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India's COVID-19 infection tally climbed to 1,08,71,294 with 12,923 new cases in a day, while 1,05,73,372 people have recuperated so far pushing the national recovery rate to 97.26 per cent on Thursday, according to Union Health Ministry data.
There are 1,42,562 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which accounts for 1.31 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
The death count climbed to 1,55,360 with the novel coronavirus virus claiming 108 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, the government on Wednesday expressed "strong displeasure" about Twitter's response to the emergency order to block more than a thousand accounts for alleged spread of provocative content and misinformation on the farmer protests.
Here are the Latest News Live Updates:
WHO Praises PM Modi Over Coronavirus Response
Lauding the efforts by India in the fight against COVID-19, country representative of World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Roderico Ofrin on Thursday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making it a Jan Andolan.
"The access, affordability and the speed which you get the result of the test, communicating and engaging with the community to be able to do COVID-19 appropriate behaviours-- it was all on the call of Prime Minister, the Jan Andolan," Dr Ofrin told ANI.
The WHO country's representative also said that the Government of India should be proud of the resilience shown during the pandemic.
Lauding the efforts by India in the fight against COVID-19, country representative of World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Roderico Ofrin on Thursday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making it a Jan Andolan.
"The access, affordability and the speed which you get the result of the test, communicating and engaging with the community to be able to do COVID-19 appropriate behaviours-- it was all on the call of Prime Minister, the Jan Andolan," Dr Ofrin told ANI.
The WHO country's representative also said that the Government of India should be proud of the resilience shown during the pandemic.
Hold Talks With PM To Get Farm Laws Repealed: Akali Dal, Congress To Farmers
The Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress today urged farmers protesting against the Centre's farm laws to talk directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying otherwise the dialogue will not yield any result.
Commenting on farmer leaders' meeting with the Centre over the laws today, former Union Minister and Akali Dal's Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said they shouldn't fall into the "trap" of extended meetings, "which yield nothing".
Punjab Congress President Sunil Jakhar too favoured direct talks with the PM, saying the involvement of the prime minister or Union Home Minister is a must for a successful dialogue.
The Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress today urged farmers protesting against the Centre's farm laws to talk directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying otherwise the dialogue will not yield any result.
Commenting on farmer leaders' meeting with the Centre over the laws today, former Union Minister and Akali Dal's Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said they shouldn't fall into the "trap" of extended meetings, "which yield nothing".
Punjab Congress President Sunil Jakhar too favoured direct talks with the PM, saying the involvement of the prime minister or Union Home Minister is a must for a successful dialogue.
Chhattisgarh Asks Centre To Halt Covaxin
Union minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today wrote to Chhattisgarh health minister TS Singh Deo, who has gone public with his concerns about Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. The primary concerns of the state are the inhibitions regarding the "incomplete third phase trials" of the vaccine and the "absence of expiration date on the vials", Mr Deo had tweeted, enclosing his letter to the Centre on the issue. He had also requested the Centre to "halt the supply of COVAXIN to Chhattisgarh until these issues are addressed".
Union Home Secretary reviews rescue, relief works in Uttarakhand
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Thursday reviewed the progress of rescue and relief works being carried out by the Uttarakhand government and central agencies following a glacier burst in the state.
The relief works are being carried out at the site of the NTPC hydro project at Tapovan on the Dhauliganga River, which was impacted by the glacier burst that occurred in the upper catchment of the Rishiganga river in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand on February 7.
"The Union home secretary reviewed the action required for regulating the flow of water from a temporary obstruction which has formed upstream from the project," an official statement said.
The secretary of the DRDO has been asked to depute experts for analysis of the situation and for taking appropriate remedial measures in co-ordination with the central and state agencies.
The home secretary assured all possible help and assistance from the central agencies to the state government as and when required by them, the statement said.
Nitin Gadkari to launch India's first CNG tractor tomorrow
India's first-ever diesel tractor, converted to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), will be formally launched by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on February 12.
The conversion, carried out jointly by Rawmatt Techno Solutions and Tomasetto Achille India, will help farmers increase their income, by lowering the costs and help to create job opportunities in rural India. Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Narendra Singh Tomar, Parshottam Rupala and General (Retired) VK Singh will also be present at the launch.
