This Article is From Jan 19, 2021

Latest NEWS Highlights: 3.8 Lakh Vaccinated So Far, 580 Adverse Reactions, Says Centre

Latest News Highlights: Two persons have died also but neither deaths are related to vaccines, the government said.

Latest NEWS Highlights: 3.8 Lakh Vaccinated So Far, 580 Adverse Reactions, Says Centre

Latest News Highlights: 1,48,266 were administered the vaccine on Day 3. (File)

New Delhi:

A total of 3.8 lakh people have been vaccinated since the rollout of the coronavirus vaccines three days ago, the government said today. Among them, 580 cases of adverse reactions have been observed and seven persons have been hospitalized. Two persons have died also but neither deaths are related to vaccines, the government said.

A death was reported from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh last evening. Mahipal Singh, 46, a ward boy at a government hospital, had received the vaccine shot 24 hours before. The district's Chief Medical Officer has said the death is unrelated to vaccination.

Meanwhile, the cast and crew of Amazon Prime Videos' "Tandav", against whom police complaints have been filed alleging that some scene of the web series had "insulted Hindu gods and goddesses", issued an apology Monday evening.

"The cast and crew did not have any intention to offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead. The cast and crew of "Tandav" take cognizance of the concerns expressed by the people and unconditionally apologize if it has unintentionally hurt anybody's sentiments," a statement issued by them said.

Earlier today a key aide of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued an open warning to its makers and actors, after a complaint has been filed at Lucknow's Hazratganj police station.

Here are the Highlights:

Jan 19, 2021 05:35 (IST)
US COVID-19 cases surpass 24 million mark: Report

As the US continues to remain the worst affected country due to COVID-19, the cumulative count of the cases has crossed 24 million as of Monday.

According to Johns Hopkins University, as many as 24,045,025 people have been tested for the virus so far. The death toll in the country stands at 398,653.

CNN quoted Johns Hopkins University as saying that while it took the United States 304 days to reach 12 million COVID-19 cases, it only took the nation 59 days to reach the second 12 million cases.

Meanwhile, Virginia has reported its highest two days of new cases of coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic.
Jan 19, 2021 05:18 (IST)
India to gift 2 mln doses of COVID-19 vaccine ''Covishield'' to Bangladesh

Bangladesh will receive 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine ''Covishield'' as a gift from India on January 20.

Citing the letter by the Indian High Commission written to the Bangladesh Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka Tribune reported that a special flight from India carrying the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, locally manufactured by Serum Institute of India, would land at Shahjalal International Airport on January 20.

The Health Services Division under the Ministry has issued a letter to the drug regulator the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) to take appropriate steps to administer the vaccine.

The vaccines will be received and stored at DGHS' facilities, such as the Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI), Dhaka Tribune further said.
Jan 19, 2021 04:47 (IST)
Supreme Court Bar Association urges Law Minister to extend the COVID-19 vaccination program to judges, lawyers, judicial staff

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Monday wrote a letter to Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and asked him to extend the COVID-19 vaccination drive to judges, lawyers, and judicial staff.

The SCBA also requested Prasad to include the judges, lawyers and judicial staff and members of the legal fraternity in the category of frontline workers.

At present, the vaccination programme against COVID-19 is confined to the frontline workers and will extend to others in a phased manner.

A total of 3,81,305 people have been vaccinated in the last three days through 7,704 sessions, according to Union Health Ministry's data.
Jan 19, 2021 03:59 (IST)
Farmers not against any party but centre's policy: Rakesh Tikait

The farmers' fight is not with any political party but with the policy of the government, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief Rakesh Tikait said on Monday, warning the ongoing protest over the farm laws could prolong further. 

Mr Tikait, who has participated in the multiple rounds of dialogues between farmers unions and the government representatives in Delhi over the past 54 days, was in Noida where he addressed protestors belonging to the BKU's faction Lok Shakti.  

