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Wed, 20 January 2021
Biden has taken over the @POTUS Twitter handle

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23:53   'A step forward' for the US, says Boris Johnson
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is calling the inauguration of US President Biden and Vice President Harris a "step forward" for the United States which has "been through a bumpy period".

Congratulating the newly sworn in leaders, Johnson said it was a "big moment" for the UK and the US who have a "joint common agenda".

In the run up to the UN Climate Change Conference, he said the UK hopes to work with the US on climate change, among other issues.

In recent years, Johnson was sometimes criticised in the UK for being too close to Trump.
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23:37   Biden has taken over the @POTUS Twitter handle
Joe Biden has taken over the @POTUS Twitter handle, and he used his first tweet to promise bold action and immediate relief for American families.

There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face, the new president said. Thats why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families.

Kamala Harris has also taken over the @VP Twitter account. 

Shortly after Harris was sworn in, the vice-presidents account shared this message: Ready to serve.
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23:32   New chapter of US democracy: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated Joe Biden after he was sworn in as the 46th president of the US on Wednesday.
Gandhi also congratulated Indian-origin Kamal Harris after she took oath as the 49th vice president of the US, creating history as the first female, first Black and first Indian-American to do so.
"Congratulating the USA on a new chapter of their democracy. Best wishes to President Biden and Vice-President Harris," Gandhi tweeted.

-- PTI
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23:15   PM Modi congratulates US Prez Biden
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Joe Biden for being sworn in as the President of the United States and said he was committed to working with him to take the India-US partnership to even greater heights.
  
Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris took oath as first woman Vice President in a historic but scaled down ceremony under the unprecedented security umbrella of thousands of security personnel.

The 78-year-old veteran Democrat leader was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice John Roberts at the West Front of the US Capitol in Washington -- the traditional location for presidential inaugural ceremonies.

"My warmest congratulations to Joe Biden on his assumption of office as President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership," Modi said.

"My best wishes for a successful term in leading USA as we stand united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security," he said in a series of tweets.

Noting that the India-US partnership is based on shared values, Modi said the two countries have a substantial and multi-faceted bilateral agenda, growing economic engagement and vibrant people to people linkages. 

"Committed to working with President Joe Biden to take the India-US partnership to even greater heights," the prime minister said.
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22:59   Kamala Harris sends first tweet as VP
US Vice President Kamala Harris sent her first tweet from the @VP account moments ago, writing, "Ready to serve."
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22:56   Country music star Garth Brooks performs 'Amazing Grace'
Country music star Garth Brooks performed "Amazing Grace" following US President Joe Biden's inaugural address.

Brooks called on people in attendance and those watching to sing along with him.

"I'm gonna ask you to sing this last burst with me, the people at home, the people at work, as one united," Brooks said.
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22:51   Biden: We have "much to repair, much to restore, much to heal"
Newly minted US President Joe Biden referenced the current plight of America during his inaugural address, noting that the country has "much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain."

As the coronavirus American death toll surpassed 400,000 this week, Biden noted that "few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now."

Speaking specifically of the Covid-19 pandemic, Biden referenced a "once-in-a-century virus, that silently stalks the country. It's taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II."

But amid tones of pain and strife, as "millions of jobs have been lost," and there exists a "cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making," Biden offered signs of hope.

"To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity."
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22:46   Biden pledges to be prez 'for all Americans'
Joe Biden pledged to be a "president for all Americans," including those who did not support his campaign at his inauguration address.

"I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did," Biden said.

He added, "For all those who supported our campaign, I'm humbled by the faith you placed in us. To all those who did not support us, let me say this. Hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart. If you still disagree, so be it. That's democracy. That's America. The right to dissent peaceably within the guardrails of our republic is perhaps this nation's greatest strength. Yet hear me clearly. Disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you. I will be a president for all Americans. All Americans. And I promise you, I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did."

Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
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22:36   Biden says 'unity is the path forward'
Joe Biden argued that unity was the only successful path forward for the country.

I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. I also know they are not new, the US president said in his inaugural address. Unity is the path forward.

Biden described Americas history as a constant struggle between the countrys professed ideals and its lived reality.

The US president then pointed to Kamala Harris being sworn in as vice-president as an indication of how much positive change the nation can achieve.

Dont tell me things cant change, Biden said.
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22:34   'Democracy has prevailed': US President Biden
Joe Biden received a standing ovation as he took the podium to deliver his inaugural address, his first speech as president.

After thanking those present at the inauguration, Biden said, This is Americas day. This is democracys day.

The president referenced the violent attack on the Capitol two weeks ago, saying it underscored the value of American democracy.

Weve learned again that democracy is precious, the president said. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

President Joe Biden thanked his predecessors from "both parties" in his inauguration remarks to the nation, including those who couldn't be present.

"I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here today. I thank them from the bottom of my heart... And I know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation, as does President Carter, who I spoke with last night, who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime in service," Biden said.

He acknowledged the power that comes with taking the "sacred oath" that was taken by former presidents.

"I have just taken a sacred oath each of those patriots taken. The oath first sworn by Washington. But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. On we, the people, who seek a more perfect union. This is a great nation. We are good people," Biden said.
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22:22   Joe Biden sworn in as 46th US president
After vowing to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, Joe Biden has officially been sworn in as US president.

His oath of office was administered by Supreme Court Justice John Roberts.

Biden was sworn in on a Bible that has been in his family since 1893 and was used during his swearing-in as vice-president in 2009 and 2013, according to CBS News.

The same Bible was also used each time he was sworn in as Delaware senator.

The book itself is five inches (12.5cm) thick with a Celtic cross on the cover.

The family Bible was also used by his late son Beau when he was sworn in as Delaware attorney general in 2013.

Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images
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22:19   Lady Gaga performs the National Anthem
Lady Gaga performed the US National Anthem with the US marine band, using a golden mic. She had a golden dove-shaped broach pinned to her coat.
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22:17   Kamala Harris takes the oath as US VP
Kamala Harris has just taken the oath of office.

