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04 July, 2020, 12:28 AM IST

July 3 News Highlights: Global coronavirus cases exceed 11 million

Global coronavirus cases exceeded 11 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, marking another milestone in the spread of the disease that has killed more than half a million people in seven months.

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12:13 AM

WRAP UP: All you need to know

Domestic air traffic to decline by 41-46% in FY21 due to COVID impact: ICRA
UK to allow quarantine-free travel to some low-risk countries
TN govt extends free ration to family cardholders for July
CICSE board announces assessment scheme for cancelled board exams
Indian banks' loans rose 6.2% y/y in two weeks to June 19: RBI
Odisha govt fixes maximum price for RT-PCR test at Rs 2200
Zydus gets nod for human trials of COVID-19 vaccine
Govt likely to hike liquidity package for discoms to Rs 1.25 lakh crore
Earthquake of magnitude 4.7 hits Delhi-NCR
HRD Ministry announces fresh dates for JEE and NEET exams
Fertiliser sales jump 83% to 111.61 lakh tonnes in Apr-June: Govt
No job cuts but profiles may change: Railways
Pakistani foreign minister tests positive for covid-19
Global coronavirus cases exceed 11 million
Tourists allowed to visit Himachal with prior hotel booking of at least 5 days

11:43 PM

Jammu and Kashmir issues fresh guidelines for Unlock 2

Movement of individuals for non-essential activities remains prohibited in the entire J&K between 10 pm to 5 am, with effect from 4th July till further orders. District Magistrates shall issue specific prohibitory orders in this regard under Sec 144 CrPC: Govt of Jammu & Kashmir

11:20 PM

Telangana reports 1,892 new cases

Tally - 20,462
Toll - 283

11:17 PM

Uber shuts its Mumbai office, ride operations to continue

Ride-hailing major Uber has shut its Mumbai office as part of the global churning in the wake the ongoing Covid-19 disruption that has affected its business.
According to reliable sources, the ride-hailing platform would continue to operate as usual in the city.
Uder is winding up nearly 45 offices globally and the move to close down the Mumbai office is part of the global decision.

11:15 PM

Nine lakh saplings to be planted in Gautam Buddh Nagar on July 5

11:03 PM

Tourists allowed to visit Himachal Pradesh with prior hotel booking of at least 5 days

11:03 PM

Pak FM talks to Chinese counterpart; discusses Kashmir, Afghan issues

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday held a telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on ways to step up bilateral ties and also exchanged views on the Kashmir issue and the situation in Afghanistan.
Qureshi, during his telephonic conversation with Wang, underscored that the regional security situation was deteriorating and that India's "belligerent posture" was imperiling peace in the region, the Pakistan Foreign Office said.
“In the face of Indian provocations, Pakistan was exercising restraint,” he said. He also accused India of committing ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC).

10:50 PM

Global coronavirus cases exceed 11 million

10:25 PM

Pakistani foreign minister tests positive for covid-19

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Friday he had tested positive for COVID-19, days after holding high profile meetings including one with U.S. special representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad in Islamabad.
"This afternoon I felt a slight fever and immediately quarantined myself at home," Qureshi said on Twitter. He said he felt healthy and would carry on his duties from home.

10:19 PM

63 new cases reported in Jharkhand today, taking the total number of cases to 2,697

10:14 PM

Indiabulls Housing Q4 net drops 86% to Rs 137 cr on higher provisioning

10:08 PM

Nagaland bans sale, consumption of dog meat

The Nagaland government on Friday banned the sale and consumption of dog meat, in a significant decision amid concerns over cruelty to animals.

10:08 PM

L&T Finance's deal to sell L&T Capital Markets (Middle East) terminated

L&T Finance Holdings on Friday said the deal to sell its fully owned subsidiary L&T Capital Markets (Middle East) to Proud Securities and Credits Pvt Ltd has been terminated in absence of regulatory approvals.

09:58 PM

UK death toll from confirmed cases rises to 44,131, up 137

09:55 PM

No job cuts but profiles may change: Railways

The Railways on Friday said certain job profiles of its employees might change in the coming days but asserted that there will be no job losses, a day after the national transporter issued a letter, asking its general managers to slash 50 per cent vacancies and freeze creation of new posts.
In an online briefing, Director General (HR) Railway Board, Anand S Khati said the Railways will be "rightsizing and not downsizing".
He said due to technological interventions in the national transporter, certain job profiles might change, wherein the personnel will be re-skilled, but there will be no job losses.

