15 states and Union Territories have not reported any death due to Covid in last 24 hours.
India's COVID-19 infection tally climbed to 1,08,58,371 with 11,067 new cases in a day, while 1,05,61,608 people have recuperated so far pushing the national recovery rate to 97.27 per cent on Tuesday, according to Union Health Ministry data.
There are 1,41,511 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which accounts for 1.30 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
The death count climbed to 1,55,252 with the novel coronavirus virus claiming 94 lives in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data showed.
The COVID-19 case fatality rate stood at 1.43 per cent.
Meanwhile, Twitter, asked by the government to block 1,178 accounts for allegedly spreading misinformation on the farmer protests and provocative content, said today the orders were inconsistent with Indian law and that for some accounts, it would restrict access within India instead of an outright ban.
Here are the Latest News Live Updates:
Over 13,000 Railway Health Staff Vaccinated Against Covid: Piyush Goyal
Around 13,117 railway health staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19 so far, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal informed Parliament on Wednesday.
In a reply to a query in the Lok Sabha, the minister said the vaccination of Railway employees is being done in a phased manner.
"In the first phase, Railway health care staff are being vaccinated. Till now, 13,117 Railway health care staff have been vaccinated. 3,70,316 front line Railway employees have been identified for vaccination in the next phase," he said.
Ashok Gehlot targets PM Modi over farmers' issues
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the farmers' issues, saying the government should give up its stubborn stand.
"In democracy, voters can be stubborn but not the government. Whatever is happening today is unfortunate," Mr Gehlot said while addressing the Congress Legislature Party meeting at his residence here on Wednesday night.
He condemned Modi for his ''andolanjivi'' (professional protesters) remark.
"It is the duty of the ruling dispensation to respect the opposition but look at what the Modi government is doing. They talk about Congress-free India. PM uses words like andolanjivi in parliament," he said.
PM Had Time To Visit Pakistan, China But Not Farmers: Priyanka Gandhi VadraFarmers have made the country "atmanirbhar" (self-reliant) but they are being made to suffer through the new farm laws, Congress's Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said today at a farmers' meeting in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
The kisan mahapanchayat is being held in the face of prohibitory orders banning large gatherings by the district administration. The orders were passed this morning in the state, which has been emerging as a new hotspot for the protest against the Centre's three farm laws that was initially powered by the farmers of Punjab and Haryana.
Read PM's "Planned Strategy" Charge On Farm Laws; Congress, Trinamool Walk OutPrime Minister Narendra Modi's response to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address was overtaken by angry protests from the opposition as he mentioned farm laws today. After a huge altercation, the Congress and the Trinamool Congress walked out as the Prime Minister said the slogan-shouting "was a planned strategy to drown out reason and hide the truth".
The protests started as the Prime Minister, after speaking of Covid 19, switched to farm laws, saying, "This government and the Parliament respects farmers and will always continue to respect them".
The opposition, which has shredded him over the last two days for comments like "Andolanjeevi" and "parjeevi (parasites)" made during his last address, broke out in protests. As Speaker Om Birla repeatedly asked the members to calm down, PM Modi said, "The farm laws will not bring down any farmers. No mandi has been shut or Minimum Support Prices have been stopped".
Important To Differentiate Between Andolankari, Andolanjivi: PM ModiPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday stressed the importance of differentiating between "Andolankari" and "Andolanjivi", a Hindi coinage now made famous by him, saying the latter are the ones who have hijacked the "pure" farmers' movement for their vested interests, including seeking the release of those jailed for serious offences.
UN Chief's Report On ISIS Must Also Cover Actvities Of Lashkar, Jaish: India At UN Security CouncilIndia on Wednesday said that the global community must not lose sight of the ease with which the Haqqani Network and its supporters, "especially the Pakistani authorities", have worked along with terror groups in South Asia as it asserted that the UN chief's report on the ISIS should also cover activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad that perpetrate attacks from "safe haven" in Pakistan.
Violence, Arson Reported Along Assam-Mizoram Border, Security TightenedSeveral shacks were torched and a few persons were injured in an attack by unidentified people in Assam's Hailakandi district near the state's border with Mizoram, prompting the authorities to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the district, an official said on Wednesday.
Farmers' Protest: Solution Should Be Found Without Further Delay, Says BJP's Haryana Ally
The Jannayak Janata Party, a coalition partner of the BJP in Haryana, on Wednesday asserted that a solution to the ongoing farmers' agitation will have to be found without further delay, reported news agency PTI. JJP leader Digvijay Singh Chautala said senior leaders of his party were in regular touch with the Centre on the issue. Thousands of farmers are protesting at Delhi's borders since November last year against the new farm laws demanding they be repealed.