She was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

This is the first time a woman, let alone a black and Asian American woman, has been inaugurated in one of the two highest positions in the US government.

She follows 48 men who have held the position of vice-president before her.

While I may be the first woman in this office, Harris vowed in her victory speech in November, I will not be the last, because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.

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22:13   Biden will be sworn in using family Bible that he also used in 2009 and 2013
When Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th US president, its expected hell have his hand where it has been every time hes taken an oath of office before -- on the Biden family Bible. 

The Bible is five inches thick, features a Celtic cross on the cover, and has been in the Biden family since 1893.

Biden used the Bible each time he took the oath as vice president and for each of his seven Senate swearings-in, starting in 1973. The Bible was used during his swearing-in as Vice President in 2009 and 2013.

In 2009, Bidens final oath in the Senate was delayed when the Bible couldnt be located, the Wilmington News Journal reported. Beau Biden, Bidens son who died in 2015, also used the Bible when he was sworn in as attorney general of Delaware in 2007.

"Every important date is in there. For example, every time Ive been sworn in for anything, the date has been on that, and its inscribed on the Bible," Biden told Stephen Colbert in December 2020. "Our son, when he was sworn in as attorney general, all the important dates in our family, going way back. And its just been a family heirloom."
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22:05   Biden on stage as event gets underway
The swearing-in ceremony of Joe Biden has begun. 


Senator Amy Klobuchar reflects on the significance of today's inauguration at the US Capitol in the wake of a riot in the same place two weeks ago.

"This is the day when our democracy picks itself up, brushes off the dust and does what America always does, goes forward as a nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," she said at the start of the ceremony.

She said now, as the country turns the page, it is up to everyone to "take up the torch of our democracy" to be an instrument of good.

"We pledge today never to take our democracy for granted as we celebrate its remarkable strength. We celebrate its resilience, its grit," Klobuchar said.
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21:51   Kamala Harris arrives for her swearing-in
US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was just introduced at the inauguration ceremony. 
She's being escorted by Capitol Police office Eugene Goodman, who has been hailed as a hero after video emerged of him guiding the violent mob away from the Senate chamber during the Capitol riot.

Harris is taking her seat alongside her husband, Doug Emhoff.

Harris will soon take the oath of office, becoming the first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president.
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21:31   Pence also left a note for Harris
US Vice President Mike Pence left a note for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. This was expected to happen.

Harris and Pence spoke on the phone last week.

US President Trump also wrote a note for President-elect Joe Biden. 

A source described it as a personal note that continues the theme he had in his farewell address, praying for the success of the country and the new administration to care for the country.

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21:26   Joe Biden tweets a message to his wife
Moments after arriving at the US Capitol for the inauguration, Joe Biden's account sent a tweet with a message to his wife, soon-to-be first lady Jill Biden.

The tweet said: "I love you, Jilly, and I couldn't be more grateful to have you with me on the journey ahead." 

It included a short video of the Bidens holding hands as they arrived for the ceremony.

Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
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21:20   Biden's inauguration could be the first sunny ceremony in nearly 3 decades
This year's US Presidential Inauguration Day could be the first sunny inauguration ceremony since US President Bill Clinton was sworn in for his first term in 1993 - nearly three decades ago.

CNN reported that it will be a chilly, blustery day in Washington on Wednesday, with one of the windiest inaugurations on record expected. Forecast at noon reported that the temperature would be around 45 degrees (Fahrenheit), partly to mostly sunny skies, with the possibility of passing flurries. Gusty winds of 35 to 40 mph are expected during the ceremony, which will create a wind chill of 35 to 40 degrees (F).

The weather at IS President Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration had 48 degrees temperature at noon with a cloudy sky. Sprinkles were reported at his swearing-in ceremony, while light rain was witnessed at the start of his parade.

During former US President Barack Obama's 2013 inauguration, a cloudy sky was reported, while the temperature was recorded 45 degrees at noon.

-- ANI
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21:07   Joe Biden, Kamala Harris arrive at Capitol
With less than an hour until he is sworn in as US president, Joe Biden has arrived at the US Capitol ahead of his swearing in.

He walked up the steps hand-in-hand with his wife Jill.

US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff also arrived with the Bidens. 
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21:00   US Supreme Court being evacuated for bomb threat
There is a bomb threat and the Supreme Court is being evacuated, an official familiar confirms.

The Supreme Court building sits across the street from the US Capitol, where US President-elect Joe Biden will take the oath of office shortly.


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20:58   Kamala Harris remembers mom ahead of swearing-in
Ahead of becoming the first female, Black and Asian Vice President of the United States, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris remembered her mother, Shyamalan Gopalan Harris, just before the inauguration ceremony.

Posting a video on Twitter, Harris captioned it: "I'm here today because of the women who came before me." In the video, Harris could be heard repeating her opening remarks after she and President-elect Joe Biden were projected as the winners of the presidential elections in November.

"To the woman most responsible for my presence here today: my mother, Shyamalan Gopalan Harris, who is always in our hearts. When she came here from India at the age of 19, she maybe didn't quite imagine this moment. But she believed so deeply in an America, where a moment like this is possible," she said.

The video showed several pictures of the Vice President-elect's mother.

"So I am thinking about her and about the generations of women, Black women, Asian, White, Latina, Native American women, who throughout our nation's history have paved the way to tonight. Women who fought and sacrificed so much for equality and liberty and justice for all. Including the Black women who are often, too often overlooked but so often proven they are the backbone of our democracy," she added.

Shyamala Gopalan emigrated from Tamil Nadu and was a cancer researcher, while the former Senator's father, a Jamaican, taught at Stanford University.

Kamala Harris' election as US Vice-President is of great significance to Indians, particularly the diaspora in the US and is a reflection of the success of the community and the respect it has attained.

-- ANI
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20:46   Obamas, Clintons arrive for Biden inauguration
Former US President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have arrived at the US Capitol for Joe Biden's inauguration.

Their arrival was followed by former US President Bill Clinton and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton shortly after.

