Latest news today (December 17): Presenting FE’s Breaking News today. We will keep you updated on all major news, views and much more throughout the day.
Covid in Kerala: K’taka Health Minister rules out movement restriction on border
Amid rising cases of COVID in Kerala including the detection of one case of subvariant JN.1, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao ruled out the need to restrict movement on the border at present adding that the government has ensured all precautionary measures. In response to the rising COVID cases in Kerala, Minister Rao addressed concerns, stating, “Right now, I do not think we should panic, but we will keep an extra vigil.”
Uttar Pradesh becomes second-largest economy in India
Uttar Pradesh has become India’s second-largest economy, a major achievement for the government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. A report by prominent online blogging platform soic.in, which keeps track of investments and the stock market, revealed that UP is the second largest state in the country in GDP share after Maharashtra, highlighting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s efforts to make Uttar Pradesh the leading state in terms of economy.
CRPF sub-inspector killed, constable injured in encounter with Naxalites
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sub-inspector was killed and a constable was injured in an encounter between security personnel and Naxalites in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Sunday, according to police. With this incident, three security personnel have been killed and seven others have been injured in separate Naxal incidents in the state’s Bastar division this month.
Nine people killed in blast at explosives manufacturing factory in Nagpur
Nine people were killed in a blast at an explosives manufacturing factory in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district on Sunday, police said. The blast took place at 9 am in a cast booster unit of the Solar Industries in Bazaargaon area, a senior police official told PTI. Nine people were killed, he said. The explosives used in the coal mining blast were manufactured at the factory, as per sources. (PTI)
Japan and ASEAN bolster ties at summit focused on security, economy
Leaders from Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, at a special summit on Sunday marking their 50th anniversary of friendship, adopted a joint vision that emphasizes security and economic cooperation while respecting the rule of law amid growing tensions with China in regional seas. The leaders, in a joint statement, called for strengthening their “mutually beneficial” partnership and working together for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
PM Modi inaugurates new terminal building of Surat airport
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the new terminal building of Surat airport in Gujarat. The new integrated terminal building at the airport is equipped to handle 1,200 domestic passengers and 600 international passengers during peak hours. It has a provision for further increasing the peak hour capacity to 3,000 passengers with the annual handling capacity increasing to 55 lakh passengers, as per an official statement. (READ MORE)
TN CM Stalin launches flood relief of Rs 6,000 to affected families
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday launched the distribution of Rs 6,000 cash assistance to families affected by cyclone Michaung induced rains and flood. Stalin gave away the cash dole to women heads of families at Velachery, one of the badly affected areas due to heavy inundation, marking the launch of disbursal of flood relief to people in Chennai and nearby areas falling under the districts of Chengelpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur.