Breaking News Updates: PM Modi inaugurates Ganga e-way project; Massive blast in Karachi

Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov arrived in Delhi to attend the 3rd India-Central Asia Dialogue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialed Lt Gen Hooda as he had sought approval of a drug concerning sister Sushma Hooda's cancer treatment. 

Noting the accomplishments of India's growing defence sector, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday stated that the Indian defence and aerospace sector is likely to expand its size to Rs 5 lakh crore by 2047 with the due reforms taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

While asserting the current measures of the government for upheaving the involvement of the private sector in defence manufacturing, Singh highlighted that the private sector plays a pivotal role in achieving the goal of expansion of the Indian defence sector.

Another criminal defamation suit has been filed against Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik by a family member of NCB Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede. In the fresh lawsuit, Sameer's sister, Yasmeen Wankhede, has accused Malik of making "false, defamatory and baseless" allegations against her family as a "counterblast for the arrest of his son-in-law" in a drug bust case. 

"The said attempt was made with a malafide intention to pressurise the family, particularly Yasmeen's brother Sameer Wankhede to succumb to the high-handed political tactics. However, the said attempts made by the Accused to pressurise the Complainant's brother have failed miserably," the suit before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Mumbai's Andheri read. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the Institute of Company Secretaries of India's national award distribution ceremony in Mumbai. "You'll shape the corporate culture in the future. Take care of the company's health, just how doctors take care of their patient's health," HM Shah said. 

As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gears for the upcoming 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, party President of the UP unit, Swatantra Dev Singh, on Saturday, December 18, briefed the media about the six 'Jan Vishwas Yatra' that the party has scheduled to hold beginning December 19. Dev Singh said that the Yatra is a medium for the dedicated leaders of the BJP to connect with people and seek their blessings.

BJP UP chief Swatantra Dev Singh said, "Six 'Jan Vishwas Yatras' from six different locations, namely Bijnor, Mathura, Jhansi, Ghazipur, Ambedkar Nagar & Ballia, will be starting from Ambedkar Nagar."

Karnataka has reported cluster outbreaks in two educational institutions in Dakshina Kannada. One of the cluster outbreaks has 14 COVID-19 cases out of which 4 are of Omicron while the other cluster reported 19 cases of COVID-19 with 1 case of Omicron. 

"Our support for each other during COVID was very good. We were happy to provide ‘Made in India’ vaccines and certainly, now we look forward to easier travel between India and Tajikistan through recognition of our vaccine certificates", External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said.

"We have been very concerned about the developments in Afghanistan. And the participation of the Secretary of your (Tajikistan) Security Council in the Regional Security Dialogue, which we hosted in November, is something which is deeply appreciated", he added. 

All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi lashed out at political parties who accuse  AIMIM of religion-based promotion, says "All are Satya Harishchandra and only we are bad". 

"I believe 18-year-old should not be treated as a child, they are confident. Law allows them to vote, live-in relationships. Why is PM so much afraid of the institution of marriage?", AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi told Republic.

The Centre will be celebrating 'Good Governance' week from December 20 to December 26, 202, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievance (DARPG) informed. 

BJP national president JP Nadda participates in a roadshow as part of the 'Vijay Sankalp Yatra' in a poll-bound Uttarakhand. "The Yatra is being started here today onwards, to further cover 41 assembly constituencies. I'll visit again during elections," JP Nadda said. 

"Mahatma Gandhi spent all his life understanding truth and then there is Godse- 'Hindutvavadi'. Nobody calls him (Godse) a Mahatma because he killed a Hindu who always spoke the truth...Godse was a coward, a weak man... he could not face his fears", said former Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. 

As Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Congres leader Priyanka Gandhi kick-started a campaign for UP assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress workers clashed in Amethi.
 

12 killed and several are left injured in an explosion at a building in Karachi's Shershah Paracha Chowk area. 

Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "...Some statements surprise me. They say girls will turn rogue if married off at the age of 21. Why will they turn rogue? Don't you trust them? Such mindset can only be 'Talibani', not 'Hindustani'..."

