Published 10:49 IST, February 19th 2021

Latest News: NASA's Perseverance lands on Mars, China admits casualties in Galwan valley

NASA's Perseverance rover lands on Mars, China admits casualties in Galwan valley clash, US passes Citizenship Act. Read all latest news at 10 am here

Reported by: Riya Baibhawi
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'I'm Safe On Mars': NASA's Perseverance Lands On Red Planet After '7 Minutes Of Terror'

NASA’s perseverance on February 18 me a historic touchdown on Mars’ surface at 3:55 p.m. EST (12:55 p.m. PST). explorer landed safely following ‘7 minutes of terror’ as dubbed by NASA, following which, JPL me an official anuncement in its mission control at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Sourn California. NASA’s 2,263-pound (1,026-kilogram) robotic vehicle descended on western edge of Isidis. explorer, which hit landing site, Jezero Crater, will begin its mission to search signs of ancient microbial life and collect samples of rock and regolith, broken rock and soil, for its separate return mission to Earth. Perseverance will explore Jezero’s ancient lakebed and river delta to characterize region’s geology and past climate, and establish if planet was habitable billions of years ago. 

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China mits Casualties In Galwan Valley Clash; Details Of 4 PLA Soldiers Killed Disclosed

China on Friday mitted for first time that People's Liberation Army (PLA) lost four of its soldiers in Galwan Valley clash with India last year near LAC. According to a report by state-controlled People's Daily, "Four Chinese soldiers, who were sacrificed in last June's border conflict, were posthumously awarded horary titles and first-class merit citations, Central Military Commission anunced Friday. A colonel, who led m and seriously injured, was conferred with an horary title."

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5,000 New Coronavirus Cases Recorded In Maharashtra, Govt Mulls Fresh Lockdown Over Spike

Mumbai, on February 18, recorded 736 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking total for this week to 5,000 new cases that is highest in past 75 days. While Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray h warned people of a possible lockdown in case rms are t followed. Restrictions have been placed in two districts — Amravati and Yavatmal with weekend lockdowns instituted, and next on list are Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur according to Mayor Kishori Pednekar, who warned of a possible lockdown in city as it continues recording a high number of cases.

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Ambitious US Citizenship Act Of 2021 Introduced In Congress 

A bicameral US Citizenship Act of 2021 proposing a pathway to citizenship to 11 million undocumented workers, elimination of per country quota for employment-based green cards and work authorisation for dependents of H-1B foreign workers, was introduced in Congress.

bill, if passed by both chambers of Congress – House of Representatives and Senate and signed into law by President Joe Biden would bring citizenship to millions of foreign nationals, including undocumented and those who came to country legally.

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Farmers' Rail Roko Andolan H 'negligible' Impact On Train Services, Says Railways

four-hour nationwide 'rail roko' agitation called by farmer groups on Thursday h "negligible" or "minimal" impact on train services, Indian Railways said. blocke was held across country from 12 pm to 4 pm and untoward incident was reported due to protest, though some trains were stopped by officials at stations as a precautionary measure. 

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Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions that is spearheing protest, h anunced rail blocke, to intensify its agitation against Centre's new farm laws. 

" rail roko agitation passed off without any untoward incident. re was negligible or minimal impact on running of trains across country. Train movement in all zones is rmal w," a Railways spokesperson said.

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10:52 IST, February 19th 2021