Breaking news: Three terrorists neutralized in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam

Customs officials at Chennai Airport seized diamonds worth over Rs 5 crore under the Customs Act from the baggage of a passenger on Tuesday. The diamonds were concealed in the telescopic handle of the hand baggage.

The security forces have gunned down three terrorists in the Mirhama area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district. Another encounter is underway in the Anantnag district. 

In view of the rising Omicron cases, the Manipur government has imposed a night curfew from 9 PM to 4 AM. 

Encounter is going on at two places in two districts i.e. Anantnag and Kulgam. So far one terrorist has been killed in the Kulgam encounter. Both operations underway: IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar

Encounter breaks out between security forces and terrorists in the Mirhama area of Kulgam district: Jammu and Kashmir Police

Rajasthan Cabinet decides to make COVID vaccination mandatory for entry into public places after Jan 31; to strictly enforce night curfew.

Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has departed to Italy amid a surge in COVID-19's Omicron variant cases.

Mumbai has reported 33 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the tally to 118. Punjab has also reported its first case of Variant of Concern (VoC) Omicron.

India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed the 143 crore mark today with more than 57 lakh vaccine doses have been administered till 7 pm today: Government of India

Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved indigenous COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax for Emergency Use Authorization. Corbevax is developed by Biological-E Ltd. which is India’s first indigenously developed Receptor Binding Domain protein sub-unit vaccine for COVID-19.

Delhi has recorded 923 fresh cases of novel coronavirus which is the highest since May 30. The positivity rate stands at 1.29 per cent, state authorities said.

There will be no service between Green Park and Qutab Minar on Yellow Line on Thursday due to pre-planned maintenance. Hauz Khas, Malviya Nagar and Saket stations will remain closed during this period: DMRC

In a massive jump in COVID-19 cases, Mumbai has reported 2,510 fresh cases, one death and 251 recoveries on Wednesday. On Tuesday, 1,333 cases were reported.

Gujarat has reported 19 new cases of Variant of Concern (VoC) Omicron in the last 24 hours. The total tally in the state has reached 97, ANI reported.

Karnataka reports 566 new COVID cases, 245 recoveries, and 6 deaths today

• Active cases: 7,771
• Total recoveries:
• 29,59,674 Death toll: 38,324

The Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered a ban on liquor sales for three hours on New Year night in Puducherry. 

Republic TV has accessed a 95-page statement of all witnesses in the Malegaon blast case.

1991-batch IFS officer Pankaj Sharma, Permanent Representative of India to the UN Conference on Disarmament, Geneva, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Mexico: MEA

1994-batch IFS officer Anupam Ray, presently Joint Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has been appointed as the next Ambassador/PR of India to the UN Conference on Disarmament, Geneva: MEA

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced on Wednesday that his government has decided to give a concession of ₹25 per litre petrol to motorcycles and scooter riders. This comes on the day when the Soren government completed two years in the state. 

In a public meeting, CM Soren said,  “Jharkhand government has decided to give a concession of ₹25 per litre petrol to motorcycles and scooter riders."

He added, "To provide relief to the poor, labourers and middle-class families of the state, Government has decided to a give a subsidy of Rs 25 per liter petrol to two-wheeler owners from January 26."

"Babri Masjid was demolished, there was no conviction but the Modi government did not appeal. An explosion occurred in mecca masjid, no one knew who did it but the Modi government did not appeal. Again, an explosion occurred in the Samjhauta train, the perpetrators behind it were not caught but the Modi government did not appeal," the AIMIM chief said.

Owaisi added," In 2006, a bomb blast took place in a graveyard in Malegaon. 48 people lost their lives. In 2008, again bomb blast took place here, and 8 people died. But now, that the witness is turning hostile, even this case will be closed and we will not know who was behind it." 

Fuming, Owaisi asked the government under PM Modi, "What message are you trying to give by closing cases this way, one after the other?"

The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) team arrested Kanpur businessman Piyush Jain, after unaccounted cash, gold and other valuables worth crores was seized from his premises. In the arrest memo of Jain accessed exclusively by Republic Media Network on Wednesday,  it is said the businessman, as is evident from the statement tendered by him, was 'evasive in his submission'

The arrest memo read, "Despite having effected clandestine supply worth crores to various buyers for a period of just 3-4 years, he feigned ignorance regarding the identity of such goods supplied clandestine by him. He also claimed that he could not remember the name of suppliers of raw materials from which his firms manufactured perfumery compound supplied clandestinely." 

Among Union Territories, Delhi followed by Jammu & Kashmir, has shown the best incremental performance. In incremental performance, J&K is ranked at number second position with a score of 9.55. In J&K, most of the indicators are in the improved/most improved/fully achieved category so far as the Incremental Performance from the Base Year (2018-19) to Reference Year (2019-20) is concerned.

Health & Medical Education Department while giving information about the development said that a robust and acceptable mechanism is used for measuring performance by NITI Aayog. 

According to the report, the health index comprises three domains –health outcomes, governance and information, and key inputs and processes. In terms of overall health performance, the UT of J&K has moved one position up and is categorized as an aspirant and has substantial scope for improvement, the statement added.