This comes as on Dec 17, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq remarked that girls will go "rogue" if they are not married at a young age.

"18 students of a school in Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai, have tested #COVID19 positive, out of more than 950 students who've been tested. The school will be shut for the next week; remaining students to be tested at their residences today", NMMC Commissioner, Abhijit Bangar, informed. 

As International Migrants Day is being marked on December 18, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated, "Solidarity with migrants has never been more urgent. We need more effective international cooperation and a more compassionate approach to migration."

Holding a 'padyatra' in his bastion Amethi, ex-Congress chief Rahul Gandhi along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra repeated his distinction of 'Hindu' and 'Hindutvavadi'. Rahul Gandhi had lost his bastion Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls to BJP's Smriti Irani but was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kerala's Wayanad - a safe seat for Congress.

Lambasting PM Modi, he said, "Centre said they had no data on farmer deaths. I showed them a list of 400 Punjab farmers who died in protests, demanding compensation. Who has benefitted from demonetisation, GST, Farm laws? Only 2-3 industrialists". The crowds chanted Gandhi's infamous slogan 'Chowkidaar chor hai'. The Congress is holding a 'Pratigya Padyatra' in Amethi as part of its 'Jan Jagran Abhiyan’ ahead of polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur.

He added, "I repeat again. Hindu is one who does not fear from the truth, who faces his fears, who does not let hate takeover. Hindutvavadi is one who uses hatred to create fear. Hindus will never lose". The 403-seat UP assembly where Yogi rules with an iron-clad majority of 314 seats, is up for grabs in February 2022.

Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau detained two officials of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB). The vigilance officials raided the PCB officers' properties and seized a large amount of money and documents on their allegedly illegal wealth.

The two officers were nabbed and their residences were raided after the agency received a tip-off from a businessman who informed that the PCB officers had demanded a bribe of Rs 1 lakh for renewing the licence of his establishment.

The team raided the Aluva flat of PCB engineer AM Harris on Wednesday night. Following the raid, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau netted the officer as they unearthed Rs 17 lakh cash stashed in vessels at the residence. AM Harris, the accused engineer, was arrested on charges of taking a Rs 25,000 bribe from an industrialist based in Kottayam. The raids, which followed the arrest, led the team to cash stacked in places including a pressure cooker and rice pots.

Countering Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath's 'Ram Rajya', RJD on Saturday, claimed that socialism is the soul of our Constitution. RJD urged Adityanath to read the Constitution and its preamble, adding 'Country does not want bhogi, sogi, fake and hypocrites, but needs a karma yogi'. RJD also pointed out that under BJP's 'Ram Rajya', BJP MP Brij Bhushan had slapped a wrestler player. The 403-seat UP assembly where Yogi rules with an iron-clad majority of 314 seats, is up for grabs in February 2022.

"In Shahjahanpur itself, fifty thousand people have received housing," PM Modi stated at the launch of Ganga Expressway. 

Vijayawada police have now arrested three members of the ‘chaddi gang’ of burglars, who allegedly looted houses. The members of the gang of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are believed to have committed a series of thefts in and around the city over the past few weeks. The police have recovered gold, silver ornaments and cash from the burglars’ possession.

Burglars of the group named the ‘chaddi gang’ because of their choice of wearing only wearing briefs and a vest, while committing crimes have now been arrested in Andhra Pradesh. The Vijayawada police identified the culprits as residents of the Dahod district in Gujarat. The three accused have been identified as Madiya Kanji Meda (30) and Sakra Mandod (45) from Gujarat’s Dahod district, and Kamlesh Baberia (27) from Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh. The police said that the rest of the gang members involved in the crimes will be arrested soon.

As the Centre continues to keep Ajay Mishra Teni in the Union cabinet, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday, claimed PM Modi's 'ganga snan' had failed as Mishra was not sacked yet. Raut pointed out that the Opposition was demanding his ouster, Raut highlighted that UP SIT had revealed that the Lakhimpur violence was 'pre-planned'. Ajay Mishra's son - Ashish and nine others have been arrested in connection to the Lakhimpur violence. 

