Morning Digest: PM Modi to launch COVID-19 vaccination drive on Jan. 16; farmers to attend 9th round of talks with govt without ‘much hope’, and more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the pan-India rollout of COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 16 at 10:30 a.m. by way of video conferencing mentioned a launch issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday.

Protesting farmer leaders on January 14 mentioned they’ll attend the ninth round of talks with the federal government amid indication that it could be the final such assembly with the Centre, however added that they don’t have a lot hope as they won’t accept something lower than the repeal of the contentious farm laws.

India won’t invite any international dignitary to be the Chief Guest on the upcoming Republic Day celebrations, the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs mentioned on Thursday.

The Trump administration on January 14 imposed new sanctions on Chinese officers over Beijing’s growing assertiveness within the South China Sea.

India and the U.S. have a standard curiosity in selling safety and prosperity within the Indo-Pacific area and their potential to work collectively has a optimistic influence in successfully addressing regional and world challenges, the Ministry of External Affairs mentioned on January 14.

India is assessing manufacturing schedule of COVID-19 vaccines for domestic use, and supply of vaccines to different international locations is predicted to take “some time”, the Ministry of External Affairs mentioned on January 14. Addressing the weekly press briefing MEA official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava reiterated that India is dedicated to use vaccines for the profit of all humanity.

The Avaniapuram jallikattu, the primary bull-taming occasion of the Pongal season in Madurai, noticed an enormous turnout on January 14. At least 80 contributors had been injured on the occasion held in compliance with COVID-19 pointers. Health officers mentioned the accidents weren’t severe.

India’s first indigenous 9 mm machine pistol has been collectively developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army, the Defence Ministry mentioned on January 14.

India and Oman on January 14 reviewed the complete spectrum of their relationship and vowed to regain momentum in commerce and funding linkages as soon as normalcy returns after COVID-19.

CBI commenced arguments afresh within the Delhi High Court on January 14 in its attraction in opposition to the acquittal of former Telecom Minister A. Raja and others within the 2G spectrum allocation rip-off case.

NASA has declared the Mars digger lifeless after failing to burrow deep into the pink planet to take its temperature. Scientists in Germany spent two years making an attempt to get their warmth probe, dubbed the mole, to drill into the Martian crust. But the 16-inch-long (40-centimetre) system that’s half of NASA’s InSight lander couldn’t acquire sufficient friction within the pink dust.

The metropolis police has advised the Delhi High Court {that a} plea moved by JNU pupil and Pinjra Tod activist Devangana Kalita, accused in a case associated to northeast Delhi riots, looking for copies of movies of protests in opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was not maintainable.

President-elect Joe Biden is unveiling a $1.9 trillion coronavirus plan to flip the tide on the pandemic, rushing up the vaccine roll-out and offering monetary assist to people, states and native governments and companies struggling with the extended financial fallout.

Washington Sundar is all set to make his Test debut when the collection decider will get underway on the ‘Gabba’, Brisbane on Friday. Both groups are locked 1-1 in what has been a dramatic collection of fortune swings to this point. India, although, has been hit by a spate of accidents.