LIVE News Updates: New Zealand ushers in New Year 2021 with fireworks

New Zealand is officially out of the year 2020 which was literally plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic ensuing lockdown and economic stress never felt before across the world. The country welcomed the new year with cheer and precautions through fireworks

Haryana chief minister manohar Lal Khattar said that he will quit politics if anyone tries to end MSP

Dry run will be conducted by all the State & UT governments on 2nd Jan 2021. The activity is proposed to be conducted in all State Capitals in at least 3 session sites; some States will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrain/have poor logistical support.

With the objective of gearing up for the roll-out of COVID19 vaccine across the country, the Central Government has asked all States and UTs to ensure effective preparedness for the vaccine rollout

During discussion in Kerala Assembly, I opposed certain references made in the resolution against farm laws. But I do not object to the general consensus reached by the House against the farm laws, says O Rajagopal, BJP MLA, Kerala even as the state BJP expressed shock over his support to the Assembly resolution.

The govt has not taken any official decision to impose night curfew in the coastal state, says Goa CM Pramod Sawant. Earlier the state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said that the state health department had moved a file before the govt to consider imposing night curfew.

There were a dozen terrorists active in the Jammu region, the number has reduced to three now. They are in Kishtwar district, we are tracking them: Jammu AnKashmir DGP Dilbag Singh

The CBI on Thursday carried out searches at multiple locations in West Bengal including the premises of TMC leader Vinay Mishra, considered close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee, in connection with the cattle smuggling case, officials said. The agency has also issued a look out circular against Mishra to prevent him from leaving the country, they said.

Kerala Assembly passes resolution against the three farm laws brought by the Central Government. The resolution says, 'farmers' genuine concerns should be addressed and the Centre should withdraw all three farm laws.

A total of 25 cases of mutant United Kingdom virus detected in India after genome sequencing. Four new cases found by NIV, Pune and one new case sequenced in IGIB, Delhi. All 25 persons are in physical isolation at health facilities: Union Ministry of Health

The cold wave sweeping Kashmir intensified on Thursday as the mercury fell several notches to settle well below the freezing point across the valley, officials said.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday moved a resolution in the state Assembly and attacked the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre over the three contentious central farm laws against which farmers are agitating in Delhi.

The resolution was moved in a one-hour special session convened solely to discuss the farmers' issue and express solidarity with them.

While moving the resolution demanding the immediate scrapping of the new laws, VIjayan said the country was now witnessing one of the most iconic protests ever by farmers in its history.

The central farm laws, passed in Parliament, were not only "anti-farmer" but also "pro-corporate", he alleged and said that at least 32 farmers had lost their lives in the last 35 days of the agitation.

"Legislative assemblies have the moral responsibility to take a serious view when people have anxieties about certain laws which affect their lives," he said, adding that agriculture was part of the culture of the country.

The Centre had come up with the contentious laws at a time when the agriculture sector was facing still challenges, he said, adding as a result of which the farmers were anxious they would lose even the present support price.

An explosion targeting a vehicle took place in Chehel Sutoon area in Kabul's PD7, Afghanistan today: TOLONews

The current situation makes it clear that if this agitation continues, it will seriously affect Kerala. There is no doubt that Kerala will starve if the supply of food items from other states stops: State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

India reports 21,821 new COVID-19 cases, 26,139 recoveries, and 299 deaths in last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry. Total cases: 1,02,66,674. Active cases: 2,57,656 . Total recoveries: 98,60,280. Death toll: 1,48,738

Jharkhand's COVID-19 tally climbs to 1,14,873 as 223 more people test positive, death toll rises to 1,027 with two new fatalities; active case count 1,640: Health Department official

Delhi Police Special Cell arrests gangster Sukh Bikriwal at the Delhi airport following his deportation from Dubai

A total of 17,20,49,274 samples tested for COVID-19 up to December 30. Of these, 11,27,244 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Thrissur: Three people killed after seven vehicles including lorries and cars collided at Kuthiran, today morning

Night curfew in Delhi today and tomorrow from 11 pm to 6 am amid new Covid strain fears