Covid LIVE: 80% of India's adults are fully vaccinated, says Mandaviya

Over 20 mn adolescents in 15-18 age group fully vaccinated against Covid, says Union Health Minister

9:48 PM

Six African countries to receive mRNA vaccine technology

The first African countries selected to receive the technology necessary to produce mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 are Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia, a summit meeting of European Union and African Union nations heard on Friday.

 

The six countries have been chosen to build vaccine production factories as part of a bid the World Health Organisation launched last year to replicate what are believed to be the most effective licensed shots against COVID-19.

 

Africa currently produces just 1% of coronavirus vaccines. According to WHO figures, only 11% of the population in Africa is fully vaccinated, compared with the global average of about 50%.

9:40 PM

Tamil Nadu logs 1,146 fresh Covid cases, 8 deaths

Tamil Nadu recorded 1,146 fresh coronavirus cases -- a marginal decline from 1,252 a day ago -- and six deaths on Friday, taking the count to 34,42,929 and the toll to 37,970.

 

With 4,229 COVID-19 patients getting discharged after treatment today, the cumulative recoveries have increased to 33,84,278, while the total active cases, including isolation, as of today further declined to 20,681 from 23,772 on Thursday.

 

Like many among the 38 districts in the state, Chennai and Coimbatore too continued to witness a marginal decline to 262 and 188 cases, respectively, from 285 and 214 fresh infections, respectively, on Thursday while Erode registered 64 cases as against 69 on the previous day.

9:32 PM

Ahmedabad bomb blasts plot involved plan to kill Modi: Prosecutor

Plotters of the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts had also planned to kill then-Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi besides creating mayhem, one of the accused convicted for the bombings by a special court here had admitted before the court in the past, the prosecution said on Friday.

 

The special court on Friday sentenced 38 convicts to death and 11 others to life imprisonment till death for the Ahmedabad serial blasts, which had claimed 56 lives and left over 200 injured. As many as 21 explosions had ripped through the city on July 26, 2008, within a span of 70 minutes. The court had convicted 49 persons and acquitted 28 others in the case on February 8. After the sentencing, Public Prosecutor Sudhir Brahmbhatt informed the media that a charge-sheet filed by the Gujarat police in 2010 had revealed that the convicts, who were associated with terror outfit Indian Mujahideen, had also planned to eliminate Modi, who is now the prime minister.

9:17 PM

Maharashtra records 2,068 new Covid cases, 15 deaths, 4,709 recoveries

Maharashtra on Friday recorded 2,068 fresh coronavirus cases and 15 new fatalities linked to the infection, while 4,709 more patients were discharged following recovery, the health department said.

 

With this, the state's COVID-19 tally reached 78,55,359, while the death toll increased to 1,43,547, the department said in a bulletin. The case fatality rate in the state stands at 1.82 per cent.

 

The state on Thursday had recorded 2,797 cases and 40 fatalities. The bulletin did not mention any fresh infections of the highly contiguous Omicron variant. However, it said 4,456 patients infected with Omicron have been found in the state so far.

9:00 PM

I'm confident that UAE-India economic agreement will be regarded as an achievement: UAE Min

8:54 PM

India and UAE are for rules-based fair trade: Piyush Goyal

8:46 PM

We welcome investment by UAE in all sectors including logistics, healthcare, hospitality in J&K: PM Modi

7:43 PM

Met FM Sitharaman, wanted to get an estimate on what can we expect for Assam from Budget: CM Sarma

7:02 PM

2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blast: Court pronounces death sentence to 38 out of 49 convicts

6:41 PM

Mumbai court sends Dawood Ibrahim's brother Iqbal Kaskar to 7-day ED custody

6:33 PM

Kerala registers 7,780 new Covid19 cases

6:10 PM

India has vaccinated 80% of its eligible adult population against Covid-19

5:47 PM

Russia to stage massive nuclear drills amid Ukraine standoff

The Russian military on Friday announced massive drills of its strategic nuclear forces, a stark reminder of the country's nuclear might amid Western fears that Moscow might be preparing to invade Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will personally oversee Saturday's exercise, which will involve multiple practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, the Defense Ministry said.

5:27 PM

Air India will operate 3 flights between India and Ukraine in Feb

4:59 PM

PM Modi inaugurates rail line between Thane and Diva in Maharashtra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated newly commissioned rail line between Thane and Diva in Maharashtra, the ANI has reported.

4:54 PM

1.2 million posts were lying vacant under the BJP Govt in UP: Priyanka Gandhi

4:16 PM

Congress manifesto promises Rs 1,100 per month to Punjab women, 8 free cooking gas cylinders per year

Congress has also promised one lakh government jobs

4:13 PM

US Defence secy renews warning that Russia is not withdrawing

3:40 PM

over 200 mn youngsters between the 15-18 age group are now fully vaccinated: Mandaviya

3:38 PM

Punjab polls: Will provide free education, health facilities, says Charanjit Singh Channi

3:12 PM

Nuke weapons can be deployed in Belarus in case of threats: President Lukashenko

If the West takes actions that threaten Belarus, nuclear weapons can be deployed in the country to protect it, President Alexander Lukashenko said.

 

He made the remarks on Thursday at the Osipovichi training ground, where the military exercises "Allied Resolve 2022" are taking place, reports IANS.

 

Lukashenko noted that if there are no threats to Belarus, no nuclear weapons will appear in the country.

 

3:04 PM

SC seeks responses from CBI, Maharashtra on Indrani Mukerjea bail plea

2:48 PM

Putin to oversee nuclear drills on Saturday amid tensions, says report

President Vladimir Putin will oversee exercises by Russia's nuclear forces on Saturday involving the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles, the Interfax news agency cited the defence ministry as saying.

 

The exercises are set to take place at a time of soaring tensions between Russia and the West. A Russian military buildup near Ukraine has stoked fears that Moscow may attack its neighbour to the west. Russia denies any such plans.

2:30 PM

Grand temple of Lord Ram will be ready in Ayodhya by 2023: UP CM Adityanath in Mainpuri

2:27 PM

CBI questioning former NSE MD in connection with co-location case

2:13 PM

Akhilesh bringing his father shows he is contesting only to win his own seat: JP Nadda

1:42 PM

Russia, US defence chiefs to speak by phone on Friday, says report

Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu will speak by phone with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday at the request of the United States, Interfax news agency cited the Russian ministry as saying.

1:21 PM

CBI to soon question Chitra Ramkrishna in NSE algo-trading case: Report

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to soon question Chitra Ramkrishna, former chief executive officer and managing director of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Livemint.com reported quoting an official of the federal agency said. The CBI will widen the ambit of the original probe in the case of preferential access to NSE algo-trading platform.

1:14 PM

IndiGo gets sustainable fuel Airbus plane

IndiGo on Friday took delivery of its first Airbus aircraft that runs on a blend of sustainable and regular aviation fuel. The A320 neo plane landed at Delhi airport after taking off from Toulouse in France on Thursday, said PTI.

12:44 PM

UP govt says it has withdrawn notices to CAA protesters

The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday told the Supreme Court it has withdrawn recovery notices issued in 2019 and all proceedings initiated against people holding protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The state says that on February 13 and 14 it withdrew 274 recovery notices issued against protestors for destruction of properties.