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Coronavirus latest updates: 400,000 fresh cases in India

By
Jyoti B
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So far, India reported 400,000 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the total caseload to 10,0 31,6 59. As many as 145,5 13 people have died of the disease till now and a total of 9,579,681 people recovered as per data from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW).

India is in the number one position in terms of the number of recovered coronavirus cases, followed by Brazil, according to the Johns Hopkins University, which has been compiling global COVID-19 data.

India is the second worst-hit nation in terms of COVID-19 cases after the US, while it is in the third spot in terms of fatalities globally after the US and Brazil, according to the JHU data.

Maharashtra’s coronavirus tally reached 1.89M after 3,994 people tested positive for the infection. A total of 9.55M patients were discharged after recovery.

So far, 17.79 lakh people have recovered. However, the fatality count went up to 48,574 with the death of 75 patients. Mumbai city reported 642 new cases, pushing its overall count to 2.85 lakh while its death toll rose to 10,970 as nine patients succumbed to the virus.

Measured over two successive fortnights— November 22-December 5 and December 5-18 — Kerala’s deaths from the novel coronavirus show an uptick from 341 to 367. In Tamil Nadu, the casualties have increased from 172 to 177 during the two 14-day periods examined by TOI.

With an addition of 423 new Covid-19 cases, the tally in Maharashtra’s Thane district has gone up to 2,38,528, an official said on Sunday. The district has also reported eight new deaths due to the viral infection, taking the toll to 5,871, he said. As of now, there are 4,547 active Covid-19 cases in the district, while 2,28,110 patients have recovered.

33 States and UTs have less than 20,000 Active Cases. Kerala & Maharashtra together account for 40% of total COVID-19 active cases.

World COVID-19 updates:

The global tally of coronavirus cases stands at 76,363,696. While 53,548,773 have recovered, 1,687,601 have died so far. The US, the worst-hit country, has 17,878,152 cases, and 320,766 have died from the disease there. It is followed by India, and  Brazil (7,163,912), Russia (2,791,220), France (2,442,990).

The head of U.S. vaccine distribution apologizes as at least 14 states are getting fewer doses than expected in the near term. As the world’s total cases top 75 million, Britain heads into a harsh lockdown, citing a new variant of the virus.

From the discovery of a new strain of virus in the United Kingdom, to 12 countries asking India for vaccine – here are the top news updates on the Covid-19 pandemic. India’s Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said that the country’s Covid recovery rate – over 95% – is the highest in the world.

Khyaal Rakhya Kar: Is Neha Kakkar’s pregnancy picture yet another promotional stunt?

By
Shivani Negi
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Neha Kakkar had sent shockwaves across the nation when she posted a picture cradling her belly. Going by the picture, it was assumed that the singer is pregnant with her first baby.

Neha, who got married to singer Rohanpreet Singh on October 24, had taken to her Instagram handle to share the picture along with the caption, “#KhyalRakhyaKar”. The picture showed Neha gently holding her pregnant belly while her husband Rohanpreet Singh supporting her in doing so.

The adorable picture received much love from many celebrities and well wishers including Kapil Sharma, Rochak Kohli, Harshdeep Kaur, Jay Bhanushali and Karanvir Vohra among others.

Neha’s brother and singer Tony Kakkar had also taken to comment section and written, ” main mama ban gaya”.

While Neha had not specifically mentioned that she is pregnant, going by her pregnant belly and her brother’s comment, it was presumed that the singer is indeed expecting her first baby.

However, in a new twist, a day after dropping the baby hint, it turned out that the picture was actually a cover photo of Neha and Rohan’s upcoming video titled “KhyaalRakhyaKar”. Sharing the same picture, but this time in a poster form, Neha wrote, “#KhyaalRakhyaKar 22nd December ♥️”

While it is now clear that the picture was a promotional stunt, it is still not clear whether the singer is pregnant for real or not. However, she was seen hiding her belly at airport on Friday.

HBO announces House of Dragon release date

By
Harshit
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Game of Thrones, Game of Thrones, House of Dragons, House of Dragons release date, House of Dragons shooting, Game of Thrones prequel, GOT,
Game of Thrones, Game of Thrones, House of Dragons, House of Dragons release date, House of Dragons shooting, Game of Thrones prequel, GOT,

The night king, the Winterfell, Targayen, Starks, Dragons, Nights Watch…… Its been more than a year since the we all last heard these words as the famous Game of Thrones series came to an end in last year’s May.

Game of Thrones was not only just a series for many but it changed the mindset and loved by the millions across the world. As the mega series came to an end the officials also announced that the prequel of the GOT will be the next project.

HBO has confirmed the dates of the long-awaited prequel of Game of Thrones, House of Dragons, the story of Targaryen 300 years before the mega story of GOT.

