The crowds that cheered the astronaut — about a quarter-million in Washington, four million in New York — adorned themselves in numerous ways. Some wore space helmets fashioned from cardboard and plastic. Others, less showily, wore buttons proclaiming John Glenn “the New Frontier man of the year,” a nod to John F. Kennedy’s famous phrase. Sixty years ago, Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, opening up the frontier of human exploration in space — a frontier that stretched to the moon and beyond. The flight of Friendship 7 made it all seem possible.

Glenn’s feat marked the start of a spectacular decade: spacewalks, trips around the moon, six lunar landings. Then the frontier receded. Since 1972, no human being has ventured outside Earth’s orbit. A generation has reached middle age without any memory of Americans on the moon.

That could change soon. If NASA’s plan holds, its Artemis program will land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon in 2025. And this, NASA says, is just the beginning. The agency envisions at least 10 lunar landings. Its administrator, Bill Nelson, is waging a campaign to beat other nations in placing “boots on the moon” — not just boots but also, in time, a base. And “the sooner we get to the moon,” NASA has said, “the sooner we get American astronauts to Mars.”

But why bother? There is certainly much of interest on Mars — NASA’s newest rover, Perseverance, and its companion, the tiny helicopter Ingenuity, have made that clearer than ever. What is less evident is the role, the value, of human explorers. To most Americans, machines seem sufficient to the task. A Morning Consult poll last year showed a general interest in space exploration but not in having humans do the exploring.

In 1961, when Kennedy proposed to send Americans to the moon, a senator warned that the administration had “a lot of missionary work” to do. That is surely the case today. Mr. Nelson has been making a persistent pitch for funding, but Congress appears unpersuaded. President Biden, for his part, has signaled support for Artemis but is more focused on the nation’s commercial and military capabilities in space, as well as the vantage point that space provides to observe climate change. Vice President Kamala Harris, the chair of the National Space Council, rarely mentions human spaceflight, stressing instead “the responsibility to look to our home planet.”

And reasonably so. Our planet has plenty to worry about, not least the damage we do to its atmosphere. But there is an argument to be made for the human exploration of space — a better argument, at least, than the White House and NASA have put forward. If the administration fails to sharpen and press its case, if it shies from insisting that humans, not just our inventions, should roam the heavens, the United States will likely cede the moon — and a good deal more than that — to more determined competitors.

Chief among them is China. Its goal is plain: to become a “great space power,” as President Xi Jinping has said. China’s Mars rover, arriving on the heels of our own, has been an impressive success; China also has a probe on the far side of the moon — a first for any nation. Its space station is nearly complete, while the International Space Station, after more than two decades orbiting Earth, approaches obsolescence and NASA turns to private companies to build and run its successors. Like the United States, China hopes to build a research station on the lunar surface. Unlike the United States, China gives no reason to doubt its resolve. It will also have a partner: Russia. The two countries have already begun to align their efforts.

Mr. Nelson cites an “aggressive” China as a reason for Americans to “get off our duff,” but a few national security questions require a fuller airing. What if, for example, China stakes out strategic positions on the moon? What if it asserts control over the resources it and other nations are searching for there: silicon, titanium and, not least, the water that is needed to sustain a human settlement? As Namrata Goswami, an expert on China’s space policy, has argued, “An advantage in accessing the vast wealth of the inner solar system could have an effect on the balance of power” on Earth.

If anyone is as bullish on the new frontier as China, it is the billionaires. Their ambitions, too, should spur NASA to stay in the game. Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk might or might not be visionaries, but they are easily the most powerful people on this planet to speak with a straight face about colonizing other ones. Mr. Musk warns of an “extinction event” that will require us to leave Earth behind. There is a certain egalitarianism in the idea of an escape hatch for humanity, though it is the egalitarianism of rats leaving a sinking (or overheating) ship. It would have to get pretty bad down here before ordinary people follow the billionaires into the black void of space rather than bid them adieu. Mr. Musk’s product placement of a Tesla in orbit and Mr. Bezos’ postflight performance in his cowboy hat leave one wary of their motives and nostalgic for the military bearing of Glenn. If space travel lost its novelty in the early 1970s, it might now be in the process of losing its dignity.

Of course, this takes nothing away from the achievements of Mr. Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX. Rarely in any industry has such boldness of imagination been matched by such brilliance in execution. The company is an indispensable partner to NASA; a SpaceX landing system will carry astronauts to and from the moon’s surface.

But there is an essential difference between exploration and colonization, and both are a far cry from commercialization. Left to the billionaires, space is less likely to become a haven for humanity than a playground for its wealthiest members. In that event, there will be no more John Glenns — no more astronauts to look up to and emulate, astronauts whose humility and awe in the vastness of space define them as much as their bravery does.

“The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not,” Kennedy said in 1962 at Rice University, warning that “no nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space.” Perhaps this logic has lost its power; perhaps Americans don’t care if the billionaires and China have the moon to themselves. The idea of space as a new frontier, too, might be tired, overworked. (During the Super Bowl, a Salesforce ad dismissed it with an “Eh.”) But the thrilling discoveries by Perseverance — the evidence of ancient Martian river deltas and lava flows — give eloquent testimony to the mysteries that await on the frontier. Robots like these are stunningly capable. Still, they cannot invent or imagine; they cannot drive the process of discovery in space any more than they do here on Earth. Only humans can lead, and to lead, humans must go.

Science “is simply the exploration of the unknown,” James Head, a planetary geologist at Brown who helped train the Apollo astronauts, told me, adding that “the moon is unknown. Mars is unknown.” Perhaps this is what NASA should say, and without apology: We don’t know what we’ll find. We don’t know what the moon and Mars can tell us about the origins of the universe and life on Earth and possibly beyond it. And that, above all, is the reason for going. Six days after his return to Earth, Glenn addressed a joint meeting of Congress. “What benefits are we gaining from the money spent?” he asked, acknowledging that it was too early to say. “But exploration and the pursuit of knowledge,” he said, “have always paid dividends in the long run — usually far greater than anything expected at the outset.” Why bother? This is why.

