'SECURITY BREACH': PM BRIEFS PRESIDENT; MINISTER SAYS MHA WILL TAKE 'TOUGH DECISIONS'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday briefed President Ram Nath Kovind on the "security breach" that stalled his Punjab visit and the government indicated that some “big and tough decisions” will be taken after the Union Home Ministry gathers information. Union minister Anurag Thakur indicated that the Home Ministry will act on the security breach.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi claimed that what happened in Ferozepur wasn’t a security threat but a “gimmick” aimed at imposing President’s Rule on the state.

The BJP and the Congress continued to spar over the issue. From Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, political leaders weighed in on the controversy, largely following their party line.

On Thursday, Punjab government constituted a two-member committee to conduct a “thorough probe” into the incident. The panel of retired Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Principal Secretary, Home Affairs and Justice, Anurag Verma will submit its report on the “lapses” in three days.

INDIA TURNS DOWN PAK PROPOSAL FOR SAARC SUMMIT

India has rejected Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's proposal for a SAARC summit in Islamabad on grounds that ``there has been no material change in the situation’’ since the 18th gathering of eight South Asian leaders in Kathmandu in 2014…..Therefore there is still no consensus that would permit the holding of the summit,’’ said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi when asked to respond to Qureshi’s observations at a press conference.

The 19th SAARC summit was scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November 2016. But India announced its boycott after a terrorist attack on an army camp in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir. Subsequently, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, the Maldives and Bhutan also declined to attend the summit leading to its indefinite postponement. Qureshi had suggested that the SAARC summit be held in Islamabad and India can attend it virtually if its leaders were averse to coming to Pakistan.

Asked to confirm the possibility of holding the Republic Day parade with Presidents of five Central Asian nations in view of rising Omicron cases, Bagchi indicated that an announcement any which way will take closer to the date. The Vibrant Gujarat summit, which was to be attended by the Prime Ministers of Nepal and Russia, has already been postponed.

On the Kremlin-floated proposal for possible Russia-India-China in-person summit, the spokesperson noted that the three Foreign Ministers had held a virtual meeting on November 26. ``Beyond that, there is nothing further to add,’’ he said.

CENTRE BREAKS SILENCE ON CHINA RECENT ACTS

India on Thursday called out China for “renaming’’ of places in Arunachal Pradesh and writing “inappropriate’’ letters to Indian MPs. “We hope that instead of engaging in such antics, China will work constructively with us to resolve the outstanding friction points in areas along the Western Sector of the LAC in India-China border areas,’’ said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

Noting media reports of the Chinese side naming some places in Arunachal Pradesh last week, Bagchi said India had immediately conveyed its views on “such a ridiculous exercise to support untenable territorial claims’’. Calling Tuting as “DouDeng” or River Siyom as “XiYueMu” or even Kibithu as “Daba” does not alter the fact that Arunachal Pradesh has always been and will always remain an inalienable part of India, he added.

Commenting on the reports about a bridge being made by the Chinese side on Pangong lake, Bagchi said the Government has been monitoring this activity closely. This bridge is being constructed in areas that have been under illegal occupation by China for around 60 years now. “As you are well aware India has never accepted such illegal occupation,’’ he pointed out.

Separately, the Government has been taking all necessary steps to ensure that India’s security interests are fully protected. As part of these efforts, the Government has also, in the last seven years, increased significantly the budget for development of border infrastructure and completed more roads and bridges than ever before. These have provided much needed connectivity to the local population as well as logistical support to armed forces. “Government remains committed to this objective,’’ he said.

The MEA also took umbrage to Political Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy writing letters to Indian MPs whose substance, tone and tenor of the letter are inappropriate. “The Chinese side should note that India is a vibrant democracy and MPs, as representatives of the people, undertake activities as per their views and beliefs. We expect the Chinese side to refrain from hyping normal activities by MPs and complicate further the situation in our bilateral relations,’’ observed Bagchi.

