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India has recorded 2,64,202 new COVID-19 cases, which is 6.7% higher than the previous day. Currently, the active caseload of the country stands at 12,72,073 cases, on Friday.

Date        COVID-19 cases registered

January 14    2,64,202

January 13    2,47,417

January 12    1,94,720

January 11    1,68,063

January 10    1,79,000

January 9    1,59,632

Around 315 people succumbed to COVID-19 yesterday, taking the tally to 4,85,350, as per the health ministry. The death toll has reportedly increased over 70% in the last seven days compared to the week before that.

Around 1,09,345 people have been recovered so far in the last 24 hours. The recovery rate also stands at 95.20%, according to the data by the Union Health Ministry.

The weekend curfew in Delhi will come into effect from Friday night and continue till 5 am on Monday, putting on hold all non-essential activities. The curfew, beginning at 10 pm on Friday, was imposed by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on January 1 in the wake of a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said although Delhi is witnessing a sharp spike in Covid cases, there is no reason to worry. He further asserted that hospitalisation and death rates are low and asked people to be responsible while assuring them that the government has made all the arrangements to meet any medical exigency.

Here’s a look at what will remain open and shut during the 2-day curfew:

Following the Supreme Court’s observation that the decision to suspend 12 BJP MLAs from the Maharashtra Assembly for one year is prima facie unconstitutional as there is a constitutional bar to it operating beyond six months, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is likely to tread cautiously on this issue.

On 11 January, while hearing the petition of 12 BJP legislators challenging their suspension for 1 year from the state Assembly, the apex court said that while the House has the power to suspend a member, it cannot be for more than 59 days and pointed out that under Article 190(4) of the Constitution, if a member of a House is absent from all meetings without its permission for a period of 60 days, the House may declare the seat vacant. Terming the move against the MLAs as “worse than expulsion”, it said that each constituency has an equal amount of right to be represented in the House.

A meeting of the Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) for Punjab Assembly elections took place on Thursday (January 13, 2022) through video conferencing in which discussion was held to finalise candidates.

The first list of Congress candidates for Punjab polls will be out soon. Interestingly, Chief Minister Charanjeeet Singh Channi, who is currently representing the Chamkaur Sahib seat in Punjab Assembly, is likely to contest from two seats. 

According to sources, Congress has finalised the list of more than 70 candidates which include a large number of sitting MLAs. Another round of the CEC meeting will be held and the first list of Congress candidates is likely to be announced on Friday.

About 10 million are expected to participate in the first-ever global Surya Namaskar demonstration programme organised by the ministry of Ayush today on the occasion of Makar Sankranti to commemorate the journey of the sun to the Northern Hemisphere. Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ayush, is expected to address the people and give his message on Surya Namaskar.

As many as 13 rounds of Live Surya Namaskar will be conducted on DD National from 7am to 7.30am during which leading Yoga masters and gurus from global institutions will share their messages. In view of rising coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, the Ayush ministry has advised to perform 'Surya Namaskar' from home and upload videos on the links used for registration.