An Air India special flight will depart today from Delhi for China's Wuhan for evacuation of Indians following outbreak of novel Coronavirus in the neighboring country.

Sixteen crew members will be on-board for the evacuation process.

The crew is traveling with masks, gloves and disinfectant sprays and will not get off the aircraft in Wuhan.

There will be minimal contact with the passengers during the flight.

The Air India jumbo from Mumbai picked up special medical kits in Delhi being procured by the health ministry.

Air India will board only those passengers who do not show symptoms of the infection. In its first ferry, approximately 325 passengers will be evacuated.

Indian women's team captain Rani Rampal became the first-ever hockey player to win the prestigious 'World Games Athlete of the Year' award.

The World Games announced the winner last night after 20 days of polling in January this year by sports fans worldwide.

Congratulating Rani, the World Games said with 1,99,477 votes, she is the clear winner of the Athlete of the Year race. All in all, over 7,05,610 votes were cast during the poll.

Last year, India won the FIH Series Finals, and Rani was named Player of the Tournament.

 Under Rani's leadership, the Indian women's team qualified for just the third Olympic Games in its history.

Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 87.86 metres at the Athletics Central North East meeting in South Africa. The 22-year-old Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medallist breached the Olympic qualification mark of 85 metres in his fourth attempt at Potchefstroom last night.

Neeraj had missed the IAAF World Championships, the Diamond League and the Asian Championships due to an elbow injury. His last major international competition was the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games where he won gold with a national record of 88.06 metres.

Another Indian in fray, Rohit Yadav threw 77.61 metres.

Nation pays homage to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 72nd death anniversary today. It was on this day in 1948, Mahatma Gandhi fell to the bullet of his assassin. The day is also observed as Martyrs Day.

A Sarva Dharma Prarthana Sabha has been organised at his Samadhi - Rajghat in the national capital. All India Radio Delhi will broadcast live commentary on the Sarva Dharma Prarthana Sabha and Bhakti Sangeet from Rajghat. It can be heard on Rajdhani channel from 9:40 AM.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has paid tributes to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary today. In a series of tweets, Mr Naidu said, Mahatma Gandhi’s life and message of peace and non-violence are relevant for all times and find resonance in every part of the world. He said, through the philosophy of Ahimsa, Satyagraha and Non-Cooperation, Gandhi Ji galvanised masses and spearheaded the national movement.

For better planning and monitoring of government projects, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the Bhuvan Panchayat web portal's version 3.0. For the first time, a thematic data base on a 1:10,00 scale for the entire country is available with integrated high resolution satellite data for planning.
In the project that will last for at least two years, ISRO will collaborate with the gram panchayat members and stakeholders to understand their data requirements. The third version of the portal will provide database visualisation and services for the benefit of panchayat members, among others. The project is meant to provide geo-spatial services to aid gram panchayat development planning process of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Jitendra Singh, Minister Of State in the Prime Minister's Office, launched the programme. “This kind of technical empowerment benefits officers dedicated to the rural development ministry. It’s a proud moment to be associated with ISRO in its most interesting time. ISRO and the Department of Science & Technology will be an essential tool in making of Modi's new India," he said.

Qatar appointed a new Prime Minister today replacing Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Quoting an Emiri order, the State News Agency reported that Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdelaziz Al Thani has been named as the new Prime Minister.

According to reports, the earlier Prime Minister has submitted his resignation.

The state-run Qatar News Agency reported that no reason for the change has been specified.

Beating the Retreat ceremony, marking the culmination of four-day long Republic Day celebrations, will be held at the historic Vijay Chowk in New Delhi today. Indian tunes will be the flavour of ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony even this year too.  Beating Retreat marks a centuries old military tradition, when the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield and returned to the camps at sunset at the sounding of the Retreat.

The ceremony traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army indigenously developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands.  It has emerged as an event of national pride.

AIR correspondent reports that as many as 24 performances on Vijay Chowk will enthrall the spectators with captivating and foot-tapping music of the bands from Army, Navy, Air Force and Central Armed Police Force today.  Fifteen Military Bands, 16 Pipe and Drums Band from Regimental Centres and Battalions are participating in the ceremony. The Principal Conductor of the ceremony will be Flying Officer Rupachandra.

Union Health Ministry has opened a dedicated Helpline for queries on Novel Corona virus. A 24x7 Call Centre is active for responding to queries on the virus. The number is 91-11-23978046 (Can be read as 011-23978046). If people want to seek any help, they can call to know about District and State Surveillance Officers and in case of any clinical query connect with Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, IDSP Officer.

Passengers who have a travel history of China since 1st of January this year have been urged to come forward for self-reporting to the Call Centre, the nearest health facility if they experience any symptoms such as fever, cough, respiratory diseases and also inform their treating doctor.