"The most important benefit for the farmer will be to save more than one lakh rupees annually on fuel costs, which will help them to improve their livelihood," read the press release by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Dense fog to continue in north-western India till February 14: Weather office
The fog condition in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi is likely to intensify in the morning hours from February 12 said India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday.
"Dense to very dense fog in isolated pockets very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, East Uttar Pradesh and northwest Rajasthan in the morning hours of February 12 and 13 and dense fog in isolated pockets over the same area in the morning hours of February 14," IMD tweeted.
"Dense fog in isolated pockets over Bihar in the morning hours of February 12 and 13 and over Odisha in the morning hours of February 12, 2021," IMD said in another tweet.
Sewage samples show COVID-19 spreading fast in some French cities
Sewage samples from a new nationwide COVID-19 monitoring system show that in some French cities traces of coronavirus are spiking above levels seen during the second wave of the epidemic in the autumn.
France's new "Obepine" network continuously samples city sewage in nearly 50 waste water stations and publishes charts that indicate the quantity of genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19.
For cities where data are available from spring 2020, the indicator charts show a strong correlation with charts of the number of positive cases and can give early warning signals
WHO hails Gujarat for responding to second wave of COVID-19
As Gujarat conducted the Intra-Action Review (IAR) in December 2020 for its COVID-19 preparedness and response, World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative to India, Dr Roderico Ofrin on Thursday lauded the efforts by the state government in countering the second wave of the virus with the help of this mechanism.
"Hats off to Gujarat government to take this review on pandemic as something to provide better information and tweak the response which they have especially during the second wave. Gujarat is one of the best performing states in vaccinations. It would be great if other states also start doing the same review exercise of their response," Ofrin exclusively told ANI.
He also added that the state had a coronavirus safe workplace policy early on protecting the businesses and workers.
Talking about the steps taken by the Gujarat government during the pandemic, Ofrin said house-to-house surveillance was the key for better contact tracing.
"In Gujarat, there was house to house surveillance for better contact tracing that was key to find out the extent of how the infection is spreading. Second is the outreach of the medical services to provide medicine to people because of the lockdown access to health services needed to continue," he said.
Mughal Gardens to open for public from Saturday, visitors must do advance online booking
The Mughal Gardens will open for public from Saturday and visitors will be allowed to see it only through advance online booking, according to a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday.
President Ram Nath Kovind will open the annual "Udyanotsav" of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 12, it said.
"The Mughal Gardens will remain open for the general public from February 13, 2021 to March 21, 2021 (except on Mondays which are maintenance days) between 1000 hrs to 1700 hrs," the statement said.
As a precautionary measure, walk-in entry will not be available this year, it said.
Visitors will be allowed to see the Mughal Gardens only through advance online booking, the statement said.
Booking can be made on https://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in or https://rb.nic.in/rbvisit/visit_plan.aspx.
Seven pre-booked hourly slots will be available between 1000 hrs and 1700 hrs, it said, adding that the last entry will be at 1600 hrs.
NDMC mayor built house by illegally occupying DUSIB land, alleges AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday claimed that the BJP-ruled north municipal corporation''s Mayor Jai Prakash has built his house by illegally occupying DUSIB land, an allegation he termed as baseless.
Addressing a press conference, AAP leader Durgesh Pathak claimed that the Delhi Police and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) have repeatedly asked the corporation to stop the construction of this building. But no step has been taken, he said.
"The AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) demands that the BJP immediately suspend mayor Jai Prakash and also demands that the Delhi Police arrest the North MCD mayor for such a forgery," Pathak said.
Mayor Prakash at a press conference said that the allegations levelled by Pathak against him are baseless and false.
He said that the AAP has now become "Allegation Aadmi Party", and it is spreading confusion by making new allegations daily.
UK's new envoy says preparing PM Johnson's visit, welcoming India to G7, COP26 among priorities
The UK's new High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis on Thursday said that preparing for Prime Minister Boris Johnson''s upcoming visit to New Delhi and welcoming the country to the G7 and COP26 summits are among his immediate priorities.
The 53-year-old civil servant expressed his delight at being back in India, some 35 years after he visited the country when he was a teacher. He went trekking in the Himalayas and explored "beautiful cities" including Jaisalmer during that trip.
