Republic top 10 headlines: Punjab elections; WHO warns against beta coronaviruses & more

Punjab Elections: Amarinder Singh Says Centre & State's Shared Vision Is 'need Of Hour'

Speaking on 'need of hour' ahe of Punjab elections, former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said that both Centre and State have to coordinate on every step. Punjab Lok Congress Chief also hailed his party's partnership with Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and ded that it is only alliance that will put state on 'right track'. Taking an indirect dig at ruling Congress, Captain said that 'rest fight over being face of ir respective parties!'

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Rahul Gandhi To Open Debate On Motion Of Thanks From Oppn At President's dress In LS

Congress leer Rahul Gandhi will be first speaker in debate on motion of thanks to President’s dress on Wednesday in Lok Sabha. According to sources, 12 hours have been allotted to opposition parties to express ir reply to Presidential dress in Lok Sabha. With ongoing parliament session being held under COVID-19 protocols, Business visory Committee (BAC) has allocated time for debates on Motion of Thanks to President and on Union Budget 2022-23, starting from February 2, while PM Modi is likely to reply to it on February 8, reported ANI.

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Congress Decides To Not Field Candidate Against Akhilesh Yav In UP Polls; Sparks Buzz

In a fresh twist in le-up to Uttar Presh election, Congress decided to not field any candidate against SP chief Akhilesh Yav as well as his uncle Shivpal Yav. ex-UP CM is contesting Assembly polls for first time and filed his nomination papers from Karhal on Monday. Falling under Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency which is considered Mulayam Singh Yav's turf, Karhal seat has been won by SP since 1993 barring 2002 when BJP's Sobaran Singh Yav emerged victorious. latter joined SP subsequently and has been winning candidate of Akhilesh Yav-led party since 2007. 

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'India To Boost Infrastructure In Villages Along Chinese Border Areas' Says FM Sitharaman

In a bid to develop and improve connectivity in areas along border of Indo-China, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a scheme to strengn infrastructure under new Vibrant Villages Programme. Nirmala Sitharaman who was presenting Union Budget 2022 on Tuesday announced this program in backdrop of recent activities of lingering border standoff in Eastern Lakh area and furr security establishment concerning setting up of villages by China close to Line of Actual Control (LAC). 

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1,000 Gelatin Sticks, Detonators Seized Near Mumbai, 3 Suspects Arrested

Three people allegedly with 1,000 gelatin sticks and an equal number of detonators were arrested on Tuesday from Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane. According to police, y acted on a tip of and stopped car near Mumbai's Ni Naka at 3 pm and seized products. three accused have been identified as Alpesh alias Balya Hiraji Patil (34), Pankaj Acchelal Chouhan (23) and Sameer @ Samya Ramchandra Vedga (27), all residents of Vikramg in neighbouring Palghar district, an official said.

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Omicron Sub-variant Found In 57 Nations, 'premature' To Declare Victory Over COVID-19: WHO

World Health Organization (WHO) chief on Tuesday warned that it is “premature” for nations to eir declare victory over COVID-19 pandemic or lift restrictions to halt transmission. WHO Secretary-General Tedros hanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, "It is premature for any country to eir surrender or to declare victory.”“This virus is dangerous, and it continues to evolve before our very eyes,” WHO chief h ded. 

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WHO Warns Against Beta Coronaviruses, Stresses On Importance Of Vaccines To 'save Lives'

As Wuhan scientists raised an alarm that NeoCov, a of coronavirus that spres among bats in South Africa, was just one mutation away from jumping on to humans, World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said that re’s a reservoir of beta coronaviruses and new crossovers to humans can likely occur in future. “If we prepare now, time required for large-scale vaccine manufacture will be reduced and lives will be saved,” global health body’s Chief Dr. Tedros hanom Ghebreyesus said during his remarks on Tuesday.  

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FBI Warns US Athletes Participating In Beijing Olympics 2022 Of 'malicious' Cyberattacks

With Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 just around corner, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Tuesday warned US athletes participating in event of “malicious” cyberattacks. Warning entities associated with both Beijing Winter Olympics and March 2022 Paralympics, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said in a statement that FBI has called on athletes not to use ir personal cell phones and inste use a burner phone while attending events. 

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Russia Shows Willingness To Mediate Talks Between Taliban And NRF To Prevent War In Afghan

In a major development, Russian envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov on Tuesday said that Moscow is now rey to receive delegates from Afghanistan to discuss situation in Taliban-ruled country. envoy informed that Russia is rey to welcome both Afghanistan’s authorities and opposition forces to conduct talks in order to prevent a war in Afghanistan if y were interested. announcement came only a day after supporters of Afghan National Resistance Front (NRF), organised a rally in front of White House to oppose any moves by UN member nations to recognise Taliban government in Afghanistan.

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Putin Says 'US Trying To Drag Russia Into War'

Russia’s President Vlimir Putin on Tuesday accused United States of trying to draw his country into a war in Ukraine. In his first significant comments on ongoing crisis, Kremlin leer said that America's goal was to use a confrontation as a pretext to impose more sanctions on Russia. Speaking at a news conference following a meeting in Kremlin with Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, Putin said that US was ignoring Russia’s concerns about NATO alliance forces in Europe. 

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