Indian Sub-continent

Dehradun, Jan 17 (PTI) In a shot in the arm for the BJP ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in Uttarakhand, Pradesh Mahila Congress president Sarita Arya on Monday joined the saffron party.

The former Nainital MLA joined the BJP at its state headquarters here in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Pradesh party president Madan Kaushik and other leaders.

Arya was keen on a ticket from Nainital constituency but was doubtful about the Congress fielding her.

New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) COVID-19 inoculation guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry do not envisage forcible vaccination without obtaining the consent of an individual, the Centre has told the Supreme Court.

The Health Ministry in an affidavit filed before the top court submitted that India's vaccination programme is the largest in the world and as on January 11, 2022, a total of 1,529,543,602 doses have been administered.

Mumbai, Jan 16 (PTI) The Shiv Sena will contest 10-15 seats in the next month's Goa Assembly elections, party leader Sanjay Raut said on Sunday and stressed that the Maharashtra-based outfit will field common men as its nominees.

Responding to a question on whether the Sena will contest the polls in Goa along with the NCP, its alliance partner in the Maharashtra government, Raut said, We will also go. Their (NCP) leaders are coming to Goa.

We will contest 10-15 seats in Goa, he added.

Jaipur, Jan 16 (PTI) A 31-year old woman allegedly hanged herself to death over torture by her husband and in-laws in Ajmer, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place Saturday night, they said.

According to a suicide note left behind by the woman, she was harassed by her husband, who is living in Germany, and his parents staying in Ajmer's Kishangarh area.

New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the BJP's politics of "hatred" is very harmful for the country and is also responsible for unemployment.

The former Congress chief said this a day after he attacked the BJP government by putting out an online quiz

"I also believe that the hate politics of the BJP is very harmful for the country. And this hatred is also responsible for the unemployment," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

Jaipur, Jan 16 (PTI) Markets in Rajasthan remained closed on Sunday due to the curfew imposed by the state government in view of containing the spread of COVID-19.

However, stores selling milk, vegetables, perishable food items, dairy products and emergency services were exempted.

In the wake of a surge in COVID-

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 (NNN-PTI) – India’s overall exports in Dec, 2021, stood at 57.87 billion U.S. dollars, up by 25.05 percent year on year, data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, yesterday, showed.

Overall imports in Dec, 2021, stood at 72.35 billion dollars, compared to 54.05 billion dollars in Dec, 2020, according to a statement issued by the ministry.

Jan 15 (Reuters) - Following are reactions to India's Virat Kohli stepping down as the captain of the test team after seven years on Saturday.

INDIAN CRICKET BOARD (BCCI)

"BCCI congratulates #TeamIndia captain @imVkohli for his admirable leadership qualities that took the test team to unprecedented heights. He led India in 68 matches and has been the most successful captain with 40 wins."

BCCI SECRETARY JAY SHAH

15 Jan 2022; MEMO: A meeting to discuss reconciliation between the Taliban and the National Resistance Front (NRF), led by Ahmad Massoud, ended without progress, AFP reported on Friday.

The NRF is the only opposition to the Taliban. Its leader is the son of late prominent Mujahideen commander who fought against the occupation of the Soviet Union, Ahmad Shah Massoud. Its stronghold is Panjshir.

New Delhi, Jan 15 (PTI) India registered 2,68,833 new Covid infections in a day taking the tally to 36,850,962, which includes 6,041 Omicron variant cases, according to the Union Health Ministry data on Saturday.

With 402 more deaths, the number of people who have succumbed to the viral disease has risen to 485,752. The case fatality rate was 1.32 per cent.

A total of 6,041 Omicron cases has been detected so far, an increase of 5.01 per cent since Friday, the data updated at 8 am showed.