Maha Covid-19 situation 'grim', Centre has assured help: Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar realised consequences of giving clean chit to Anil Deshmukh: BJP

Reacting to the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, the BJP said the NCP leader Sharad Pawar must have understood the implications of giving a clean chit to Deshmukh who tendered his resignation to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on April 05. "Sharad Pawar Ji is a senior political leader of the country. He ought to have understood the implications of giving a complete clean chit to Anil Deshmukh," said Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad while also pressing for a fair investigation. Anil Deshmukh is facing allegations of corruption levelled by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.

Watch: Maharashtra Health Minister gives update on Sharad Pawar’s health

NCP chief Sharad Pawar underwent an emergency endoscopy for the removal of a stone from his bile duct and is now doing fine, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said. Pawar, 80, was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital on Tuesday after he experienced abdominal pain. The NCP chief is likely to remain in the hospital for the next three to four days. Earlier, NCP leader Nawab Malik had said that Pawar was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday evening, a day ahead of the scheduled surgery for a gall bladder issue, after he experienced pain in his abdomen. Politicians from across the spectrum had conveyed their best wishes to the NCP chief wishing him a speedy recovery. Watch the full video for all the details.

If anyone has emergency, they will be allowed movement: Maharashtra DGP

Strict restrictions will be implemented in Maharashtra from April 14 8pm due to surge in COVID-19 cases. State DGP, Sanjay Pandey in a press conference, informed that if anyone has any emergency, they will be allowed movement. "Shops selling essential items and public transport will remain operational. There is no provision of movement passes this time. We have given instruction to all our units that if anyone has an emergency they should be allowed movement," said Maharashtra DGP.

COVID blues: Maha govt's restrictions hampering daily wagers of film industry

Amid increasing COVID-19 cases in state, Maharashtra government on April 13 announced a series of strict restrictions in the state till May 1 including the imposition of Section 144. Bollywood industry is also feeling the heat. According to All Indian Cine Workers Association president, the industry is bearing loses as spot boys and other daily wagers have returned to their hometown due to no work. "We support lockdown, but there has to be a way for us. Government talks about others but not daily wagers in our industry," he said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on April 13 announced a series of strict restrictions in the state till May 1 including the imposition of Section 144 from Wednesday in view of rising COVID-19 cases but said he will not term the new restrictions as "lockdown".

States need to provide doses to vaccination centres in timely manner: Harsh Vardhan

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on April 14 said that COVID vaccines are in sufficient amount in the country and state governments need to deploy the doses at the vaccination centres in time. "There is no shortage of vaccines and Government of India gives vaccines to every state. It is job of states to provide doses to vaccination centres in time bound manner with meticulous planning," said Harsh Vardhan. He also said that production of Remdesivir, the anti-drug for COVID-19, has increased and strict actions will be taken against those who'll try to do black marketing of it.

‘States responsible for…’: Harsh Vardhan denies Covid vaccine shortage reports

Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan clarified again that there is no shortage of vaccines in the country. The health minister said it is the State government’s responsibility to check and distribute vaccines at different centers and plan meticulously. Dr. Vardhan also said that Remdesivir production went down when cases of coronavirus went down in the country. The health minister added that antiviral drug production is being ramped up in the country. Watch the full video for more details.

Amid Covid worry, good news announced by govt on tuberculosis: 2 areas TB-free

Even as the nation is struggling against a fresh wave of Covid-19 infections, the Union government announced some good news regarding another disease. Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said that 2 regions in India - the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, and Jammu & Kashmir's Budgam district - have been declared tuberculosis free. Vardhan was addressing a World Health Organisation meeting on the issue. Watch the full video for more.

Anil Deshmukh tenders resignation as Maharashtra Home Minister after Bombay HC order | Oneindia News

Soon after the Bombay HC directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry within 15 days into the corruption allegations against Anil Deshmukh. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh resigned on Monday hours. Anil Deshmukh’s resignation from the post of Maharashtra home minister has triggered a fresh wave of turmoil in the ruling Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi. However, if sources are to be believed, the NCP already has a leader lined up to replace Anil Deshmukh. Dilip Walse Patil, the current minister for labour, and excise, will most likely replace Anil Deshmukh as Maharashtra home minister. #AnilDeshmukh #DilipWalsePatil #MaharashtraPolitics

Anil Deshmukh no more wanted to remain in his post: Nawab Malik

Soon after Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, state minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik informed that Anil Deshmukh no more wanted to remain in his post. "After the high court order, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh met Pawar Ji and party leaders and said he doesn't want to remain in the post because the inquiry will be there. He went to tender his resignation to the CM. Party has requested to the CM to accept his resignation," said Nawab Malik. Anil Deshmukh's resignation comes amid corruption allegations by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. In his resignation letter to Maharashtra CM, Home Minister said he doesn't find it morally correct to continue as the home minister after Bombay High Court's order.

COVID lockdown: 'Migrants in dilemma,' reports Ranchi's govt control room

The country is reeling under second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions have been imposed differently in several states. Amid this, government control room set up in Ranchi for counselling migrant labourers has reported an increase in queries as migrants are in dilemma. Control room head, Shika Pankaj informed ANI that migrants are not sure about coming to their hometown or staying back amid restrictions in several states. "The fear in them is evident but they are not able to take a decision," Shika added.

4 months after first COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Tampa, there's hope but some concern over variants

The four month anniversary of the first Covid vaccine given out in Tampa is here but research continues as the variants consistently change due to this global pandemic.

Surge testing in Southwark over South African variant fears

Additional testing sites and pop up centres have opened in the borough in an attempt to identify those with the virus. Report by Alibhaiz. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Zahawi: Nigel Boardman has carte blanche in Greensill case

Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi has insisted chair of the lobbying inquiry, Nigel Boardman, has been given "carte blanche" to look into the scandal. He added Prime Minister Boris Johnson recognised there was a public interest into understanding how things came about. Report by Alibhaiz. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Zahawi: It's right to look into compulsory vaccinations

Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi says the government is right to consult on whether Covid vaccines for care workers could be made compulsory. He explains it has a duty of care to the elderly to consider such a move when dealing with such a deadly virus. Report by Alibhaiz. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Starmer accuses government of having 'sleaze at its heart'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has criticised the inquiry into the lobbying scandal insisting it is "not looking at lobbying rules, or much at all". He said every day brings new evidence of "the sleaze at the heart of Conservative government". Report by Alibhaiz. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Boris Johnson departs Downing St for PMQs

Prime Minister Boris Johnson departs 10 Downing Street for Parliament for PMQs. Mr Johnson is facing increasing pressure to launch a full independent inquiry into lobbying amidst the Greensill scandal. Report by Alibhaiz. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

‘Such dirty politics…’: Sanjay Raut on Anil Vaze’s letter naming Anil Parab

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has said that there is a political conspiracy behind arrested cop Sachin Vaze naming Anil Parab in his latest letter. ‘There have been efforts from day one to topple the Maharashtra government. The faces of those who are trying to topple the government are coming to light. A new trend has come to light wherein people who are in jail write letters. People in jail write letters and they are considered as evidence,’ Raut said. Waze had written a letter to the NIA claiming that Maharashtra ministers had asked him to illegally collect money for them. BJP leaders had cited the allegations to demand Anil Parab’s resignation. Watch the full video for all the details.