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Jupiter, Saturn to form ‘The Great Conjunction’ tonight; first time in over 400 yrs

New Delhi (NVI): Two of the biggest planets of the solar system – Jupiter and Saturn – will form ‘The Great Conjunction’ in the sky tonight.

The Great Conjunction is a rare astronomic event that will occur tonight. The two planets will nearly overlap to form a “double planet,” an event that hasn’t been visible since the Middle Ages.

Although, the planets regularly appear to pass each other in the solar system, with the positions of Jupiter and Saturn being aligned in the sky about once every 20 years.

It’s been nearly 400 years since the planets passed this close to each other in the sky, and nearly 800 years since the alignment of Saturn and Jupiter occurred at night, as it will for 2020, allowing nearly everyone around the world to witness this “great conjunction.”

“The distance between the planets will remain same but the angle of viewing it from Earth will be aligned. From the Earth, the two planets will be viewed only 0.1 degrees apart,” said Dr. Yashwant Gupta, Director of NCRA, National Centre for Radio Astrophysics.

Despite appearing super close, Jupiter and Saturn will actually be more than 450 million miles (730 million km) apart. Earth, meanwhile, will be 550 million miles (890 million km) from Jupiter.

A telescope will not only capture Jupiter and Saturn in the same field of view, but even some of their brightest moons.

Their next super-close pairing is expected in March 15, 2080.

According to Nasa, here’s how you can watch the phenomenon yourself:

-Find a spot with an unobstructed view of the sky, such as a field or park. Jupiter and Saturn are bright, so they can be seen even from most cities.

-An hour after sunset, look to the southwestern sky. Jupiter will look like a bright star and be easily visible. Saturn will be slightly fainter and will appear slightly above and to the left of Jupiter until December 21, when Jupiter will overtake it and they will reverse positions in the sky.

-The planets can be seen with the unaided eye, but if you have binoculars or a small telescope, you may be able to see Jupiter’s four large moons orbiting the giant planet.

Govt identifies new routes for RO-PAX, ferry services via inland water

File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Shipping identifies new routes for RO-RO (Roll-on/Roll-off), RO-PAX and ferry services on various routes across the nation to promote the supplementary mode of the transportation through coastal/inland water.

The ministry is desirous of facilitating the companies to operate these services through Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL), to provide the required support to make the project operational.

According to an official statement, “Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has been working continuously for the promotion of Coastal Shipping under Sagarmala Programme.”

The Sagarmala programme is the flagship programme, to promote port-led development in the country through harnessing India’s 7,500 Km long coastline and potentially navigable waterways, it added.

Under this, MoPSW has identified domestic locations namely Hazira, Okha, Somnath Temple, DIU, PIPAVAV, Dahej, Mumbai/JNPT, Jamnagar, Kochi, Ghogha, Goa, Mundra and Mandvi, the ministry said in a statement.

Besides, six international routes, connecting 4 international destinations namely Chattogram (Bangladesh), Seychelles (East Africa) Madagascar (East Africa) and Jaffna (Sri Lanka) from Indian major coastal port towns for the commencement of ferry services through inland waterways.

The ministry has recently implemented one of ferry routes by deploying Ro-PAX vessel ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha, the statement stated.

This ferry service reduced the distance between Ghogha and Hazira from 370 Km to 90 Km and travel time from 10 to 12 hours to about 5 hours. This will result in huge savings of fuel which was approx. 9000 litres per day, it added.

Further, to replicate the success of the above business model, MoPSW now encourages the private operator to identify the routes, which offers potential to commence the RO-RO, RO-PAX ferry service based on the localized demand to promote the supplementary and sustainable mode of the transportation through coastal/inland water.

The purpose is to create a supplementary mode of transportation, which will not only be beneficial for the daily commuters, tourists’ movement and cargo transportation but also helpful in reducing carbon footprint by shifting to environment-friendly mode of transportation from rail and road, the statement further said

It will provide impetus to the tourism industry, create job opportunities in the coastal regions and help saving in terms of both cost and time for the users besides decongesting road and rail networks.

Apart from that, the Sagarmala Development Company Ltd will support the initiative by providing equity to the project in SPV framework, if required, and provide other assistance.

This will also facilitate the private operator(s) including obtaining various permissions and approvals from regulatory and statutory government authorities, the statement added.

-RJV

India’s active COVID caseload drops to 3.03 lakh, lowest in 161 days

COVID-19 states
(Representational/file photo)

New Delhi (NVI): The total active coronavirus caseload in India dropped to 3.03 lakh mark and currently stands at 3,03,639 today, the lowest in 161 days, according to the Ministry of Health.

“This is the lowest in 161 days. The total active cases were 3,01,609 on July 12, 2020,” the Health Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also said, India’s present active caseload consists of just 3.02 per cent of total positive cases. The new recoveries have led to a net decline of 1,705 in the total active cases.

