West Bengal on High Alert After Nipah Virus Cases Confirmed

West Bengal has been placed under heightened health surveillance after two samples tested positive for Nipah virus, a highly lethal zoonotic disease. The confirmation was issued by the National Institute of Virology, Pune, after re-testing samples collected from two nurses undergoing treatment at a hospital in Barasat. The development has prompted swift containment and monitoring measures across multiple districts.

Rare Survival After an Indian Launch Failure

In an unusual post-launch outcome, a small foreign satellite managed to briefly operate and transmit data despite the failure of Indian Space Research Organisation’s PSLV-C62 mission.

While most payloads were declared lost due to a malfunction during the rocket’s third stage, a football-sized Spanish capsule unexpectedly separated from the launch vehicle and communicated with Earth for a short duration, offering valuable technical insights.

Avalanche Tragedy in the Swiss Alps

Former Olympic snowboarder Ueli Kestenholz has died after being caught in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps. His death was confirmed on January 13 by Swiss-Ski, following the incident in Valais. He was 50 years old.

Delhi High Court Clarifies Privacy Protection Under RTI

The Delhi High Court has observed that the PM CARES Fund enjoys statutory privacy protection under the Right to Information Act, even if it is assumed to be run, supervised, or controlled by the government.

India Marks a Diplomatic First at the United Nations

In a significant boost to India’s multilateral standing, a senior Indian diplomat has been nominated to head a crucial United Nations body dealing with global arms control and disarmament. The appointment reflects India’s expanding influence in international security debates, particularly on nuclear risk reduction and strategic stability.