# 1st phase of elections

• Election commission of India on saturday said that the first phase of polling in West bengal went off peacefully, with 79.9% and 76.9% respectively.

• Voting was carried out at 21825 polling stations in a total of 77 assembly constituencies in the two states.

• While assam has two more phases of polling to go, West bengal has seven phases left.

# Health ministry survey

• Almost 90% of the covid-19 deaths in India continue to be in the category of those aged above 45.

• Internal surveys showed that while 90% people were aware of the importance of masks, only 44% actually wore it.

• On saturday India has seen the sharpest rise in weekly covid-19 cases and fatalities since may 2020, i.e 7.7% and 5.1 % respectively.

# India-Bangladesh relations

• Bangladesh has reiterated that the livelihood of millions of citizens of Bangladesh is depended on teesta river and the country should receive a proper share of its waters.

• Bangladesh has requested to implement the long pending teesta river agreement.

• Both countries agreed to look into the issue of killings along the settled Indo-bangladesh borders.

# Telangana

• Telangana has requested the central government to allow covid-19 vaccination for all those who have high exposure to public, such as teachers, bus and cab drivers.

• The cases are rising steadily in Telangana.

• Kerela is the only state in the south, which is seeing downward trend.

# China-iran pact

• China and Iran on saturday signed a 25 year strategic cooperation pact.

• Chinese foreign minister wang yi is in Iran in course of a six nation tour to arab countries.

• The agreements cover ” political, strategic, and economic cooperation”.