"In Lakhimpur Kheri, Union MoS' son tried to trample the farmers protest under his car. Now the SIT says its pre-planned. Recently, PM Modi went to Kashi and did Ganga Snan - which is a holy act. But one minister who trampled upon farmers is still in his cabinet and the Opposition has been questioning why he has not been removed yet. If PM does not sack him, then this Ganga Snan has failed," told Raut to ANI. PM Modi, during his visit to Varanasi to inaugurate the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, took a dip in the holy Ganges near the temple - offering his respects.

"Tomorrow is the sacrifice day of Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaq Ullah Khan, Thakur Roshan Singh. We owe a huge debt to such heroes who laid down their lives for the freedom of India": PM Modi

"Ganga Expressway will open the doors of progress for Uttar Pradesh," PM Modi vouched.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath delivers address in Shahjahanpur; PM Modi to lay foundation stone of Ganga Expressway Project

"I condemn the violence that took place in Belagavi last night. I have given instructions to take strict action against those who broke the law and engaged in arson. The police have already arrested some violators and concrete action will be taken against them for damaging government property and pelting stones. These incidents have grown rampant in the city, hence they will be dealt with strictly," CM Bommai told reporters on Saturday. 

Tensions escalated in Belagavi after a protest condemning the desecration of a Shivaji statue turned violent on Friday, with demonstrators resorting to stone pelting at police personnel. As many as 26 vehicles, including police jeeps, were vandalized on Friday night, forcing the police to resort to lathi-charge against the violent mob. The mob desecrated the statue of Sangolli Rayanna. 

Read more

"I wouldn't like to pre-empt any findings of the Court of Inquiry as it's a thorough process. It's a mandate to investigate every single angle & look into every single aspect of what could've gone wrong & come out with suitable recommendations & findings. Let me assure you that it is a very very fair process, this entire Court of Inquiry," added IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. 

"Special NIA court in Patna, on December 17, sentenced three Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh terrorists to life imprisonment and awarded jail term to five others for 10 years in connection with the blast at Bodh Gaya temple complex in 2018," authorities told PTI

According to a UN report, Omicron is progressively fueling the new instances which are concerning the public health authorities and scientists who are working and analysing to understand the new variant. Due to this, many nations are debating whether or not to keep schools open in the face of mounting uncertainty. However, pointing to the debate, Fore stated that another round of widespread school closures would be devastating for children. 

After two years of revocation of Article 370, Home Ministry on Friday revealed that only seven plots of land have been purchased by people from outside Jammu-Kashmir. Responding to the question in Rajya Sabha, Union MoS Nityanand Rai tabled a written reply stating all the seven plots were located in the Jammu division, none in Kashmir. All J&K parties - PDP, Congress, NC, Apni Party have opposed the new domicile laws introduced by the Centre - aimed at a boost in land sales.

"As per the information provided by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, a total of seven plots of land have been purchased by persons from outside the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. All the seven plots are located in Jammu division," stated Rai.

Read more about Centre's amendments to domicile rules for J&K

Hitting out at the Trinamool Congress, West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the TMC's assertions of leading the opposition front for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections have no relationship with the ground realities of Indian politics.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was addressing a press conference on Friday, also remarked that the ruling party's confidence of leading the opposition front for the 2024 polls and defeating the BJP on its own is "laughable".

In an immediate reaction to this, accusing the grand old party of failing to put up a formidable fight against the BJP and making such statements, TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee slammed Chowdhury saying said that his remarks make no difference as no one takes Adhir Ranjan seriously.

"Under his leadership, the party has drawn a blank in the Assembly polls and now the truth is that Mamta Banerjee is the strongest opposition face against the BJP", he added.

A coal mine that was flooded in Shanxi Province, north China, killed two mine workers, while rescuing crews saved 20 others, according to the local rescue headquarters. They have declared the status of the miners after conducting a final verification of the trapped workers.

