Latest News LIVE: AAP to contest polls in 4 states including Punjab, Goa

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11:04 AM

Snowfall in Kashmir Valley, road, air links snapped

A blanket of snow covered Kashmir on Sunday as most areas received moderate snowfall, cutting the valley's surface as well as air connection with the rest of the country, officials said.

The snowfall started during the night at most places and early in the morning at few places, the officials said.

They said while some areas in north Kashmir received light snowfall, most areas in central and south Kashmir experienced moderate snowfall.

10:09 AM

India reports 18,177 new Covid-19 cases

India reported 18,177 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 1,03,23,965, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed on Sunday.

With this, the total number of active cases now stands at 2,47,220.

As many as 217 lives were claimed by the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 1,49,435.

So far 99,27,310 recoveries have been reported in the country.

9:05 AM

Global Covid-19 cases top 84.5 million: Johns Hopkins

The overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 84.5 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.83 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on Sunday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 84,517,989 and 1,834,963, respectively.

The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 20,396,243 and 349,933, respectively, according to the CSSE.

India comes in second place in terms of cases at 10,305,788, while the country's death toll soared to 149,218.

8:56 AM

AAP to contest polls in 4 states

After storming to power in a comprehensive fashion in Delhi and making its presence felt in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) now wants to establish its foothold in other states, and to that, the party has devised a strategy to highlight the issues related to schools, health, electricity, water in front of voters.

The AAP has started its preparations afresh in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Goa, etc. According to the party, it would be contesting the next Assembly elections in four states -- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa.

Raghav Chaddha, vice chairman of Delhi Jal Board, has been given the charge of Punjab while Kalkaji MLA Atishi will take care of the party's political ambition in Gujarat. Both these leaders are currently in their respective states and engaged in the process of meeting the party workers.

Sanjeev Jha, in-charge of Bihar and a lawyer from Burari, Delhi, will start his work in the state from the first week of January.

8:31 AM

HP Police rescues over 300 tourists stranded near Atal Tunnel after snowfall

The Himachal Pradesh Police has rescued over 300 tourists stranded near the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang after fresh snowfall, an official said on Sunday.

Some tourists had crossed the tunnel on Saturday morning but in the evening, they could not find any resting place in Lahaul due to snowfall and were stranded midway while returning to Manali, Kullu SP Gaurav Singh said.

The Lahaul-Spiti Police in coordination with the Kullu Police sent vehicles through the tunnel in the evening.

However, these vehicles were stuck midway while on their way to Manali due to snow and slippery roads, Singh said.

8:15 AM

Preparations underway for Magh Mela celebration in Prayagraj

The preparations are underway for the celebrations of Magh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. This is the first big religious congregation that will be organised amid Covid-19.

According to an official, all the devotees who wish to attend the Magh Mela in Prayagraj will have to compulsorily bring a COVID-19 negative report through the RT-PCR test method.

Magh Mela is an annual festival which is held in the month of Magha (according to the Hindu calendar) near river banks and Hindu temples.

Ajay Shukla who has been deployed for Covid-19 testing told ANI, "We are testing policemen and other officials who will be deployed here. We are also testing the devotees. On Friday, Four constables tested positive and they have been admitted to a hospital."

7:43 AM

Pelosi, McConnell's homes vandalised as $2,000 stimulus remains stalled

US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's homes were tagged with graffiti over the New Year's holiday.

 

Early on Friday, Pelosi's San Francisco home was targeted with a spray-painted message that read, "$2K," "Cancel rent!" and "We want everything" on the garage door of her house, as reported by The Hill citing a local NBC affiliate WLEX reported.

7:24 AM

With 19,078 new COVID-19 cases, India's tally reaches 1,03,05,788

India reported 19,078 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases in the country to 1,03,05,788, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) informed on Saturday.

The total number of active cases now stands at 2,50,183. As many as 224 people succumbed to coronavirus in the last 24 hours and the death toll has mounted to 1,49,218.

So far 99,06,387 recoveries have been reported in the country.