"Our fight is not with any party but the government. Here (in the protest) also we have people who support the BJP and will vote for them in the next election. But any party or ideology is not our concern. We are against the policy of the government," he said, addressing hundreds, including women and youth, at the Dalit Prerna Sthal.
Jan 19, 2021 03:02 (IST)
Coronavirus: 4 Kerala MLAs Test Positive For Covid After Attending Assembly Session
Four MLAs in Kerala have tested positive for COVID-19 after participating in the ongoing session of the Assembly. Read Here
Jan 19, 2021 02:16 (IST)
New York COVID-19 test positivity rate down to 8.29 per cent

New York City's COVID-19 test positivity rate on a seven-day average went down to 8.29 percent, compared with 8.6 percent two days earlier, Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted on Monday. He did not announce such a rate on Sunday.

Meanwhile, de Blasio said that there were 281 new hospital admissions and 4,519 new cases of the coronavirus, adding that, "We are not out of the woods yet. Keep wearing your masks. Keep social distancing. We will win this fight."

Beginning this week, seniors age 65 or older who are unable to make their own arrangements and need transportation to and from a COVID-19 vaccination appointment can sign up for transportation through the city.

"We are moving heaven and earth to get our senior neighbors vaccinated," said the mayor on Sunday. "Now, seniors who need a ride to an appointment will get one, ensuring our vaccines go to those who need them most."
Jan 19, 2021 01:35 (IST)
Karnataka reports 435 new COVID-19 cases

Karnataka reported 435 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 9,32,432, according to the state health department.

In addition, 9 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the deaths of the state to 12,175.

Karnataka also reported 973 recoveries today, said the state health department.

The total number of recoveries till today in Karnataka remains at 9,12,205 whereas the active number of cases stands at 8,033.
Jan 19, 2021 01:10 (IST)
Disneyland Paris postpones re-opening to April

Disneyland Paris, Europe's biggest tourist attraction, said Monday it now expects to reopen on April 2, seven weeks later than planned, because of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

Disneyland Paris said on Twitter it could not honour the original February 13 target date for reopening the theme park, and that even the April date could only be met if health conditions permitted.

The park, which employs 17,000 people, closed between March 13 and July 15 last year, and has been shut again since October 30.

According to a union source, its management expects a return to pre-pandemic levels of activity only in 2022.

The Disney group has announced 32,000 job cuts at its theme park activities worldwide by the end of the first quarter, mostly in the United States, because of the impact of the coronavirus.

Jan 19, 2021 00:49 (IST)
Over 4 million Britons receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

More than 4 million people in the United Kingdom have received the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, Public Health England said on Monday.

"A total of 4,062,501 people have now received the first dose of a vaccine," the health agency wrote on Twitter.

The UK is planning to vaccinate 14 million people from the first four priority groups by mid-February. The government aims to vaccinate all UK adults wishing to get inoculated by the fall. At certain sites, vaccines will be administered around the clock starting in late January.

The country has so far authorized three COVID-19 vaccines -- ones by Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca/Oxford and Moderna. 
Jan 19, 2021 00:27 (IST)
Lakshadweep reports 1st COVID-19 positive case
The first COVID-19 case was reported in the Lakshadweep Islands on Monday, nearly an year
after the outbreak of the pandemic in the country. 

The man, belonging to the India Reserve Batallion, had left for Kavaratti by ship from Kochi on January 3 and tested positive on Monday, official sources said. He is not a resident of the islands, they said.  

The case was reported two weeks after the Lakshadweep administration revised Standard Operating Procedures by doing away with mandatory quarantine guidelines for those arriving  from Kochi. 

The islands had so far not reported a single positive COVID-19 case.
Jan 18, 2021 23:38 (IST)
No Children Below 15 Allowed At Republic Day Parade Amid Pandemic
This year's Republic Day parade is going to be a bit different from the past due to the pandemic. The route will be shorter and contingents would be smaller. "The spectator strength has also been brought down from 1,15,000 to 25,000 and children below 15 years old will not be allowed entry. The number of cultural programmes has also been cut down," a senior officer who has direct knowledge of the matter told NDTV.

According to the officer, the parade will not culminate at the Red Fort. "It will start from Vijay Chowk and end at the National Stadium," he said, adding the distance of the parade has been cut down to half - from an earlier 8.2 km to 3.3 km.

