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COVID-19: India registers 24,712 fresh cases, 312 fatalities

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The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 96,93,173 pushing the national recovery rate to 95.75 per cent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 per cent

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NEW DELHI:  India’s COVID-19 caseload rose to 1,01,23,778 with 24,712 new infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries surged to 96.93 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

The death toll increased to 1,46,756 with 312 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 96,93,173 pushing the national recovery rate to 95.75 per cent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 per cent. 

The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 3 lakh for the third consecutive day.

There are 2,83,849 active coronavirus infections in the country which comprises 2.80 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

It went past  60 lakh on September 28,  70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29,  90 lakh on  November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

According to the ICMR, 16,53,08,366 samples have been tested up to December 23 with 10,39,645  samples being tested on Wednesday.

The 312 new fatalities include 93 from  Maharashtra, 34 from West Bengal, 22 from Kerala and 21 from Uttar Pradesh.

A total of 1,46,756 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 48,969 from Maharashtra followed by 12,038 from Karnataka, 12,024 from Tamil Nadu, 10,347 from Delhi, 9,473 from West Bengal, 8,245 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,085 from Andhra Pradesh and 5,243 from Punjab.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of  Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

COVID positive Nagpur man with UK travel history suspected of carrying new strain

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NAGPUR (MAHARASHTRA): A 28-year-old man in Nagpur, who tested positive for COVID-19 on December 15, is suspected of carrying the new strain of COVID-19 found in the United Kingdom, administration of Government Medical College, Nagpur said on Thursday.

As per Dr Avinash Gawande, Superintendent, Government Medical College Nagpur, the patient, who returned from the UK on November 29, was tested at the airport on arrival but was found COVID-19 negative at the time.

“After seven days he stated showing symptoms and complained about the loss of smell. He was again tested for COVID-19 at Nandanvan public health clinic (PHC) and his Rapid Antigen test came on December 15,” said Dr Gawande.

He added that his family members were also tested positive for COVID-19.

“The family has a history of going to Gondia (in Maharashtra). On December 22, the man was admitted at the hospital. We collected two samples for testing. A sample has been sent for RT-PCR test and another to Pune for further examination,” the doctor added.

However, the Municipal Commissioner of Nagpur said that it cannot be confirmed whether the patient is carrying the new strain or not till the final test reports come.

“28-year-old male COVID positive patient, with travel history to the UK, has been admitted to a separate ward at Government Medical College Nagpur. His swab has now been sent to Pune for further investigation. After receiving the report from Pune, it can be said whether this patient is a new strain or an old strain,” said Radhakrishnan B, Municipal Commissioner, Nagpur.

Meanwhile, India has temporarily suspended all flight operations between India and the UK till December 31, 2020.

On December 20, Prime Minister Boris Johnson had informed the public that a new variant of the COVID-19 virus has been found in the UK.

“Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus and the potential risk it poses, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned,” he had tweeted.

IMA Scam: HC refuses to stay probe against IPS officer

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Pramesh Jain

The High court on tuesday refused to stay investigation into the involvement of Hemanth Nimbalkar, IPS but at the same time directed the CBI not to take coercive action against him.

The order was issued on Tuesday after Mr. Nimbalkar approached the Karnataka High court seeking quashing of FIR filed against him by the CBI.

Justice John Michael Cunha directed the Central Bureau of Investigation not to take coercive action against Nimbalkar.

The FIR filed by CBI against IMA founder and others including Mr. Nimbalkar for allegedly abetment to IMA activities while another separate FIR filed against him under Prevention of Corruption act for accepting illegal gratification in the form of electronic gadgets and other benefits to give favourable reports.

Refuting the charges Mr.Nimbalkar said that he has forwarded to his seniors which were submitted to him by his juniors.The report was not final as it has to be approved by his seniors, he said.

He further said that for the same offence two FIRs have been filed which is not permissible in the law.

Special public prosecutor P Prasanna Kumar argued that the witness and material for both the cases are entirely different.

