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Omicron more contagious, less dangerous than Delta: Israeli scientist

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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

Six students detained after suspected ragging assault in Karnataka private college

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Mangaluru, Aug 5: A suspected ragging incident at a reputed private college in Mangaluru left a first-year student with serious neck injuries, following an alleged assault by a group of senior students, police said on Wednesday.

The incident reportedly took place near Juhharakere in Mangaluru, where two first-year students, identified as Adarsh and J. Khadar, were allegedly attacked by senior students.

According to the victims, the seniors objected to the juniors wearing black shoes and picked up an argument, which soon turned violent. The students alleged that they were brutally assaulted by the seniors during the confrontation.

One of the injured students sustained a serious neck injury and was admitted to a hospital. Doctors have reportedly diagnosed him with a neck fracture, and he is currently undergoing treatment.

Personnel from the Pandeshwara Police Station rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. Police later visited the hospital and recorded the statement of the injured student.

A case has been registered by the police, and provisions of the anti-ragging law have been invoked in the FIR. Six students have been taken into custody for questioning in connection with the incident.

Mangaluru City Police Commissioner C.H. Sudheer Kumar Reddy said the incident prima facie appears to be a case of ragging.

“The statements of the victims are being recorded by the police. Based on the preliminary findings, an FIR will be registered at the Mangaluru South Police Station, and a detailed investigation will be initiated,” he said.

The Commissioner added that the investigation would ascertain the exact sequence of events and determine the role of those involved in the alleged ragging incident.

Police said further action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation.

According to official records, Karnataka recorded 181 ragging complaints in higher educational institutions between 2022 and July 22, 2026, the highest among South Indian states despite mandatory anti-ragging committees and stricter enforcement measures.

In January, a violent ragging and assault incident occurred at a reputed educational institute in Devanahalli, Bengaluru Rural, resulting in an FIR against 22 to 23 senior students and an outsider, with three key arrests made.

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Mumbai Police probe social media post warning of possible terror attack in August

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Mumbai, Aug 5: Mumbai Police has launched an investigation after a social media post warning of a possible terrorist attack in Mumbai and other parts of India surfaced on X, triggering security concerns.

The police took cognisance of the post and initiated a probe to verify its authenticity, identify the person behind it and assess whether there was any credible threat linked to the message.

According to preliminary information, a post was shared from an X account named @AstroPrashnath9, claiming that India could face a potential security threat during August 2026. The post stated that the period between August 9 and August 18, 2026, could be “highly sensitive” and alleged the possibility of a major terror attack by Pakistani terrorists.

The post read: “India shall be careful in the month of August 2026… 9th to 18th August very dangerous time period… Big terrorist attacks possible by Pakistani Terrorists.”

The post was reportedly brought to the attention of Mumbai Police after another X user, operating the handle @tstark86v1, tagged the police department and highlighted the warning message.

Following the alert, the Mumbai Police social media monitoring team informed senior officials about the post. Authorities have started examining the content with the assistance of cyber police teams to determine the source of the message, the identity of the account holder and whether the claims were based on any actual information or were intended to create panic.

Police officials said the matter is being investigated and urged citizens not to believe unverified information circulating on social media platforms.

Mumbai Police appealed to people to remain calm and rely only on official communication from authorities regarding any security-related developments. Officials also stressed that spreading rumours or sharing unverified claims could create unnecessary fear among the public.

The investigation into the social media post is currently underway, and further action will be taken based on the findings of the enquiry. Authorities have not confirmed any specific threat at this stage and continue to verify all aspects related to the post.

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Crime

Delhi Police detain 11 Bangladeshi nationals for violating visa conditions

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New Delhi, Aug 5: The Delhi Police’s Central district has apprehended 11 Bangladeshi nationals for violating the conditions of their double-entry visas by overstaying beyond the permitted duration of each visit, officials said on Wednesday.

The action was carried out under Operation VISTA 1.0 (Visa Status Verification), a special enforcement drive launched by the Foreigner Cell of the Special Staff, Central district, to identify foreign nationals who have either overstayed in India or violated the conditions of their visas while residing in the national capital.

As part of the operation, a dedicated police team was constituted under the leadership of Inspector Sandeep Dabas, In-Charge of the Anti Auto Theft Squad (AATS), Central district, and under the close supervision of ACP (Operations) Padam Singh Rana.

Police said that on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, while patrolling the Paharganj area, the police team received specific information from a reliable source that certain Bangladeshi nationals, whose visas had already expired, were staying illegally in Delhi.

Acting on the information, the police apprehended one individual identified as Nayeem Ahmed, a resident of Sylhet, Bangladesh, and questioned him regarding his identity and place of residence. During the inquiry, he disclosed that he was a Bangladeshi national currently residing in the Paharganj area.

He produced his Bangladeshi passport, which was verified by the police on the spot. During verification, officials found that the passport had been issued on March 23 and that his authorised stay in India was valid only until June 28.

However, he was allegedly continuing to stay in the country beyond the permitted period without obtaining any valid extension or legal authorisation, thereby violating the applicable immigration regulations.

During sustained interrogation, Nayeem Ahmed allegedly disclosed that several other Bangladeshi nationals were also residing illegally in Delhi after overstaying their visas.

The information was immediately conveyed to the In-Charge of AATS, who directed the formation of a dedicated police team to verify the inputs and take further action.

Acting on the information provided by Nayeem Ahmed and based on his identification, the police team conducted a raid at Flat No. 158, Hauz Rani in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, where ten more Bangladeshi nationals were allegedly found residing illegally.

The police apprehended all ten individuals and examined their passports and travel documents. Upon verification, officials found that all of them had allegedly remained in India beyond the validity of their visas and had no lawful authority to continue their stay in the country.

The findings were once again brought to the notice of the In-Charge of AATS, following which directions were issued to initiate deportation proceedings against all 11 Bangladeshi nationals in accordance with the prescribed legal procedure.

The detained individuals have been identified as Tahmid Ahmed Tanjid (19), Sajjad Hussain (25), Sabbir Ahmed (28), Nayeem Ahmed (22), MD Kamal Hossian (43), Shakil Ahmed Naim (23), MD Asharaful Haque Mamun (35), Sultan Ahmed Sojib (29), Mujammil Ahmad (30), Bakhtiar Ahmad Johuri (29), and Jakaria (26).

According to officials, verification of their passports, visas and immigration records revealed that all 11 individuals had entered India on double-entry visas, under which they were permitted to stay in the country for a maximum period of 15 days during each visit.

However, the investigation found that all of them had allegedly remained in India beyond the permissible period, thereby violating the conditions of their visas.

Following their apprehension, all 11 foreign nationals were produced before the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which initiated the necessary legal proceedings and issued Restriction Orders directing their detention pending completion of the deportation process.

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