Jan 18, 2021 23:04 (IST)
Farmers' Protest | Such Arm-Twisting Tactics Won't Weaken Farmers' Resolve: Amarinder Singh On NIA Notices To Union Leaders
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday hit out at the central government over the National Investigation Agency (NIA) issuing notices to some farmer union leaders and those supporting the ongoing agitation against three new farm laws.

"Do these farmers look like secessionists and terrorists? Such arm-twisting tactics will not weaken the resolve of the farmers to fight for their rights and their future," the chief minister said, referring to the NIA summons reportedly issued in connection with a case related to the banned Sikhs For Justice outfit.

The Punjab unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) too condemned the issue of notices and said it was "shameful".

The chief minister slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre for adopting such "reprehensible and oppressive tactics in their desperation to undermine the peacefully protesting farmers'' fighting spirit".

"But these measures will not succeed in destroying the resolve of the farmers, rather the Centre will only end up provoking them into stronger reaction," he said in a statement in Chandigarh.

"It is obvious that the BJP-led NDA government neither cared for the farmers and their concerns, nor understood their psyche," Mr Singh added.
Jan 18, 2021 22:33 (IST)
Farmers' Protest: Top Court-Appointed Panel On Farm Laws To Hold First Meeting On Tuesday
The Supreme Court-appointed committee on the three new farm laws is scheduled to hold its first meeting with members on Tuesday at Pusa campus here, its member Anil Ghanwat said.

"We are going to meet tomorrow. Only members will meet to discuss the terms of reference and decide the future course of action," Ghanwat, president of Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra), told PTI before boarding a flight to Delhi.

The Supreme Court had on January 11 stayed the implementation of the three laws, against which farmers are protesting at Delhi borders for over 50 days now, till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.

Bhartiya Kisan Union President Bhupinder Singh Mann, however, recused himself from the committee last week.
Jan 18, 2021 22:13 (IST)
Coronavirus Latest Updates | No "Serious Or Severe" Adverse Effect Post Covid Immunisation Report So Far: Centre
There has been "no case of serious or severe" adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) till date, the health ministry said on the third day of the COVID-19 vaccination drive on Monday.

Two men -- one each in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka -- have died after they received COVID-19 jabs.

In a press conference, additional secretary in the health ministry Manohar Agnani said the man from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh died due to cardiopulmonary disease. The death "is not related to vaccination as per the post-mortem report", he said.

The health worker who was vaccinated on January 16 and died the next evening.

Mr Agnani further said that the cause of death of another man from Bellary in Karnataka is anterior wall infarction with cardiopulmonary failure.

The post-mortem of the man, who was vaccinated on January 16 and died on Monday, is scheduled to be conducted at Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences in Bellary.
Jan 18, 2021 21:48 (IST)
China, WHO Could Have Acted More Quickly, Says Pandemic Probe Panel
The World Health Organization and Beijing could have acted faster when Covid-19 first surfaced in China, a group investigating the global response has concluded.

In its second report, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response said that an evaluation of the "chronology of the early phase of the outbreak suggests that there was potential for early signs to have been acted on more rapidly".

Covid-19 was first detected in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019, before seeping beyond China's borders to wreak global havoc, costing more than two million lives and eviscerating economies.
Jan 18, 2021 21:22 (IST)
16-Year-Old Girl Hung After Alleged Gang-Rape In UP, 3 Arrested
A 16-year-old Dalit girl in Uttar Pradesh's Mahoba, 230 kilometres from Lucknow, was allegedly gang raped and murdered by three men who had been harassing her, police said today. The victim, a Class 12 student, had gone to buy groceries on Saturday last week but didn't return; her body was found hanging from a tree the next day. The accused have been arrested.

The victim's family has alleged that she was being harassed by a youth in their locality, and the body was hanged from the tree after gang rape and murder.
Jan 18, 2021 20:52 (IST)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates | 580 Adverse Reactions, Two Deaths Not Linked to Vaccine: Centre On Day 3
A total of 3.8 lakh people have been vaccinated since the rollout of the coronavirus vaccines three days ago, the government said today. Among them, 580 cases of adverse reactions have been observed and seven persons have been hospitalized. Two persons have died also but neither deaths are related to vaccines, the government said.

