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WHO advises to conduct 140 COVID-19 tests a day per million population

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New Delhi (NVI): The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised that a country needs to conduct 140 tests per day per million population, explaining the concept of comprehensive surveillance and testing of suspect cases, Union Health Ministry said.

The Health Ministry in a statement said, “WHO in its guidance note on ‘Public Health Criteria to Adjust Public Health and Social Measures in the Context of Covid-19’ has advised comprehensive surveillance for suspected cases.”

As many as 22 states and union territories in India are reported to be already conducting 140 and more tests per day per million. In addition to this, the remaining states and UTs are being regularly advised to increase the testing capacity to match the WHO advised levels of testing, the statement added.

One of the factors strongly aiding the increasing numbers of COVID-19 tests in the country is the steadily growing network of labs for testing of COVID-19. With 865 labs in the government sector and 358 private labs, the total number of testing labs in the country stands at 1,223, as on date.

In addition to the gold standard for test, RT PCR, TrueNat and CBNAAT are also used to augment this facility, it said.

Out of these, 391 government labs and 242 private labs can conduct Real-Time RT PCR based testing.

Similarly, TrueNat based testing can be done by 439 government and 52 private labs and CBNAAT based testing can be conducted in 35 government and 64 private labs, ministry added.

The ministry also informed that the expansion of laboratory capacity has seen an exponential increase from one lab in January 2020 to 121 labs in March 2020 and 1,223 labs as of today.

During the last 24 hours, 3,20,161 samples were tested. The total number of samples tested so far in the country stands at 1,24,12,664, the ministry statement said.

However, the testing per million for India is consistently rising. As of today, it has touched 8994.7. On July 14, more than 3.2 lakh tests were done on a single day.

-RJV

Google to invest Rs 33,737 cr in Jio platforms: Mukesh Ambani

Reliance Group Chairman Mukesh Ambani (File Pic)

New Delhi (NVI): Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani today said that Google will invest around Rs 33,737 crore for 7.7 per cent stake in Jio Platforms.

Ambani made the announcement at the group’s 43rd annual general meeting that was held virtually for the first time. The Google investment values Jio platforms at an equity value of Rs 4.36 lakh crore.

At the meeting, Ambani also said that Jio is ready with a “world-class 5G solution” and that field deployment can happen next year. “Jio has designed and developed a complete 5G solution from scratch. It will be ready for trials as soon as 5G spectrum is available and can be ready for field deployment next year,” he said.

Ambani further said that Jio’s global-scale 4G and fiber network is powered by several core software technologies and components. “It is this capability and know-how that positions Jio on the cutting edge of another exciting frontier – 5G,” he added.

Jio Platforms is the digital services arm of Reliance Industries, which houses telecom company Reliance Jio Infocomm. Notably, this is the fourteenth investment in Jio Platforms since April 22 this year.

The company also announced Jio TV+, Jio Glass and provided updates on Reliance Retail, JioMart as well as the deal with Saudi Aramco. Apart from that, Google and Jio are partnering to build a smartphone operating system, Ambani added.

-ARK

40 lakh households get tap water connections since April

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New Delhi (NVI): Under the Central Government’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), 40 lakh households have been provided with tap water connections since April, thus improving the quality of life of people in the rural areas, according to the Jal Shakti Ministry.

Most of this work was done since the start of June.

Right now, connections are being given to 1 lakh households on a daily basis, it said.

The Ministry said that ever since the JJM was announced on August 15 last year, tap connections have been installed in more than 84 lakh households.

Jal Jeevan Mission — a centrally-sponsored project aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by 2024.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made an appeal to make water everyone’s business – a Jan Andolan.

The Centre has laid thrust on peoples’ participation in JJM, and in the efforts to boost the country’s water resource capacity and its management.

The Ministry said more than Rs 8,000 crore central funds were made available to the states and Union Territories for these three months from April to June to implement the mission.

When the whole country is fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, the Central Government is making all efforts for provision of safe drinking water in rural areas by providing tap connections, the ministry says.

The Mission is working closely with the States to accomplish the task Har Ghar Jal, in mission mode and time-bound manner.

Through this mission, the government intends to ensure the rural communities are safe, by providing the poor and marginalized sections of the society water supply through tap connections inside their house premises.

Government is working on this mission to improve the ease of living and quality of life of the people.

