Breaking News December 14 | Highlights

Israel is set to start the second phase of human clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, named Brilife, in the coming days following the successful completion of the first phase, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

The second phase of the human trial will involve the participation of approximately 1,000 volunteers.

London and surrounding areas will be placed under the highest level of coronavirus restrictions from Wednesday as infections rise rapidly in the capital, Britain’s health secretary said on Monday.

Matt Hancock said the government must take swift action after seeing “very sharp, exponential rises” in Greater London and nearby Kent and Essex. He said that in some areas, cases are doubling every seven days.

Under Tier 3 restrictions, the toughest level in England’s three-tier system, people can’t socialize indoors and bars, pubs and restaurants must close except for takeout.

Schools in rural Nagpur reopened on Monday for the first since March when a lockdown was imposed nationwide to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

A district information office release said 646 schools opened and 16,198 students of Class IX and X attended along with 4,772 teachers and 2,506 non-teaching staff.

Schools in Nagpur civic areas are yet to start.

The Odisha government on Monday said the process for reopening temples and other religious institutions, which were closed due to Covid-19 outbreak, has started in the state.

The government initiated the process for opening of the religious institutions for the devotees following decline in single-day Covid-19 positive cases in the state.

All public places of worship are closed since March March 22 following the outbreak of Covid-19.

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine is 91.4 per cent effective in providing protection against COVID-19 and has demonstrated 100 per cent efficacy against severe coronavirus cases, the vaccine's developers said on Monday.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that the first vaccine was administered in the country. Taking to Twitter, Trump said: "First vaccine administered. Congratulations USA! Congratulations WORLD!". READ MORE

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Monday that the Coronavirus crisis is now "on its way out" and "soon" vaccines would be available in India too. He was speaking at the International Coronavirus Short Film Festival.

Retail inflation declined to 6.93 per cent in November on softer food prices, though it remained above the comfort level of the Reserve Bank. Retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 7.61 per cent in October.

According to the CPI data released by the government on Monday, inflation in the food basket was 9.43 per cent in November, down from 11 per cent in the previous month.

The RBI, which mainly factors in retail inflation while arriving at key policy rates, has been mandated by the government to keep inflation at 4 per cent (+, - 2 per cent).

The central bank had maintained status quo in the policy rate earlier this month due to high inflation.

There will be no public new year celebrations in Shimla, Kullu, Kangra and Mandi as the Himachal Pradesh government has extended night curfew in the four districts till January 5 to contain the spread of COVID-19. The decision to extend the curfew was taken in a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here on Monday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said.
 
The curfew will be in place from 9 pm to 6 am in Shimla, Mandi, Kangra and Kullu districts, Bhardwaj said.

Earlier, the state government had decided to impose night curfew from November 23 to December 15.

HDFC Bank on Monday said it has approved the appointment of Sanmoy Chakrabarti as the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for three years.

Delhi: AIIMS Nurses Union announces an indefinite strike from today over redressal of their demands, including that related to 6th Central Pay Commission.

Media executive Uday Shankar has taken over as Ficci President for 2020-2021, the industry body said on Monday. Currently, Shankar is President, The Walt Disney Company APAC & Chairman, Star & Disney India.

He has taken over from Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group.

The Union Health Ministry's national telemedicine initiative eSanjeevani has crossed 1 million teleconsultations on Monday. The eSanjeevani is being used by patients in over 550 districts of India, the health ministry said in a statement.

Fourteen more American soldiers and two civilians have tested positive for the novel coronavirus upon their arrival in South Korea, the US Forces Korea (USFK) announced on Monday.

A virtual summit will be held between PM Modi and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on 17th December. The two leaders will hold comprehensive discussions on the bilateral relationship, including further strengthening cooperation in the post COVID era: MEA

Equity benchmark Sensex climbed 154 points to end at a fresh all-time high on Monday, tracking gains in ICICI Bank, L&T and Kotak Bank amid persistent foreign fund inflows and a largely positive trend in global markets. After touching its record intra-day peak of 46,373.34 during the day, the 30-share BSE index ended 154.45 points or 0.34 per cent higher at 46,253.46.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty rose 44.30 points or 0.33 per cent to close at a record 13,558.15. It hit a lifetime high of 13,597.50 during the session.
 

US President Donald Trump has said that White House staffers should not be among the first in the country, currently the hardest-hit by the pandemic, to receive the coronavirus vaccinations.

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) employees stage a protest at Freedom park against the govt demanding to be considered as govt employees. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa yesterday appeal to KSRTC staff to call off their strike.

Project 17A Stealth Frigate ‘INS Himgiri‘ was launched at the GRSE Yard, Kolkata in presence of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat. 

Puducherry reported 21 new COVID-19 cases, 50 discharges, and 1 death reported today. Total positive cases in the Union Territory rise to 37,513 till date, including 307 active cases, 36,586 recoveries, and 620 deaths. 

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Ministers and MLAs hold a 'hunger strike' in support of farmers who are protesting against the Centre's Farm Laws. Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, ministers Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai, and party leader Aatishi Marlena are present. 

2 new COVID- 19 cases, 449 cured cases reported since bulletin yesterday in Himachal Pradesh, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 49,377. 

• Total active cases: 6,795
• Total recovered cases: 41,727
• Death toll: 810.

A minor girl died in Delhi's Khazoori Khas area in building collapse incident. 

Supreme Court grants two days to the Central government to file affidavit about the working of new ordinance brought to deal with air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region and adjoining areas. 

IIT Madras has been functioning on limited capacity with only 10% of students in hostels. As soon as a spurt in symptomatic cases was reported by some students residing in hostels, the Institute arranged for all students residing in hostels to be tested for COVID. 

Telangana reported 384 new COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths, and 631 recoveries on December 13.

• Total cases: 2,78,108
• Active cases: 7,380
• Total recoveries: 2,69,232
• Death toll: 1,496

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami inaugurates Amma mini-clinics at an event in Royapuram, Chennai.  "Two hundred mini-clinics have been opened simultaneously all over Tamil Nadu," said CM.

Uttarakhand State Health Secretary Amit Negi said the preparations for COVID-19 vaccination is being undertaken on a war footing in Uttarakhand. The vaccination will start as soon as vaccines are made available by the Centre. 

Maharashtra BJP Legislators hold a protest outside the State Assembly over various issues including Maratha reservation, inflated power bills and compensation to farmers after recent flood and heavy rain. State Assembly Session to begin shortly.

In the next 24 hours, rain expected in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Vasai-Virar, parts of Madhya Pradesh, and some parts of the western coast. The intensity of rain will reduce by the evening but cloudiness and low visibility will continue. 

A total of 15,45,66,990 samples tested for COVID-19 up to December 13. Of these, 8,55,157 samples were tested yesterday. 

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan casts his vote in the third phase of local body elections at a polling station in Pinarayi, Kannur.

Eswatini PM Ambrose Dlamini died after being hospitalised with COVID-19. 

Mizoram reported 5 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, as per the state govt. 

• Total cases: 4,040
• Active cases: 186
• Discharges: 3,847
• Deaths: 7

Supreme Court will hear on December 16 a plea seeking a direction to authorities to immediately remove the farmers who are protesting at several border points of Delhi against three new farm laws.