Roughly around 11 p.m. on December 15, Wednesday, an accident happened at a coal mine in Duxigou Village, Xiaoyi City, a significant coal-producing area southwest of Beijing, trapping the miners underground. According to preliminary findings, the disaster was caused by illegal mining, as per Xinhua. 

Following the incident, on Friday morning, rescuers came in contact with the miners. At roughly 2.15 p.m. on the same day, the first trapped miner was pulled out of the pit. A total number of 20 workers were successfully rescued from the shaft by Friday 5.56 p.m.

Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin is on an official visit to India. He will attend the 3rd meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue

Kashmiri journalist ⁦Aarti Tikoo's brother and BJP Yuva Morcha leader Sahil Tikoo allegedly received death threats by some miscreants during an audio conversation on Twitter Spaces. According to an FIR registered by the Srinagar Police, Sahil Tikoo entered a Twitter Space with an account named 'Stop Innocent Killings' on December 14, when some persons began to threaten him with his life. Some even called him a 'collaborator' or 'agent', said Tikoo. 

The J&K BJP Yuva Spokesperson urged the Srinagar SSP to identify the culprits and take legal action against them.  Sahil Tikoo is a Kashmiri Pandit, residing in Srinagar and his sister Aarti Tikoo is the editor in chief of “The New Indian”.

“My brother Sahil Tikoo who lives in Srinagar is being openly threatened by jihadis terrorists sitting in Kashmir-India, their handles in Pakistan, the UK, and the US. Is anyone watching? Are we sitting ducks waiting to be shot dead by Islamists or will you crack down on them? HMO India," the journalist had tweeted. 

"This is IT dept. I've no criminal background or black money. I help people & Govt didn't like it. This is a result of that. If you do anything, they'll make a video, register an FIR, you'll fight a case unnecessarily. There is no use letting procedure complete," Rajeev Rai, SP leader said to ANI. 

"A lot of new features have been added to the nuclear-capable strategic missile Agni Prime during this test. The missile test met all its mission objectives with a high level of accuracy," Government officials told ANI. 

Amid growing unrest in the bordering town of Begalavi over the vandalism of the Shivaji statue, Section 144 has been imposed in the area to avoid gathering of people and similar incidents of violence. 

Tensions escalated in Belagavi after a protest condemning the desecration of a Shivaji statue turned violent on Friday, with demonstrators resorting to stone pelting at police personnel. As many as 26 vehicles, including police jeeps, were vandalized in the incident on Friday night, forcing the police to resort to lathi-charge against the violent mob. 

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday recalled that he had once rejected a tender by Reliance for the Mumbai-Pune express highway as Maharashtra minister in 1995. Gadkari said the move had displeased then Chief Minister Manohar Joshi and Shiv Sena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray, but he believed that a lot of money could be saved if the state undertook the initiative. 

Ultimately, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC) was set up and the Mumbai-Pune expressway was completed at almost half the price quoted by Reliance, said Gadkari.

"I once rejected a tender from Reliance for Mumbai-Pune Expressway in 1995. Everyone was upset with me including Balasaheb Thackeray.  But then, we set up Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC) at almost half the price. Reliance was quoting Rs 3,600 crores but we completed the project in just Rs 1,600 crores and saved Rs 2,000 crore," said the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways.

Beefing up its defence for banning controversial preacher Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation, the Centre has constituted a legal team headed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and including advocates Amit Mahajan, Sachin Datta, Rajat Nair, Kanu Aggarwal & Dhruv Pande. Sources reported that the UAPA tribunal constituted to probe the ban on IRF is likely to begin hearing the case next Monday. The Centre has extended the ban on IRF by five more years.

