Breaking News Updates: Kerala reports 1st case of Omicron variant; India's tally now 38

"BJP's ideology is based on lies & hoaxes; their ideas are inspired by Hitler & Mussolini. Even their apparel isn't Indian,they wear bands,half-pants, black caps. Only BJP's unhappy in our state", said Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on BJP's reaction to Rahul Gandhi's 'Hinduvaadi' remark.

"Kashi Vishwanath temple will be presented as a new 'Dham' to the nation and world. It will be inaugurated by PM Modi tomorrow, whose vision and guidance have played a key role...This 'Dham' will give a new, global identity to Varanasi", said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Varanasi.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will participate in the Chief Minister's Conclave to be held in Varanasi. He will discuss the issues related to the implementation of various public welfare schemes of the Central and State Governments, CM Office, Uttarakhand, informed. 

"I feel fortunate to have offered prayers at the temple. Tomorrow, PM Modi will be inaugurating the 'Kashi Vishwanath Dham', which has been upgraded to 50,000 sq metre space. This shows the visionary approach of PM Modi", BJP chief JP Nadda in Varanasi. 

The National Center for Seismology (NCS) informed that an earthquake of magnitude 4.3 on the Richter Scale was felt in Bikaner of Rajasthan on Sunday, December 12. The NCS said that the earthquake was experienced at around 6:56 pm with its epicentre at a depth of 381 km northwest of Bikaner. 

As Group Captain Varun Singh’s health condition continues to be critical, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra assured all support and help from the state government for his treatment.

The IAF officer was injured while travelling with India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other defence personnel who were onboard IAF’s Mi-17V5 chopper that crashed near Tamil Nadu's Coonoor. The crash took the lives of the 13 other officials, including General Rawat.

Jnanendra visited the Command Hospital in Bengaluru and enquired about the health of the lone survivor of the Tamil Nadu military chopper crash. He assured all support and help and further prayed for Varun Singh's speedy recovery, the homes minister's office informed in a statement. 

"High-risk passengers who were seated next to him have been informed. There is no need to panic, his condition is stable. His wife and mother tested positive for Covid. All of them shifted to isolation ward. Necessary precautions being taken" Kerala Health Minister Veena George, informed. 

Kerala's Kochi has reported its first Omicron case. "The concerned person had returned from the UK to Kochi on December 6. He had tested Covid positive on December 8", Kerala Health Minister Veena George informed.

To India's 73rd Republic Day, all five Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - have been invited as Chief Guests. For the first time, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led country has called all five Central Asian countries, which also makes for the second time so many countries have been invited together. The first was when ASEAN was invited.

BJP president JP Nadda arrived at Varanasi ahead of the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor by Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow, Dec 13.

Military personnel paid tribute to Havaldar Satpal Rai at 158 Base Hospital in Bagdogra. He was among the 13 people, including Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, who dies in a helicopter crash that occurred near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on December 8. 

Nagpur has reported its first Omicron case, taking the total tally of this new variant of COVID-19 in Maharashtra to18.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Varanasi on December 13. According to Prime Minister's office, PM Modi will inaugurate Kashi Vishwanath Dham.

The last rites of Lance Naik B Sai Teja were performed with military honour in his native village of Regadapalle in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. He was among the 13 people, including Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, and his wife Madhulika Rawat, who lost their lives in a helicopter crash that occurred near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on December 8. 

The Supreme Court observed that provisions of Section 50 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, need to be complied with while conducting SEARCH OF PERSON but not in cases of a vehicle search while confirming the conviction of an accused under the NDPS Act.  

Section 50 of the NDPS Act provides for 'conditions under which search of persons shall be conducted'. It was brought before the court that contraband was confiscated from a motorcycle driven by the accused during a public search and the same was "proved beyond a reasonable doubt." 

"...therefore, the question of ownership of the vehicle is not relevant," a Bench comprising Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice JK Maheshwari observed while convicting the accused under NDPS provisions. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the over 50-feet Kashi Vishwanath Corridor on December 13. The corridor will connect the ancient Kashi Vishwanath Temple and two ghats on the Ganga. 

Preparations are underway at Kashi Vishwanath temple, ahead of PM Modi's visit.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan consoled the family of Naik Jitendra Kumar, who lost his life in the IAF chopper crash that occurred in Tamil Nadu. 