It may be recalled that the then Assistant commissioner,LC Nagaraj facing similar charges had approached the court on the same ground and his petition has been dismissed by the court .
Moreover the CBI also assured the court that there was no proposal to arrest the accused officer but planned to concluded the investigation by April 2021.

Considering the arguments the court refused to stay investigation against Mr.Nimbalkar and directed the Investigating officer to continue investigation and file the status report in the next hearing.

Former Minister Varthur Prakash kidnapped case Cracked Six people arrested by Kolar police:

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Pramesh Jain

Kolar police have arrested six habitual offenders including Kaviraj associate of Ravi Pujari and cracked the kidnapping case of former MLA Varthur Prakash.

Close to a month of painstaking investigation, the Kolar police cracked kidnap case of former minister Varthur Prakash and arrested a gang of six habitual offenders.

Seemamth kumar Singh,Inspector General of police,Central range,who supervised the investigation,told reporters here that the accused Kaviraj is habitual offender having over 10 criminal cases in and around Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu.

The accused hailed from Himachal Pradesh but settled in Hosur working real estate and land broker. He formed a gang identifying people with money and abduct them to ransom.

Recently he came to know about Mr.Prakash business venture and decided to target. As per the plan,he abducted Prakash and his driver and demanded Rs 30 crore before settling it for Rs. 48 lakh.

The police who took up the investigations analyzed the CCTV footage at the coffee shop where the ransom was paid.

The police have also analysed call record details  of the accused phones zeroing in on the accused identified as S Likhith,Ullas,Manoj,Raghavendra and Praveen.

The police have also seized a bike used to get the ransom amount  two cars,lethal weapons and cash Rs. 20.5 lakh from.The accused.

The police continue massive manhunt for others accused who are on the run.Mr.Singh said that five special teams have been formed to probe the case.

Kaviraj was operating from outside and giving instructions to his associated over the phone.After his associates were arrested the police used one of the accused as bait to track down Kaviraj.

After his associate was asked by police to call him to come near Madhurai to meet him.kaviraj came to the spot but suspecting fishy he tried to escape.However the police chased him.For few kilometers in a car and arrested him.

However the associate of Kaviraj escaped from police custody.We have taken kaviraj into custody for further investigation Mr. Singh added.

FIR registered in Wilson Garden police station against Former councillor accused of threatening shopkeeper

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Pramesh Jain

The Wilson garden police registered a case against former BBMP councillor Dhanaraj for abusing and threatening a woman shop keeper over a trivial row on Monday.

Based on the complaint filed by Pooja Agarwal, 40 year old the police registered an FIR against  Dhanraj,charging him with criminal intimidation and trespass .

In her complaint Pooja said,Dhanraj who was former councillor for Dharmarayaswamy temple ward in chickpete came to her shop selling hardware products and asked for particular brand of pipes.

Pooja, was in the shop situated on Lalbagh road  KS garden along with her father in law,Sawarmal Agarwal,67,when Dhanraj visited the shop at around 2 pm.

As soon as she gave the price quotation,Dhanraj began to hurl abuses and created ruckus citing that she is charging exorbitant prices.

Pooja objected to his behaviour asking him to get out of the shop for which he threatened her with dire consequences.

He told me that we are outsiders and accused us of exploitation.He threatened us that he will stage protest against us and ensure that we should not continue to do business.

After filing a complain,Pooja also went to bbmp and filed representation with the BBMP administrative officer and BBMP Commissioner seeking protection as she is facing threat from Dhanraj said by Pooja Agarwal in her statement to media persons.

Senior officer said,A case has been registered in this regard in Wilson garden police station and we will take appropriate action after conducting a probe he added.

Inter-State Drug Racket Busted by JC Nagar police,Two Peddlers held 10kg Ganja Seized:

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Pramesh Jain

North Division Police of JC nagar police on Monday busted a inter-state drug racket and arrested two unemployed graduated red handed while they were trying to hand over drug consignment to their contacts after receiving the parcel from Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

The accused has been identified as,Sannad,24 and Mohammed Bilal,24,from Kerala and residing in Chandapura and HSR layout.The duo are commerce graduate and jobless .

