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Tue, 12 January 2021
Pak court jails 3 for vandalising Nankana Sahib
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23:20 Pak court jails 3 for vandalising Nankana Sahib
Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday awarded up to two years imprisonment to three accused involved in vandalising Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in the country's Punjab province.
Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, also known as Gurdwara Janam Asthan, is a site near Lahore where the first Guru of Sikhs, Guru Nanak, was born.
In January 2020, a violent mob had attacked the Gurdwara and pelted stones in the name of religion and threatened to destroy the minorities worship place (Gurdwara Janamasthan) to build Ghulaman-e-Mustafa shrine there.
However, police had controlled the situation.
On Tuesday a Lahore's ATC handed down two years jail term to prime accused Imran Chishti and imposed a fine of 10,000 Pakistani Rupees.
Two other accused Muhammad Salman and Muhammad Ahmed were convicted for six months.
However, four other accused were acquitted for want of evidence, a court official told PTI.
All the suspects were present in the court when the sentence was announced. Strict security measures were taken to handle any protest by the religious elements in the wake of their conviction.
Imran Chishti, a government employee working in the Fisheries Department, and other suspects were arrested under terrorism and blasphemy charges following the attack on the Gurdwara last year.
They faced charges under sections 295A, 290, 291, 341,506, 148 and 149 of Pakistan Penal Code and 7-ATA (anti-terrorism act).
According to the FIR, Chishti had incited the Muslim mob in the name of religion.
He wanted to settle his family issue and created a law-and-order situation in the Nankana city.
Police said Chishti had deliberately misled the area Muslim people against the Sikhs for his family matter.
Convict Chishti is the elder brother Mohammad Hassan who married a teenage Sikh girl, Jagjit Kaur, in September, 2020 after allegedly abducting and converting her to Islam.
The Muslims and Sikhs of Nankana Sahib, some 80 km from Lahore, had a face-off over the matter.
Chishti had claimed that Hassan has been beaten up by police for lawfully and consensually marrying the daughter of the gurdwara's granthi.
Jagjit Kaur has been living in Darul Aman (government shelter house) in Lahore. Her new name is Ayesha. She reportedly has refused to convert back and return to her house.
Hassan has been pressured by police and authorities to divorce her.
India had strongly condemned the incident of vandalism at the revered Gurdwara and called upon the Pakistan government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of the Sikh community there.
Hundreds of protesters had also thronged the streets near the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi demanding that Islamabad provide adequate security to Sikh shrines and community members there.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee, the apex body which manages Sikh shrines in India, had also urged the Pakistan government to take stringent action against the culprits who attacked the gurdwara -- one of the holiest sites in Sikhism. -- PTI
22:30 No threat to Haryana govt: Dy CM Chautala
Facing heat over the ongoing six-week-long farmers' agitation, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Tuesday said there is no threat to the Bharatiya Janata Party-Jannayak Janata Party coalition government and it will complete its full five year term.
After an hour-long meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, both Khattar and Chautala said they have discussed about the prevailing law and order situation in the state.
"There is no threat to the Haryana government and it will last its full five year term," Chautala told PTI.
Khattar also said, "There is no point in speculating about the future of this government, it will complete its term."
The chief minister said Haryana is the epicentre of farmers' agitation so they discussed with the home minister about the law and order situation in the state.
"We also discussed about holding celebrations for January 26 without any trouble," he said.
Khattar said after the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the farm laws, they were hopeful that farmers will end their agitation.
"It's a national festival and everyone understands its importance and the value attached to it," he said.
Chautala said the Supreme Court has set up a committee and he hoped that things will be resolved soon.
Both Haryana leaders met Shah hours after the apex court stayed the implementation of controversial three farm laws till further orders and decided to set up a committee to resolve the impasse over them between the Centre and farmers' unions protesting at Delhi borders.
State presidents of BJP, JJP and state cabinet ministers were also present in the meeting with the home minister.
Before meeting Shah, Dushyant met MLAs of his party JJP in New Delhi at a farm house, in which a section of MLAs said it would cost the ruling alliance heavily if the laws were not repealed.
Khattar had to cancel a public meeting in Karnal on Sunday after the site was ransacked by the protesting farmers.
A section of MLAs belonging to Jannayak Janta Party, headed by Chautala, is believed to have been facing pressure from the agitating farmers. -- PTI
22:21 Rahul wishes happy birthday to sister with throwback pic
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted this throwback picture of him and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to wish happy birthday to the party general secretary.
'Happy birthday P,' wrote Rahul on Instagram along with the photograph.
Today is Priyanka's 49th birthday.
21:45 SC to hear plea against farmers' tractor rally plan
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear the Centre's application seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor or trolley march or any other kind of protest which seeks to disrupt the gathering and celebrations of the Republic Day on January 26.
The Centre, in an application filed through Delhi Police, has said that any proposed march or protest which seeks to disrupt and disturb the Republic Day celebrations will cause an embarrassment to the nation.
It said the right to protest can never include 'maligning the nation globally' and requested the top court to restrain anyone from conducting any protest march either in the form of tractor march, trolley march, vehicle march or any other mode by entering into the National Capital Region Territory of Delhi.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde issued notice on the application and said that it be served upon the farmers' unions, which are protesting against the new farm laws.
Taken on board. Issue notice returnable on January 18, said the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.
The application said it has come to the knowledge of security agencies that a small group of protesting individuals or organisations have planned to carry out a tractor march on Republic Day.
'It is submitted that the proposed march is slated to disturb and disrupt the august celebrations of nation on Republic Day and would be bound to create a massive law and order situation,' the application said.
It further said 'it is submitted that the said proposed march/protest seeks to disrupt and disturb such celebrations which is bound to create a serious law and order situation and will cause an embarrassment to the nation.'
The application came up for consideration when the top court was hearing on a batch of pleas including those challenging the validity of these farm laws, those supporting these legislations and those raising the issue of farmers protesting at Delhi borders.
The apex court stayed the implementation of the contentious new farm laws till further orders and constituted a four-member committee to make recommendations to resolve the impasse over them between the Centre and farmers' unions protesting at Delhi borders. -- PTI
21:10 BRO clears Ladakh snow to allow troop movement
The Border Roads Organisation has launched a special snow-clearing operation to keep strategic roads and passes open for troop movement amid the tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), officials said, as the force's personnel brave freezing temperatures and intimidating altitudes to keep communication lines opened.
BRO officials said the organisation has launched project 'Himank' to undertake the arduous and daunting task of keeping the strategically important roads along the LAC open even though that meant maneuvering some of the highest mountain passes in the world and working in temperatures going down to minus 35 degrees Celsius.
"Winter snow clearance task this year has been particularly more challenging considering the altitude, extreme weather and the heavy deployment of the troops along the LAC," a senior BRO official said.
Officials said that BRO personnel deployed at altitudes ranging from 16,500-18,000 feet are relentlessly executing the winter snow-clearance.
They said the strategically important road axes and prominent mountain passes where the snow-clearance operations are carried out include Chang la, Warila, Marshimikla , Kajukondla, Kassangla, Umlingla, besides the Durbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beig Oldie Road.
During the winters, the only existing road axis connecting DBO in Sub Sector North, Hot Spring and Chushul in Eastern Ladakh, and gateway to Changthang Sector of Ladakh (via Changhla and Warila passes) gets blocked due to heavy accumulation of snow.
Officials said that to provide sustenance to troops deployed in these areas amid the tension with China, road construction companies are working tirelessly to keep the roads open and ensure connectivity all through the winter.