According to the official announcement the first season will be released in early 2022.

300 years set of before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will mark the presence of Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen, Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower.

ED attaches assets worth Rs 11.86 cr of Farooq Abdullah, others in money laundering case

By
Jyoti B
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The ED has attached assets worth Rs 11.86 crore of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah and others.

The attach is in connection with its money laundering probe linked to alleged financial irregularities in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, official sources said on Saturday.

Official sources said the agency has issued a provisional attachment order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the attached properties are located in Jammu and Srinagar.

The ED has attached Farooq’s properties at Sanjwan and Tanmarg in Jammu, and the residential building at Srinagar’s Gupkar Road and a commercial property at Residency Road. Apart from this, land from four different places in Jammu and Kashmir has also been attached.

Notably, the house on Srinagar’s Gupkar Road and Commercial Building on Residency Road has been built on government land and Farooq Abdullah has leased it. Apart from this, the house on Sanjwan is a government and Forest Department land which has been occupied by Farooq Abdullah and he built a house.

Micheal Vaughan trolled by Indian fans after he joked about the batting line-up

By
Harshit
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Former England captain Michael Vaughan made fun of Team India after the embarrassing defeat in the Adelaide Test against Australia, after which Indian fans have given him a befitting reply on Twitter.

Before the four-match Test series against Australia, let me tell you that Michael Vaughan had predicted that Team India would lose 0-4 in the Test series.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan had said that India would face 0-4 defeat in the four-match Test series played against Australia.

In response, the Indian fans said that when England comes to India to play a four-match Test series in February 2021, it can still be 4-0.

Michael Vaughan said, ‘India has to handle the tigers of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins. They have to play the new Kookaburra ball.

Gavaskar defends Indian batsmen after felling at 36 against Australia

By
Harshit
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Former captain Sunil Gavaskar defended the batsmen after the Indian team was bowled out for 36 runs in the second innings in the day-night Test match played against Australia.

He said that the batsmen should not be blamed for this completely on the other hand the pitch was pace friendly and Australian bowling extraordinary.

Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins shared nine wickets to put India on their lowest score in an innings of a Test match. In this match, the host team won by eight wickets.

Earlier, India’s minimum score in an innings of Test was 42, which he scored against England in June 1974. Gavaskar was a part of this match

2020: A year not for the Indian cricket team

By
Harshit
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Indian captain Virat Kohli, ended 2020 without an international century which is also his first such calendar year in his 12 year career.

India lost the first Test match against Australia and batting order collapsed at 36 runs in the first innings. None of the batsman managed to go beyond the single digit number against Ausralian pace attack headed by Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood.

Meanwhile year 2020 has been a less successful for the Indian team as they slipped down in the rankings after a long streak of 4 years. Later Virat and company also gone down in the rankings of ICC World Test Championship when the new points system were introduced.

Kohli scored more than seven international tons in 2019, 11 in 2018, and 11 in 2017. This year amid the pause on the game due to the COVID-19 pandemic Indian team surfaced the toughest tragedy at the end of the year.

India down at 36 for all, Aussies wins the first Test

By
Harshit
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Australia won the first Test match against India by 8 wickets. India batted first and scored 244 run and then Australian batting also collapsed 191 runs. Later while batting in the second innings Indian team dismantaled by the Australian bowling havocs.

Virat and company managed to score just 36 runs which is also the lowest in the history of Indian Test. India have gone six innings this year this without scoring 250 plus runs.

“Playing at the highest level there will always be collapses again and again. We have to accept our mistakes and understand what we need to work on. This is not club level cricket. There is pressure involved at different stages, and as batsmen we take a lot of pride in doing the job for the team,” said Virat Kohli.

“We definitely don’t feel like we are vulnerable to getting bowled out so cheaply and or vulnerable for a collapse on a regular basis. So I don’t think it is anything alarming. We can very well sit here and make a mountain out of a molehill,” he said.

“It is basically looking things in right perspective and knowing what we need to do as a team moving forward to Melbourne and how the structure needs to be built and plans need to be relaid rather than going too much into the past of what has happened and let it linger on in the future. That is not productive at all. The team does not think like that. You learn from your mistakes and move forward.”

India will play more three Test and from the next Test starting from 26 in Melbourne, the team will be without the services of captain Virat Kohli and there are speculations that KL Rahul will take back his top spot and Shubhman Gill may open the innings with Mayank Agarwal

Nitin Gadkari inaugurates 33 highway projects in Karnataka

By
Jyoti B
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Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Saturday (December 19) inaugurated and laid the foundation of 33 NH projects in Karnataka today via virtual mode.