Currently serving US Vice President Mike Pence will be attending the inauguration and honour the tradition of passing over power peacefully.
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20:39   Told Kamala to keep doing what she does, says uncle
With US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on the brink of scripting history, her maternal uncle Gopalan Balachandran on Wednesday said he spoke to her ahead of the inauguration in Washington and told her to "keep doing what you do" without getting bothered by others.
Delhi-based Balachandran said he was feeling "proud and hearty", and asserted that the new US administration led by President-elect Joe Biden and his deputy Harris will also signify beginning of a "period of course correction".
Joe Biden is all set to be sworn-in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday.
Harris, 56, who is of Indian origin, will carve a name for herself in the history books, when she will be sworn-in as the first-ever woman vice president of the US at the august ceremony of the inauguration.
She would also be the first Indian-origin, first Black and first South Asian American vice president of the country.
"I am feeling very hearty and happy for my niece, and she has earned this historic moment," Balachandran said.
Describing the recent storming of the US Capitol by protestors as "unfortunate", he also asserted that the "Biden-Harris administration would signify beginning of a period of course correction".
Asked, if he has spoken to her ahead of the inauguration ceremony, he said, "Yes, I did speak to her, and all I told her to keep doing what she does, and not get bothered by what others say. She is also feeling very happy and elated as she prepares to assume the mantle of a US vice president."
-- PTI
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20:32   Obama congratulates Biden
Barack Obama congratulated Joe Biden as the former vice-president prepares to take the oath of office in a couple of hours.

Congratulations to my friend, President @JoeBiden! This is your time, the former president said in a tweet, which included a photo of the two.

Obama and his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, will be in attendance for todays inauguration.
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20:18   'It's a new day in America', tweets Biden
Moments after Donald Trump departed Washington, Joe Bidens Twitter account shared this message: Its a new day in America.

That may foreshadow the themes of Bidens inaugural speech. 

The US president-elect based his campaign on the promise to restore the soul of the nation, and he is likely to voice a similarly hopeful message today.

IMAGE: US President-elect Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden attend a church service before his inauguration, at St Matthews Catholic Church in Washington. Photograph: Tom Brenner/Reuters
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20:10   Kamala Harris wearing Black designers on Inauguration Day
US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be wearing Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson for the inauguration, per a Harris aide. 

Christopher is a young Black designer, from Baton Rouge, and lives in New York City. Sergio is a Black designer from South Carolina.

The Second Gentleman is wearing a Ralph Lauren suit. 
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19:57   Trump leaves note for Biden in Oval Office
Donald Trump left a note for his successor before he left the Oval Office for the last time, a White House spokesperson for the Trump administration confirmed.

The note to incoming president Joe Biden continues a longstanding tradition between successive presidents, even of the opposing parties. The letters are meant to stay private but often times eventually get leaked out to the public.

When Barack Obama left office in 2015, he wrote a note for Trump. 

George W Bush too left a note for Obama in 2009.

The tradition of the departing letter, often times both formal and heartfelt, goes back to when Ronald Reagan left office.

Melania Trump also left a "short note of welcome" for Jill Biden, a source familiar with the matter tells CNN. It's unclear where it was left or its exact contents.

IMAGE: US First Lady Melania Trump waves next to US President Donald Trump as they board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters
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19:52   Govt-farmer meeting ends, next round on Jan 22
The 10th round of talks between the government and protesting farmer unions has ended, the next meeting will be held on January 22 at 12 noon.

Union leaders said that the government proposed to submit affidavit in the Superme Court for suspending three farm laws for a mutually-agreed period and set up a committee.

However, the unions stayed firm on their demand for repeal of laws, but will still discuss the government's proposal for suspension of Acts on Thursday.   -- PTI
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19:11   Trump addresses supporters at Joint Base Andrews
Donald Trump and Melania reach Joint Base Andrews.

Trump addresses supporters.

He walked to the stage as his supporters chanted 'We love you'.

Trump replied to them saying 'We love you', on behalf of Melania too.

"This has been an incredible four years. We accomplished so much together. I want to thank my family, friends and my staff. Want to thank you for your effort. People have no idea how hard this family worked," Trump said.

He then invited Melania to speak.

In a short address, she said, "It's been an honour to be the First Lady. God bless you all and your families."
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18:47   Finally, Donald Trump leaves White House
Outgoing United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Wednesday stepped out of the White House, walked towards Marine One for one last ride to Joint Base Andrews, from where they will fly to Florida.

Donald Trump will make his massive Mar-a-Lago estate on an island off the coast of Palm Beach in Florida his permanent home as his presidency comes to an end, according to media reports. 
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18:23   SC rejects Aadhaar review plea in 4-1 order
The Supreme Court has dismissed a batch of pleas seeking review of its 2018 verdict upholding the Centre's flagship Aadhaar scheme as constitutionally valid but striking down some of its provisions, including its linking with bank accounts, mobile phones and school admissions.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar, by a majority of 4:1, rejected the review pleas against the apex court's September 26, 2018 verdict.

Justice D Y Chandrachud, one of the five-judges of the bench, dissented with the majority verdict and said that the review petitions be kept pending until a larger bench decides the question related to certification of a bill as a money bill.

The Aadhaar Bill was certified as a money bill which enabled the government to get it cleared without getting the assent of a majority in Rajya Sabha.

The present review petitions have been filed against the final judgment and order dated September 26, 2018.

We have perused the review petitions as well as the grounds in support thereof. In our opinion, no case for review of judgment and order dated September 26, 2018 is made out, the majority order of January 11 said.

We hasten to add that change in the law or subsequent decision/judgment of a coordinate or larger bench by itself cannot be regarded as a ground for review.

The review petitions are accordingly dismissed, said the bench, also comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, S Abdul Nazeer and B R Gavai.   -- PTI
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17:24   No BJP CM face in Bengal: Vijayvargiya
Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary and West Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya  has said that the party will project no chief ministerial face in the upcoming assembly polls.

