Breaking News January 24 | Highlights

The Indian Railways on Sunday started a special train from Delhi to Mau on a proposal from former IAS officer Arvind Kumar Sharma, who took voluntary retirement and was recently elected to the UP Legislative Council. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal informed about the starting of the new train this in a tweet on Sunday.

In a Hindi tweet, Goyal said, "On the request of @AKSharmaBharat jee, Railway today started operation of a special train from Delhi to Mau.
Along with the commencement of Covid vaccination, the operation of the train will help the people of the area and there will be a spurt in economic activities."

Thanking the minister on behalf of the people of Purvanchal in a Hindi tweet, Sharma said, "I thank Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi jee and Rail minister (Piyush) Goyal jee for starting the special train from Mau to Delhi today on the occasion of UP Sthaapnaa Divas. This will be of great help to us."

Authorities in some of Haryana districts close to the national capital have issued advisories against unnecessary travel towards Delhi over the next couple of days in view of a January 26 tractor parade by protesting farmer unions.

On Sunday, thousands of tractors were seen on the highways in Haryana heading towards Delhi, resulting in traffic congestion at several points on the GT Road, a police officer in Karnal said.

The authorities in Sonipat also advised people on Sunday to avoid unnecessary travel towards Delhi over the next few days.

Train services on the Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam route were partially affected on Sunday after a goods train derailed at Palasa under the jurisdiction of the East Coast Railway Zone, an official said.

The Aam Aadmi Party's Punjab unit on Sunday announced another list of candidates for the February 14 civic polls in the state.

A list of 160 candidates for 11 local bodies has been released, according to a party statement.

President Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation on Monday on the eve of the 72nd Republic Day, according to an official communique. The address will be broadcast from 1900 hrs on the entire national network of the All India Radio (AIR) and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by the English version, it said.

"Broadcast of the address in Hindi and English on Doordarshan will be followed by broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan," said the statement issued on Sunday by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The AIR will broadcast regional language versions from 2130 hrs onwards on its respective regional networks, it added.

Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli removed from ruling Nepal Communist Party by a Central Committee Meeting of the splinter group of the party.

Thirty-two children have been awarded the ‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar’ this year for their exceptional abilities and outstanding accomplishments in the fields of innovation, scholastics, sports, arts, culture, social service and bravery.

In a statement, the Ministry of Women and Child Development said the awardees are from 32 districts of 21 states and Union territories.

A five-day session of the Goa Assembly will begin from Monday with Governor BS Koshyari addressing MLAs on the first day, said Speaker Rajesh Patnekar.

Delhi: PM Narendra Modi at a program organised for his interaction with the NCC cadets, NSS volunteers and artists participating in Republic Day Parade.

28,000 samples were collected in Delhi's fifth serosurvey. As per the results, over 60% of samples collected in a district showed antibodies. Over 50% samples in rest of the districts had antibodies against COVID-19.

Under the banner of All India Kisan Sabha, farmers march towards Mumbai from Nashik in support of farmers agitating against three agriculture laws at Delhi borders.

MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the National Girl Child Day launched PANKH Abhiyan under 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao'. He said,  "When I became MLA, I introduced a scheme for the wedding of girls from poor families so that it is not considered a burden. When I became CM, we wanted girls to be seen as a boon, not burden hence we brought Ladli Laxmi Yojana: 

"We're launching PANKH Abhiyan today under 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' wherein P stands for protection, A-awareness of their rights, N-nutrition, K-knowledge so they progress in every field and H-health. It will go on for a year."

No positive case of bird flu reported in Jharkhand as of now. Till now 4,353 samples include general and dead wild birds have been sent to the lab. All precautionary measures in place, said Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Jharkhand. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the 1st BTR Accord Day celebrations in Assam's Kokrajhar. He said, "This rally is a reply to those who disturbed the peace in Assam by spreading venom in the name of Bodo and non-Bodo. Today, Bodos and non-Bodos both are present here."

A total of 197 new COVID-19 cases, 376 discharges and 1 death reported in Telangana yesterday, says State Health Department. 

• Total positive cases: 2,93,253
• Total recoveries: 2,88,275
• Active cases: 3,389
• Death toll: 1,589

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to address the World Economic Forum on January 28, via video conference. Chinese President Xi Jinping to also address the forum.

Nearly 16 lakh (15,82,201) beneficiaries have received the COVID19 vaccination so far. India took only 6 days to roll out 1 million vaccine doses, said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

42-yr-old Gunami Khan, a labour contractor shot dead by armed assailants in Barrackpore, North 24 Paraganas yesterday. Police said detailed investigation underway. He was shot in the head, police probe on, said Uttam Das, Chairman, Barrackpore Municipality.

India’s COVID-19 active cases today stand at 1,84,408. The share of active cases in the total positive cases has further shrunk to 1.73%.

Delhi's overall air quality in the 'very poor' category today, said System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). 

An earthquake of magnitude 7.0 hits South Shetland Islands, said United States Geological Survey.

A team of Narcotics Control Bureau is conducting a raid in Juhu area, in connection with Chinku Pathan's drug cartel.