DCP North,Dharmendra Kumar Meena,told media persons,D R,Nagaraj,Inspector JC nagar police station,based on credible information along with his team raided a place near UT college on Miller’s road and caught the duo while they were waiting for their contacts to deliver the consignment.

Inquiries revealed that the duo were assigned the job to receive the parcel from goods vehicle coming from Vishakhapatnam and hand it over to their contacts on millers road.

The duo said that the job assigned to them over the phone and they have not seen their handler.

The duo were promised RS.5,000 each for the job and given a mobile number of the person to whom the parcel had to be delivered.

The accused were told to send the location details to the number given and hand over the parcel only after confirming the contact numbers.

It is an inter state racket these accused are used as mules,during interrogation the accused confessed that it was their first time.However we are investigating to ascertain criminal background while efforts are on to track down their handlers and 10 kg Ganja seized from their possession.

A case under NDPS Act has been registered against the accused and further investigation is on.

Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant,has appreciated,Addl CP West,Soumendhu Mukherjee,DCP,North,Dharmendra Kumar Meena,ACP JC Nagar,Sub-division,Smt Reena Suvarna,PI,D R Nagaraj,and his team as,PSI,Vinod J, Mehaboob Saab,Sreemanth Rathod,Shivanand Kamath,Ramesh Thondihal,Veeresh has been appreciated for the commendable job done by them and suitable reward will be given to the team he added.

Techie spent almost ₹50 lakh,let go of his 3BHK dream to run a ‘Rice ATM’ for the needy in Hyderabad

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Techie spent almost ₹50 lakh,let go of his 3BHK dream to run a ‘Rice ATM’ for the needy in Hyderabad
Ramu Dosapati at Rice ATMRamu Dosapati

  • Ramu Dosapati, an HR executive in a corporate firm, has been running a ‘Rice ATM’ – a 24X7 supply of rice and other rations for the needy in Hyderabad since April 2020.
  • Over the months, Dosapati claims to have spent almost ₹50 lakh out of his own pocket.
  • From lockdown days to during Hyderabad floods, Dosapati has been helping out the needy in the city.

In the gruelling months of the coronavirus lockdown earlier this year, several stories of migrant workers and the poor being stranded without jobs and money emerged. This also led to the emergence of stories of Sonu Sood and the likes – the real heroes who went out of their way to help people out. And in the southern state of Telangana’s capital city Hyderabad, one such story is that of Ramu Dosapati.

Dosapati, an HR executive in a corporate firm, has been running a ‘Rice ATM’ – a 24X7 supply of rice and other rations for the needy in Hyderabad since April, 2020. Over the months, Dosapati claims to have spent almost ₹50 lakh out of his own pocket and has no intentions of claiming it back.


Just about a month into lockdown, Dosapati’s younger son wanted to have chicken for his birthday. Dosapati went to the nearest shop to buy chicken, only to find a security guard buying chicken for ₹2000. “I was quite surprised as to why this lady is buying so much chicken. When I asked her I got to know she was buying it as a treat for migrant workers sheltered nearby, who had run out of food. When I asked her about her salary, she said it was ₹6,000. That made me think that if a lady with ₹6,000 salary can spend ₹2,000 on the needy, why can’t I do the same?,” Dosapati told Business Insider.

In the next few days, Dosapati got to work. He went with the security guard to the place where the migrant workers were and made a list of 192 people who needed ration and other necessary items. “There were people who wanted to go back to their hometowns by walking over 400-500 kms, I asked them to stay back and told them I would help them out,” he said.

He started out an initial ₹1,50,000 from his savings to feed the needy. But the amount could only result in ration for a few days. And as the word spread about the Rice ATM, more and more people came forward asking for help. “Then I went to the local kirana store owner and requested him to lend out ration on my word. I broke my provident fund and showed him the receipt for the same, assuring him that the money would come to me and I would pay him,” he said.

