LIVE: PM Modi inaugurates multiple development projects in Goa

Modi took part in Goa Liberation Day celebrations

7:16 PM

Cops detain 265 during search ops in east Delhi

Delhi Police have detained 265 people under section 65 of the Delhi Police Act in a late night Cordon and Search Operation that was conducted in the eastern part of the city, an official said here on Sunday.

 

Deputy Commissioner of Police Priyanka Kashyap said a concerted drive under the name of 'Operation Sudarshan' was launched to keep a check on crime as well as criminals in the jurisdiction of East District.

 

During one such drive on the intervening night of December 18-19, an intensive area domination cum combing operation was carried out in Trilokpuri & Kalyanpuri from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. over surging crime incidents in the area in the recent past.

6:54 PM

Rafael Nadal 'can't guarantee' his participation at Australian Open

Spain's Rafael Nadal, who made his comeback in an Abu Dhabi exhibition after four months on the sidelines due to injury, said he cannot guarantee he will make the trip to Melbourne for next month's Australian Open, IANS reported.

 

Though the 20-time Grand Slam champion returned to action at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, he wasn't at his absolute best and suffered two close defeats against Andy Murray and Denis Shapovalov at the exhibition event.

 

The 35-year old was knocked out at Roland Garros in the semi-finals and was forced to pull out of Wimbledon, the Tokyo Olympics, and the US Open due to foot injury.

6:22 PM

Kerala's daily Covid-19 numbers fall below 3,000

Fresh coronavirus cases in Kerala dropped below 3,000 on Sunday with the state reporting 2,995 new infections which took the total caseload to 52.05 lakh, PTI reported.

 

Kerala also reported 96 deaths which raised the toll to 44,503, a state government release said.

 

Of the 96 deaths, 11 were recorded over the last few days and 85 were designated as COVID-19 deaths after receiving appeals based on the new guidelines of the Centre and the directions of the Supreme Court, it said.

6:11 PM

Order on ban on construction and demolition in Delhi NCR likely on Monday

With improved air quality - from "severe" few days ago to "very poor" four-five days ago to "poor" over last two days, the Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi NCR, and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) is likely to remove the continued ban on the construction and demolition (C&D) activities in Delhi NCR, IANS reported.

 

Two days ago, while suggesting states to open schools in phased manner, the CAQM had stated that keeping in view the current air quality in Delhi-NCR, there is a need to exercise control on various sectors that significantly contribute to air pollution and hence had continued its ban on the construction and demolition activities, in place since November 27.

 

The CAQM had then said that since the current air quality index was within the "very poor" range, it would not be advisable to allow C&D operations. "Based on the air quality forecast and significant improvement in air quality, the decision will be reviewed," it had said.

5:49 PM

PM Modi inaugurates projects worth Rs 650 cr in Goa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered five infrastructure projects worth nearly Rs 650 crore to the service of the nation, which includes a renovated Fort Aguada Jail Museum, a super speciality block at Goa Medical College, the new South Goa District Hospital, an Aviation Skill Development Centre at Mopa Airport and a Gas insulated Substation at Dabolim-Navelim, Margao, IANS reported.

 

The Prime Minister is in Goa on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the state's Liberation from Portuguese rule on December 19, 1961.

5:48 PM

Maha; 20,000 illegal structures to be razed in Kalyan-Dombivali, says civic chief

Around 20,000 illegal constructions within Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation limits in Thane district will be demolished in the next three months, civic chief Vijay Suryavanshi said on Sunday, PTI reported.

 

He said he had held a meeting with officials recently to prepare an action plan for the razing work, which is expected to begin in a couple of weeks.

 

"These structures include shops, restaurants, hotels, as well as chawls where extra rooms have been built. We have issued notices to 15,000 people connected to these unauthorized structures. Over 350 cases have been filed over unauthorized constructions in KDMC limits," he said.

