Crime
Omicron more contagious, less dangerous than Delta: Israeli scientist

The Omicron variant, with more than 30 mutations on its spike protein, may not be as dangerous as the Delta and Alpha and other variants of coronavirus, which has so far claimed more than five millions lives across the world. However, the variant appears to be more contagious, said a scientist from Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center in Israel.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Omicron has spread to nearly 38 countries, but no deaths have yet been reported.
“We have to say this with a lot of caution, but if we look at the currently available information, there is reason to believe that the variant is spreading fast, but maybe it is not so dangerous,” Prof. Dror Mevorach, a senior physician was quoted as saying to Jerusalem Post.
South Africa’s Tshwane District Omicron Variant Patient Profile showed that 80 per cent of hospital admissions in the previous two weeks were people below age 50, the vast majority of whom did not require oxygen support.
This can be explained in several ways, including the lower age of the patients, or that the course of the Omicron variant is milder, Mevorach said.
Some experts have also suggested that if Omicron is more infectious but milder, it could make corona more similar to the flu.A
Mevorach agreed, saying that “it would really be good news for the world. I think that we have had indications of vaccinated people getting infected, but it appears that their disease is mild”.
If this is so, he said different scenarios might emerge.
“We might need to accept that some people are going to get sick, and treat them with the antiviral treatments that are about to become available, or the vaccines might be slightly tweaked to be more effective,” he said. “However, I’m not really sure that we will need to do it. The first option might be good enough.”
Mevorach also expressed optimism that the protection granted by the booster will last for a long time, the report said.
“What I have seen in immunological studies is that the booster really increases the antibodies, and I think it will give a longer-lasting immunity,” he said.
Meanwhile, the number of Omicron Covid-19 variant cases in Israel have rose from seven to 11, the Israeli Health Ministry has said in a statement.
While the WHO said on December 3 that it had still not seen any reports of deaths related to Omicron, the new variant’s spread has led to warnings that it could cause more than half of Europe’s Covid-19 cases in the next few months.
A preliminary study by researchers in South Africa, where the variant was first reported on November 24, suggests it is three times more likely to cause reinfections compared to the Delta or Beta strains.
South African doctors said there had been a spike in children under five admitted to hospital since Omicron emerged, but stressed it was too early to know if young children were particularly susceptible.
Crime
Chadian national held at Mumbai airport with gold worth Rs 3.86 cr hidden in slippers

Mumbai, May 17: In a major crackdown on gold smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, arrested a Chadian national who arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) from Addis Ababa, after seizing 4,015 grams of gold worth Rs 3.86 crore ingeniously concealed in the heels of his slippers.
Acting on specific Intelligence, DRI officers intercepted the male passenger shortly after his arrival in Mumbai. Upon conducting a personal search, the officers discovered multiple foreign-origin gold bars cleverly hidden inside the modified heels of the man’s slippers.
In his voluntary statement recorded by officials, the Chadian national admitted to concealing the gold in this unusual manner to bypass customs checks and evade legal detection. The gold was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and the passenger was placed under arrest.
Officials stated that further investigations are underway to trace the origin and intended recipients of the smuggled consignment and to determine if the incident is linked to a broader smuggling network.
This seizure adds to a growing list of recent smuggling attempts intercepted by vigilant DRI officials.
In an earlier case from April 2025, DRI Mumbai had seized foreign-origin gold worth Rs 6.30 crore from a passenger who had arrived at CSMIA from Bangkok. The gold, hidden in specially designed compartments of the passenger’s luggage, was also seized under the Customs Act, with the individual arrested immediately.
The DRI continues to maintain a strict vigil at international entry points, using a combination of Intelligence gathering and surveillance to thwart attempts at smuggling precious metals and other contraband. The agency reiterated its commitment to cracking down on such offenses, which pose a serious threat to economic stability and border security.
Crime
WBSSC recruitment case: Undeterred by baton charge, teachers gherao Bikash Bhawan again