"No chief ministerial face will be projected in (West Bengal Assembly elections).

"After securing the majority, the party leadership and the MLAs will decide who will become the chief minister," Vijayvargiya said.   -- ANI
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16:44   Biden inaguration: Markets soar to record high
Benchmark BSE Sensex rose by 393 points on Wednesday following gains in IT, energy and auto stocks amid strong global cues on hopes of fresh stimulus measures by the incoming United States administration.

The 30-share Sensex advanced by 393.83 or 0.80 per cent to close at its fresh record of 49,792.12.

The broader NSE Nifty jumped 123.55 points or 0.85 per cent to settle at a lifetime high of 14,644.70.

World stocks advanced on Wednesday after US Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen called for a hefty stimulus to protect the US economy.

President-elect Joe Biden, who will be sworn into office on Wednesday. has laid out a $1.9 trillion stimulus package proposal to boost the economy.

Among Sensex stocks, Maruti rose the most by 2.75 per cent, followed by Tech Mahindra (2.67 per cent), Mahindra & Mahindra (1.98 per cent) and Asian Paints (1.98 per cent).

Gains in Reliance, TCS, Infosys, HCL Tech, HDFC and ICICI Bank also helped the barometer extend its rally for a second day.

Among losers, Power Grid dropped 1.75 per cent and NTPC by 1.35 per cent.

Asian shares were mostly higher ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration as US President.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.4 per cent and South Korea's Kospi by 0.6 per cent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.7 per cent.

Japanese market however dropped 0.4 per cent due to fresh COVID-19 concerns.   -- PTI
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16:18   Rahul to launch campaign for TN polls on Jan 23
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will hit the campaign trail on Saturday in Tamil Nadu where assembly elections are likely to be held in April-May, party state unit chief K S Azhagiri said on Wednesday.
    
He also asserted the present Congress-DMK alliance would continue for the elections and said it would be a welcome development if actor-politician Kamal Haasan joined the combine.
    
Haasan, who last week completed his first round of campaign, has ruled out joining hands with ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or the DMK, which is going all out to come back to power in the state after being in opposition for ten years.
    
"Rahul Gandhi will attend election meetings in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts on January 23. He has also agreed to visit Erode for a Congress public meeting," the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president told reporters in Erode.
    
This will be the second visit of the former Congress president to the state this month. 

Earlier, on January 14, he had witnessed a 'jallikattu', bull taming sport, event in Madurai in southern Tamil Nadu.
    
Interestingly, Gandhi would launch the campaign from western Tamil Nadu, the home region of chief minister K Palaniswami, who hails from neighbouring Salem district.     

Palaniswami, declared as the chief ministerial candidate by the AIADMK, has already launched his campaign.     

Arch-rival DMK chief M K Stalin has been addressing a series of "people's grama sabha" meetings across the state in the run-up to the elections.
     
Gandhi's detailed tour programme would be announced on Thursday, Azhagiri said during the interaction at the District Congress Committee office.
     
He said the existing alliance between Congress and DMK would continue. Though there may be differences in some policies of the alliance parties, everyone was committed to secularism, the TNCC chief added.
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15:27   Bhutan awaits Covid vaccines from India
An AN-32 aircraft arrived in Paro valley, ferrying Bhutan's first consignment of COVID-19 vaccine from India. Health Minister Dechen Wangmo will receive vaccines from Indian Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj in presence of PM Dr Lotay Tshering in a modest ceremony: Office of Bhutan PM
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15:18  
Maharashtra: Mumbai Sessions Court rejects bail plea of former BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta who is an accused in the TRP scam.
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15:10   Another protesting farmer dies, toll nears 70
A farmer who allegedly consumed a poisonous substance at the Tikri border died during treatment at a hospital here on Wednesday, police said. The deceased has been identified as Jai Bhagwan Rana (42), a resident of Pakasma village in Rohtak district of Haryana. He had consumed Sulphas tablets at the farmers' protest site at Tikri on Tuesday, they said. 

In a purported suicide note, Rana said he was a small farmer and many peasants have taken to the streets to protest against the Centre's new farm laws. 

"The government says it is a matter of only two to three states, but farmers from all over the country are protesting against the laws. Sadly, it is not a movement now, but a fight of issues. The talks between the farmers and the Centre also remain deadlocked," he wrote in the letter. 

Furman Singh Sandhu, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Punjab, part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha or joint alliance of farmers unions protesting against the farm laws, claimed the number of deaths has exceeded 70. The major cause is heart attack and the cold for senior citizens, Sandhu told Scroll.in.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) A Koan said the man was taken to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital by CAT ambulance where he passed away during the course of treatment. He added that legal proceedings under CrPC have been initiated in the matter. 

Last month, a lawyer from Punjab had allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison a few kilometres away from the protest site at the Tikri border. A Sikh preacher, Sant Ram Singh, had also allegedly ended his life near the Singhu border protest site claiming that he was "unable to bear the pain of the farmers". 

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at various border points of Delhi for over two months demanding repeal of the three laws -- the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act. -- PTI
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15:00   Active covid caseload lowest in 7 months
India's COVID-19 active caseload has fallen below the 2-lakh mark after nearly 7 months and comprises just 1.86 per cent of the total infections, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday. It said that 72 per cent of the active cases are concentrated in Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal. Thirty-four states and UTs have less than 10,000 active cases. 

"The active cases have fallen to 1,97,201.This is the lowest after 207 days. The total active cases were 1,97,387 on June 27, 2020," the ministry underlined. 

A total of 16,988 people have recovered in a span of 24 hours. This has led to a net decline of 3,327 from the total active caseload, it said. India's daily new cases are on a steady decline which has also contributed to the shrinkage in active caseload, it underscored.

"Globally, India has one of the lowest daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases per million population in the last 7 days," the ministry said. As on January 20, 2021, a total of 6,74,835 beneficiaries have received the vaccination. In a span of 24 hours, 2,20,786 people were vaccinated across 3,860 sessions. A total of 11,720 sessions has been conducted so far. The total recovered cases stand at 1.02 crore.

