INDIA

India has confirmed three cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in infants, with two reported from Bengaluru and one from Ahmedabad. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) identified these cases during routine surveillance for respiratory viral pathogens, the Union Health Ministry stated. One of the cases involved a three-month-old female infant in Bengaluru, diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital for bronchopneumonia. The infant has since been discharged, the ministry assured. What is HMPV? Human Metapneumovirus, first identified in 2001, belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, which includes respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It primarily causes respiratory infections and presents symptoms resembling the common cold or flu, such as coughing, nasal conges...

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has confirmed two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka as part of routine surveillance for respiratory viral pathogens, the Union Health Ministry announced on Monday. A three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia was diagnosed with HMPV at Bengaluru’s Baptist Hospital and has since been discharged. Similarly, an eight-month-old male infant, also with a history of bronchopneumonia, tested positive for the virus on January 3 at the same hospital and is currently recovering, the ministry reported. The ministry highlighted that neither of the infants had any history of international travel. It emphasized that HMPV, which is already in global circulation, has been linked to respiratory illnesses in multipl...

A 29-year-old Muslim man, identified as Shahe Din, was lynched by a mob in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad district early on Monday, following allegations of cow slaughter. The incident occurred around 3:30 am at the Mandi Samiti premises, where Din was reportedly caught by unidentified individuals while allegedly slaughtering a cow, according to the police. Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Ran Vijay Singh stated that eyewitnesses claimed Din was accompanied by three others, who managed to flee when locals arrived at the scene. A cow carcass was also discovered at the location. The mob reportedly beat Din with batons and rods before police arrived. He was rescued and taken to a hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries at 12:30 am on Tuesday. The police have registered ...

Delhi Police has arrested a 23-year-old man, Tushar Bisht, who allegedly scammed over 700 women on dating apps by posing as a US-based model. The cyber police of West district apprehended him for exploiting platforms like Bumble and Snapchat to lure victims, blackmail them using private photos and videos, and extort money, according to a police statement. Bisht created fake profiles using a virtual international mobile number and photos of a Brazilian model to connect with women aged between 18 and 30. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vichitra Veer stated that Bisht gained trust through conversations and convinced women to share intimate content, which he later used for blackmail, threatening to leak it online or sell it on the dark web unless they paid The investigation revea...

Two teachers from Kashmir have been selected for the prestigious National Award for their outstanding contributions to education. According to a report by Daily Excelsior, Rehana Kaunsar, Head Teacher at Government Boys Middle School Yarikalan in Chadoora, Budgam, and Javed Ahmad Banday, Principal of Boys Higher Secondary School in Beerwah, will be honored at a national event in New Delhi. The awards will be conferred during the National School Leadership Conference (NSLC), organized by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA). The conference is scheduled to take place from January 8 to 10, celebrating exceptional leadership and innovation in the education sector.

BJP legislator Engineer Shailendra from Bihar's Bihpur constituency has labeled Muslims as harmful to the nation, sparking widespread condemnation. Speaking at a public gathering on Sunday, Shailendra accused the Muslim community of creating disorder and posing a threat to national security. He openly declared his unwillingness to seek votes from Muslims, stating, "We don’t want Muslim votes. There’s nothing wrong with standing firm on this statement." Shailendra further escalated tensions by making provocative claims linking Muslims to terrorism and violence. "Who creates disorder in the country? Who opposes Sanatan Dharma? Who are the terrorists? Why are temple remnants found in mosques?" he questioned, alleging that Muslims were complicit in acts of unrest and violence. A...

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during the launch of the book 'J&K and Ladakh Through the Ages' on January 2, 2025, said that Kashmir has been named after the ancient sage Kashyap. As per a report by News9, Shah highlighted the cultural and historical significance of Kashmir, mentioning its association with the Silk Route, Shankaracharya Temple, and Hemis Monastery. He remarked that Kashmir laid the foundation for Indian culture, with its flourishing Sufi, Buddhist, and rock monasteries. However, this proposal has ignited political debates across the country. Amit Shah emphasized the government's commitment to preserving the region’s linguistic diversity, mentioning the recognition of Kashmiri, Dogri, Balti, and Jhanskari languages. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ...

A 30-year-old Indian man crossed over illegally into Pakistan to meet a Facebook friend he wanted to marry, but instead found himself behind bars. The woman told the local police she does not want to tie the knot. Badal Babu from the Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh was arrested last week in the Mandi Bahauddin district of Pakistan's Punjab province (some 240 kms from Lahore) for illegal border crossing. Babu attempted to cross the border illegally to meet the Facebook friend with whom he wanted to marry. Police have recorded the statement of Babu's Facebook friend Sana Rani, 21, who said she wasn't interested in marrying him. "In her statement to police, Sana Rani says that Babu and she have been friends on Facebook for the last two-and-a-half years. But she is not interes...

The year 2024 has been officially recorded as the warmest year in India since 1901, with the average minimum temperature rising 0.90°C above the long-term average. According to Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the annual mean land surface air temperature in 2024 was 0.65°C higher than the average recorded during the 1991–2020 period. This surpasses 2016, which had previously held the record with a mean temperature 0.54°C above normal. Globally, the European climate agency Copernicus reported that 2024 likely ended as the warmest year on record and marked the first year where the global average temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. A review by climate research groups World Weather Attribution and Climate Centr...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate five new train services connecting Delhi to the Kashmir Valley in January. The new trains will be equipped with heating systems to address the cold weather in the region The inauguration is set to take place virtually on January 6 from New Delhi. Railway officials confirmed that the new services will include advanced technology to ensure smooth operations in difficult weather conditions, such as extreme cold and snowfall. Details regarding the schedule, stops, and ticket bookings are expected to be announced soon by the Railway Ministry. The services are part of the ongoing Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBL) project, which aims to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country. This semi-high-speed train will be the fir...