68.26 Lakh Healthcare, Frontline Workers Vaccinated Against Covid: Health Ministry
The number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against COVID-19 reached 68.26 lakh on Wednesday, the 26th day of the countrywide inoculation programme, the Union Health Ministry said, reported news agency PTI. The cumulative number of beneficiaries vaccinated against the coronavirus till Wednesday 6 pm through 1,42,455 sessions is 68,26,898, as per a provisional report, the ministry said. These include 56,65,172 healthcare workers (57.4 per cent) and 11,61,726 frontline workers (13.2 per cent), it said.
PM Modi Calls Congress Divided, Confused As MPs Walk Out Of Lok SabhaIn a sharp dig at the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said its Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha units move in opposite directions, and asserted that such a "divided" and "confused" party can neither do any good for itself nor can it think of any solutions for the country's problems.
2 Men Listed As Missing After Uttarakhand Glacier Burst Return Home Safely
Two persons who were listed as missing in the avalanche and flash floods in Uttarakhand returned to their homes safely today after being stranded in different areas of the Chamoli district following the glacier burst three days ago, officials said, reported news agency PTI. Suraj Singh from Chamoli and Rashid from UP's Saharanpur returned to their homes today, Additional District Information Officer, Chamoli, Ravindra Negi said. They were among those missing after the calamity after being stranded while they were returning to their villages, officials said.
2,15,133 Vaccinated Against Coronavirus Today: Centre
2,15,133 beneficiaries were vaccinated against coronavirus today in 33 states and Union Territories, the Centre said.
Agitating Farmers Not Aiming Change In Power At Centre But Solution To Their Issues: Rakesh Tikait
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait today asserted that the agitating farmers were not aiming at any change in power at the Centre but a solution to their problems as he said many of their leaders will tour different parts of the country to spread the movement, reported news agency PTI. Addressing the protesting farmers at Singhu border, Mr Tikait said that the agitation against the farm laws will stretch till the Centre addresses their issues.
Health Workers In Meghalaya Reluctant To Take Covid Jabs, Says Official
Health workers in Meghalaya are "reluctant" to take Covid vaccine shots, with only 27 per cent of the over 33,000 beneficiaries having turned up for inoculation thus far, a senior official said on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. The northeastern state has received 35,000 Covishield doses for the first phase of the vaccination process, Health Services Director Aman War told the news agency.
Delhi Logs 127 Fresh Covid Cases; Positivity Rate At 0.19%
Delhi recorded 127 fresh COVID-19 cases and two new deaths on Wednesday, taking the overall death count to 10,884, a day after no coronavirus fatality was registered in the national capital, reported news agency PTI. The zero single-day death was reported on Tuesday after nearly nine months. A total of 100 cases were reported on Tuesday. With the latest figures, the infection tally in the city rose to 6,36,387 and the death toll mounted to 10,884, according to a health bulletin.
Slogans In Parliament As PM Talks Farm Laws, Congress, Trinamool Walk OutPrime Minister Narendra Modi's response to the the Motion of Thanks on the President's address was overtaken by angry protests from the opposition as he mentioned "farmers". The Congress, after a huge altercation, walked out shortly after the Prime Minister said the slogan-shouting "was a planned strategy to drown out reason and hide the truth".
Congress MPs Walk Out Of Lok Sabha
Congress Lok Sabha MPs walk out during PM Modi's reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. PM Modi was speaking about the government's stand on the three new farm laws.
Update| ITBP and other agencies are cutting the loose ends of pipes and wires inside the Tapovan tunnel as rescue operation continues. Tunnel authorities also assisting in marking of the tunnel inside: ITBP
International passenger traffic fell by 90.56 per cent in March-December 2020: Government
International passenger traffic fell by 90.56 per cent to 18.55 lakh in March-December period of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the corresponding period of 2019, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday.
Moreover, domestic passenger traffic fell to 3.77 crore in March-December period of 2020 from 11.99 crore in the corresponding period of 2019, the minister said.
Scheduled international passenger traffic continues to remain suspended in India since March 23, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, special international flights have been operating since July 2020 under air bubble arrangements formed with various countries.
"Revenues of major Indian scheduled carriers fell from Rs. 46,711 crore during April-September 2019 to about Rs. 11,810 crore during April-September 2020. Their full time and contractual employment which was 74,887 as on 31 March 2020 fell to 67,906 as on 30 September 2020," Mr Puri told Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question.
Update| PM Narendra Modi will reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address at 4 pm in Lok Sabha today.
A Chinook successfully executed a landing at Malari and an ALH landed at Tapovan after carrying out an aerial recce of Tapovan and the glacier today: Indian Air Force.