The report has been developed by NITI Aayog, with technical assistance from the World Bank, and in close consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
It is pertinent to mention here that, the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir has shown a record improvement in last 3 years in key Maternal and Child health indicators as per the latest report of the National Family Healthy Survey (NFHS-5) 

"If we compare the achievements in key health indicators recorded in National Family Health Survey report (NFHS-5) 2019-20 with the NFHS-4 of 2015-16, J&K has recorded 22 points decrease in Neonatal  Mortality Rate (NNMR) from 23.1 to 9.8, 16 points decrease in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) from 32.4 to 16.3 and 19 points decrease in Under Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) from 37.6 to 18.5, which is unprecedented and is the reflection of the health status of the general population," the statement added. 

Indian travellers were busy indulging in 'workcation' -- working away from home in a scenic location -- this year as they tried to adapt and make up for lost vacations while working remotely after the coronavirus pandemic upended travel and tourism sector in 2020, according to OYO Travelopedia 2021.

Around 65 per cent of respondents in India have travelled in the past six months and a majority of them visited their loved ones, while some went for a getaway from their daily routines and travelled for leisure.

"Nearly 48 per cent of Indians worked from home during the year, out of which a whopping 85 per cent preferred taking workcations or working away from home in a scenic location. And out of these, 61 per cent took a workcation," according to OYO's fourth year-end annual index -  OYO Travelopedia 2021. 

Interestingly, nearly 27 per cent took a month-long workcation. Hill stations ranked top on the list of spots for these work and travel trips, followed by many who visited their hometowns and beach destinations. 

The annual consumer survey by the hospitality platform to study travel intent and expectations among its user base across some of its core markets, including India, Indonesia and Europe, took responses of nearly 3,000 people this month.

The OYO Travelopedia 2021 found that with mass vaccination drives, travel intent and confidence among Indians is back with 60 per cent of respondents have planned vacations for the winter holiday season. However, most seem to plan their trip closer to the date. 

"Nearly 31 per cent said they plan their trips a month in advance, whereas 26 per cent prefer planning their travel only a week in advance. This is a stark contrast from pre-COVID days," it said.

In the Bharuch mass conversion case in Gujarat, an arrest warrant has been issued against five accused. The detention refers to the alleged international conversion racket that was busted by local police. Sources confirmed that 20 people have been identified in the scandal wherein tribal populations in the region were coerced to convert their faith. Out of the 20, ten have been arrested by the police already.

The forced conversion practice is said to have received funds from the United Kingdom and the same was utilised to convert tribals in Bharuch to Islam. On the other hand, four of the accused moved the Gujarat High Court seeking the quashing of the FIR. In addition, they have submitted that the religious conversion took place on consent of the alleged victims and no one was lured into doing so. 

Sources reported that nearly 100 tribals across 37 families of the 'Vasava Hindu' community were coerced to change one's faith in the exchange for money and other allurements. A native of Bharuch district, currently a London resident, has been named in the cartel for advancing funds for the malpractice.

In the matter at hand, the accused have been charged under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Act, as well as Sections 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), 153 (B) (C) (act likely to cause disharmony) and 506 (2) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, as per the police.

The Pune police have registered a case against Hindu seer Kalicharan Maharaj, right-wing leader Milind Ekbote and four others for allegedly making inflammatory speeches during an event here and hurting religious sentiments, officials said on Wednesday.

The event, 'Shiv Pratap Din', to celebrate the killing of Mughal commander Afzal Khan by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was organised here in Maharashtra by Ekbote's Samast Hindu Aghadi outfit on December 19.

According to police, the event was attended by Kalicharan Maharaj, Ekbote, Captain Digendra Kumar (retired) and others.

Capt Kumar is a Kargil war hero, who was awarded the 'Mahavir Chakra' for his acts of bravery in the Kargil war, said police inspector (crime) Harshavardhan Gade.

A case was registered on Tuesday against Kalicharan Maharaj, Ekbote, Capt Kumar and three others at Khadak police station under IPC Sections 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious intention of outraging religious feelings of any class), 298 (deliberate intention of wounding religious feeling of any person) and 505 (2) (false statement, rumour made in place of worship, etc, with intent to create enmity, hatred or ill-will), the officials said.

"Last week we were reporting 150 cases per day, now we are reporting around 2000 cases per day. Mumbai may cross 2000 per day cases today," Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Aditya Thackeray. 

Activists of Dogra front held a protest against the People's Alliance for Gukpar Declaration (PAGD) over the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report in Hyderpora encounter. The SIT report gave a clean chit to the security forces in the Hyderapora encounter. The SIT formed by Jammu and Kashmir Police said that one civilian was killed by a foreign terrorist, and informed that the owner of the building died in the "crossfire" after an ultra used them as a human shield.

Following the clean chit given by the SIT to the security forces in the Hyderpora encounter, a group of Dogra front activists held a protest on Wednesday. The protestors showed up at the protest location with pictures of National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti. The group also waved Indian flags while sloganeering against the PAGD.

Notably, Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that it is not surprising that a clean chit has been given by the SIT to security forces in the Hyderapora encounter. She alleged that the probe was conducted to cover up "a botched operation." It should be mentioned here that the PAGD - an electoral alliance between the several regional political parties in Jammu and Kashmir - demanded a judicial inquiry in the Hyderapora encounter, stating that the police briefing was only a repetition of the "old story". 

Former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal compares the sign of the SAD weighing scale (Tarapur) with Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s weighing scale. The statement was released during a public address in Abohar in Punjab.

At least five more persons in West Bengal tested positive for Omicron on Wednesday, taking the total number of patients infected by the new variant of coronavirus in the state to 11, a senior health department official said.

