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Indian News

MHA orders continuation of Covid guidelines till June-end; asks states to focus on local curb strategy

In a fresh order, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said strict implementation of containment and other measures has led to a declining trend in the number of new and active cases, across states and union territories, barring some areas in the southern and northeastern regions.

According to the guidelines, the home ministry told the states to take necessary action to ensure sufficient oxygen-supported beds, ICU beds, ventilators, ambulances including creation of makeshift hospitals, oxygen, as needed, besides sufficient quarantine facilities.

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Govt says new digital rules don’t violate privacy; seeks compliance report from social media cos

The new rules, announced on February 25, require large social media platforms to follow additional due diligence, including the appointment of chief compliance officer, nodal contact person and resident grievance officer. Non-compliance with rules would result in these social media companies losing their intermediary status that provides them exemptions and certain immunity from liabilities for any third-party information and data hosted by them. In other words, they could be liable for criminal action in case of complaints.

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Black Fungus: Owing to costs of treatment, poor families stand helpless while Centre declares it notifiable disease

For diagnosis, a battery of costly tests like blood investigations, endoscopy, fungal staining and multiple radiology (MRI/CT) may be required. Similarly, treatment involves costly anti-fungal medicines and injections (which are in short supply) and tedious surgeries by a battery of surgeons — ENT, ophthalmologist, Faciomaxillory, neurosurgeon and reconstructive surgeon. Most of these can only be performed at multi-specialty tertiary care centers in major cities.”

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High Court asks Delhi government to publicise Covid-19 helplines in newspapers on daily basis

“In newspapers, one does not find these inserts on a daily basis. These things should be there in the papers every day. Fix a corner or column, may be on page 1 or page 3. Some column on a page should be dedicated to it daily so that people know where to go when they need it. People would be habituated. This is where you are lagging behind,” the bench said.

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IMA slaps Rs 1000 crore defamation notice on Yoga guru Ramdev

The six-page notice served on behalf of IMA (Uttarakhand) secretary Ajay Khanna by his lawyer Neeraj Pandey describes the remarks by Ramdev as damaging to the reputation and the image of allopathy and around 2,000 practitioners of it who are part of the association.

Terming the remarks of the yoga guru a “criminal act” under section of 499 of the Indian Penal Code, the notice demanded a written apology from him within 15 days of its receipt, saying a compensation of Rs 1,000 crore will be demanded from him at the rate of Rs 50 lakh per member of the IMA if he failed to do so.

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Fire at HPCL refinery at Visakhapatnam, no casualties

“Safety measures and firefighting was activated immediately,” Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) said. “The fire has been extinguished. There is no casualty and no risk to the public.”

The fire may lead to shutting down of the crude distillation unit (CDU) for a few days.

“Fire at HPCL refinery at Visakhapatnam has been doused. There is no report of any casualty,” the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas also tweeted.

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