Breaking news highlights: PM Modi to inaugurate projects in UP on Dec 7

French has decided to hold off imposing stricter measures to counter a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases that has seen several hospitals announce emergency protocols as beds fill up, a government source told AFP on Monday. Read more

Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that December 7 (Tuesday) is going to be a “special day for the development trajectory of Uttar Pradesh,especially Purvanchal” as he will inaugurate projects worth R 9,600 crore at a programme in Gorakhpur.

A man aged 34, and identified as Rehan, has been held in Delhi's Bhajanpura region for allegedly raping a deaf and dumb woman (30) multiple times, ANI reported citing Delhi Police.

A total of 28 agreements/MoUs have been signed between India and Russia during the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi on Monday.

Tamil Nadu opens nine shutters of Mullaperiyar dam at night ignoring Kerala's pleas; areas downstream inundated.

Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Monday said that deliveries of Russian S-400 supplies have commenced starting this month and “will continue to happen,” according to ANI.

As many as 17 teenage students of class 10 were kept in two private schools of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh overnight for practical. Parents of two girls have submitted a complaint that the girls were intoxicated, and thereafter molested. A case has been filed against both school owners and one of them has also been held. The station house officer (SHO) of Purkaji police station has been sent to police line for not initiating action in the case. Notably, the incident happened on November 20, and the case was lodged on December 4.

India administered more than 71 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses on day 325 of the vaccination drive today, taking cumulative vaccination coverage to over 128.66 crores. More than 85% eligible population has been inoculated with first dose of Covid-19 vaccine: Union health ministry

A college in Karnataka's Mangalore has been declared containment zone after a total of nine cases of Covid-19 were found out of 173 samples. Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Rajendra KV told ANI that the samples have been sent for genomic sequencing to confirm if it's Omicron variant.

As many as two cases of Omicron Covid-19 have been detected in Mumbai, following which Maharashtra's overall tally has risen to 10. Moreover, India's cumulative tally of the new Covid-19 variant has also climbed up to 23.

Sarada Menon, who is considered to be India’s first woman psychiatrist, passed away aged 98 in her home in Chennai on Sunday. She has been a recipient of several accolades, including the Padma Bhusan in 1992 for her work in the field of mental health.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his meeting with PM Narendra Modi, says that the country perceives India as a “great power, a friendly nation, and a time-tested friend.” “The relations between our nations are growing, and I am looking into the future,” Putin added at the 21st India-Russia summit at Delhi's Hyderabad House.

During the 21st India-Russia summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that inspite of several challenges posed by Covid-19 pandemic, there has been “no change in the pace of growth of India-Russia relation.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday received Russian President Vladimir Putin at Hyderabad House in Delhi ahead of the 21st India-Russia Summit.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez to appear before the investigators in Delhi on December 8, ANI reported. This is in connection with ₹200 crore extortion case involving conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar.

Congress to send delegation constituting AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh, among three others, to Nagaland in wake of the civilian killings that led to 13 casualties. The delegation needs to submit a report to President Ram Nath Kovind in a week.

Croatia confirmed the country's first two cases of Omicron Covid-19 variant on Monday, Reuters reported citing the state health institute. Earlier in the day, Nepal also confirmed Omicron cases in the country after two people were detected with the strain.

Congress has named Ajay Maken as the chairman of screening committee ahead of Punjab elections. The committee also comprises Punjab Pradesh Congress (PPC) chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Ambika Soni has been named as the chairperson of election coordination committee, Pratap Singh Bajwa as the chairperson of manifesto committee, and Sunil Jakhar as the chairperson of the election campaign committee.

As many as three passengers, including two women, were injured when a group of unidentified gunmen fired at them when they were travelling on Patna-Jhajha MEMU train near Patna's Khusrupur railway station.

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) meeting on Covid-19 vaccine booster shots is “inconclusive,” news agency ANI reported on Monday. 'No recommendations made on booster or additional Covid-19 vaccine dose today," the report added.

As many as 15 people succumbed to dengue this year in Delhi, which is the highest in the last six years, according to government data. The capital logged a total of 8,975 dengue cases in 2021, the data revealed.

Delhi government has issued a show-cause notice to Etihad Airways for the alleged violation of Covid-19 guidelines for international arrivals at Indian airports, issued by the Centre in wake of the emergence of Omicron variant, news agency ANI reported citing an official statement.

As India and Bangladesh celebrate ‘Maitri Diwas’ on Monday, foreign secretary HV Shringla said on the occasion that more than 10 million people from East Bengal (now Bangladesh) people took refuge in India (in 1971 war). “Today, in a similar humanitarian gesture, Bangladesh hosts over a million displaced persons from across the border. India joins international community in appreciating this powerful statement,” he added.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday spoke about the civilian killings in Nagaland's Mon district that caused the death of as many as 13 civilians. He said the incident was a case of “mistaken identity” and that the situation is “under control” now. “Indian Army has given its own statement where they have regretted death of civilians and are inquiring at highest level,” he informed the House, adding that the government is keeping a close eye on developments in the northeastern state. Read more here.

As Omicron Covid-19 variant cases in India have risen to 17, president of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr JA Jayalal said that it's vital to administer vaccine booster doses to all “healthcare workers and frontline workers” to augment their immunity. “We are lacking in the area of manpower as NEET-PG counseling [is] getting delayed; PM should interfere to stop this delay,” he told ANI.