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12:53 PM

Autopsies show Covid virus lingers in brain, other body parts for months: Study

The SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads throughout the body, including the brain, and lingers for almost eight months, shows an analysis of tissue samples from the autopsies of people who died due to COVID-19.

 

The researchers from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) tested samples from autopsies that were performed from April 2020 to March 2021. They conducted extensive sampling of the nervous system, including the brain, in 11 of the patients. All of the patients died with COVID-19, and none were vaccinated.

 

The blood plasma of 38 patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, three tested negative, and plasma was unavailable for the other three.

12:39 PM

Kerala Governor approves CM's recommendation to re-induct Saji Cheriyan as minister

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday approved Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's recommendation to re-induct CPI(M) leader Saji Cheriyan as minister, an official source said.

Cheriyan will be administered the oath of office on Wednesday at 4 pm, the source said.

Talking to reporters here, Cheriyan said he has not received any official communication regarding the development.

The CPI(M) leader had resigned in July last year from the state Cabinet over his alleged remarks against the Constitution during a speech in Pathanamthitta district and the lodging of a criminal case against him in that connection.

12:22 PM

President Murmu inaugurates Constitution Park at Raj Bhavan in Jaipur

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday inaugurated the Constitution Park at Raj Bhavan in Jaipur.

 

After inaugurating the park by unveiling a plaque and cutting the ribbon, Murmu took a round of the park and spoke to architect Anoop Bartaria. He was accompanied by Governor Kalraj Mishra, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Assembly Speaker CP Joshi, among others.

 

The park, built by the Jaipur Development Authority at an estimated cost of Rs 9 crore, showcases the Constitution's journey from its making to its implementation through sculptures and pictures on panelled glass, among others.

 

Folk artistes, including acclaimed performer Gulabo Sapera, performed at the event.

 

12:12 PM

India's Oct-Dec sugar output up 3.69% at 12.07 million tonnes

The country's sugar production rose 3.69 per cent to 12.07 million tonnes in the October-December quarter of the ongoing marketing year, according to the industry body ISMA.

Sugar production in India, one of the world's major producers of the sweetener, stood at 11.64 million tonnes in the same period of the previous marketing year.

Sugar marketing year runs from October to September.

According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), about 509 mills were operating as against 500 mills in the said period.

 

12:09 PM

'Could use harsher words...': Jaishankar to Austria TV anchor's question on 'undiplomatic' words against Pak

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who made a veiled attack on Pakistan terming it as "epicentre of terrorism" has in an interview to a popular Austrian TV show said that he could have used much harsher words for India's neighbour for its role in promoting cross border terrorism even as he criticised Europe for not "condemning the practices that have been going on for multiple decades."

Jaishankar who is in Vienna on the second leg of his two-nation tour had on Monday during a joint press briefing with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, said that the impacts of cross-border terrorism cannot be limited within a region, especially when they are deeply linked to the drugs and illegal weapons trade, as well as other forms of international crime.

In Monday's interview with Austria's ZIB2 podcast, a daily news magazine of ORF television, when he was asked about the "not very diplomatic" term for Pakistan, Jaishankar said, "Because you are a diplomat, doesn't mean you are untruthful. I could use much harsher words than epicentre, so believe me, considering what has been happening to us, I think epicentre is a very diplomatic word," said Jaishankar.

11:57 AM

PM Modi pays tributes to Savitribai Phule, Velu Nachiyar on their birth anniversaries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to Savitribai Phule, a pioneer in women's education, and Velu Nachiyar, a Tamil queen lauded for waging war with the colonial empire in the 18th century, on their birth anniversaries.

"I pay homage to the inspiring Savitribai Phule Ji on her birth anniversary. She personifies the indomitable spirit of our Nari Shakti. Hers was a life devoted to educating and empowering women. Equally inspiring is her focus on social reform and community service," he said on Twitter.

In his tribute to Velu Nachiyar, he said her bravery will motivate generations to come.

11:53 AM

Science should be aimed at making India self-reliant: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India's scientific community should work to make India 'aatma nirbhar' (self reliant).

Development in science should be aimed at fulfilling India's needs, and this should be the inspiration for our scientific community, he said in his address to the Indian Science Congress, being held in Nagpur, via video conferencing.

He cited the country's growing energy needs and urged the scientific community to forge such innovations in the field as may benefit the country.

Since India is home to 17-18 per cent of world population, progress of such a large number of people will lead to a surge in global advancement as well, he said.