"The total recovered cases have crossed the active caseload by one crore a few days ago. The gap presently stands at 10,048,540," the ministry highlighted. Over 80 per cent of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 states and UTs. Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of single day recoveries with 4,516 newly recovered cases.

A total of 4,296 people recovered in Kerala followed by 807 in Karnataka. Over 79 per cent of the new cases are concentrated in seven states and UTs. Kerala reported the highest daily new cases at 6,186. It is followed by Maharashtra with 2,294 new cases. There is also a steady decline in the number of daily fatalities which stands at 162 today. 

Six states and UTs account for 71.6 per cent of new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (50). Kerala and West Bengal follow with 26 and 11 daily deaths, respectively, the ministry said. -- PTI 
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14:48   Sawant rules out possibility of mid-term polls in Goa
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of mid-term Assembly polls, claiming that the current BJP government in the state will complete its entire tenure. The tenure of Goa Legislative Assembly ends in February, 2022. 

Responding to a question on the possibility of mid- term Assembly polls, the chief minister said there is no reason to go for an early election in the state. "The BJP-led governments in both the state and Centre have been executing several developmental works in Goa. Few projects will be completed in the next few days," he said. Sawant said the state government under his leadership "is doing well and is stable". 

"We don't need to go for early elections. We will complete our tenure and go to polls at the right time," he said, asserting that the next government in Goa will again be of the BJP. 

 The last Assembly elections in Goa were held in February, 2017, following which the BJP had formed an alliance government under the leadership of late Manohar Parrikar. Parrikar died of pancreatic cancer on March 17, 2019, following which Sawant was sworn in as the chief minister. -- PTI
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14:41   Farmers, Centre talks to begin in a bit
Another round of talks between farmer leaders and Centre over the three Farm Laws to begin shortly; Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal arrive at Vigyan Bhawan.
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14:20   SC irked over aspersions cast on farm laws panel
The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed strong displeasure over the aspersions cast by some farmers' unions on members of the court-appointed committee to resolve the impasse over new farm laws and said it has not given any adjudicating authority to the panel.
 
The Centre, meanwhile, withdrew its petition seeking injunction against the proposed tractor rally by farmers on the Republic Day after the apex court said it was police matter.
On the issue pertaining to the committee, a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said it had appointed experts in the panel as the judges are not experts on the subject.
Controversy had erupted after the apex court appointed the four-member committee as some of the members had earlier reportedly expressed their views and favoured the contentious farm laws, following which one of the members had recused himself. 
"Where is the question of bias in this? We have not given adjudicating powers to the committee. You don't want to appear is understandable, but casting aspersions on someone because he expressed his view is not done. You don't need to brand anybody like this," said the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.
"Everyone should have an opinion. Even judges have opinion. This has become a cultural thing. Branding people which you do not want has become a norm. We have not given any power of adjudication to the committee," the bench said.
During the hearing conducted through video-conferencing, the Centre withdrew its plea seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor rally on January 26 by farmers protesting against the new farms laws after the top court said "it is a police matter".
The police has the "authority" to deal with the issue pertaining to the proposed tractor march in Delhi on the Republic Day, the bench said. 
"We have told you that we will not issue any direction. It is a police matter. We will allow you to withdraw. You are the authority and you have to deal with it. You have the powers to pass orders, you do it. It is not for the court to pass orders," the bench said.
After the observation of the apex court, the Centre withdrew the plea filed through Delhi Police 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. -- PTI
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14:15   Available to answer any question: WhatsApp
A day after India asked it to withdraw changes to its privacy policy, WhatsApp on Wednesday said the proposed change does not expand its ability to share user data with Facebook and that it is open to answering questions on the issue.
          
The Indian government on Tuesday posed 14 questions to WhatsApp on its "invasive" changes in Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
        
"We wish to reinforce that this update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook. Our aim is to provide transparency and new options available to engage with businesses so they can serve their customers and grow," a WhatsApp spokesperson said.
        
The spokesperson added that WhatsApp will always protect personal messages with end-to-end encryption, so that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can see them. 
        
"We are working to address misinformation and remain available to answer any questions," the spokesperson further stated.
        
In a strongly worded letter to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has said the proposed changes to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, without giving users an option to opt-out, "raise grave concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens".
        
The letter noted that with over 400 million users in India, the changes will have a disproportionate impact on the country's citizens, it said.
        
It has also asked WhatsApp to provide details of the services provided by it in India, categories of data collected and permissions and consents sought. It has also asked WhatsApp to withdraw the proposed changes and reconsider its approach to information privacy, freedom of choice and data security.
       
WhatsApp had earlier this month begun asking its 2 billion users worldwide to accept an update of its privacy policy if they want to keep using the popular messaging app. The new terms caused an outcry among technology experts, privacy advocates and users and triggered a wave of defections to rival services such as Signal and Telegram. -- PTI
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14:11   4 soldiers injured in Pakistani firing along LoC
Four soldiers of the Army sustained injuries as Pakistani troops opened fire targeting forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector, official sources said on Wednesday.
 
The ceasefire violation from across the LoC in the Keri Battal area took place on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, they said.
Four soldiers suffered splinter injuries and were shifted to the military hospital in Udhampur for treatment, the sources added. -- PTI 
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14:02   IPL contract with CSK has ended, says Harbhajan
Veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Wednesday said his contract with IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings has ended, bringing to a conclusion his "wonderful" two-year stint with the side.
   
The 40-year-old spinner revealed this ahead of next month's IPL auction and hours before the list of retained players for the upcoming edition is announced.
 
"As my contract comes to an end with @ChennaiIPL, playing for this team was a great experience..beautiful memories made &some great friends which I will remember fondly for years to come..Thank you @ChennaiIPL, management, staff and fans for a wonderful 2years.. All the best," Harbhajan tweeted. 
 
He was part of the CSK team that won the Indian Premier League title in 2018, coming back after a two-year suspension.
 
