# Punjab assembly election

• The election Commission of India on Monday postponed polling for the Punjab assembly elections from February 14 to February 20.
• State government and different political parties raised concerns that many devotees would be in Varanasi to celebrate Guru Ravidas’s birth anniversary on February 16 and miss out voting.
• The congress, Bhartiya janta party and Punjab lok congress had demanded to postpone the Punjab elections.

# Abu dhabi

• Two Indians and a Pakistani were killed in a massive explosion in three petroleum tankers in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
• The blast is believed to have been sparked by a fire near the Abu dhabi National oil company facilities.
• Sources are claiming the attack to be executed by houthi rebels.
• Shia houthi rebels are Iran backed fighters in Yemen.

# Covid-19

• India recorded 232760 Covid-19 cases on Monday, a 40℅ increase from a week ago.
• The number of infections has reached 3.74 crore, and the active cases have crossed the 17 lakh mark.
• On Sunday 13.13 lakh tests were conducted, a 21℅ decline from the day before.
• The test positivity rate continued its ascent and reached 17.7℅ the highest in the ongoing wave.

# Vaccination

• India may begin inoculating children in the 12-14 age group against covid-19 in March.
• Chairman of the Covid-19 working group of the National technical advisory group of Immunisation (NTAGI) said that 15-17 age group is likely to be fully vaccinated by then.
• Of the estimated 7.4 crore population in the 15-17 age bracket, over 3.45 crore have received their first dose.

# China’s economy

• China’s economy grew 8.1℅ in 2021 and reached the $18 trillion mark.
• China also recorded the lowest birth rate since 1949.