What explains the sudden U-turn of central govt on covid vaccine policy

possible Russian invasion within days, saying he had yet to see convincing evidence, even as the U.S. warned Sunday of more Russian troops pressing closer to Ukraine's borders and some airlines canceled or diverted flights there.The White House said President Joe Biden would talk later in the day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.The Ukrainian leader's repeated statements urging calm among his people — while Russian forces surround Ukraine on three sides in what Russia insists are military exercises — grew this weekend to Zelenskyy questioning strident warnings from U.S.

Liam Payne is sharing an anecdote indicating his 4-year-old son Bear has a bit of a mischievous streak.

Police clear a roadway at the Ambassador Bridge US-Canada border crossing blocked by truckers as they protest anti-vaccine mandates in Windsor, Ontario. (Photo by GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images) Police moved in to clear and arrest the remaining protesters near the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing on Sunday, trying to end a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions that has hurt the economy of both nations even as they held back from a crackdown on a larger protest in the capital, Ottawa.Local and national police formed a joint command center in Ottawa, where protests have paralyzed downtown, infuriated residents who are fed up with police inaction and turned up pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.The protests have reverberated across the country and beyond, with similar convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands.

Around 300 vehicles taking part in a Canada-style protest convoy against Covid regulations have arrived in Lille, northern France.

The UK has recorded another 41,270 coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours - down from 46,025 on Saturday.

PHILADELPHIA - Two people are dead after a late night shooting in the Kingsessing section of the city.The shooting happened shortly after midnight on the 5700 block of Belmar Street. When police arrived on the scene, they found two men shot and killed.

Travelers wait at the check-in counter ahead of their Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight to Kyiv at Israel's Ben Gurion airport in Lod near Tel Aviv on February 13, 2022. (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) Some airlines have canceled or diverted flights to Ukraine amid warnings from the West that an invasion by Russia is imminent despite intensive weekend talks between Moscow and Washington.In an hourlong call Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Joe Biden said an invasion of Ukraine would cause "widespread human suffering" and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but "equally prepared for other scenarios," the White House said.

PHILADELPHIA - A man is fighting for his life after he was shot in the back in the head in West Philadelphia. The shooting happened just after 1 a.m. Sunday on the 200 block of North Wanamaker Street. Police say they found the 40-year-old man suffering from the gunshot wound to the head and he was rushed to a local hospital.

Vladyslav Heraskevych of Team Ukraine looks on after sliding during the Men's Skeleton Heat 4 at the Winter Olympic Games. (Adam Pretty/Getty Images) The Ukrainian Olympic team has followed the lead of skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych in calling for peace.Heraskevych held up a sign with a Ukrainian flag and the message "No War in Ukraine" after completing a run in the skeleton competition on Friday at the Beijing Games.

Gold medallist Erin Jackson of Team United States poses with a Bing Dwen Dwen mascot and the winning time during the Women's 500m at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Erin Jackson has become the first Black woman to win a speedskating medal at the Winter Olympics.And a gold one, at that.Jackson won the 500 meters Sunday with a time of 37.04 seconds, giving the American speedskating program its first speedskating medal of the Beijing Games and first individual medal since 2010.But this one meant much more than national pride.The 29-year-old Jackson, a former inline skater who switched to the ice shortly before the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, joined fellow American Shani Davis as the only Black athletes to win speedskating medals at the Olympics.The silver went to Miho Takagi of Japan, while Angelina Golikova of the Russian team took the bronze.Jackson's gold came after the native of balmy Ocala, Florida, slipped at the U.S.

Dr. Dre will be front and center on one of the world’s biggest stages when he performs at the 2022 Super Bowl on Feb. 13. The rapper will be joined by some of his closest friends in the industry — Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar — for a Halftime Show performance that is sure to be remembered. It’s almost impossible to believe that just 13 months ago, Dre suffered an apparent brain aneurysm that left him hospitalized for nearly two weeks. Luckily, Dre was able to recover from the terrifying medical scare. Learn more about it below:

LONDON :

COVID-19, as the province continues to endure the pandemic.New data released by the province on Sunday suggests 402 people were receiving care in an intensive care unit (ICU), while 244 were on a ventilator. 1,704 people hospitalized in Ontario with COVID-19, 414 in intensive care The hospitalizations and ICU admissions on Sunday mark a drop from numbers reported the day earlier.On Saturday, the province said 1,704 people were hospitalized, with 414 in ICU.However, in a tweet, Ontario’s Health Minister Christine Elliott noted that not all hospitals submit data on weekends.A total of 2,265 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Ontario on Sunday.