Harbhajan was one of the two CSK players, along with Suresh Raina, who chose to skip the 13th edition of the IPL in the UAE last year, held in a bio-secure bubble amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Raina, though, had to rush home after a tragedy in the family.
 
In the 2019 season, Harbhajan picked up 16 wickets from 11 games at an average of 19.5. 
 
In 160 IPL matches, Harbhajan has 150 wickets at an average of 26.44 and an economy rate of 7.05. -- PTI
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14:00   Centre withdraws plea against tractor rally
Supreme Court begins hearing the pleas on the issue of farmers protest at Delhi borders and Centre's plea against the proposed tractor rally or any other kind of protest. The SC says it will not pass any order on the Centre's plea against proposed tractor rally or any other kind of protest by farmers on Republic Day.

Centre withdraws plea seeking injunction against proposed tractor rally by farmers on January 26 after SC says it is a police matter.

CJI says, "We've said that it is for the Police to decide. We are not going to pass the orders. You are the authority to take action."

The Supreme Court asks the Centre to withdraw its plea against the proposed tractor rally by farmers on Republic Day.

Supreme Court also begins hearing the pleas on the issue of farmers protest at Delhi borders.

Advocate appearing for Kisan Mahapanchayat tells Supreme Court that application has been filed on their behalf to reconstitute the Committee after one member recused from it.

Supreme Court asks whether it's the same organisation which rejected the constitution of committee yesterday.

"We gave power to the committee to listen (to farmers) and come to us and file their reports," the CJI said.

"What is the point of bias in it?," the CJI said and added that don't cast aspersion on Court.

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13:59   Savarkar's portrait in UP assembly sparks row
A portrait of Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar in the picture gallery of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council has sparked a row, with Congress MLC Deepak Singh raising an objection and writing a letter to the Chairman seeking its removal.
   
The portrait was inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday.
"The installation of the picture of Savarkarji along with that of great freedom fighters who withstood atrocities of the British and yet did not bow before them is an insult to all those who continued to bear all kind of tortures and kept fighting for  independence," Singh said in the letter to Chairman Ramesh Yadav on Tuesday.
He also said that the picture of Savarkar should be removed and be placed in the BJP parliamentary office .
Singh said the Chairman has directed the principal secretary of the Council to look into the matter and take necessary action.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, when asked to comment on the issue, said there should be a debate among the youth about what contribution has been made by different people to the country and all those who have contributed to the freedom struggle should be honoured. 
But there are others on whom there are different kinds of allegations, documents and stories which raise a question mark, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister added without elaborating. 
 
While inaugurating the portrait, the chief minister had termed Savarkar as a great freedom fighter and philosopher whose personality is a source of inspiration for all Indians. 
 
While the BJP counts on Savarkar's contribution to India's freedom movement and calls him a "great patriot", the Congress and other opposition parties have long shunned him for his alleged link to Mahatma Gandhi's assassin. -- PTI
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13:56   PM releases Rs 2,691 crore PMAY-G beneficiaries in UP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday released financial assistance of Rs 2,691 crore to 6.1 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
          
Modi released the assistance via video conference.Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath were present on the occasion.
       
The assistance includes release of first installment to 5.30 lakh beneficiaries and second installment to 80,000 beneficiaries who have already availed of the first installment of assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana -- Gramin.
        
Modi had given a call of Housing for All by 2022, for which a flagship programme of PMAY-G was launched on November 20, 2016. 
        
So far 1.26 crore houses have already been built across the country under the scheme, an official release said.
        
Under PMAY-G, each beneficiary is given 100 per cent grant of Rs 1.20 lakh (in plains) and Rs 1.30 lakh (in hill states/NE region/difficult areas/JK & Ladakh besides Naxal-hit districts besides areas falling under the Integrated Action Plan IAP).
       
The beneficiaries of PMAY-G are also provided support of unskilled labour wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and assistance of Rs 12,000 for construction of toilets through the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin, MGNREGS or any other dedicated source of funding.
        
The scheme has provisions for convergence with other central or state government schemes for providing LPG connection under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme, electricity connection and access to safe drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission. -- PTI 
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12:56   4 soldiers injured in Pakistani firing along LoC in J-K's Akhnoor sector
Four soldiers of the Army sustained injuries as Pakistani troops opened fire targeting forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector, official sources said on Wednesday. 

The ceasefire violation from across the LoC in the Keri Battal area took place on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, they said. Four soldiers suffered splinter injuries and were shifted to the military hospital in Udhampur for treatment, the sources added. -- PTI 
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12:43   I-T dept raids 28 properties of TN evangelist over tax evasion
The Income Tax Department on Wednesday conducted raids at 28 properties across Tamil Nadu belonging to evangelist Paul Dhinakaran over alleged tax evasion.

The places that were raided include Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences in Coimbatore and Christian missionary 'Jesus Calls' ministry in Chennai. Paul Dhinakaran is the son of a preacher and Jesus Calls founder D.G.S Dhinakaran and Chancellor of the Karunya Institute of Technology. -- ANI
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12:38   Protests in Karnataka on farm laws
Congress workers hold 'Raj Bhawan Chalo' march from Sangolli Railway Station to Raj Bhawan in Bengaluru. The protest is being held against the state government and in support of farmers agitating against the three farm laws.
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12:30   Do what mother taught you: Kamala Harris's uncle
G Balachandran, the uncle of US VP-elect Kamala Harris, has this message for his niece ahead of her inauguration: "There's no message I can give, I didn't help her become VP. She did all on her own. All that I'll tell her is 'do whatever Shyamala(Kamala Harris' mother) taught you. You've been doing fine so far, keep it up.' It's all I can say."

On the eve of his inauguration, President-elect Joe Biden Tuesday led a national mourning ceremony in Washington to pay tribute to those who had died of the novel coronavirus. There were 400 lights lit at Lincoln Memorial to mark the 400,000 people who had succumbed to the virus in the country.

"It's hard sometimes to remember. But that's how we heal. It's important to do that as a nation. That's why we're here today. Between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights in the darkness along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all whom we lost," Biden said.

