The New Indian Express

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the state grapples with its sixth Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak, and the second one this year, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding effective prevention methods. While it is agreed that fruit bats of a specific variety are responsible for spreading the virus, the exact reasons behind its localised impact and human transmission remain unclear.

In a surprisingly candid admission at a business conclave, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said India witnesses more than 1.5 lakh deaths every year in 5 lakh road accidents, which also injure 3 lakh people. He estimated that such losses made a 3 per cent dent in the country's GDP.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state has become a fertile ground for spawning cricket umpires. Thanks to active programmes of Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Malappuram district cricket committees to bring out quality umpires, more and more former cricket players, as well as non-players, have ventured into umpiring in first-class matches.

Online Desk (Photo | Sri Loganathan Velmurugan, EPS) Union minister Kishan Reddy unfurl the national flag at Culture Ministry's Hyderabad Liberation Day event in Parade Grounds.

KOCHI: Corruption in the functioning of Covid First Line Treatment Centres (CFLTC) has come to the fore as the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) registered a case against three persons for diverting funds granted for the expenses of one such treatment centre in Vengola near Perumbavoor in Ernakulam. Vigilance Ernakulam Range team has registered a case against former Vengola panchayat senior clerk Shyjil Kumar, Health Inspector Jomon Jacob and a person named Mahinkutty.

After doggedly refusing to demit office for more than five months since he was arrested on March 21 in an excise policy scam, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced he will soon do exactly that. The announcement came a couple of days after he was released on bail from Tihar jail by the Supreme Court. While the bench relaxed most of the bail conditions, those by a coordinate bench left him hobbled as they had disallowed him from visiting the chief minister's office and the Delhi secretariat.

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad has directed the officials of Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department to make the roads in the State pothole-free.

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) organised a State-level 5k run to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in Vijayawada on Tuesday.

VIJAYAWADA: Asserting that Andhra Pradesh will soon be the energy storage capital of the country, Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar said, “We are promoting solar and wind power while implementing the third phase of electricity reforms. The government aims to ensure uninterrupted supply of power to the people.”

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday announced a compensation package for flood victims in Vijayawada and for farmers who suffered losses due to the heavy rains in the State. Naidu told media persons that a total of 2,72,727 families were affected directly or indirectly due to the floods in Vijayawada. He said every submerged house on the ground floor, under the purview of 179 Sachivalayams, will be given aid of Rs 25,000, while Rs 10,000 will be extended for houses on the first floor and above. Submerged houses on the ground floor in other parts of the State will be paid Rs 10,000 each.