The crowds that cheered the astronaut — about a quarter-million in Washington, four million in New York — adorned themselves in numerous ways. Some wore space helmets fashioned from cardboard and plastic.

The crowds that cheered the astronaut — about a quarter-million in Washington, four million in New York — adorned themselves in numerous ways. Some wore space helmets fashioned from cardboard and plastic. Others, less showily, wore buttons proclaiming John Glenn “the New Frontier man of the year,” a nod to John F. Kennedy’s famous phrase. Sixty years ago, Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, opening up the frontier of human exploration in space — a frontier that stretched to the moon and beyond. The flight of Friendship 7 made it all seem possible. Glenn’s feat marked the start of a spectacular decade: spacewalks, trips around the moon, six lunar landings. Then the frontier receded. Since 1972, no human being has ventured outside Earth’s orbit. A generation has reached middle age without any memory of Americans on the moon. That could change soon. If NASA’s plan holds, its Artemis program will land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon in 2025. And this, NASA says, is just the beginning. The agency envisions at least 10 lunar landings. Its administrator, Bill Nelson, is waging a campaign to beat other nations in placing “boots on the moon” — not just boots but also, in time, a base. And “the sooner we get to the moon,” NASA has said, “the sooner we get American astronauts to Mars.” But why bother? There is certainly much of interest on Mars — NASA’s newest rover, Perseverance, and its companion, the tiny helicopter Ingenuity, have made that clearer than ever. What is less evident is the role, the value, of human explorers. To most Americans, machines seem sufficient to the task. A Morning Consult poll last year showed a general interest in space exploration but not in having humans do the exploring. In 1961, when Kennedy proposed to send Americans to the moon, a senator warned that the administration had “a lot of missionary work” to do. That is surely the case today. Mr. Nelson has been making a persistent pitch for funding, but Congress appears unpersuaded. President Biden, for his part, has signaled support for Artemis but is more focused on the nation’s commercial and military capabilities in space, as well as the vantage point that space provides to observe climate change. Vice President Kamala Harris, the chair of the National Space Council, rarely mentions human spaceflight, stressing instead “the responsibility to look to our home planet.” And reasonably so. Our planet has plenty to worry about, not least the damage we do to its atmosphere. But there is an argument to be made for the human exploration of space — a better argument, at least, than the White House and NASA have put forward. If the administration fails to sharpen and press its case, if it shies from insisting that humans, not just our inventions, should roam the heavens, the United States will likely cede the moon — and a good deal more than that — to more determined competitors. Chief among them is China. Its goal is plain: to become a “great space power,” as President Xi Jinping has said. China’s Mars rover, arriving on the heels of our own, has been an impressive success; China also has a probe on the far side of the moon — a first for any nation. Its space station is nearly complete, while the International Space Station, after more than two decades orbiting Earth, approaches obsolescence and NASA turns to private companies to build and run its successors. Like the United States, China hopes to build a research station on the lunar surface. Unlike the United States, China gives no reason to doubt its resolve. It will also have a partner: Russia. The two countries have already begun to align their efforts. Mr. Nelson cites an “aggressive” China as a reason for Americans to “get off our duff,” but a few national security questions require a fuller airing. What if, for example, China stakes out strategic positions on the moon? What if it asserts control over the resources it and other nations are searching for there: silicon, titanium and, not least, the water that is needed to sustain a human settlement? As Namrata Goswami, an expert on China’s space policy, has argued, “An advantage in accessing the vast wealth of the inner solar system could have an effect on the balance of power” on Earth. If anyone is as bullish on the new frontier as China, it is the billionaires. Their ambitions, too, should spur NASA to stay in the game. Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk might or might not be visionaries, but they are easily the most powerful people on this planet to speak with a straight face about colonizing other ones. Mr. Musk warns of an “extinction event” that will require us to leave Earth behind. There is a certain egalitarianism in the idea of an escape hatch for humanity, though it is the egalitarianism of rats leaving a sinking (or overheating) ship. It would have to get pretty bad down here before ordinary people follow the billionaires into the black void of space rather than bid them adieu. Mr. Musk’s product placement of a Tesla in orbit and Mr. Bezos’ postflight performance in his cowboy hat leave one wary of their motives and nostalgic for the military bearing of Glenn. If space travel lost its novelty in the early 1970s, it might now be in the process of losing its dignity. Of course, this takes nothing away from the achievements of Mr. Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX. Rarely in any industry has such boldness of imagination been matched by such brilliance in execution. The company is an indispensable partner to NASA; a SpaceX landing system will carry astronauts to and from the moon’s surface. But there is an essential difference between exploration and colonization, and both are a far cry from commercialization. Left to the billionaires, space is less likely to become a haven for humanity than a playground for its wealthiest members. In that event, there will be no more John Glenns — no more astronauts to look up to and emulate, astronauts whose humility and awe in the vastness of space define them as much as their bravery does. “The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not,” Kennedy said in 1962 at Rice University, warning that “no nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space.” Perhaps this logic has lost its power; perhaps Americans don’t care if the billionaires and China have the moon to themselves. The idea of space as a new frontier, too, might be tired, overworked. (During the Super Bowl, a Salesforce ad dismissed it with an “Eh.”) But the thrilling discoveries by Perseverance — the evidence of ancient Martian river deltas and lava flows — give eloquent testimony to the mysteries that await on the frontier. Robots like these are stunningly capable. Still, they cannot invent or imagine; they cannot drive the process of discovery in space any more than they do here on Earth. Only humans can lead, and to lead, humans must go. Science “is simply the exploration of the unknown,” James Head, a planetary geologist at Brown who helped train the Apollo astronauts, told me, adding that “the moon is unknown. Mars is unknown.” Perhaps this is what NASA should say, and without apology: We don’t know what we’ll find. We don’t know what the moon and Mars can tell us about the origins of the universe and life on Earth and possibly beyond it. And that, above all, is the reason for going. Six days after his return to Earth, Glenn addressed a joint meeting of Congress. “What benefits are we gaining from the money spent?” he asked, acknowledging that it was too early to say. “But exploration and the pursuit of knowledge,” he said, “have always paid dividends in the long run — usually far greater than anything expected at the outset.” Why bother? This is why.

