Mumbai Dec 30 PTI Thousands of resident doctors will go on a strike in Maharashtra from Friday to seek a resolution of the NEET-PG 2021 counselling issue a step that is likely to affect the health services in the state hospitals Sanchari Pal general secretary of the KEM unit of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors MARD said some government hospitals in the state were on strike from Thursday Listing out the demands she said Our fundamental demand is resolution of the NEET-PG counselling issue with a proper timeline Pal said the MARD is also extending solidarity with its counterpart in Delhi We demand action against the perpetrators involved in violence against the doctors she said referring to the police action against the protesting medicos earlier this week She added that the FIR against protesting doctors must be withdrawn immediately PTI PR NP NP

Mumbai Dec 30 PTI Maharashtra on Thursday witnessed a massive spike in the daily coronavirus as well Omicron cases as it reported 5368 fresh infections which included 198 patients who were found infected with the new variant the health department said The state also reported 22 fatalities during the day Of the 198 cases of Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 190 are from Mumbai With this the tally of Omicron patients in the state reached 450 The health department said that 1193 COVID-19 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours taking the recovery count to 6507330 The states recovery rate stands at 9755 per cent Currently 133748 people are in home quarantine and 1078 others are in institutional quarantine it added PTI PR NP NP

Mumbai Dec 30 PTI South star Rashmika Mandanna on Thursday completed five years in the film industry and expressed her gratitude for the love and support from fans and well-wishersThe 25-year-old actor who works primarily in Kannada and Telugu films -- made her acting debut in 2016 with Kannada movie Kirik PartyShe is best known for her performances in movies such as Geetha Govindam Devadas Yajamana and Dear Comrade among othersMandanna who is basking in the success of her Telugu movie Pushpa The Rise shared a lengthy note on Instagram expressing her excitementIts been 5 years of me in the film industry like woahhhh how did that happen guys she wrote alongside a picture of herPenning down the lessons learnt the actor said it is important to value each moment stay happy and be grateful for the opportunitiesTime is flying by too fast make memories each day How to be truly genuinely happy from the bottom of the heart I am happy Ive realised nothing in life is easy got to always always keep fighting for what you want be alert be on your toes be grounded be grateful but always keep fightingsic she said Always be open to learn and unlearn many things Mandanna added Dont carry emotional baggages physical baggages mental baggages Let go Learn to let go The actor also said one must give time and importance to things that they love the most in life -- be it career love family or time for oneselfShe also pointed out that it is imperative to eat sleep better workout harder smile bigger and love more openlyPeople dont owe you anything so you dont have to do favours to anyone you can and you should think of yourself first And many more Ill keep going on and on Ill speak of all of this one day but for now these she saidOn the work front Mandanna is set to make her Bollywood debut with the spy-thriller Mission Majnu also starring Sidharth Malhotra and will also be seen in another Hindi movie Goodbye alongside megastar Amitabh Bachchan PTI KKP RDS RDS

Mumbai Dec 30 PTI The Reserve Bank of India RBI has extended the last date for periodic KYC update till March 31 amid Omicron uncertainties and has advised banks and other regulated entities not to take restrictive action against customers till the fiscal end Earlier in May the RBI had extended the last date for updation of KYC by regulated entities till December-end because of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic In view of the prevalent uncertainty due to new variant of COVID-19 the relaxation provided in the circular relating to Periodic Updation of KYC Restrictions on Account Operations for Non-compliance issued in May is hereby extended till March 31 2022 the RBI said on Thursday In May the RBI had advised the regulated entities not to impose punitive restriction on operations of accounts of customers for their failure to comply with the KYC updation norms till December-end PTI NKD CS DRR

