The COVID positivity rate in Kerala shows a consistent decline. In the last 24 hours 7499 COVID positive cases and 13,596 recoveries were confirmed. 94 deaths were also reported. The test positivity rate is as low as 9.63 per cent.
Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram districts record the maximum number of cases.
AMN
Sweden’s parliament ousted Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in a no-confidence vote today, giving the Social Democrat leader a week to resign and hand the speaker the job of finding a new government, or call a snap election.
The nationalist Sweden Democrats had seized the chance to call the vote after the formerly communist Left Party withdrew support for the centre-left government over a plan to ease rent controls for new-build apartments.
Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Akesson told the parliament that the government was harmful and historically weak, adding, “It should never have come into power.”
The no-confidence motion, which required 175 votes in the 349-seat parliament to pass, was supported by 181 lawmakers.
Lofven, 63, is the first Swedish Prime Minister to be ousted by a no-confidence motion put forward by the opposition. He was due to hold a news conference later on Monday.
A new government – or a caretaker administration – would sit only until a parliamentary election scheduled for September next year.
BY VINIT WAHI
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has said that the increased pace of vaccination would help to rapidly immunize the country against COVID-19. He said, over 28 crore doses of vaccines have already been administered to the beneficiaries.
Thanking the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the universalization of the vaccination drive, he appealed to everyone to get themselves and all their eligible family members vaccinated.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan today joined citizens of his constituency to observe the 7th International Day for Yoga in Delhi. On this occasion, he said, the importance of Yoga has grown multifold in the conscience of the public for its role in promotion of Holistic Health. He said, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that health is the ultimate wealth. He expressed his deepest condolences to them who have lost their near and dear ones to COVID-19.
Staff Reporter
Government today extended the waiver of Inter-State Transmission system (ISTS) charges on transmission of electricity generated from solar and wind sources up to 30th June 2025. Earlier, it was up to 30th June 2023. The Power Ministry has issued an order in this regard. The waiver of ISTS charges has also been allowed for Hydro Pumped Storage Plant and Battery Energy Storage System projects to be commissioned up 30th June 2025.
This will promote the Hydro Pumped Storage Plant and Battery Energy Storage System projects for meeting the balancing requirement of the grid caused due to large scale integration of Renewables in the Electricity Grid. The move will promote the development of solar, wind, Hydro Pumped Storage Plant and Battery Energy Storage System, trading of RE in the power exchanges and seamless transmission of RE power across the states.
Staff Reporter
India’s cereals exports have shown tremendous growth. Ministry of Commerce & Industry has said that nine countries where India exported non-basmati rice for the first time in 2020-21 or where earlier the shipment was smaller in volume included Timor-Leste, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Eswatini, Myanmar and Nicaragua. The total volume of export of rice to these nine countries was a few hundred metric tonnes in 2018-19 and in 2019-20. This rose to over 1.5 lakh metric tonnes last year.
In the case of wheat, exports to seven specified countries where there were none in 2018-19 and only 4 metric tonnes in 2019-20, wheat export to these seven countries rose to nearly 1.5 lakh metric tonnes last year. Export of other cereals to 6 specified countries where there were none in 2018-19 also saw an increase.
The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has attributed this sharp spike in exports of cereals to synergy and collaboration between various stakeholders including farmers, millers, exporters and government agencies. It added that APEDA has been exploring new opportunities
through ensuring market access, adherence to products’ quality and phytosanitary measures.
AMN / WEB DESK
Following the Calcutta High Court’s order, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has constituted a committee to enquire into the complaints of post poll violence in West Bengal. The seven member committee will be headed by NHRC Member, Rajeev Jain.
It will examine all cases of post poll violence in the state, complaints for which have already been received or which may be received in the Commission.
In a statement, the NHRC said the cases will be examined including by visiting the affected areas and the panel will submit a comprehensive report to the High Court about the present situation and also steps to be taken to ensure confidence of the people that they can peacefully live in their houses. The committee will also point out the persons, prima-facie, responsible for crime and the officers who maintained calculated silence on the issue.
AMN / WEB DESK
In view of the prevailing Covid-19 circumstances, Jammu and Kashmir Government today cancelled this year’s annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. However, all the traditional religious rituals shall be performed at the Holy Cave Shrine as per past practice.