Of the five, one person is a returnee from abroad while the rest have no foreign travel history, he said, expressing concern that the new virus variant was fast spreading among the people of the state.

"Yesterday night, we received genome sequencing reports of 107 cases and five among them were found to be Omicron-positive. One of the five patients has foreign travel history but the other four locals don't."

"The contact-tracking cell is currently collecting information for necessary containment measures, as per protocol," the official said.

Two of the four locals are from Kolkata and one each from Dumdum and Howrah, he added. 

An inquiry team of the Indian Army, which has been probing the December 4 Nagaland firing incident, visited the incident site in the Mon district on Wednesday. After inspecting the location in Oting village, the Army Inquiry Committee visited the Tizit Police station.

At least 14 civilians were killed by the 21 Para Special Forces (SF) of the Army in a botched-up counter-insurgency operation in the Mon district. The incident triggered a massive outcry in Nagaland to withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. Later, the Army ordered a Court of Inquiry headed by a Major General posted in the northeastern region.

"Any person having such information and desirous of deposing before the inquiry is requested to do so at Tizit police station.  Any original information, photo, or video (not forwarded or not from a secondary source) related to the incident may also be shared with the Inquiry team via Phone, SMS, or Whatsapp Messenger at +916033924571.

The information may also be shared in person to the Inquiry team at Dinjan Military Station in Assam," the Army said in a statement.

Slamming Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, BJP's national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that the Congress general secretary of doing "selective politics" and not speaking over the atrocities committed on the women and Dalits in Rajasthan and other Congress-ruled states. Patra's statement came after Priyanka Gandhi attacked the Uttar Pradesh government over increasing cases of casteist crimes and crimes against women in the state.  

Speaking at the BJP's press conference on Wednesday, Sambit Patra said, "Priyanka Gandhi needs to see the video from her 'Ladki Hun, Lad Sakti Hun' marathon where several girls from Uttar Pradesh were seen chanting the name of PM Modi. However, she believes more in carrying out selective politics where she remains silent on the crimes carried out against the Dalits and women in Rajasthan."

"Samajwadi Party believes in the constitution; whoever indulges in hooliganism needs to be dealt with as per the rule of law,' said Anurag Bhadoria, Samajwadi Party spokesperson, on vandalism incident during PM Modi's rally, allegedly by SP workers. 

Speaking during the foundation stone laying and inauguration of 174 projects worth Rs.196 crore in Farrukhabad on Wednesday, CM Yogi Adityanath alleged that false cases were registered against BJP and RSS leaders during the UPA regime. Contending that Congress is inspiring and nurturing terrorists, he called upon the Sonia Gandhi-led party to issue an apology to the people. 

UP CM Yogi Adityanath remarked, "Today, I want to tell you one thing. Congress-ruled this country for the longest period of time. But how was it governing (the country)? Today, you might have heard a statement by the Maharashtra ATS about the manner in which these people were trying to implicate BJP workers and leaders, RSS leaders and Hindu leaders in false cases. You must have seen this in the Malegaon bomb blast case."

"This mischief of Congress is a crime against the country. Congress leaders should apologise for this to the people of this country. It is not a secret how Congress which inspires and nurtures terrorists is messing with the country. When they were in power, they would inspire and nurture terrorists and lodge false cases against Hindu organizations. And today, when they are out of power, they oppose every work which is in the interest of the people," he added. 

Speaking on the increasing number of COVID patients in the last few days in Maharashtra, state minister Aaditya Thackeray stated, "This can be a starting of the third wave of COVID. We are planning to start vaccination of children from January 3. We are conducting meetings with schools and colleges. We are also planning to give boosters and have discussions on this. "

He added, "Though the cases of COVID are increasing, there is no need to panic. Take care and follow COVID appropriate behaviour. Big celebrations will be not allowed on 31st December. Parties in public places will not be allowed."

After a prosecution witness claimed that he was pressurised to implicate Yogi Adityanath in the Malegaon case, the Uttar Pradesh CM tore into Congress.

Speaking during the foundation stone laying and inauguration of 174 projects worth Rs.196 crore in Farrukhabad on Wednesday, he alleged that false cases were registered against BJP and RSS leaders during the UPA regime. Contending that Congress is inspiring and nurturing terrorists, he called upon the Sonia Gandhi-led party to issue an apology to the people. 

UP CM Yogi Adityanath remarked, "Today, I want to tell you one thing. Congress ruled this country for the longest period of time. But how was it governing (the country)? Today, you might have heard a statement by the Maharashtra ATS about the manner in which these people were trying to implicate BJP workers and leaders, RSS leaders and Hindu leaders in false cases. You must have seen this in the Malegaon bomb blast case."

Republic accesses the arrest memo of Kanpur businessman Piyush Jain from whose residence heaps of cash have been recovered. 

Uttar Police has arrested five accused in relation to vandalism in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally on Tuesday. of the five accused, three are Samajwadi party workers., 

PM Narendra Modi visit to the United Arab Emirates has been postponed amid the urge of Omicron cases in India. The visit was scheduled to take place on January 6, 2022.