Addressing the event, Nitin Gadkari said that for providing smooth connectivity to the ports for the benefit of trade and economy, 4-laning of the entire coastal road from Goa Border to Kerala Border connecting the port city of Belekeri, Karwar and Mangalore covering a length of 278 km have been taken up at a cost of ₹3,443 crore and the work has been substantially completed.

Also, in view of the safety of road users, three works for improving the safety by providing protective measures on Hill slopes in Shiradi Ghat on NH-75, Charmadi Ghat on NH-73 and Sampaje Ghat on NH-275 have been sanctioned amounting to ₹115 crore.

These projects include 1197 kms long roads worth Rs 10,904 crore. The event was presided over by Chief Minister YS Yeddiyurappa, and was attended by former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, Union Ministers Prahlad Joshi, Sadanand Gowda, Gen Dr V K Singh, ministers from the State and senior officers.

Paving the way for the development of Karnataka, these roads will enhance better connectivity, convenience and economic growth in the state.

Civic body mayors call off dharna near Delhi CM’s residence after 13 days

By
Jyoti B
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The dharna launched by the mayors and other leaders of the BJP-ruled municipal firms of urban center before of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence was called off after thirteen days.

The protesters, United Nations agency were on Associate in Nursing indefinite quick for the last 3 days, were offered juice by Union Housing and concrete Affairs Minister  Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta and also the co-incharge of the party’s town unit, Alka Gurjar.

“These mayors and leaders weren’t complaintive for themselves or the party, they were complaintive as a result of dues of Rs thirteen,000 large integer haven’t been paid and also the salaries of the sanitation staff and alternative   workers of the municipal firms area unit affected,” Puri same.

The agitation hard-to-please the Rs thirteen,000 large integer dues from the urban center government can continue in alternative forms, he same and hoped that the chief minister can have a “change of heart” and can notice solutions to the issues being round-faced by individuals.

The decision to decision off the dharna came amid a deteriorating health condition of the protesters, together with many ladies councillors, complaintive  within the open throughout the wave, urban center BJP’s media cell head Navin Kumar same.

Puri expressed regret that Kejriwal didn’t  meet the protesters even once  throughout their 13-day dharna.

The mayors and a number of senior leaders of the 3 municipal firms launched the indefinite fasting at the protest web site on weekday to demand the discharge of the Rs thirteen,000 large integer from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

Speaking within the Assembly on Friday, the chief minister same even courts have same the urban center government has paid all dues to the civic bodies.

Amit Shah warns Mamata amid TMC desertions 

By
Jyoti B
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Former TMC heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday joined the BJP in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah at a rally in West Bengal’s Midnapore. His formal induction into the saffron party has put to rest weeks of speculation about his political future.

After garlanding the statue of freedom fighter Khudiram Bose at his ancestral house in Midnapore, Shah in a veiled attack at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said – “Those who are involved in the low politics, they should not know that Khudiram Bose was from Bengal but he was equally belongs to India .”

To make his point, the senior BJP leader today got to parade 13 new faces who had joined his party, the most important of them being former West Bengal cabinet minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Others who joined the BJP today in Mr Shah’s presence were: East Burdwan MP Sunil Mondal from Trinamool and former Trinamool MP Dasarath Tirkey, along with MLAs Tapasi Mondal, Ashoke Dinda, Sudip Mukherjee, Saikat Panja, Shilbhadra Dutta, Dipali Biswas, Sukra Munda, Shyamapda Mukherjee, Biswajit Kundu, and Banasri Maity.

“I want to say it clearly that the BJP will form the next government in the state with more than 200 seats… political violence and intimidation by the TMC won’t yield any benefit. BJP president J P Nadda’s convoy was attacked, so many our party workers have been killed

“The more violence you (the TMC) perpetrate, the more stronger the BJP will emerge,” Shah said.

Kriti Sanon thanks fans, doctors after testing negative for covid-19

By
Shivani Negi
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Actor Kriti Sanon on Saturday revealed that she has tested negative for covid-19, while thanking fans for their warms wishes. In a Twitter post, she expressed gratitude to the doctors and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for all their assistance.

“Happy to inform everyone that I have finally tested negative for COVID-19! A big thank you to @mybmc officials, respected Assistant commissioner @mybmcwardKW Mr. Vishwas Mote and my doctor for all the help & assistance. And thank you all for the warm wishes and the love,” the actor wrote.

Kriti Sanon had tested positive for covid-19 on December 9. The actress had returned from Chandigarh after shooting for her upcoming comedy film “Second Innings” with Rajkummar Rao.