Mumbai Dec 30 PTI Gold which lost its sheen to some extent in the second half of 2021 is likely to regain the glitter in the New Year and cross the Rs 55000-per-10-grams level amid pandemic woes inflation worries and stronger US dollar After a stellar run up in 2020 when the yellow metal touched a record high of Rs 56200 on the MCX in August the prices are near Rs 48000 per 10 grams now This is roughly 14 per cent lower from the all-time highs and 4 per cent lesser compared to January 2021 levels All said the current level is still 3 per cent higher than overall international prices largely thanks to a weakening rupee CommTrendz Co-Founder and CEO Gnanasekar Thiagarajan said the reason behind the underperformance this year was the rush of liquidity in the equity markets Meanwhile the possibility of more COVID restrictions being imposed for Christmas and New Year holidays loomed over several European countries as the Omicron variant spread rapidly US health officials urged Americans to get booster shots wear masks and be careful if they travel over the winter holidays Thiagarajan said According to him tightening of rates would make the US dollar more appealing relative to currencies bound for relatively looser monetary policies such as the euro and yen Spot gold was at over USD 1791 an ounce level in the international market while in India MCX gold futures was at Rs 47740 per 10 grams on December 29 Gold prices are likely to continue to rise in the medium-term amid inflation worries and uncertainty over the Omicron variant of coronavirus Falling stock markets and golds inflation hedge status should keep it well supported on the downside Meanwhile if any geo-political tensions were to erupt that could again boost sentiment We expect prices to move in the range of USD 1700-1900 an ounce in the first half of 2022 and cross USD 2000 in the second half In the domestic markets we can expect prices to be in a range of Rs 45000- 50000 and cross Rs 55000 in the second half of 2022 for MCX Thiagarajan said HDFC securities Senior Analyst Commodities Tapan Patel said the US inflation and development on real bond yields may still cause some triggers to the gold rally The short-term resistance of gold lies at USD 1833 and USD 1870 with support at USD 1670 per ounce he said adding that for the long-term trend USD 1970 is expected to be the key resistance for 2022 with support at USD 1580 per ounce MCX Gold futures have short-term resistance at Rs 49200 and support at Rs 45000 per while for next year we can see upside capped at Rs 51800 and support at Rs 42500 he noted World Gold Council Regional CEO India Somasundaram P R said the introduction of the regulatory framework for the International Bullion Exchange and a framework for domestic trading underpinned by creation of a new security Electronic Gold Receipt mark would be potentially transformative in the next few years On the other hand the introduction of mandatory hallmarking in 256 districts and a see-saw in Hallmarking Unique ID threatened to create trade disruptions However deft handling by policy makers ensured its successful implementation he pointed The government had made hallmarking a quality certification mandatory with effect from June 23 2021 for 14 18 and 22 carat gold jewellery and artifacts in 256 districts of the country where there is at least one Assaying and Hallmarking Centre AHC As on date 127 lakh jewellers have taken registration from BIS for selling hallmarked jewellery Somasundaram said the move ended two decades of trade ambivalence and policy uncertainty and is a remarkable achievement In the months ahead soaring commodity prices and logistical costs are expected to impose further pressures and the RBI has already adjusted its inflation expectations higher Rising inflation tends to drive gold demand Gold is perceived as a strong hedge against inflation and decades of data supports this assumption he noted Motilal Oswal Financial Services VP Commodities Research Navneet Damani said gold prices could remain supported at lower levels after China reported its highest daily rise in local COVID cases in 21 months The broader range on COMEX could be between USD 1780-1825 and on the domestic front prices could hover in the range of Rs 48000-48385 he added However Stockal Co-Founder and Co-CEO Vinay Bharatwaj said rising rates are bound to cap the gains in the yellow metal as they increase the opportunity cost of holding gold PTI SM RAM DRR

Mumbai Dec 30 PTI Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes that the coach and the captain should have a say in the national team selectionIndia captain sits in the selection committee meeting to give his inputs but decision making power lies with the five-member selection panel while the coach doesnt have a seat on the tableI think it is extremely important that the captain and the coach should have a say in team selection I think going forward both should officially have a say Especially if the coach is experienced enough like I was and now how Rahul Dravid is Shastri told Star SportsHead coach is part of selection panel in Australia and EnglandAccording to Shastri himself a former India all-rounder and former Mumbai captain the skipper must get to see the mindsets of the selectorsIt should happen in a meeting - not on the phone or outside - where the captain is there so that he gets to see the mindsets of the selectors What happens in the meeting when the convenor is there all the big boys are there he should be in that meeting added the 59-year-oldLegendary Rahul Dravid has taken over as the coach of the India team from the last home series against New Zealand succeeding Shastri PTI NRB BS BS BS

