Breaking News January 21

We are shocked at the unfortunate loss of lives of three Indian fishermen and one Sri Lankan national following a collision between their vessel and a Sri Lankan naval craft. Our strong protest in regard to this incident was conveyed by our High Commissioner to the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister today. A strong demarche was also made to the Sri Lankan Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi. Expressing our deep anguish at the loss of lives, we emphasized the need to deal with issues pertaining to fishermen in humanitarian manner. Existing understandings b/w the 2 Govts must be strictly observed. Utmost efforts should be made to ensure that there's no recurrence.

Contractor's men were working on that floor (where the fire broke out) and when the fire brigade officials went there, they found five completely burnt bodies. 2 of them were from UP, 2 from Pune and 1 is from Bihar. 

Fire brigade has done good work. As per my info, CM will also visit the site tomorrow. The place where COVID vaccine is manufactured was not affected. I was informed that preparation was going on at this building (site of fire) to make Rotavirus vaccine.

Our government is trying its best to gather more information. Energy Audit teams have been instructed to conduct fire audit, they will do it tomorrow

Six people have been rescued (from fire). Prima facie it seems that the fire was caused by an electric fault. The COVID vaccine is safe. I have not spoken to Adar Poonawalla till now: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

Navy executed medical evacuation today after HQ Western Naval Command received info of medical emergency onboard Singapore merchant vessel MV Eagle Tampa, off Mumbai coast. A Malaysian citizen, suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease, was experiencing breathing difficulty.

Indian Naval Seaking helicopter from INS Shikra was sent for evacuation, following confirmation of 2 failed attempts to transfer the patient to tug. Helicopter picked up the patient from ship & returned to INS Shikra. The patient was then transferred to hospital by pvt ambulance

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar donated a sum of Rs 5,00,001 to a delegation of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra at Raj Bhawan in Kolkata for the construction of Ram Mandir in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya. 

A massive fire broke out at Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) on Thursday. The blaze erupted at the institute's Manjari premises in the afternoon and 15 fire tenders were rushed to the site. READ FULL STORY

A suicide attacker using an explosive vest killed at least seven people and injured at least 20 in a central Baghdad (Iraq) market

A 10-year-old boy, who was battling for life after his father allegedly set him ablaze, died at a hospital here, police said on Thursday. He was set on fire on the night of January 17 as his father was angry with him for delay in getting beedis from a shop and also for not focussing on his studies, police earlier said.

The boy, who suffered 90 per cent burns, was shifted to a hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday night, a police official said.

The father, an alcoholic, allegedly set him on fire at their house after pouring turpentine oil and using a burning matchstick from which he lit his beedi, police said.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday extended greetings on the statehood day of Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya, saying the three states have come a long way since their formation, making India proud in every field. Tripura, Meghalaya and Manipur became full-fledged states on this day in 1972.

"Blessed with unparalleled natural beauty, diverse vibrant cultures & people with a unique outlook towards life, these North-Eastern states have retained their special place in India, and have shown the way to the rest of the country through their natural diet & healthy lifestyle," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted quoting Naidu.

Police have busted a flesh trade racket at a lodge in Bhiwandi town here in Maharashtra and arrested three persons in this connection, an official said on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, the police conducted a raid on the lodge on Tuesday night and rescued two women, aged 32 and23 years, from there, the official from Narpoli police station said.

Three persons, including the manager of the lodge and two waiters, were arrested for allegedly forcing the womeninto prostitution, he said.

A case was registered against them under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Immoral Traffic(Prevention) Act, he said.

South Delhi Municipal Corporation has passed a proposal regarding mandatory writing of 'Halal meat' or 'Jhatka meat' for the meat being served and sold by restaurants and meat shops

Jharkhand's COVID-19 tally rose, to 1,18,012 on Thursday as 125 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said. The state's coronavirus death toll remained unchanged at 1,057 as no fresh fatality was reported, he said.
Ranchi district reported the highest number of new cases at 65, followed by East Singhbhum (17) and Palamu and

he COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 4,991 on Thursday as two more persons tested positive for the infection, a health official
said. Three more persons have recovered from the disease, he said.