A death was reported from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh last evening. Mahipal Singh, 46, a ward boy at a government hospital, had received the vaccine shot 24 hours before. The district's Chief Medical Officer has said the death is unrelated to vaccination.
Jan 18, 2021 20:05 (IST)
1,48,266 beneficiaries were vaccinated for COVID-19 across 25 states and Union Territories on Monday: Health Ministry
Jan 18, 2021 19:26 (IST)
West Bengal Elections 2021: "Will Quit Politics If I Don't Win By 50,000 Votes", Says Suvendu Adhikari
Suvendu Adhikari, the veteran Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader who recently switched over to the BJP, has accepted the challenge thrown by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to contest from his Nandigram assembly seat, asserting that he will defeat her in the election or quit politics.

The TMC turncoat, however, said the final decision to field candidates will be taken by the BJP leadership after thorough discussion and not in an arbitrary way like it happens in the ruling TMC.

Ms Banerjee sprang a surprise earlier in the day when she declared she will contest the assembly election from Nandigram, the seat held by political heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari.

"If I am fielded by my party from Nandigram, I will defeat her by a margin of at least 50,000 votes or I will quit politics," he asserted.
Jan 18, 2021 19:08 (IST)
'Tandav' Makers Offer "Unconditional Apology" After Complaint In UP
The cast and crew of Amazon Prime Videos' "Tandav", against whom police complaints have been filed alleging that some scene of the web series had "insulted Hindu gods and goddesses", issued an apology Monday evening.

"The cast and crew did not have any intention to offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead. The cast and crew of "Tandav" take cognizance of the concerns expressed by the people and unconditionally apologize if it has unintentionally hurt anybody's sentiments," a statement issued by them said.
Jan 18, 2021 18:39 (IST)
Coronavirus World Updates: World On Brink Of "Catastrophic Moral Failure" On Vaccines, Says WHO Chief
The world is on the "brink of a catastrophic moral failure" if rich countries hog Covid-19 vaccine doses while the poorest suffer, the head of the WHO said Monday.

World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus denounced the "me-first" attitude of wealthy nations and also blasted vaccine manufacturers for chasing regulatory approval in rich countries rather than submitting their data to the WHO to green-light vaccine use globally.

He said the promise of worldwide equitable access to vaccines against the coronavirus pandemic was now at serious risk, in a speech in Geneva opening a WHO executive board meeting.

Tedros said 39 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine had been administered so far in at least 49 higher income countries.
Jan 18, 2021 18:16 (IST)
Violence At BJP Roadshow In Kolkata Amid "Go Back" Chants
Stones were hurled at a BJP roadshow in Kolkata today hours after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's rally at Nandigram. Bottles were heard from rooftops and reports said some people carrying Trinamool Congress flags also were heard shouting "go back" slogans.

A huge police force has been deployed near south Kolkata's Mudiali area -- located near the home of the Chief Minister -- to maintain calm.

The BJP, confident after its performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls where it won 18 of the state's 42 seats, was holding a ''Paribartan Yatras'' today.

The state's ruling Trinamool Congress has been toe to toe with the BJP and political tension has been rising in the city as the state elections inch closer. Elections to the 294-member assembly are due in April-May.
Jan 18, 2021 17:51 (IST)
Latest News LIVE: Rafale Air Show In Republic Day Parade For The First Time This Year
The newly inducted Rafale fighter aircraft will feature in India's Republic Day parade on January 26 and culminate the flypast by carrying out the ''Vertical Charlie'' formation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said on Monday.

In the ''Vertical Charlie'' formation, the aircraft flies at low altitude, pulls up vertically and conducts rolls before stabilising at higher altitude.

"The flypast will culminate with a single Rafale aircraft carrying out a ''Vertical Charlie'' formation," said Wing Commander Indranil Nandi.
Jan 18, 2021 17:20 (IST)
Bird Flu Outbreak: 2 Cases Of Avian Influenza Confirmed In Two More Districts Of Chhattisgarh
Bird flu has been confirmed as the cause of death of three birds in Bastar and Dantewada districts of Chhattisgarh, an official said on Monday.

With this, cases of avian influenza has so far been confirmed in three districts - Bastar, Dantewada and Balod, the official from the state's veterinary services department told PTI.