Giving up his 3 BHK dream to feed the needy

Dosapati, who currently lives in a 1 BHK with his wife and two sons, also wanted a bigger 3 BHK. “My sons have been fighting for a long time as they want separate rooms,” Dosapati tells us. He had even selected a 3 BHK and sold land in his ancestral village for ₹38.5 lakh.

But one morning at 6 am, his apartment guard woke him up saying about 50-60 people had gathered outside and wanted to meet him. The word about ‘Rice ATM’ kept spreading and people wanted help. “That’s when my wife supported me and asked me to go ahead and carry on with the initiative,” he said.

He gave up on the 3BHK house and instead directed the money to helping out more people, even when floods struck Hyderabad.

Over time, there has been an outpouring of support from other groups and people to help his initiative, which Dosapati vets before taking any help. It’s been over 250 days since Dosapati has been running this initiative, and for now there’s stopping him.

Israel on cusp of fourth national elections in two years, after budget vote fails

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Israel on cusp of fourth national elections in two years, after budget vote fails

Jerusalem, Dec 22: Israel appeared headed to its fourth election in two years on Tuesday after a last-ditch effort to keep the government afloat and push off the automatic dissolution of parliament failed.

Negotiations meant to bring about a budget compromise between the government’s two main parties broke down early Tuesday and in a late-night Knesset session, members of the Likud and Blue and White parties voted against a proposal to postpone Tuesday’s budget deadline for another two weeks. The measure failed by 49 votes to 47.

If the government does not pass a budget by midnight Tuesday, Israeli law stipulates that the Knesset dissolve and triggers snap elections in 90 days. Most avenues to evade that deadline have been closed off.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud and Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party have been at loggerheads over the national budget issue since forming a unity government in May.

Netanyahu and Gantz had proposed pushing off Tuesday’s deadline by two more weeks in an effort to reach a compromise on the 2020 budget. But members of their own parties voted against the motion in a late-night, 11th hour break from party ranks.

We do not want elections and we voted against them this evening, but we are not afraid of elections because we will win! the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

Once parliament dissolves, Israelis will head to the polls in March for a fourth time since early 2019, this time in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, a major economic recession, and while Netanyahu is on trial for a series of corruption charges.

Netanyahu also faces a challenger from within his own camp, Gideon Saar, who broke from the Likud party earlier this month and has called for the long-ruling prime minister’s ouster. Several members of Netanyahu’s party who shot down Tuesday’s proposal are expected to join ranks with Saar.

‘My second life’: California nurse walks out of hospital after 8-month COVID-19 ordeal

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Last spring in a tragic role reversal, Pambuan became one of those patients – admitted to the intensive care unit of St. Mary Medical Center, her workplace for the past 40 years, where she was rendered unconscious by paralysis-inducing sedation and placed on a ventilator to breathe. A feeding tube was later added.

She came close to death on several occasions, her doctors later revealed. So dire was her condition at one point that end-of-life options were discussed with her family.

By the time she awoke and could breathe on her own again, she was too weak to stand. But she fought back and struggled through weeks of painful therapy to regain her strength and mobility, celebrating her 66th birthday in St. Mary’s acute rehabilitation ward in late October.

On Monday Pambuan beat the odds of her eight-month ordeal by walking out the front door of the hospital, drawing cheers, applause and exhilaration from colleagues lining the lobby to rejoice in her discharge.

“This is my second life,” Pambuan said moments earlier, as she prepared to leave her hospital room, accompanied by her husband, Daniel, 63, and their daughter, Shantell, 33, an aspiring social worker who spent months at her mother’s bedside as her patient advocate and personal cheerleader.

The spectacle of Pambuan striding slowly but confidently through the hospital lobby – she had insisted on making her exit without assistance of a wheelchair or walker, although was still connected to supplementary oxygen – marked a transformative victory for the diminutive but tough ICU nurse.

The outpouring of affection she received from colleagues – including many of the physicians, fellow nurses and therapists who took part in her care – also reflected a rare moment of communal triumph for the pandemic-weary hospital staff.

“This is what we live for … seeing our patients going home alive and in good condition,” said Dr. Maged Tanios, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at St. Mary. He said Pambuan’s recovery was especially rewarding since she is part of the hospital’s extended “family.”