As many as 8,29,964 samples tested for the coronavirus on Friday and the count of samples tested so far has reached 17,39,41,658, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) informed.

7:18 AM

Over 500 tourists stranded in Manali due to snowfall, Rescue operation underway

The rescue operation of more than 500 tourists, who have been stranded at the road between South Portal of Atal Tunnel and Solang Nalla in Manali of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh following heavy rainfall is underway.

Raman Gharsangi, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Manali in a statement said that efforts are being made to restore vehicular traffic and rescue stranded people.

"Rescue teams reached Dhundi around 8 pm. Over twenty 4X4 rescue vehicles with rescue teams sent with orders to provide facilities for stranded people. Taxis and one 48 seater bus also moved to Kulang so that evacuated persons could be shifted. Rescue is still underway," Gharsangi said.

7:02 AM

Driverless operations to begin in Delhi Metro's pink line by mid 2021

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Saturday announced that Pink Line will also have driverless operations by mid of 2021.

 

"After starting driverless services on the 37 km long Magenta Line (Janakpuri West - Botanical Garden), another major corridor of the Delhi Metro, the 59 km long Pink Line (Majlis Park - Shiv Vihar) will also have driverless operations by the mid of 2021," DMRC tweeted.

6:49 AM

Gehlot writes to PM asking for increase in incentive amount given to ASHA workers

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to increase the incentive amount given to ASHA workers.

He said that keeping in mind the important role played by ASHAs in accessing health services at the community level, it is necessary to increase their incentive so that their morale remains high and they perform health services with greater efficiency and quality.

The chief minister said in a letter to Modi that the ASHA workers were selected under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the ground level to make the benefits of various health activities accessible to every person.

Gehlot said that the state government is sensitive to the afflictions of these health workers and stands with them.

6:31 AM

Tamil Nadu govt announces Rs 600-crore relief assistance to 500,000 farmers

Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Saturday announced Rs 600 crore relief assistance to about five lakh farmers, whose crops on 3.10 lakh plus hectares were hit due to the recent back to back cyclones in Tamil Nadu.

 

A norm that permitted relief only upto a maximum of two hectares has been relaxed in view of the losses suffered by ryots and the assistance shall cover loss in its entirety without any upper limit, Palaniswami said.

 

 

The assistance would be directly credited to the bank accounts of farmers from January 7, he said in an official release.

6:30 AM

Odisha govt to reopen schools for Class 10 and 12 students from January 8

Odisha government Saturday announced that schools will reopen for students of standards X and XII from January 8 and will follow the detailed standard operating procedure to be strictly implemented by the authorities, a senior official said. 

A maximum of 25 students will be allowed to attend one class and each student will have a specific seat in the class as is usually done during examinations.

12:00 AM

Tamil Nadu govt announces Rs 600-crore relief assistance to 500,000 farmers

Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Saturday announced Rs 600 crore relief assistance to about five lakh farmers, whose crops on 3.10 lakh plus hectares were hit due to the recent back to back cyclones in Tamil Nadu. A norm that permitted relief only upto a maximum of two hectares has been relaxed in view of the losses suffered by ryots and the assistance shall cover loss in its entirety without any upper limit, Palaniswami said.

 

The assistance would be directly credited to the bank accounts of farmers from January 7, he said in an official release.

 

Palaniswami said agricultural and horticultural crops on 3,10,589.63 hectares were affected in Tamil Nadu due to the Nivar and Burevi cyclones witnessed during November-December last year. Farmers, who bore huge production cost, were hit badly due to the storms. READ ON...

10:48 PM

India sends relief materials to cyclone-affected people of Fiji

India has sent over six tons of relief material to Fiji for its cyclone-affected people, reflecting its close ties with the island nation in the South Pacific. "The first consignment of relief materials from India for the cyclone-affected people reached Fiji today. Another consignment is due to arrive by January 6," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

 

It said the relief material sent in the wake of tropical cyclone Yasa highlighted India's commitment to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support to friendly foreign countries as a first responder. Fiji was hit by cyclone Yasa on December 17 and 18 that caused extensive damage and destruction of critical infrastructure. READ MORE...