He told ANI, "A school in the village will be named after him- 'Amar Shaheed Jitendra Kumar Vidyalaya', a statue to be installed as well". 

The daughter of Lt Colonel Harjinder Singh performed his last rites at Brar Square in New Delhi. Harjinder Singh was one of the army personnel who died in the IAF chopper crash that occurred near Tamil Nadu's Coonoor. 

Productivity at the Rajya Sabha stood at 52.50% during the second week of the Winter Session of Parliament, a 5.6% improvement in comparison to the first week, which was disrupted and forced to adjourn on several occasions due to protests from opposition parties. After the Winter Session commenced on November 29, sloganeering and walk-outs by opposition parties saw the House lose 52.3% of its scheduled time.  

The Rajya Sabha clocked productivity of 52.5% - transacting business for 14 hours 57 minutes out of the scheduled sitting time of 28 hours 30 minutes during the second week. The productivity of the House was at 49.7 per cent during the first week.

"Today I inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects - roads, schools, hospitals... with worth about Rs 90 crores, in Nainidanda. We aim to increase tourism opportunities...& make the state country's best state by 2025", Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told ANI. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid respects to Lt Colonel Harjinder Singh who died in the Tamil Nadu chopper crash. 

On Dec 8, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other defence personnel who were on board IAF’s Mi-17V5 chopper died after it crashed near Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor.

Indian Army chief General MM Naravane, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, and other military officers paid tributes to Lt Colonel Harjinder Singh who died in the IAF chopper crash that occurred near Tamil Nadu's Coonoor.

Israel's prime minister announced that he would make the first official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday as part of a blitz of regional diplomacy amid the backdrop of struggling nuclear talks with Iran. Naftali Bennett's office said he will be meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed and discussing strengthening economic and military ties. The UAE visit will be the first by an Israeli prime minister. Israel and the UAE had long enjoyed clandestine security cooperation, but formalised ties last year as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords.

In a fiery address to Congress supporters in Jaipur, ex-party chief Rahul Gandhi declared 'I do not fear as I am a Hindu, not a Hindutvavadi'. Addressing the massive 'Mehangai Hatao rally', Gandhi claimed that when 'Hindu farmers stood up, the Hindutvavadis had to apologise'. Explaining the difference between Hindu and Hindutvavadi, he slammed the Centre's refusal to provide compensation to 700+ farmers who died in the year-long protest.

"There are two words today in the country - Hindu & Hindutvavadi. I am a Hindu but not a Hindutavadi. Mahatma Gandhi is Hindu, Godse is Hindutvavadi. A Hindu faces his fear while Hindutavadi bows down before his fear, and that fear creates enmity. This is the diff between hindu Hindutavadi," said Gandhi

Explaining why he was raking up Hindu-Hindutva, he added, "This country is of hindus and not of hindutavadis. Hindus cannot be suppressed, did not happen in 3000 years and will not happen even today. So Modi ji and his industrialists destroyed this country in 4-5 years, but when hindu farmers stood in front of hindutvavadis, PM Modi apologised".

As superstar Rajinikanth turned 71 today, leaders from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Union Ministers extended wishes to the Thalaiva. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to superstars from every film industry also greeted the iconic actor on his 71st birthday. Predominantly a Tamil industry superstar, Rajinikanth has also worked in the Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada film industries. The actor made his debut with K Balachander’s 'Apoorva Raagangal' which performed well at the box office and gave him the big break. PM Modi prays for Rajnikanth to 'keep inspiring people with his creativity and phenomenal acting'. The Prime Minister also hoped for Rajnikanth's healthy life. 

As coalitions shape up in Uttar Pradesh, Union MoS and Apna Dal (S) chief Anupriya Patel on Sunday, claimed that she was eyeing a sizable seat-share with BJP in the 2022 UP Polls. Speaking exclusively to Republic TV, Patel said that Apna Dal would fight on its agenda of social issues and not other issues important to BJP. The 403-seat UP assembly where Yogi rules with an iron-clad majority of 314 seats, is up for grabs in February 2022. 

"The talks are ongoing now and I don't want to comment on seatshare. The fight is always big and we want try to maxamize our results with BJP. We want to expand our party," said Patel.