Samples of a crow and a pigeon that were found dead at separate places in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar district, and of a dead crow in Bacheli town of Dantewada were sent for testing to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) Bhopal on January 14, he said.

"Reports of all the three samples came out positive for H5N8 avian influenza virus on Sunday," the official said.

However, the infection has so far not been reported in poultry birds in the two districts, he said.

In the wake of these cases, all districts in the state have been put on alert and directed to follow protocols laid down by the central government, he said.

Jan 18, 2021 17:01 (IST)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: UK Expands Covid Vaccination Campaign To Cover People Over Age Of 70
Britain on Monday extended its coronavirus vaccination campaign to people over the age of 70, and new tougher restrictions for all arrivals to the country came into force.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News jabs were being offered in areas where most over-80s had received their first of two doses of the jab.

The medical director for the state-run National Health Service (NHS) in England, Stephen Powis, explained the vaccination programme had been expanded to an additional five million people.

"We are now able to expand the vaccination programme beyond those top two priority groups -- that's the care home residents, care home staff, the hospital staff and the over-80s -- down to the over-70s," he said.

Britain has been rocked by the discovery of a new, more transmissible variant of coronavirus, causing a surge in positive cases and deaths.
Jan 18, 2021 16:25 (IST)
Some Reporting Against Mumbai Cops "Contemptuous": Court On Sushant Case
Part of the coverage by Republic TV and Times Now in the Sushant Singh Rajput case was "prima facie contemptuous" of the Mumbai Police, the Bombay High Court said today while hearing a plea in the matter. The court said it would not take "any action as of now" but made it clear that media trial during investigation in a case "does impact the investigation".

The court was hearing a bunch of petitions in the matter -- one of them filed by eight former Indian Police Service officers that objected to the negative portrayal of the Mumbai police by a section of the media during their investigation into the death of the actor in June last year. The case was eventually handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Another petition had pointed out that a section of the media was running a trial in the case and asked to court to restrain them.
Jan 18, 2021 16:03 (IST)
Coronavirus Latest Updates: No Beating Retreat Ceremony At Attari Border On Republic Day Due To Covid
This year, there will be no joint or coordinated parade at the Attari border on Republic Day. Earlier, Pakistan and India used to do a joint parade, which spectators used to watch from both the side.
This year, no public will be allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions at the Attari border.

"No joint or coordinated parade this year at Attari border on Republic Day. No public will be allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions. India will conduct flag-lowering as per daily schedule," a Border Security Force (BSF) senior official said.

Since March 7 public was not allowed at the Attari border due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Jan 18, 2021 15:23 (IST)
Mamata Banerjee Announces She Will Fight Bengal Polls From Nandigram

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee kicked off the Trinamool Congress's campaign for the assembly elections on Monday, announcing that she will contest the polls from Nandigram -- a political gambit aimed at the BJP's Suvendu Adhikari who won the seat in 2016 as a TMC candidate, while also retroceding to the land movement that catapulted her to power.

Addressing a rally, Ms Banerjee said she is not worried about those jumping to other parties as when TMC was formed none of them were there, in a reference to the party leaders, including Mr Adhikari, who have joined the BJP.

Ms Banerjee said these leaders left the party to protect the money "they have looted" in the last few years.

"I have always started my campaign for the assembly polls from Nandigram. It is a lucky place for me. So this time, I feel that I should contest the assembly polls from here. I would request our state party president Subrata Bakshi to approve my name from this seat," Ms Banerjee said.

Jan 18, 2021 14:42 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Total COVID-19 recoveries nearly 50 times active cases in country: Health Ministry

India's total COVID-19 recoveries have surpassed the active caseload by more than one crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday, terming it as a landmark achievement.

The total number of recoveries has touched 1,02,11,342, while the active cases in the country stand at 2,08,012 today. 

"The gap between the two has progressively grown to touch 1,00,03,330. The total recovered cases are nearly 50 times the active cases in the country," the ministry underlined.

With this, India's COVID-19 recovery rate has touched 96.59 per cent. A total of 14,457 recoveries have been registered in a span of 24 hours in the country while the number of new confirmed cases during the same period is 13,788.

