Month: December 2021

Delhi reported 249 positive cases in the last 24 hours, which is the highest single-day spike since June 13, informed the state government’s health bulletin on Saturday.

The positivity rate is at 0.43 per cent, which is the highest since June 9.
According to the Delhi government’s health bulletin, Delhi has reported 14,43,062 COVID cases so far including 934 active cases.

The cumulative positivity rate is 4.46 per cent while the case fatality is 1.74 per cent in the national capital.

The national capital also reported one death in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 25,104.

A total number of 96 people have been recovered from the coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 14,17, 024.

As many as 1,14,311 beneficiaries were vaccinated in the last 24 hours. The cumulative beneficiaries vaccinated so far are at 2,54,48,583.

The total number of containment zones as of date is 248.

As many as 57,295 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. (ANI)

Amid rumours about him resigning as Karnataka Chief Minister, Basavaraja Bommai once again made it clear that he is not resigning.

During interaction with the Press in Hubli, Bommai on Saturday made it clear that he is not travelling to any foreign country and that there is no question of any new Chief Minister in Karnataka.
“The event which was supposed to be held in Davos is postponed to June. So no plans of travelling abroad”, added Bommai. (ANI)

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) will not contest Punjab Assembly elections scheduled to be held in 2022, informed the leaders of the nine-member coordination committee of the Morcha, Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Dr Darshan Pal on Saturday.

The leaders said that the SKM, which is a platform of more than 400 different ideological organizations across the country, is formed only on the issues of farmers.
“There is no call for the boycott of elections and even no understanding of contesting elections. SKM was made by the people to get their rights from the government and after the repeal of three agricultural laws, the struggle has been postponed, the remaining demands will be decided in the meeting to be held on January 15, 2022,” they stated.

Regarding 32 organizations in Punjab, the leaders said that there was no consensus on contesting jointly in this assembly election. “It has been decided that the individuals or organizations participating in the elections can not use the names of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha or 32 organizations. Doing so will result in disciplinary action,” they added.

The leaders clarified that in front of 32 organizations, Krantikari Kisan Union (Dr Darshanpal), BKU Krantikari (Surjit Phool), BKU Sidhupur (Jagjit Dallewal), Azad Kisan Committee Doaba (Harpal Sangha), Jai Kisan Andolan (Gurbakhsh Barnala), Dasuha Ganna Sangharsh Committee (Sukhpal Daffar), Kisan Sangharsh Committee Punjab (Inderjit Kotbudha), Lok Bhalai Insaaf Welfare Society (Baldev Sirsa) and Kirti Kisan Union Punjab (Hardev Sandhu) have taken a clear stand against contesting elections. (ANI)

Bollywood celebrities are in Christmas spirit on Saturday and have extended joyous greetings on social media.

A slew of B-town members including Anushka Sharma, Amitabh Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor and more shared Christmas messages through their respective social media handles.
Anushka Sharma took to her Instagram Story and posted a picture in which she and her husband and Test skipper Virat Kohli can be seen sitting and smiling next to a Santa Claus.

She wrote, “Merry Christmas from Santa and us!”

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan posted a picture on his Instagram handle in which his face is merged into a Santa Claus costume along with the message, “Merry Christmas.”

In the caption, he wrote, “Peace harmony safety and … LOOOOOVVVEEE.”

Kareena Kapoor Khan shared an adorable Christmas-themed artwork featuring her along with husband and actor Saif Ali Khan, and sons — Taimur and Jeh.

The family could be seen standing inside a crystal ball that read, “Merry Christmas.”

Kaira Advani took to her Instagram Story and posted a Boomerang, posing next to a gold-and-red decked Christmas tree.

Kiara could be seen dressed in a red shirt and blue jeans.

Arjun Kapoor also extended Christmas greetings by sharing pictures in which he can be seen dressed in a white-and-brown sweater.

He wrote, “December vibes. #MerryChristmas.”

Several other celebrities including Shilpa Shetty, Farah Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Richa Chadha, Pulkit Samrat and more shared their Christmas messages through their respective social media handles. (ANI)

India can see a surge in Covid-19 cases by the end of January 2022, a Hyderabad-based doctor warned.