She added, "Apna Dal was formed on social issues, fighting for those who have been oppressed. BJP has their own issues and voters will decide how important it is. Apna Dal will fight based on its ideology".

Retorting SP's offer of alliance, she said, "After three election results, I don't need to answer this question." When asked if she would remain with BJP, she added, "I don't know what the future holds. Have not had talks with SP as of now, but politics is filled with opportunities. Who knows?".

Taking a fresh dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ahead of the party's Jaipur rally, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat posted a video from 2018 where Gandhi promised to waive farmers' loans in 10 days. 'The farmers after counting days and months, have started counting years now,' wrote the Jal Shakti Union Minister. The video is from 2018 before the Rajasthan elections when Rahul Gandhi had said the state government will give an answer to Narendra Modi in 10 days. 

"Ten days... you had counted to ten! Here the farmers are counting the years after counting to days and months. Three years passed. Today in Jaipur it will also tell that till when will the loan waiver of farmers be done? Congress has a "debt of loan waiver" Rahul ji, he will pay something!" wrote Shekhawat on Koo.

The government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that the first case of Omicron COVID-19 variant has been detected in the state. According to a press note releaed by the Director of Public Health, a 34-year-old foreign traveller came from Ireland to Mumbai Airport. He had tested negative and arrived in Visakhapatnam on November 27, the statement added. However, he tested positive in Vizianagaram. 

On the occasion of 'Swarnim Vijay Parv' on December 12, late Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat's pre-recorded video message was played at the inaugural event at India Gate lawns in Delhi. Sources informed that the video was recorded on December 7, a day prior to the horrific IAF helicopter crash in Coonoor. Notably, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who was present at the event started his address by recalling General Bipin Rawat's valour and revealed that he was 'missing' his presence.  

A day after the Assam police recovered a stolen luxury watch of the late Argentine legend Diego Maradone, the Special Director General of Police (L&O) in Assam, GP Singh, confirmed that more items belonging to Maradona have been found. The watch was recovered from a man identified as Wazid Hussein, who was arrested by the Assam Police on Saturday. GP Singh, As per the tweet, the recovered objects include items such as a jacket, track pants, toy doll, squash racquet, ipads, lighters, etc. The origin of the items is yet to be ascertained.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave his address at the Swarnim Vijay Parv. He paid his tributes to India's first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other soldiers who died in the Mi-17 chopper crash in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. 

Vikashsheel Insan Party (VIP) Chief & Bihar Animal Husbandary Minister Mukesh Sahni has alleged that ally BJP has been constantly humiliating him ever since he has joined the NDA. Sahni has been miffed with the BJP for denial of two ministerial berths for his party in Nitish Kumars Cabinet and also with denial of full tenure of 6 years of Member of Bihar Legislative council for Sahni after his defeat in the 2020 Bihar Vidhan sabha. Mukesh Sahni, while expressing his angst against BJP MP Ajay Nishad said that:

"BJP MP Ajay Nishad is abusing me that, I have become a minister on the compensatory ground. He is abusing and humiliating me at the behest of the top brass of the BJP. BJP has made me an ally and they are abusing me. They should understand that the Bihar govt is based on the support of four parties and my VIP  party has four MLAs and we are an important ally. People behind the curtain are forcing Ajay Nishad to abuse and humiliate me. They should come out of the curtain. I am not a weak person and I know how to fight. BJP is conspiring against me."

In the midst of an already high inflation in Pakistan, a new report has revealed that the Pakistani rupee is expected to fall further against the US dollar next week, local media reported on Sunday. The rupee continued to suffer from higher demand for dollars from importers, particularly in the absence of inflows from the central bank and other sellers. In addition, a wide trade deficit caused by hefty imports and global oil prices were a threat to currency stability, according to The News Internation. The rupee closed at a record low of 177.71 to the dollar on Friday. It depreciated by 0.69 per cent during the outgoing week.
 

Congress President Sonia Gandhi along with leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will attend a national-level party rally in Jaipur against rising inflation on Sunday afternoon*. Congress leaders from various parts of Rajasthan have already arrived in Jaipur to take part in the rally, which will be held at Vidhyadhar Nagar stadium.
 

