Breaking News January 11 | Highlights

Full service carrier Vistara said on Monday it will be operating daily flights between Delhi and Sharjah from January 20 onwards.

Star Air on Monday launched flights between Kalaburagi in Karnataka and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh under the Centre's regional connectivity scheme UDAN, the Civil Aviation Ministry said.

"Star Air was awarded the Kalaburagi–Tirupati route under the RCS-UDAN-3 bidding process last year," the ministry's statement noted.

The airline will be operating three weekly flights on the route and will deploy its 50-seater Embraer-145 aircraft, it added.

Under the UDAN scheme, financial incentives from the Centre, state governments and airport operators are extended to selected airlines to encourage operations from unserved and underserved airports, and keep airfares affordable.

A total of 305 routes and 53 airports including five heliports and two water aerodromes have been operationalised till date under this scheme, the ministry said.

The Indian Navy will kick-start a two-day mega defence exercise on Tuesday covering the country's 7516 km coastline and exclusive economic zone, officials said.

Billed as India's largest coastal defence exercise, it will involve all the 13 coastal states and Union Territories along with other maritime stakeholders, they said.

The voluminous Budget documents will not be printed this year following the COVID-19 protocol and will instead be distributed electronically to the Members of Parliament (MPs).

South Korea’s president says the country will offer free COVID-19 vaccinations to all its people in phases. President Moon Jae-in made the comment in his New Year’s address on Monday. The government earlier announced that inoculations will start in February.

South Korean officials have said they’ll have vaccines for 56 million people, an amount seemingly enough for the country’s 52 million people.

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which was closed for traffic due to a damaged bridge at Ramban, around 150 kilometres from Jammu, will continue to remain closed, officials said.

Serum Institute of India (SII) produced Covishield dispatch likely to be early morning tomorrow: Sources

Domestic rating agency Icra Ratings on Monday said it expects the country's real gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 10.1 per cent in FY2022.

The vaccine would be available at the price of Rs 200 per dose: Serum Institute of India (SII) officials

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a meeting with Home Minister Narottam Mishra and other officials over missing children incidences in the state.

I would request the general public to not panic, the government is taking all precautionary measures. It has been decided to impose a restriction on the supply of processed chicken from outside Delhi, said Manish Sisodia, Deputy CM of Delhi.

An order might be passed today in part and then again tomorrow over protests against new farm laws, CJI SA Bobde said.

Bench rises for today. Hearing again tomorrow

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray launches Coastal Road Tunnel Boring Machine at Priyadarshini Park in Mumbai. State Minister Aditya Thackeray is also present.

It's important to not spread rumours about the bird flu. It's been seen in India since 2006. There's no risk to humans if it's cooked properly before eating. I'm writing to Delhi CM over closure of Ghazipur poultry market, said Giriraj Singh, Union Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister. 

Odisha recorded 244 new COVID-19 cases and 240 recoveries on January 10. The number of active cases in the state is 2118. 

Supreme Court starts hearing a batch of petitions, including those filed by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, RJD MP Manoj K Jha, challenging the constitutional validity of the three farm laws, passed by the Centre along with the plea to remove protesting farmers. Here are the highlights of CJI's statement:

• We are disappointed with the way the process is going.
• "We don't know what negotiations are going on? Can the farm laws be put on hold for some time?
• "Some people have committed suicide, old people and women are a part of the agitation. What is happening?
• Each one of us will be responsible if something goes wrong. We don't want anybody's blood on our hands.
• We will stay implementation of laws. You can carry on the protest. But the question is whether the protest should be held at the same site.
• If the Centre does not want to stay the implementation of farm laws, we will put a stay on it.
• The Union of India must take responsibility for all this. Centre is bringing the laws and you can do it in a better manner.
• Can the implementation of laws be put on hold for the time being.
• Attorney General KK Venugopal said that there are Supreme Court precedents saying that the Courts cannot stay legislation.
• What happened with Haryana CM cannot happen. On 26th January, farmers with their tractors are planning to march down to Rajpath to destroy a day of national importance, said AG KK Venugopal before SC during hearing on petitions challenging constitutional validity of farm laws.
• Centre has not handled this properly, we will have to take some action today.
• How can such important laws be passed through voice vote in Parliament, said senior advocate Dushyant Dave appearing for one of the farmers' unions.
• If the Centre is serious, then it can hold a joint session of Parliament. Why is the govt shying away from it, he added.
• We should be allowed to go to the Ramlila Maidan. We are not interested in any violence, said Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave appearing for one of the farmers' unions.
• Senior lawyer, Harish Salve (representing one of the petitioners) states that there are few elements which should be weeded out from the protest. Salve mentions about a Vancouver based organization collecting money under the banner 'Justice for Sikhs'.

A total of 224 new COVID-19 cases, 461 discharges and 1 death reported in Telangana yesterday, says State Health Department.

• Total positive cases: 2,90,008 
• Total recoveries: 2,83,924
• Active cases: 4,518
• Death toll: 1,566

The Chinese PLA soldier who was apprehended on January 8 was handed back to China at Chushul-Moldo at 10.10 am today, said Indian Army.

World Health Organization (WHO) team of international experts tasked with investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic will arrive in China on January 14, China's national health authority said on Monday. 

Some of my fans along with expelled cadres of Rajini Makkal Mandram have protested in Chennai against my decision of not entering politics. I have taken my decision, I appeal to everyone to not indulge in such things (protest) as it pains me, said superstar Rajinikanth. 

On January 14, the temperature in the capital will reduce again, dipping to about 5°C. There might also be dense fog conditions. But we're not expecting any 'cold wave' here as of now, said Kuldeep Srivastava, Regional Head, IMD Delhi.

Night curfew to be imposed in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya with effect from today to January 17 between 11 pm to 5 am. 

The parliamentary committee on agriculture to meet today on evidence of representatives of Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandary and Dairying in connection with examination of the subject 'Status of Veterinary Services and Availability of Animal Vaccine in the Country'.

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) rescues 11 fishermen, 140 nautical miles West off New Mangaluru, after their (fishermen's) fishing boat caught fire due to the explosion of a cylinder onboard. 

India reported 16,311 new COVID-19 cases, 19,299 discharges, and 161 deaths in last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry. 

• Total cases: 1,04,66,595
• Active cases: 2,22,526
• Total discharges: 1,00,92,909 
• Death toll: 1,51,160

Sensex up by 402.59 points, currently at 49,185.10

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to chair a meeting to review the bird flu situation in the state, today. All birds in poultry farms within a one-kilometer radius of Muramba village, will be culled. Sale and purchase of birds within a 10-km radius is suspended. All people in the village are being tested for the virus and a medical team is present, said Parbhani District Collector.

Three days ago, 800 chickens in Murumba village died due to bird flu. District administration had sent blood samples of dead chickens to National Laboratory. Reports confirm that the chickens died of bird flu.

Thirty-one teachers and students have tested positive for COVID-19 in Gajapati district in Odisha after reopening of schools, Chief District Medical Officer Pradeep Kumar Patra said. 

Schools reopened for students of Class X and XII in Odisha on January 8.

Three days ago, 800 chickens in Murumba village died due to bird flu. District administration had sent blood samples of dead chickens to National Laboratory. Reports confirm that the chickens died of bird flu.

Delhi's Palam reported zero-metre visibility, Safdarjung reported 200-metre visibility at 5:30 am today.

Chilla and Ghazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida and Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take an alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra and Loni borders. 

PM Narendra Modi to interact with Chief Ministers of all states via video conferencing today. They will discuss the COVID-19 situation and vaccination rollout.