ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

• 1999 For the first time in its history, NATO attacks a sovereign country

• 1965 Millions watch NASA spacecraft Ranger 9 crash into the Moon

• 1882 Robert Koch discovers the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis

NATIONAL NEWS

• Reliance sets up India’s first dedicated COVID-19 hospital. The company is enhancing its production capacities to produce 1,00,000 face-masks per day and a large number of personal protective equipment.

• AIIMS to shut down OPD from March 24 till further notice: Order. AIIMS had issued a circular postponing all non-essential elective procedures and surgeries and directed for only emergency life-saving surgeries with effect from March 21.

• Domestic flights to be suspended as India strengthens coronavirus lockdown

• Airlines will have to land domestic passenger flights at destinations by 11.59 pm on Tuesday, said a spokesperson for the aviation ministry on Monday, adding that the restrictions would not apply to cargo flights.

• Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill by voice vote without discussion. The Lok Sabha also adjourned sine die on Monday, earlier than scheduled in view of the coronavirus scare. Originally, it supposed to have been in session until 3 April.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Lost sense of smell may be peculiar clue to coronavirus infection. Several patients who have had symptoms consistent with the coronavirus, but who have not been tested or are still awaiting test results, described losing their senses of smell and taste, even though their noses were clear and they were not congested. 

ECONOMY NEWS

• Govt amends law to get powers to raise excise duty on petrol, diesel by Rs 8/L in future. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved an amendment to the Finance Bill, 2020, to raise the limit up to which the government can raise special excise duty on petrol and diesel to Rs 18 per litre and Rs 12, respectively.

• Sensex hits lower circuit limit, halts trading for 45 minutes. BSE flagship plunged 2991.85 points, or 10 per cent, at 26,924.11 levels. The Nifty fell below the 8,000-mark, down 834.10 points, or 9.54 per cent. 

• Coronavirus: Axis Bank announces Rs 100 cr fund to fight pandemic. Private lender Axis Bank on Monday said it will set aside Rs. 100 crore to support its customers, employees, vendors and government agencies towards curbing the spread of coronavirus.

• RBI extends priority sector classification for bank loans to NBFCs. This is part of steps to provide support for financial sector entities by Reserve bank of India to deal with slowdown and aftermath of COVID-19