As per schedule decided by Congress Working Committee, the election process for the post of Congress president will be completed by September: Madhusudan Mistry, president, Congress' Central Election Authority

PM should tell how cash worth Rs 180 crores can be found at the residence of a businessman in UP, despite demonetization? PM should accept that his brainchild demonetization has totally failed & that it has destroyed small-scale industries & jobs: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi

"Even if all of Malegaon witnesses turn hostile, does it mean the case is done with when a vehicle was in the name of Sadhvi Pragya,"

"There is fraud going on in the name of investment. We are not against investment, we want only the residents of J&K to buy property here. Their (BJP) decisions indicate J&K is no more a part of India. No one can forcefully rule here," said Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari to ANI.

The Goa government will make it mandatory for people to be fully vaccinated or carry a COVID-19 negative report to attend parties or enter restaurants in the coastal state, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, Sawant said district administrations will issue a notification to this effect by Wednesday evening. He said organisers of various events in the state would have to ensure that the guests carry these certificates

Countering Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's hard stance on prohibition, RJD on Wednesday, claimed if Kumar's proclamations were followed the state will remain impoverished. Listing industries, IT parks, tourism, investment, RJD said that Bihar will lose on all of the above because of Nitish Kumar's stance on liquor. RJD told citizens, "Support him to promote poverty".

Similarly, RJD spokesperson Ritu Jaiswal countered Nitish's remark that Gandhi Ji had called drinking a 'social evil'. She tweeted, "If Bapu was among us today, he himself would not have liked to come to Bihar after seeing his model of prohibition". RJD youth chief Qari Sohaib shared a picture of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik attending a classroom lecture to ascertain the level of education in his state. Comparing Patnaik to Kumar, he said, "Our Sushasan babu is wandering door-to-door in search of liquor".

Fear-mongering on “J&K Land Sale” continues, PDP to hold protest against J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Administration decision on land laws in Jammu at 1 PM.

There can be a decision on increasing more restrictions soon. Opinion of Task Force will be taken into account. CM will take final decision: Health Minister Rajesh Tope

Amid speculations of the Election Commission of India (ECI) postponing the upcoming assembly elections, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has now launched attacks on the Aam Aadmi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party for the same. The Punjab CM on Wednesday said that the two opposition parties were trying to postpone the elections citing the COVID situation as an excuse. He slammed the two parties and said that the Congress party was ready to go into the Punjab polls today if needed.

CM Channi on Wednesday slammed AAP and BJP saying that the leaders of the two parties were using the COVID-19 situation as an excuse to postpone the elections scheduled to take place early next year. The Punjab CM also said that the Delhi government led by Arvind Kejriwal imposed night curfew in the national capital to postpone the elections. He said that the Punjab Congress government is ready to take on the polls any day. The Punjab CM, while addressing the public in the state, also mentioned that the postponing of elections means a lot of problems including the loss of money spent for the same.

Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital's doctors continue to stage protests taking to streets and stalling certain medical services on December 29, despite Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's assurance to agitating doctors in regards to NEET-PG counselling. An intensified stir over the delay of the said counselling has caused understaffing at state-run hospitals and crippled health services as doctors have taken to the streets. 

While the Faculty Association of Safdarjung Hospital is conducting a meeting over the issue, they have condemned the delay and urged the government to reveal its objectives for expediting NEET-PG counselling, failing which they have threatened a shutdown of all non-emergency services.  

"There is no death as of now due to Omicron and all are asymptomatic. Out of 167 patients, 91 have been discharged. Efforts are being taken. Counselling sessions are held during door to door visits. All parties and representatives should come together to make the COVID-19 vaccination drive successful," Rajesh Tope said.

As the world is witnessing a huge surge in cases from the new COVID-19 strain Omicron, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated on Wednesday that the total risk associated with the concerned variation remains "very high". According to WHO's weekly epidemiological update, the worldwide number of new COVID-19 infections has increased by 11% during the period of December 20 to 26 from the previous week. 

Referring to the COVID-19 cases spike in the United States and the United Kingdom, WHO update revealed, “Consistent evidence shows that the Omicron has a growth advantage over the Delta with a doubling time of 2-3 days and rapid increases in the incidence of cases are seen in a number of countries, including those where the variant has become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant," ANI reported. Meanwhile, South Africa, where the newest variant was discovered, has seen a decrease in the number of cases, the update added. 

Enforcement Directorate files 7000-page chargesheet in money laundering probe, former Maharashtra HM Anil Deshmukh named as prime accused, the son is also named in the case at hand.

"Odisha government has decided to reopen schools for classes 1 to 5 from Jan 3. A total of 27,000 schools will reopen with timings from 9 AM to 12 Noon. Students above 15 yrs of age will get vaccinated under govt guidelines," Odisha School & Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash told ANI.

Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 2,172 fresh coronavirus cases, up by 50 per cent from 1,426 infections recorded a day before, and 22 new deaths, the health department said.

With these additions, the state's COVID-19 tally rose to 66,61,486, while the death toll increased to 1,41,476, it said.

However, the silver lining was that the state did not record any fresh case of the new coronavirus variant Omicron in the last 24 hours. The state has so far recorded 167 cases of Omicron, marked as a 'variant of concern' by the WHO that is causing worries all over the world.

On Monday, the state had recorded 1,426 COVID-19 cases and 21 deaths.

The bulletin said 1,098 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours, taking the tally of those recovered so far to 65,04,831. The coronavirus recovery rate in the state is 97.65 per cent.

Maharashtra now has 11,492 active cases of infection.