Biden, 78, will take oath as the 46th president of the United States tonight.
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12:13   Trump pardons 73 people including ex-aide Bannon
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned 73 people, including his former aide Steve Bannon, the White House said, just before he was due to leave office, say reports. "President Donald J. Trump granted pardons to 73 individuals and commuted the sentences of an additional 70 individuals," his administration said in a statement. 

Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon was arrested last year over allegations he improperly used funds from a Build The Wall fundraiser. Donald Trump has reportedly pardoned the former Breitbart editor
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12:04   Jack Ma resurfaces after mysterious dissapearance
Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, suspected to be missing following Beijing's aggressive crackdown on Alibaba Group, resurfaced on Wednesday.

"#JUSTIN: #JackMa not disappear, here we go: Ma just had a video conference with 100 village teachers on Wednesday morning, saying: after #COVID19, we'll meet each other again," tweeted Qingqing Chen, Chief Reporter of Global Times News, a China state-affiliated media. 

Ma had mysteriously disappeared from the public eye after Beijing's aggressive crackdown on his business empire.

She further added that Jack Ma met with 100 rural teachers in the country through video conferencing.

"Ma, who used to be an English teacher and founder of #Alibaba, also gives wishes to village teachers via a video on Wednesday," tweeted Qingqing Chen. China state-affiliated media also shared a video in which the billionaire can be seen addressing the gathering. -- ANI
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11:34   Major defence partnership with India: Team Biden
While reiterating the threat posed by China to the US, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin on Tuesday (local time) said during his Senate confirmation hearing that he will operationalise India's "Major Defence Partner" status and build upon the US-India existing strong defence cooperation.

"If confirmed, my overarching objective for our defence relationship with India would be to continue elevating the partnership. I would further operationalise India's "Major Defence Partner" status and continue to build upon existing strong defence cooperation to ensure the U.S. and Indian militaries can collaborate to address shared interests," Austin said in a written statement to the US Senate. 

He further said, "I would also seek to deepen and broaden our defence cooperation through the Quad security dialogue and other regional multilateral engagements."

Speaking on the US force presence in the Middle East, he said, "I will review our force presence to ensure it is properly balanced to address the broad range of challenges in the Middle East - including from China and Russia - with global requirements and the health of the joint force."

While viewing both Russia and China as a threat to the US, he, however, emphasised that China is of top priority because of its "ascent and the scope and scale of its military modernisation".

On the threat being posed by China, Austin said that Beijing has "made it clear that it expects the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to be a global military actor that is able to secure China's growing overseas interests and advance other PRC objectives abroad."

"I assess that the rapid development and operational focus of the People's Republic of China (PRC) constitutes a significant and long-term security threat to the United States and to our allies and partners. This threat is an outgrowth of nearly two decades of intense efforts by China to modernise and reform the PLA and other forces into an increasingly capable joint force able to conduct the full range of military operations across every warfighting domain," he said.
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11:11   10th round of talks between farmers, govt at 2 pm
The tenth round of talks between the Central government and farmers' representatives over the contentious agricultural laws will be held on Wednesday at Vigyan Bhavan at 2 pm.

The talks were earlier scheduled for January 19 was later postponed to Wednesday. As the ninth round of talks between the Central government and farmer unions on January 15 remained inconclusive, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said the unions have been asked to form informal groups among themselves and submit a draft to the government regarding their demands.

Tomar had said the government will think about the draft with an "open mind".

Saying that the government is concerned about the farmers protesting in cold conditions, he had asserted that the Centre is positive to reach a solution through talks.

On January 12, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the Centre's three farm laws and asked the committee formed by it concerning the laws to submit its report within two months.

The committee has been directed to hold a dialogue with farmers and submit its recommendations pertaining to the farm laws within two months from the date of its first sitting.

However, the leaders of farmers' unions rejected the committee, saying their members were already in favour of the farm laws.

Bhupinder Singh Mann, National President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Mann) had recused himself from the four-member committee appointed by the top court over the new farm laws - ANI
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11:10   Equities in the green, IT stocks in focus
Equity benchmark indices were in the green during early hours on Wednesday with Nifty IT surging by 2.4 per cent. At 10:15 am, the BSE S&P Sensex was up by 175 points or 0.35 per cent at 49,574 while the Nifty 50 surged by 58 points or 0.4 per cent to 14,579. 

Except for Nifty FMCG and financial service, all sectoral indices at the National Stock Exchange were in the positive zone with Nifty IT advancing by 2.4 per cent, auto by 0.9 per cent and pharma by 0.5 per cent.

Among stocks, Wipro was up by 3.1 per cent to Rs 443.60 per share while Tech Mahindra gained by 2.7 per cent, HCL Technologies by 2.2 per cent, Infosys by 2 per cent and Tata Consultancy Services by 1.7 per cent.

Tata Motors accelerated by 3.9 per cent to Rs 268.90 per share. HDFC Life, Eicher Motors and Hero MotoCorp too traded with a positive bias.However, Grasim, NTPC, GAIL, UPL, Hindalco, IndusInd Bank and ITC were in losses -- ANI
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11:04   Lady Gaga prays for a day of acceptance
Hours ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration, Lady Gaga prays for a better tomorrow. "I pray tomorrow will be a day of peace for all Americans. A day for love, not hatred. A day for acceptance not fear. A day for dreaming of our future joy as a country. A dream that is non-violent, a dream that provides safety for our souls. Love, from the Capitol," she tweeted.

On the eve of his inauguration, President-elect Joe Biden Tuesday led a national mourning ceremony in Washington to pay tribute to those who had died of the novel coronavirus. There were 400 lights lit at Lincoln Memorial to mark the 400,000 people who had succumbed to the virus in the country.

"It's hard sometimes to remember. But that's how we heal. It's important to do that as a nation. That's why we're here today. Between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights in the darkness along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all whom we lost," Biden said.

