The government on Friday said it spent Rs 44 crore in assisting Indian citizens abroad in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said the amount has been spent from the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF).

As many as 101 positive cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus have been detected across 11 states and union territories so far, the government said on Friday and advised people to keep new year celebrations at low intensity.

 The BJP Friday formally announced that it will contest the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab in alliance with Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress. Singh on Friday called on the BJP's Punjab incharge and Union minister Gajendra Shekhawat at his residence here.

New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and fellow Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anoop Chandra Pandey recently held an "informal interaction" with the Prime Minister's Office to bridge gaps in understanding of key electoral reforms between the poll panel and the Law Ministry, with EC sources insisting on Friday that the question of propriety does not arise in doing so.

Thane: A woman living in a housing complex in Navi Mumbai has alleged that the management committee of her residential society has imposed a fine of over Rs 8 lakh on her for feeding stray dogs inside the premises.

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced 'Tamil Thaai Vazhthu,' an invocation sung in praise of Mother Tamil, as the State Song and directed that all present during its rendition should remain standing, indicating it was being given an Anthem status.

Belagavi: Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Friday accused the ruling BJP in Karnataka of trying to divert the attention of the people from real issues by bringing in emotive ones like "Love Jihad, Anti Conversion" with an aim to implementing its "hidden agenda".

Tezpur/Guwahati: A 55-year old woman, declared an 'Indian' and then a foreigner by a Foreigners Tribunal in Assam within a span of less than five years, walked out of Tezpur Central Jail on Thursday following a directive of the Gauhati High Court.