Highlights: Gym owner shot at in East Delhi

Mahendra Agarwal, owner of Energie gym in east Delhi, was shot at by three men after barging into his office.

Almost three years after officials announced the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Indonesia, the country's leader said on Friday they are lifting all coronavirus-related restrictions nationwide, PTI reported.

Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who had resigned from the party amid high drama four months ago, is likely to return, ANI reported. The talks between Azad and the Congress have also been initiated.

The Customs Department in Mumbai has destroyed more than 140 kilograms of narcotic drugs worth ₹538 crore seized from the city international airport and other places.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday said that it is in touch with the Uzbek authorities about the reported deaths of 18 children after consuming contaminated cough syrup made by Noida-based Marion Biotech.

A Chinese woman staying in Bihar’s Gaya has been deported to her embassy in New Delhi and she will be subsequently deported to her country for violating visa rules, police said on Friday. The Gaya police have also lodged a first information report (FIR) against the Ashish International Guest House, where she was staying, for the violation of the Foreigners Act.

Delhi bans non-essential construction, demolition work to prevent air quality from worsening, reports PTI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief after India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant met with an accident while driving back on the Delhi-Dehradun highway on Friday morning. "Distressed by the accident of noted cricketer Rishabh Pant. I pray for his good health and well-being. @RishabhPant17," tweeted PM Modi.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin has accused the BJP-led Union Government of trying to usurp the rights guaranteed to state governments and also assume the subjects in the Concurrent list to be their own.

Alleging that many of the Union Government's actions are in contrast to the Constitutional values, Stalin accused the saffron party of making attempts to run a "parallel government" through the Governors, especially in the states that are ruled by non-BJP dispensations.

"The behaviour and approach of 'appointed' Governors trying to control 'duly elected' governments amounts to mockery of our constitution," Stalin told PTI in an exclusive interview.

Bihar BJP vice president and former MLA Rajeev Ranjan has been suspended from the party for the next six years, ANI reported.

In TV actor Tunisha Sharma death case, Vasai Court has sent accused Shizan to police custody till tomorrow.

The Indian maker of a cough syrup that was linked to the death of 19 children in Uzbekistan halted production of all medicines after an inspection by the drug regulator, Union health minister said on Friday.

PM Modi flagged off Vande Bharat Express connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri, in West Bengal, via video conferencing. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other leaders were present at the event in Howrah.

“As a mark of respect for the departed soul, we are postponing the press conference and release of our response on the issue of breach of security of #BharatJodoYatra, for tomorrow,” Pawan Khera, Congress's media and publicity department in-charge, tweeted.

“Cricketer Rishabh Pant met with an accident near Roorkee today. He is being taken to Dehradun for further treatment. All the healthcare facilities will be taken care of. We pray for his speedy recovery,” ANI quoted Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami as saying.

BSE 30-share Sensex surged 110 points to 61,244 while NSE Nifty50 went up 30 points to 18,221.30 level at 9.20 am in the morning. Some of the most active stocks on BSE that went up were Eureka Forbes, Maharashtra Bank, Craftsman and HG Infra on Friday morning while Timken, Eicher Motor, Hawkin Cook, National Standard (India) and Carborundum Universal were the laggards on the index.

India cricketer Rishabh Pant suffered injuries in car accident on Friday morning, reported PTI. Haridwar police said the cricketer suffered serious injuries in his right leg and head in the accident that took place around 5.30 am in the car accident near Narsan in Haridwar. The cricketer, who was initially admitted to a Roorkee hospital, has been referred to Max Hospital, Dehradun, the police said.

“PM @narendramodi will join today’s scheduled programmes in West Bengal via video conferencing. These programmes include the launch of key connectivity related projects and the meeting of the National Ganga Council,” Prime Minister's Office said.

Chinese state-media said Covid testing requirements imposed by several places around the world in response to a surging wave of infections were "discriminatory", in the clearest pushback yet against restrictions that are slowing down its re-opening.

China reported one new Covid-19 death in the mainland for Dec. 29, compared with one death a day earlier, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Heeraben Modi passed away early Friday morning.