Despite the country has seen a surge in the Omicron variant of Covid-19, Assam has not yet recorded any case. However, the state has witnessed a steep rise in the Covid-19 cases with a positivity rate of 0.96%. As on Monday, Assam reported 351-new COVID-19 cases, out of which 164-cases were from Kamrup (M). 36,613 tests were conducted, with a positivity rate of 0.96%. The spike is also driven by air passengers as 18-passengers were tested positive for the virus on Monday.

It needs to be mentioned here that on the 31st December and 1st January, the positivity rate was considerably low which has nearly doubled now. On 31st December, 192-cases were reported out of 24,817 tests with a positivity rate of 0.77%. On 1st January, 150-cases were reported out of 19,602 tests conducted with a positivity rate of 0.77%. The active cases in Assam currently stands at 1270-cases.

In Assam, the Government had imposed a night curfew from 11:30 PM to 5:00 AM. No other restrictions have been imposed so far. Vaccination has begun for children between the age group of 15-18 years from January 3. A total of 90,000 doses were administered on the first day of the vaccination roll-out for the children.

The country's largest lender SBI on Monday announced allocating Rs 71 crore towards the fight against COVID-19, a part of which will be used to set up a makeshift 1,000-bed hospital for the treatment of patients in some of the worst-affected states. State Bank of India (SBI) has allocated Rs 71 crore to undertake various support initiatives to combat the second wave of COVID-19, SBI said in a release. Also Read - Digital rupee can be exchanged for cash: PM The state-owned lender has allocated Rs 30 crore for a makeshift hospital while Rs 21 crore will be used to support initiatives such as procurement of life-saving healthcare equipment, oxygen supply to hospitals, Covid-care centres, ambulances, PPE kits, masks as well as food relief efforts.

Besides, Rs 10 crore will be used to supplement government's effort in genome sequencing, and Rs 10 crore will be earmarked to collaborate with on-ground NGOs to address the community needs, SBI said. The bank will continue to serve citizens through its extensive network of over 22,000 branches.

Test story

Signalling a major step towards virtually unlimited production of low-carbon, low-radiation energy, scientists at the Joint European Torus (JET) in central England said the facility smashed its own record for the amount of energy produced through nuclear fusion which is achieved by squeezing together two forms of hydrogen -- deuterium and tritium. The sun generates energy from the same process.

The experiments, conducted in a machine called tokamak, produced 11 MW of power, double of what was achieved in 1997, in over five seconds. Dr. Joe Milnes, head of operations at the reactor lab, said the creation of a mini-star inside machines is a significant achievement, "which really takes us into a new realm." The success of the experiments validates design choices that are being made for an even bigger fusion reactor -- ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) -- in France. It is supported by the US, Russia, China and member states of the European Union. If ITER succeeds in its objectives, nuclear fusion can become a reliable energy provider in the second half of this century.

The violence unleashed by a tsunami set off by the eruption of the undersea volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haa'pai in the South Pacific on January 15, is forcing the scientific community to assess afresh the risk factors. India with a coastline of 7, 516 km, including the Andamans, is particularly vulnerable. Climate-linked changes in the upper layer of the earth known as crust, can exacerbate the threat and there are five ways this can happen, says Jane Cunnen, a researcher from Curtin University, Australia.

With January 26, Republic Day almost around the corner, it is the sale season and so here comes a highly awaited article on the discounted prices of iPhones and how you can avail it.Today's coverage is on iPhone 11 and the most recent iPhone 13.

Despite being launched three years earlier, iPhone 11 continues to be an attractive choice for those wanting to either purchase an iPhone or exchange their older iPhone models like the 6s, 7 or 8 at attractive deals.

With iPhone 12 and 13 being the most purchased and recent iPhone models, renowned e-commerce websites Amazon.in and Flipkart are selling iPhone 11 at its standard price. However, you can find it at lower values at the network stores of IndiaiStore.

Similarly, there are several avenues to purchase the most recently launched iPhone 13 in the market, offline or online. We bring to you the most bargained, online method to book an iPhone 13, this sale season.

iPhone 11 is currently being retailed at a standard price of Rs 49,900 at the Apple online store. E-comm players Amazon and Flipkart are also selling the model at this quoted price, with discounts available on iPone 12 and 13.

However, if you wish to buy an iPhone 11 or exchange it with one of your older iPhone models, you can head to the network stores of IndiaiStore, where an iPhone 11's base variant of 64 GB storage is listed at Rs 49,900.

However, if you purchase the phone using an HDFC Bank card, added with an EMI option, you can secure a cashback of Rs 4,000, reducing its price to Rs 45,900.Now, if you purchase the phone by exchanging your older model of iPhone, you can get a further discount.For instance, on exchanging a good condition iPhone 7 128 GB model, you can fetch upto Rs 11,000, thereby costing your iPhone 11 at Rs 34,900.

The prices would further reduce with an iPhone 8 and iPhone XR.