Ellis, a British strategic expert, presented his credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday to take the formal charge as the new UK High Commissioner to India.
In reference to the India-UK partnership, the new envoy said that the year 2021 would be a significant one, both bilaterally and on the global stage.
The UK government has made clear the importance it places on the relationship, as visits by the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Trade Secretary Liz Truss underline.
Canada has supply-side constraints on vaccines, PM Modi, Trudeau had substantive discussion: Ex-High Commissioner to Canada
Former High Commissioner to Canada Vishnu Prakash has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau had a very constructive and substantive discussion during their phone conversation on Wednesday and Ottawa had sought India's support with vaccines to tide over the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic.
Vishnu Prakash told ANI that Canada had booked about 200 million doses of vaccines but has supply-side constraints. He said there is a lot of angst among the Canadians that encouraged PM Trudeau to reach to India, a tried and tested friend.
"I am very happy that the two Prime Ministers had a very constructive and substantive discussion. One of the aspects of the discussion was that PM Trudeau sought India''s support assistance with vaccines to tide over the challenge of the pandemic they are facing. Unfortunately, Canada is in the grip of the second wave," he said.
Congress appoints KV Thomas as KPCC working president
Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday appointed Kuruppasserry Varkey Thomas as a working president of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).
"Congress President has approved the proposal of the appointment of Working President and Vice President of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee in addition to the existing Working Presidents and Vice Presidents, as follows, with immediate effect. Prof. K.V. Thomas- Working President, KPCC 2. Adv. C.K. Sreedharan - Vice President, KPCC," informed an official statement.
Civic body polls: BJP demands deployment of central forces in Punjab
A BJP delegation on Thursday met Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore, urging him to issue directions for the deployment of paramilitary forces in the state ahead of the body civic polls.
Elections to eight municipal corporations, 109 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in the state will be held on February 14.
The delegation comprised Union minister Som Parkash and senior party leader Madan Mohan Mittal. They apprised the governor of a "series of attacks" on the BJP leaders, including party's state unit chief Ashwani Sharma and former cabinet minister Tikshan Sood.
"There have been almost two dozen incidents of violence against the BJP workers in which police took no action and rather encouraged the anti-social elements to spread terror," the delegation alleged, according to a statement.
Morocco Receives 4 Million Doses Of AstraZeneca Vaccine From India Uttarakhand Chief Minister okays relocation of over 50 families
As Uttarakhand grapples with the effects of an avalanche in its Chamoli district, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Thursday gave his nod to relocate over 50 families living in areas extremely vulnerable to natural disasters in four districts of the state.
Mr Rawat cleared the proposal by the Disaster Management Department to relocate and rehabilitate 30 families from Uttarkashi, 13 from Chamoli and four each from Bageshwar and Tehri districts, an official release here said.
The families belong to Astal village in Uttarkashi, Faldia and Saned in Chamoli, Malladesh in Bageshwar and Bethan in Tehri district, it said.
5,808 flights cancelled or delayed in India due to weather in Nov-Dec 2020: Government
A total of 5,808 flights were delayed or cancelled in India due to adverse weather conditions, which includes fog, during November and December last year, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday.
In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, the minister said a total of 1,434 flights were cancelled and 4,374 delayed in November and December 2020 due to adverse weather conditions.
"Total number of passengers affected due to cancellation of flights during November - December 2020 are as follows: November 2020 - 14,062; December 2020 - 28,974," he stated.
IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India, Vistara, GoAir and AirAsia India cancelled 439, 139, 97, 66, 25 and 20 flights respectively in December 2020 due to weather conditions, he mentioned.
DNA of bodies recovered in Uttarakhand glacier burst incident being preserved by state officials: Top police official
Uttarakhand Director-General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar on Thursday informed that DNA samples of the bodies recovered after the glacier burst incident in Chamoli district are being preserved by the state officials.
"We are preserving DNA samples of the recovered bodies. Out of total dead bodies recovered, we have so far identified 10 bodies. All our officers including DIG Law and Order, SP Rudraprayag -- they taking care of the identities of the dead bodies using Whatsapp. Last rites will only be performed after preserving the DNA of the bodies," DGP Uttarakhand told ANI.
On the issue of the ongoing rescue operation, the DGP said, "We were undertaking rescue operation in the big tunnel to remove debris till yesterday. We have also started drilling in a smaller diameter tunnel to see what is inside. But it has been suspended temporarily as the machine broke down."