Mumbai recorded 1,377 new COVID-19 cases, a steep rise of 70 per cent from a day ago, and one more death, according to a separate bulletin issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The Mumbai region, which comprises the metropolis and its satellite cities, recorded 1,680 new cases, followed by the Pune region (308), Nashik (67), Nagpur (48), Kolhapur (37), Latur (16), Aurangabad (10) and the Akola region (6), the health department bulletin said.

As the world is witnessing a huge spike in infections from the new COVID-19 strain Omicron particularly in Europe and the US, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday warned that the new variant could lead to overwhelming healthcare systems. Speaking to The Guardian, WHO Europe COVID incident manager, Catherine Smallwood informed that even though preliminary findings suggested that Omicron could render milder infections, it would still result in a large number of hospitalisations. It is to mention that the warning comes as London on Tuesday recorded a 53% rise in hospital admissions.

"A rapid growth of Omicron... Even if combined with slightly milder disease, will still result in a large number of hospitalizations, particularly among unvaccinated groups and cause widespread destruction to health systems and other critical services," said Catherine Smallwood, WHO Europe COVID incident manager, as quoted by The Guardian.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday acknowledged the possibility of holding a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin early next year. “We’ll see,” Biden said in response to a question about a possible meeting with his Russian counterpart on January 10, according to the White House. If the meeting does take place, the two leaders are expected to hold talks on arms control and the situation in Ukraine. 

According to the White House, the January 10 meeting would take place days before a reported Russia-NATO meeting on January 12 and a Russia-Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on January 13. It is to mention that earlier this month, following a virtual meeting with Biden, Putin had said that he and his American counterpart will have to meet again, possibly in a video format. During the two-hour virtual talks, the two leaders had discussed Ukraine tensions and other disputes but did not make any breakthroughs. 

"Around 3.30 AM today a suspected IED exploded in front of Gala mal godown, Telipati. The gate of the godown was damaged but there was no casualty. The forensic team has arrived and are investigating the matter," Khailet Lhanghal, Sub-Inspector, Porompat Police Station told ANI.

Amid COVID-19 and Omicron surge, doctors and healthcare experts have warned against complicity in exercising safety norms such as maintaining social distancing and wearing masks. Dr Mohan Nair, the Vice President of the Indian Medical Association, Kerala stated that there is no evidence to suggest that fully vaccinated persons are protected against the new virus. He further cautioned that Omicron, though a variant of SARS-Cov-2, is so highly transmissible that it can be designated as a separate virus, that can lead to another pandemic. 

"We are currently in a position in the exact position that we were during the onset of the pandemic. While we know that Omicron is a variant of COVID-19, it can be designated as a new virus altogether because of the extensive mutations. Unless we are very careful, it can definitely lead to another pandemic, especially when we have a festive season and people are getting complacent about social distancing norms. People are trivializing the matter of COVID-19. They don't even go for testing," Dr. Nair told Republic TV.

"However, unfortunately, we don't have evidence to suggest that even vaccinated people are fully protected against the new variant. So we have a situation where even these 'protected people' are at risk. This is why we need to be very careful. We also do not have enough data to suggest that the infection caused by this particular variant is harmless. Hence it is always safe to fear the enemy in the dark. We need to be cautious." the IMA VP added.

3 Nigerian nationals were arrested for smuggling MDMA, cocaine, and hash oil

The latest research from South Africa reveals that the 'highly mutated' COVID-19 Omicron infections may give patients enhanced protection against the Delta strain, further opening the door for Delta to finally be displaced. During the study, researchers from the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) discovered that persons who are infected with Omicron, particularly those who have been vaccinated, develop better protection against Delta and as a result, the research suggests that Omicron may displace Delta, CNBC reported. 

The researchers monitored as well as examined 13 patients, 11 of whom were afflicted with the Omicron strain. Seven patients were inoculated, of which three obtained two doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, and four received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 

While conducting the study, the researchers examined how effectively individuals could neutralise Omicron and Delta at the beginning of the study and 14 days after. They discovered that Omicron neutralisation grew 14 times over that time period, whereas Delta neutralisation increased 4.4 times, as per Newsweek. 

The Ministry of Women and Child Development released Year End Review-2021 on December 27. According to the review, in 2021, the Ministry of Women and Child Development took a number of steps, including introducing legislation to raise the marriageable age of women to 21, addressing rising malnutrition during the pandemic, and ensuring the safety and rehabilitation of over a lakh children who lost one or both parents to Covid.

PM CARES Fund for children in distress due to COVID-19

Despite the fact that children were less sensitive to Covid-19, almost 1.32 lakh of them lost one or both parents, putting them at a higher risk of being exploited and trafficked, which is a serious concern for the ministry. During the pandemic, almost 9,800 children were orphaned, 508 were abandoned, and 1.32 lakh lost one or both parents.

The government announced on Monday that 3,481 children orphaned during the COVID-19 pandemic have been approved as eligible for payments under the 'PM CARES for Children' initiative, out of 6,098 applications received.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development said in a statement that the total number of applications registered as of December 24 on the PM CARES for Children portal was 6,098, with 3,481 applications approved by district magistrates. It further stated that 3,275 beneficiaries had their post office accounts opened as a part of the scheme.

Sponsorship of Rs 2,000 per kid per month is available under the scheme for non-institutional child care, and a maintenance grant of Rs 2,160 per child per month is offered for children residing in child care institutions.

