Commerce ministers of India and Oman have asked their negotiators to conclude talks of the proposed free trade agreement at the earliest, an official statement said on Monday. Substantively, negotiations on the text of the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) have been largely completed.

On the sidelines of the state visit of the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tarik to India on December 16, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman Qais Bin Mohammed Al Yousef, held discussions on bilateral trade and investment relations between the two countries here."The leaders exhorted their respective negotiators to conclude discussions on the remaining issues paving way for early conclusion of India-Oman CEPA negotiations and signing of the agreement," the commerce ministry said.

Hyderabad has ranked first in the country for food adulteration cases, according to the data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Telangana stands second, closely followed by Andhra Pradesh.In 2022, a total of 291 cases of food adulteration were reported across 19 major cities in India.

Surprisingly, out of these cases, a staggering 246 were reported solely in Hyderabad, signalling a concerning trend in food safety within the city. The local police in Hyderabad of three Commissionerates — Rachakonda, Hyderabad and Cyberabad — have been actively involved in combating food adulteration cases and have made several significant seizures. The seized items include adulterated finger garlic paste, ice creams, and tea powder. The authorities are taking these cases seriously and have duly registered them for further investigation.

Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Parshottam Rupala said that India must become a world leader in the field of animal husbandry with the help of population, resources, and opportunity. The Minister was addressing the inaugural session of the Animal Health Conclave in New Delhi today. Highlighting the problems faced by the animal health sector, Mr. Rupala said that government's aim is to reduce the waiting period for the vaccines for animals. He added that the institutions related to vaccination drives should prepare a roadmap and inform the government. The Minister assured that the government will provide all necessary assistance regarding vaccines.

Talking about possibilities in medicine, Mr Rupala said that along with innovation, the livestock health sector must pay attention to Unani and Ayurveda medicine options as these are economical. The Minister also highlighted the need to work on the common agenda of 'One Health', and appreciated the Prime Minister’s effort of the Mobile veterinary unit and massive vaccination drive for animal health. Mr. Rupala urged the state government officials to work on the state-centric problems of Animal health. The one-day conclave is based on shaping the animal health sector with innovative vaccines and precision diagnostics.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the two-day-long Atal Health Fair in memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the PNT Ground in Rajajipuram, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
 
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice President said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee led Lucknow and the country for a long time. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak and Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha Dr Dinesh Sharma also graced the occasion.
 
The Vice President added that today's youth is getting all the opportunities. Youth just need to take care of their health as without good health you can not perform well and achieve anything. In Amritkaal, Youth has the responsibility to always work with a nation-first approach.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday (December 17) inaugurated the Kashi Tamil Sangamam at Namo Ghat, Varanasi. First held last year, the Kashi Tamil Sangamam seeks to celebrate North and South India’s historical and civilisational connections.

“Coming from Tamil Nadu to Kashi means coming from one home of Mahadev to His other home. Coming from Tamil Nadu to Kashi means coming from the place of Madurai Meenakshi to Kashi Vishalakshi’s place,” PM Modi said in his speech during the inauguration.

We take a look at the ancient link between Kashi and Tamilakam.

The Israeli government on December 17 approved the appointment of Reuven Azar as the new Ambassador to India.

Mr. will also be serving as the non-resident Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Bhutan, a statement from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

His appointment is one of the 21 new Heads of Missions cleared by the Israeli government to assume service soon.

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, congratulating the new appointees, said they will "represent Israel and its citizens, strengthen its economy and strengthen international support for the State of Israel".

The first-ever Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) concluded in New Delhi with Haryana winning the inaugural title by securing 105 medals including 40 gold, 39 silver, and 26 bronze. KIPG 2023, which began on December 10, witnessed the participation of around 1,450 para-athletes from across the country. Uttar Pradesh came second with 62 medals including 25 gold, 23 silver, and 14 bronze, while Tamil Nadu finished third with 20 gold, eight silver, and 14 bronze medals. Athletes from 32 states and Union Territories participated in the Games.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anurag Thakur hailed the Khelo India Para Games as a celebration of human passion and spirit. He said that the games mark a historic chapter in India’s sports history, where participation eclipses mere victory. Mr. Thakur expressed his gratitude to all the para-athletes, coaches, support staff, and various stakeholders for making this edition momentous.

Hours after firing a short-range weapon from the Pyongyang area, North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile toward the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. According to the Japanese Defence Ministry, it was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with the potential capability of reaching anywhere in the US. The launch took place in the early hours today.

In response to the launches, South Korea said the launches are a grave provocation that threatens international peace. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also denounced the launches as not only a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions but also a threat to the peace and stability of the region.

The back-to-back launches came after South Korea and the US agreed to strengthen their joint nuclear deterrence capabilities in response to North Korea’s increasing nuclear threats.

In an extraordinary medical achievement, doctors in the Department of Hematology & Stem Cell Transplantation at the Army Hospital R&R have successfully conducted a life-saving Bone Marrow Transplant (commonly known as BMT) for a child diagnosed with a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder.
The groundbreaking procedure, performed on Master Sushant Paudel, has opened new doors of hope for children and families facing similar challenges.

Master Sushant Paudel, 7 years of age son of Sepoy Pradip Paudel, was diagnosed with ARPC1b, a very rare form of immunodeficiency at one year of age, a condition that severely compromised his immune system making him prone to repeated life-threatening infections, and other complications. The patient was referred to AHRR 06 months back but did not have a HLA matched sibling donor. The Hematology team at Army Hospital R&R, embarked on an arduous journey to find a suitable donor and orchestrate a meticulously planned bone marrow transplant.

Union Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju launched the maiden Indian Winter Arctic Expedition here on Monday.

This maiden winter expedition is comprised of four scientists, who will visit the Arctic region to make atmospheric observations during the night and carry out auroral studies and changes in sea ice.

Now, India will have a year-long presence at Himadri, the country's Arctic research station located in Spitsbergen in Norway, as it has in the Antarctic, near the South Pole.