COVID-19 vaccines and the previous infection can reduce the severity of the disease and the overall symptoms from the new highly mutated Omicron variant, South Africa’s health minister Joe Phaahla, told a news conference on Friday, Dec. 17. “We believe that it might not necessarily just be that Omicron is less virulent, but coverage of vaccination [and] natural immunity of people who have already had contact with the virus is also adding to the protection. That’s why we are seeing mild illness,” The Guardian newspaper quoted the health official as saying. Phaahla backed his claims citing the recent findings done by Shabir Mahdi, a vaccine expert at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in South Africa. 

Contrary to the trend seen during the initial days of the Omicron spread, South Africa is now witnessing a rise in hospitalisations and deaths from the B.1.1.529 variant. The infections by the Delta variant, also continuing alongside the Omicron, are now being recorded at a lower level as the Omicron is set to become the dominant strain, according to the South African health officials.

Multimillionaire conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar was confronted in Tihar Jail, along with his alleged aide Pinky Irani - the woman who allegedly introduced him to actress Jacqueline Fernandez, on Friday. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigators grilled the two accused in connection with Rs 200 crore extortion racket. 

Irani, who was arrested by the ED officials on December 9 had reportedly introduced Chandrasekhar to Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez. Both Irani and Chandrasekhar were learned to be quizzed on the same set of questions separately as well as together, for over three hours in the Jail.

The investigators asked about their links with Jacqueline and matters related to the money laundering operations. Their statements were also recorded by the federal agency. 

Reports suggest that Irani was paid a huge sum to introduce Jacqueline to Chandrasekhar. Earlier, the ED had also confronted Irani with Jacqueline in the extortion case. The actress has been questioned on multiple occasions over her links with Chandrasekhar. 

Find out why.

31 killed and 20 injured in 15 chopper crashes since 2017

The 15 choppers that met with accidents included four Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), four Cheetah, two ALH (weapon system integrated) versions, three Mi-17V5, a Mi-17 and a Chetak.

Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt was replying to a question in the house when he shared details of all helicopter accidents in the last five years. He said that there have been 15 accidents in total across services, that killed 31 people and injured another 20. According to the data provided, four accidents of Mi-17V5 helicopters of IAF have taken place in the last 5 years that killed 21 people. This includes the crash recent in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu which took place on December 8, where all 14 people along with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat had lost their lives in the crash.

According to MoS Defence Ajay Bhatt, the list of crashes begin with the accident involving a Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Air Force on March 15, 2017. However, no one was killed or injured in the crash. Following this, seven helicopters each from the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force, and one from the Navy have been involved in accidents.

Details here

Kathy Hochul, on December 16, stated during a press briefing that her administration is intending to legislate COVID booster shots within the definition of 'fully vaccinated'. 

Read more about the ongoing I-T raid here. 

"Domestic Violence Act enacted to protect women, not harass men,' the J&K court held while imposing a cost of Rs 10 lakh fine on wife for misusing the Act's provisions against her husband. 

In Chhattisgarh, at around 5:30 am, there was an exchange of fire between Dantewada DRG & Maoists near the Gonderas jungle (PS Aranpur, Dantewada district). Later during search operations, bodies of two female Naxal cadres were recovered from the spot," Dantewada SP Abhishek Pallav told ANI. 

On Friday, December 17, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that girl students in the state will be able to travel for free in buses. The assembly elections in Uttarakhand are scheduled for next year. CM Dhami announced this move to make education for girls an 'easy experience' and free travel across the state will aid in that.

"Our girl students are important to us and their education should be an easy experience for them. That is why we have started this service for them," Dhami told ANI.

Uttarakhand CM followed Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin's model for providing free bus services to girl students. Earlier this year, The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, after coming to power, announced a free bus travel service for women in Tamil Nadu State Transporation Corporation (TNSTC) buses.

The free bus scheme was one of the poll promises in DMK's 400-page manifesto ahead of assembly elections this year. Moreover, On June 3, 2021, the Tamil Nadu government said that differently-abled and transwomen can also avail free bus travel.

"In urban regions, the differently-abled persons and transgender women would be allowed to travel free of cost in buses operated by government-run transport corporations and this would be implemented after the lockdown is lifted," the government had said in a release.