Don’t cede the Space Race to China and the billionaires

The European Union on Monday added 22 officials of Myanmar's military junta to the bloc's sanctions list. Sanctions have also been imposed on four companies tied to the military regime.

The latest move means that 65 Myanmar officials have till now been hit by EU asset freezes and visa bans. Number of firms under sanctions has come to 10.

Among those targeted by the latest round of sanctions were the ministers for investment, industry and information, officials at the election commission and senior members of military.&nbsp;

Two state mining and energy firms were also added to the list, along with two private firms linked to the junta. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"The European Union is deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence in Myanmar and the evolution towards a protracted conflict with regional implications," the bloc said in a statement. &nbsp;

"Since the military coup, the situation has continuously and gravely deteriorated."

It repeated calls for "an immediate cessation of all hostilities, and an end to the disproportionate use of force and the state of emergency".

Myanmar has been in chaos, its economy paralysed, and more than 1,500 civilians have been killed in a military crackdown since the putsch in February 2021, according to a local monitoring group.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The European Union on Monday added 22 officials of Myanmar's military junta to the bloc's sanctions list. Sanctions have also been imposed on four companies tied to the military regime.

The European Union on Monday added 22 officials of Myanmar's military junta to the bloc's sanctions list. Sanctions have also been imposed on four companies tied to the military regime. The latest move means that 65 Myanmar officials have till now been hit by EU asset freezes and visa bans. Number of firms under sanctions has come to 10. Among those targeted by the latest round of sanctions were the ministers for investment, industry and information, officials at the election commission and senior members of military. Two state mining and energy firms were also added to the list, along with two private firms linked to the junta. "The European Union is deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence in Myanmar and the evolution towards a protracted conflict with regional implications," the bloc said in a statement. "Since the military coup, the situation has continuously and gravely deteriorated." It repeated calls for "an immediate cessation of all hostilities, and an end to the disproportionate use of force and the state of emergency". Myanmar has been in chaos, its economy paralysed, and more than 1,500 civilians have been killed in a military crackdown since the putsch in February 2021, according to a local monitoring group. (With inputs from agencies)

EU expands sanctions on Myanmar military junta regime

Eating raw vegetables is always hailed to be a good idea. Vegetables have variety of benefits. Such a diet has even found to be helping reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases.&nbsp;

But now scientists are saying that vegetables alone may not be enough to reduce the risk of heart diseases. They made the assertion based on study involving observation of 400,000 people. These people are taking part in UK Biobank study.

The scientists say that in addition to consumption of vegetables, reduced risk of heart disease also depended on what else was part of the diet, how much exercise was done, how and where the survey participants lived.

Universities of Oxford, Bristol and Chinese University of Hong Kong asked these people to fill a questionnaire about their diet. This included quantity of cooked and raw vegetables they ate each day.&nbsp;

Health of these people, possible heart problems leading to hospitalisation or death was monitored. All these factors were tracked for next 12 years.&nbsp;

Researchers found that risk of death from cardiovascular diseases was 15 per cent lower for those who had more vegetables in their diet. But the risk also depended on people's lifestyles. This included factors like whether they smoked or consumed alcohol. It also depended on their jobs, incomes and overall diet

Eating raw vegetables is always hailed to be a good idea. Vegetables have variety of benefits. Such a diet has even found to be helping reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Eating raw vegetables is always hailed to be a good idea. Vegetables have variety of benefits. Such a diet has even found to be helping reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases. But now scientists are saying that vegetables alone may not be enough to reduce the risk of heart diseases. They made the assertion based on study involving observation of 400,000 people. These people are taking part in UK Biobank study. The scientists say that in addition to consumption of vegetables, reduced risk of heart disease also depended on what else was part of the diet, how much exercise was done, how and where the survey participants lived. Universities of Oxford, Bristol and Chinese University of Hong Kong asked these people to fill a questionnaire about their diet. This included quantity of cooked and raw vegetables they ate each day. Health of these people, possible heart problems leading to hospitalisation or death was monitored. All these factors were tracked for next 12 years. Researchers found that risk of death from cardiovascular diseases was 15 per cent lower for those who had more vegetables in their diet. But the risk also depended on people's lifestyles. This included factors like whether they smoked or consumed alcohol. It also depended on their jobs, incomes and overall diet

Raw vegetables alone may not protect you from heart diseases

Former US president Donald Trump's now social media app, Truth Social was launched on Apple store late on Sunday (ET). The app may mark Trump's return to social media after he was banned from popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc last year. The platforms had taken action against Trump over January 6, 2021 attack on US Capitol.

The app was available shortly before midnight ET and was the top free app available on the App Store early Monday. Truth Social was automatically downloaded to Apple Inc devices belonging to users who had pre-ordered the app.

Many users reported either having trouble registering for an account or were added to a waitlist with a message: "Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist."

The app has been available for people invited to use it during its test phase, Reuters previously reported.

Trump was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, after he was accused of posting messages inciting violence.

Led by former Republican U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (TMTG), the venture behind Truth Social, joins a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and hope to draw users who feel their views are suppressed on more established platforms.

So far none of the newer companies, which include Twitter competitors Gettr and Parler and video site Rumble, have come close to matching the popularity of their mainstream counterparts.

"This week we will begin to roll out on the Apple App Store. That's going to be awesome, because we're going to get so many more people that are going to be on the platform," Nunes said in a Sunday appearance on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo".

"Our goal is, I think we're going to hit it, I think by the by the end of March we're going to be fully operational at least within the United States," he added.

Truth Social's app store page detailing its version history showed the first public version of the app, or version 1.0 was available a day ago, confirming a Reuters report. The current version 1.0.1 includes "bug fixes," according to the page.