James Blunt in their latest effort to repel protesters who are camped outside of parliament.The demonstrators, who are angry at COVID-19 vaccine mandates, have been blocking the streets of the country’s capital, Wellington, since Tuesday (February 8).Tactics used by the local authorities to try and get rid of the protesters have included turning on the water sprinklers on the lawn where they camped. But protesters retaliated by digging trenches and building makeshift drainpipes to re-route the water, according to BBC News.When the sprinkler tactic proved ineffective, police turned to blasting out Barry Manilow‘s greatest hits, which include ‘Mandy’ and ‘Could It Be Magic’, on a 15-minute loop from one of parliament’s loudspeakers, as well as the ’90s Spanish hit ‘Macarena’ and a number of vaccine messages.After catching wind of what was happening, Blunt offered his services to New Zealand authorities via Twitter.

All this week anti-COVID-19 vaccine mandate protesters said that if police came they wouldn’t leave their blockade of the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., but when push came to shove that’s exactly what they did. Sean O’Shea reports.

coronavirus pandemic declaration, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) said it will “improve and increase service” on several of its routes beginning Sunday.In a press release issued Wednesday, TTC said 17 routes would be improved “as the agency starts restoring service across the network to pre-pandemic levels.” Ontario on track to remove ‘almost all restrictions’ on businesses ‘very soon,’ Doug Ford says “Throughout the pandemic, the TTC has prioritized service delivery where it is needed the most, protecting service on the busiest routes at the busiest times of day,” the release reads. “Last November, overall service had to be adjusted based on reduced staff availability.”The TTC said it is planning to restore 100 per cent of pre-pandemic service hours over the coming months as ridership increases.“Schedules and service will continue to be based on demand,” the release said.According to the TTC, on Feb.

Josh Hazlewood conceded just five runs in the Super Over as T20 World Cup champion Australia edged Sri Lanka on Sunday after the second game of their series finished in a tie.Australia Innings:Australia was sent in to bat in Sydney and posted 164 for 6, with Josh Inglis scoring 48 from 32 balls to lead the scoring.Dushmantha Chameera took 2 for 30, including wickets with consecutive balls in the 19th over to remove Steve Smith (14) and Marcus Stoinis (19), and Wanindu Hasaranga returned 2 for 33.Sri Lanka Innings:Sri Lanka was always behind in the run chase after losing wickets in the first, third and fifth overs to slip to 25 for 3, but opener Pathum Nissanka’s 73 from 53 deliveries kept the visiting team in contention.Sri Lanka needed 46 from the last 18 balls for victory and, when Hasaranga was run out for 34 on the last ball of the 19th over, still needed 19 off the last over from Stoinis to win the match and level the series.They scored 18 , with Maheesh Teekshana hitting the second ball he faced for six and Chameera hitting a four down the ground on the last ball to level the scores.Super Over :With the Super Over in play Hazlewood, who returned 3 for 22 in his four overs in regulation, bowled two dot balls and a bye, which resulted in Dinesh Chandimal being run out by a direct hit from Glenn Maxwell as Sri Lanka slipped to 1- 1. The Sri Lankans managed to get to 5 for 1 after six balls.Maxwell took a single off Hasaranga from the first ball of Australia’s Super Over and Stoinis did the rest, driving down the ground for consecutive boundaries to secure the victory with three balls to spare.

Ont.’s Ambassador Bridge.Dozens of trucks, cars, pickups and vans have blocked traffic in both directions at Canada’s busiest border crossing to the U.S. for several days.

The Scottish Government has confirmed 5,301 new cases of coronavirus have been identified overnight.

Kate Garraway has said she is discovering a 'new way to be in love' with her husband.

A Rutherglen man has praised a new NHS weight loss programme after shedding a staggering four stone in less than a year.

Active cases: 3,926Today's positivity rate: 1.50% pic.twitter.com/kqjBfJPSBgNever miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Those opposed to vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 measures gathered near the Pacific Highway truck crossing Saturday – where police say convoy vehicles broke through RCMP barricades. Paul Johnson reports.