“We expect a surge in COVID-19 numbers by end of January because we are no different from the world. We will face what the world is facing,” Dr Sambit, Director (Medical) of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Hyderabad said.
“As of now we haven’t seen a significant surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, but it has been tricking slowly. Over the last month, the count down was zero but since the last week, patients have been reporting, though they are not diagnosed with severe disease,” Dr said.

“We are not sure whether it’s an omicron variant or delta variant because that needs genetic testing. Most of them are suffering from fever, headache, a stuffy nose, and cough. As of now, we haven’t seen any patient suffering from shortness of breath required a hospitalisation,” he added.

Talking about those below 18 years who haven’t been vaccinated yet, Dr Sambit said, “try to avoid gathering whether it’s the new year or Christmas. We have learned a lesson in the last year already. Remember that and follow the covid protocols like hand sanitisation, wearing a face mask, and social distance.”

“We are expecting the third wave soon, hospitals have been boasting with all medical facilities like oxygen, vaccine, and medicines. What world will be facing, we will be facing the same thing in coming days,” Dr Sambit said.

Dr Praveen, senior consultant Internal medicine said, “it will be a hurry to say whether cases are Omicron or delta variant but as per the symptoms we can say these are COVID-19 cases.”

“There are four prominent symptoms that differentiate delta and omicron variants from COVID-19, these are like Tiredness, joint pain, cold and high fever like 102 temperature, 108 temperature,” Dr Praveen said.

“We need to follow the covid protocols like wearing a face mask, avoiding gathering, sanitising hands, and social distance,” he said. (ANI)

Ahead of the Uttarkhand Assembly polls, Congress leader and former Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Saturday said that some course correction in the party is important to win the upcoming elections.

Days after making a veiled attack on the Congress leadership ahead of assembly polls in Uttarakhand, Rawat today said that sometimes expressing pain proves to be beneficial for the party.
Speaking to ANI, Rawat said, “Some course correction is important to win upcoming elections. AICC is the supreme command. The state in charge is the coach. The role of playing captain is very important. There should be coordination of confidence among these three. If played for cross-purpose, then we will lose the match. Sometimes expressing pain is also beneficial for the party.”

Rawat on Friday met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with some other leaders from Uttarakhand.

Following the meeting, the Congress veteran said that he will be the face of the party’s election campaign in Uttarakhand.

“Kadam, kadam badhaye ja, Congress ke geet gaye ja.(Keep on marching forward, sing praises of the Congress), I will be the face of the election campaign in Uttarakhand. I will lead the campaign as the chairman of the campaign committee and everyone will support me in fulfilling that responsibility,” Rawat told reporters.

However, Rawat did not directly answer questions about the chief ministerial face of the party in the state.

Rawat met Gandhi two days after making a veiled attack on the Congress leadership ahead of assembly polls in Uttarakhand over the “lack of cooperation” from the state unit.

Rawat through his tweets on Wednesday had expressed anguish at the factionalism in the state unit and noted that thought has been crossing his mind that “it is time to rest”.

“Is not it strange, one has to swim in the sea in the form of the forthcoming electoral battle, instead of cooperation, the organisational structure at most places is turning its face away or is playing a negative role,” said Rawat in a tweet.

“There are many crocodiles of the ruling dispensation. On whose directions one has to swim, their nominees are tying my hands and feet,” he added.

Rawat, a member of the Congress Working Committee, is a key Congress troubleshooter and is seen as the party’s face for the elections in Uttarakhand.

The Congress is keen to come back to power in Uttarakhand in assembly polls early next year.

Rawat is apparently keen to be projected as the chief ministerial candidate in the state. However, party leaders have so far said that the polls will be held under “collective leadership”.

Assembly polls in Uttarakhand are due for early next year. (ANI)

Two days after the Ludhiana court blast, Punjab DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyaya said on Saturday that the deceased police officer, who was suspended from the service, had carried the explosive material to the court.

Addressing a press conference, DGP Chattopadhyaya said, “The deceased person, former policeman Gagandeep Singh was carrying the explosion. He was dismissed from service in 2019 and spent two years in jail following his arrest in a drug-trafficking case.”
One person was killed and two others were injured in the explosion at Punjab’s Ludhiana District Court Complex on Thursday.

