China successfully tested its artificial sun reactor, which ran at 70 million degrees Celsius for 20 minutes, mimicking the nuclear fusion that occurs in the real sun. The number of Omicron cases in India rose to over 2,000 across 24 states, with the highest numbers in Maharashtra and Delhi. Prime Minister Modi canceled a visit to Punjab after his convoy was blocked by protestors for 15-20 minutes, in a security breach.

1. CURRENT AFFAIRS
5 January 2022
Dr. A. PRABAHARAN
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2. China successfully tests ‘Artificial Sun’, 5 times
more powerful than real sun
 China has been experimenting with its ‘artificial sun’ to
facilitate a way for clean energy in the future. In a recent
successful test of China’s artificial sun, the fusion reactor ran
successfully for almost 20 minutes at a stunning 70 million
degrees Celsius.
 The machine strives at utilizing the power of nuclear fusion
which is a less explored way of harnessing nuclear energy.
 The steps during a test of China’s artificial sun imitated the
nuclear reactions that take place inside the sun, where
hydrogen and deuterium gases are used as a fuel.
 The ongoing experiments will bring scientists closer to
unlimited clean energy.
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3. Omicron Cases in India Today
 The number of Omicron cases in India has breached the
2000 mark, rising up to 2,135 as of January 5,
2022. There have been a total of 828 recoveries so far.
 The highest number of Omicron cases have been
reported in Maharashtra, which as 653 Omicron cases,
followed by Delhi that has reported 464 cases.
 Omicron has now been detected in 24 states across
India including Meghalaya, Manipur, Chandigarh, Goa,
Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir,
Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Punjab.
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4. PM Narendra Modi cancels scheduled visit to
Punjab's Ferozepur after security breach
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has canceled his scheduled visit to
Punjab's Ferozepur to lay the foundation stone of multiple development
projects.
 PM Modi was scheduled to address a rally in Ferozepur on January 5th
but could not reach there.
 This was announced by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya from the
stage of the rally ground.
 As per media reports, PM Modi had landed in Bathinda from where he
was to go to National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter.
 Due to rain and poor visibility, it was decided that he would visit the
National Marytrs Memorial by road.
 The PM's convoy hit a blockage by protestors around 30 kms away from
National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala and was stuck on a flyover
for over 15-20 minutes in a major lapse of security, as per the Union
Home Ministry.
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5. IT minister launches India semiconductor mission
 Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the
India Semiconductor Mission on December 29, 2021.
 Under the scheme, the companies that are interested in developing the
semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India can start
applying from January 1st.
 The companies will be able to enjoy the Rs 76,000-crore incentives under
the mission that have been earmarked by the Centre for the development
of the semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.
 The IT Minister said that the schemes under the mission have been notified
and uploaded on the website. "A portal for the same has been prepared
for receiving the applications. Come January 1, 2022, onwards, we will start
receiving the applications," the Minister said.
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6. Revised Home Isolation Guidelines for
COVID patients: Discharge after 7 days
 The Union Health Ministry issued revised home isolation guidelines for
mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.
 As per the revised home isolation guidelines 2022, patients under home
isolation will be discharged and can end their isolation after 7 days have
passed from testing positive and no fever for 3 successive days.
 There would be no need for re-testing after the home isolation period is
over.
 The revised home isolation guidelines of the health ministry only apply
to COVID-19 patients who have been clinically assessed and have been
assigned as mild and asymptomatic cases of COVID-19.
 The guidelines state that such cases usually recover with minimal
intervention and may be managed at home with proper medical
guidance and monitoring.
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7. Captain Harpreet Chandi becomes first
Indian-Origin woman to reach South Pole
solo in 40 days
 Captain Harpreet Chandi, an Indian-origin British Sikh
Army Officer, and a physiotherapist has created history by
becoming the first woman of colour to complete a solo
trek to the South Pole.
 Harpreet Chandi, who is also known as Polar Preet,
announced her achievement on her live blog on January 3,
2022, at the end of Day 40.
 Harpreet Chandi, during her unsupported trek, had to
carry food, a heavy holding kit, and fuel for 40 days.
 Captain Harpreet Chandi had joined the Army Reserves at
the age of 19 and the regular army at 25. She had never
camped in her life before.
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8. 17-year-old Robert Irwin wins Wildlife Photographer of
the Year 2020 for bushfire image
 Australia's Robert Irwin has been awarded the Natural
History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's
Choice Award 2020 for his drone image of Bushfire in
northern Australia.
 The 17-year-old is the son of Australian wildlife
conservationist and icon, the late Steve Irwin.
 His winning photograph is an aerial shot of a raging
bushfire, which he captured using his drone during the
2019/2020 Australian summer bushfires.
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9. ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 Points
Table: India tops WTC Points Table, Pakistan
& WI tied for second place
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10. Freedom fighter K Ayyappan Pillai passes away at 107
 K Ayyappan Pillai, the freedom fighter and senior BJP leader, passed
away on January 5, 2022, at the age of 107.
 Pillai was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments at a private
hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Ayyappan Pillai had participated in
India’s freedom struggle and had met Mahatma Gandhi.
 Pillai was a senior lawyer and was also a member of Shree Moolam
Praja Sabha of Travancore.
 The Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his
condolences on the death of the freedom fighter and prominent
socio-political activist. T
 he BJP President JP Nadda, while condoling the demise of Ayyappan
Pillar, said he selflessly dedicated his entire life to the service of
society.
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11. Sindhutai Sapkal, Social worker and Padma
Shri awardee, passes away at 74
 The renowned social worker and recipient of the Padma Shri Award,
Sindhutai Sapkal passed away on January 4, 2022, due to cardiac arrest at a
hospital in Pune. She was 74 years old and breathed her last in Galaxy Care
Hospital.
 According to the hospital’s medical director, Sindhutai Sapkal was admitted
to the hospital for more than a month.
 Sindhutai Sapkal, who was also referred to as ‘Mai’, ran an orphanage in
Pune where she had adopted more than 1000 orphan children. In 2021,
Sapkal was conferred with the Padma Shri award for her significant
contribution to society.
 Prime Minister Modi, President Kovind expressed their condolences on the
demise of Sindhutai Sapkal.
 The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray also condoled her
death and announced that her last rites will be conducted with state
honors.
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12. New IHU Covid Variant in Reported in
France, 12 Infected and Know the Symptoms
 A new COVID-19 variant, IHU has been identified in France, which is
reported to be more infectious than the Omicron variant.
 As per a study, the new IHU Covid variant probably originated in
Cameroon and harbours both substitutions N501Y and E484K in the spike
protein.
 Around 12 cases of the new variant have been reported near Marseilles in
France. They have been linked to travel to the African country Cameroon.
 The news comes as the world is currently battling the spike in COVID-19
cases.
 The new IHU Covid variant, dubbed as B.1.640.2, was discovered on
December 10 by academics based at the IHU Mediterranee Infection. Its
discovery was announced in a paper posted on medRxiv.
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