News Flash (14th January 2021): Top 10 Stories Of The Day

1. Pfizer must conduct local study in India before approval: NITI Aayog member

NITI Aayog member Dr. VK Paul has said that any vaccine maker, including Pfizer that has sought emergency-use authorization for its COVID-19 shot in India, will have to conduct a local study for the immunization program. This comes after India started considering bringing Pfizer into the Indian market for its people. Reports mention however that, Pfizer didn’t attend meetings called by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.

2. India’s Serum Institute to supply 50L vaccine doses to Bolivia as deal gets signed

A contract has been signed between the Bolivian government and Serum Institute of India (SII) for the supply of 50 lakh COVID vaccine doses of AstraZeneca. The first batch of vaccine delivery carrying 10 lakh doses will arrive in April in the country, informed Bolivian President Luis Arce.

3. Srinagar experiences coldest winter night in 25 yrs at -8.4°C

On Wednesday,  the coldest winter night was recorded in Srinagar in the past 25 years with temperatures reaching to minus 8.4°C. A similar drop was recorded in Srinagar in 1995, as per India Meteorological Department (IMD), when it recorded minus 8.3°C. The IMD director further said, “We don’t expect the temperature to fall beyond it, this winter,”. 

4. WHO team appointed to probe origins of Coronavirus arrives in Wuhan

WHO’s team of experts arrived in Wuhan, China on Thursday for the purpose of investigating the origins of coronavirus, state media reported. The team consists of 10 members who are to undergo a 14-day quarantine after which it will begin interviewing people from research institutes, hospitals, and the seafood market connected to the initial outbreak. 

5. Donald Trump become the first President in US history to be impeached twice

Donald Trump has become the first President in the history of the United States to be impeached twice after the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives formally charged him with “incitement of insurrection”. The Republicans and the Democrats impeached Trump by 232-197. The President is now to face a trial in the Senate, where if convicted he will no longer be able to hold any public office ever.

6. Amid COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, the Anti-polio drive rescheduled to Jan 31

Since the nationwide COVID-19 vaccine roll out on is scheduled to take place on January 16, the national polio immunisation programme has been rescheduled from January 17 to January 31 by the Health Ministry. The ministry said that this attempt was to ensure the COVID-19 management and vaccination services don’t clash and impact the other health services. 

7. Mysterious Monolith gets replaced by a sphere with a note at Ahmedabad park

In yet another mysterious monolith related incident, a monolith that was discovered in Ahemdabad in a park some two weeks ago has now been replaced by a metallic sphere with a note that read, “From 80-year-olds to 8-year-olds, the genuine curiosity and boundless enthusiasm you have shown has given me more than I could have asked for.” Officials assume it was left by the artist. 

8. Allahabad HC: Married daughter eligible for govt job on compassionate grounds

The High Court of Allahabad has ruled that a married daughter is eligible to take up a government job on compassionate grounds. It further clarified that a daughter is a family member of a deceased government servant in the same manner as a son. This comes after a daughter challenged an order dismissing her claim for a job appointment following her father’s death just because she was married.

9. CCS clears Make-in-India mega deal: 83 Tejas fighters to become a part of Air Force

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has cleared the largest indigenous defence procurement, a deal of around Rs 48,000 crore, to purchase 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft for the Indian Air Force, to strengthen the armed forces of the country. This comes amid a standoff with China on the Line of Actual Control and tensions with Pakistan over its terror infrastructure.

10. Amid Bird flu, Delhi government to reopen poultry market as samples from Ghazipur market test negative

 After the samples taken from the Ghazipur market tested negative for bird flu, the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal granted permission to poultry markets to open. In addition to this, the chief minister also withdrew the order to restrict trade and import of chicken stocks. “Samples taken from poultry markets have tested negative with respect to Bird Flu. Have directed to open the poultry market & withdraw the orders to restrict trade & import of chicken stocks,” Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.