LIVE: Children aged 15-18, frontline workers to get vaccine shots, says PM

In his address to the nation, PM Modi said that frontline health workers will be given supplementary dose from Jan 10

10:07 AM

Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem without foreign tourists, pilgrims

Palestinian tourists and pilgrims gathered at the square near the Church of Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, marking the beginning of Christmas celebrations in an atmosphere of joy and bliss.

Hundreds of local merrymakers, including tourists and pilgrims, flocked to the famous Manger Square, where a giant Christmas tree was put up, taking selfies next to it, reports Xinhua news agency.

Some of the women wore traditional Palestinian garments, while the children wore new dresses. Red, which is the color of the Santa Claus' suit, dominated the scene at the square.

10:06 AM

Uttarakhand CM reviews preparedness against COVID-19 Omicron variant

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday reviewed preparedness against the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant at a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat.

 

The Chief Minister had asked all the officials of the health department to visit the districts and take stock of the situation in this regard.

 

The Chief Minister has also directed to organize a high-level meeting on December 31 after reviewing the districts in this regard. Along with this, the officers have also been instructed to review the situation continuously.

10:05 AM

COVID-19 makes Biden's 1st White House Christmas less merry

So long eggnog, shrimp cocktail and pet-shaped sugar cookies.

It's been a less merry holiday scene at the White House this year under COVID-19's shadow. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden have replaced the packed parties and overflowing buffet tables of the past with food-free open houses, face masks and testing for the unvaccinated.

Beyond the impact on Biden's first Christmas in office, the virus and its variants largely put the kibosh on the entire White House social scene for 2021, starting with an inauguration that positioned flags in place of people on the National Mall.

9:54 AM

Harbhajan's zeal to perform always stood out: BCCI secretary Jay Shah

Board of Control for Cricket in India's secretary Jay Shah congratulated ace spinner Harbhajan Singh on a wonderful career, saying his zeal to perform under pressure situations always stood out.

Harbhajan had announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Friday. The 41-year-old spinner has played 103 Tests, 236 ODIs and 28 T20Is for Men in Blue. He scalped 294 wickets in limited-overs cricket.

"Harbhajan Singh has had a phenomenal career with Team India. He has been a part of many memorable victories both at home and away. He played his cricket with grit and passion and wore his heart on his sleeve. His fighting spirit and his zeal to perform for India when the team was under pressure is something that always stood out. His presence on the field lifted everyone's morale," said Jay Shah in an official BCCI release.

9:51 AM

Modi, Rajnath Singh extend Christmas greetings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday greeted the nation on the occasion of Christmas.

Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said: "Christmas greetings to everyone! We recall the life and noble teachings of Jesus Christ, which placed topmost emphasis on service, kindness and humility. May everyone be healthy and prosperous. May there be harmony all around."

Wishing for "peace and harmony", Rajnath Singh tweeted: "Merry Christmas. May the virtues of kindness, peace, love and harmony always prevail. Merry Christmas."

9:29 AM

Omicron scare: Tripura likely to impose fresh COVID curbs on New Year

Tripura government is contemplating imposing fresh curbs on New Year in view of the threat of Omicron transmission in the region.

 

The decision has been taken in the wake of the Centre's directives to the States to ramp up surveillance.

 

Although not a single case of Omicron has been detected in Tripura, the state government has decided to install a machine for genome sequencing in the state to fast track its efforts in containing the spread of the new variant of COVID-19, which was first detected in South Africa.

9:04 AM

Thailand records 1st cluster of Omicron variant of Covid-19

Thailand reported its first cluster of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in the northeastern Kalasin province, health officials said on Friday.

 

According to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), there are 22 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant linked to the Kalasin cluster, Xinhua news agency reported.

 

The index case of the latest cluster was believed to be a couple who travelled from Belgium through Thailand's quarantine free scheme and tested positive with the Omicron variant earlier this month, CCSA spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangsan said

9:04 AM

PM Modi pays tributes to Vajpayee on his birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to former prime minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary.

Born in Gwalior in 1924, Vajpayee was the face of the BJP for decades and was the first non-Congress prime minister to have served a full term in office.

Modi tweeted, "Remembering Atal Ji on his Jayanti. We are inspired by his rich service to the nation. He devoted his life towards making India strong and developed. His development initiatives positively impacted millions of Indians.

8:46 AM

Global Covid caseload tops 278.8 mn

The global coronavirus caseload has topped 278.8 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.39 million and vaccinations to over 8.88 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on Saturday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and the death toll stood at 278,865,910 and 5,392,020, respectively, while the total number of vaccine doses administered has increased to 8,888,931,499.

The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 51,962,786 and 816,362, according to the CSSE.

8:31 AM

Australia’s Biggest State Hits Covid-19 Record on Christmas Day

Australia’s two most populous states reported a surge in Covid-19 infections, with New South Wales registering the most new cases in a 24-hour period since the start of the pandemic. 

 

In New South Wales, where Sydney is the capital, 6,288 cases were reported on Christmas morning. Some 383 people are currently hospitalized with the virus in the state. Further south, Victoria recorded about a third of the number with 2,208 new infections. Active case numbers in intensive care declined in both states. 

 

With about 91% of people 16 years and over double-dosed, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said lockdowns are no longer necessary. Delivering his annual Christmas message, the leader urged the nation to “overcome and to push through.”

7:59 AM

Thousands of flights canceled globally as Omicron mars Christmas weekend

Commercial airlines around the world canceled more than 4,500 flights over the Christmas weekend, as a mounting wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the Omicron variant created greater uncertainty and misery for holiday travelers.

 

Airline carriers globally scrapped at least 2,401 flights on Friday, which fell on Christmas Eve and is typically a heavy day for air travel, according to a running tally on the flight-tracking website FlightAware.com. Nearly 10,000 more flights were delayed.

7:40 AM

Uttarakhand Minister Harak Singh Rawat likely to return to Congress

Uttarakhand Minister Harak Singh Rawat is in touch with Congress and is likely to join the party, said sources in the party.

 

According to sources in Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader has had several meetings with Congress MLA Pritam Singh in the recent past.

 

Notably, Rawat was a candidate of Congress from Garhwal in the 2014 general election.

7:40 AM

Death toll from heavy flooding in Malaysia climbs to 41

The death toll from heavy seasonal floods in Malaysia has risen to 41, with eight people still missing, the police said on Friday.

 

It was previously reported that 27 people were killed in the floods. At present, there are 26 men, 13 women and two children killed in the floods.

 

"Of the 41 deaths, 25 were reported in Selangor, 15 in Pahang and one man in Kelantan," Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah

7:39 AM

Indian-origin judge appointed to S Africa's highest judicial bench

Narandran 'Jody' Kollapen, who is Indian origin, has been appointed to South Africa's highest judicial bench, the Constitutional Court.

 

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday announced the appointment of 64-year-old Kollapen and Rammaka Steven Mathopo as the latest additions to the Constitutional Court after a lengthy process of public interviews.

 

Kollapen and Mathopo were among the five candidates recommended to Ramaphosa in October this year for the two vacancies.

7:39 AM

UK reports more than 120,000 daily coronavirus cases for first time

Britain has reported another 122,186 coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, exceeding 120,000 daily cases for the first time since of the start of the pandemic, according to official figures released Friday.

 

It brought the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 11,891,292.

 

The country also reported a further 137 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 147,857, with 8,240 COVID-19 patients still in hospital.