Daily News Dose: Several killed in blast at mosque in Pakistan | Mar 4, 2022

Hello listener, this is your daily dose of news from Onmanorama. I'm your host, Gopika KP. These are the major news stories of the day

1. Several killed in blast at Shia mosque during Friday congregation in Pakistan
2. Kodiyeri selected to be CPM State Secretary again
3. Minister Bindu raps patriarchy and misogyny in CPM
4. Rs 12 hike in petrol, diesel price needed for fuel retailers to break-even
5. Supreme Court appreciates Centre for evacuating Indians from Ukraine, says concerned about anxiety of people

Let’s get into the details.

1) At least 30 people were killed and more than 50 others injured when a bomb ripped through a crowded Shia mosque during the Friday congregation in northwestern Pakistan.
A rescue official said the blast occurred at a Jamia mosque in Qissa Khwani bazaar area in Peshawar when the worshippers were offering Friday prayers.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast.

2) CPM leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was once again selected to the helm of the party's state secretariat.
Kodiyeri is being chosen to the role of CPM State Secretary for the third consecutive term.
The 23rd edition of the CPM's state party conference decided to go for a generational shift with the induction of more youngsters as party state officer-bearers by replacing all those members who are aged above 75 years. The only exception being Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

3) Demanding the CPM to ensure the safety of women in the party, Minister for Higher Education R Bindu decried the anti-women attitude of some male leaders.
Addressing the State conference of the CPM, she said that the party often neglected complaints of male members misbehaving with women comrades. The minister, who represented Thrissur, added that there had even been instances of the party ignoring the complainants.
Complaining that women were not getting justice in the party, Bindu said even senior leaders had misbehaved with women comrades.
Besides Bindu, several other women delegates, too, raised the gender issues in the party. Though more women have been made branch secretaries, patriarchy is still existing at local levels, they said.

4) Petrol and diesel prices, which have been on a freeze for the past four months in view of assembly elections in states like Uttar Pradesh, need to be increased by over Rs 12 per litre by March 16 for fuel retailers to break even.
International crude oil prices shot above 120$ a barrel for the first time in nine years on Thursday before retreating a little to 111$ on Friday, but the gulf between cost and retail rates has only widened.

5) The Supreme Court Friday took note of the Centre's submission that it has so far evacuated 17,000 stranded Indian students from the war zone in Ukraine, saying it appreciated the efforts but was concerned about the anxiety of people.
The top court asked the Centre to consider setting up an online helpline for the parents and families of stranded students in Ukraine and conveyed to the high courts not to take up the issue pertaining to the evacuation of students to avoid multiplicity of litigation.

Now, let’s check out the covid update

6) With 6,396 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,29,51,556, while the active cases dipped to 69,897, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll climbed to 5,14,589 with 201 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

That brings us to the end of this episode! Be sure to come back tomorrow. As always, thanks for listening to Daily News Dose.