(With inputs from agencies)

Former US president Donald Trump's now social media app, Truth Social was launched on Apple store late on Sunday (ET). The app may mark Trump's return to social media after he was banned from popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc last year.

Former US president Donald Trump's now social media app, Truth Social was launched on Apple store late on Sunday (ET). The app may mark Trump's return to social media after he was banned from popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc last year. The platforms had taken action against Trump over January 6, 2021 attack on US Capitol. The app was available shortly before midnight ET and was the top free app available on the App Store early Monday. Truth Social was automatically downloaded to Apple Inc devices belonging to users who had pre-ordered the app. Many users reported either having trouble registering for an account or were added to a waitlist with a message: "Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist." The app has been available for people invited to use it during its test phase, Reuters previously reported. Trump was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, after he was accused of posting messages inciting violence. Led by former Republican U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the venture behind Truth Social, joins a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and hope to draw users who feel their views are suppressed on more established platforms. So far none of the newer companies, which include Twitter competitors Gettr and Parler and video site Rumble, have come close to matching the popularity of their mainstream counterparts. "This week we will begin to roll out on the Apple App Store. That's going to be awesome, because we're going to get so many more people that are going to be on the platform," Nunes said in a Sunday appearance on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo". "Our goal is, I think we're going to hit it, I think by the by the end of March we're going to be fully operational at least within the United States," he added. Truth Social's app store page detailing its version history showed the first public version of the app, or version 1.0 was available a day ago, confirming a Reuters report. The current version 1.0.1 includes "bug fixes," according to the page. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump's Truth Social app tops download chart on Apple's App Store

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that he is mulling the idea of recognising independence of Ukraine's two breakaway regions. He said that leaders of these territories in eastern Ukraine have appealed him to do so.

"Our goal is to listen to our colleagues and determine our next steps in this direction, bearing in mind both the appeals of the leaders of the DNR (Donetsk People's Republic) and LNR (Lugansk People's Republic) to recognise their independence," Putin said while opening a televised security council meeting.&nbsp;

He said that tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine posed a threat to Moscow.

"The use of Ukraine as an instrument of confrontation with our country poses a serious, very big threat to us," Putin said adding that Moscow's priority was "not confrontation, but security".

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-russia-crisis-kyiv-denies-its-saboteurs-crossed-into-moscow-455109">Ukraine-Russia crisis: Kyiv denies its 'saboteurs' crossed into Moscow</a>

The Russian parliament has also asked Putin to recognise the pro-Moscow separatist territories, which declared themselves independent of Kyiv's rule after Ukraine's 2014 pro-EU revolution.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-be-killed-or-sent-to-camps-us-claims-russia-plans-to-target-dissidents-in-ukraine-455031">'To be killed or sent to camps': US claims Russia plans to target dissidents in Ukraine</a>

Calls for recognition from the rebels came as the Ukraine crisis escalated sharply on Monday, with fears mounting that Russia is paving the way for an all-out invasion of its western neighbour.

"I ask you to recognise the sovereignty and independence of the Lugansk People's Republic," separatist Leonid Pasechnik said in a video aired on Russian state television.&nbsp;

Denis Pushilin, the rebel head of the Donetsk People's Republic, made a similar appeal.&nbsp;

"On behalf of all the people of the Donetsk People's Republic, we ask you to recognise the Donetsk People's Republic as an independent, democratic legal and social state," Pushilin said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that he is mulling the idea of recognising independence of Ukraine's two breakaway regions. He said that leaders of these territories in eastern Ukraine have appealed him to do so.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that he is mulling the idea of recognising independence of Ukraine's two breakaway regions. He said that leaders of these territories in eastern Ukraine have appealed him to do so. "Our goal is to listen to our colleagues and determine our next steps in this direction, bearing in mind both the appeals of the leaders of the DNR (Donetsk People's Republic) and LNR (Lugansk People's Republic) to recognise their independence," Putin said while opening a televised security council meeting. He said that tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine posed a threat to Moscow. "The use of Ukraine as an instrument of confrontation with our country poses a serious, very big threat to us," Putin said adding that Moscow's priority was "not confrontation, but security". Also Read | Ukraine-Russia crisis: Kyiv denies its 'saboteurs' crossed into Moscow The Russian parliament has also asked Putin to recognise the pro-Moscow separatist territories, which declared themselves independent of Kyiv's rule after Ukraine's 2014 pro-EU revolution. Also Read | 'To be killed or sent to camps': US claims Russia plans to target dissidents in Ukraine Calls for recognition from the rebels came as the Ukraine crisis escalated sharply on Monday, with fears mounting that Russia is paving the way for an all-out invasion of its western neighbour. "I ask you to recognise the sovereignty and independence of the Lugansk People's Republic," separatist Leonid Pasechnik said in a video aired on Russian state television. Denis Pushilin, the rebel head of the Donetsk People's Republic, made a similar appeal. "On behalf of all the people of the Donetsk People's Republic, we ask you to recognise the Donetsk People's Republic as an independent, democratic legal and social state," Pushilin said. (With inputs from agencies)

Putin may consider recognising independence of Ukraine's breakaway regions

Noting that risks of Covid-19 had 'dramatically reduced', Bill Gates warned that it was almost certain that the world will see another pandemic. He was speaking at Germany's annual Munich Security Conference.

Gates said that severity of coronavirus had lessened and large part of the global population had attained a certain level of protection against the infection.

“The chance of severe disease, which is mainly associated with being elderly and having obesity or diabetes, those risks are now dramatically reduced because of that infection exposure," he said.

However, he cautioned: “We’ll have another pandemic. It will be a different pathogen next time."

He said that the world would be in a better position to tackle future pandemics if investments were made in medical technology now.

“The cost of being ready for the next pandemic is not that large," he said, adding: “It’s not like climate change. If we’re rational, yes, the next time we’ll catch it early."

Gates said that it was too late to reach the goal set by World Health Organisation (WHO) to vaccinate 70 per cent of global population by mid-2022

“Next time we should try and make it, instead of two years, we should make it more like six months," he said, adding that standardized platforms, including messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, would make that possible.