"As India's daily positive cases see a continuous slide, the daily fatalities due to COVID-19 in the country have also seen a steady decline. The country has recorded less than 150 fatalities (145) in the last 24 hours after approximately 8 months (7months 23 days)," the ministry underlined.
Jan 18, 2021 14:38 (IST)
Exclusive: China Has Built Village In Arunachal, Show Satellite Images
China has constructed a new village in Arunachal Pradesh, consisting of about 101 homes, show satellite images accessed exclusively by NDTV. The same images, dated November 1, 2021, have been analysed by several experts approached by NDTV, who confirmed that the construction, approximately 4.5 kms within Indian territory of the de facto border, will be of huge concern to India. Read more

Exclusive: China Has Built Village In Arunachal, Show Satellite Images
Jan 18, 2021 13:54 (IST)
JustIn| Mamata Banerjee says she will contest from Nandigram in Bengal polls, due in months
Jan 18, 2021 13:18 (IST)
Republic Day 2021: Indian Embassy in China restricts R-Day flag hoisting ceremony to staff due to COVID-19 measures

The Indian Embassy in China on Monday announced that the flag hoisting ceremony for this year's Republic Day on January 26 will be confined to its staff only, citing the resurgence of coronavirus cases in provinces adjoining Beijing and related restrictions.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic-related current scenario in Beijing and its adjoining provinces, Hebei and Heilongjiang and related measures, including restriction of movements, observation of prevention and control measures and prohibition of large gatherings, the flag hoisting ceremony will be held with participation of officials of embassy only, a note from the embassy said.

Every year, a large number of Indian diaspora in Beijing and nearby provinces attend the flag hoisting ceremony on the Republic Day and Independence Day at the embassy.

According to the official media, 11 Chinese regions are under de facto lockdown amid the relapse of the coronavirus infections.

A team of international experts from the World Health Organisation has arrived in Wuhan, where the deadly virus first emerged in December 2019, to conduct the long-awaited probe into the origins of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Jan 18, 2021 12:42 (IST)
Image
Jan 18, 2021 12:42 (IST)
Work underway on over 1,000 km metro network in 27 cities: PM Modi

Work is in progress on over 1,000 km long metro rail network in 27 cities in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday.

He was speaking after performing the ground breaking ceremony of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase-II and Surat Metro Rail Project via video conferencing.

"There was a time when there was no modern thinking and policy on metro in our country. The result was that there was a different (type of) metro in each city," PM Modi said.

Stating that the metro network in Ahmedabad and Surat will further strengthen the connectivity in the two major business centres of the country, PM Modi said the government is developing an integrated urban transport system.

The difference between the approach of his government and the previous governments is the (pace of) expansion of the metro rail network across the country, he said.
Jan 18, 2021 11:54 (IST)
JustIn| On farmers' planned tractor rally, Supreme Court says entry into Delhi has to be decided by police, next hearing on Wednesday
Jan 18, 2021 11:53 (IST)
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Arunachal Pradesh reports 3 new COVID-19 cases

Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 tally mounted to 16,811 on Monday as three more persons tested positive for the infection, a senior official said.

Two new cases were detected from Tawang and one from West Kameng district respectively, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.

Barring one, all the new cases are asymptomatic, he said, adding that two fresh cases were detected through rapid antigen tests while one was diagnosed through RT-PCR method.

Seven more people recuperated from the disease on Sunday, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 16,697, he said.

The COVID-19 recovery rate in the state has touched 99.32 per cent, the SSO said.
Jan 18, 2021 11:39 (IST)
JustIn| Rajinikanth's team says members free to resign and join other parties after some join DMK
Jan 18, 2021 11:38 (IST)
Jan 18, 2021 11:21 (IST)
Odisha plans more session sites for COVID-19 vaccination

Encouraged by over 85 per cent immunisation on the first day of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, Odisha government has formulated a strategy to increase the number of people getting COVID-19 jabs, a senior official said.

As per the strategy all medical colleges, both government and private from Monday, will conduct at least five sessions per day in different locations and in each session site, 200 beneficiaries to be targeted, said Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, P K Mohapatra.