24 countries set to participate in second Maritime India Summit-2021
Around 20,000 delegates will participate, 24 partner countries will join and more than 400 projects are set to be showcased in the 2nd edition of Maritime India Summit (MIS) 2021 to be held virtually from March 2-4.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Maritime India Summit-2021 on March 2. The event is being organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) jointly with FICCI as Industrial Partner and Ernst and Young as Knowledge Partner.
Addressing a curtain-raiser press conference on Thursday at the National Media Centre, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mansukh Mandaviya said the Maritime India Summit (MIS) is going to provide a powerful platform for international collaboration and bring in partner countries for mutual exchange of knowledge and opportunities.
Germany warns neighbours of border closures on virus fears
German leaders warned Thursday that they could not rule out shutting Germany's borders with its neighbours because of high coronavirus infections fuelled by more contagious variants in countries like Austria and the Czech Republic.
"We believe it would be sensible to declare both (Austria and Czech Republic) as mutation areas. This will likely happen," said Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder.
He had warned late Wednesday that if the Czech Republic was unable to take appropriate measures to curb contagion, then a "border closure must also be an issue".
Kerala High Court directs state government to set up campus police units to check drug abuse among youth
Observing that the scale of drug use in the state is unacceptably high, the Kerala High Court has directed the state government to establish campus police units to check the abuse among teenagers and youth.
A Division bench of the high court, comprising Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice AM Shaffique, said drug usage is a significant driver of economic under performance, crime, risk to children and health inequalities.
Issuing a slew of directions to control drug abuse among youngsters and students in educational institutions, the court directed the state government to adopt a method of establishing campus police units, since the Law Enforcement agencies are not conducting regular checking inside the educational institutions.
Left parties demand release of those arrested in Bhima Koregaon case
The Left parties on Thursday demanded the release of all those arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case, citing reports that claim the evidence against them was "manufactured".
The parties cited a news report claiming a forensic lab in the United States has found that the computer of Rona Wilson, one of the activists held in the case, was hacked and a malware installed, which planted incriminating mails in his files that he had never seen.
This has also been verified by other experts, they said.
"The Politburo of the CPI(M) demands the dropping of cases against activists arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case and asks the Maharashtra government to set up an SIT to enquire into the developments exposed by the credible reports of international experts as to how evidence was manufactured and planted in the computer of one of the activists Rona Wilson," a statement from the party said.
3% of total confirmed covid cases from 177 tribal dominated districts: Centre
Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, the minister said the ministry has assessed district wise confirmed COVID-19 cases for 177 tribal dominated districts.
"It has been observed that about three per cent of the total confirmed cases in the country were from 177 tribal dominated districts till June, 2020," the minister said.
Around three per cent of the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country were from 177 tribal dominated districts till June 2020, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Renuka Singh Saruta informed the Parliament on Thursday.
Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, the minister said the ministry has assessed district wise confirmed COVID-19 cases for 177 tribal dominated districts.
"It has been observed that about three per cent of the total confirmed cases in the country were from 177 tribal dominated districts till June, 2020," the minister said.
Delhi records 142 new COVID-19 cases; deaths rise to 10,886 with two more fatalities: Authorities
Marathi writer Rangnath Pathare to get Vinda Karandikar lifetime achievement award
Minister for Marathi language, Subhash Desai, on Thursday made the announcement.
"Novelist Rangnath Pathare has been selected for the Vinda Karandikar lifetime achievement award instituted by Marathi language department. Ahmednagar-based Shabdalay Publication is selected for the Shri Pu Bhagwat award," he said.
Mr Pathare has penned several novels, including "Tamrapat" that won the prestigious Sahitya Academy award in 1999.
Marathi writer Rangnath Pathare will be conferred with Vinda Karandikar lifetime achievement award instituted by the Maharashtra government's Marathi language department.
Minister for Marathi language, Subhash Desai, on Thursday made the announcement.
"Novelist Rangnath Pathare has been selected for the Vinda Karandikar lifetime achievement award instituted by Marathi language department. Ahmednagar-based Shabdalay Publication is selected for the Shri Pu Bhagwat award," he said.
