No need to fear from Omicron, says PM Modi; India vs South Africa 1st Test begins today - check top news headlines
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From a sudden Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar clearing air over farm laws again, scroll down to read top news headlines.
COVID-19 vaccines for teens, 'precaution dose' for people above 60, announces PM Narendra Modi
In a sudden address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged everyone to not panic amid the spread of the Omicron variant and asked them to be careful and alert.
He also announced that vaccination against COVID-19 for children between 15-18 years will start from January 3, while "precaution dose" for healthcare and frontline workers would be administered from January 10.
The PM informed that India has 18 lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen supported beds, 1.40 lakh ICU beds and 90,000 special beds for children. Click to watch PM's address
Will not bring back farm laws, says Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday clarified that the Centre will not reintroduce farm laws in an amended form. The clarification from Tomar came after Congress alleged that the Centre is planning to bring back the three farm laws (that have now been repealed) with amendments after the assembly elections in five states.
"I did not say this," he replied when asked about his statement at an event on Friday in which, while talking about the (now repealed) farm laws, he had said the government has moved a "step back" and "will move forward again". Read more
Covaxin gets emergency usage nod for kids above 12
The Drugs Controller General of India on Saturday gave Bharat Biotech's Covaxin an emergency usage approval for kids aged between 12-18 years.
The Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer said that its anti-COVID vaccine has a proven record for safety and efficacy from all the variants of coronavirus.
Priyanka Chopra defends length of her role in 'Matrix Resurrections'
Priyanka Chopra has said that people who trivialise her role in “The Matrix Resurrections” on the basis of her screen time in the film have a “myopic” and “small mentality”.
Chopra, who stars as Sati in the Lana Wachowski-directed movie alongside Keanu Reeves, said she did the role because "it’s The Matrix and I play an extremely pivotal part". Read more