"To keep the roads open, meticulous planning and resources mobilisation were undertaken and adequate advance winter stocking including that of equipment spares and winter diesel was done," one of them said. -- PTI
20:44 Farmers should end protest now: Khattar
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said the farmers protesting at Delhi's borders should end their agitation now following the formation of a committee by the Supreme Court over the new farm laws.
The ball is now in the court of the SC and I feel whatever is its decision, it will be acceptable to all, he said, welcoming the SC order.
The Supreme Court stayed till further orders the implementation the three central agri-marketing laws over which farmers from Punjab and Haryana have been protesting for weeks.
The court also announced the formation of a four-member committee to resolve the deadlock over the new laws between the Centre and farmers' unions.
On the farmer unions' refusal to call off their protest after the SC order, Khattar said there was no reason now for them to continue with it.
He said the farmers should lift their dharna' at Delhi's border and head back to the places they had come from.
Khattar has been targeted by farmer unions for supporting the new laws enacted at the Centre in September.
On Sunday, protesters in Karnal vandalised the venue of the kisan mahapanchayat the chief minister had planned to address in support of the laws.
Also, a section of the MLAs from the Jannayak Janta Party, which is the BJP's partner in Haryana's ruling coalition, have opposed the central laws. The four members of the SC-appointed committee are Bhartiya Kisan Union's Bhupinder Singh Mann, Shetkeri Sangthana's Anil Ghanwat, International Food Policy Research Institute's Pramod Kumar Joshi and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati.
Farmers protesting outside Delhi are demanding the repeal of the laws and a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for their crops. -- PTI
20:15 Bharat Biotech to supply Covaxin to Brazil
Bharat Biotech has signed an agreement with Precisa Medicamentos to supply its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin to Brazil.
A team from Precisa Medicamentos visited the Bharat Biotech facility last week to discuss potential export possibilities of the vaccine, the indigenous antidote for the killer virus, the company said in a release.
The Brazilian Ambassador to India Andr Aranha Corra do Lago expressed keen interest on behalf of his government towards procuring the vaccine and in principle, it was understood between both parties that supplies of Covaxin to be prioritised for the public market through a direct procurement by the Brazilian government, it said.
Supplies to the private market would be based upon receipt of market authorization from ANVISA, the Brazilian regulatory authority.
"Covaxin is an innovation and a perfect example of novel product development from India. Our goal for all vaccines developed at Bharat Biotech is to provide global access to populations that need it the most. Covaxin has generated excellent safety data with robust immune responses to multiple viral proteins that persist. We are happy to note that vaccines innovated in India are able to address the public health needs of Brazil," Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, said.
After the technical visit to Bharat Biotech's Genome Valley facility in Hyderabad, the pharmaceutical director of Precisa Medicamentos, Emanuela Medrades, said "We identified highly technological, scientific and sanitary control levels. There were also excellent outcomes in clinical trials, which will be published soon.
"Bharat Biotech has exceeded our expectations, demonstrating quality and safety at the level of the largest vaccine suppliers in the world."
The Phase III human clinical trials of Covaxin began mid-November and are currently ongoing in about 26,000 volunteers across India.
Covaxin, India's indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech, has been developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research andthe National Institute of Virology.
The inactivated vaccine has been developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech's BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) bio-containment facility, one of its kind in the world.
The vaccine is presented in multi dose vials and can be stored at 2-8C. -- PTI
20:07 Saina, Prannoy cleared to play Thailand Open
Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) on Tuesday confirmed that Saina Nehwal and H S Prannoy, who earlier tested positive for coronavirus, have been cleared to take part in the ongoing Thailand Open.
'Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) can confirm three of the four players who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier today at the Asian Leg of the BWF World Tour have been cleared to take their place in the YONEX Thailand Open. They are confirmed as Saina Nehwal (India), HS Prannoy (India), and Jones Ralfy Jansen (Germany),' BWF said in a statement.
Nehwal and Parupalli's singles matches -- declared a walkover earlier on Tuesday -- will be rescheduled for Wednesday.
BWF said the fourth player, Adham Hatem Elgamal from Egypt, has been withdrawn.
Nehwal and Prannoy were earlier taken to hospital while Jansen and Elgamal self-quarantined in the hotel.
Nehwal's husband Kashyap Parupalli was also asked to self-quarantine due to the married couple sharing a room.
'Upon retesting the four players' samples earlier today, Prannoy, Jansen and Elgamal returned negative, while Nehwal was found to be positive again. The four players then underwent a second PCR test and an antibody blood test for further confirmation. This evening, BWF received the results and reasoned decisions from the Diagnosis and Investigation Committee of the Thailand Ministry of Public Health -- a working group of six doctors that has been formed just for this tournament,' the statement read.
BWF said Nehwal, Prannoy and Jansen tested positive on the PCR test but their antibody IgG was positive.
A positive antibody test means a person has been infected with the COVID-19 virus at some point in the past. It does not mean they are currently infected.
The trio all contracted COVID-19 in late 2020.
'The committee was satisfied that they are not infected and do not pose a danger to the tournament,' BWF said.
However, Elgamal tested positive on the PCR test but his antibody IgG was negative, indicating that he has no antibodies for the virus.
Elgamal had not contracted COVID-19 before.
BWF said the committee advised for the player to be withdrawn.
'Elgamal, a mixed doubles player, will now be taken to hospital for further observation and tests and will remain in isolation for a minimum 10 days at the hospital. His mixed doubles match with partner Doha Hany scheduled for this evening has been postponed,' BWF said.
BWF also said: 'Subsequently, the Egyptian team are considered high risk. Hany is categorised as direct contact and therefore has to self-quarantine and be tested daily until further notice. Women's singles player Hadia Hosny is a close contact and can play subject to a negative test.' -- ANI
20:03 The moment when first consignment of Covishield was shipped
Serum Institute of India Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla has tweeted this picture with the following caption:
'An emotional moment for the team at @SerumInstIndia as the first shipments of #Covishield finally leave for multiple locations across India.'
19:33 TN govt bars entry to public places, Mamallapuram during Pongal hols
As part of checking the spread of Covid-19, public entry is barred to beaches, the tourist hub of Mamallapuram and the zoologcial parks in Chennai during the Pongal festival holidays from January 15 to 17, the Tamil Nadu government said on Tuesday.
Beaches including the Marina, noted tourist spots like the monument sites in the coastal town of Mamallapuram near Chennai, the Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur and Guindy Children's Park Zoo shall be out of bounds for the people, an official release here said.
The move is aimed at avoiding the spread of coronavirus by preventing gathering of people in large numbers in such locations during the holidays, it said.
While the government had already declared that visit to beaches is not allowed on the day of 'Kaanum Pongal on January 16, authorities have now extended the curb for January 15 and 17 as well.
All such places usually see a huge turnout of people during the annual Pongal holidays.
Pongal is celebrated on January 14 and the subsequent two days are 'Maattu' Pongal, a day dedicated for thanksgiving to cattle, and 'Kaanum' Pongal earmarked for sightseeing and revelry.
All the three days are public holidays and January 17 falls on Sunday.
-- PTI
19:09 Haryana CM, Dy CM meet Home Minister Amit Shah
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his deputy Dushyant Chautala on Tuesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in the backdrop of the ongoing protests by farmers against the new agri laws, officials said.
The meeting came on a day the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the three farm laws till further orders and set up a committee to end the impasse between the Centre and farmer unions protesting at Delhi borders.
The Haryana Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister met the Union Home Minister, a home ministry official said.
Khattar had to cancel a public meeting in Karnal on Sunday following violent protests by farmers.
A section of MLAs belonging to the Jannayak Janta Party, headed by Chautala, is believed to be facing pressure from the agitating farmers.