Kolkata, May 16: A day after being baton-charged by police, the protesting teachers have assembled again, surrounding Bikash Bhavan, the West Bengal Education Department’s headquarters, on Friday morning.
Some of the protesting teachers with severe head and body injuries were also seen joining the protests.
Some of the protesters attempted to get inside the Bikash Bhavan premises by removing the barricades raised by police around the building at Salt Lake in Kolkata.
A police contingent from Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate has already reached the spot and is trying to control the situation.
The protesting teachers claimed that even if they face police assault again, they would continue with their protests till their last breath until their demands in the matter are fulfilled.
Their main demand is that the state government and West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) should immediately publish lists segregating the “untainted” or “genuine” candidates from the “tainted” ones, who had paid money for getting school jobs.
They also alleged that the state government and WBSSC are “deliberately refraining from publishing the segregated lists to protect the untainted candidates”.
The protesting “genuine” teachers started a gherao agitation on Thursday morning, cordoning off Bikash Bhavan from all sides. At around 10 p.m. on Thursday, a huge police contingent reached the spot and resorted to a massive baton charge to disperse the protesters, in which several protesting teachers were severely injured.
Although the “gherao” demonstration was dispersed, the protesting teachers assembled at a distance from Bikash Bhavan, continuing with their sit-in demonstration.
On April 3, the Supreme Court’s division bench of erstwhile Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar had upheld a previous order by the Calcutta High Court’s division bench of Justice Debangshu Basak and Justice Shabbar Rashidi cancelling 25,753 school jobs in West Bengal.
The Apex Court also accepted the observation of the Calcutta High Court that the entire panel of 25,753 candidates had to be cancelled because of the failure of the state government and the commission to segregate the “untainted candidates from the “tainted” ones.
The state government and West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) had already filed review petitions at the Apex Court on this issue.
Crime
Mumbai Police Arrest 3 Men After Viral Video Shows Dangerous Car Stunt On Eastern Express Highway

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police arrested three men on Thursday after they were caught performing dangerous car stunts on the Eastern Express Highway near Chembur. Acting quickly on a viral video shared on Instagram, the RCF Police apprehended the young men for their reckless actions on road near Chembur.
The video, which attracted widespread attention, showed the driver of a white car recklessly speeding along the expressway while several men inside were seen dangerously leaning out of the moving vehicle.
The complainant in the case is Police Constable Navnath Dattu Vaikhande (34), attached to RCF Police Station, who initiated legal action based on the viral video evidence.
The arrested accused have been identified as Adnan Mohammad Isa Khan (20), taxi driver, resident of Zakir Hussain Nagar, Govandi; native of Chamroopur Pathan, District Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Mukim Bashir Khan (22), taxi driver, resident of Road No. 3, behind Patel Hotel, Govandi; native of Sonpur, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Junaid Awad Ali Khan (20), taxi driver, also residing at Road No. 3, behind Patel Hotel, Govandi; native of Sonpur, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.
The footage sparked public outrage and prompted an immediate response from law enforcement. After identifying the individuals involved, the RCF Police Station registered a case under Section 281 (Rash driving or riding on a public way), Section 125 (Negligent conduct), and Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which pertains to driving dangerously.
A video shared by the Mumbai police highlights dangerous activities by drivers and others. In the video, a group of people can be seen engaging in risky behaviour by hanging out of moving cars on the road, endangering their own lives and the lives of others, all while loud music plays.
The arrested individuals are currently in custody, and further investigations are ongoing to identify others involved in the stunt. Authorities are also probing whether the vehicle was rented or privately owned. This incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with irresponsible behaviour on the road and the serious consequences that can follow.
Many users reacted to the post shared by the Mumbai Police. One user asked about the other accused, saying, “Only 3 were arrested? Where are the others?” On the other hand, another user expressed appreciation for the Mumbai Police, stating, “Thank you, Mumbai Police, for not turning Mumbai into Delhi Part 2.”
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