A look at the headlines right now:

  1. India registers over 20,000 new Covid-19 cases, Centre’s panel to decide on vaccine approval: A government-appointed panel of experts is likely to consider applications for the emergency use of the coronavirus vaccines filed by the Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech and Pfizer. If the vaccines are cleared, the applications will go to the Drugs Controller General of India for final approval.
  2. Coronavirus: WHO grants ‘emergency validation’ to Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine: The emergency listing paves the way for countries to expedite their regulatory approval process to ‘import and administer the vaccine’.
  3. Donald Trump extends immigration curbs, cites effect of Covid-19 on labour market: The president said the measures were needed to protect American workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has severely affected the economy.
  4. Kerala Assembly passes resolution against farm laws, Union minister calls it a ‘futile exercise’: BJP’s lone MLA in Kerala backtracked after supporting resolution against the legislations. Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar said he will quit politics if anyone ends the MSP system.
  5. CBSE board exams, delayed due to coronavirus pandemic, to begin from May 4: The results will be declared by July 15.
  6. ‘Indian economy will reach pre-Covid levels by end of next fiscal year,’ says NITI Aayog VC Rajiv Kumar: The output of eight core sectors contracted for nine consecutive months, shrank 2.6% in November.
  7. ED being weaponised by BJP to hound political opponents, says Mehbooba Mufti: The PDP president said she is ready to face questions by the central agency, but will continue to insist upon the legitimacy of the process.
  8. Andhra Pradesh CM gained ‘undue advantage’ in cases against him due to transfer of judges, says HC: The court also mentioned Reddy’s letter to chief justice of India against the state judiciary, calling it ‘unceremonious’.
  9. Stranded Indian sailors will return soon, says Centre, China claims it never denied vessel departure: Thirty-nine Indian sailors on board bulk cargo vessels MV Jag Anand and MV Anastasia have been stranded in Jingtang and Caofeidian ports for several months now.
  10. Mob sets temple on fire in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 14 arrested: Videos on social media showed a large crowd chanting slogans as they pulled down the walls of the building.