Karnataka's Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday advised senior citizens and those with comorbidities to wear masks, in light of rising COVID-19 cases in neighboring Kerala and other states. Speaking in Kodagu, Rao said there is no need to panic but the state will soon issue an advisory asking vulnerable groups to mask up. He directed government hospitals near border regions adjoining Kerala to remain alert, increase testing capacity and mandatorily test those with respiratory symptoms. This comes as India's active COVID caseload rose to 1,828 on Monday, with one death in Kerala where a new sub-variant was found.

The UN Security Council is headed for a vote on a UAE-drafted resolution demanding Israel and Hamas allow aid access to Gaza via land, sea and air. The US is negotiating final text changes, seeking to tone down language on ceasefire demands. UN officials warn of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza amid the conflict. The draft calls for an "urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities" to enable aid access. It needs 9 votes and no vetoes to pass. Earlier, the US vetoed a ceasefire demand while the General Assembly approved one. Israel opposes ceasefires which it feels benefit Hamas. The Council last month called for aid pauses though fighting resumed shortly after.

India reported 335 new COVID-19 cases and 5 fatalities on Sunday, taking the total caseload to 4.5 crore and death toll to 5.33 lakh. Active cases rose to 1,701. A COVID sub-variant, JN.1, was detected in Kerala through genome sequencing of an elderly woman's sample from December 8th. She had mild symptoms and recovered. The variant was earlier found in Indian passengers at the Singapore airport months ago. Kerala Health Minister said JN.1 is not a cause for concern, though situation is being monitored. She asked people, especially those with comorbidities, to remain cautious but said the sub-variant has been identified and there is no need to worry.

Share prices of several JSW Group companies fell 1-2% on Monday after a rape complaint was registered against managing director Sajjan Jindal. As per the complainant, she first met Jindal in October 2021 and he started getting overly personal and forced himself on her after repeated unwanted advances. Jindal has denied the allegations and termed them false and baseless. He says he will provide full cooperation in the probe. The complaint was initially not registered by the BKC police station until ordered by a court. JSW Steel share prices were down 1.94%, JSW Holding by 1.63% by Monday afternoon following news of the complaint against the group's MD.

The Delhi Police has formed teams that are investigating the December 13th security breach at Parliament in six states - Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra. 50 separate teams are probing the digital, bank and background details of the accused. Special cell teams have taken the accused to safe houses across the six states for questioning. Key accused Lalit Jha and Manoranjan D. have been handed to special teams in Delhi, while probe of accused Neelam Devi is being handled by the special cell team in New Friends Colony. After investigation by various special cell units, the accused will be handed to the NFC team for further investigation.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sparked controversy by stating that Islamic culture and European values have a "compatibility problem" at an event hosted by her right-wing party and attended by UK PM Rishi Sunak and Elon Musk. Meloni criticized Saudi Arabian financing of Islamic centers in Italy and Sharia law penalties like death for adultery and homosexuality. She argued that there is a problematic "Islamisation" process happening in Europe, with values distant from European civilization, but said she was not generalizing all of Islam. Sunak backed Meloni's migration policies, while facing his own criticism over a plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Notorious underworld don Dawood Ibrahim has been hospitalized in Karachi, Pakistan for a serious health issue, according to sources on Monday. Ibrahim was potentially poisoned but it is unconfirmed. He has been in the hospital for two days as of December 18 and is under tight security, being the only patient on his hospital floor with access limited to top authorities and close family. This news comes after January reports that Ibrahim resides in Karachi after remarrying, and NIA charges linking him to control of Karachi airport. His health status and hospitalization remains closely guarded information.

The World Health Organization has warned countries to maintain strong COVID-19 surveillance and sequencing efforts due to a recent surge in respiratory illnesses globally. This increase is attributed to multiple pathogens including COVID-19, influenza, rhinovirus and others. WHO officials noted that the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve, with the JN.1 omicron subvariant already designated a Variant of Interest and showing increased circulation. WHO is continuing to assess the situation and has advised the public to follow health guidelines during the holiday season to protect themselves and others amid the viral resurgence. (Image Courtesy: @mvankerkhove on X)

Several districts in Tamil Nadu declared a holiday on December 18th due to heavy rainfall forecasts. The India Meteorological Department predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in south Tamil Nadu, specifically calling out Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Ramanathapuram districts. Thoothukudi witnessed severe waterlogging, flooding, and overflowing rivers from the downpour. The state government has set up relief camps and deployed disaster response teams across the affected districts. Precautionary measures are in place as heavy rains are likely to continue on December 19th as well.

On Monday evening, internet users across Pakistan reported widespread difficulties accessing social media platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The disruptions came just ahead of a major virtual public gathering hosted by Imran Khan's political party PTI, scheduled to begin at 9pm. Internet monitoring service Netblocks confirmed that metrics showed nation-scale disruption to social networks in Pakistan coinciding with the lead-up to Khan's speech. PTI condemned the disruption as "proof of fear" of Khan's popularity. The Pakistan Telecom Authority did not respond to requests for comment. Earlier this year, authorities restricted internet access amid protests over Khan's arrest. Pakistan ranked third globally for internet shutdowns in early 2023.