World

Vaccine will not be enough to stop coronavirus pandemic: WHO chief

The head of the World Health Organization said Monday that a vaccine would not by itself stop the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic is raging months after it broke out, with infections soaring past 54 million and claiming more than 1.3 million lives. “A vaccine will complement the other tools we have, not replace them,” director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “A vaccine on its own will not end the pandemic.” The WHO’s figures for Saturday showed that 660,905 coronavirus cases were reported to the UN health agency, setting a new high water mark. That number, and the 645,410 registered on Friday, surpassed the previous daily record high of 614,013 recorded on November 7. Tedros said that supplies of the vaccine would initially be restricted, with “health workers, o...
World

In many respects, modern-day India is counted as a success story, says Barack Obama

Former US President Barack Obama has said that modern day India can be counted as a success story in many respects, despite bitter feuds within political parties, various armed separatist movements, and corruption scandals. The 44th US president, in his latest book, says the transition to a more market-based economy in the 1990s unleashed the extraordinary entrepreneurial talents of Indians, leading to soaring growth rates, a thriving technology sector, and a steadily expanding middle class. In his book "A Promised Land", Obama writes on his journey from the 2008 election campaign to the end of his first term with the daring Abbottabad (Pakistan) raid that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. "A Promised Land" is the first of two planned volumes. The first part hit bookstores g...
India

Delhi Markets May Shut Soon as Kejriwal Sends Relock Proposal to Centre Amid Surging Virus Cases

As Covid-19 cases surge in Delhi, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is mulling to shut down markets that have a "potential of becoming hotspots". The Aam Aadmi Party government has sent a proposal in this regard to the Centre. "We are seeking permission from the central government to close markets if crowds don't decrease, as the shopping areas have potential of becoming Covid-19 hotspots," the chief minister said on Tuesday. Delhi on Monday recorded 3,797 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the infection tally in the national capital to over 4.89 lakh, even as 99 new fatalities pushed the toll to 7,713, authorities said. The highest single-day spike of 8,593 cases till date here was recorded on November 11 when 85 fatalities were recorded. Ninety-nine fatalities wer...
Politics

Nitish Kumar Keeps Home, New BJP Deputy Gets Sushil Modi’s Portfolios

Patna: Newly sworn-in Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today announced the various portfolios allotted among his council of ministers, keeping the home portfolio for himself. A 14-member council of ministers was sworn in by Governor Phagu Chauhan on Monday in Patna. This included two Deputy Chief Ministers, Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi, both from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Almost all the ministries earlier handled by former deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi have been passed to Mr Prasad, including finance, while Ms Devi would be handling women development. Here are the top-10 developments on Bihar portfolio distribution front: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today kept the home portfolio for himself. This is besides handling portfolios like general administration, vigilance, ...