A discussion in this regard was held with the members of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board in view of the present Covid-19 situation before arriving on the decision. subsequently Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board held a detailed deliberations with Chief Secretary, DGP, , Principal Secretary and Principal Secretary to Lt Governor and directed that devotees should be enabled to attend to morning and evening Aarti in online mode.
The meeting was informed that Shrine Board has put in place virtual and televised mechanism for live Darshan of Aarti from the holy cave.
Lietenant Governor said that it is important to save the lives of the people in view of the pandemic and subsequently not advisable to hold and conduct this year’s pilgrimage in the larger public interest.
Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board CEO said, the shrine board have made the arrangements for the mace of Lord Shiva- Chhari Mubarak’ to be taken to the holy cave on 22nd August, when the yatra is to conclude coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
He said that both morning telecast of Aarti at 6 AM and evening Aarti at 5 PM, each for 30 minutes would be live-streamed on Shri Amarnath ji Shrine board’s official website and the app specifically dedicated for the devotees.
Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, yoga has remained a ray of hope as the whole world fights the COVID pandemic. Addressing people on the occasion of 7th International Day of Yoga this morning, Mr Modi said even though major public events have not been organised for the past 2 years due to the pandemic, enthusiasm about Yoga Day has not diminished.
Mr Modi said nobody was mentally prepared to deal with corona virus but yoga has become a medium of self confidence. He stated that whenever sages of India spoke about health, they not only meant physical health but also mental health. He said, Yoga has laid much emphasis on physical health as well as mental health. He said Yoga shows the way from stress to strength and from negativity to creativity.
The Prime Minister said Yoga has given a way for holistic health and a happier way of life. He exuded confidence that Yoga will continue playing its preventive, as well as promotive role in healthcare of masses.
Mr Modi said even medical science today lays emphasis on the healing process, besides medical treatment. He added that Yoga helps in the healing process. He pointed out that doctors have used Yoga as armour to treat patients. There are pictures of hospitals, with doctors, and nurses teaching breathing exercises in Yoga like Anulom Vilom and Pranayama to patients. International experts have said that these exercises strengthen the breathing system.
He said that for most of the countries, Yoga Day is not an age-old cultural festival and yet people’s enthusiasm and love for Yoga Day has increased. Mr Modi said, when India proposed International Day of Yoga in the United Nations, the spirit behind it was to make Yoga accessible to the whole world.
On the occasion, Minister of State for AYUSH, Kiren Rijiju said from the very first observance itself, International Day of Yoga has received widespread acceptance. He said, the AYUSH Ministry continues to play a pivotal role to raise the profile of yoga. The Ministry has launched a lot of digital tools and free yoga resources for the spread of yoga. He added that collaborations with private sector bodies are also being done to increase the spread of Yoga.
The main theme of International Day of Yoga, 2021 is – Yoga for Wellness. Yoga Day is being observed in about 190 countries globally. Lakhs of Yoga lovers committed themselves to Yoga Day and performed Yoga from the safety of their own homes.
AMN
In Tripura, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Monday inaugurated the mega vaccination drive for the age group of 18 to 44 years as part of the pan-India vaccination drive for June 21 and 22. Along with the Chief Minister, Health Secretary JK Sinha, NHM (National Health Mission) Mission Director Siddhartha Shiva Jiaswal and other senior officials of the department remained present.
The programme was organised at IMA house Agartala.
According to official details, vaccination will continue in 1,342 session sites across the state that was increased from earlier 900. As of now, 19,40,340 doses have been administered in Tripura that include both first and second doses.
Tripura has emerged as the first state as far as vaccination of the 45 age group is concerned with 92 per cent of the total population of the specific age group vaccinated already.
In terms of the vaccination of 18 to 44 years age group, 3 lakh doses had been administered so far and now it would only increase with mission mode vaccination. As per the election data, the total number of people who belonged to that category stood at 16 lakh.
AMN
The Bihar government today launched a mega COVID vaccination drive. On this occasion, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, the state government has set an ambitious target of vaccinating another six crore people in next six months. Six thousand vaccination centres have been set up for this purpose. For intensive vaccination, a Task Force has been constituted at the block level in each district of the state.
Mr Kumar said, over 1.36 crore people have been vaccinated in the state so far. Out of these, over 38 lakh people are from the age group of 18 to 44 years. He said flood affected people will also be vaccinated. The Chief Minister Mr Kumar expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing free vaccination to people of the country. Nitish Kumar said, people have to remain and should get themselves vaccinated and also ensure vaccination of each member of the family.
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