In its latest attempt to curtail the spread of coronavirus, South Korea has reimposed restrictions that it previously lifted under its ‘living with COVID’ scheme. Starting Saturday, December 18, the number of people allowed at public gatherings will shrink to four. Other rules include a 9 pm curfew imposed on restaurants, eateries and cafes. Notably, the new restrictions were announced by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on Thursday as healthcare workers warned of mayhem at hospitals.

“We’re making all-out efforts to overcome the pressing crisis by expanding our medical capacity and vaccination campaign, but we need time,” Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at a government meeting on Thursday. “We can go beyond this crisis only by beating down the current spread as soon as possible through strong social distancing,” he added.

PM Modi is scheduled to address the 84th episode of his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme on December 26, he asked people to share their ideas and views. While taking to the microblogging site, PM Modi said he has been receiving several inputs for this month's Mann Ki Baat and asked the people to share their motivational ideas and stories before the deadline. He also noted the 84th episode of his 'Mann Ki Baat' will be the last episode for this year. "I have been receiving several inputs for this month’s #MannKiBaat on the 26th, which will be the last one of 2021. The inputs cover so many different areas and celebrate the life journeys of several people working to bring grassroots level changes. Keep sharing your views," PM Modi wrote on his Twitter post.

Have a look at the poster:

"When I saw her in the pyre with genera, as a civilian I thought that we don't spare all of you thought and when I say all of you, its the wives and the children till such time a tragedy strikes, that you are unacknowledged by us and for that, you have my apology, that we see you only when you step up to take the posthumous honour that is conferred upon your loved ones. We shower you with petals when a man in uniform comes back in a box. We never acknowledge the challenges that you as Army man's wife face. We assume that you have chosen this life but today as a civilian I say sorry and also express my gratitude," added Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani at the Army Wives Welfare Association's (AWWA) 'Abhivyakti' literary festival. 

Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni to launch a new political party today in Chandigarh

elangana: Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari reviews the parade at Air Force Academy, Dundigal where Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) is underway.

After AIMIM's Owaisi, NCP MP Majeed Memon stated that raising the marriageable age of girls from 18 to 21 years needs thorough consideration and deliberation. He pointed out that inspite of  18 years being the minimum marriageable age, child marriages were rampant in rural India. The Union Cabinet has cleared a proposal to increase the legal age of marriage for women to 21, matching men.

As per Formula 1 rules, the top three drivers in the championship must attend the award ceremony. Speaking about punishing  Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff, FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem said, "If there is any breach, there is no forgiveness in this." When asked to clarify he said: "Forgiveness is always there. But rules are rules. I know Lewis is really sad about what happened. I would say he is broken. But we have to look into if there is any breach. [After] a few hours now as president, I cannot give answers without going back to the facts."

A 29-year-old man who had returned from New York tested positive for Omicron variant here on Friday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a release. Notably, the man, who has no symptoms, had taken three doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine, it added. He tested positive for COVID-19 in a test conducted at the airport on November 9, after which his samples were sent for genome sequencing. Two of his high-risk contacts tested negative for coronavirus, the BMC said.

"The patient has been admitted to a hospital as a precautionary measure and he has no symptoms," the civic body said in a release

Amid the ongoing scare of the spread of the newly detected Omicron Variant, 114 cases of the Omicron variant have been detected across 11 states in the country so far. 

• Maharashtra: 40
• Gujarat: 7
• Delhi: 22
• Rajasthan: 17
• Karnataka: 8
• Chandigarh: 1
• Andhra Pradesh: 1
• Tamil Nadu: 1
• Kerala: 7
• West Bengal: 1
• Telangana: 9

Bharatiya Janata Party is all set to flag off its 'Jan Vishwas Yatra' simultaneously from different regions of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, December 19, in view of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. As a part of it, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will kick off a yatra from Govardhan in Mathura and further conclude it in Pilibhit. 