“I would like to inform everyone that I have tested positive for Covid-19. There is absolutely nothing to worry as I am feeling fine and have quarantined myself as per BMC and my doctor’s advice. So I am gonna ride this tide, rest it out and resume work soon. Till then, I am reading all the warm wishes and they seem to be working. Be safe guys, the pandemic hasn’t gone yet,” she had said back then.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kriti has a number of films which are scheduled to be released in 2021. She will soon be seen in Bachchan Pandey along with Akshay Kumar and will also feature in Mimi wherein she plays the role of a surrogate mother.

Congress to organise ‘Chintan Shivir’ to discuss party’s future

By
Shivani Negi
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Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Saturday chaired an important meeting attended by dissenters and came to the conclusion that a ‘Chintan Shivir'(brainstorming session) should be organised to discuss party’s future plans and strategies.

The four-hour-long meeting, which focused on discussing the ways to strengthen the party, was held at Gandhi’s residence. Besides former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh party in-charge Priyanka Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, B S Hooda, Ambika Soni and P Chidambaram were also present at the meeting.

“We discussed the future of the party. It was a constructive meeting in which senior leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi discussed the current situation of the party and ways to strengthen it,” news agency ANI quoted Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan as saying.

The meeting was held months after unprecedented dissent by 23 senior Congress leaders against party chief Sonia Gandhi.

Pawan Kumar Bansal, who was also one of the dissenters, was also present at the meeting. Addressing the media after the marathon meeting, he said, “There is already an election process in motion. There is an agenda before the party. The CEA is working on it.”

Meanwhile, on the eve of the crucial meeting Friday, the Congress had said that most of the leaders and party workers feel that Rahul Gandhi is the right person to lead the party.

“Yes the election of the Congress president will be held as per the electoral college…but we certainly feel and many people like me feel that Rahul Gandhi should lead the Congress party from the front. The final call will be his,” Congress communication department head Randeep Surjewala said at an AICC press meet.

“This is not a meet of any specific group of leaders. This is not a meet of any dissenters or rebels because we consider each leader, each worker of the Congress party as part of the family. And addressing the issues raised by some of the senior leaders, friends and colleagues, the Congress party had already decided to hold the election for the post of president of the Congress. That process is currently underway,” he had added.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train’s first pictures arrive

By
Jyoti B
-

Indians can now witness the first pictures of the bullet train, which probably will be the India avatar.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project has gotten a major push before this year comes to an end the Embassy of Japan in India shared some photos of the E5 Series Shinkansen bullet train.  

Earlier on September 14, 2017, PM Modi and then Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe had laid the foundation stone for Rs 1.08 lakh crore worth Mumbai-Ahemdabad rail project. 

Currently, the trains running on Mumbai-Ahemdabad route take over 7 hrs to travel the distance and flights take an hour. However, the bullet trains are expected to cover the 508-km stretch in 2 hrs. 

On Friday, the Embassy of Japan in India shared some photos of the E5 Series Shinkansen, which will be modified for use as a rolling stock of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project.

The bullet train project is PM Modi’s ambitious plan to modernize rail infrastructure. Kawasaki Heavy and India’s Bharat Heavy Electrics Ltd. will collaborate on the rolling stock, then Japanese PM Abe had said.

The government hopes the high-speed rail project would spur manufacturing and employment growth. Besides an estimated 4,000 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs for operations, the project is also expected to create 20,000 construction jobs.

It is worth adding that the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project which Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said was akin to a “white elephant” has run into more problems in the state. Slow pace of land acquisitions, legal and environmental hurdles has caused the project to progress at snail’s pace while the work on it in neighbouring Gujarat is progressing rapidly.

FDA authorises Moderna’s COVID vaccine for emergency use

By
Jyoti B
-

The United States on Friday authorized Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, paving the way for six million doses of a second vaccine to soon begin shipping across the hardest-hit country in the world.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Stephen Hahn said: “With the availability of two vaccines now for the prevention of Covid-19, the FDA has taken another crucial step in the fight against this global pandemic.”

The company said total 200 million doses have been ordered by the US government to date, and that it retains the option to purchase up to an additional 300 million doses. “Approximately 20 million doses will be delivered by the end of December 2020,” Moderna said.

The US FDA aprroval comes a day after a panel of outside advisers to the US drug regulators fully endorsed the vaccine candidate. Of the total 21 VRBPAC (Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee) members, 20 voted in favour of authorising Moderna vaccine, while one abstained.

US President Donald Trump congratulated the nation on the approval of second vaccine, saying “the Moderna vaccine is now available!”.

The decision marks the first regulatory authorization in the world for Moderna’s vaccine and validation of its messenger RNA technology. It came less than a year after the first Covid-19 case was identified in the United States.

The biotech company has worked with the US government to prepare for the distribution of 5.9 million shots as early as this weekend.

The FDA decision is based on results from a late-stage study of 30,000 volunteers that found the vaccine was nearly 95% effective at preventing illness from Covid-19 with no serious safety concerns.

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