India

NEW DELHI, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in the central India state of Madhya Pradesh said on Wednesday that 50 cases of black fungus also known as Mucormycosis were reported among COVID-19 patients.

The information was given by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a briefing following a high-level meeting.

The meeting was convened in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, on fresh challenges faced by COVID-19 patients.

Kolkata, May 12 (PTI) Switzerland headquartered Livinguard AG, a hygiene technology platform, has donated antiviral masks worth Rs 15 crore for the protection of COVID-19 warriors for distribution through NGOs, government organisations, civil society, hospitals and numerous healthcare centers, the company said on Wednesday.

The company claimed that its patented antiviral and antibacterial technology on textile treated with Livinguard Technology have been scientifically proven to destroy 99.9 per cent bacteria and viruses instead of just protecting inhalation, it said.

Dehradun, May 12 (PTI) Uttarakhand will import 20 lakh doses of Sputnik vaccine over the next two months, officials said on Wednesday.

Giving the information at a press conference here, Chief Secretary Om Prakash said a five-member committee has been constituted for the purpose and the required funds have been arranged.

The state government has also requested the country's leading vaccine manufacturing companies to supply doses of the vaccine to Uttarakhand, he said.

Mumbai, May 12 (PTI) Former Maharashtra minister Naseem Khan on Wednesday demanded that India condemn the actions by Israeli forces against Palestinian citizens.

Khan, a Congress leader, met and submitted a memorandum to Governor B S Koshyari which urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to condemn Israel's actions.

"It is necessary that the Indian government condemn the attack on Palestinian citizens by Israeli forces and express solidarity with Palestine," Khan said.

New Delhi, May 13 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, alleging that he is missing along with vaccines, oxygen and medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic and what remains is the central vista project and the PM's photos.

The former Congress chief has been attacking the prime minister over the government's handling of the pandemic and has been critical of the Centre for the lack of oxygen, medicines and vaccines in the country amid a surge in the number of cases during the second wave of COVID-19.

Mumbai, May 13 (PTI) A special court here has issued a public notice to fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, wanted in India for alleged fraud and money laundering in the PNB scam case, asking why his properties should not be confiscated under the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act.

Special Judge V C Barde has also asked Modi to appear before the court on June 11.

The court said if the accused failed to appear, it will proceed with action against him under the FEO Act.

Patna, May 13 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced the extension of the lockdown in the state till May 25.

Kumar made the announcement after chairing a high- level meeting, convened to take a decision on the lockdown, which was in place from May 5 to 15.

"Reviewed the lockdown in Bihar with colleagues in the council of ministers and officials. The positive outcome of the lockdown is evident. Hence, a decision has been taken to extend the lockdown by another 10 days, from May 16 to 25," the chief minister tweeted in Hindi.

Cooch Behar (WB), May 13 (PTI) West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was on Thursday shown black flags at Sitalkuchi, where five persons died on election day, when he went there to visit people allegedly affected in post poll violence.

Dhankhar, whose visit to Cooch Behar was roundly criticised by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was shown black flags by some people at Golokganj as his convoy travelled from Mathabhanga to Sitalkuchi though a posse of policemen put up a human wall to prevent protesters from coming down on the road.

Kolkata, May 12 (PTI) The chief minister and the governor of West Bengal got involved in a war of words on Wednesday after Mamata Banerjee wrote to him claiming that his planned visit to post-poll violence-affected Cooch Behar district violates norms, while Jagdeep Dhankhar hit back saying he is discharging duties mandated by the Constitution.

Indore, May 12 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Culture Minister Usha Thakur has said 'yagya' is an ancient method of purifying the environment and claimed such a practice is being followed since ages to get rid of pandemics.

Amid the ongoing second wave of COVID-19, Thakur on Tuesday appealed to people to perform "havan" (a fire ritual) at one time.