Commenting on media reports about PLA unfurling a flag at Galwan Valley, he said this is not factually correct. Media houses in India have released pictures contradicting the claim, he said.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST 7/Jan

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Thursday 1,17,100

Active Cases 3,71,363 (+85,962)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 4,83,178 (98)

Total Vaccination: 149.66 Crores (+94,47,056)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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BIDEN RIPS INTO TRUMP IN JAN. 6 SPEECH

The US remembered January 6, 2021 insurrection on its first anniversary with dire warnings from many quarters about the future of the country and frontal attack by President Joe Biden on his predecessor Donald Trump, accusing him of subverting democracy by creating a web of lies around an election he conclusively lost. In a blistering speech delivered from the Statuary Hall in the heart of the Capitol that was overrun by a violent pro-Trump mob on January 6, Biden lit into Trump without once mentioning him by name, accusing him of rallying supporters to attack democracy and prevent a peaceful transfer of power.

“He cannot accept that he lost. . . his bruised ego matters more to him than our democracy and our constitution,” Biden said in several sharp remarks aimed at the former president, calling him a “defeated former president. ”

Accusing Trump and his mob of holding a “dagger at the throat of America and its democracy,” Biden cast the ongoing battle in an increasingly polarised America as one between democracy and autocracy. “You can’t love a country only when you win,” Biden said in a jab at the former president and his supporters who cast themselves as patriots.

Biden’s speech, striking both for the location it was made from and its strong tone, was preceded by remarks by vice president Kamala Harris, who also spoke of the danger to American democracy from Trump and his mob, comparing the January 6 insurrection to turning points in US history such as Pearl Harbor and 9/11. “If we do not defend it. . . it will falter and fail,” she warned.

Biden went on to invoke global scrutiny of developments in America and its potential fall out, saying, “We’re living at an inflection point in history. Both at home and abroad, we’re engaged in a struggle between democracy and an autocracy. . . From China to Russia and beyond, they’re betting democracy’s days are numbered. . . They’ve actually told me democracy is too slow, too bogged down by division to succeed in today’s rapidly changing complicated world. . . They’re betting America will become more like them and less like us. ” “That is not who we are. That is not who we have ever been. And that is not who we should ever, ever be,” Biden said, pledging to uphold the country’s foundational ideals.

Shut out of big-time social media, Trump lashed back in a statement, accusing Biden of using his name to further divide America. “This political theatre is all just a distraction for the fact Biden has completely and totally failed,” he said.

HEARING ON DJOKOVIC'S VISA CANCELLATION ON MONDAY

Novak Djokovic will spend at least the next 72 hours in a Melbourne hotel before the next hearing in his fight to overturn a ban on entering Australia is held on Monday. The Serbian is sequestered in a Carlton hotel room, 5 km (miles) north of Melbourne Park, after authorities cancelled his visa when he arrived in Australia late on Wednesday.

At a hearing on Thursday, representatives for the Serbian champion and for the Minister for Immigration reached agreement that no move would be made to deport the 20-time major winner before Monday's hearing in a Federal court.

The hearing will be a week before the start of the 2022 Australian Open, a tournament in which Djokovic was pressing for a 10th title in Melbourne and a record for men of 21 Grand Slam titles.

THE REST

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MUTATED OMICRON VARIANT: MILDER FOR SURE

The heavily mutated Omicron variant is smashing daily case records, but hospitalisations and deaths are fewer compared to the peaks driven by Delta last year.

The US and the world reported a record 5.85 lakh and 18.95 lakh new infections on January 5, a 14-day change of almost 250% and 165% respectively. But the respective numbers of deaths that day were around 1,300 and 6,100 — down by about 3% and 9% from 14 days ago.

A study from South Africa published in JAMA Network reported that only 41.3% of Covid-positive people visiting hospital emergency required admission during the Omicron wave as compared to 68-69% during the Delta wave. The proportion requiring oxygen therapy was 17.6% in the Omicron wave, significantly lower than the 74% in the Delta wave.