-CHK

CBSE class 10 results declared, 91.46% students pass

(File/Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has declared the CBSE class 10th exam results today. A total of 91.46 percent of students have passed the examination.

The results were declared of over 18.89 lakh students who registered to appear for the board exams.

This year, girls have outscored the boys with a pass percentage of 93.31 while the pass percentage for boys is 90.14 percent.

Union HRD Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, took to twitter and stated, “Dear Students, Parents, and Teachers! @cbseindia29 has announced the results of Class X and can be accessed at http://cbseresults.nic.in. We congratulate you all for making this possible. I reiterate, student’s health & quality education are our priority.”

A total of 2.23 percent of students or 41,804 students have scored more than 95 percent marks in CBSE 10th exam this year, according to media reports.

For the exam which was not conducted, CBSE has awarded marks based on an average of the highest three marks obtained in subjects for which marks were held.

CBSE had on Monday announced the class 12th result 2020. A total of 88.78% students have passed the class 12th exam

-CHK

PM to take part in India-EU summit today

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the India-EU Summit at 4:30 PM today. Ahead of the virtual summit, the Prime Minister said that the talks will further help in boosting India’s economic and cultural linkages with Europe.

“Will take part in the India-EU Summit at 4:30 PM today. I am confident this Summit will further strengthen our economic as well as cultural linkages with Europe,” he tweeted.

India and the European Union (EU) yesterday sealed a civil nuclear cooperation, after 13 years of negotiations. Today’s crucial summit is aimed further broadening ties on a range of areas including trade, investment and defence.

Both sides are also expected to launch a maritime security dialogue as part of efforts to expand defence and security cooperation.

While the Indian delegation at the summit will be led by PM Modi, the European side will be headed by President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

-ARK

PM shares mantra to stay relevant on World Youth Skills Day

Fasal Bima Yojana
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that it is very important to remain relevant amid the Covid crisis when ‘World Culture and ‘Nature of Job’ have changed, with constantly changing technology also leaving its impact on them.

While addressing a virtual conclave on World Youth Skills Day, the Prime Minister shared mantra to stay relevant at these challenging times. “Many people ask me that market and business is changing so fast at the present time, so how should we remain relevant,” PM said, adding that this question has become crucial in times of corona.

“There is only one mantra to remain relevant- it is Skill, Re-Skill and Upskill,” PM said in his address.

Addressing the virtual event to mark the fifth anniversary of Skill India Mission, the PM said that skill is timeless and it keeps getting better with time and it makes one different from others.

“Skill is something which we gift ourselves, which grows with experience. Skill is timeless, it keeps getting better with time. Skill is unique, it makes you different from others,” he said.

He said that in today’s rapidly changing world, millions of skilled people are needed and there is a huge potential, especially in health services.

The prime minister further spoke on how one’s skills make them self-reliant and can take them to great heights. He said that skills make one employable as well as self-employed.

On this day in 2015, the central government launched ‘Skill India Mission’ to empower the youth with skill sets which make them more employable and more productive in their work environment.

-RJV/ARK

BJP leader abducted from his residence in J&K’s Baramulla

Mehrajudin Malla

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Vice President (VP) of Municipal Committee at Watergam in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla, Mehrajudin Malla, was abducted today, officials said.

Officials said that Malla, a resident of Maraizgund, Sopore, was abducted by some unknown people from his residence this morning.

BJP J&K spokesman, Altaf Thakur, said that the person abducted is the son of senior BJP leader Ghulam Muhammad Malla. “The person abducted is vice president Rafiabad Assembly constituency for the BJP,” he added.

A police official said that Malla, son of Ghulam Ahmad Malla, of Marazigund, Sopore was whisked away from his residence at around 9am and there is no trace of him so far.

He further said that police has launched a manhunt to nab those behind the alleged kidnapping.


“Police are verifying the details. Massive manhunt has been launched to trace out the abducted man. Police has also issued an alert and a tightened vigil is being maintained at all entry and exit points in Sopore,” the officer said.

Today’s incident comes barely a week after Lashkar-e-Toiba militants killed BJP’s young face Waseem Bari, his father and brother at the Muslimabad area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

-CHK

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

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New Delhi (NVI): India’s coronavirus cases saw the highest single-day spike of 29,429, taking the total numbe rof cases to 9,36,181, according to Union Health Ministry data.

Reportedly, this is the fourth consecutive day when India has recorded over 28,000 new cases.