Mr Pathare has penned several novels, including "Tamrapat" that won the prestigious Sahitya Academy award in 1999.
Sports Ministry requests Health Ministry to put Olympic-bound athletes on priority for COVID-19 vaccine
Union Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports has requested the Health Ministry to put Tokyo Olympic-bound athletes on priority for the coronavirus vaccine.
"We have requested the Health Ministry to put athletes on priority. As of now, we are awaiting their reply. Once they respond, we will start the execution. There is still time for the Olympics and we are hopeful that we will be able to do it. We are having discussions with all concerned departments regarding this and we are working on it," a source in the Sports Ministry told news agency ANI.
Earlier, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju had said that Olympic-bound athletes will be given priority for vaccine and they will seek guidance and advice from the Health Ministry.
Ukraine bans coronavirus vaccines from 'aggressor' Russia
Ukraine has banned coronavirus vaccines produced in bitter rival Russia despite struggles to launch its vaccination campaign. A resolution passed by the government on February 8 and posted on its website Wednesday banned the registration of vaccines from "aggressor states", a designation Ukraine has applied to Russia since 2015.
Ukraine's pro-Western leadership has repeatedly rejected calls from pro-Moscow politicians to approve Russia's Sputnik V jab, denouncing the vaccine as a geopolitical tool.
Ukraine has been fighting separatists backed by Russia in its Donetsk and Lugansk regions since 2014 following Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula.
"Black day in Maharashtra's history'': Devendra Fadnavis after Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari not allowed to travel in state plane to Dehradun
Slamming the Maharashtra Government for not permitting Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to use the state flight services to fly to Dehradun, former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government as "egoist", stating that it was a "black day" in the history of Maharashtra.
Mr Koshyari, who was scheduled to visit Dehradun today by a state government plane, had to book a commercial flight to Dehradun after he was informed on reaching the Mumbai Airport about the denial of permission to him to use the state flight.
Speaking to reporters over the incident, Mr Fadnavis said, "This is very wrong because he is the governor of Maharashtra. As per the Constitution, the governor has the authority of appointing the Chief Minister and state ministers. There is a prescribed procedure if the governor wants to use the state flight services. The governor needs to send a request for the same which was already done in this case."
Ireland's third virus lockdown set to last to April
Ireland's virus lockdown is set to be extended until April, Prime Minister Micheal Martin said Thursday, as the country battles to get infection rates and deaths down.
"Certainly we are looking at a continuation of high levels of restrictions until the Easter period," Martin told state broadcaster RTE.
Restaurants and pubs across Ireland have been shut since Christmas Eve and the non-essential retail sector has been closed since New Year's Eve.
Children did not return to school in January after the festive break, and residents have been told to stay at home as Dublin dramatically stepped up domestic and international travel curbs.
Martin told RTE the exact plan for prolonging lockdown "remains to be determined by government" but reopening schools and construction projects is "a priority".
Mexico to receive 1 million doses of Indian-made COVID-19 vaccine, says Prez Lopez Obrador
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at a news conference on Wednesday informed that the country would receive around a million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine sent from India in the early hours of Sunday.
Indian envoy to Mexico Manpreet Vohra also announced, "To assist #Mexico's fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, I am delighted to confirm that 500,000 Made-in-India vaccines are scheduled to reach here on Sunday," tweeted the Indian Embassy in Mexico.
AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccines are being manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India (SII).
Over 2.47 lakh calls registered by government's helpline for women from Apr-Jun 2020: Women and Child Development Ministry
Over 2.47 lakh phone calls were registered by the government's women helpline from April to June last year when the country was under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Women and Child Development Ministry said on Thursday.
From March 25, 2020, till May 31, 2020, the country was under complete lockdown due to COVID-19, and the unlock procedure was started from June 2020.
In a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said the scheme of ''Universalisation of Women Helpline (WHL)'' through toll free number 181 is operational in 33 states and Union Territories.
"As per the information received from states/UTs, during the period between April 2020 to June 2020, over 2.47 lakh calls were registered in WHLs," she said.
The helpline aims to provide emergency and non-emergency referral and information service to women affected by violence and in distress.
The WHLs work in coordination with the One-Stop Centres (OSC) established in 700 districts across the country. These OSCs facilitate a range of integrated services under one roof such as police facilitation, providing legal aid and legal counselling, medical aid, psycho-social counselling and temporary shelter.