An analysis of a large volume of data from the UK Health Security Agency published in the BMJ said persons infected with Omicron were 50-70% less likely to be admitted to hospital than those infected with Delta.

In India, even though cases are rising sharply, doctors across the country say almost all patients are coming in with mild symptoms: moderate fever, sore throat, headache, bodyache, and fatigue. Some patients have diarrhoea, nausea, and dizziness.

At AIIMS in New Delhi — where, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Monday, 81% of sequenced samples were of Omicron — no patient has developed pneumonia due to Covid-19, and none has needed oxygen or ventilator support solely for the coronavirus infection. Doctors have also reported that symptoms are resolving in about four to five days at most — much sooner than the average infection with Delta.

“There are 75 Covid-19 patients admitted in the hospital; however, nearly all of them are admitted either because they are suffering from some other condition that needs hospital care, or because they are staff members who did not have space for isolation at home. There are a couple of people on ventilators but again, they were already sick with other diseases when they contracted Covid-19,” said Dr Anjan Trikha, head of the clinical management group at AIIMS trauma centre, which is a dedicated Covid-19 treatment centre. “I have not seen a single patient with pure Covid-19 pneumonia or damaged lungs as we saw during the Delta wave (of April-May 2021),” he said.

Doctors in Mumbai have reported a similar trend. “These are early days, but we haven’t seen severe cases yet. There is a very low possibility of a drop in oxygen saturation as the Omicron variant mainly affects the upper respiratory tract,” said Dr Lancelot Pinto, epidemiologist and pulmonologist at P D Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai

EC HIKES EXPENDITURE LIMITS FOR CANDIDATES AHEAD OF ASSEMBLY POLLS

The Election Commission on Thursday announced a hike in expenditure limit for candidates to Rs 95 lakh (up from Rs 70 lakh) for Lok Sabha elections, and Rs 40 lakh (up from Rs 28 lakh) for Assembly polls.

The EC had formed a committee to study cost factors and other related issues, and subsequently make suitable recommendations. The committee invited suggestions from political parties, chief electoral officers and election observers, and found that there has been a substantial increase in the number of electors and Cost Inflation Index since 2014.

Candidates in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur can now go for increased poll expenditure.

HIGH DRAMA AT AMRITSAR AIRPORT AFTER 125 PASSENGERS OF ITALY-AMRITSAR FLIGHT TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID

As many as 125 passengers out of 179, who arrived at Amritsar from Italy, tested positive yetserday. The Air India flight arrived at the airport around 11.20 am. The Covid-positive passengers were asked to quarantine in local hospital as per the guidelines of the government.

A high drama prevailed at the airport when they refused to go to government isolation centers. The passengers claimed that they had already undergone the RT-PCR test before boarding the flight.

Irked over the airport and health authorities, the passengers raised slogans against the government and demanded it to allow them to go to their homes. The relatives of the passengers too staged a protest outside the airport.

The matter was resolved after five hours, after the health authorities agreed to put them under home quarantine with certain conditions.

BULLI BAI APP CASE: DELHI POLICE ARREST ‘MASTERMIND’ FROM ASSAM’S JORHAT

An engineering student believed to be the “mastermind” and creator of the “Bulli Bai” app was arrested on Thursday from Jorhat in Assam and brought to the national capital where he confessed his role, Delhi Police said. With the arrest of Niraj Bishnoi, 21, Delhi Police said in a statement it has solved completely the case related to hundreds of Muslim women being listed for “auction” on the “Bulli Bai” app on the Github platform.

Bishnoi, a resident of Jorhat who studies computer science engineering in Bhopal, is the fourth person to be arrested for their alleged involvement in the app. The other three, nabbed by Mumbai Police, include a 19-year-old woman from Uttarakhand, also alleged to be a prime accused in the case.