-- PTI
18:49 Kolkata Literary Meet put off due to COVID
The 2021 edition of the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet has been put off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The literary meet management on Tuesday said that keeping in view the health and safety of all concerned during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 edition of the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet, that is held every year in Kolkata in association with Victoria Memorial Hall, has been put off for now.
However, as a gesture to mark the year and the iconic festival, a set of five webinars across the three evenings of January 29-31, 2021 will be organised, they said.
This literary meet had hosted eminent writers such as Ruskin Bond, Vikram Seth, Paul Beatty, Alessandro Baricco, Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Thomas Keneally, Amitava Ghosh, Gloria Steinem, Jhumpa Lahiri, Dr Venky Ramakrishnan, Joanne Harris, Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee and Javed Akhtar, among several others in their past editions.
The lead sponsor Tata Steel had also expressed disappointment.
-- PTI
18:19 Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal tests positive for COVID-19
Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said on Tuesday that she has tested positive for coronavirus after being locked down in a secured room at the US Capitol where several Republican lawmakers recklessly refused to wear masks in the moments after the January 6 attack.
"I just received a positive COVID-19 test result after being locked down in a secured room at the Capitol where several Republicans not only cruelly refused to wear a mask but recklessly mocked colleagues and staff who offered them one," 55-year-old Jayapal tweeted.
In a statement, Jayapal said she began quarantining immediately after the attack on the Capitol, fearing and foreseeing exactly what would occur given the number of maskless lawmakers sitting in the same room with her.
The duration in the room was multiple hours, she said.
"Too many Republicans have refused to take this pandemic and virus seriously, and in doing so, they endanger everyone around them," she said.
"Only hours after President (Donald) Trump incited a deadly assault on our Capitol, our country, and our democracy, many Republicans still refused to take the bare minimum COVID-19 precaution and simply wear a damn mask in a crowded room during a pandemic, creating a superspreader event on top of a domestic terrorist attack," she added.
"While I am isolating per the Capitol Physician's instructions, I will continue to work to the best of my ability because the deep urgency of our many crises is paramount," she said.
Dr Brian Monahan, the Attending Physician of the US Congress, advised representatives and Congressional staff on Sunday that those in the secured room could have, "been exposed to another occupant with coronavirus infection."
-- PTI
18:02 Won't appear before SC panel: Farmer leader
"We issued a press note last night stating that we won't accept any committee formed by Supreme Court for mediation. We were confident that Centre will get a committee formed through Supreme Court to take the burden off their shoulders," says Krantikari Kisan Union chief Darshan Pal.
The top court earlier today put on hold the three laws at the centre of the massive farmers' protests near Delhi.
It also said a committee would be formed to take over negotiations to end the crisis.
Representational image
17:38 Home Guard jawan goes on shooting spree, killed
A 52-year-old Home Guard personnel was shot dead in a police encounter after he indiscriminately fired many rounds in a fit of "mental distress", leading to an initial impression that it was a naxal attack, a senior official said on Tuesday. Manavendra Singh Dhillon, Superintendent of Police, Munger, said the incident took place at an outpost in Bariarpur police station area, where sounds of gunshots were heard past midnight on Monday.
"We were told by the police station concerned that a suspected naxal attack has taken place and gunshots were being fired in the thick of the dark. We rushed, with a heavy contingent, to the site of incident which is surrounded by dense forests and vulnerable to Maoists' strikes," he said.
"Retaliatory fire began from our side. In course of time, we learnt that it was Home Guard jawan Mohd Zahid who was firing the shots. Those who knew him well said he had been in mental distress for some time," the SP added.
17:31 Delhi riots: Court grants bail to 2 people
A Delhi court Tuesday granted bail to two persons in a case related to the north-east Delhi riots while casting doubts on the credibility of the two police witnesses in the matter.
Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav granted the relief to Mohd Shoaib and Shahrukh on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 20,000 with surety of like amount in the case of alleged vandalism and torching of a shop by a riotous mob in Gokalpuri area.
The court noted that the prosecution was opposing both the bail pleas on the strength of their categorical identification by beat officers -- Constable Vipin and Head Constable Hari Babu -- in their statements recorded under section 161 (examination by police) of the Code of Criminal Procedure on April 7, 2020.
Their identification was hardly of any consequence, it said, adding that even though they were posted as beat officers in the area at the relevant time of the incident, they waited till April to name the accused when they had categorically seen and identified them allegedly indulging in riots on February 25, 2020. Being police officials, what stopped them from reporting the matter then and there in the police station or to bring the same in the knowledge of higher police officers.
This cast a serious doubt on the credibility of two police witnesses, the court said in its order. It further said that the CCTV footage relied upon by the police in the case pertained to February 24, 2020, whereas the incident took place the next day. No CCTV/video footage of February 25, 2020, (on which date the incident in question took place) has been placed on record by the investigating agency.
"The applicants (Shoaib and Shahrukh) were not arrested from the spot, instead their arrest has been formally affected in the case on April 15, 2020 (i.e after lapse of about 55 days of the date of incident) in Mandoli Jail..., it added.
17:28 Adar Poonawala shares historic day pic with team
Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawala shares this image with his staff, writing, "An emotional moment for the team at @SerumInstIndia as the first shipments of #Covishield finally leave for multiple locations across India."
17:13 Sharad Pawar welcomes SC stay on farm laws
NCP president Sharad Pawar welcomed the Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday to stay the implementation of three farm laws and set up of a four-member panel to resolve the impasse between the government and farmer unions over the legislations. Farmers have been protesting at various border points of Delhi for more than a month now, demanding a repeal of the three laws.
"A welcome decision taken by the Apex Court of India to put on hold the implementation of three farm bills and set up a four member committee to resolve the issues. #SupremeCourt #FarmLaws," Pawar said in a tweet.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the implementation of the three laws -- the Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act -- against which several petitions have been filed challenging their constitutional validity.
The four members of the committee set up by the apex court are BKU president Bhupinder Singh Mann, Shetkeri Sangathana, Maharashtra president Anil Ghanwat, Pramod Kumar Joshi, director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute, and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati.
16:58 BCCI intervenes after Team India denied basic facilities in Brisbane hotel
The Indian cricket team, which landed in Brisbane for the fourth and final Test against Australia, was in for a shock on Tuesday as it was lodged at a hotel which "lacked basic facilities", prompting an intervention from the BCCI top brass.
It is learnt that BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah and CEO Hemang Amin have all got in touch with their Cricket Australia counterparts after complaints reached them and have been assured that the the Indian contingent will be made to feel comfortable from here on. The series is tied 1-1 currently.
"There was no room service or house keeping facilities. The gym is very basic and not of international standards and the swimming pool can't be accessed. This wasn't what they were promised when they checked in," a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity. -- PTI
16:58 Rahul to visit TN for Jallikattu to lend 'moral' support to farmers' protest
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would visit Tamil Nadu on January 14, the Pongal day and witness a bull taming event, 'Jallikattu,' the party's state president K S Alagiri said.
Gandhi would lend his moral support to farmers protesting against the new farm laws across the country by witnessing the sport at Avaniapuram in Madurai district, he told reporters here.
"The bull is a symbol of farmers and part of their lives," the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president said.
His visit is to "honour the farmers and the valorous Tamil culture on the day of harvest festival and he will not engage in election campaign on that day," he said.
16:21 Only Maha, Kerala have 50K+ Covid cases: Govt
Union Health Ministry briefs the media in Delhi. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan: "Active cases continue to decline steadily in the country. The active cases in the country are less than 2.2 lakh. Only two states have more than 50,000 active cases - Maharashtra and Kerala.