"For each session site, two vaccinators and four vaccination officers shall be deployed. Sessions shall be conducted on working days," Mohapatra said.

Similarly, district headquarters hospitals and sub- divisional hospitals will conduct onetwo sessions per day based on the beneficiary load of the institution. The target will be 100 per day for each session.

Jan 18, 2021 11:04 (IST)
COVID vaccination drive gets underway in Delhi on day two

After administering shots to over 4,300 healthcare workers on the opening day, COVID-19 vaccination teams across the national capital started to give vaccines to more medical staff at various hospitals on Monday.

Officials said that the vaccination drive started at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital at 10 am.

The immunisation drive in Delhi was formally kicked off on Saturday by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from the LNJP Hospital, the state-run facility which offered yeoman service during the pandemic last year.

The exercise was carried out at 81 sites,with nearly an even split of government and private hospitals, including six central government facilities -- AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital, Kalawati Saran Children Hospital and two ESI hospitals.

The rest 75 centres, spanning all 11 districts of Delhi, include Delhi government-run facilities, such as LNJP Hospital, GTB Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, DDU Hospital, BSA Hospital, Delhi State Cancer Institute, ILBS Hospital; and private facilities, such as Max Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Apollo Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Jan 18, 2021 10:55 (IST)
UP Hospital Worker Dies Day After Jab, Official Says Unrelated To Vaccine
A 46-year-old government hospital employee in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad died on Sunday evening, 24 hours after receiving a Covid vaccine shot. The district's Chief Medical Officer has said the death is unrelated to vaccination. Read more


Jan 18, 2021 10:40 (IST)
Coronavirus News: Telangana adds 206 new coronavirus cases, 2 deaths take toll to 1,579

Telangana recorded 206 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the total positives to nearly 2.92 lakh while two fatalities pushed the toll to 1,579, the state government said on Monday.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 45, followed by Karimnagar and Rangareddy with 17 and 16 respectively, it said in a bulletin, providing details as of 8 PM on January 17.

The total number of cases stood at2,91,872 while recoveries were at 2,86,244.

As many as4,049 patients are under treatment and 21,893 samples were tested on Sunday.

Cumulatively, over 74.83 lakh samples have been tested.

Jan 18, 2021 10:33 (IST)
COVID-19: India records lowest fatalities in eight months

The daily coronavirus infections fell below 14,000 for the second time this month taking India's COVID-19 caseload to 1,05,71,773, while 145 new fatalities were recorded, the lowest in around eight months, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.

A total of 13,788 infections have been reported in a day. The country's death toll increased to 1,52,419 with 145 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The recoveries have crossed 1.02 crore.

The daily COVID-19 infections were 12,548 on January 12.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,02,11,342 pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate of 96.59 per cent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 per cent.

The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 3 lakh.

Jan 18, 2021 10:22 (IST)
Case Against Makers Of Amazon Prime's Tandav In UP, Warning Of Arrests
The police in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow have filed a case against the makers of web series Tandav and the head of media service airing it after it recently ran into controversy over scenes allegedly insulting Hindu gods.

The case invokes stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly promoting enmity on grounds of religion and defiling place of worship, and names the director, the producer and the writer of the show Tandav, and the head of India Original Content, Amazon. Read more


Jan 18, 2021 09:30 (IST)
JustIn| 13,788 fresh COVID-19 cases in India, almost 9% lower than yesterday; 1.05 crore total cases, 1,52,419 deaths 
Jan 18, 2021 09:29 (IST)
325 new COVID-19 cases in Thane; tally reaches 2,49,507

The COVID-19 tally in Thane district of Maharashtra has gone up to 2,49,507 with the detection of 325 new cases of the infection, an official said on Monday.

Apart from these new cases recorded on Sunday, one more person also succumbed to the viral infection, taking the death toll in the district to 6,053, he said.

Currently, the COVID-19 fatality rate in the district is 2.43 per cent, the official said.

So far, 2,39,411 patients have recovered from the infection, taking the recovery rate to 95.95 per cent. There are 4,043 active cases in the district at present, the official said.