Tanios said he was not aware of other St. Mary medical staff being admitted to the ICU for COVID. However, studies show frontline healthcare workers’ frequent, close contact with coronavirus patients puts them at higher risk of contracting the disease, hence the decision to give them top priority in getting immunized.

Pambuan’s discharge, ironically, coincided with the recent rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to medical workers, as well as a crushing surge in coronavirus infections that have overwhelmed hospitals, and ICUs in particular, across California.

Pambuan said she has no recollection of the four months she spent hooked to a breathing machine – from early May to early September – but recalls first waking up from deep sedation unable to move her extremities.

With encouragement from nursing staff and her daughter Pambuan said she grew determined to regain her mobility and her life.

“I said, ‘No, I’m going to fight this COVID,’” she recounted. “I start moving my hand (and) a physical therapist come and say, ‘Oh, you’re moving your hands,’ and I said, ‘Oh, I’m going to fight, I’m going to fight. I’m trying to wiggle my toes. I’m going to fight it.’”

Pambuan spent the last few months of her hospital stay undergoing physical and respiratory rehabilitation and will continue recuperation from home, while making peace, she said, with a change in pace.

“It’s going to be very difficult for me,” she said. “But I have to accept it, that I’m going to be on oxygen for a while and slow down a little bit.”

When or if she will return to work in the ICU remains an open question, she said.

In the meantime, Pambuan said she feels indebted to her co-workers for their “really professional” care, grateful for the support of loved ones and newly convinced of the power of optimism.

Her message to others in her shoes – “Don’t lose hope. Just fight. Fight, because look at me, you know. I’m going home and I’m walking.”

Donald Trump refuses to sign COVID-19 relief bill, seeks USD 2,000 stimulus payment

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Washington, Dec 23: US President Donald Trump has refused to sign the COVID-19 relief bill, saying the USD 600 stimulus payment to most Americans was not enough as he asked Congress to increase the amount to USD 2,000.

Trump, in a video posted on Twitter on Tuesday night, said that the bill delivered too much money to foreign countries, but not enough to Americans.

A few months ago, Congress started negotiations on a new package to get urgently needed help to the American people. It’s taken forever. However, the bill they are now planning to send back to my desk is much different than anticipated. It really is a disgrace, he said.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was part of the negotiations.

Despite all of this wasteful spending and much more, the USD 900 billion package provides hardworking taxpayers with only USD 600 each in relief payments, and not enough money is given to small businesses and in particular restaurants whose owners have suffered so grievously,” said the president in his video.

“I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low USD 600 dollars to USD 2,000, or USD 4,000 for a couple,” he said.

Congress passed the USD 900 billion pandemic relief bill on Monday night to provide cash to businesses and individuals, and resources for vaccination amidst the raging COVID-19 pandemic. The bill went to President Trump for his signature.

However, Trump said: “I am also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items in this legislation, and to send me a suitable bill, or else the next administration will have to deliver a COVID relief package. And maybe that administration will be me, and we will get it done”.

Trump’s proposal was immediately supported by House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Republicans repeatedly refused to say what amount the President wanted for direct checks. At last, the President has agreed to $2,000 Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it! Pelosi said in a tweet soon thereafter.

Congressman Brendan Boyle, who had initially moved a legislation for USD 2,000 cheque, welcomed the demand of President Trump.

I am the co-sponsor of legislation for USD 2,000 stimulus cheques. So, I welcome the sudden support of Trump, he said in a tweet.

With so many Americans suffering, Congress had one job. To help Americans and small businesses get through this crisis, not help every other country and every other pork project out there. Just once, don’t spend for the sake of spending. Know your priorities, Indian-American Republican politician Nikki Haley said.

Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has also been seeking an increase in stimulus cheques.

One USD 600 check isn’t enough. A weekly USD 300 of enhanced unemployment assistance isn’t enough. We’re putting money in people’s pockets, but in a crisis of this scale, people need and deserve so much more. I’ll keep fighting to deliver that, she said in a tweet on Monday.

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