12-Hour Catch Up: Mallya Applies For Another Route To Stay In UK, No COVID Vaccine In Open Market

Fugitive billionaire Vijay Mallya has applied to UK Home Secretary Priti Patel for "another route" to be able to stay in the UK, the liquor tycoon's barrister representing him in bankruptcy proceedings in the High Court of London confirmed during a remote hearing on Friday.

AFP

The 65-year-old businessman, whose legal challenge to the Indian government's extradition request was turned down at the Supreme Court level in the UK last year, remains in Britain on bail until Ms Patel signs off on the order for him to be extradited to India to face charges of fraud and money laundering related to the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

UK Police Break Up Lockdown-Flouting Wedding With 400 Guests

Police in London said on Friday that they have broken up a wedding attended by 400 people - despite a nationwide lockdown that bars households from mixing.

AFP

The venue was a school whose principal died from the coronavirus last year.

Iran's Supreme Leader's Twitter Account Posts Warning To Trump

Iran's supreme leader's office has posted a photomontage of former US president Donald Trump playing golf under the shadow of a warplane alongside a pledge to avenge a deadly 2020 drone strike he ordered.

AP

The post on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's @khamenei_site Twitter account late Thursday warned there was no escape from payback for the US strike outside Baghdad airport which killed Iran's storied foreign operations chief General Qasem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant.

Covid Vaccine May Not Be Sold In Open Market anytime Soon

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said on Friday that the two Covid-19 vaccines given approval for restricted use would not be available in the open market till the country¡¯s apex drug regulator, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), approved the data sought from their manufacturers.

AFP

¡°As of now, no time frame can be set for the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines in the open market. The government¡¯s focus now is only on covering the priority population in the next seven-eight months¡±.

Talks Collapse As Protesting Farmers Stick To Their Demand Of Repeal

The government's negotiations with representatives of thousands of protesting farmers hit a roadblock on Friday as the unions squarely rejected the Centre's proposal to put three contentious laws on hold.

AP

Unlike the last 10 rounds of talks, the 11th round saw both the sides hardening their positions and could not even reach a decision on the next date for the meeting.

Protesting Farmer Leaders Allege Conspiracy To Kill 4 Of Them

Protesting farmer leaders on Friday alleged that a conspiracy has been hatched to kill four of them and create disturbance during their proposed tractor rally on January 26.

AP

At a late night press conference at the Singhu border, the farmer leaders presented a person who claimed that his accomplices were allegedly asked to pose as policemen and baton charge the crowd during the proposed tractor rally.