KATE Garraway has revealed the heartbreaking conversations she has with her husband Derek since Covid made him struggle to communicate. The Good Morning Britain presenter admits her other half is still unable to speak, but they still have a "deep connection" and have found a "new way" to love each other. Asked whether they can have conversations, Kate tells You: "Not really.

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NEW DELHI :

Cyclone Dovi caused power outages, mudslides and evacuations across New Zealand, but neither the storm nor the music of Barry Manilow could dislodge anti-vaccine protesters camped outside parliament.

Good Morning Britain anchor Kate Garraway has revealed she has found a "new way" to love her husband Derek Draper. The former political lobbyist, 54, has been suffering side effects from coronavirus, having contracted the virus back in March 2020, subsequently becoming the UK's longest hospital inpatient before being discharged one year later.

Seoul (News 1st); Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has called on the world to pledge to not be warmongers and war criminals but peacemakers and sacrifice in whatever way required to benefit humanity forever with bestowed peace.Sirisena was speaking at the World Summit 2022 (Summit for Peace on the Korean Peninsula) in Seoul, South Korea.World Summit 2022 (Summit for Peace on the Korean Peninsula) gathered world leaders and a worldwide virtual audience around topics related to peaceful reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula.It featured keynote speakers from around the world on a range of topics related to the peaceful reconciliation of the Korean Peninsula. Many speakers are from the 157 countries that have diplomatic ties with both North and South Korea.“The experiences in the unification of Germany and Vietnam show how two contrasting political ideologies could positively merge.

Phase 2 polling in UP tomorrow

Protests in communities across the country have been loud. In an effort to try and stop ongoing honking horns in Edmonton, a temporary injunction was granted to the city.

Rylan Clark has shared an update on his health after revealing he had been taken to hospital earlier this week.TV star Rylan, 33, posted a photo of himself and shared an update with fans on his social media channels on Saturday 12 February. X Factor star Rylan has previously sparked concern amongst fans as he revealed he had been on an "extended trip" to hospital. But, after returning home, Rylan posted a selfie showing the TV star wearing a white hoodie and sitting on his emerald green sofa with his thumb up towards the camera.

Canadian demonstrators led by truckers angry over Covid-19 restrictions defied police and kept occupying a key bridge yesterday, while thousands more rallied in the capital as a two-week-old protest showed no signs of abating.

The Queen is scheduled to return to work next week, which suggests that she didn't catch Covid off her son Prince Charles after having afternoon tea with him a couple of days before he tested positive.Major concerns had been raised after The Queen and Charles had afternoon tea together at Windsor Castle two days before he tested positive for Covid.Many were concerned as Charles would typically greet his mother in public with both a kiss on the hand and a kiss on the cheek.After a long-anticipated nervous wait, it's understood that the Queen, who has been triple jabbed, is showing no symptoms and has submitted a negative result.In an exclusive chat with The Sun, Royal sources told that Her Majesty has a diary of engagements at Windsor Castle next week which she is expected to go ahead with, which is an indication that she doesn't have Covid.The jobs are believed to be video calls with ambassadors and dignitaries from her desk.

Day 16 of what the prime minister and police are calling an illegal occupation in our nation’s capital. All available officers are being deployed to enforce safety and to encourage protesters to leave, but the disruption continues.

NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India is a natural ally for the G-7 countries in defending the shared values from a host of threats stemming from authoritarianism, terrorism and violent extremism, disinformation and economic coercion.In a virtual address at a session on 'open societies and open economies' at the G-7 summit, the prime minister highlighted India's civilisational commitment to democracy, freedom of thought and liberty.Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) additional secretary P Harish said there was widespread support at the G7 deliberations for text-based negotiations on a proposal by India and South Africa for patent waiver on Covid vaccines.Harish said the prime minister spoke on the need for open and

NEW DELHI : Several private hospitals across the country said they have no clarity on procuring Covid-19 vaccines under the new policy announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that it has led to the vaccination being put on hold at their centres.The hospitals have sought a proper mechanism and a single-window system to be put in place for procurement of vaccine doses.

