LIVE: Mumbai sees over 3,600 new Covid cases in a day; over 1,300 in Delhi
Mumbai posts 46% jump in daily cases; Delhi passes 1,000-mark after 7 months
 "Maharashtra, Mumbai")
A healthcare worker collects a swab sample of a passenger for Covid-19 test, at Bandra Terminal, in Mumbai (Photo: PTI)
PM wanted BJP-NCP tie-up for Maharashtra govt, I rejected offer: Pawar
A fresh political row erupted after Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen for an NCP-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government in Maharashtra after the October 2019 Assembly polls threw up a fractured verdict.
Pawar referred to his meeting with the PM on November 20, 2019, at the release of a coffee table book, "Ashtavadhani" launched by The Indian Express Group's 'Loksatta' Marathi daily, and released by Bharat Force MD Baba Kalyani, as part of the NCP supremo's 81st birthday celebrations.
At that time, Pawar had confirmed how Modi wanted NCP-BJP to "work together" and even offered a central Cabinet berth to his daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule.
In busy 2022, Neeraj Chopra to participate in CWG, Asian Games, World Championship
India's Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra wants to participate in the full season in 2022 including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, World Championships, and the Diamond League.
The World Athletics Championships, postponed from 2021, is scheduled to be held at Oregon (USA) from July 15-24, 2022 while the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will start on July 28 and will continue till August 8. The Asian Games will be held at Hangzhou, China from September 10-25 while the Diamond League will comprise 14 events to be held from May 13-September 8, making it quite a busy schedule ahead for Chopra.
If he goes ahead with this plan, Chopra will participate in three major events in three months, which will leave him with very little time for preparations in between because of the travel restrictions because of the Covid-19 protocols.
Mitigate Covid risk fully with vax for children, say doctors
With the government set to rollout vaccination for children in the 15-18 age group from January 3, doctors have welcomed the move saying only vaccination can mitigate Covid-19 risk fully at a time when the country is witnessing a spike in new infections and faces the threat from Omicron.
After more than a year and half, educational institutions have reopened for physical classes, and school going children would be eager to indulge with their peers. On meeting their dear buddies after a long gap, children would like to unshackle the restrictions that were imposed on them. And possible risks due to this can only be addressed through vaccination, say the healthcare practitioners.
Reports of Saddam Hussein hiding in hole 'fabricated': Iraqi Interpreter
Reports that US troops captured former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein while he was hiding in an underground hole were fabricated, an Iraqi interpreter who worked with the US military at the time told Sputnik.
Following Hussein's arrest on December 13, 2003, the Pentagon claimed that the former Iraqi president was found hiding in an eight-foot-deep hole under a farm. In reality, Hussein was in a room at the time of his arrest, was unconscious and did not understand what he was saying nor what was happening, according to the interpreter, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons.
"After his arrest, the situation was fabricated so that the American administration, headed by Bush, could get out [unscathed], so that the coalition he had created against Iraq would not be defeated, so that the US authority would not suffer because of the attack on Iraq under the pretext of having weapons of mass destruction and imminent threat to peace," the interpreter said.
Durga Shankar Mishra is new UP Chief Secretary
Durga Shankar Mishra, a 1984 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, took over as the new Chief Secretary of the state on Thursday.
Formerly posted as Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary at the Centre, Mishra has been proposed to be appointed as the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, according to a Personnel Ministry order issued on Wednesday.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved repatriation of Mishra to his cadre for "his proposed appointment as Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh by the State Government of Uttar Pradesh", the order said.
Mishra was due to superannuate on Friday but has been given one year extension in service.
Sitharaman chairs pre-budget meeting with state finance ministers
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is chairing a pre-budget consultation meeting with finance ministers of states and union territories (UTs). The meeting is taking place at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital.
Several chief ministers who hold finance portfolios are also attending the meeting.
Chief ministers who are present at the meeting include Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha is also attending the meeting.
Omicron constitutes 46 pc of total COVID cases: Satyendar Jain
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Thursday that the Omicron variant constitutes 46 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases in the national capital and people with no travel history were found infected with the new variant, meaning the virus is gradually spreading in the community.
Addressing a press conference, the Health Minister said, "Delhi reported 923 cases and the positivity rate is 1.29 per cent. The COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly and Omicron cases are also increasing in Delhi. As per the latest genome sequencing report, 46 per cent of total COVID-19 cases are of Omicron variant. Of total Omicron cases, few people have travel history and some with no travel history are also infected with Omicron, which means it is gradually spreading in the community," said Jain.
