tested positive for the coronavirus, the president’s office said Monday, with both having only mild symptoms of the illness.

Security forces shot dead two people in northern Myanmar on Monday, local media reported, as the military government continued its attempt to stamp out opposition to its Feb. 1 coup.

"Farmers will be allowed to repay their farm loans with 0% interest. The interest amount will be born by government," says Maharashtra Finance Minister Ajit Pawar as he presents Budget for 2021-22 in the Assembly.

Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 passed in the Assembly

Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana KP Singh on Monday revoked the suspension of 10 Shiromani Akali Dal legislators.  In the ongoing budget session, the speaker said the legislators can participate in the discussion on the budget, which was presented on Monday. 

The 10 Akali legislators were suspended on Friday for disrupting Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's speech on the governor's address twice. 

Chhattisgarh Health Minister TS Singh Deo tests positive for COVID-19

West Bengal | The candidate for Malda District's Habibpur Assembly Constituency, Saral Murmu replaced due to her ill health. Pradeep Baskey will be contesting the upcoming Assembly elections from the constituency, says Trinamool Congress

A blaze erupted at a rubber factory in Kolkata''s congested Tiljala area on Monday morning, police said. However, nobody was injured in the blaze as three fire tenders were pressed into service, a police officer said.

The fire broke out around 8.30 am at the factory located inside a multi-storey building on Tiljala Road, he said.

"The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. The firefighting operation is underway. The entire building and the adjacent ones have been evacuated," a fire official said.