Human rights activists including Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Mongolians gathered outside the Chinese Embassy in London to protest against human rights abuses in China. A large number of protesters have demanded action against the Chinese Community Party government over human rights violations, according to ANI. The people have also called upon the international community to boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics that is scheduled to happen in Beijing.

As per the ANI report, the protesters were chanting slogans like "Free Tibet, Free Turkmenistan, Free Mongolia, Free Hong Kong, Boycott Beijing Olympics, no to CCP etc." The members of minority communities from mainland China expressed anger against the Xi Jinping led CCP government, as per ANI report. The protesters called out China for carrying out human rights violations against minorities in mainland China and other parts of the country.  

A survey done by the social network LocalCircles in October has shown that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the adult population is at its lowest. According to the research, 7.04 crore citizens were hesitant to take the jab, however the number has since gone down to 6.96 crores. In a relief to the ongoing pandemic threat, the survey mentioned that many unvaccinated adults are willing to take the vaccine as soon as they get the opportunity. It has to be noted that the hesitancy was at a high - 11.59 crore, in November.

With rising Omicron cases in India, vaccine hestiency is at the lowest: 

Responding to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's statement of allotting land for the Saryu Nahar National Project, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT cell head, Amit Malviya made an amusing remark stating one should not be surprised if he claims to have built the Taj Mahal. This comes after Akhilesh Yadav said on Saturday that the UP BJP government took five years to complete the remaining work of the 'Saryu National Project', which was three-fourths of the time of SP. The statement from Akhilesh Yadav was again a response to PM Modi who while inaugurating the Project in Balrampur earlier in the day took an indirect swipe at the SP leader.

Amit Malviya termed the SP leader as a liar and asserted, 'Starting in 1978, only 35.03% of the financial work had been done on the project till 2017. During this, the SP governments came and went, but nothing was done on the Saryu canal project. But you stay, take the credit for building the Taj Mahal with your hands'.  

The India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi will likely announce an alliance for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. 

Twitter has issues a statement after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's account was hacked in the early hours of Sunday. The micro-blogging platform's Spokesperson informed that the company has 24/7 open lines of communication with PM Modi's office. 

"We have 24X7 open lines of communication with the PM’s Office & our teams took necessary steps to secure the compromised account as soon as we became aware of this activity. Our probe revealed that there're no signs of any other impacted accounts at this time," the Spokesperson added 

Telangana state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Saturday accused the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) of a series of allegations and said that only his party has the guts to face the ruling party. In a media interaction from BJP State Office, Sanjay added that 'BJP is the only party breaking the TRS barrier.' The fresh attack from the saffron party leader comes almost a month after he had slammed the state's Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, for calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'fascist' for deceiving people of the state.

"A Large number of youth and various party leaders have joined BJP from Kalwakurthy constituency. Only the BJP has the guts to face the TRS. The BJP is the only party breaking the TRS barrier. It is evident from GHMC, Dubbaka, Huzurabad election results," said the BJP Telangana leader 

An unidentified terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Baragam area of Awantipora in the south Kashmir district after specific inputs about the presence of terrorists there, a police official said.

He said as the forces were conducting searches in the area, terrorists fired upon them. The forces retaliated, leading to an encounter in which a terrorist was killed, the official said. The identity and group affiliation of the slain terrorist was being ascertained, he said.  The operation was going on and further details were awaited, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal Twitter handle was briefly hacked in the early hours of Sunday, informed the PM's office. Taking to Twitter, PMO stated, "The Twitter handle of PM @narendramodi was very briefly compromised. The matter was escalated to Twitter and the account has been immediately secured. In the brief period that the account was compromised, any Tweet shared must be ignored." 

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday visited Maharashtra to campaign for the upcoming Mumbai civic polls. During his address at the 'Tiranga Rally', Owaisi questioned what 'Muslims of India have got from secularism'. In addition, he also asked if Muslims got reservations from secularism. 

Without naming the Babri Masjid demolition, Owaisi questioned 'if those who demolished the mosque get punishment?'. The AIMIM chief strongly voiced out against 'political secularism' and asserted that he believes in 'constitutional secularism'. The AIMIM chief has therefore suggested that Muslims should not get trapped in 'political secularism'.