A suspected case of monkeypox, the first in India, has been reported from Kerala, the state health minister said on Thursday. A traveller who arrived in Kerala three days ago from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was hospitalised after he displayed symptoms of monkeypox. Samples from the traveller have been sent for testing to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, health minister Veena George said today adding that the case can be confirmed only after the results of the test are obtained. Human monkeypox was first identified in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a 9

The government announced on Wednesday that citizens above 18 years of age will be given booster doses free of cost from July 15 for the next 75 days as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal. The facility will be available at all government centres. "India is celebrating 75 years of independence. On the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Kaal, it has been decided that from 15th July 2022 till the next 75 days, citizens above 18 years of age will be given booster doses free of cost," Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told the media here. India's COVID-19

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced a comprehensive enquiry into the irregularities in the post-matric scholarship scheme. "My government is committed for ensuring that oil and truth comes out in this scheme so that embezzlers are punished as per the law," said the Chief Minister. According to Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Mann assured the people of Punjab that this enquiry will be a bear thread analysis to ascertain every lapse and embezzlement of the public money under the post-matric scholarship scheme. He said that these discrepancies are an intolerable crime again

The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has appointed Rajya Sabha Member Raghav Chadha as Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the state government. Disclosing this here a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that the Chief Minister cleared the file to this regard here on Monday. An alumni of top educational institutes across the globe like Modern School, Barakhamba and London School of Economics, Raghav Chadha is a Chartered Accountant by profession. He has the distinction of having worked with some of the biggest corporate firms in the world. The young politica

Thirty-one students tested positive for COVID-19 in a government school in Theni district on Friday. According to the District Education Department, the cases have been reported from Theni Government Secondary School, Andipatti. Besides 31 students, 10 parents also tested positive for COVID-19. The District Education Department has temporarily closed the school. The health department said students and parents from the school have been asked to isolate themselves. The health department is in process of contact tracing. The school has been sanitised by the district health officials. Tamil Nadu

As the situation in Amarnath yatra became critical after a cloudburst struck the area near the holy shrine with at least 10 dead, the pilgrimage's suspended till the situation returns to normal, informed the officials on Friday. "Situation is under control, rains are still going on. Looking at the hazard level, the Amarnath Yatra has been halted temporarily due to the area being inundated. If the weather remains normal and makeshift arrangements are made, then the yatra can be resumed tomorrow," said ITBP spokesperson PRO Vivek Kumar Pandey. The Disaster Management Authority of Jammu and Kash

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday predicted heavy rains in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh during the next two days till July 10. From July 8 to July 10, heavy (64.5 to 114.5 mm) to very heavy rainfall (115.6 to 204.4 mm) is expected to lash Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Ropar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and several other cities of Punjab are likely to witness heavy showers between July 9 and July 10. Many cities in Haryana are also likely to witness a torrential downpour. Farmers are being advised to undertake mea

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Varanasi to participate in the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam, on Thursday interacted with school children and encouraged them to develop their talents. Prime Minister listened to the bhajans performed by the children. He also sang bhajan with the children. Children beat drums, recited poems and performed yoga. Prime Minister hailed the talents of the children. He asked the children, "Aap sab lok safai karte hain? Haat dhote hain? Exercise kartein hain?" The children responded, "yes sir". PM Modi then encouraged them and said, "Sabash! bahaut baha

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann tied the knot with Dr Gurpreet Kaur on Thursday in a traditional Sikh 'Anand Karaj' wedding ceremony. Among the attendees of the low-key intimate wedding were Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chaddha. Though few details were available of the CM's private wedding, Raghav Chadha shared some pictures when the celebrations commenced. On this auspicious occasion, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal performed the rites of Bhagwant Mann's father. Mr Mann, 48 was divorced from his first wife almost six years back. His former wife Inderpreet