About 43.96% COVID-19 patients are in healthcare facilities, 56.04% in home isolation. COVID-19 situation worrisome around the world; even though daily new cases declining in India, we can't show laxity. "
16:06 Sensex romps to all-time high of 49,517
Equity benchmark Sensex jumped 248 points to end at a fresh life-time high on Tuesday, tracking gains in index heavyweights Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and Bharti Airtel amid positive global cues and persistent FPI inflows.
After touching an all-time high of 49,569.14 during the day, the 30-share BSE index ended 247.79 points or 0.50 per cent higher at 49,517.11. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty advanced 78.70 points or 0.54 per cent to a fresh closing peak of 14,563.45. It scaled a record 14,590.65 during the session.
On the Sensex chart, SBI was the top gainer, rallying around 4 per cent, followed by Bharti Airtel, Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, ITC, Axis Bank and NTPC. On the other hand, Asian Paints, HUL, Nestle India, Titan and Kotak Bank were among the laggards.
According to Binod Modi, Head- Strategy at Reliance Securities, domestic equities remained resilient as they recovered sharply from the day's low and recorded fresh highs. Banking stocks once again defied red flags raised by RBI's Financial Stability Report by recovering sharply from early losses, he said, adding that auto stocks continued to see healthy traction as well with expectations of good Q3 earnings and strong outlook.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) were net buyers in the capital market as they purchased shares worth Rs 3,138.90 crore on Monday, according to exchange data. Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo ended with gains, while Seoul was in the red. Stock exchanges in Europe were largely trading on a positive note in early deals. Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 1.60 per cent higher at USD 56.55 per barrel. PTI
SII CEO Adar Poonawalla
15:32 Vaccine to cost Rs 1000/vial in pvt mkt: Adar
Adar Poonawalla, CEO and Owner, Serum Institute of India on the momentous victory of being able to roll out the Covid-19 vaccine in record time.
"This is a historical moment that the vaccine is being dispatched from our factory. Our main challenge is to bring it to everyone in the country. It is our challenge for 2021, let's see how it happens.
"We've given a special price of Rs 200 for the first 100 mn doses only to Government of India on their request, that we want to support the common man, the vulnerable, the poor and healthcare workers. After that we'll be selling it at Rs 1000 in the private market. To the Govt of India, we'll still maintain a very reasonable price but it will be a little bit more than Rs 200 which is our cost price. So we decided not to make any profit, we wanted to support the nation and the Govt of India for the first 100 million doses.
"A lot of countries have been writing to India and PMO for vaccines to be supplied from Serum Institute to their countries. We're trying to keep everyone happy. We've to take care of our population and nation as well. We're trying to supply vaccine to Africa, South America. So we're doing a little bit everywhere. So we'll try to keep everyone happy.
"We make 70-80 million doses every month. Planning is underway to see how many will be given to India and foreign countries. Health Ministry has made logistics plans. We also have partnership with pvt players for trucks, vans and cold storage."
A vial of the Covishield vaccine
15:31 Telangana, Karnataka, Bengal receive Covishield vaccine
The Telangana government on Tuesday received the first consignment of 3.64 lakh doses of COVID-19vaccine Covishield from the Pune-based Serum Institute. The vaccine arrived in a freighter aircraft of SpiceJet. "The state government has received 3.64 lakh crore doses of Serum Institutes Covishield vaccine from the Centre. The vaccine will be sent to 139 centres, where the vaccination drive will begin from January 16," Telangana Public health Department Director G Srinivas Rao said. From January 18, vaccination in the rest of the centreswill be launched, the official added.
The first consignment of 6.47lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines has arrived Bengaluru on Tuesday, and the Karnataka government said it was committed to conducting the vaccination drive in a transparent way. Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar's office issuing corrections to his statement earlier in the day, said 6,47,500 doses of vaccine arrived in Bengaluru and Belagavi in the northern part of the state will receive next consignment tomorrow.
The first consignment of around 6.89 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Kolkata on Tuesday in a special flight from Pune, a senior official of the West Bengal health department said. "The first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines from Pune reached the city at around 1.40 pm. There are around 6.89 lakh doses of the vaccines," he told PTI. The consignment will be transported in two insulated vans from the city airport to a state-owned store at Baghbazar, the official said. The vaccines will be dispatched from the depot to various districts on Wednesday.
The government on Monday placed firm orders in advanced commitments for over 6 crore doses of COVID vaccine from SII and Bharat Biotech for inoculating 3 crore healthcare and frontline workers in the first phase of the vaccination drive scheduled to start from January 16, together which will cost Rs 1,300 crore. Sources said the government has placed an order to Bharat Biotech for 55 lakh doses costing Rs 162 crore. The government placed a purchase order with Serum Institute of India (SII) for 1.1 crore doses of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, each costing Rs 210, including the GST, and committed to buy 4.5 crore more by April, together amounting to over Rs 1,100 crore, sources said.
15:07 Concerns raised over SC's farm laws committee
Even as the top court stayed the implementation of the three farm laws and appointed a four-member committee, concerns are being raised on whether the members can indeed offer unbiased views given that most of them are pro farm laws. The three farm laws are -- the Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.
Several petitions have been filed challenging their constitutional validity. The four names of members include Bhupinder Singh Mann, President of Bhartiya Kisan Union; Anil Ghanwat, President of Shetkeri Sangthana, Maharashtra; Pramod Kumar Joshi, director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute, and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati.
During the hearing, the top court sought the cooperation of the protesting farmers and made it clear that no power can prevent it from setting up a committee to resolve the impasse over the controversial farm laws.
SII's Covid-19 vaccine arrives in Hyderabad
14:59 Bharat Biotech set to dispatch first batch of Covaxin
Bharat Biotech, which has received Emergency Use Authorisation approval from the Drug Controller General of India for its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin, is set to dispatch it from the Rajv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on Tuesday evening, a senior official of the Airports cargo division said.
"Today we have received the first consignment of vaccines from Serum Institute at Hyderabad airport. We received 970 kgs of consignment (from Serum Institute)."
"Today in the evening the first consignment is going out of Hyderabad.... (it is from ) Bharat Biotech. It is going to 11 destinations," the official told reporters after receiving the first consignment of Covishield vaccines.
Covishield is developed by Oxford University and British-Swedish company AstraZeneca and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII). An email sent to Bharat Biotech about the delivery schedule of Covaxin evoked a "no comments" response.
The vaccine programme in the country has started and the airports cargo division is gearing up to meet the demands as the city is the vaccine hub of the world, the official added. Covaxin is being indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology.
14:53
Former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha refuses to head Supreme Court panel on farmers' protest.
14:44 Welcome SC stay, but protests will go on: Farmers
Farmer leaders welcomed the Supreme Court's order to stay the implementation of three farm laws on Tuesday, but said they would not call off their protest until the legislations are repealed. The Sankyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of around 40 protesting farmer unions, has called a meeting later in the day to decide the next course of action. The farmer leaders said they are not willing to participate in any proceedings before a committee appointed by the Supreme Court, but a formal decision on this will be taken by the Morcha.
"We welcome the court's order to stay the implementation of the farm laws, but we want a complete repeal of these laws," Abhimanyu Kohar, a senior leader of the Morcha, told PTI.
Another farmer leader, Harinder Lokhwal, said the protest will continue until the contentious farm laws are repealed.
The Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the controversial farm laws till further orders on Tuesday and decided to set up a committee to resolve the impasse between the Centre and the farmers' unions protesting at Delhi's borders over the legislations.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said it will pass an order to this effect. The committee will look into the farmers' grievances against the three laws. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Haryana and Punjab, have been protesting at several border points of Delhi since November 28 last year, demanding a repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for their crops. -- PTI
14:05 2 farmers' unions part of SC appointed committee
The Supreme Court appoints Bhupinder Singh Mann of Bhartiya Kisan Union and Anil Ghanwat of Shetkeri Sangthana to be part of the commitee to hold talks with the government.
This afternoon, the court stayed the implementation of controversial new farm laws till further orders and decided to set up a committee to resolve the impasse over them between the Centre and farmers' unions protesting at Delhi borders.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said that it will pass an order to this effect. The committee will look into the farmers' grievances against the three new laws. During the hearing, the top sought cooperation of the protesting farmers and made it clear that no power can prevent it from setting up a committee to resolve the impasse over the controversial farm laws. PTI
The houbara bustard is hunted for sport and its meat
13:51 Imran allows Saudi royals to hunt protected bird
Shame!
The Pakistan government has issued at least seven special permits to Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum and six other members of the ruling family to hunt the internationally protected bird houbara bustard during the 2020-21 hunting season, according to a media report on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has earlier opposed such permits for Arab royals, this time personally approved the special pass, reported the Dawn newspaper.
The foreign ministry's deputy chief of protocol issued the documents after approval by the prime minister, the daily reported quoting sources. The permits were delivered to the UAE Embassy in Islamabad. Apart from Dubai Ruler Rashid Al-Maktoum, the others given permits are the crown prince, deputy ruler and finance and industries minister, deputy police chief, an army official, two other members of the royal family and a businessman. Khan, when in Opposition, had campaigned against such hunting excursions by the rich Arab families, who annually visit Pakistan to hunt the endangered bird.
A Saudi prince, Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, is said to have gunned down 1,977 birds on reserved and protected areas over 21 days in January 2014, while other members of his party killed another 123 birds, bringing the total to 2,100. The killing resulted in a lot of criticism but the practice has been going on. The bird's meat is considered by Arabs to be an aphrodisiac. PTI
13:44 SC stays implementation of new farms laws
Supreme Court stays the implementation of three farms laws until further orders and forms a committee to hold talks.
A three-judge bench, headed by the CJI, is hearing a batch of petitions, including those filed by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, RJD MP Manoj K Jha, regarding the constitutional validity of three farm laws, passed by the Central government, and the plea to disperse protesting farmers.
"We are forming a committee so that we have a clearer picture. We don't want to hear arguments that farmers will not go to the committee. We are looking to solve the problem. If you (farmers) want to agitate indefinitely, you can do so," CJI Bobde said. "We are concerned about the validity of the laws and also about protecting the life and property of citizens affected by protests. We are trying to solve the problem in accordance with the powers we have. One of the powers we have is to suspend the legislation and make a committee," he said.
"This committee will be for us. All of you people who are expected to solve the issue will go before this committee. It will not pass an order or punish you, it will only submit a report to us... The committee is part of the judicial process in this case. We are planning to suspend the laws but not indefinitely," he added.
13:37 TADA court frames charges against Yasin Malik, 9 others in Rubaiya Sayeed kidnapping case
A special TADA court has framed charges against Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammd Yasin Malik and nine others in a 31-year-old kidnapping case involving Rubaiya Sayeed, the daughter of then union home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Malik is presently lodged in Tihar jail, Delhi, after he was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in April 2019 in connection with a terror funding case, a month after his group was banned by the central government. In March last year, the special TADA court had framed charges against the JKLF chief and six others in another case related to the gunning down of four IAF personnel on the outskirts of Srinagar in January 1990.
Special TADA judge Sunit Gupta on Monday ordered framing of charges against Malik and nine others -- Ali Mohd Mir, Mohd Zaman Mir, Iqbal Ahmad Gandroo, Javed Ahmad Mir, Mohd Rafiq Pahloo, Manzoor Ahmed Sofi, Wajahat Bashir, Mehraj-ud-Din Sheikh and Showkat Ahmad Bakshi. The 10 are among two dozen accused named by the CBI in its charge-sheet filed before the TADA court.
Among the others, Mohammad Rafiq Dar and Mushtaq Ahmad Lone -- both top commanders of JKLF-- are dead and 12 others are absconding. Rubaiya Sayeed was kidnapped by JKLF members on December 8, 1989, from Srinagar to ensure the release of their associates lodged in different jails. -- PTI
13:33 PM Modi hits out at dynastic politics
Describing dynastic politics as the "biggest enemy of democracy", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said it has to be rooted out completely and asserted that the fortune of those who have been winning elections on the basis of surnames are now dwindling.
Addressing the valedictory function of the second National Youth Parliament Festival through video conference, Modi exhorted young people to join politics and said the "poison of dynastic politics" will continue to weaken democracy unless they enter it.
"The biggest enemy of democracy still exists and that is dynastic politics. Dynastic politics is such a challenge before the country and it has to be rooted out," Modi said.
"It is true that (in politics) the fortunes of those who have been winning elections on the basis of surnames are dwindling. But in politics, this disease of dynastic politics is not completely finished. There are still people whose politics is aimed at saving their family," he said in an apparent swipe at several opposition parties, including the Congress.
It is never "nation first" for those practising dynastic politics and it is all about "me and my family" for them, he said.
"Like all sectors, politics also needs youth. Their thinking, energy, enthusiasm is needed by the politics in the country. Earlier there was the sentiment that if any youth used to turn toward politics, then their family used to say that the youth is going astray," Modi said.
Noting that people used to say everything can change but not politics, Modi said today the people of the country have become so aware that they stand with honest people and give them a chance.
The people stand resolutely with people who come in politics with honesty and are committed to welfare, he noted. -- PTI
13:30 TN schools to reopen for class 10, 12 students from Jan 19
Schools would reopen for students of tenth and twelfth grades from January 19 and each classroom shall have a strength not exceeding 25 pupils, Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami announced here on Tuesday.
The move is considering the interests of students (who are slated to sit for public examinations due during March- April) and they shall be provided immunity boosting vitamin and zinc tablets, he said.
Permission is granted to schools to function only for these two classes by adhering to the government's Standard Operating Procedure, he said.
Based on the opinion of public health and medical experts, district collectors, senior ministers and considering the view of a majority of parents, the schools shall work for only students of classes 10 and 12, Palaniswami said in an official release.
Between January 6 and 8, opinion of parents were elicited and a majority of them gave their concurrence to reopen schools for classes 10 and 12 and 95 per cent of schools have given their reports on the matter, he said.
"I appeal to parents, teachers and students to extend their full cooperation to the government in its efforts aimed at the welfare of students and to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic," he said.
The Tamil Nadu government, after deciding to reopen schools for classes 9 to 12 from November 16 deferred the move due to apprehensions over COVID-19 and after consultations. -- PTI
13:27 Planning to suspend new farm laws, but...: SC
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it is planning to suspend the new farm laws, but not indefinitely.
Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde said that the Apex Court is also forming a committee to get a clearer picture of the three farm laws.
A three-judge bench, headed by the CJI, is hearing a batch of petitions, including those filed by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, RJD MP Manoj K Jha, regarding the constitutional validity of three farm laws, passed by the Central government, and the plea to disperse protesting farmers.
"We are forming a committee so that we have a clearer picture. We don't want to hear arguments that farmers will not go to the committee. We are looking to solve the problem. If you (farmers) want to agitate indefinitely, you can do so," CJI Bobde said.
"We are concerned about the validity of the laws and also about protecting the life and property of citizens affected by protests. We are trying to solve the problem in accordance with the powers we have. One of the powers we have is to suspend the legislation and make a committee," he said.