“The cost of being ready for the next pandemic is not that large. It’s not like climate change. If we’re rational, yes, the next time we’ll catch it early," said Gates, who is the co-chair of the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation.

Noting that risks of Covid-19 had 'dramatically reduced', Bill Gates warned that it was almost certain that the world will see another pandemic. He was speaking at Germany's annual Munich Security Conference.

Noting that risks of Covid-19 had 'dramatically reduced', Bill Gates warned that it was almost certain that the world will see another pandemic. He was speaking at Germany's annual Munich Security Conference. Gates said that severity of coronavirus had lessened and large part of the global population had attained a certain level of protection against the infection. “The chance of severe disease, which is mainly associated with being elderly and having obesity or diabetes, those risks are now dramatically reduced because of that infection exposure," he said. However, he cautioned: “We’ll have another pandemic. It will be a different pathogen next time." He said that the world would be in a better position to tackle future pandemics if investments were made in medical technology now. “The cost of being ready for the next pandemic is not that large," he said, adding: “It’s not like climate change. If we’re rational, yes, the next time we’ll catch it early." Gates said that it was too late to reach the goal set by World Health Organisation (WHO) to vaccinate 70 per cent of global population by mid-2022 “Next time we should try and make it, instead of two years, we should make it more like six months," he said, adding that standardized platforms, including messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, would make that possible. “The cost of being ready for the next pandemic is not that large. It’s not like climate change. If we’re rational, yes, the next time we’ll catch it early," said Gates, who is the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Covid risk 'dramatically reduced' but world may face another pandemic: Bill Gates

&nbsp;As India reports a high number of Omicron BA.2 cases, a top Health Expert has said it is not a cause of concern because it will not lead to another COVID-19 surge in the country.

Speaking to ANI, Co-Chairman National IMA COVID Task Force Dr Rajeev Jayadevan said that BA.2 is a sub-lineage of Omicron variant, which fuelled the third wave in the country.According to him, BA.2 cannot infect those who have previously had BA.1 sub-variant of COVID-19.

"It will not cause another surge. BA.2 is not capable of infecting people who had BA.1. It's not a new virus or strain. BA.2 is a sub-lineage of Omicron," Dr Jayadevan said. The Expert further said that BA.2 will be more transmissible than BA.1 and it has mutated to increase its transmissibility.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/low-omicron-efficacy-behind-delay-of-pfizer-covid-vaccine-for-kids-under-5-wsj-454430">Low Omicron efficacy behind delay of Pfizer COVID vaccine for kids under 5: WSJ</a>

"BA.2 is a little bit more transmissible than BA.1. For the last two years, it has constantly evolved to increase its fitness, which is its ability to infect more people and to leap past natural immunity and vaccinated immunity," he said.

Dr Jayadevan also said that the Omicron variant showed that vaccine immunity can be "easily surpassed by variants" and this trend will continue to be seen in future, if new variants emerge after mutation of the virus.

"Omicron showed that even vaccine immunity can be easily surpassed by variants and this trend will be expected in the future as new variants arrive. But BA.1 and BA.2 both have immune escape ability which means that if you've been naturally infected, or if you've been vaccinated or both, this virus can still infect us," he noted.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/the-worst-is-yet-to-come-study-finds-that-omicron-is-10-times-better-than-delta-at-evading-covid-vaccines-454212">'The worst is yet to come': Study finds that Omicron is 10 times better than Delta at evading Covid vaccines</a>

Explaining the nature of BA.2, Dr Jayadevan said, "It is the sub-lineage of Omicron and is essentially as same as Omicron that was identified in November in South Africa. It now has BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3." He also said that virus will be around for a very long time time." Virus is going to be around. It will come in ups and downs for a very long time. When the next variant comes, there will be a surge. We do not know when that will be, but history says that it can happen once inevitably six to eight months and that is typically how it acts."

"But until then, we are now in the low phase Omicron. However, what we should remember is this virus is around which means that we must do everything we can to stop it from infecting us," he added.Citing a study conducted on hamsters in Japan, Dr Jayadevan said that BA.2 may cause severe lung disease. "As of today, symptoms of Omicron are no different between BA.1 and BA.2. So there is no difference in severity.

Watch |&nbsp;Will vaccines work against BA.2, the new sub-variant of Omicron? Covid-19

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/will-vaccines-work-against-ba2-the-new-sub-variant-of-omicron-covid-19-454480/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, there is a study from Japan done on hamsters. In this study, hamsters showed that BA.2 involved the lungs more than BA.1. "On the trend of the Omicron BA.2 cases globally, he said, "It is believed that BA.2 is increasing in India. But in several other Asian countries in the region and across Europe, the prevalence is slowly increasing, particularly in Denmark. There's a slight increase in the United States and also in Britain."&nbsp;

As India reports a high number of Omicron BA.2 cases, a top Health Expert has said it is not a cause of concern because it will not lead to another COVID-19 surge in the country.