Big Breakthrough In China Standoff; Government Says Not Conceded Anything
India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement at Pangong Tso in Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said today in parliament, giving details of a breakthrough after a protracted stand-off and several rounds of talks between military commanders and diplomats. Read more
India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement at Pangong Tso in Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said today in parliament, giving details of a breakthrough after a protracted stand-off and several rounds of talks between military commanders and diplomats. Read more
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh makes a statement on 'present situation in Eastern Ladakh' in Rajya Sabha.
Here are the highlights of his statement:
- Pakistan has illegally given India's land to China, and we do not recognise such an arrangement. China also claims a large area of India's land, and we have never agreed to such unwarranted claims.
- In Ladakh too, China moved unilaterally, and India has given, and will continue to ensure that our sovereignty is maintained. After China moved large number of troops to the LAC, against our agreements, India too has made large-scale arrangements and moved in increased troops to safeguard our interests.
- My colleagues EAM S Jaishankar, and NSA Ajit Doval, as well as me, the Defence Minister, all have had talks with our respective counterparts. We are working on the situation with an aim to mutually disengage and maintain the status quo that existed before the current standoff.
- The entire nation is proud of and salutes the brave soldiers who defended our sovereignty in eastern Ladakh. Our soldiers have shown exemplary courage at Pangong Lake area as well as the supreme sacrifice made by them at Galwan. The nation will always hold them in the highest regard.
- I would like to inform the House that not an inch of our land has been lost in the current situation, and neither will we allow it to happen.
- Talks are on at the moment for a disengagement at the Pangong Lake. Both sides are in the process of returning to the status quo ante, as was the case before the standoff. China will return to finger 6 and India will set up a post at finer 3 of the Pangong Lake and patrolling will happen between the two posts.
- That being said, there are differences between the perception of the LAC by both India and China, and a consensus has not been reached on it. Talks are on at the highest levels and a setup is in place to discuss the border disagreements.
Rescue operation underway inside Tapovan tunnel in Chamoli.
"There is a possibility that some more people could be stuck inside the tunnel, NTPC team using vertical drilling to find their whereabouts," says Aparna Kumar, ITBP DIG.
ITBP troops help in constructing Jhula bridge across disconnected villages in Chamoli. This will be used to transport ration from one side of the bridge to another side.
#WATCH | Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrives at the Parliament.
- ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021
He will make a statement on 'present situation in Eastern Ladakh' in Rajya Sabha at 10:30 am today. pic.twitter.com/hyXn9iyD0w
Army Chief General MM Naravane arrives at the Parliament.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to make a statement on 'present situation in Eastern Ladakh' in Rajya Sabha at 10:30 am today.
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Mizoram reports 2 new COVID-19 cases
Two more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram, taking the state's tally to 4,390, an official said on Thursday.
The two fresh cases were reported from the Lawngtlai district, he said.
One of the patients has symptoms of COVID-19, while the other is asymptomatic, the official said.
Mizoram at present has 22 active cases, while 4,359 people have recovered from the virus so far.
The COVID-19 death toll in the state is nine.
Coronavirus News Updates: 364 new COVID-19 cases in Thane, 5 more deaths
With the addition of 364 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra's Thane district has reached 2,56,549,an official said on Thursday.
Apart from these new cases reported on Wednesday, five more people also succumbed to the viral infection, taking the death toll in the district to 6,194, he said.
Currently, the COVID-19 fatality rate in the district is 2.41 per cent, he said.
So far, 2,47,232patients have recuperated from the infection, taking the recovery rate to 96.37 per cent.
There are 3,123 active COVID-19 cases in the district at present, the official said.
Drilling operation started by rescue teams at 2:00 AM today to peep into tunnel 12 to 13 meters below: ITBP.
Update| BJP MP Sampatiya Uikey has given zero hour notice in Rajya Sabha demanding, "inclusion of 'Gondi' language in Eighth Schedule."
Update| BJP MP Bhagwat Karad has given Zero hour Notice in Rajya Sabha expressing, "concern over investigation ordered by Maharashtra Govt against Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar."
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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.
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.
68.26 Lakh Frontline Workers Vaccinated So Far
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.
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.
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.
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.