5:08 PM

PM Modi inaugurates multiple development projects in Goa

5:02 PM

KMC Polls: Sporadic violence reported; 52.17% voter turnout recorded till 3 PM

Sporadic incidents of violence including hurling pf bombs at two booths marred an otherwise humdrum polling to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) where a 52.17 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm Sunday, PTI reported.

 

Two incidents of hurling of crude bombs were reported in Kolkata's Sealdah and Khanna areas. Police contingents were rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control, a State Election Commission official said.

 

"A total of 52.17 per cent of total votes were polled till 3 PM. Polling has by and large been peaceful barring a few incidents. Two incidents of hurling of crude bombs outside polling centres were reported," he said.

4:47 PM

Booster 80% effective against severe Omicron: Report

A team of UK researchers has analysed the likely impact that a Covid booster shot will have on Omicron and says it could provide around 85 per cent protection against severe illness, IANS reported.

 

According to the BBC, the protection is a bit less than vaccines given against earlier versions of Covid. But it means the top-up dose should still keep many people out of the hospital.

 

The modelling, from the team at Imperial College London, is based on limited information on Omicron.

4:10 PM

One more beaten to death for alleged sacrilege attempt in Punjab

A day after a man was beaten to death for an alleged sacrilege bid at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, another person was killed for allegedly disrespecting 'Nishan Sahib' (Sikh religious flag) at a gurdwara here on Sunday morning, PTI reported.

 

Some residents of village Nizampur claimed that the man disrespected the Nishan Sahib and tried to run away but was caught after a chase.

 

According to police, the man was beaten to death.

4:09 PM

Amit Shah stresses on more forensic science labs amid internal security challenges

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said there are challenges like narcotics, arms smuggling, fake notes and infiltration before the country's internal security, but a lot of things can be done and conviction rate in crime cases can be increased with the help of forensic science laboratories (FSLs), PTI reported.

 

He said there is a need to expand the capacity building for forensic science in the country so as to raise the conviction rate in crime cases.

 

Shah on Sunday visited the Central Forensic Science Laboratory at Talegaon in Maharashtra's Pune district, where he inaugurated a new campus of the facility. He also visited a unit of the National Disaster Response Force where he interacted with the NDRF personnel and had lunch with the force's jawans.

3:55 PM

Pakistan is hell-bent to disturb peace in Valley, especially in Srinagar: IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Sunday said that three Pakistani terrorists were killed in Srinagar within 33 days, which showed that Pakistan is hell-bent to disturb peace in Valley, especially in Srinagar, ANI reported.

 

"Three Pakistani terrorists killed in Srinagar within 33 days. They were involved in several terror crimes including attacks on Police/Security forces and civilian killings. It shows that Pakistan is hell-bent to disturb peace in Valley," said the IGP.

 

Earlier on Sunday, a terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Harwan area of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.

3:55 PM

Puducherry adds 6 fresh Covid-19 cases, overall tally rises to 129,315

The union territory of Puducherry reported six new coronavirus cases during the last 24 hours taking the overall tally to 1,29,315, a Department of Health official said on Sunday, PTI reported.

 

The Puducherry region registered four of the six new cases while Mahe recorded the remaining two, Director of Health G Sriramulu said in a release here.

 

The Karaikal and Yanam regions did not add any fresh cases.

3:20 PM

No new engineering colleges to open in India till 2024

India will see no new engineering college till 2024, All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE) chairman Anil Dattatraya Sahasrabudhe has said, according to IANS.

3:19 PM

Food poisoning at Foxconn's India unit triggers protest, police detain dozens

Indian police detained scores of people for blocking highways in a protest against food poisoning incident at a Foxconn India unit, which makes iPhones for Apple Inc, a police official said on Sunday, Reuters reported.

 

More than 150 employees at Foxconn's production unit in southern India were hospitalised after a bout of food poisoning at Foxconn's dormitories, where a majority of its staff lives.

 

Food poisoning sparked protests by workers and their relatives, who blocked a key Chennai-Bengaluru highway for several hours, said a police official said.