As India reports a high number of Omicron BA.2 cases, a top Health Expert has said it is not a cause of concern because it will not lead to another COVID-19 surge in the country. Speaking to ANI, Co-Chairman National IMA COVID Task Force Dr Rajeev Jayadevan said that BA.2 is a sub-lineage of Omicron variant, which fuelled the third wave in the country.According to him, BA.2 cannot infect those who have previously had BA.1 sub-variant of COVID-19. "It will not cause another surge. BA.2 is not capable of infecting people who had BA.1. It's not a new virus or strain. BA.2 is a sub-lineage of Omicron," Dr Jayadevan said. The Expert further said that BA.2 will be more transmissible than BA.1 and it has mutated to increase its transmissibility. Also read | Low Omicron efficacy behind delay of Pfizer COVID vaccine for kids under 5: WSJ "BA.2 is a little bit more transmissible than BA.1. For the last two years, it has constantly evolved to increase its fitness, which is its ability to infect more people and to leap past natural immunity and vaccinated immunity," he said. Dr Jayadevan also said that the Omicron variant showed that vaccine immunity can be "easily surpassed by variants" and this trend will continue to be seen in future, if new variants emerge after mutation of the virus. "Omicron showed that even vaccine immunity can be easily surpassed by variants and this trend will be expected in the future as new variants arrive. But BA.1 and BA.2 both have immune escape ability which means that if you've been naturally infected, or if you've been vaccinated or both, this virus can still infect us," he noted. Also read | 'The worst is yet to come': Study finds that Omicron is 10 times better than Delta at evading Covid vaccines Explaining the nature of BA.2, Dr Jayadevan said, "It is the sub-lineage of Omicron and is essentially as same as Omicron that was identified in November in South Africa. It now has BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3." He also said that virus will be around for a very long time time." Virus is going to be around. It will come in ups and downs for a very long time. When the next variant comes, there will be a surge. We do not know when that will be, but history says that it can happen once inevitably six to eight months and that is typically how it acts." "But until then, we are now in the low phase Omicron. However, what we should remember is this virus is around which means that we must do everything we can to stop it from infecting us," he added.Citing a study conducted on hamsters in Japan, Dr Jayadevan said that BA.2 may cause severe lung disease. "As of today, symptoms of Omicron are no different between BA.1 and BA.2. So there is no difference in severity. Watch | Will vaccines work against BA.2, the new sub-variant of Omicron? Covid-19 However, there is a study from Japan done on hamsters. In this study, hamsters showed that BA.2 involved the lungs more than BA.1. "On the trend of the Omicron BA.2 cases globally, he said, "It is believed that BA.2 is increasing in India. But in several other Asian countries in the region and across Europe, the prevalence is slowly increasing, particularly in Denmark. There's a slight increase in the United States and also in Britain."

Omicron BA.2 will not cause another COVID-19 surge, says expert

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday, arrived in Qatar for his firt visit to a Gulf Arab state for a major gas summit. The summit is likely to be dominated by tensions over Ukraine crisis.

Raisi and Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, a close US ally, are also expected to discuss growing efforts to revive a stalled international deal to regulate Iran's nuclear programme.

Tuesday's Gas Exporting Countries Forum will be overshadowed by growing tensions around Ukraine which have boosted demand for gas as well as the price paid by consumers.

Producing nations say they will not be able to provide substantial amounts of gas to Europe if Russia, which has been accused of preparing an attack on Ukraine, cuts supplies in any sanctions showdown.

Raisi has not travelled in the Gulf region since taking office in June, and it is only his fourth trip abroad. Qatar authorities imposed stringent security for his arrival at Doha airport, where he was met by the emir.

Qatar has added the Iran nuclear dispute to its list of diplomatic hotspots where it has taken a behind-the-scenes mediation role.&nbsp;

Earlier this month Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani went on an unannounced visit to Tehran after the emir met US President Joe Biden in Washington.&nbsp;

'Common concern'

The Qatar government said that the emir and Raisi would discuss issues of "common concern" without giving details. Diplomats said, however, that the nuclear talks would be on the agenda.

In 2015, Iran and six world powers including the United States reached a landmark nuclear agreement that offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its atomic programme.

The United States unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018 under then president Donald Trump and reimposed heavy economic sanctions.

Talks on reviving the deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have been held in the Austrian capital Vienna since late November, involving Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia directly and the United States indirectly. 
&nbsp;

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday, arrived in Qatar for his firt visit to a Gulf Arab state for a major gas summit. The summit is likely to be dominated by tensions over Ukraine crisis.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday, arrived in Qatar for his firt visit to a Gulf Arab state for a major gas summit. The summit is likely to be dominated by tensions over Ukraine crisis. Raisi and Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, a close US ally, are also expected to discuss growing efforts to revive a stalled international deal to regulate Iran's nuclear programme. Tuesday's Gas Exporting Countries Forum will be overshadowed by growing tensions around Ukraine which have boosted demand for gas as well as the price paid by consumers. Producing nations say they will not be able to provide substantial amounts of gas to Europe if Russia, which has been accused of preparing an attack on Ukraine, cuts supplies in any sanctions showdown. Raisi has not travelled in the Gulf region since taking office in June, and it is only his fourth trip abroad. Qatar authorities imposed stringent security for his arrival at Doha airport, where he was met by the emir. Qatar has added the Iran nuclear dispute to its list of diplomatic hotspots where it has taken a behind-the-scenes mediation role. Earlier this month Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani went on an unannounced visit to Tehran after the emir met US President Joe Biden in Washington. 'Common concern' The Qatar government said that the emir and Raisi would discuss issues of "common concern" without giving details. Diplomats said, however, that the nuclear talks would be on the agenda. In 2015, Iran and six world powers including the United States reached a landmark nuclear agreement that offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its atomic programme. The United States unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018 under then president Donald Trump and reimposed heavy economic sanctions. Talks on reviving the deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have been held in the Austrian capital Vienna since late November, involving Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia directly and the United States indirectly.

Iran President Ebrahim Raisi on maiden Gulf trip for gas summit

State-run Life Insurance Corp Of India (LIC), which is planning the country's largest&nbsp;IPO&nbsp;next month,&nbsp;may&nbsp;not&nbsp;sell&nbsp;its&nbsp;entire&nbsp;stake&nbsp;in&nbsp;IDBI&nbsp;Bank&nbsp;and can use its large network of branches to market its insurance services, its chairman said.

LIC, the country's biggest insurance company, is planning to float a 5%&nbsp;stake&nbsp;to raise about $8 billion next month, which could make it&nbsp;India's&nbsp;largest initial public&nbsp;offering (IPO) by far.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/billions-of-dollars-stashed-by-pakistani-generals-officials-in-swiss-bank-reports-455055">Billions of dollars stashed by Pakistani generals, officials in Swiss bank: Reports</a>

Its majority&nbsp;stake&nbsp;in&nbsp;IDBI&nbsp;Bank, which it rescued in 2019, is seen as a risk to its balance sheet.