Mumbai Dec 30 PTI Streaming platform ZEE5 on Thursday announced that three of their upcoming films Irrfan Khan-starrer Murder at Teesri Manzil 302 Waah Zindagi and Turtle both starring Sanjay Mishra will release on December 31Starring Khan and Ranvir Shorey in pivotal roles Murder at Teesri Manzil 302 is a high on suspense movie Khan died in April last year at the age of 54Directed by Navneet Baj Saini the story revolves around a murder mystery that unfolds with a lot of twistsManish Kalra Chief Business Officer ZEE5 India said their objective is to bring forth rich storytelling for their viewers2021 was a challenging year but we tried our best to deliver top notch entertaining content for everyone It gives me great joy to announce the release of three more films with interesting storylines that will captivate viewer interest with renewed vigour as we step into a New Year together Kalra said in a statementWaah Zindagi and Turtle are directed by Dinesh S YadavDescribed as a slice-of-life story Waah Zindagi is about a fickle boy who is set to redeem his past It also features Naveen Kasturia Plabita Borthakur Vijay Raaz Dharmesh Vyas and Manoj JoshiWaah Zindagi is a journey of a destitute farmers son struggling hard to become an entrepreneur to win his childhood sweetheart His dreams seem to crash with Chinese products dumped in India However he decides to fight back and ends up with a Make In India initiative the official synopsis readWhereas Turtle is inspired by the real story of Ramkaran Choudhary Bagod from village Dehlod RajasthanThe movie also received the National Film Award for Best Rajasthani Film at the 66th National Film AwardsFeaturing Mishra as the central character Turtle highlights the issue of the world water crisisIt is a metaphorical depiction of the turtle wherein a drought struck village of Rajasthan Choudhary Mishra is churning the parched sun-baked earth to extract water and the common folk indulged in a tug of war rotating on his shell desperate to quench their thirst Will he find success with his water mission or will the villagers make him fail in his attempt forms the plotline of the movieMishra said he is delighted that two of his special films Waah Zindagi and Turtle will be released soonThe entire team has put in a lot of hard work and it couldnt have been released at a better time than the eve of the New Year for the viewers I am hopeful that people will take away something after watching these films and that they love the way we have presented them the 58-year-old actor said PTI KKP RDS RDS

Mumbai Dec 30 PTI In the wake of emergence of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 the Mumbai Police have prohibited New Year celebrations and gatherings in any closed or open space including hotels and restaurants an official said on Thursday The orders were issued on Wednesday under Criminal Procedure Code CrPC Section 144 by Deputy Commissioner of Police operations S Chaitanya The order will be in force from Thursday till January 7 2022 the official said The police order prohibits all New Year celebrations programmes functions and gatherings in any closed or open space including hotels restaurants bars resorts and clubs On Wednesday Mumbai reported 2510 COVID-19 cases the highest daily addition since May 8 and one death taking its tally to 775808 and toll to 16375 a civic official said The spike in the countrys financial capital has got pronounced since December 20 when just 283 cases were reported Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 85 fresh cases of Omicron the highest single-day tally recorded so far by any state in the country taking the overall count to 252 as per the state health department State minister Aaditya Thackeray had urged people not to panic but exercise extreme caution in the wake sharp rise in coronavirus cases in Mumbai and stressed on vaccination and widespread use of face masks Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday expressed concern over the rise in the number of fresh as well as active COVID-19 cases in the state terming it as an alarming situation and said stricter measures will be imposed to stem the infection spread He urged people and authorities to exercise caution at a time when the new coronavirus variant Omicron has fuelled worries about a fresh spurt in cases The minister emphasised on strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols and ramping up of vaccination against the infection PTI DC GK GK

Mumbai Dec 30 PTI In the wake of emergence of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 the Mumbai Police have prohibited New Year celebrations and gatherings in any closed or open space including hotels and restaurants an official said on Thursday Deputy Commissioner of Police operations S Chaitanya issued an order to this effect on Wednesday under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code CrPC The order will be in force from Thursday till January 7 2022 the official said The police order prohibits all New Year celebrations programmes functions and gatherings in any closed or open space including hotels restaurants banquet halls bars pubs orchestras resorts clubs and rooftops Trains buses and private cars may ply as per the current guidelines and norms the order stated Mumbai continues to be threatened by the rise in cases of COVID-19 and emergence of the new variant Omicron it noted The prohibitory orders have been issued to prevent danger to human life for the health and safety of people and to curtail transmission of the virus the order said Any person contravening the order shall be liable for punishment under Section 188 disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant of the Indian Penal Code as well as provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act Pandemic Act and the Disaster Management Act the order stated On Wednesday Mumbai reported 2510 COVID-19 cases the highest daily addition since May 8 and one death taking its tally to 775808 and toll to 16375 a civic official said The spike in the countrys financial capital has got pronounced since December 20 when just 283 cases were reported Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 85 fresh cases of Omicron the highest single-day tally recorded so far by any state in the country taking the overall count to 252 as per the state health department State minister Aaditya Thackeray had urged people not to panic but exercise extreme caution in the wake sharp rise in coronavirus cases in Mumbai and stressed on vaccination and widespread use of face masks Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday expressed concern over the rise in the number of fresh as well as active COVID-19 cases in the state terming it as an alarming situation and said stricter measures will be imposed to stem the infection spread He urged people and authorities to exercise caution at a time when the new coronavirus variant Omicron has fuelled worries about a fresh spurt in cases The minister emphasised on strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols and ramping up of vaccination against the infection PTI DC GK GK