The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is "spreading rapidly" - there are now more than 100 cases in 11 states in India - the Health Ministry said Friday, warning that 19 districts were at high risk of a surge in COVID-19 cases; hours after his reprehensible "enjoy rape" remark triggered massive outrage, a senior Congress leader in Karnataka on Thursday apologised for what he called his "indifferent and negligent" comment in the state assembly. Controversially, he described it as an "off-the-cuff remark" in his clarification; Amarinder Singh today announced an alliance with the BJP for the Punjab election, a move that had been anticipated ever since he quit the Congress last month and other stories.