"I would like to have some&nbsp;stake&nbsp;in&nbsp;IDBI&nbsp;Bank. It has been the strongest contributor to the bancassurance channel for us. This will help us to grow that part of the channel," said M R Kumar in a press conference with reporters on Monday.

India's&nbsp;government and&nbsp;LIC&nbsp;hold over 90%&nbsp;stake&nbsp;in&nbsp;IDBI&nbsp;Bank, which had assets of over 2,900 billion rupees ($38.91 billion) at the end of December and over 1,800 branches across the country.&nbsp;LIC&nbsp;took over the lender when it was weighed down by bad loans and needed a new infusion of capital.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/digital-advertising-fraud-losses-to-hit-68-billion-globally-this-year-454996">&nbsp;Digital advertising fraud losses to hit $68 billion globally this year</a>

The government and&nbsp;LIC&nbsp;have been looking at offloading their&nbsp;stake&nbsp;in&nbsp;IDBI&nbsp;for the past few years.

Kumar also said&nbsp;LIC&nbsp;is well capitalised, and potential investors should&nbsp;not&nbsp;worry about government control post the&nbsp;IPO&nbsp;as decisions are taken by its board and&nbsp;not&nbsp;by the government, which will hold a 95%&nbsp;stake&nbsp;after the flotation.

State-run Life Insurance Corp Of India (LIC), which is planning the country's largest IPO next month, may not sell its entire stake in IDBI Bank and can use its large network of branches to market its insurance services, its chairman said.

State-run Life Insurance Corp Of India (LIC), which is planning the country's largest IPO next month, may not sell its entire stake in IDBI Bank and can use its large network of branches to market its insurance services, its chairman said. LIC, the country's biggest insurance company, is planning to float a 5% stake to raise about $8 billion next month, which could make it India's largest initial public offering (IPO) by far. Also read | Billions of dollars stashed by Pakistani generals, officials in Swiss bank: Reports Its majority stake in IDBI Bank, which it rescued in 2019, is seen as a risk to its balance sheet. "I would like to have some stake in IDBI Bank. It has been the strongest contributor to the bancassurance channel for us. This will help us to grow that part of the channel," said M R Kumar in a press conference with reporters on Monday. India's government and LIC hold over 90% stake in IDBI Bank, which had assets of over 2,900 billion rupees ($38.91 billion) at the end of December and over 1,800 branches across the country. LIC took over the lender when it was weighed down by bad loans and needed a new infusion of capital. Also read | Digital advertising fraud losses to hit $68 billion globally this year The government and LIC have been looking at offloading their stake in IDBI for the past few years. Kumar also said LIC is well capitalised, and potential investors should not worry about government control post the IPO as decisions are taken by its board and not by the government, which will hold a 95% stake after the flotation.

India's IPO-bound LIC may not sell entire stake in IDBI Bank - chairman

&nbsp;A leak of data from a leading Swiss bank has revealed information about 600 accounts linked to 1400 Pakistani citizens, media reports said on Sunday. Account-holders include several key politicians and generals, including the ex-ISI chief, General Akhtar Abdur Rahman Khan, according to data leaked from Credit Suisse, an investment banking firm registered in Switzerland.

A report published in The New York Times said Khan helped funnel billions of dollars in cash and other aid from the United States and other countries to the mujahedeen in Afghanistan to support their fight against the Soviet Union.The Saudi Arabian and US funding for mujahideen fighters battling Russia's presence in Afghanistan went to the American Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Swiss bank account, the Dawn newspaper reported, citing an Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) report.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-faces-flak-over-new-laws-to-silence-media-opposition-454977">Pakistan PM Imran Khan faces flak over new laws 'to silence media, Opposition'</a>

"The end recipient in the process was Pakistan`s Inter-Services Intelligence group (ISI), [at the time] led by Akhtar," the publication quoting the report said.The average maximum balance in accounts held by Pakistanis was 4.42 million Swiss francs, The News International newspaper reported. The Pakistani publication further noted that several politically exposed persons didn't mention these accounts which they opened at a time when they were holders of public office, in their assets declaration submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Watch |&nbsp;Pakistan eyes citizens' gold to boost foreign exchange reserves

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-eyes-citizens-gold-to-boost-foreign-exchange-reserves-454981/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The latest leaks follow the so-called Panama Papers in 2016, the Paradise Papers in 2017 and the Pandora Papers of last year. A self-described whistle-blower leaked data on more than 18,000 bank accounts, collectively holding more than $100 billion, to the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, reported The New York Times. Further revelations are expected in the upcoming days, as more information about the leak becomes public. Earlier in January, Pakistan ranked 140 out of 180 on Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2021 by Transparency International, losing 16 spots over the previous year.

A leak of data from a leading Swiss bank has revealed information about 600 accounts linked to 1400 Pakistani citizens, media reports said on Sunday. Account-holders include several key politicians and generals, including the ex-ISI chief, General Akhtar Abdur Rahman Khan, according to data leaked from Credit Suisse, an investment banking firm registered in Switzerland.

A leak of data from a leading Swiss bank has revealed information about 600 accounts linked to 1400 Pakistani citizens, media reports said on Sunday. Account-holders include several key politicians and generals, including the ex-ISI chief, General Akhtar Abdur Rahman Khan, according to data leaked from Credit Suisse, an investment banking firm registered in Switzerland. A report published in The New York Times said Khan helped funnel billions of dollars in cash and other aid from the United States and other countries to the mujahedeen in Afghanistan to support their fight against the Soviet Union.The Saudi Arabian and US funding for mujahideen fighters battling Russia's presence in Afghanistan went to the American Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Swiss bank account, the Dawn newspaper reported, citing an Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) report. Also read | Pakistan PM Imran Khan faces flak over new laws 'to silence media, Opposition' "The end recipient in the process was Pakistan`s Inter-Services Intelligence group (ISI), [at the time] led by Akhtar," the publication quoting the report said.The average maximum balance in accounts held by Pakistanis was 4.42 million Swiss francs, The News International newspaper reported. The Pakistani publication further noted that several politically exposed persons didn't mention these accounts which they opened at a time when they were holders of public office, in their assets declaration submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan. Watch | Pakistan eyes citizens' gold to boost foreign exchange reserves The latest leaks follow the so-called Panama Papers in 2016, the Paradise Papers in 2017 and the Pandora Papers of last year. A self-described whistle-blower leaked data on more than 18,000 bank accounts, collectively holding more than $100 billion, to the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, reported The New York Times. Further revelations are expected in the upcoming days, as more information about the leak becomes public. Earlier in January, Pakistan ranked 140 out of 180 on Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2021 by Transparency International, losing 16 spots over the previous year.