3 JeM militants gunned down in J-K's Anantnag; 1 Army jawan loses life
Three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants, including a Pakistani national, were gunned down during an overnight encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir in which an Army jawan lost his life, police said on Thursday.
They said three security forces personnel were also injured in the gunfight.
With the death of the three JeM terrorists in Anantnag, the number of militants killed in two gunfights, which broke out in south Kashmir on Wednesday night, has risen to six.
In the Kulgam encounter, three militants were killed.
Fifteen new COVID-19 cases in Ladakh
Ladakh recorded 15 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 22,155 in the Union Territory, officials said on Thursday.
The Union Territory has recorded 219 Covid-related deaths -- 161 in Leh and 58 in Kargil -- since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, they said.
A total of 968 sample reports in Ladakh were found negative, they said, adding 32 patients have recovered taking the total number of cured patients to 20,739.
Substantial weight loss may decrease risk of severe COVID-19 complications: Study
A new study found that among patients with obesity, prior weight loss achieved with bariatric surgery was associated with a 60 per cent lower risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19 infection.
The research has been published in the 'JAMA Surgery Journal'.
Numerous studies have established obesity as a major risk factor for developing serious illness from an infection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Obesity weakens the immune system, creates a chronic inflammatory state, and increases risk for cardiovascular disease, blood clots, and lung conditions. All of these conditions can complicate COVID-19.
People with no travel history infected with Omicron, it means it's spreading in community: Jain
Omicron accounts for 46 per cent of the 115 COVID-19 samples analysed in the national capital and the new, fast-spreading variant of concern is gradually spreading in the community, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Thursday.
He said Delhi hospitals have 200 Covid patients of which 102 belong to the city.
Of the hospitalised Covid patients in Delhi, 115 do not have any symptoms and have been kept in hospitals as a precautionary measure, the minister said.
As tourists throng Himachal, authorities directed to enforce COVID-19 protocols strictly
In the wake of tourists from different parts of India rushing to the hills in Himachal Pradesh to ring in New Year, the state government and health department have issued directions to the local authorities in all districts to execute the COVID-19 protocols strictly to contain the spread of Omicron.
"The trains on Kalka-Shimla heritage railway track are full to its capacity. The Railway authorities in Shimla are trying to implement the COVID-19 protocol amid the surge in Omicron cases" said Superintendent of Shimla Railway Station, Joginder Singh.
"These days we have a good number of tourists; there is 95 per cent occupancy in trains. As far as the Omicron variant is concerned we are trying to follow the protocol. The passengers are happy and enthusiastic and they are following the COVID-19 guidelines. We are expecting this tourist season will provide a good business to all as we have full occupancy till January 10 and after that the snowfall will draw more tourists." added the Superintendent of Shimla Railway station.
No New Year parties in open or closed spaces in Mumbai: Police
In the wake of emergence of the new 'Omicron' variant of COVID-19, the Mumbai Police have prohibited New Year celebrations and gatherings in any closed or open space, including hotels and restaurants, an official said on Thursday.
The orders were issued on Wednesday under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) Section 144 by Deputy Commissioner of Police (operations) S Chaitanya.
The order will be in force from Thursday till January 7, 2022, the official said.
COVID-19: Micron warns of chip delays due to China's Xian lockdown
Micron Technology, one of the world's biggest memory chip suppliers, on Wednesday said COVID-19 lockdown in the Chinese city of Xian would lead to delays in the supply of its chips, which are commonly used in data centres.
China on Wednesday had locked down the entire 13 million residents of Xi'an after the COVID-19 cluster was found in the city. This company statement comes as Xi'an has further tightened lockdown and started another round of mass testing as it reported the highest daily spike of Covid infections since March 2020.
"Micron is in full compliance with the Xi'an Government's city closure, which took effect on Dec. 23, 2021. Our top priority is the health and safety of our team members, contractors and the broader Xi'an community," the company said in a statement.
7.4-magnitude quake hits Indonesia
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the southern coast of Indonesia's Maluku province on Thursday morning, the country's Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency said.
No casualties or damage have been reported so far, reports Xinhua news agency.
The quake struck at 1.25 a.m. and the epicentre was 45 km northwest of Southwest Maluku Regency, with a depth of 210 km under the sea.
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First Published: Dec 30 2021 | 7:22 AM IST