Jharkhand Class 12 Board Exam 2021 is yet to be taken," it had said.On June 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had chaired a meeting and announced the cancellation of the CBSE Class 12 board exams because of the Covid pandemic.PM Modi had said the health and safety of students are of utmost importance, and there will be no compromise on this aspect.After the CBSE and CISCE decided not to hold their board exams amid the Covid pandemic, several states had cancelled their board examinations, such as West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka among others.Jharkhand reported maximum wastage of Covid vaccine at 33.95%, according to central government data.Yesterday, Jharkhand extended lockdown-like restrictions till June 17 with some relaxations, including

WASHINGTON : The International Monetary Fund on Thursday welcomed a recent announcement by the Indian government to facilitate access to vaccination and ramp up the production of essential medicines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that the central government will provide free coronavirus vaccine to states for inoculation of all above the age of 18 from June 21, and asserted that vaccine supply would be increased significantly in the country in coming days to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.India proved its mettle by making two made-in-India COVID-19 vaccines in a short time and over 23 crore doses have already been administered, the prime minister said.Efforts were being made on a war-footing to

Covid vaccination drive under the control of central government by June 21 and inoculate every citizen aged 18 years or above for free. The yoga guru even said that he will soon get himself vaccinated, a marked change from his earlier stance on the matter, and urged others to take the jab too."Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a historic announcement of vaccinating every citizen free of cost from June 21.

NEW DELHI : Indian officials and health experts welcomed a federal government plan to give free COVID-19 shots to all adults as a step in the right direction on Tuesday, but cautioned that vaccinations must be accelerated to prevent new surges in infections.Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday the federal government would take over the inoculation programme from Indian states and offer free doses to everyone over the age of 18.His announcement on national television followed weeks of criticism of a vaccine rollout that has covered fewer than 5% of India's estimated adult population of 950 million.

Most appropriate response: Kerala CM on Centre's to provide free jabsMeanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday welcomed the Centre's decision to provide vaccines free of cost to everyone and said it was the "most appropriate response at this hour".Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that the central government will provide free coronavirus vaccine to states for inoculation of all above the age of 18 from June 21, and asserted that vaccine supply would be increased significantly in the country in coming days."The Prime Minister's declaration that Covid-19 vaccine will be supplied free of cost to the States from 21 June, is the most appropriate response at this hour.

Govt releases revised guidelines for the national COVID vaccination program:The Centre's centralised free vaccination policy will kick in on June 21, International Yoga Day and the government will provide free COVID-19 vaccine to all Indian citizens above 18 years of age. The Centre will also handle the 25 per cent vaccination that was with states till now under the liberalised plan announced earlier.Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement in a televised address to the nation and said the Centre will procure 75 per cent of the total production of the vaccine doses and provide them free to the states.

diagnostic services provider slipped on Tuesday amid a continued decline in India's covid-19 cases.The Metropolis Healthcare stock was down 4%, while Dr Lal Pathlabs and Thyrocare Technologies fell nearly 2% each.Hospital stocks also slipped after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Centre will provide free covid-19 vaccines to all adults from 21 June, in a revision of the government’s much-touted strategy of ‘liberalized and accelerated" vaccination.The central government will now buy 75% of vaccines and give them free of cost to states, Modi said.Shares of Max Healthcare, Shalby, and Fortis declined 1-3%.

decision to procure vaccines and supply to states free of cost has resolved a grievance many opposition-ruled state governments had raised over the 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate on vaccines which they had to pay under the earlier policy.The Centre will provide free covid-19 vaccines to all adults from 21 June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Monday, in a revision of the government’s much-touted strategy of ‘liberalized and accelerated" vaccination.The central government will now buy 75% of vaccines and give them free of cost to states, Modi said.With the Centre agreeing to procure three-fourth of domestic production of covid vaccines, this tax liability falls on the union government.

हम भाजपा के टीके के ख़िलाफ़ थे पर ‘भारत सरकार’ के टीके का स्वागत करते हुए हम भी टीका लगवाएंगे व टीके की कमी से जो लोग लगवा नहीं सके थे उनसे भी लगवाने की अपील करते हैं।His announcement comes just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that from June 21, the Centre will takeover government vaccination process and states won't have to procure separately.In a tweet today, Akhilesh Yadav said that the Centre had to take this decision after seeing massive public outrage. The Samajwadi Party leader welcomed the decision and said that now he will also take Covid vaccine.Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint.

PM Modi asks state to bring down vaccine wastageYesterday, while reviewing the progress of COVID vaccination drive in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the states to bring down vaccine wastage. During the meeting, he was briefed about the current availability of vaccines and roadmap for ramping it up.