The deadly COVID-19 is back in India
here's what we know
It’s Tuesday. And we hate to be the bearer of bad news.
Just when we thought we’d left the pandemic years behind, COVID-19 seems to be making a quiet, but concerning return in India. Rising cases, whispers of new variants, and masks slowly creeping back into bags and pockets.
Today’s edition is not meant to panic you, but to prepare you.
So, let’s get started…
📌 Covid cases tick up in Kerala, Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu
India is seeing a slight rise in COVID-19 cases, with Kerala reporting the most recent infections.
69 new cases since May 12.
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu follow with 44 and 34 cases, respectively, while smaller numbers are popping up in Karnataka, Gujarat, Delhi, and a few other states.
In Mumbai, two Covid-related deaths were reported recently, but both patients had serious health conditions like kidney failure and cancer.
But the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) says there’s no need to panic despite this small uptick.
Hospitals have been told to stay vigilant and monitor for flu-like illnesses and severe respiratory infections. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are keeping a close eye on things to catch any changes early.
Globally, the situation is more concerning.
Singapore’s weekly infections jumped 28% in early May, while Hong Kong saw its highest Covid death toll in a year alongside a steep rise in cases.
Much of this is driven by new Omicron subvariants.📌 Did India really shoot down Pakistan’s nuclear missile?
So, a video circulated showing a Pakistani Shaheen missile allegedly being shot down by India’s S-400 air defence system.
This clip was shared by the Indian Army’s Western Command but was quickly taken down because it mistakenly included the Shaheen missile footage sourced from open material, not actual combat footage. The Army clarified this was just “for representation,” but forgot to mention that upfront.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry was quick to slam the Indian media for spreading false claims about using the Shaheen missile. They pointed out that the Indian Army deleted the misleading video once they realized the error, but by then, the misinformation had already spread.
Behind the scenes, the Indian military is still on high alert. Senior leaders like Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi have been visiting forward areas in Rajasthan and Gujarat to check on troops and equipment.
📌 IIT Guwahati launches a cyanide detector that glows
Cyanide might sound like something from a crime thriller, but it’s very real, and dangerous. Used in everything from gold mining to making plastics, improper disposal of this toxic chemical can seriously mess with our environment and health. Even tiny traces can block the oxygen supply in the body.
That’s why, led by Prof. G. Krishnamoorthy, a research team has developed a game-changing fluorescent sensor that detects cyanide in water, and even inside human cells using just UV light.
How does it work?
This special sensor glows blue under UV light. But when cyanide enters the chat, the glow turns cyan, clearly signalling its presence.
It’s what scientists call a “turn-on” sensor—brightening instead of dimming when danger is near, making it super easy to spot.The sensor works on real-world samples like river water and even cancer cells. Plus, it can be packed into portable paper strips for quick testing anywhere.
With a detection limit way below WHO’s safety threshold, this sensor could be a big deal for environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, and forensic science.
📌 Why should you keep your eye on the Ambani stocks tomorrow?
On May 21, the Anil Ambani-led company may take center stage with two major updates: a fresh equity allotment worth ₹43.89 crore and a game-changing green energy partnership in Bhutan.
Reliance Power just issued 1.33 crore equity shares at ₹33 each (a 26% discount to market price) to Reliance Infrastructure and Basera Home Finance. Investors might raise eyebrows at that discount, but the real headline is what came next.
The company also announced a ₹2,000 crore solar power project in Bhutan, teaming up with the Royal Government’s investment arm, DHI. With 500 MW capacity, it’s set to become Bhutan’s biggest solar venture and marks the largest FDI in their solar space. The 50:50 joint venture will run on a Build-Own-Operate model, aligning with Reliance’s green energy pivot.
To top it off, Reliance Power posted a net profit of ₹126 crore in Q4FY25, rebounding from a ₹397 crore loss a year ago. While revenue dipped, the company’s five-year stock surge of over 2,400% proves it still has fuel in the tank.
So, that’s it for today. If you enjoyed this edition, subscribe to hear from us every day!
See ya 👋