Apart from CM Adityanath, Union Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey and Santosh Gangwar will also be present at the launch programme and will address the public during the Yatra in Akbarpur and Naujheel areas.

Notably, the yatra was scheduled to be flagged off by Union Minister Amit Shah but after receiving no confirmation from him, it will be now done by the Chief Minister, informed BJP District President, Madhu Sharma. Prior to the launch on Sunday, CM Yogi Adityanath will also address a public meeting at Mathura's Ramlila ground and highlight the party's strategies for the elections. The yatra to be launched by the Chief Minister will cover Mathura, Chhata, and Mat Vidhan Sabha areas of the district taking it to Plilibhit.

Twitter temporarily blocked the account of Kashmiri journalist ⁦Aarti Tikoo⁩ for a tweet where she is looking out for her brother Sahil Tikoo, whose life is allegedly threatened by terrorists. Claiming that Sahil Tikoo was being openly threatened by 'jihadi' terrorists Aarti Tikoo took to Twitter to seek protection and safety for her brother.

Aarti Tikoo is a Kashmiri Hindu Journalist and the founder and editor in chief of “The New Indian”, while her brother Sahil Tikoo is the spokesperson of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha's Jammu and Kashmir unit.

In the post, dated December 15, Tikoo had sought protection from the Home Ministry for her brother who lives in Srinagar.

 “My brother Sahil Tikoo who lives in Srinagar is being openly threatened by jihadis terrorists sitting in Kashmir-India, their handles in Pakistan, the UK, and the US. Is anyone watching? Are we sitting ducks waiting to be shot dead by Islamists or will you crack down on them? HMO India," the journalist had tweeted

Twitter flagged the account citing its rules against hateful speech, under which, users are not allowed to "promote violence against, threaten or harass other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability or serious disease."

Quite clear Twitter is allowing Pakistan sponsored terrorists to use Twitter Spaces for terror-related activities, to threaten Indians and to hatch conspiracies to kill Kashmiri Hindus like Sahil Tikoo." she wrote. 

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the Narendra Modi government after the union cabinet cleared the proposal for raising the legal age of marriage for women to 21 years, bringing it at par with that of men. The Hyderabad MP said that both men and women should be allowed to get married at 18 as they are lawfully adults by then.

"If a girl can choose the Prime Minister at the age of 18, then why not her partner," Owaisi had said to ANI. 

Furthermore, he tweeted, "Modi government has decided to increase the age of marriage for women to 21. This is typical paternalism that we have come to expect from the government. 18-year-old men and women can sign contracts, start businesses, choose Prime Ministers and elect MPs & MLAs but not marry?"

"Passengers travelling from 67 nations requested to stay in Hotel Quarantine for 7 days at their own expense. After 7 days, in case of a negative test of COVID, it's requested to stay in home quarantine for additional 7 days and send the person with positive result to isolation centre/hospital," Nepal authorities stated. 

"A girl student told me that there is no cleanliness in the toilets of the school, because of which the students face problems," Minister Pradhuman Singh Tomar said.

On December 18, Goa CM Pramod Sawant inaugurated the Goa Police Pink Force.  

"If anyone dials 112 or110, this force will reach the area within 5 mins. Pink Force will also patrol beach areas & provide medical aid in case a woman complains of abuse or accident," DGP ID Shukla told ANI. 
 

Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL) has hiked the prices of CNG and PNG on Friday, December 17, for the second time in three weeks. According to officials, the price of CNG will be increased by Rs 2 per Kg, including taxes, while the piped cooking gas will go up by Rs 1.50 per unit for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The revised rates will be effective from Saturday morning. 

Inclusive of tax, the price of CNG (compressed natural gas) that fuels vehicles will now cost Rs 63.50/kg while home use PNG (Domestic Piped Natural Gas) will come at a price of Rs 38/SCM. 

Read more about CNG and piped gas prices hike in Mumbai

Every year, International Migrants Day is observed on December 18 to raise awareness about the social and economic conditions as well as circumstances of migrants all across the globe. This day is also marked to ensure that migrants' rights are not violated and are protected equally. As the world is changing and growing at a breakneck pace, the mobility of individuals is still influenced by a variety of causes.  