"This committee will be for us. All of you people who are expected to solve the issue will go before this committee. It will not pass an order or punish you, it will only submit a report to us... The committee is part of the judicial process in this case. We are planning to suspend the laws but not indefinitely," he added.
Advocate ML Sharma, who filed a plea challenging the farm laws, told the Apex Court that farmers have said they will not appear before any committee to be constituted by the court.
Sharma pointed out that farmers have said that though many people came for discussions, the Prime Minister did not.
The CJI replied: "We cannot ask the Prime Minister to go. He is not a party in the case."
12:32 India troops at LAC in full strength: Naravane
Update: Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Narvane addresses the annual press conference shortly, ahead of Army Day.
On China: "Every year PLA troops come to traditional training areas. With winter and completion of training period, training areas have been vacated.
It's fair to assume those troops who were in depth areas in Tibetan Plateau have gone back and that's the reduction in strength on the plateau.
Talks (between India and China) will be used to address the issues on the basis of mutual and equal security. I am confident that we would be able to resolve the issue.
There has been no decrease in strength either on their side (China) or our side as far as the friction points our concerned.
Even though we have more troops at high altitude, cold injury casualties this year have remained constant with the past. It was 0.13 per cent last year and is 0.15 per cent this year.
There was indeed a requirement of rebalancing towards northern borders and that is what we have put in place now. We are prepared to hold our ground as long it takes to achieve our national goals and objectives."
Suvendu Adhikari joined the BJP last month
12:19 Suvendu's father removed as TMC's development agency chairman
Senior Trinamool Congress MP Sisir Adhikari was removed as the chairman of the Digha Shankarpur Development Authority (DSDA), which is responsible for development works in the beach town in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, as per an official notification. Adhikari, the father of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was replaced with MLA Akhil Giri, known to be his detractor in the Trinamool Congress.
"He did not do anything as the chairman of the DSDA. So he has been removed," Giri told reporters on Tuesday. Adhikari is at present the district president of the TMC in Purba Medinipur. Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said Adhikari was not being able to perform as the chairman of the agency.
"Sisir-da is a veteran leader. Maybe he was unwell. But we were pained when he did not utter any word against his sons Suevndu and Soumendu who had been constantly attacking the TMC after switching over to the BJP," he said.
Adhikari, however, remained unfazed with the development. "They can do whatever they want. I am not bothered," he said. Suvendu switched over to the BJP last month and later helped his brother Soumendu change sides after he was removed as administrator of the Kanthi Municipality. PTI
11:54 India preps for tech-enabled army: Naravane
Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane addresses the annual press conference ahead of Army Day.
"The last year was full of challenges and we had to walk the talk and meet the challenges. We did so and came out on the top. The main challenge was COVID19 and the situation at the northern borders.
"We have maintained a high state of alertness all along the northern borders. We are hoping for a peaceful solution but are ready to meet any eventuality. All logistics are taken care of.
"A broad roadmap has been prepared to bring in all the new technologies to develop a technology-enabled army to meet challenges of future
11:45 Trump issues emergency declaration in Washington DC
US President Donald Trump has issued an emergency declaration for the national capital ahead of his successor Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20, amidst threat perception to the event by federal agencies. In a statement on Monday, the White House said the President's action authorises the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population.
The emergency in Washington DC will be effective from Monday till January 24. It comes in the wake of last week's violent protest, in which thousands of pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building and clashed with police, interrupting a constitutional process by Congress to affirm the victory of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the election.
Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died in the protests. According to the White House, the emergency declaration also provides appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorised under Title V of the Stafford Act to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the District of Columbia.
Specifically, the FEMA is authorised to identify, mobilise, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 100 per cent Federal funding, the White House said. -- PTI
11:41 Saina, Prannoy test +ve for Covid again
Top Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and H S Prannoy, who had recently recovered from COVID-19, have again tested positive for the dreaded disease here ahead of the Thailand Open which began on Tuesday. The duo, along with the Indian team, was looking to participate in the Asia leg events comprising the Thailand Open (January 12-17), TOYOTA Thailand Open (January 19-24) and the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2020 (January 27-31).
"Saina and Prannoy tested positive for COVID-19 during a test conducted on Monday. They will stay in quarantine for 10 days in a Bangkok hospital. Kashyap too will have to head to the hospital as he is a close contact," a source in the Badminton Association of India (BAI) said. While the trio will miss the tournament, the rest of the Indian team players have been allowed to participate in the event. Saina, Prannoy, Kashyap alongwith RMV Gurusaidutt and Pranaav Chopra had tested positive last month and had served the mandatory quarantine period. They had also cleared the pre-departure COVID-19 test and also tested negative on arrival in Bangkok.
The Indian contingent includes the likes of Olympic silver-medallist PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, Sourabh Verma, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty and Ashwini Ponappa. On the court, India made a winning start with mixed doubles pair of Satwik and Ashwini claiming a 21-11, 27-29, 21-16 win over the Indonesian pair of Hafiz Faizal and Gloria Widjaja. PTI
11:40 TN receives vaccine dispatch
This is how Tamil Nadu has prepared to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan on COVID19 vaccine distribution process: 5.56 lakh vaccine doses have been dispatched from Pune. The dispatch details of remaining 20,000 doses of COVAXIN are yet to be received.
Once it arrives at state vaccine centre, we'll be reinsuring that everything is in place. It'll be distributed further to 10 regional centres and 51 walk-in coolers at district level by today evening. Later, it will go to actual vaccination site in cold boxes."
11:28 Covishield vaccine arrives in Gujarat
The first consignment of the COVID-19 vaccine arrives at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel present at the airport.
11:24 I-T filing due date remains Feb 15 for companies, no extension
The finance ministry has rejected the demand for further extension of the last date for filing returns where audit is required beyond February 15. Last month, the government had extended the income tax return (ITR) filing deadline for individuals till January 10, and for companies till February 15.
"CBDT passes order u/s 119 of Income-tax Act, 1961 in F No. 370153/39/2020-TPL dt 11th January, 2021, disposing off the representations for extension of due date for filing of Audit Report u/s 44AB, in compliance with the order of hon'ble Gujarat High Court dt 8th January, 2021," the income tax department said in a tweet on Monday.
This was in response to the Gujarat High Court order dated January 8, 2021 in the case of The All India Gujarat Federation of Tax Consultants versus Union of India directing the finance ministry to look into the issue of extension of due dates for filing of audit reports under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act. As per the provisions of the Act, the due date for filing of the audit report under Section 44AB is one month prior to the due date of filing of income tax return, it said.
The due dates for payment of self-assessment tax for taxpayers whose amount due does not exceed Rs 1 lakh also coincide with the due dates for filing of ITR, it said. On December 30, 2020, the government had announced extension of the last dates for filing of returns by individuals to January 10, 2021 from December 31, 2020. -- PTI
SII's Covishield vaccine reached Delhi today from Pune
11:17 Security upped at airports on Vaccine theft fears
Security has been stepped up at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital from where the first consignment of Covishield vaccines from Pune will be transported to different parts of the city on Tuesday, police said.
SpiceJet flight carrying the vaccines landed at the Delhi airport around 10 am on Tuesday, four days ahead of the launch of a nationwide drive against the coronavirus. Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI Airport) Rajeev Ranjan said PCR vans along with local police will escort the vehicles carrying vaccines to its designated places.
He said sufficient security arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the transportation of vaccines. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Manish Agarwal said, "If any schedule and movement of vaccine is shared with us and if facilitation is asked for, we will provide it."