In the past 24 days, the daily new recoveries recorded in the country have been more than the daily cases registered, the statement said.

It added that the number of 24,337 new cases were registered in the last 24 hours and 25,709 have been cured and discharged during the same period.

Meanwhile, the rising recoveries have also improved the recovery rate to 95.53 per cent today. With this, the total recovered cases stand at 9,606,111. These are amongst the highest globally.

The gap between recovered cases and active cases is bridging fast and presently stands at 93,02,472.

As many as 71.61 per cent of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 States and UTs, the ministry noted.

“Kerala has reported the maximum number of single day recoveries with 4,471 newly recovered cases an 2,627 people recovered in West Bengal followed by 2,064 in Maharashtra,” it said.

About 79.20 per cent of the new cases are from 10 States and UTs, the ministry said, adding that, “Kerala reported the highest daily new cases at 5,711. It is followed by Maharashtra with 3,811 new cases. West Bengal recorded 1,978 new cases.”

Furthermore, in the past 24 hours, 333 case fatalities have been reported. Ten states and UTs account for 81.38 per cent of the new deaths.

Out of these, Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (98), while West Bengal and Kerala follow with 40 and 30 daily deaths, respectively.

Apart from that, India has one of the lowest deaths/mn population globally (105.7), the ministry said

“Focussed measures including targeted testing, early identification, timely isolation & prompt hospitalization and standard treatment protocol have ensured that daily fatalities are under 400,” it added.

-RJV

EU states suspend travel from UK over new Covid strain

New Delhi (NVI): European countries have started suspending all incoming air travel from the UK amid mounting concern over a new strain of Covid-19.

Germany, France and Ireland are the latest to have suspended travel, announcing the moves shortly after Austria, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium made similar decisions.

Bulgaria has also suspended travel from Britain.

The new variant of coronavirus apparently native to Britain is up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the original and has spread quickly in London and south-east England.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday introduced a new tier four level of restrictions for those areas, scrapping a planned relaxation of rules over the Christmas period for millions of people.

Further afield, the Czech Republic has imposed stricter quarantine measures for people arriving from Britain.

In addition to this, Iran’s health ministry has ordered flights from Britain to be suspended for two weeks. Israel said it was barring entry to foreign citizens travelling from Britain, Denmark and South Africa. Kuwait has added Britain to a list of “high-risk” nations and banned flights.

Furthermore, Colombia has suspending flights to and from the UK starting Monday and Chile has introduced mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone who visited the UK in the last fortnight.

Turkey and Morocco have announced they will be suspending air travel from the UK, while the official Saudi Press Agency reports Saudi Arabia is also suspending international flights for one week.

Canada has halted flights from the UK for 72 hours.

-CHK

Northwest India to get relief from severe cold conditions, says IMD

Northwest India likely to get relief from severe cold conditions
Representational/file image

New Delhi (NVI): The northwest and adjoining central India is likely to experience slight relief from the current spell of severe cold wave conditions from December 22, the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) said.

According to the IMD’s weather bulletin, a gradual rise in minimum and maximum temperatures by 2-3 degree Celsius will be seen over plains of northwest and adjoining central India during the next 24 hours.

“No cold day conditions likely to prevail over northwest and adjoining central India during the next two days except East Uttar Pradesh,” the weather agency added.

Moreover, the current spell of cold wave/cold day conditions and dense to very dense fog is likely to continue at a few places over east Uttar Pradesh on December 21 and at isolated places over the same area during subsequent two days.

“Current spell of cold wave/severe cold wave conditions are likely to continue over Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal and interior Odisha during next two days,” IMD said in its bulletin.

The Met department also took to Twitter and stated that, “Today, cold wave conditions observed at isolated places over east Rajasthan, east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha.”

“As per the forecast, minimum temperatures increased by 1-2 degree Celsius in past 24 hours over most parts of Punjab, Haryana, west Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan,” IMD tweeted.

Apart from this, in Delhi, the minimum temperature this morning increased by a few notches and was recorded at 5.5 degrees Celsius, which is 3 degree below normal temperature.

The maximum temperature in the national capital is likely to settle around 22 degrees Celsius today, IMD said.

However, the met department consider to be a cold day when the minimum temperature drops below 10 degree Celsius and cold wave happen when it is below 4.5 degrees.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases surge past 76.7 million worldwide

coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 76.7 million people around the world have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, while the death toll has crossed 16,92,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. Over 43.2 million patients have recovered from the deadly disease globally.

The number of coronavirus infections in the US have surpassed 17 million and currently stand at 17,844,688, while the number of fatalities caused due to the deadly contagion have exceeded 3,17,000 in the country.

Brazil’s coronavirus cases have crossed the 72 lakh-mark and stands at 7,238,600 while the number of deaths have surged past 1,86,000 in the country.