Jan 18, 2021 08:58 (IST)
Jan 18, 2021 08:54 (IST)
Gujarat businessman donates Rs 11 crore for Ram temple construction in Ayodhya

A Gujarat businessman on Sunday donated Rs 11 crore for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Govind Dholakiya is a businessman from Surat who owns SRK Diamond company.

"Lord Ram and Lord Krishna are our Ishta Devata (a term used in Hinduism denoting a worshipper's favourite deity) This is the reason that we named our company Sri Ram Krishna Export that later own became SRK. So our family thought that when our Ishta Devata's temple is being built after over 500 years, we should definitely make a contribution," he told ANI.

"God does not need it, he himself is wealthy. But whatever power God has granted us, we should do something out of it. Our family thought a lot about the amount and finally decided to dedicate Rs 11 crore. The almighty has given us in abundance, therefore we decided to dedicate the amount in the honour of God," he said.

President Kovind had on Friday donated Rs 5,00,100 as a contribution towards the construction of Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya.
Jan 18, 2021 08:31 (IST)
Security forces carry out Republic Day Parade rehearsals at Rajpath.

Image
Jan 18, 2021 08:28 (IST)
China GDP Grows 2.3% In 2020, Slowest In More Than 4 Decades: Official
China's economy grew at the slowest pace in more than four decades last year despite a rebound after the country's coronavirus outbreak, official data showed Monday. Read more

China GDP Grows 2.3% In 2020, Slowest In More Than 4 Decades: Official
Jan 18, 2021 08:25 (IST)
Australia unlikely to open border in 2021: health official

Australia's international borders are unlikely to open to travellers this year despite the rollout of coronavirus vaccines, a top health official said Monday.

Health department secretary Brendan Murphy, a key adviser in Australia's virus response, said free-flowing travel to and from the country was not expected to resume in 2021.

"I think that we'll go most of this year with still substantial border restrictions," he told public broadcaster ABC.

"Even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated, we don't know whether that will prevent transmission of the virus. 

"And it's likely that quarantine will continue for some time."
Jan 18, 2021 07:35 (IST)
COVID-19 vaccines are safe, says Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan after inoculation

Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan was inoculated against COVID-19 on the second day of the vaccination drive in Trichy on Sunday.

"Both COVID-19 vaccines are safe. I am happy how healthcare workers in the state are responding to vaccination," Dr Radhakrishnan said while speaking to ANI after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine ''Covaxin''.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Dr C Vijayabaskar visited a government hospital where the health workers were administered the coronavirus vaccine.

"Today, I visited the COVID vaccination site at Government Royapettah Hospital. I saw health workers getting vaccine shots with confidence. There have been no reports of adverse effects from yesterday's vaccination drive. The Government will strictly deal with disseminating false information about vaccines," Dr Vijayabaska said in a tweet.
Jan 18, 2021 06:20 (IST)
Coronavirus news: See COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule Of All States, Union Territories
The Health Ministry on Sunday released details of COVID-19 vaccination schedule in all states. It said all big states have been asked to conduct vaccinations on any four days every week, while smaller states like Goa will hold vaccination session on any two days since their population is lesser. However, Uttar Pradesh will inoculate only two days every week.

The Health Ministry in a presentation shared with the media said states and Union Territories were asked to hold COVID-19 vaccination session four days a week to minimise disruption in routine health services. Some states have already publicised their weekly vaccination days.
Jan 18, 2021 06:19 (IST)
Over 17,000 Vaccinated On Day 2, Adverse Reactions Minor: Health Ministry
Over 17,000 people were vaccinated across 553 sites in six states on Day 2 of India's coronavirus vaccination drive, the Health Ministry said Sunday evening, adding that the number who had received at least one shot was around 2.24 lakh. The six states that conducted vaccinations today were Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur and Tamil Nadu.

On Saturday (Day 1) 1.91 lakh were vaccinated at 3,006 sites across India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide drive. The Health Ministry said the drop in the number of states was meant to avoid clashes with immunisation schedules for other illnesses.

"States/Union Territories were advised to plan COVID vaccination sessions on four days in a week to minimise disruption of Routine Health Services. Today being Sunday only six states conducted vaccination sessions," Dr Manohar Agnani, Health Ministry Joint Secretary, said.
.