A team from Mumbai was also on its way to arrest Bishnoi but got delayed because of flight schedules and its Delhi counterparts got there an hour earlier, a Mumbai Police official said. The cyber cell will seek Bishnoi’s custody later, the official said.

Giving details, Delhi Police said the “Bulli Bai” app was developed in November last year and updated in December.

Of the four people arrested in the case, three are 21 years old, two are studying engineering and one is aspiring to, and two are from Uttarakhand.                     

The three arrests made by the cyber cell of Mumbai Police are Uttarakhand teen Shweta Singh, 21-year-old Mayank Rawal, also from Uttarakhand, and Bengaluru-based Vishal Kumar Jha, a second-year engineering student like Bishnoi and aged 21 too.

RIL RAISES $4 BN IN INDIA'S LARGEST-EVER FOREIGN CURRENCY BONDS ISSUE

Reliance Industries Ltd, the nation's most valuable company, on Thursday said it has raised $4 billion (around Rs 30,000 crore) in debt through the largest ever foreign currency bond issuance by an Indian entity. The oil-to-telecom conglomerate plans to use the proceeds of the three tranche issues to retire existing borrowings.

The issue was "nearly 3 times oversubscribed with a peak order book aggregating around $11.5 billion," the company said in a statement.

This is the largest ever foreign currency bond transaction in India, eclipsing ONGC Videsh Ltd's $2.2 billion US dollar bonds issue of 2014.

Reliance raised $1.5 billion in a 10-year issue at a coupon or interest rate of 2.875 per cent, $1.75 billion in a 30-year deal at a 3.625 per cent rate and $750 million in a 40-year issue at a 3.75 per cent coupon rate.

This is the first time any BBB-rated Asian company outside of Japan has issued a 40-year dollar bond.

The bonds in 10-year, 30-year and 40-year maturities are due to repayment between 2032 and 2062.

Reliance plans to use the proceeds to retire some of the existing debt

Reliance is already a net-zero debt firm with its cash balance of Rs 2.59 lakh crore, exceeding its gross debt of Rs 2.55 lakh crore as of September 30, 2021.

FRANCE FINES GOOGLE, FB FOR COOKIES’ USE

French regulators have hit Google and Facebook with 210 million euros in fines over their use of “cookies”, the data used to track users online, authorities said on Thursday. US tech giants, including the likes of Apple and Amazon, have come under growing pressure over their businesses practices across Europe, where they have faced massive fines and plans to impose far-reaching EU rules on how they operate. The 150-millioneuro fine imposed on Google was a record by France’s National Commission for Information Technology and Freedom (CNIL), beating a previous cookie-related fine of 100 million euros against the company in December 2020. Facebook was handed a 60million-euro fine.

“CNIL has determined that the Google and Facebook do not allow users to refuse the use of cookies as simply as to accept them,” the regulatory body said. The two platforms have three months to adapt their practices, after which France will impose fines of 1,00,000 euros per day, CNIL added. Google said it would change its practices following the ruling.

ELGAR GUIDES SA TO HISTORIC VICTORY AT WANDERERS

South Africa captain Dean Elgar produced a heroic unbeaten innings of 96 runs to lead his team to a seven-wicket victory over India in the second Test at the Wanderers on Thursday.

Elgar defied a hostile Indian attack and body blows from balls that struck him on a difficult pitch to deliver a match-winning performance as he led a successful 240-run chase.

South Africa reached 243-3 near the end of a rain-restricted fourth day to level the series after India had won the first Test in Pretoria by 113 runs, with the deciding match to come in Cape Town, starting on Tuesday.

The home team were 118-2 overnight but had to wait as the first two sessions on Thursday were washed out by rain. They reached their target losing only one wicket yesterday.

Scores: India 202 & 266; South Africa 229 & 243/3;  Player Of The Match - Dean Elgar

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. - George Bernard Shaw

OFF TRACK

Police asked the thief: Why did you go to steal three times in the same store?

"Sir, I stole one dress for my wife and went to change it twice! Women u know."