The Delhi Traffic Police said it will ensure smooth movement of the vehicles carrying the vaccines. Adequate police arrangements have been made at the storage sites, and PCR vans will also cover these units in their patrolling plans, police said. The police control room has also been directed to respond promptly to calls from cold storage points, vaccination sites, and immediately pass on the information to PCR vans, local police, traffic police and any other agency, they said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahadra) Amit Sharma said, "We have deployed the personnel at the storage area of the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital." PTI
11:09 Tamil Nadu CM to invite Modi for unveiling of Jaya memorial
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 18 in New Delhi to invite him for unveiling the Jayalalitha memorial in Chennai.
The meeting assumes political significance with the emerging All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance, and is expected to set the course fo seat sharing talks between the two parties for the forthcoming assembly elections.
-- R Rajagopalan in New Delhi
11:08 Racism is not acceptable, I apologise to Siraj, Team India: Warner
Australia batsman David Warner on Tuesday apologised to Team India and Mohammad Siraj after the visiting party had to endure racial slurs from the Australian crowd during the Pink Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Indian team on Saturday lodged an official complaint after the crowd at the SCG racially abused pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj over the second and third day of the Sydney Test.
"It was great to be back out on the park again this week. Was not the ideal result for us but this is what Test cricket is all about. 5 days of tough cricket and well done to our guys for working as hard as we could, congrats to India in the way they fought hard for the draw, and that's why we love this game, it's not easy," Warner wrote on Instagram. Racism is not acceptable, Warner apologise to Siraj, Team India, says racism is not acceptable "Move onto Brisbane now for the decider and what a place the Gabba is to play at. I'd also like to say sorry to @mohammedsirajofficial and the Indian team as racism, and abuse is not in any way acceptable or tolerated anywhere at any time, and I would expect better from our home crowd," he added.
The crowd did not stop on day four of the ongoing Pink Test as Siraj along with Rahane had a word with umpire Paul Reiffel regarding the unruly behaviour of the crowd. Visuals on television indicated that there were some words spoken for Siraj who was fielding near the boundary rope.
Both the umpires then had a word with each other and the police then asked a group of men to leave the stand. The third Test of the four-match series between India and Australia ended as a draw on Monday. Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari batted out 258 balls to help India walk away with a draw and head into the final Test at the Gabba, with the series level at 1-1.
10:44 Not printing Budget cheap theatre: Cong
Congress Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari on Tuesday lashed out at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stating that the decision not to print copies of the Union Budget is cheap theatre.
"Decision not to print copies Union Budget is cheap theatre. COVID-19 count stands at 10.5 million cases-11.57% of cases world wide, social distancing is non existent, mask wearing is the exception not the norm what will this tokenism achieve Nirmala Sitharaman?" Tewari tweeted. According to sources, for the first time ever, the Budget will be paperless this year in the view of COVID-19.
"Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry has decided not to print copies of the Budget 2021. The Budget will be typed and available for all as a soft copy, online," sources said. India's coronavirus tally reached 1,04,66,595 including 2,22,526 active cases and 10,092,909 recoveries.
The cumulative death toll climbed to 1,51,160. On January 5, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi while announcing the dates for the budget session said that the government's intention is to complete the session without any curtailment.He that the first phase of the budget session will begin on January 29 and conclude on February 15.
"In the first half of the budget session, the President's address will be delivered on January 29 along with the discussion on it. The budget will be presented on February 1. If there are any emergency bills or ordinances to bring, we will prefer to do that in the first phase. Bills that need to be taken will be taken. There will be question and zero-hour as well and the rest will be at the discretion of the Speaker," Joshi said. The minister said the second phase of the budget session will be from March 8 to April 8.
"In that phase, we would discuss grants and finance bill too will be discussed. The session, hopefully, will be longer. Last time we planned the session to be a little longer but due to pandemic and members of opposition too requested curtailment of the session, we could not run it fully. This time it will be like it used to be. This is our intention," he said.
10:33 Trump, Pence meet for first time since Capitol riots
US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence met at the Oval Office on Monday, marking the first time they have spoken since a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol last Wednesday where the two pledged to "continue the work" till their term ends on January 20.
CNN reported that a senior administration official said that they met in the Oval Office, had what was described as a good conversation and discussed the week ahead while "reflecting on the last four years of the administration's work and accomplishments."
"They reiterated that those who broke the law and stormed the Capitol last week do not represent the America First movement backed by 75 million Americans, and pledged to continue the work on behalf of the country for the remainder of their term," the senior official said.
Pence finally got "a glimpse of POTUS' vindictiveness", one source familiar with the situation said, using the acronym for President of the United States, CNN reported further.
Congressional Democrats have introduced articles of impeachment against Trump for allegedly inciting an insurrection and have called on Pence to invoke constitutional authorities to remove Trump from power. On January 6, a group of Trump's loyalists stormed the US Capitol building, clashing with police, damaging property, seizing the inauguration stage and occupying the rotunda.
The unrest took place after Trump urged his supporters to protest what he claims is a stolen election. At least five people lost their lives in the riots. The US Congress, post the riots, certified President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris's victory in the election. Biden is set to be sworn in on January 20. -- ANI
10:04 Sensex slips over 100 points in early trade
Equity benchmark Sensex dropped over 100 points in early trade on Tuesday, tracking losses in index-heavyweights HDFC, Kotak Bank and ICICI Bank despite largely positive trend in global equities and sustained FPI inflow.
The 30-share BSE index was trading 117.77 points or 0.24 per cent lower at 49,151.55. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty slipped 20.95 points or 0.14 per cent to 14,463.80 in opening deals. On the Sensex chart, IndusInd Bank was the top loser, shedding around 2 per cent, followed by Kotak Bank, Titan, Asian Paints, Bajaj Auto, Tech Mahindra and HDFC. On the other hand, Reliance Industries, L&T, Bharti Airtel, ITC, Bajaj Finserv and TCS were among the gainers.
In the previous session, the Sensex ended 486.81 points or 1 per cent higher at record 49,269.32, and Nifty surged 137.50 points or 0.96 per cent to finish at its fresh lifetime high of 14,484.75. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) were net buyers in the capital market as they purchased shares worth Rs 3,138.90 crore on Monday, as per exchange data.
According to Binod Modi, Head-Strategy at Reliance Securities, domestic equities do not look to be encouraging at the moment. Red flags highlighted in the Reserve Bank of India's Financial Stability Report about the banking sector do not augur well for the banking index, which may weigh on markets in the near term.
09:55 Sena targets BJP over bird flu outbreak
Shiv Sena on Tuesday slammed its former ally BJP and questioned it on whether there was any Pakistani, Khalistani or Naxalites hand behind bird flu outbreak in the country.
In its editorial mouthpiece 'Saamana', Shiv Sena pointed out that BJP leaders had earlier targeted farmers' agitation alleging that Pakistanis, Khalistani, Chinese, Naxalites, and Maoists are behind the protest.
"Farmers are agitating against the new agricultural law and meanwhile new crisis of bird flu outbreak has emerged. Government officials say that Pakistanis, Khalistani, Chinese, Naxalites and Maoists are behind the farmers' agitation. BJP spokesperson has not declared if Khalistani, Pakistani and Naxalites have a hand in mysterious deaths of the chickens and bird," read the editorial.
Shiv Sena said that farmers and those involved in poultry farming have been adversely affected due to bird flu. "The sale of chickens and eggs is more in rural areas. They have the economics of their own and there is no place for poor egg seller's economy in the new farm laws. According to the new agricultural law, corporates will not deal in chickens and eggs infected with bird flu. Then who will support the farmers involved in poultry farmer?" the editorial asked.
The party said that several poultry markets have been shut down across the country that has increased the difficulties of traders dealing in chickens and eggs.
