Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided to contest elections in 6 states -Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat- in the next 2 years, informed AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at National Council meeting of AAP on January 28.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on January 28 attended 23rd GoM meeting on COVID-19 in Delhi. In the meeting, Vardhan said, "70% of our COVID19 cases are in Maharashtra and Kerala. So far, 153 cases of UK variant have been detected in India."
Heavy security deployment continued at the Red Fort on January 28. A massive clash had broken out between protesting farmers and security forces at Red Fort in Delhi on Republic Day during tractor rally, after scores of protestors raided the iconic monument and unfurled religious flags. According to Delhi Police, around 390 personnel were injured after being attacked by agitating farmers in the national capital on Tuesday. Several properties were damaged.
As per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Delhi's air quality turned 'very poor' with overall air quality index (AQI) standing at 301. The temperature has dipped further in Delhi-NCR. A low level visibility was witnessed in several parts of the national capital on January 13. A thick layer of fog blankets the city today. Cold waves have tightened its grip in Delhi and adjoining cities. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 4.8 degree Celsius today.
For the second day in a row, a thick layer of smog enveloped the Nepal capital Kathmandu. Visibility in the valley went down dramatically in the last two days with the Air Quality Index shown by the US Embassy in the capital remaining over 300 which means "Hazardous". As a sudden drop in mercury settled down atmospheric pollutants, the Department of Environment requested people not to come out without genuine reasons. The department also stated that the air quality in other major cities like Nepalgunj and Biratnagar will be deteriorating and people should be cautious. The PM 2.5 levels of more than 150mg/m3 are considered extremely dangerous for human health, and people are recommended to stay indoors. According to IQ Air, a Swiss air quality technology company, overall air quality index of the Valley today stood at 437mg/m3 - the worst in the world. In order to address the problem, the government earlier had introduced a provision that allows authorities concerned to declare an air pollution emergency whenever the air quality index goes over 300 (mg/m3). However, none of the concerned authorities has sent out a signal in this regard as the nation is reeling through the COVID-19 pandemic where pollution might worsen complexities among infected ones. AQI is a composite measurement of the concentration of particulate matter below 10 and 2.5 microns, carbon monoxide, sulphur and nitrogen dioxide and ground ozone. Reeling above the mark of 300, Kathmandu is expected to get rid of smog only after heavy rainfall.
Fog and cold continue to grip the national capital, even as the city is struggling with rising pollution. Though the overall AQI (air quality index) in Delhi improved slightly to 'very poor' from 'severe' category on December 26, according to SAFAR-India. Intense cold waves have disrupted normal life in parts of the northern India. The visibility was extremely reduced in multiple areas.
CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) and SpiceHealth launched genome sequencing lab at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on January 14. It has been launched to identify and contain the new mutant variant of COVID-19. The number of persons found infected with the mutant UK strain of COVID-19 rose to 109.
The first consignment of 'Covaxin', the COVID-19 vaccine by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech arrived at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Jan 13. Three boxes of 'Covaxin' are also being taken to Kurukshetra in Haryana from Delhi airport. The COVID vaccination drive will start in India from Jan 16.
On January 12, the COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' arrived to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. It was dispatched by Pune's Serum Institute of India today. CEO of Delhi International Airport (DIAL), Videh Kumar Jaipuriar said, "Temperature-controlled facility, ranging from -20 degrees Celsius to +25 degrees Celsius, at our two Cargo terminals can efficiently and safely handle COVID-19 vaccines. Both terminals can handle around 5.7 million vials in a day." The first consignment of vaccine will also arrive to Gujarat's Ahmedabad. The Additional Director of Family Welfare Department of Gujarat, Dr Nilam Patel said, "2.76 lakh doses arriving here today will be given to Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Bhavnagar zones." The COVID-19 vaccination drive will start in India from Jan 16.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Delhiās health system didnāt collapse during Covid due to reforms and better management. Kejriwal was speaking at a Republic day event in Delhi. The Chief Minister of Delhi even hoisted the Indian flag at the event at Delhi Secretariat. The chief minister said despite drying up of tax revenue due to the pandemic, the AAP government managed to pay salaries to its employees. While talking about the pandemic, Kejriwal said that over 3.12 lakh people recovered under home isolation that was started first in Delhi. āIn developed countries, patients were lying on floors in corridors. We studied it and understood that everyone who got sick was taken to hospital, even those with mild symptoms. Doctors in Delhi came up with home isolation. We decided that asymptomatic patients would be treated at home,ā said Kejriwal. Watch the full video for more.
Credit: HT Digital Content Duration: 04:09Published
Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal hoisted national flag on January 25 at Delhi Secretariat to mark Republic Day celebrations. "I hope this year we'll get rid of COVID-19. It was a difficult phase. People lost jobs, it was tough for govt too as no tax was received and we wondered how to pay salaries to our employees," Kejriwal said. Nation will celebrate its 72nd Republic Day on January 26 (Tuesday).
After witnessing the shortest-ever Diwali break of 5 days, Surat's diamond industry experienced an increase in export of diamonds. In comparison to 2019, export of diamonds increased by 92% in November, this year. This is because of the halt the industry suffered for 4-5 months. Diamond units got a chance to recover from the losses they suffered during lockdown.
On eve of Christmas, Jammu and Kashmir Government organised special event in Srinagar. To bring cheer among people, Department of Tourism along with Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) organised the event. Director of Kashmir Tourism, Nissar Ahmad Wani said, "Today, we are celebrating Christmas Eve because on the day of Christmas, the fathers of church are not able to come out. We wanted to celebrate it on a good level so we have organised cultural programs, carols etc. Our aim was to celebrate Christmas and to pray god to bless us with a great year." A number of people irrespective of the religion attended the event. A cake-making competition was also organised there. A cake-maker named Arwah Siraj said, "This is a very good thing that Dept of Tourism and SKICC organised this event where people from different religion are celebrating Christmas together. This is a very big thing that such big event is organised post COVID-induced lockdown. This is the speciality of Kashmiris that we celebrate the festivals together no matter it is Eid, Diwali or Christmas." Cake was distributed among the attendees to celebrate Christmas. The cultural program was also held to mark the celebration. The special event also gave the message of brotherhood and communal harmony.
As Gujarat saw rise in COVID-19 cases post Diwali, it has become necessary for the citizens to wear masks and follow basic guidelines to again defeat the virus. With this aim, a tea seller in Vadodara city is distributing free masks with a cup of tea to his customers. Sapan Machi, who runs his tea stall named 'Shree Sainath Tea Center' in Bajwada area, is doing his part to ensure Gujarat gets past what can be called a second wave of coronavirus in the western state. Sapan has so far distributed around 650 masks to his customers, and has pledged to continue this good deed till the virus is eliminated.
The 16th edition of Airtel Delhi Half Marathon was flagged off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on November 29. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju, flagged off the half marathon...
Some respite for Delhiites as air quality improved on November 27. A slight improvement in the Air Quality Index as it stands in 'moderate' category as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data...
No respite for Delhiites, as Air Quality Index was in 'very poor' category in parts of national capital on November 24. In Patparganj, the AQI stood at 400, in ITO at 388, RK Puram at 366 all in..
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