Ludhiana Commissioner of Police informed that the explosion was heard near the Record Room on the second floor of the Ludhiana Court complex.

“One person died, two persons were injured in the incident. Bomb disposal team and forensics team have been called from Chandigarh for probe,” he said. (ANI)

With the Maharashtra government asking churches to permit devotees only uptil 50 per cent of their capacity for the midnight mass on the occasion of Christmas, some people flocked at a Mumbai church gate and offered prayers from the gate.

With their hands folded, some people stood at the gate of St. Michael’s Church in Mahim, Mumbai and hummed small prayers. In the spirit of celebrating Christmas, few people arrived at the church with family and glazed at the illuminated church building.
The church was lit up with vibrant led lights with colours frequently changing from blue to green, pink and yellow.

The restrictions on the gathering in churches came in view of rising Omicron cases in the state.

The Maharashtra government in its new COVID-19 guidelines on Friday prohibited gathering of more than five persons in public places from 9 pm-6 am, among other such measures, applicable from the intervening night of December 24-25.

Maharashtra government also released Christmas specific guidelines to be observed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“People will be allowed to attend church up to 50 per cent of the available seating capacity in the church for Christmas. Special care should be taken to ensure that the church is not crowded in any way and that social distancing is maintained and that masks and sanitizers are used. Disinfection should also be arranged in the church,” read the order.

“Scenes from the life of the Lord Jesus, a Christmas tree or other objects are kept in the church on Christmas day. Appropriate measures should be taken to follow the rules of Social Distancing and Hygiene in that place,” it added.

Guidelines also include that no shops or stalls should be set up outside / around the church, avoid large gatherings or crowds in public places or on the streets and fireworks should not be set off, strict adherence to rules and regulations regarding noise pollution.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra has reported over 100 cases of Omicron, which was first detected in South Africa.

According to Union Health Ministry, India has reported over 350 cases of the new variant. (ANI)

James Webb Space Telescope, the largest and most powerful space telescope ever constructed, will lift off on Christmas.
The USD 10bn project spanning over three decades, a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency, hopes to look further back in time than ever before – to find out more about the creation of the first stars and the beginnings of our Universe.

After several technical and weather delays the James Webb Space Telescope will take off on a European Ariane rocket from French Guiana, NASA announced.

“Webb is an extraordinary mission,” said NASA administrator Bill Nelson.

“It’s a shining example of what we can accomplish when we dream big. We’ve always known that this project would be a risky endeavour. But, of course, when you want a big reward, you have to usually take a big risk.”

The truck-sized telescope aims to peer into the cosmos and farther back in time.

Astronomers will also use the new telescope to probe black holes at the centers of galaxies, search for the chemical signatures of life on extrasolar planets and, closer to home, study the frozen oceans on moons at the edge of our own solar system.

The telescope will answer questions about the solar system, study exoplanets in new ways and look deeper into the universe than we’ve ever been able to.

Once the telescope launches, it will travel for about a month until it reaches an orbit about 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometres) away from Earth.

Plans call for the spacecraft to orbit the sun at this spot, called the second Lagrange point (L2).

The telescope comes equipped with a segmented mirror that can extend 21 feet and 4 inches (6.5 meters) — a massive length that will allow the mirror to collect more light from the objects it observes once the telescope is deployed in space.

The more light the mirror can collect, the more details the telescope can observe. Over the course of 29 days, Webb will unfold its mirrors and unfurl a protective sun shield the size of a tennis court. This process involves thousands of parts that must work perfectly in the right sequence.

Fortunately, each step can be controlled from the ground in case there are issues.

The concept for the telescope was first imagined as a successor to Hubble at a workshop in 1989, and construction on Webb first began in 2004.

Since then, thousands of scientists, technicians and engineers from 14 countries have spent 40 million hours building the telescope.

Now, Webb could help researchers understand the origins of the universe and begin to answer key questions about our existence, such as where we came from and if we’re alone in the cosmos. (ANI)