- Nitish gets 2 deputy CMs: Nitish Kumar was sworn in on Monday as the 37th chief minister of Bihar at a ceremony held at Patna’s Raj Bhavan. Two BJP leaders, Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi, took oath as deputy CM. Union minister Amit Shah, Bharatiya Janata Party chief JP Nadda and other leaders attended the ceremony.
- Bihar debacle heat on Cong: Days after Bihar Assembly elections concluded with NDA’s mandate in the state, questions are being raised about the Congress debacle, with senior party leader Kapil Sibal asking the leadership if it is “business as usual”. He called for “experienced minds, experienced hands and those who understand political realities” to revive the organisation.
- Modi to attend BRICS summit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the virtual summit of the BRICS or Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa grouping on Tuesday. The meet is expected to focus on cooperation in counter-terrorism, trade, health, energy and ways to offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to attend the 12th summit of the grouping.
- Vaccine not enough: WHO: As the pandemic rages on globally and while everyone are pinning their hopes on a covid vaccine, the World Health Organisation head on Monday said a vaccine would not by itself stop the pandemic. Tedros Ghebreyesus said: “A vaccine will complement the other tools we have, not replace them. A vaccine on its own will not end the pandemic.”
- Trump boasts about Moderna vaccine: As US biotech firm Moderna Inc confirmed it’s preliminary trial data showed it’s coronavirus vaccine to be 94.5% effective in preventing Covid-19, US President Donald Trump boasted about the impressive results and called the vaccine development “great discoveries” and that “great historians” should remember that it happened on his watch.
- EU Brexit warning to Britain: European Union diplomats warned Britain on Monday that time was fast running out for a Brexit deal, and that it may already be too late to ratify one, as negotiators in Brussels began a last-ditch attempt to avoid a tumultuous exit at the end of December.
- BJP seeks Alagiri support: Alagiri likely to form alliance with BJP: European Union diplomats warned Britain on Monday that time was fast running out for a Brexit deal, and that it may already be too late to ratify one, as negotiators in Brussels began a last-ditch attempt to avoid a tumultuous exit at the end of December.
- Judge recuses from hearing pleas against Jagan: Supreme Court justice UU Lalit has recused from hearing a batch of petitions seeking contempt action against Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on the grounds that he had earlier represented the politician as a lawyer.
- K’taka colleges to resume: With colleges and hostels in Karnataka set to reopen on Tuesday, Bengaluru’s local civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, announced 450 mobile swab collection teams from Primary Health Care Centres will be deployed near educational institutions in the city.
- K’taka to seek more flood relief: Karnataka will seek more funds from the Centre to speed up relief and rehabilitation works in dozens of districts across the state that were ravaged by heavy monsoon rains and flash floods due to release of excess water from dams on major rivers, an official said.