JournaBulletin - National - Week 23

NATION THIS WEEK 

1. India Starts Administering Booster Shots for Frontline Workers, Seniors 

In response to an increase in infections, India has begun offering priority groups booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Health and frontline professionals, as well as individuals over 60 years old with comorbidities, are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. 

The initiative began as India is dealing with an increase in Covid infections caused by the Omicron strain of the coronavirus. Early research from other nations suggests that a booster immunisation may give further protection against Omicron 

2. ISRO Appoints New Chairman 

S Somanath has been named the nee Chief of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) accepted S Somanath's appointment to the office of Secretary, Department of Space, and ISRO Chairman on January 12, 2022, for a three-year term beginning on the day of his appointment. 

S Somanath is the current Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). He will succeed K Sivan as the new Chairman of ISRO. Kailasavadivoo Sivan's extended-term expired on January 7, 2022. 

3. 9 Killed, 45 Injured as Express Train Derails In West Bengal 

On Thursday, 12 coaches of the Guwahati-Bikaner Express train derailed in Maynaguri town in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district. At least 9 people have been killed, while 45 more have been injured. 

According to West Bengal government authorities, at least 50 injured people were rescued. According to accounts, 10 people have been severely injured. 24 of the injured were sent to Jalpaiguri district hospital, while 16 were taken to Moynaguri government hospital. According to New Frontier Railway authorities, the critical passengers would be transferred to the North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri. 

4. Day after quitting as UP cabinet minister, arrest warrant issued against Swami Prasad Maurya 

A local court issued an arrest warrant against BJP MLA Swami Prasad Maurya on Wednesday, a day after he resigned as a cabinet minister in Uttar Pradesh's Yogi Adityanath-led government. 

Swami Prasad Maurya's arrest warrant was issued in connection with a seven-year-old case. In 2014, a complaint was filed against Maurya for allegedly uttering offensive comments against Hindu gods. 

5. India Open 2022: PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen progress to the semi-finals 

PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen progress to the semi-finals [Courtesy: Reuters, BAI]

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu has advanced to the semi-finals of the current India Open 2022, which is part of the BWF World Tour tournament series. Lakshya Sen, on the other side, defeated shuttler HS Prannoy 14-21, 21-9, 21-14 to qualify to the semi-finals. In a 36-minute encounter, Sindhu beat Ashmita Chaliha in straight sets, 21-7, 21-18. 

The 26-year-old from Hyderabad progressed to the women's singles last four, where she will face Thailand's sixth seed Supanida Katethong, who entered the semifinals when Singapore's third-seeded Yeo Jia Min withdrew due to "high fever." Sen, who is seeded third, will face either Malaysia's Ng Tze Yong or Ireland's Nhat Nguyen in the semifinals. 

Author:

Vasundhara Tiwari