Meanwhile, Canada has halted flights from the UK for 72 hours amid reports of a new, more contagious strain of the virus.

South Korea recorded its highest daily death toll from the coronavirus, health authorities said on Monday, as a surge in infections strains the health system and prompted police raids on venues suspected of violating social distancing rules.

As of midnight Sunday, there were 24 additional deaths, bringing the country’s total to 698, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said.

Mexico’s health ministry on Sunday reported 6,870 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 326 more fatalities, bringing the country’s totals to 1,320,545 cases and 118,202 deaths.

Furthermore, China recorded 23 new Covid-19 cases on December 20, the same number of cases from the previous day, said the country’s health authority on Monday.

-CHK

India’s Covid tally reaches 1.05 crore, death toll at 1.45 lakh

COVID cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India has reported 24,337 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the overall caseload to 10,055,560, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The country’s death toll has reached to 1,45,810 with 333 fatalities reported during this period.

However, this is for the 8th consecutive day when fewer than 30,000 new cases, less than 350 deaths were reported in the country.

Notably, 96,06,111 patients have been cured and recovered all over the country while active cases remained below 3.10 lakh and stands at 3,03,639.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increase to 18,96,518, followed by Karnataka with 9,09,469 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,78,723 positive cases.

Other states with a high virus hit included Tamil Nadu (8,06,891), Kerala (7,05,869) and Uttar Pradesh (5,74,631).

Meanwhile, of the total deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 48,746 fatalities, followed by Karnataka with 12,009 deaths.

Delhi also reported 1,091 new COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours, taking the tally to 6,17,005 while the death toll from the virus has reached 10,277 in the national capital.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, more than 16.20 crore samples tested for COVID-19 up to December 20. Of these, 9,00,134 samples were tested yesterday.

Furthermore, the health ministry has called a meeting today of its joint monitoring group on COVID-19 to discuss a mutant coronavirus that has spread rapidly in the UK, as per the reports.

 

-RJV

 

 

Earthquake of magnitude 3.7 hits Leh

Mild earthquake hits Delhi
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): An earthquake measuring 3.7 magnitude on the Richter scale struck Leh of the Union Territory of Ladakh this morning, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).

“Earthquake of Magnitude: 3.7, Occurred on 21-12-2020, 08:33:46 IST, Lat: 33.66 & Long: 76.64, Depth: 5 Km ,Location: 79km SW of Alchi (Leh), Ladakh,” the NCS tweeted.

However, there were no reports of any loss of life or damage to property due to the earthquake so far.

Earlier on December 3, a mild earthquake measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale occurred near Kargil in Ladakh.

-RJV

 

Saudi Arabia deports 258 Pakistanis for their involvement in criminal activities

UDAN scheme
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): A Saudi flight carrying 258 Pakistanis deported from Saudi Arabia landed in Multan today. According to the Saudi government, these Pakistani citizens were deported for their alleged involvement in criminal activities.

A team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested the suspects and took them into their custody, reports Geo News.

This is the second such deportation in less than a week as last Wednesday, a flight carrying 30 Pakistanis deported from Greece reached Islamabad, while 139 deportees from Saudi Arabia had arrived in Multan. All the deported Pakistanis were found to be involved in criminal activities, according to the Saudi government.

Geo News further reported that on a “request” from the Embassy of Greece, the Pakistan foreign ministry had asked its Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to allow the flight to land on Pakistani soil.

Thousands attend PTM rally in Pak demanding release of Pashtun leader Ali Wazir

Thousands attend PTM rally in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa demanding release of Pashtun leader

New Delhi (NVI): Thousands of people today participated in a “peace seminar” by Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) party in Jani Khel town in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan to demand immediate release of Pashtun leader Ali Wazir who has been remanded in police custody till December 30 by an anti-terrorism court.

Locals turned up at the seminar in large numbers which soon turned in a huge gathering and demanded the release of PTM leader Ali Wazir and other activists from the party forcibly arrested by the Pakistani army and police.

An anti-terrorism court yesterday remanded in police custody Wazir and three others in a case pertaining to allegedly using provocative language against state institutions at a gathering in Karachi, reported Dawn.

Wazir was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a case registered against him and several leaders of the PTM in Karachi after a recent public meeting by the country’s opposition.

The authorities have accused the PTM leaders of committing several offences, including hatching a criminal conspiracy and passing derogatory remarks against state institutions, as per local media reports.

Notably, Wazir’s arrest came at a time when the Pakistan ruling party is facing growing protests.

Several human rights activists and opposition political parties have also condemned the arrest of Wazir, who is also a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan.

Pertinent to mention here that Pashtuns are a minority population in Pakistan and they have been targeted by the military for a long time, besides facing ethnic stereotyping at the hands of the Pakistani state and its security forces.

-ARK

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