Considering the worst flare-up in COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, China on Tuesday announced strict lockdown measures pushing another hundred of thousands to stay at home in northern districts unless they had pressing reasons to venture out. The sudden strengthening of measures came as a part of Beijing's "zero-COVID" transmission strategy yet has set off panic just ahead of Beijing Olympics. The announcement comes after Chinese health authorities recorded 209 infections on Tuesday, a single highest daily rise since the outbreak in March last year, CNA reported.

As per local media reports, the measures come as Beijing is gearing up for the Winter Olympics scheduled in February.

The currently targeted lockdowns, expansion of quarantines, multiple mass testing and tighter border restrictions have also remained a part of China's strategy to fight the novel Coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan in late 2019. Notably, Xi'an has set up over 4,000 sampling sites and deployed more than 1,00,000 people to ensure a complete round of testings, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Meanwhile, taking to social media, locked-down residents have complained of shortages in food and other basic supplies, as per CNA. Some residents say they are starving and appealing to neighbours to come to the rescue. "I'm about to be starved to death," wrote one person on Weibo, China's equivalent of Facebook. "There's no food, my housing compound won't let me out, and I'm about to run out of instant noodles ... please help!"

In a bid to address Harak Singh Rawat's grievance, the Uttarakhand government sanctioned Rs.25 crore for the construction of a medical college in Kotdwar. On December 24, the Uttarakhand Labour Minister had reportedly announced his resignation during a Cabinet meeting over the BJP government allegedly dragging its feet on setting up a medical college in this constituency. Moreover, speculation was rife that he would join Congress along with another BJP MLA Umesh Sharma Kau. As per sources, the government took the decision of releasing the funds for the college from the state contingency fund under pressure from Rawat. 

Earlier on December 25, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami had quashed the possibility of Rawat quitting the party by sharing a picture of a dinner meeting with him. Briefing the media thereafter, the state Labour Minister said, "Dhami has assured me that a medical college will be set up in the district at the cost of Rs.25 crore. In the presence of (Cabinet ministers) Dhan Singh and Madan Kaushik, Dhami assured that a hospital will be established here on priority. Pushkar Dhami is (like) my younger brother and our relation dates back many years. I am no longer upset with him".

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Dr G Satheesh Reddy handed over technology for indigenous extreme cold weather clothing system (ECWS) to 05 Indian companies in New Delhi on December 27, 2021.

The extreme ECWS is required by the Indian Army for its sustained operations in glacier and Himalayan peaks. The Army, till recently has been importing extreme cold weather clothing and several Special Clothing and Mountaineering Equipment (SCME) items for the troops deployed in high altitude regions.

The DRDO designed ECWCS is an ergonomically designed modular technical clothing with improved thermal insulation and physiological comfort based on the insulation required at various ambient climatic conditions in Himalayan regions during different levels of physical activity.

Andhra Pradesh BJP president Somu Veerraju in Vijayawada, on December 28, said, "Cast one crore votes to Bharatiya Janata Party...we will provide liquor for just Rs 70. If we have more revenue left, then, will provide liquor for just Rs 50."

"This is a modified vehicle for overall ops; comprises upgraded equipment including CCTV cameras, live viewing. We will try to take it to the district level, presently at range level: DGP"

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday said that on the basis of some of the preliminary research it has been found that the COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests may be less sensitive in detecting the highly mutated Omicron variant. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and FDA in collaboration conducted research about how well the antigen tests work to detect the new B.1.1.529 variant. In its analysis, the agency wrote that the antigen tests “do detect the omicron variant but may have reduced sensitivity,” according to NPR. This implies that there is an increased risk that a COVID-19 infection might be missed from the testing, a scenario known as the ”false negative.” Although the FDA didn't specify the brands of tests that it used in the study.

"The FDA continues to authorise the use of these tests as directed in the authorized labelling and individuals should continue to use them in accordance with the instructions included with the tests," the agency said in a statement on Dec. 28. "Antigen tests are generally less sensitive and less likely to pick up very early infections compared to molecular tests.”

Labour Secretary Sunil Barthwal on Tuesday stressed the need to improve women participation and also assured the implementation of labour codes soon.

"Sunil Barthwal, secretary (labour and employment), Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt of India today (on Tuesday) emphasised that the government has tried to make the new labour codes as much contemporary as possible and tried to ensure the contemporariness of the world we are living," industry body FICCI said in a statement.

The government took various measures to improve women's participation in the workforce, he stated.

He was addressing the virtual '87th Annual General Meeting of AIOE (All India Organization of Employers)' on the theme 'Impact of New Labour Codes on Sustainable and Equitable Growth'.

Barthwal also said, "Unless women participation improves, the contribution to GDP (gross domestic product) from woman workers will not be to the extent, we want this economy to grow. We have looked at the labour codes from various viewpoints, including employers, workers, women and youth, and it is a good amalgamation of different point of views."

He added that when "we look at the future of work, then we will have to look at different employment models and how we can do justice to all models".

No new case of the Omicron variant of coronavirus was reported in Maharashtra on Tuesday, while 91 of the patients previously infected by the strain have recovered, the state health department said.

The state has so far reported 167 cases of Omicron of which 91 patients have recovered, the health department added.

Of the 167 cases, Mumbai has reported the highest at 84, followed by Pimpri- Chinchwad (19), Pune rural (17), Pune and Thane municipal corporations (seven each).