Billions of dollars stashed by Pakistani generals, officials in Swiss bank: Reports

China on Monday denied that one of its naval vessels shone a laser at Australian military aircraft. The incident was termed an 'act of intimidation' by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.&nbsp;

A Chinese ship sailing off Australia's northern coast last week illuminated the plane, Canberra's defence department said Sunday, adding that the act had "the potential to endanger lives."

Beijing said that the laser accusation was "not true". It defended movement of the Chinese ship as "normal navigation ... in line with relevant international law."

"We urge Australia to respect the legitimate rights of Chinese ships in relevant sea areas in accordance with international law and stop spreading false information related to China," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a routine press briefing.

"I think the Chinese government is hoping that nobody talks about these aggressive bullying acts," Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said previously, calling the incident "very aggressive".

China also was accused of targeting Australian aircraft using military-grade lasers in 2019, when Australian Defence Force helicopters were illuminated over the South China Sea.

Relations between China and Australia have nosedived in recent years after Morrison called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, which first emerged globally in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

China responded by placing tariffs on Australian goods worth billions of dollars, dragging both countries into a protracted trade standoff.&nbsp;

Beijing also reacted with fury last year when Canberra joined a trilateral defence pact with the United States and Britain that would allow it to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, to counter China's growing military might in the Asia-Pacific region.

(With inputs from agencies)

China on Monday denied that one of its naval vessels shone a laser at Australian military aircraft. The incident was termed an 'act of intimidation' by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

China on Monday denied that one of its naval vessels shone a laser at Australian military aircraft. The incident was termed an 'act of intimidation' by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. A Chinese ship sailing off Australia's northern coast last week illuminated the plane, Canberra's defence department said Sunday, adding that the act had "the potential to endanger lives." Beijing said that the laser accusation was "not true". It defended movement of the Chinese ship as "normal navigation ... in line with relevant international law." "We urge Australia to respect the legitimate rights of Chinese ships in relevant sea areas in accordance with international law and stop spreading false information related to China," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a routine press briefing. "I think the Chinese government is hoping that nobody talks about these aggressive bullying acts," Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said previously, calling the incident "very aggressive". China also was accused of targeting Australian aircraft using military-grade lasers in 2019, when Australian Defence Force helicopters were illuminated over the South China Sea. Relations between China and Australia have nosedived in recent years after Morrison called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, which first emerged globally in the Chinese city of Wuhan. China responded by placing tariffs on Australian goods worth billions of dollars, dragging both countries into a protracted trade standoff. Beijing also reacted with fury last year when Canberra joined a trilateral defence pact with the United States and Britain that would allow it to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, to counter China's growing military might in the Asia-Pacific region. (With inputs from agencies)

China refutes Australia's ship laser 'intimidation' claim

Punjab recorded a voter turnout of 17.77 per cent at 11 am on Sunday in the ongoing Assembly elections.

According to the Election Commission of India, Sri Muktsar Sahib witnessed the highest voter turnout of 23.34 per cent followed by Fazilka (22.55 per cent) and Malerkotla (22.07 per cent) till 11 am.Pathankot recorded the lowest percentage of voter turnout of 12.44 per cent.&nbsp;

Further, while Sahibjada Ajit Singh Nagar saw 13.15 per cent voter turnout.Jalandhar reported 14.30 per cent voter turnout, Ludhiana recorded 15.58 per cent while Moga registered 16.29 per cent polling.Meanwhile, Hoshiarpur recorded 18.88 per cent while Kapurthala recorded 16.03 per cent. Mansa recorded 19.75 per cent. Moga recorded 16.29 per cent.Assembly polls for electing 117 assembly seats in Punjab will be held on February 20.

The results will be declared on March 10.In the 2017 Assembly polls in the state, the Congress had won an absolute majority by winning 77 seats, ousting the SAD-BJP government, which had been in power for 10 years.&nbsp;

Punjab recorded a voter turnout of 17.77 per cent at 11 am on Sunday in the ongoing Assembly elections. According to the Election Commission of India, Sri Muktsar Sahib witnessed the highest voter turnout of 23.

Punjab recorded a voter turnout of 17.77 per cent at 11 am on Sunday in the ongoing Assembly elections. According to the Election Commission of India, Sri Muktsar Sahib witnessed the highest voter turnout of 23.34 per cent followed by Fazilka (22.55 per cent) and Malerkotla (22.07 per cent) till 11 am.Pathankot recorded the lowest percentage of voter turnout of 12.44 per cent. Further, while Sahibjada Ajit Singh Nagar saw 13.15 per cent voter turnout.Jalandhar reported 14.30 per cent voter turnout, Ludhiana recorded 15.58 per cent while Moga registered 16.29 per cent polling.Meanwhile, Hoshiarpur recorded 18.88 per cent while Kapurthala recorded 16.03 per cent. Mansa recorded 19.75 per cent. Moga recorded 16.29 per cent.Assembly polls for electing 117 assembly seats in Punjab will be held on February 20. The results will be declared on March 10.In the 2017 Assembly polls in the state, the Congress had won an absolute majority by winning 77 seats, ousting the SAD-BJP government, which had been in power for 10 years.

Punjab reports 17.77 pc voter turnout till 11 am

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Manas Joshi

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.