LIVE: Marion Biotech to lose manufacturing licence in cough syrup case
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File photo of cough syrup. Photo: Shutterstock
Meanwhile, the World Bank said on Friday that Syria sustained an estimated USD 5.1 billion in damages in last month's massive earthquake that struck southeast Turkey and northern parts of the war-torn country. The quake killed at least 50,000 people, including about 6,000 in Syria, according to the United Nations. Tens of thousands are still missing and hundreds of thousands were left homeless. In a report released on Friday, the World Bank says the level of the damage in Syria is about 10 per cent of the country's gross domestic product.
Mumbai Indians crush Gujarat Giants by 143 runs in WPL opener
Mumbai Indians thrashed Gujarat Giants by 143 runs in a completely one-sided match as the much-anticipated inaugural Women's Premier League began here on Saturday.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur led the way with a scintillating 30-ball 65 as Mumbai Indians scored an imposing 207 for five in the opener.
In reply, Gujarat Giants were all out for a paltry 64 in 15.1 overs.
Indian Army to get jetpack suits for efficient surveillance along borders; trials held in Agra
Sale of gold jewellery hallmarked with 6-digit code to be permitted from April 1
Sale of gold jewellery and gold artefacts hallmarked with only a six-digit alphanumeric HUID -- union identification number -- will be permitted from April 1, the government said on Saturday.
This means the sale of old hallmarked jewellery with four logos without HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) number will not be allowed after March 31.
A decision in this regard was taken after due consultation with stakeholders on January 18 in a bid to safeguard the interest of consumers, the consumer affairs ministry said in a statement.
US, Indian navies hold sixth meeting on aircraft carrier technology
BJP president Nadda meets ex-Australian PM Abbott
FM Sitharaman underplays lack of consensus on Ukraine at G20 Ministers' meet
Two days after the G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting failed to adopt a joint communique owing to differences on the Ukraine crisis, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday underplayed similar differences which had cropped up during last month's G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors (FMCBG).
Addressing the Raisina Dialogue event, Sitharaman, while describing India as an attractive destination for global businesses, highlighted the rule of law among other factors as an important aspect.
Calling the rule of law an understated factor, Sitharaman said: "We have an elected democratic system, a well-established common law and also courts. Systems exist and there is transparency. Here, you can speak against the government and the Prime Minister... and nobody picks you up and makes you disappear. None of that happens."
Govt soon to launch seed traceability system: Narendra Singh Tomar
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday said the government will soon launch a seed traceability system to ensure the availability of good quality seeds to the farmers.
"This will curb the pilferage in the seed trade sector," Tomar said addressing a two-day Indian Seed Congress organized by the National Seed Association of India here in the national capital.
Farmers will benefit from its launch and the people doing good work in the seeds sector will also get help, an official statement quoted Tomar having said at the event.
Govt recommends State Drug Controller Authority to cancel manufacturing licence of Marion Biotech
IMD forecast rain, hailstorms over western, central India in run-up to Holi
Rajasthan and large parts of western and central India are expected to witness thundershowers and hailstorms over the next few days in the run-up to Holi. The festival of colours will be celebrated across the country on March 7 and 8.
The weather office has forecast thundershowers and hailstorms from Saturday till Wednesday due to two successive extra-tropical weather systems over the region.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the western Himalayan Region is also likely to witness isolated to scattered rainfall or snowfall on Saturday and Sunday. It notified that Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat light to moderate thunderstorms from March 4 to 8.
Deadline to opt for higher pension for EPS members retired before 1st Sep 2014 ends Saturday
Deadline for opting for higher pension for members of Employees Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS) who retired before September 1, 2014, ended on Saturday.
However, other members of the EPS can apply for higher pensions till May 3, 2023, a labour ministry statement said.
"The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) closed the options on 4th of March 2023 for the retired EPS members (prior to 01.09.2014 and whose options were not considered earlier). It has received 91,258 online applications from this category of employees as on March 4, 2023."
Govt not in 'crazy rush' to sell everything: FM Sitharaman
The government is not in a "crazy rush" to sell everything and it will continue to have a presence in four strategic sectors, including telecom, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.
In strategic sectors, a bare minimum presence of the existing public sector commercial enterprises at the holding company level will be retained under government control. The remaining enterprises in a strategic sector will be considered for privatisation or merger with another PSE or for closure.
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, the minister said that the country will have government-owned professionally run companies in four broad strategic sectors.
Covid vax effective against highly contagious XBB variant: CDC
Covid-19 vaccines and boosters are effective against the highly transmissible sub-lineages of Omicron -- XBB and its subvariant XBB.1.5 -- the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said.
First seen in August, XBB.1.5 now accounts for nearly 90 per cent of all Covid-19 cases reported in the US, the CDC said.
According to officials, a "bivalent" booster that targets both the initial strain of the virus and the original Omicron variant, would be more protective than the original "monovalent" vaccine as the virus continues to evolve, the USA Today reported.
The latest CDC study found that, despite the mismatch in variants, the booster remains protective against XBB.
NDMC releases draft policy to regularise unauthorised cellular towers in Lutyens' Delhi
The New Delhi Municipal Council has prepared a draft policy to regularise scores of unauthorised cellular towers in Lutyens' Delhi, officials said on Saturday. There are around 240 unauthorised cellular towers. Out of these, 140 are located on government buildings and the rest on private buildings, an NDMC official said.
The draft policy aims to modify the rules for the installation of communication towers by cellular and basic telecom operators on rooftops and ground bases within the premises and in the area under the jurisdiction of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
There are four main aspects of the policy -- regularisation of unauthorised towers, increase in one-time tower installation fee, renter fee for towers situated on NDMC buildings (no change), and process to install new towers.
Civilians flee embattled town as Ukrainian pullout looms
Pressure mounted Saturday on Ukrainian troops and civilians hunkering down in Bakhmut, as Kyiv's forces tried to help residents flee the beleaguered eastern city amid what Western analysts say may be preparations for a Ukrainian withdrawal.
A woman was killed and two men were badly wounded by shelling while trying to cross a makeshift bridge out of Bakhmut on Saturday, according to Ukrainian troops who were assisting them.
A Ukrainian army representative who asked not to be named for operational reasons told The Associated Press that it was now too dangerous for civilians to leave the city by vehicle, and that people had to flee on foot instead.
Monitoring committee to ensure investment pledges translate into action: Andhra Pradesh CM
The Andhra Pradesh government will form a monitoring committee consisting of the Chief Secretary to ensure that investment pledges announced at the Global Investors' Summit translate into real action, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Saturday.
After signing agreements worth Rs 11.8 lakh crore on the inaugural day on Friday, the Andhra Pradesh secured investments worth around 1.2 lakh crore on the concluding day of the summit today, totaling more than Rs 13 lakh crore with the potential to create more than six lakh jobs.
Deals were struck in as many as 20 sectors through 353 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
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First Published: Mar 04 2023 | 8:45 AM IST