The Kalyan-Dombivali municipal corporation (in Thane district), Aurangabad and Nanded in central Maharashtra have recorded two cases each of the new variant.

Satara, Osmanabad and Panvel municipal corporation have recorded five infections each. Buldhana, Latur, Ahmednagar, Akola, Vasai-Virar, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporations and Palghar district have recorded one case each. 

Telangana on Tuesday reported seven new Omicron variant of COVID-19 cases taking the tally to 62, the Health department said, as the State achieved a key milestone in the battle against the pandemic by administering the first dose of COVID vaccines to 100 per cent of eligible beneficiaries.

Of the seven cases, four were passengers who arrived at the international airport from countries other than those declared 'at risk' by the Centre, while three were contacts of patients who tested positive for the variant earlier, a department bulletin said.

According to the bulletin, 13 among the 62 have recovered from the infection.

Meanwhile, Telangana today reported 228 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the tally to 6,81,072, while the death toll rose to 4,024 with one more fatality.

Telangana has completed 100 per cent first dose COVID-19 vaccination by inoculating 2, 77, 67,000 eligible people above the age of 18. A total of 5.55 crore doses are targeted to be administered, Health Minister Harish Rao said.

"So far 100 per cent of the first dose and 66 per cent of the second dose vaccination have been completed. The national average is 90 per cent for the first dose and 63 per cent for the second dose. We are ahead of the national average," he said.

There are 22.78 lakh people aged 15-18 years (yet to be vaccinated), 41.60 lakh people above 60 years and 6.34 lakh health care and frontline warriors in the state and arrangements are being made to vaccinate them from January 3 (15-18 years) and (January 10 above 60 booster shots), Rao said.

The leader will lead AAP's 'Victory march' in Chandigarh on 30th December and visit Patiala and Amritsar on 31st Dec and 1st January, respectively.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend the five-day national youth festival in Puducherry beginning on January 12, said Home Minister of the Union Territory A Namassivayam here on Tuesday.         

In a press release, the Minister said he has held discussions with officials on arrangements for the Prime Minister's visit which is his third in less than a year.

Modi was here on February 25 and on March 30, and addressed poll rallies during the run-up to the April 6 Assembly polls.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal announced the name of former MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura on Tuesday as the party candidate from Khadoor Sahib in the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls.

"SAD President Sukhbir S Badal has announced former Cabinet Minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura as party candidate from Khadoor Sahib. Total announced 93," party leader Daljit Singh Cheema said in a tweet.

Brahmpura rejoined the SAD last week.

The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) on Wednesday concluded the raids at businessman Peeyush Jain's residence in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj.

The Kanpur-based businessman was arrested on Sunday under Section 67 of the CGST Act after the recovery of unaccounted cash, gold and sandalwood.

Speaking to ANI, Zakir Hussain, Additional Director of DGGI said, "We have concluded our 'panchnama'. 

We have recovered gold, handed it over to DRI, but the probe is on. The gold which was recovered in Kanpur is separate...here, we recovered about Rs 19 crore cash. 

As per higher officials, this is the "biggest cash recovery."

Meanwhile, the DGGI which seized Rs 194.45 crores of cash, 23 kg gold and 600 kg sandalwood from businessman Piyush Jain's possession, on Monday informed that the accused has admitted that cash recovered was related to the sale of goods without payment of taxes.

The DGGI further stated that it has seized more than 200 such fake invoices.

The statement of Peeyush Jain has been recorded wherein he has accepted that the cash recovered from the residential premises is related to the sale of goods without payment of GST," it said.

The evidence collected during the searches conducted in the last five days are being investigated thoroughly to unravel the tax evasion," it added.

The accused has been sent to 14 days of judicial custody by a Kanpur court in the matter.

Miffed at top Opposition party chiefs' silence on the Haridwar Dharam Sansad, Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Wednesday, questioned if electoral calculations had imposed a silence. Naming Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati, Khurshid asked why they were silent on calls for Muslim genocide and assassination of ex-PM Manmohan Singh. He lamented, "How long will quest for power keep us divided when we should unite against hate?". Uttarakhand goes to polls in February 2022.

A new protein sub-unit of COVID-19 vaccine, Corbevax, which is more affordable and effective, is expected to fill the vaccine access gap created by the more expensive jabs available in the market, Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi, Professor and Associate Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor and Co-Director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development said in a statement on Sunday.

The COVID-19 vaccine, developed by technology, created and engineered at the Centre for Vaccine Development (CVD), is dubbed as "the world's vaccine" due to its affordability and efficacy in comparison to the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine.

According to the statement released by Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), low-cost vaccines have been deemed as an important step in terms of progressing on the aim of global vaccine equity. It is central to completely inoculate vulnerable population and prevent the virus variants from expanding.

READ | Corbevax and Covovax approved: How are they different from other COVID-19 vaccines?

"Our vaccine technology offers a path to address an unfolding humanitarian crisis, namely the vulnerability the low- and middle-income countries face against the delta variant,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, Professor and Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor and Co-Director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development.

After completing two Phase 3 clinical trials, Corbevax was found to be safer and well-tolerated. It also demonstrated superior immune response in comparison to Covishield when assessed for neutralising Antibodies Geometric Mean Titers (nAbGMT) against dominant COVID-19 Delta variant and the first detected strain in Wuhan.

Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday issued fresh orders for the deployment of teaching staff from schools for COVID-19 mitigation duties. State Executive Committee (SEC) headed by the Chief Secretary Jammu and Kashmir ordered for the deployment of School Education Department staff as additional staff for COVID -19 containment duties in the union territory. The latest move to deploy school staff for duty comes after the School Education Department earlier called back all teaching staff across J&K to their actual places of posting.

The order laid out some rules in the matter. “The deployment should be for three months only and not more than one staff member from a single school should be deployed for duty,” the order read. Furthermore, the government order also informed that the deployment would be of non-repetitive staff members. Earlier, the chief secretary along with additional chief secretaries, divisional commissioners, DCs, and other officials of the J&K administration had held a review meeting to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the region.

As countries across Europe are struggling to curb the 'highly mutated' Omicron strain, France has recorded the largest number of new daily COVID-19 instances ever. The number of coronavirus infections in Europe has reached a new high, with 1,79,807 COVID cases reported in France in the last 24 hours. However, France was not alone in hitting records on Tuesday, Italy, Greece, Portugal, as well as the United Kingdom also recorded new highs. Countries have also been reporting spikes in the number of cases during the festive season, due to the more infectious Omicron type, BBC reported. 

Amid the high number of cases in France, On Monday, French health minister Olivier Véran cautioned that "everything suggests" that by the beginning of January, the nation might be seeing as many as 250,000 instances per day, whereas the French Hospital Federation cautioned that the "most difficult weeks are yet to come." 

United States President Joe Biden on Tuesday lifted the COVID-19 travel restrictions placed on eight southern African nations in the wake of the Omicron variant, B.1.1.529. After the new variant of Coronavirus was first detected by experts in South Africa in November, Biden had issued a proclamation enacting travel restrictions on eight southern African nations, which include South Africa. However, in the Tuesday presidential proclamation, he repealed the same travel ban as of 12:01 AM ET on December 31. These nations are South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. 

It is to note that the travel restrictions driven by the fear of Omicron spread, drew criticism across the globe with United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres describing it as “travel apartheid”. However, Biden administration officials repeatedly defended the travel ban as an action to provide the United States additional time to understand both the variant and its spread. 

In the new proclamation, Biden said, “In light of these changed circumstances, and based on the recommendation of the CDC, I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to revoke Proclamation 10315” while referring to the previous order issued in late November.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday wrote to Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories in regards to the vaccination for children between 15 to 17 years of age and precaution dose for healthcare workers and those 60 and above. The government said that those 60 years and above can avail booster doses without any medical certificate. However, it advised them to obtain advice from the doctor before opting for a precautionary dose.

"All persons aged 60 years and above with co-morbidities will not be required to produce/submit any certificate from a doctor, at the time of administration of precaution dose. such persons are expected to obtain the advice of their doctor before deciding to avail of the precaution dose," Centre said.

The COVID-19 vaccination drive for Children between 15-17 years of age will begin from January 3, 2021, while that for healthcare workers and 60 years and above from January 10. 

In yet another boost for India's vaccination, Novavax-SII's Covovax has been granted emergency authorisation by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on Tuesday night. Welcoming the approval, Novavax CEO Stanley C Erck stated that approval will help India's efforts to control the pandemic. Covovax, jointly produced by Novavax and Serum Institute of India, is yet to get approval in the United States.

"No one is safe until everyone is safe, and today's authorisation marks a vital step for India, where additional vaccine options and millions of doses are needed in the country's ongoing efforts to control the pandemic," said Stanley C Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax. "Novavax and SII will not rest in our partnership to deliver our vaccine to those in India and across the globe, as we work to protect the health of people everywhere". Covovax is a recombinant nanoparticle protein-based COVID-19 vaccine.

"The approval of Covovax in India marks a significant milestone in strengthening our immunization efforts across India and LMICs," said Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer, Serum Institute of India. "We are proud to deliver a protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, based on Phase 3 clinical data demonstrating more than 90% efficacy and a favourable safety profile, to our nation". With Covovax's approval, India's vaccine kitty has expanded to Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V, Moderna vaccine (mRNA-1273), Janssen vaccine, ZyCoV-D, Corbevax and allowed import of any foreign-based vaccine i.e Pfizer.

The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) on Wednesday concluded the raids at businessman Piyush Jain's residence in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj, collecting another Rs 19 crore cash and two more bags of gold, said Additional Director, DGGI, Zakir Hussain. He informed that the gold recovered from Kannauj has been handed over Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). 

The latest recovery follows incessant raids carried out by several Central agencies at businessman Piyush Jain's properties. The five-day raids saw the biggest seizure in the history of the Central Board Of Direct Taxes, where Rs 194.45 crore in cash was found at the residence and factory of the Kanpur-based businessman. Apart from the hefty cash, the Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGI) recovered 25 kg gold and 250 kg silver along with 600 kg sandalwood and finished products (perfumes) worth crores, from Jain's premises in Kanpur and his Kannauj factory.

Kanpur-based businessman Piyush Jain, who deals in perfumes was arrested on Sunday under Section 67 of the CGST Act after the recovery of unaccounted cash, gold, and sandalwood.

Speaking to ANI, Zakir Hussain said, "We have concluded our 'panchnama'. We have recovered gold, handed it over to DRI, but the probe is on. The gold which was recovered in Kanpur is separate...here, we recovered about Rs 19 crore cash. As per higher officials, this is the biggest cash recovery."

DGGI and Income Tax department seized documents from Praveen's house