Covid LIVE: Daily cases under 1,000 for first time in Delhi in third wave

Live news updates: Cooked food on premium trains had already been restored in December 21

9:28 AM

7 new COVID-19 cases in Andamans, tally rises to 9,958

The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 9,958 on Friday as seven more people tested positive for the infection, a health bulletin said.

Three new patients have travel history, while four infections were detected during contact tracing, it said.

9:24 AM

WHO chief, Taliban discuss Afghan health crisis

edros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said that he met Taliban Health Minister Qalander Ebad for talks on the "dire" health and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Ghebreyesus revealed that the meeting took place in Geneva on Tuesday, Khaama Press reported.

Ebad is part of a Taliban delegation visiting Geneva for a week of talks with institutions and non-governmental agencies on humanitarian access and human rights, as Afghanistan's new rulers expand their international engagement.

9:23 AM

Global Covid caseload tops 405.6 mn

The global coronavirus caseload has topped 405.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.78 million and vaccinations to over 10.14 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on Friday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and the death toll stood at 405,688,274 and 5,788,456, respectively, while the total number of vaccine doses administered has increased to 10,143,832,034.

The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 77,437,114 and 915,349, according to the CSSE.

9:08 AM

Hijab row: Plea filed in SC challenging Karnataka HC order

An appeal has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the direction of the Karnataka High Court that has asked students not to insist on wearing any cloth on campuses of educational institutions which can instigate people, till the matter is resolved.

The plea filed by a student has sought a stay on the direction of the high court, which is hearing the hijab issue, as well as the proceedings going on before the three judge bench.

The appeal contended that the high court has sought to curtail the fundamental right of Muslim student women by not allowing them to wear the hijab.

9:07 AM

US welcomes ILO report slamming China for racial, religious discrimination in Xinjiang

The United States on Thursday welcomed the issuance of a report by a committee of the International Labor Organization (ILO) calling on the Chinese government to review its laws and practices of employment discrimination against racial and religious minorities in Xinjiang.

This comes as several countries rights groups and members of the international community continue to raise a concern about the human rights conditions in Muslim dominated northwest China.

9:01 AM

'UN provided $3.13mn cash aid to Afghanistan in past 3 months'

The UN has provided $3.13 million cash assistance to Afghanistan over the past three months, the country's central bank has said.

"Afghanistan Bank welcomes UN humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and calls for further assistance and cooperation," TOLO News reported on Thursday citing Saber Momand, spokesman of the central bank, as saying.

9:00 AM

Channi's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey to be produced in court today

Bhupinder Singh Honey, the nephew of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will be produced before the Jalandhar court by Enforcement Directorate on Friday after the expiry of his custody in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to illegal mining in Punjab.

Earlier on two occasions the court had granted ED the custody of Honey. ED sources are saying this time they won't seek more custody.

Honey was arrested during the intervening night of February 3 and 4 by the ED, which got his custody till February 8. It was later extended till Friday (February 11).

9:00 AM

11 pc jump in cyber crime in 2020, NCRB data in Home Panel report

As per the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) data, India reported an 11 per cent jump in cyber crime in 2020.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Home Committee that as per the report "Crime in India, 2019, of NCRB, the data of cyber crimes in the States/UTs was 21,796 in 2017, 27,248 cases in 2018, 44735 in 2019 and stood at 50035 in 2020.

The data for 2020 has been obtained from the report "Crime in India, 2020 of the NCRB.

8:59 AM

Assembly polls: Rajnath Singh to address election meetings in Uttarakhand

Defence Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajnath Singh will address election meetings in Ghansali, Karnaprayag and Narendranagar Assembly constituencies in Uttarakhand on Friday.

"I shall be campaigning in Uttarakhand today ...shall address election meetings in Ghansali, Karnaprayag and Narendranagar Assembly constituencies. Look forward to it," Singh said in a tweet on Friday morning.

Defence Minister has been addressing public gatherings in different constituencies in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand for the past few days.

8:58 AM

Top diplomats at Quad seek to bolster cooperation for free, open Indo-Pacific

Australia is set to host India, Japan and the United States for the fourth Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in Melbourne on Friday and the top diplomats are seeking to bolster cooperation in areas including economy, security, coronavirus pandemic and free and open Indo-Pacific.

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is a partnership of four nations, each of whom shares a commitment to openness, transparency and challenges coming out of the current global order.

8:57 AM

Delhi: Mughal Gardens to open for public from February 12 to March 16

The Mughal Gardens in Delhi will open for the general public from Saturday, till March 16.

A statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday stated that visitors will be allowed to see the Gardens only through advance online booking.

Booking can be made through the link https://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in or https://rb.nic.in/rbvisit/visit_plan.aspx.

8:57 AM

Negotiations with Taliban planned in Norway, Turkey soon: Reports

Norway and Turkey are expected to hold talks on Afghanistan with the Taliban in the near future, Sputnik News Agency reported citing Afghan media reported.

Citing sources in the Taliban, the media reported that the meeting in Turkey will be held in Istanbul.

8:55 AM

Myanmar adds 1,307 new Covid-19 cases

Myanmar recorded 1,307 new Covid-19 infections, bringing the tally to 541,904, according to a release from the Ministry of Health.

A total of 24,311 lab samples have been tested in the past 24 hours, and the daily positivity rate is 5.38 percent, the release said on Thursday.

The country's death toll has remained at 19,310 as no new deaths from Covid-19 were reported on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported.

8:54 AM

Africa on track to end disruption caused by Covid-19 pandemic in 2022: WHO

Almost two years after Africa identified its first case of Covid-19 on February 14, 2020, the continent is on the track to end the disruption caused by the pandemic in 2022, said the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"Although Covid-19 will be with us for the long-term, there is light at the end of the tunnel. This year, we can end the disruption and destruction the virus has left in its path, and gain back control over our lives," said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, at a virtual press conference, on Thursday while noting that continued vigilance is key.

8:18 AM

One dead after part of Gurugram building collapses

A woman was killed and two people were trapped under rubble when part of an apartment building in Gurgaon collapsed Thursday evening, PTI reported. The dining room floor of a sixth-floor apartment at Chintels Paradiso housing complex first came down, triggering the collapse of roofs and floors directly under it.