Breaking News: Maharashtra logs over 43,000 new Covid-19 cases, 19 deaths

The BJP's West Bengal unit wrote to the State Election Commissioner (SEC) demanding for the municipality elections to be postponed by a month due to the rising Covid-19 cases in the state, reports ANI. 

Health officials in Tamil Nadu said that one person lost his life and in total, 80 people were injured following the ‘Jallikattu’  competition – a popular bull taming sport – in Avaniyapuram area of Madurai district, reports ANI. The injured included 38 bull tamers, 24 bull owners, and 18 spectators.

Maharashtra reported 238 new cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, taking the state's tally so far to 1,605. Also 859 people have been discharged so far. 

Pune City added 197 cases while 32 were from Pimpri-Chinchwad and three each from Pune Rural and Navi Mumbai. Two cases were from Mumbai and one was from Akola.

Maharashtra logged 43,211 new Covid-19 cases and 19 deaths as the state's total caseload reached 7,124,278 and the death toll climbed to 141,756. 

Indian Railways redesignated the post of "Guard" as "Train Manager" with immediate effect.

Congress leader Harish Rawat said that discussion was held on 70 seats and almost all names were finalised for the state assembly elections, reports ANI. “Tomorrow we'll present the names before Central Election Committee (CEC),” he said. 

NATO to sign deal on enhanced cyber cooperation with Ukraine after cyberattack, reports AFP. 

Karnataka logged 28,723 new Covid-19 cases and 14 deaths in the last 24 hours and of the new cases 20,121 were reported from Bengaluru Urban district.

The daily positivity rate in the state stood at 12.98% and the active caseload reached 141,337.

The daily Covid-19 tally in Mumbai saw a slight dip after 11,317 people tested positive on the day. Also nine more people succumbed to the illness. The active caseload also declined and was recorded at 84,352.

The preliminary findings from the Tri-Services Court of Inquiry into the Mi-17 V5 accident on 08 Dec 21, in which CDS General Bipin Rawat and few others were killed, has ruled out mechanical failure, sabotage or negligence as a cause of the accident. 

Further, the probe also found, the crash was a result of entry into clouds due to unexpected change in weather conditions in the valley. This led to spatial disorientation of the pilot resulting in Controlled Flight into Terrain.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) briefed the observers deployed for the upcoming state assembly elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, reports ANI.

“Officers drawn from IAS, IPS, IRS and other account services are deployed as General, Police & Expenditure Observers. CEC Sushil Chandra directed all 3 Observers to work in coordination with Enforcement Agencies and ensure the conduct of free, fair, transparent and safe elections,” the ECI said. 

With 24,383 new Covid-19 cases and 34 deaths in the last 24 hours, the total caseload in Delhi reached 1,670,966 and the death toll climbed to 25,305. 

The active caseload jumps to 92,273. 

The Union health ministry said that Covid-19 with mild symptoms or asymptomatic are eligible for home isolation while those above 60 years of age and those with comorbidities will be allowed home isolation after medical evaluation.  

Following the surge in Covid-19 cases in Kerala , the state government suspended offline classes for up to class 9, reports ANI citing the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). 

“In order to enhance the safety of the occupants in motor vehicles carrying upto 8 passengers, I have now approved a Draft GSR Notification to make a minimum of 6 Airbags compulsory,” Union minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted. 

Australia agreed to delay Novak Djokovic's deportation, reports news agency AFP citing his lawyer. 

Shweta Singh and Mayank, accused in the ‘Bulli Bai’ app case, have been sent to a 14-day judicial custody by court, reports ANI citing Mayank's lawyer Sandeep Sherkhane.

'Bulli Bai' app case accused Shweta Singh's and Mayank's Police custody ends. Shweta was produced before the court while Mayank could not be due to testing positive for Covid-19, the Mumbai Police said, reports ANI. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet with startups virtually on January 15 (Saturday) at 10.30am, reports ANI citing the PMO. 

The startup will make presentations before the PM on six themes including Growing from Roots; Nudging the DNA; From Local to Global.

The Indian Railways said that five out of the nine people dead in the Bikaner-Guwahati train mishap have been identified and their families were given ₹5 lakh each, reports ANI. 

“We have also given ₹1 lakh each to the 10 grievously injured persons and ₹25,000 each given to 26 minor injured,” said Rajiv Jain, ADG PR, Indian Railways.

Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia said that the BJP does not want Aam Aadmi Party's 'Desh ka Mentor' program to continue, reports ANI.

"So they used NCPCR to stop this program on a complaint by a BJP worker from Chhattisgarh, who said it is a "threat" to a child's safety," he said.

An IED was found in the bag, NSG experts will verify and tell what kind of explosive materials are there in it, confirms Joint commissioner of police (eastern range) Sagar Preet Hooda.

UP minister Swami Prasad Maurya, rebel BJP MLAs Dharm Singh Saini and others join Samajwadi Party in presence of Akhilesh Yadav.

All government and private schools will remain closed for students of classes 1-12 between Jan 15 and Jan 31. All political and religious gatherings and fairs will be banned. No ban on Makar Sankranti 'snan', announced Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Ukraine reports massive cyber attack on government websites.