Meanwhile, the death toll has climbed to 24,309 with 582 new fatalities being recorded since yesterday.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 166

Andhra Pradesh- 33,019

Arunachal Pradesh- 462

Assam- 17,807

Bihar- 19,284

Chandigarh- 600

Chhattisgarh- 4,379

Dadar Nagar Haveli & Diu – 297

Delhi- 1,15,346

Gujarat- 43,637

Goa- 2,753

Haryana– 22,628

Himachal Pradesh- 1,309

Jammu and Kashmir- 11,173

Jharkhand- 4,091

Karnataka- 44,077

Kerala- 8,930

Ladakh- 1,093

Madhya Pradesh- 19,005

Maharashtra- 2,67,665

Manipur- 1,672

Meghalaya- 318

Mizoram- 238

Nagaland- 896

Odisha- 14,280

Puducherry- 1,531

Punjab- 8,511

Rajasthan- 25,571

Sikkim- 209

Tamil Nadu- 1,47,324

Telangana- 37,745

Tripura- 2,170

Uttarakhand- 3,686

Uttar Pradesh- 39,724

West Bengal – 32,838

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 408

Arunachal Pradesh- 3

Assam- 40

Bihar- 174

Chandigarh- 10

Chhattisgarh- 20

Delhi- 3,446

Goa- 18

Gujarat- 2,069

Haryana- 312

Himachal Pradesh- 11

Jammu and Kashmir- 195

Jharkhand- 36

Karnataka- 842

Kerala- 34

Ladakh- 1

Madhya Pradesh- 673

Maharashtra- 10,695

Meghalaya- 2

Odisha- 74

Puducherry- 18

Punjab- 213

Rajasthan- 525

Tamil Nadu- 2,099

Telangana- 375

Tripura- 2

Uttar Pradesh- 983

Uttarakhand- 50

West Bengal- 980

A total of 5,92,032 people have been cured or discharged. Total active cases stand at 3,19,840.

-CHK

Maldives to reopen its borders for international tourism

File photo

New Delhi (NVI): After a four-month shutdown, Maldives is reopening its borders for international visitors today with health and safety protocols in place, to protect tourists and residents from coronavirus.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih visited the international airport in Male to check on the operations last evening. He was briefed on the measures in place to screen passengers as well as on their testing capacity, and protocols to ensure social distancing.

In addition to this, the Government has prepared safety measures to be enforced at ports and guest facilities including mandatory testing for airport arrivals.

Notably, tourists, the US citizens included — will not have to enter into a mandatory quarantine upon arrival at Velana International Airport in the capital, Male.

Furthermore, the foreign tourists will not be required to pay an additional fee, produce a certificate or test result indicative of negative status for coronavirus prior to entry into the Maldives.

Maldives is heavily dependent on tourism for its economic activities which were suspended in the wake of novel coronavirus. The tropical island nation comprises about 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean.

So far, the South Asian nation has confirmed over 2,800 positive cases of coronavirus while 14 people have died due to the deadly contagion.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases exceed 13.3 million worldwide; death toll tops 5.78 lakh

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 13.3 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19, 7.37 million have recovered, and more than 5,77,900 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

In the US, the total number of coronavirus cases have surpassed 3.4 million while the number of fatalities have crossed 1,36,000 in the country.

In Brazil, the number of COVID-19 infections are nearing 2 million while the death in the country has surged past 74,000.

Mexico’s Health Ministry has reported 7,051 new confirmed coronavirus infections and 836 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 3,11,486 cases and 36,327 deaths.

South Africa has surpassed the United Kingdom in its number of confirmed coronavirus cases, according to its health ministry and data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. It now has the world’s eighth-highest number of confirmed cases with 2,98,292 and over 4,300 deaths.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 351 to 1,99,726. The reported death toll rose by three to 9,071, the tally showed.

China is further easing restrictions on domestic tourism after reporting no new local cases of COVID-19 in nine days. The National Health Commission said that six new cases were recorded as of the end of Tuesday, all in people who had arrived from overseas.

South Korea’s new coronavirus cases stayed below 40 for the second day in a row on Wednesday, but imported cases continued to rise, hampering the country’s efforts to contain the disease. The country added 39 cases, including 11 local infections, raising the total caseload to 13,551.

Meanwhile, more than 300 students and tutors have tested positive for coronavirus at high schools in the West African nation of Ghana.

-CHK

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