Due to the increased frequency of disasters, economic issues, extreme poverty, and violence, people either voluntary or compulsory moves. In 2020, there were around 281 million foreign migrants, accounting for 3.6% of the world population, as per the UN website. International Migrants Day serves as a reminder that the challenges experienced by migrants in every nation are far from resolved, and policymakers must still develop constructive and comprehensive policies to look into the matter. 

"India-France Strategic Partnership is more relevant today than ever. A wide range of bilateral, regional and defence industrial cooperation issues were discussed in India- France Annual Defence Dialogue today," Rajnath Singh said. 

Congress leader and former state chief minister Harish Rawat was addressing a press conference in Dehradun when he announced the Yatra. Rawat said that the three-day yatra will start from the village of General Bipin Rawat in the Garhwal division to honour him along with other soldiers who laid their lives for the country.

“We will start it from the village of General Bipin Rawat. All the leaders of the party will visit the families of all the martyrs in the state. Every leader has to mandatorily visit the village of some martyr. We will also begin from the village of General BC Joshi in Kumaon,” Harish Rawat said at the press conference.

“We will make welfare announcements for the slum dwellers, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes in the manifesto,” Rawat added.

United States President Joe Biden on Friday accidentally made a gaffe by pronouncing incorrect job title for his Vice President Kamala Harris at a public event. Delivering opening remarks at the South Carolina State University fall commencement event, Biden called Kamala Harris 'President' before condemning the attack on voter right by Republicans as 'unAmerican'. Notably, the gaffe came months after Biden apparently "stumbled" as he criticised the protests in Charlottesville that happened four years ago. He called the city Charleston and Charlotte before he finally got the name right, Sputnik reported.

"All kidding aside, of course, President Harris is proud Howard alum," Biden said, repeating the slip of the tongue he had made earlier too.

 Biden is 79-year-old, 46th President of the United States, and the oldest person to hold the post in history. As per New York Post, the mistakenly pronounced designation comes amid mounting tensions among Democrats, including Harris (57) and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (39), as to who will replace Biden in the 2024 elections. While US President Biden says he wishes to run again, but Democrats are fairly reluctant, citing concerns about his mental acuity.

ccording to Ayodhya Nagar Nigam spokesperson Ram Kishor Yadav, all the mayors will be given a grand welcome before heading towards Ram Janmabhoomi and Hanumangarhi temples. He told PTI that the preparations for the same have been started a month ago. During their visit, the mayors will also participate in the evening ‘aarti’ on the bank of the Saryu river. However, it is not yet clear whether the UP CM Yogi Adityanath will attend the assembly or not.

"They will also see the ongoing construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and offer their prayers in major temples, besides participating in the evening ‘aarti’ on the bank of the Saryu river,"  Nagar Nigam spokesperson told PTI.

 Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 via voice vote. Minister of State for Health Bharti Pravin Pawar introduced the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019, as passed by Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage. 

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill was first introduced by the then Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan in Lok Sabha on 15 July 2019 and transmitted to Rajya Sabha for its concurrence. The Rajya Sabha then sent the bill to the select committee for further deliberation.

Last week, Rajya Sabha passed the bill after amendments and returned it to Lok Sabha on December 14. The bill aims to constitute a National Surrogacy Board and state surrogacy boards for regulation of the practice and process of surrogacy.  

Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill: All you need to know

In what may very well be called a face-saver, Congress on Friday condemned the statement made by its MLA KR Ramesh Kumar. Taking to her official Twitter handle, AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra underlined that it was 'inexplicable' how he or anyone else could utter such words and called it 'indefensible'.

"Rape is a heinous crime. Full stop," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Further wrote in the Tweet. What, however, is to be noticed is that despite the high demand for sacking Ramesh Kumar from the position of the MLA, there was no mention of the same by the AICC General Secretary in the Tweet.