New Delhi, January 9 (IANS): Bird flu has been confirmed in seven states of the country so far, namely Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, while test reports of unsual death of birds received from Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Delhi are awaited, the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said on Saturday. As per a statement issued by the ministry, after confirmation of avian influenza (AI) positive samples by t

New Delhi, January 9 (PTI): President Ram Nath Kovind said on Saturday that the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan would make the world order more just and fair, promoting greater cooperation and peace. Virtually addressing the valedictory session of the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, he said that the idea of self-reliant India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, does not mean seeking self-centred arrangements or turning the country inwards. "It is about self-belief, leading to self-suf

New Delhi, January 9 (IANS): As demand for the India-made Covid-19 vaccines gathers momentum in foreign countries, even China appears to have grudgingly accepted its South Asian neighbours domain expertise. An article in the China Communist Party's mouthpiece, Global Times, states: "Experts suggested that India's vaccines are no less competitive than Chinese Covid-19 vaccines in both research and production capacity, considering that India has the world's largest va

New Delhi, January 9 (IANS): A high-level committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been constituted to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in a befitting manner. A notification to this effect was issued on Friday by the Ministry of Culture in which 85 members, including the Prime Minister, have been named. The committee will decide on the activities for a one-year long commemoration, beginning January 23. The members of the commi

New Delhi, January 9 (IANS): A Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldier was apprehended after he crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh and entered the Indian territory, the Indian Army has stated. "During early hours of January 8, a Chinese soldier was apprehended on the Indian Side of the LAC in Ladakh in area South of Pangong lake," the Army said. It further stated that the PLA soldier had transgressed across the LAC and was taken into custody b

New Delhi, January 9 (IANS): The Union Health Ministry said on Saturday that the much-awaited coronavirus vaccination drive will kick off on January 16. "It was decided that in view of the forthcoming festivals, including Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu etc., the Covid-19 vaccination will start from January 16, 2021," the ministry said in a statement. The roll-out of Covid-19 vaccine will give priority to the healthcare and frontline workers who are estimated

New Delhi, January 9 (IANS): The Central government on Saturday said that a total of 90 persons have been detected with the new 'more transmissible' UK coronavirus mutant strain. They are kept in physical isolation in health facilities. "Total number of persons infected with the UK mutant strain of Covid-19 now stands at 90 in the country," the Union Health Ministry said in a statement. According to the ministry, all the 90 persons have been kept in a single roo

New Delhi, January 9 (PTI): India is ready with two made-in-India vaccines for the protection of humanity and the world is not only waiting for them but also watching as to how the country runs the globe's biggest vaccination programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. In his address at the inauguration of the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention, Modi also asserted that if democracy is most strong, vibrant and lively anywhere in the world, it is in India.

Bhandara (Maharashtra), January 9 (IANS): In a shocking tragedy, at least 10 new-born infants were suffocated in a fire that erupted in the children's ward of a government hospital in Maharashtra's Bhandara district early on Saturday morning, officials said. The fire, due to a suspected electrical short-circuit, erupted around 1.45 a.m. when the mothers and relatives of the infants were fast asleep and quickly engulfed the Sick & Newborn Care Unit of the Bhandara Distric

New Delhi, January 8 (PTI): The second mock drill on COVID-19 vaccination was conducted on Friday in 736 districts across 33 states and union territories with Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who oversaw the dry run in Tamil Nadu, saying inoculating the country's entire population would soon become a reality. He said vaccines would be made available in the next few days and those at risk such as healthcare professionals would be given priority. The Directorate General of

New Delhi, January 8 (IANS): With the Covid-19 vaccination drive expected to commence next week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to chair a meeting with the Chief Ministers of all the states. The meeting is likely to be held at 4 p.m. on Monday, said sources. In the meeting, the Prime Minister is expected to discuss the detailed plans to roll Covid vaccines in all the states, following the Drug Controller General India's (DCGI) approval for the restricted emergency use of tw

New Delhi, January 8 (PTI): As the eighth round of talks between the Centre and protesting farmers on Friday failed to break an over-a-month-long deadlock, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said no decision could be reached as unions did not give alternatives to their demand for the repeal of laws. Speaking to reporters after the meeting that lasted for little over two hours, Tomar said the government is still hopeful that union leaders will come with alternatives to discuss

New Delhi, January 8 (IANS): Days after getting Drugs Controller General of India's (DCGI) nod for India's first indigenously-made coronavirus vaccine, Bharat Biotech has again knocked on the doors of the drug controller seeking permission to conduct clinical trials of their intranasal vaccine for the viral disease. Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has applied to the DGCI for permission to start Phase 1 and 2 trials of their nasal coronavirus vaccine, top sources privy to the

New Delhi, January 8 (IANS): The Central government on Friday said that a total of 82 persons have been detected with the new 'more transmissible' UK coronavirus mutant strain. They have been kept in physical isolation in health facilities. Earlier on the day, a flight from the US landed in Delhi with 246 passengers on board amid concerns about the mutant strain that emerged in Britain. The flights from the UK resumed on Friday after the government suspended services between

Kanpur, January 8 (IANS): Sarla Devi, the mother of slain gangster Vikas Dubey, has apologised for the deeds of her son during a visit to her ancestral village Bikru, earlier this week. Vikas Dubey, accused of killing eight policemen in an ambush on July 3 last year, was killed in an encounter with the police, a week later. "I really regret giving birth to a crook and I apologise to each and every one who have lost their near and dear ones because of Vikas. However, I h

New Delhi, January 8 (IANS): Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday slammed NCW member Chandramukhi Devi for her remark a day earlier that the gang rape and murderous assault on a woman in Badaun would not have happened if she had not stepped out alone in the evening or if she were accompanied by a child. "Do you think that women's safety will be ensured after this kind of statement? The NCW member is blaming the victim for the crime. The administration

Lucknow/Meerut, January 8 (IANS): A retired Armyman was arrested on Friday in Uttar Pradesh on the charge of working for a Pakistani spy agency since 2016, official sources said. The sources told IANS that retired Signalman Saurabh Sharma was apprehended by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) following inputs from the Military Intelligence (MI) Unit in Lucknow. The ex-serviceman was allegedly working for Pakistani intelligence handlers based in Karachi. In November la

New Delhi, January 8 (IANS): Flight services between the UK and India recommenced on Friday, with national carrier Air India flying in over 250 passengers from that country. An AI-112 flight landed at Delhi's IGI Airport from the UK. The special flights would be operated under strict supervision. As per the latest government guidelines, all passengers arriving from the UK would have to undergo mandatory RT-PCR test in the UK as well as in India. In a tweet, the Delhi airpo

January 8 (PTI): Vanita Gupta is one of the most respected civil rights lawyers in America and a 'proud daughter' of immigrants from India who has fought for greater equity, United States President-elect Joe Biden has said as he nominated the Indian-American to be his associate attorney general. If confirmed by the Senate, Gupta, 46, would be the first woman of colour to serve in this role. "As associate attorney general, the number three job at the department, I nom

New Delhi, January 8 (IANS): With 18,139 new coronavirus infections and 234 deaths in the last 24 hours, India's overall tally stood at 1,04,13,417, while the death toll touched 1,50,570, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Friday. India continued its streak of low daily new cases. Till now, 1,00,37,398 have recovered. Currently, there are 2,25,449 active cases. The recovery rate stands at 96.36 per cent while the fatality rate is 1.45 as per cent. The total num