NEWS

Thirty three samples of 122 tested fortnightly for Covid-19 genome sequencing have shown that 26 of them were the Delta variant in Goa. The samples were taken when the second wave of the pandemic was at its peak in May, said state epidemiologist Dr Utkarsh Betodkar.

While reports for 89 samples are awaited from Pune, of the 33 received by the Goa government, six were the Kappa variant and one of Alpha.

While the new Delta plus variant, that has been found in Maharashtra has manifested in the border district of Sindhudurg, no case of the Delta plus variant has been found in Goa so far, Betodkar said.

All the Benches of the Punjab and Haryana High Court will continue hearing cases through video conferencing from June 28 onwards due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As per an order passed by the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, with a view to ensuring the safety of the judges, advocates, staff and litigants, the Chief Justice of the High Court has ordered that with the courts being held through video conferencing from June 28, mentioning for listing of all categories of cases will be done away with from June 28, and all the cases will be entertained by the DRR section (filing section) for listing of matters in urgent motion.

In case, there is a request for fixing the case on the same day, or on next court working day, it can be made only through online mentioning portal, available on the website of the High Court from 9 am to 9.30 am only on court working days.

As Punjab heads towards the Assembly elections, due early next year, the Aam Admi Party, looking to revive its fortunes, may find an ally in the Shiromani Akali Dal (United), a party that is now home to several senior leaders who walked out of the SAD but hold key to several constituencies, especially in the Majha region.

The SAD(U) came into existence in May this year and was was formed following the dissolution of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali), which was established by Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and Seva Singh Sekhwan and the Shiromani Akali (Democratic) that was launched by Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and his son Parminder Singh Dhindsa.

The two outfits, both breakaway factions of the SAD led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, had in April announced that they will be dissolving the two parties to form a new political outfit that will also contest the next year’s Assembly election. Dhindsa was named as the president of the new outfit while Brahmpura is its patron.

While the test positivity rate for Covid-19 has decreased in most districts of Andhra Pradesh, the rise in the number of black fungus cases has left officials in the state worried. The state has registered 2,772 black fungus cases so far, of which 922 needed surgery.

During a review meeting on Tuesday, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy said extra precautions need to be taken as the lockdown imposed in neighbouring states is being relaxed, and inter-state migration has resumed.

In many of the black fungus cases, an eye or portion of the jaw had to be removed to prevent the fungus from causing more damage. While 212 patients died, 1,232 have recovered and have been discharged. Principal Secretary (Health) A K Singhal said the state has enough stocks of injections and tablets to treat black fungus, and that hospitals have made separate arrangements to treat patients with black fungus symptoms. Officials said that most of the patients with black fungus symptoms, with swollen eyes or faces, are those who have recovered from Covid-19. A majority of them are also diabetics, an official said.