INDIA
COVID-19 | Govt now prefers rapid antigen tests to RT-PCR to contain virus in rural areas
The spread of COVID-19 to rural areas has forced the government to make a U-turn on the testing strategy
INDIA
Global bids for over 21 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses floated by States, but do not get your hopes too high
States are under pressure as jabs for 18-44 age group amongst daily vaccinations is now as high as 44 percent
POLITICS
No CBI Clean chit to Mukul Roy, Suvendu Adhikari and four TMC MPs; probe continues
CBI got Sanctions from WB Governor & Union Home Ministry within 2 Days to charge-sheet 5 accused in Narada case, Charge-sheet shows
INDIA
COVID-19 Vaccine: Kerala issues global bid for 30 million COVID-19 vaccines, wants Rs 100 Million in deposit but no advance payment
COVID-19 Vaccine: The Kerala bid document says the vaccine offered must meet the requirements of manufacturing legislation and regulation of vaccines in the country of origin
INDIA
From June, govt expects deaths to come down, COVID-19 vaccination numbers to go up
India reported the highest ever death toll world-wide in the last 24 hours. The number of daily deaths hit a new peak of 4,529 on May 18, up from the earlier high of 4,329 a day earlier; latest toll bigger than the record 4,409 deaths reported in the US this January
INDIA
India fights pandemic| PM Narendra Modi's long phone calls with CMs on COVID
The PM is still to speak to the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and CMs of states like West Bengal, Haryana, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and others, which he may do in the coming days.
TRENDS
COVID-19 | UP govt amends vaccine tender to make Pfizer, Moderna eligible; Chinese firms need Centre’s nod
Global tenders for vaccines issued by the Uttarakhand government and Mumbai’s civic body had also specifically barred companies from neighbouring countries.
TRENDS
COVID-19 vaccine shortage| After UP and Maharashtra, four more states invite global tenders for 121 million doses
At least a dozen states have said they will invite global tenders given the shortage of vaccine stocks with the two local manufacturers, with the rest in the process of preparing bids.
POLITICS
West Bengal: Two BJP MLAs resign within 10 days of winning the seats, here's what TMC leaders say
BJP’s number in the state assembly hence came down from 77 to 75 MLAs and by-polls will now need to be conducted on both the seats.
TRENDS
20 districts where every second person tested COVID-19 positive last week
There is no full lockdown in Kolkata or the North 24 Parganas District as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ruled it out saying livelihoods are also important.
INDIA
COVID-19 Vaccination | Second jabs race past first ones for first time in May
Government data analysed by News18 shows that out of 16.8 million jabs given so far in May across the country, nearly 8.9 million were second doses while the first doses were lower at 7.9 million.
TRENDS
Uttar Pradesh becomes the first state to issue global tender for Covid vaccines; wants 40 million doses by end of 2021
The bid document says 6-8 million doses are to be supplied each month, with a penalty built in for delays. It also asks that bidders make their own provisions for cold-chain transit of vaccines to government warehouses across UP.
INDIA
How Mamata Banerjee overcame anti-incumbency and resentment against TMC to forge a historic win in West Bengal
The West Bengal win opens up a new discourse in national politics with the possibility of Mamata Banerjee being a rallying force against Narendra Modi.
POLITICS
Exclusive | Centre, states need to work together on oxygen shortage and not indulge in blame game: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot
“Rajasthan in deep crisis over oxygen, We need over 200 MTs more urgently today itself,” Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.
TRENDS
COVID-19 vaccination | 18-44 age group can register from today, but should wait longer for appointment
Getting an appointment for vaccination could take a while as many states say Serum Institute of India has promised them supplies only after May 15.
POLITICS
Curtains down on bitter Bengal campaign today; Mamata Banerjee rallied in wheelchair for 44 days, BJP brought in big guns
COVID-19 dominates discourse in the fag end of the campaign as active cases in West Bengal touch 88,000-mark
TRENDS
Covid-19 preparedness: What our chief ministers want from PM Modi
A look at yesterday's meeting between state chief ministers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, beyond the television coverage.
POLITICS
EC action in West Bengal: Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted
On April 16, the state reported 6,910 fresh cases, 26 deaths and 41,047 total active cases at a test positivity rate of 17 percent. The figures today are roughly 75 percent up since.
POLITICS
Bengal Election 2021 | PM Modi to hold six more rallies; Bolpur, Kolkata to be in focus
Kolkata South is a key urban seat for the saffron party. The PM may give a message to urban voters in the 11 constituencies of Kolkata district, as these voters in the past, voted for the TMC.
POLITICS
Exclusive | “Do you think women of Bengal will be sympathetic to a CM who has used rape as an instrument to silence political opponents?”: Union Minister Smriti Irani
"Bank transfers which took place across the country in times of the pandemic for poor women, did not happen here. In Bengal, Trinamool Congress goons were standing outside banks and seeking their 'cut'," says Smriti Irani
TRENDS
West Bengal Election 2021 | BJP woos Bhadralok with promises to fight border infiltration, lawlessness in the state
BJP makes election promises to improve law and order and reinstate West Bengal to its former glory, to appeal to upper-class intellectuals in Kolkata districts that are often a bellwether for the state results.
POLITICS
Mamata protests alone, sends a message to BJP and Election Commission
From `Fighter Didi’ to `Victim Didi’, the West Bengal Chief Minister is trying to turn the 24-hour EC ban into sympathy wave
POLITICS
EC faces toughest credibility test in West Bengal as TMC, BJP take a jab at its recent record
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool says the Election Commission is BJP's handmaiden. BJP says election body treating CM with kid-gloves with just 24-hour ban.
POLITICS
Too little, too late? Rahul Gandhi's first rally in West Bengal is on April 14
His tour starts after four out of the eight phases of polling are over. Rahul has, so far, stayed away from the state, given the paradoxical situation in which his party is fighting the Left in Kerala and aligning with them in Bengal.