Biden, 78, will take oath as the 46th president of the United States tonight.
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10:45   Who told Arnab about Balakot, Rahul wants to know
Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked who had leaked "top secret' information about the Balakot air strike to Republic TV's Arnab Goswami, underlining that this was a "criminal act' that had put Indian Air Force pilots conducting the raid inside Pakistan at risk.

"This was top secret information. This was not provided to anybody else. There were four or five people who knew this,' the Congress leader said at a news conference in New Delhi, listing the Prime Minister, the defence minister, the home minister, the air chief and the national security adviser as those who would know about such an operation.

"I want to know whether it was the Prime Minister of India who told Arnab Goswami. Or it was the defence minister or the home minister. Or it was the NSA. I want to know which one of those people told this man," Rahul said.
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10:38   Nation wants to know about Balakot air strike: who leaked it?
Less than two months later on the campaign trail, Modi told a cheering crowd in Gujarat's Amreli: "Tamey khush, desh khush'. Read the column here
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10:35   NDA to hold meeting on Jan 30 ahead of budget session
A meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will be held on January 30, ahead of the budget session of the Parliament.NDA comprises of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), AIADMK, and Janata Dal (United) among others. The union budget will be presented on February 1.

On Tuesday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said the first part of the budget session will start on January 29 and continue till February 15, and the second part of the session will be from March 8 to April 8.Birla said that Rajya Sabha will function from 9 am to 2 pm and Lok Sabha from 4 pm to 9 pm with Zero Hour and Question Hour.

Members of Parliament have been requested to undergo an RT-PCR test against COVID-19 ahead of the budget session, he said. -- ANI
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10:08   India sends 1L Covishield vaccines to Maldives
India reports 13,823 new COVID19 cases, 16,988 discharges and 162 deaths in last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry.  Total cases: 1,05,95,660 Active cases: 1,97,201 Total discharges: 1,02,45,741 Death toll: 1,52,718.

Meanwhile, the first consignment of 1 lakh dosages of Covishield vaccine, by Serum Institute of India, to be dispatched from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Male in Maldives shortly.
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09:21   We begin healing together: Biden
United States President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Tuesday  paid tribute to the thousands of lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic at a memorial held by the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial at the National Mall in Washington.

"To heal, we must remember," the President-elect said. "It is hard sometimes to remember, but that is how we heal. It is important to do that as a nation. That is why we are here today. Between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights in the darkness along this sacred pool of reflection and remember all that we have lost."

Biden and Harris held their first inauguration-related event in Washington on Tuesday night (local time). They were accompanied by their spouses, the incoming first lady and gentleman Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff.

Speaking at the memorial, Harris said she hopes Americans emerge from the ordeal of the pandemic "with a new wisdom -- to cherish simple moments, to imagine new possibilities and to open our hearts just a little bit more to one another."

"We gather tonight, a nation in mourning, to pay tribute to the lives we have lost: a grandmother or grandfather who was our whole world; a parent, partner, sibling or friend who we still cannot accept is no longer here," she said. "And for many months, we have grieved by ourselves. Tonight, we grieve and begin healing together."

There are 400 lights illuminating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in tribute to the more than 400,000 people who have lost their lives due to COVID-19 in the US, CNN reported.
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08:25   Farmers, govt to hold 10th round of talks today
Representatives of protesting farm unions and the central leadership will on Wednesday meet for the 10th time to overcome the deadlock over three contentious agricultural laws.

The meeting, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday, comes as the ninth round of talks on January 15 remained inconclusive.

In the previous meeting, while farmers remained adamant on the demand to repeal legislations, Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar urged them to be flexible and asserted that the government has been accommodative and has already accepted several demands.
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01:34   Co-WIN glitches slow down vaccination in Mumbai
On the second day of COVID-19 inoculation drive in Mumbai, the civic body managed to administer vaccines to only 50 per cent of the targeted number of healthcare workers on Tuesday due to glitches in Co-WIN software application, officials said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials again blamed technical glitches in Co-WIN, the IT platform developed by the Union government to implement and manage the inoculation process, for low turnout of healthcare workers.

On Saturday, when the nationwide inoculation drive was launched, the civic body had suspended the process for two days due to the same reason related to Co-WIN.

On Tuesday, when the drive resumed, of the targeted 3,200 healthcare workers called for getting vaccinated at nine centres, only 1,597 were given shots, according to the civic body data.

According to the data, the highest 307 healthcare workers were given vaccines at KEM Hospital, followed by 285 at Rajawadi Hospital and 236 at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, among other medical facilities.

The least number of 13 healthcare workers took doses at the state-run JJ Hospital, where indigenously developed 'Covaxin' vaccine of Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech is being administered, according to the data.

The other vaccine being administered is 'Covishield', manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII).

On the first day of the inoculation drive, only 39 of the targeted 100 healthcare workers had taken 'Covaxin' doses.

Dr Mangala Gomare, executive health officer, BMC, told PTI that due to the technical glitches in Co-WIN, they failed to send SMSes to the registered healthcare workers.

"Hence, we were forced to call every individual healthcare worker through 'war rooms' last night," Gomare said.

"When we learnt that SMSes were not being sent to people (through Co-WIN), we contacted them through war rooms," Gomare said.

The BMC health officer said they have already contacted the Maharashtra government regarding the technical issues faced in functioning of Co-WIN and hoped for an early resolution of the problem.

On the first day of COVID-19 inoculation drive on Saturday, only 1,923 of the targeted 4,000 healthcare were taken vaccine doses.

The civic body had blamed glitches in Co-WIN for the low turnout and put the drive on hold on Sunday and Monday.

On Tuesday morning, at all the nine centres in Mumbai, inoculation started at a slow pace.

Unlike Saturday, there was hardly any rush of healthcare workers in waiting areas of vaccination centres.

Some healthcare workers from KEM Hospital said they had received phone calls from the BMC's war rooms on Monday night between 8.30 and 11.30, but no SMSes were sent to them.

However, some others said they received SMSes on early Tuesday morning, asking them to come at inoculation sites.   -- PTI

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