File pic
09:41 In a 1st, gorillas test +ve in US zoo
Several gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park have tested positive for coronavirus in what are believed to be the first known cases among great apes.
The park's executive director, Lisa Peterson, confirmed eight gorillas that lived together in a troop at the park were believed to have the virus and several had been coughing. Read more
09:37 9 flights ship Covishield vaccine to 13 cities
Union Civil Aviation Min Hardeep S Puri announced that Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo Airlines will operate 9 flights from Pune with 56.5 lakh doses to Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Chandigarh.
Serum Institute of India's COVID19 vaccine 'Covishield' is being shipped to different locations in the country from Pune airport, ahead of the January 16 vaccine rollout.
Ajay Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, SpiceJet tweeted this image saying, "SpiceJet has carried Indias first consignment of Covid vaccine today. The first consignment of 'Covishield' consisting of 34 boxes and weighing 1088 kg was carried from Pune to Delhi."
09:16 Bumrah ruled out of 4th Test against Australia
The injury-ravaged Indian team was dealt another blow on Tuesday as pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the fourth Test against Australia due to an abdominal strain.
Bumrah, key to India's attack, sustained the strain during the drawn third Test in Sydney.
It has been learnt that Bumrah's scan reports showed a strain and the Indian team management does not want him to aggravate the injury, keeping in mind the upcoming four-Test series against England.
"Jasprit Bumrah suffered an abdominal strain while fielding in Sydney. He is going to sit out of the Brisbane Test but is expected to be available against England," a BCCI source told PTI.
It is now expected that two-Test old Mohammed Siraj will be leading the Indian attack and will be joined by Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur and T Natarajan in the Brisbane Test, starting January 15.
08:54 Bird flu: Mumbai civic body issues guidelines
With samples of two crows from Mumbai testing positive for bird flu, the Mumbai civic body on Monday issued a set of guidelines on reporting the death of birds and safe disposal of their remains.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has also appealed to citizens to contact its helpline 1916, if they notice the death of birds.
According to the Bhopal-based ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, two crows from Mumbai have died due to bird flu, an official said earlier in the day.
The civic body has directed the disaster control department to immediately report to on duty assistant engineers of the solid waste management in concerned assistant municipal commissioner's office or to the war-level war rooms.
"The workers and helpers from the regional office and under assistant engineer will dispose the dead birds as per the laid down guidelines," the guidelines said.
The civic body also directed assistant engineers to bring the deaths of birds to the notice of the state-appointed rapid response teams and dispose the dead birds as per their instructions.
As per the directives under 'Avin influenza action plan to control and prevent revised guidelines 2021', the dead birds have to be disposed off by burying them in a pit, the BMC said.
"Also it's necessary to use an adequate amount of limestone to bury them and ensure that other animals do not dig it again," the civic body said.
The BMC also asked Veer Jijamata Udyan in Byculla in south Mumbai to follow the guidelines issued by the Central Zoo Authority about bird flu.
Besides asking the concerned department to carry out awareness campaigns about bird flu, the civic body also asked the assistant commissioner (market) to create a plan about cleanliness of chicken and mutton shops. -- PTI
08:10 1st Covishield vaccines consignment leaves Serum Inst
A decisive phase in India's fight against coronavirus began in the wee hours on Tuesday as the first consignment of Covishield vaccines left Serum Institute of India for Pune airport, four days ahead of the nationwide
inoculation drive launch.
Three temperature-controlled trucks rolled out of the Serum Institute gates shortly before 5 am and left for Pune airport, from where the vaccines will be flown across India.
The trucks carried 478 boxes of the vaccines, each box weighing 32 kg, a source involved in the vaccine transport arrangements told PTI.
The trucks left the Serum Institute of India premises at Manjari and reached the airport, located 15 km from the facility.
From the airport, the vaccines will be dispatched to 13 locations across the country by 10 am, the source said.
A 'puja' was performed before the vehicles left the facility.
The locations where these Covishield vaccines will be flown from Pune include Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Karnal, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guwahati, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar.
The vaccines will be flown from Pune in eight commercial flights, including two cargo flights, the source said. The first cargo flight will cover Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Bhubaneswar and the second cargo flight will go to Kolkata and Guwahati, he added.
The consignment for Mumbai will leave by road.
Trucks belonging to Kool-ex Cold Chain Ltd are being used to ferry the vaccine stocks from Serum Institute.
Among the first batch, one consignment is scheduled to be shipped by an Air India cargo flight to Ahmedabad.
On Monday, Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel tweeted that his state will receive the first consignment of coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday at 10.45 am at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad.
The Central government on Monday placed firm orders in advanced commitments for over six crore doses of vaccines from Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech for inoculating three crore healthcare and frontline workers in the first phase of the nationwide vaccination drive beginning January 16. -- PTI
00:16 CDS, IAF chief review Ladakh security scenario
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria on Monday carried out a comprehensive review of deployment of India's ground forces and air assets in high-altitude locations in eastern Ladakh amid the eight-month-long border standoff with China in the region, officials said.
Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria visited the strategically located Daulat Beg Oldie(DBO), Thoise and Nyoma advanced landing strips in Ladakh and took stock of the IAF's readiness to deal with any eventualities in the region, they said.
The DBO Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) is located close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at an altitude of 16,700 feet and is known to be the highest airfield in the world.
Temperatures in DBO drop upto minus 40 degree Celsius during the harsh winter months.
The Nyoma air field is located at a height of around 13,000 feet.
The Chief of Air Staff interacted with the field commanders and was briefed on the operational readiness as well as the status of deployment of the IAF at the high-altitude air bases, officials said.
'During his visit to Thoise, he reviewed the ongoing logistic operations for support and sustenance of troops in the winter season,' the IAF said in a statement, adding the air chief also laid a wreath in honour of the fallen heroes at the DBO base.
Separately, CDS Gen Rawat during a visit to Ladakh reviewed the overall security scenario and the country's military preparedness with the ground commanders at the Leh-based 14 Corps, popularly known as Fire and Fury Corps, officials said.
Gen Rawat was given a detailed overview of India's deployment in the region by Lt Gen P G K Menon, the commander of the 14 Corps.
Later, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria joined Gen Rawat for a comprehensive discussion on operational matters with senior IAF and Indian Army Commanders at the Leh air force station.
Meanwhile, people familiar with the troop movement of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the region said it has withdrawn some soldiers from its training facilities located in depth areas in the region due to the harsh winter, adding it does not have any impact on their operational deployment in any of the areas along the LAC.
About Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria's interaction with the troops on the ground, the IAF said: 'The Chief of Air Staff conveyed his deep appreciation for the exceptionally high levels of morale and dedication with which all personnel continue to maintain operational preparedness despite the harsh weather and an inhospitable terrain.'
The Army and the IAF have been maintaining a high state of operational readiness along the nearly 3,500-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in view of the border standoff in eastern Ladakh.
Nearly 50,000 troops of the Indian Army are deployed in various locations in eastern Ladakh as multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks between the two sides have not yielded any concrete outcome to resolve the military face-off.
China has also deployed an equal number of troops, according to officials.
The eighth and the last round of military talks had taken place on November 6 during which both sides broadly discussed disengagement of troops from specific friction points.
The CDS has been part of the top military brass framing strategies to enhance India's military prowess in view of the Ladakh standoff.
Last month, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane had visited eastern Ladakh to review the ground situation in the region that has also been experiencing harsh winter.
The border face-off erupted on May 5 last year following violent clashes between the armies of India and China in the Pangong lake area.
The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar episode in north Sikkim on May 9. -- PTI
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