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Terror outfit Al-Qaidahas once again targeted India over remark made by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma against Prophet Muhammad. Al-Qaida called on Muslim countries to boycott India, Indian products, and to expel Hindus working in Arab countries.

The terror group Al-Qaida Media, As-Sahab, published fifth issue of a periodical magazine One Ummah. One of the articles in the magazine targetted India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and referred to the controversy over Nupur Sharma's remark. Al-Qaida also called on Muslims and Islamic nations to unite against India.  

"The Hindu government of India was encouraged by the silence in the Muslim world to cross the limits this time and go on to insult the Prophet," the Al-Qaida's article reads. 

India will hold a mock drill today to check how well prepared are the health facilities to deal with any spike in COVID-19 cases. Health Ministers of all the states will participate in the mock drill.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will visit Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital at 9:45 am to oversee the mock drill.

"Such exercises would help our operational readiness, help in filling gaps if any and will consequently strengthen our public health response," Mr Mandaviya said at a meeting with doctors from the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

The mock drills will focus on parameters such as availability of health facilities in all districts, capacity of isolation beds, oxygen-supported beds, ICU (intensive care unit) beds and ventilator-supported beds.

A young man from Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district has been reported as COVID-positive after he got tested before travelling to Dubai. Uttar Pradesh got its second case of COVID, just hours after a 40-year-old man from Agra tested positive for COVID-19. As per reports, the man returned to Agra from China two days back and has been kept in isolation at his home.

Meanwhile, the second youth who tested positive - is a resident of Koraura village of Hasanganj tehsil area of Unnao. He has been isolated under proper COVID protocols by the local administration.

After the youth tested positive, the Health Department team along with Sub-District Magistrate Ankit Shukla reached the youth's house and collected samples from 20 people, including his family members.

China is reportedly having the world's worst covid outbreak with nearly 37 million people getting infected in a day this week. The reporting of the BF.7 covid variant has made the matter worst for the country. According to estimates from the Chinese health ministry, the covid outbreak is reportedly the largest in the world so far. The reports claimed that China is likely experiencing 5,000 covid deaths every day. It may be recalled that China is accused of manipulating its covid death figures to keep it very low compared to any other country in the world. 

According to a Bloomberg report, nearly 37 million people in China may have been infected with Covid-19 on a single day this week. The report said that over 248 million people contracted the virus in the first 20 days of December in China. 

India is on its toes and in complete alert mode as the COVID cases in China continue to witness a sharp spike. Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi has said that India is keeping a close eye on China's COVID situation. Indian Health Ministry has also urged everyone to follow the COVID-19 protocols, wear masks and practice social distancing. Indian Medical Association has also reiterated the same in a statement. Amid this, Indian states are also ramping up measures to contain the spread of COVID.

Media outlets while citing official sources said random testing of international passengers on arrival which was earlier stopped after a revision in travel advisories in November-end, will start soon. Earlier, 2 per cent of international passengers were being randomly tested at airports.