 

11:50 AM

Prez Murmu on 2-day visit to Rajasthan from today

President Droupadi Murmu will embark on a two-day visit to Rajasthan starting Tuesday.

She will inaugurate the Constitution Park built at the Raj Bhavan in Jaipur.

According to the scheduled programme, the President will reach Jaipur airport on Tuesday by a special Army aircraft. From here, she will reach Raj Bhavan located in the Civil Lines and will inaugurate the Constitution Park built there.

11:44 AM

Science in India should be aimed at making India self-reliant: PM Modi at ISC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India's scientific community should work to make India 'aatma nirbhar' (self reliant).

Development in science should be aimed at fulfilling India's needs, and this should be the inspiration for our scientific community, he said in his address to the Indian Science Congress, being held in Nagpur, via video conferencing.

He cited the country's growing energy needs and urged the scientific community to forge such innovations in the field as may benefit the country.

Since India is home to 17-18 per cent of world population, progress of such a large number of people will lead to a surge in global advancement as well, he said.

11:43 AM

Vande Bharat pelted with stones in Bengal's Malda; BJP demands NIA probe

Just a few days after its inaugural run, the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express was pelted with stones in West Bengal's Malda district, prompting the BJP to demand an NIA investigation into the incident.

No injuries, however, were reported in the incident that took place near Kumarganj railway station, around 50 km from Malda town, on Monday evening, a Railway official said.

The glass door of coach number C13 of 22303 Vande Bharat Express was damaged in the incident, he said.

Kumarganj falls under the jurisdiction of the Katihar division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).

11:15 AM

Govt has pipeline of 44 port projects worth Rs 22,900 cr till 2024-25: Sarbananda Sonowal

Public-private partnership in port infrastructure has been an important source of investment in the sector and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has a pipeline of 44 projects for total investment of Rs 22,900 crore till 2024-25, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Tuesday.

Moreover, the government is working on the guidelines for dealing with stressed public-private partnership (PPP) projects at major ports and has also come up with policies to support the shipbuilding industry in India, Sonowal said.

"The Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways is working on two fronts to encourage private sector participation... On the project front the ministry has a pipeline of 44 projects for a total investment of Rs 22,900 crore till 2024-25," he told PTI.

11:14 AM

Maruti Suzuki India logs 28% rise in exports at 263,068 units in 2022

Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday reported a 28 per cent rise in exports at 2,63,068 units in 2022, its highest ever overseas shipments.

 

The company's previous highest exports was achieved in 2021 with 205,450 units.

The highest exported models in 2022 were Dzire, Swift, S-Presso, Baleno and Brezza, the company said in a statement.

10:54 AM

AAP MLAs to meet Delhi Commissioner today over Kanjhawala incident

A delegation of AAP MLAs will meet Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora Tuesday demand the strictest punishment for the people involved in the Kanjhawala incident.

A 20-year-old woman, killed in the early hours of New Year after her scooter was hit by a car, was dragged for 12 kilometres under the vehicle on the city's roads, according to police.

Five men who were allegedly in the car were booked for culpable homicide among other sections on Monday even as the police came under charges of conducting a "shoddy investigation" in the matter.

Police had on Monday said that the victim's body was found naked on a roadside in the Kanjhawala area in outer Delhi.

 

10:34 AM

Andhra Pradesh govt prohibits meetings, rallies on roads

The Andhra Pradesh government has prohibited public meetings and rallies from being held on roads, including national highways, citing public safety.

The order comes in the wake of a stampede at a rally held by the main opposition Telugu Desam Party at Kandukuru last week in which eight persons were killed. The prohibitory order was issued late on Monday night under the provisions of the Police Act, 1861.

The government noted in its order that "the right to conduct a public meeting on public roads and streets is a subject matter of regulation as Section 30 of the Police Act, 1861 itself mandates."

10:25 AM

Foxconn's COVID-hit China plant close to resuming full production: Reports

Foxconn's COVID-hit iPhone plant in China's Zhengzhou city is almost back to full production, with its December shipments reaching about 90% of initial plans, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said.

 

Foxconn, formally Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd , declined to comment.

 

Production at the world's largest manufacturing facility of Apple Inc's iPhones was heavily affected late last year after a COVID-19 outbreak and curbs taken to control the virus prompted thousands of workers to leave. It was also hit by a bout of worker unrest over payment issues.