The Delhi government will train 5,000 youths to assist doctors and nurses as part of preparations for a possible third wave of COVID-19, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday.

The health assistants or community nursing assistants will be imparted two weeks' basic training in nursing and lifecare. The training will start from June 28 in batches of 500 candidates.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said India needs quick and complete vaccination and not the BJP's brand of lies and rhyming slogans to cover up the vaccine shortage caused by the government's inaction.

He also alleged that the government was trying to save the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attempts that are facilitating the virus and costing people's lives.

A single day rise of 62,224 new coronavirus infections were reported taking India's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,96,33,105, while the active cases were recorded below nine lakh after 70 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

The COVID-19 death toll climbed to 3,79,573 with 2,542

Thousands of Indian students have secured visa appointments for July and August since Monday, the US Embassy here said on Tuesday.

A senior American diplomat had said on Sunday that the US mission in India is "actively working" to accommodate as many student visa applicants as possible in July and August, and facilitating their legitimate travel remained a top priority for it.

Covaxin maker Bharat Biotech said on Tuesday that the Indian government’s procurement price of Rs 150 a dose for the Covid-19 vaccine was non-competitive and not sustainable in the long run. Hence, it said, a higher price in the private market was required to offset part of the costs.

The company’s remarks came amid questions over the differential pricing strategy followed by vaccine manufacturers for supplies to the government and private sector.

Reliance Jio has commenced 5G trials in Mumbai as it races with rival Bharti Airtel to introduce the mobile technology in India.

While Jio’s trials in Mumbai are being carried out using indigenously developed technology, the company has tied up with multinational vendors, including Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung for trials in Delhi, Pune, and Gujarat.

Social media gainst Twitter is the only social media platform that has not adhered to the new IT rules brought in by the Indian government and it will lose its status as an intermediary platform, news agency ANI reported.

ANI quoted a government source as saying, Twitter no longer an intermediary platform in India as it didn’t comply with new IT rules.

The winning team of the World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand will receive USD 1.6 million (Rs.12 crore approximately) along with an ICC Test Championship Mace. The losing team will receive USD 800,000 (Rs.6 crore approximately), the ICC announced on Monday.

The final match will start on June 18 at Ageas Bowl, Southampton.

The Congress on Monday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the matter of alleged irregularity in the purchase of land at Ayodhya by the Ram temple trust.

Addressing a virtual press conference, Congress general secretary and party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Monday called the alleged irregularity in the purchase of land a big scam and said because the trust was established on the direction of the Supreme Court, the court should take cognisance of the issue and investigate the matter.

The Delhi government on Monday banned the sale, storage, transportation, and marketing of soaps and detergents not conforming to the latest BIS parameters to curb pollution in the Yamuna river.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had in January accepted recommendations of the Yamuna Monitoring Committee (YMC) which had suggested directing the Delhi government to issue orders prohibiting sale, storage and transportation and marketing of detergents which do not conform to the revised BIS standards.

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