Update| General discussion on the Union Budget 2021-22 begins in Rajya Sabha
JustIn| The Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 passed in Rajya Sabha.
Schools resume for students of class 6 to 8 with COVID-19 protocols in Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
JustIn| Aircraft carrier INS Viraat's dismantling kept on hold by Supreme Court, notice issued to company that bought it for scrap
Nursery admissions in Delhi to begin from February 18
Nursery admissions in Delhi will begin from February 18, the Directorate of Education (DoE) announced on Wednesday.
"The application process will begin on February 18 and the first list is expected on March 20. The entire process will conclude on March 31," Yogesh Pal Singh, Assistant Director of Education, said.
Usually, nursery admissions in around 1,700 schools in the national capital begin in the last week of November. The DoE releases guidelines and schools are asked to furnish required information, following which the application process is rolled out in December. However, there has been no development on it in 2020.
Twitter Lists Action Taken After India's Notice, Underlines Free SpeechTwitter, ordered by the government to block 1,178 accounts for allegedly spreading misinformation on the farmer protests and provocative content, said today it had withheld a portion of the accounts and within India only. The US social media giant also said it had not taken any action on accounts of media, journalists, activists and politicians as it violated "the right to freedom of expression under Indian law".
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JustIn| Bharatiya Janata Party has issued a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House today: news agency ANI
JustIn| 11,067 fresh COVID-19 cases in India, 21% higher than yesterday; 1.08 crore total cases, 1,55,252 deaths
JustIn| Total samples tested up to 9th February are 20,33,24,655 including 7,36,903 samples tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research
JustIn| Rajya Sabha proceedings begin for the day chaired by M Venkaiah Naidu
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Thane's COVID-19 count rises by 236, death toll by 4
The COVID-19 tally in Thane district of Maharashtra has reached 2,56,185 with the addition of 236 new cases of the viral infection,an official said on Wednesday.
Four more deaths due to the viral infection were also reported on Tuesday, taking the toll in the district to 6,189, he said.
The COVID-19 mortality rate in the district is 2.42 per cent, he said.
So far, 2,46,926patients have recuperated from the infection in the district, reflecting a recovery rate of 96.39 per cent.
At present, there are 3,070 active COVID-19 cases in the district, the official said.
Biden Administration welcomes India's emergence as a leading global power, its role in Indo-Pacific region
Describing India as one of the most important partners of the US in the Indo-Pacific region, the Biden Administration on Tuesday said that it welcomes India's emergence as a leading global power and its role as a net security provider in the region.
"India is one of the most important partners in the Indo-Pacific region to us. We welcome India's emergence as a leading global power and its role as a net security provider in the region," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference.
Earlier in the day, he said, Secretary of State Tony Blinken spoke with his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, for the second time in less than a fortnight. During the call, the two leaders reaffirm the strength of the US-India partnership and discussed issues of mutual concern, including the situation in Myanmar.
Blinken expressed concern over the military coup and the importance of rule of law and the democratic process in Myanmar.
They also discussed regional developments, including the value of US-India cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. "Both sides look forward to expanded regional cooperation, including through the Quad, and to address the challenges of COVID and climate change," Price said.
US closely monitoring situation along India-China border: Official
The United States is closely monitoring the situation along the India-China border, a senior official said on Tuesday and expressed concerns over Beijing's pattern of ongoing attempts to intimidate its neighbours.
"We are closely monitoring the situation. We note the ongoing talks between the governments of India and China, and we continue to support direct dialogue and a peaceful resolution of those border disputes," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference.
Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a bitter border standoff in eastern Ladakh since early May last year.
In the ninth round of military talks last month, India and China agreed to push for an early disengagement of troops and resolved to continue "effective efforts" to stabilise and control the situation in eastern Ladakh.
97% People Satisfied With Coronavirus Vaccine After Getting Jabs: CentreOver 97 per cent of 7.75 lakh people surveyed after receiving anti-coronavirus vaccine shots have expressed satisfaction with the immunisation process, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
The government is taking feedback from those vaccinated since January 17 through its mobile app CoWIN and has got responses from 7.75 lakh people, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said at a press conference.
The nationwide inoculation drive against COVID-19 was launched on January 16 with over three crore healthcare and frontline workers prioritised to get the jabs initially.
65.28 Lakh Frontline Workers Vaccinated So Far: CentreThe number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against COVID-19 has reached 65.28 lakh on day 25 of the nationwide inoculation drive, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
All states and Union Territories, except Uttar Pradesh, reported vaccination activity on Tuesday.
The cumulative number of healthcare workers and frontline workers vaccinated against COVID-19 till Tuesday 6:30 pm is 65,28,210, according to a provisional report, the ministry said.