10:40 AMNo more girls & boys only schools in Kerala, orders child rights panel
The girls-only and boys-only schools are likely to be a thing of the past in Kerala soon, as the state child rights panel ordered conversion of all educational institutions in the state into mixed schools by the next academic year.
In a landmark order, the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights directed the state government that there should only be co-education institutions in the southern state from the academic year 2023-24.
10:01 AMIndia logs 21,880 coronavirus cases, 60 deaths in 24 hours
India saw a single day rise of 21,880 coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 43,847,065, while the active cases rose to 149,482, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
The death toll climbed to 525,930 with 60 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.34 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.46 per cent, the ministry said.
An increase of 601 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
9:59 AMTop UN official in Sri Lanka calls for inclusive consultations to resolve economic crisis
The top UN official in Sri Lanka has called on all stakeholders in the country to engage in broad and inclusive consultations to resolve the current economic crisis and the grievances of the people, according to a senior official representing the UN chief.
Deputy Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Farhan Haq, said at the daily news briefing here on Thursday that UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, "acknowledged the constitutional transfer of power to a new President.
Veteran politician Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Thursday sworn in as Sri Lanka's eighth president.
9:55 AMUttarakhand govt tightens all precautionary measures amid rising COVID cases
The Uttarakhand government has been following all COVID-related guidelines amid rising cases in the state, the official informed on Thursday.
Speaking to ANI, Uttarakhand Health Secretary in charge and Director of the National Health Mission Dr R Rajesh Kumar said "The guidelines of the government regarding COVID infections are in place. The government is ensuring that all the precautions like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing also take place."
The Health Secretary also said that the instruction will be given further if the covid cases increase further.
9:55 AMOver 1,000 killed in Spain's heatwave
Spain's Ministry of Health said on Thursday that 1,047 people died in this year's second heatwave as temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country over the past 10 days.
These heat-related deaths were recorded from July 10 to 19, according to data collected by the Monitorization of Daily Mortality (MoMo).
The extreme heat affected mainly the elderly: 672 of the victims were aged 85 or over, 241 between 75 and 84, and 88 were aged between 65 and 74.
9:30 AMUS Covid-19 cases surpass 90 mn
The total number of Covid-19 cases in the US has surpassed 90 million, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University.
The US Covid-19 case count rose to 90,066,295, with a total of 1,025,796 deaths, as of Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the data.
The US remains the nation worst hit by the pandemic, with the world's most cases and deaths.
9:30 AMIndia logs 21,880 fresh Covid cases, 60 deaths in 24 hrs
Active cases: 149,482 (Net increase: 601)
Deaths: 525,930 (Net increase: 60)
Cured: 43,171,653 (Net increase: 21.219)
Total cases: 43,847,065 (Net increase: 21,880)
Total vaccination: 2,013,097,819 (Increase over previous day: 3,706,997)
9:27 AMNeeraj Chopra qualifies for World Championships final with first-attempt throw of 88.39m
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, India's biggest medal prospect at the World Athletics Championships 2022 in Oregon, took just 10 seconds to qualify for the men's javelin final with a massive throw of 88.39m on Friday.
Chopra progressed to the final as he breached the 83.50m mark (Q-mark) with ease in his first attempt.
Olympic silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic, too, joined him in the list with his first-attempt throw of 85.23m.
9:24 AMPM Modi urges people to hoist, display tricolour at home between Aug 13-15
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed to people to strengthen the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' movement by hoisting or displaying the national flag in their homes between August 13-14.
In a series of tweets, he said this movement will deepen our connect with the tricolour and noted that it was on July 22 in 1947 that the national flag was adopted.
"Today, we recall the monumental courage and efforts of all those who dreamt of a flag for free India when we were fighting colonial rule. We reiterate our commitment to fulfil their vision and build the India of their dreams," he said.
9:20 AMDeal on Ukraine's grain exports to be signed today in Turkiye
An agreement to resume grain shipment from Ukrainian ports through the Black Sea will be signed in Turkiye on Friday in a bid to resolve a global food crisis, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has confirmed.
"Tomorrow, we will take the first step in Istanbul towards the solution of the food crisis affecting the whole world, together with the UN secretary-general, the delegations of Russia and Ukraine," Cavusoglu tweeted on Thursday.
"We will continue our efforts to resolve the conflict," he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
9:20 AMSaudi Crown Prince, Putin review bilateral ties
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation to review bilateral ties, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Putin made the call to the Saudi Crown Prince on Thursday, during which the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties in various fields, the report was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
They also reviewed the most prominent regional and international issues as well as their respective efforts to ensure security and stability, according to the report.
9:19 AMJammu-Srinagar national highway opens for one-way traffic
After remaining closed for a day due to landslides and shooting stones at multiple locations, the Jammu- Srinagar National highway has opened for one way traffic, officials said on Friday.
The priority is to clear the backlog of stranded vehicles and the Amarnath Yatra convoy.
"Jammu -Srinagar NHW single way road clear at Mehad, Ramban amid intermittent shooting stones, stranded vehicles and yatra convoys will be cleared 1st and Mughal road through. However, SSG road closed in view of maintenance and repair," Jammu and Kashmir Traffic police said.
9:10 AMStudy: Protective T cells remain 20 months after COVID-19
Shortly after infection, patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 develop protective immune responses mediated by virus-specific T cells and antibodies. However, there is concern that immunity does not last, which could result in severe COVID-19 infection upon re-infection.
Anna Martner and co-authors from the University of Gothenburg report two major findings in the July 12 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). First, several virus-specific T cell variants were detected in blood shortly after COVID-19 but then vanished after 10-12 weeks.
However, a subset of highly specialised T cells, which are designed to help eliminate infected cells, remained active in the blood of all previously SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Even after a long period of observation, these T cells did not disappear or wane.
The findings could explain why patients who have been re-infected with SARS-CoV-2 have a lower risk of severe disease and death.
9:07 AM70% Americans infected with COVID -19, White House urges to get vaccinated after Biden tests positive
Seventy per cent of Americans have been infected with COVID-19.
"Based on the C.D.C data, About 70 per cent plus Americans have been infected. And I have said I think from this podium that I don't believe that every American will be infected," White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr Ashish Jha told reporters during an afternoon update on President Joe Biden's condition.
Biden tested positive for COVID-19 earlier today.
"I think infections are obviously given how incredibly contagious the subvariant has been," Jha said.
9:06 AMFirst polio case in nearly a decade confirmed in New York
The first case of polio in nearly a decade has been confirmed in Rockland County in New York, local and state health officials announced on Thursday (local time).
A 20-year-old man was hospitalized in June, The Washington Post reported citing a public health official close to the investigation of the case.
Polio is a viral disease that may affect the neurologic system, causing muscle weakness and, in certain cases, resulting in paralysis or death.
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