09:53 PM

Online filing of admission forms of Jamia Millia Islamia university programs extended till July 31

Online filing of admission forms of Jamia Millia Islamia university programs (except MPhil/PhD) extended till 31st July 2020. Last date of applying online for admission in M.Phil/Ph.D programs is further extended till 20th Aug:Office of controller of examination, JMI

09:52 PM

Mumbai reports 1372 new cases and 73 deaths today

Tally - 81,634
Toll - 4,759

09:51 PM

Delhi reports 2,520 new cases and 59 deaths today

Tally - 94,695
Toll - 2,923

09:49 PM

10,577 RT-PCR tests and 13,588 rapid antigen tests conducted today in Delhi today

10,577 RT-PCR tests and 13,588 rapid antigen tests conducted today in the natioal capital. Total tests done so far… https://t.co/Y2AjRUqPgJ
— ANI (@ANI) 1593792178000

09:47 PM

Delhi: Authorities begin process of conducting rapid antigen tests outside COVID containment zones

09:19 PM

ICMR aims to launch indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by Aug 15 but experts doubtful

India's apex medical body ICMR said Friday that it aims to launch the world's first COVID-19 vaccine, the indigenously developed Covaxin, by August 15, and has told select medical institutions to fast-track its clinical trial approvals. But experts said such a timeline may not be realistic.
The Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR) has identified 12 clinical trial sites, including medical institutions and hospitals, and has asked their principal investigators to ensure that the subject enrolment is initiated no later than July 7. The trial sites included AIIMS, New Delhi, AIIMS, Patna and SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in Tamil Nadu.

09:17 PM

494 new cases reported in Haryana today

Tally - 16,003
Toll - 225

09:14 PM

Trade stuck at West Bengal-Bangladesh land border, exporters raise concerns

Seeking intervention of the commerce ministry, exporters on Friday raised serious concerns over halting of consignments at the West Bengal-Bangladesh land border saying if the stalemate continues, it would impact bilateral trade.
The issue was raised by Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President S K Saraf in a meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal through video-conferencing.

09:13 PM

WHO sees first results from COVID drug trials within two weeks

The World Health Organization expects initial results within two weeks from clinical trials it is conducting of drugs that might be effective in treating COVID-19 patients, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news briefing on Friday.
Mike Ryan, head of the WHO's emergencies programme, said it would be unwise to predict when a COVID-19 vaccine could be ready for mass distribution. While a vaccine candidate might show its effectiveness by year's end, the question was how soon it could be mass produced, he told the briefing.

09:11 PM

PM Narendra Modi has sanctioned ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs each for next of kin of persons who lost their lives due to floods in Assam, from PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund): PMO

08:54 PM

Fertiliser sales jump 83% to 111.61 lakh tonnes in Apr-June: Govt

Fertiliser sales jumped 83 per cent in April-June to record 111.61 lakh tonnes despite the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, the government said on Friday.
"During April-June 2020, the POS (point of sale) sale of fertilisers to farmers was 111.61 lakh tonnes which is 82.81 per cent higher than the last year's sale of 61.05 lakh tonnes during the same period," an official statement said.

08:37 PM

J-K's COVID-19 tally crosses 8,000-mark; death toll reaches 119

08:34 PM

6,364 cases & 198 deaths reported in Maharashtra today

Tally - 1,92,990
Toll - 8,376

08:32 PM

Coronavirus: Telangana minister discharged from hospital

Telangana Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali, who was undergoing treatment for coronavirus at a hospital here was discharged on Friday.

08:17 PM

Only virtual darshan at Baidyanath Temple during Shravani Mela, orders Jharkhand HC

08:15 PM

1,694 new cases and 21 deaths reported in Karnataka today

Tally - 19,710
Toll - 293

08:14 PM

Gujarat reported 687 new cases and 18 deaths

Tally - 34,686
Toll - 1,906

08:12 PM

Virus: Paan shops to remain shut in 3 Surat areas for 7 days

08:08 PM

Highest single-day spike of 972 cases, 14 deaths in UP

Tally - 25,797
Toll - 749

08:06 PM

MP reports 191 new cases, 4 deaths

Tally - 14,297
Toll - 593

07:51 PM

Punjab reported 153 new cases today

Tally - 5,937
Toll - 157

07:46 PM

HRD Ministry announces fresh dates for JEE and NEET exams

Keeping in mind the safety of students and to ensure quality education we have decided to postpone JEE & NEET examinations. JEE Main examination will be held between 1st-6th Sept, JEE advanced exam will be held on 27th Sept & NEET examination will be held on 13th Sept.

07:34 PM

Medical entrance exam NEET postponed to September 13 in view of Covid-19 pandemic: HRD Ministry

07:15 PM

An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 hit 63 km southwest of Gurugram Haryana: National Centre for Seismology

07:13 PM

Many felt reports received from eyewitnesses in Delhi area in the last few minutes. No magnitude yet, likely an earthquake M<4 4.5 close by

07:10 PM

Locust control operations in 1,32,777 hectares area in states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh & Haryana

In intervening night of 2nd-3rd July, 2020, control ops were carried out at 19 places in 7 districts viz. Jaisalmer… https://t.co/cTfsJKtjFl
— ANI (@ANI) 1593783290000

07:04 PM

Earthquake tremors felt in Delhi

06:58 PM

UP CM Yogi Adityanath meets family members of the cops killed in Kanpur encounter, announces financial assistance of Rs 1 crore each to the bereaved families

06:58 PM

CISCE to reduce the syllabi for all major subjects at ICSE and ISC levels

To make up for the loss in instructional hours during the current session 2020-21, the CISCE has worked with its subject experts, to reduce the syllabi for all major subjects at ICSE and ISC levels: Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

06:56 PM

Global firms showing more interests in Indian solar space helped in competitive bidding: Crisil

Rating agency Crisil on Friday said absence of any formal duty on imports at the time of projects tendering and lower returns globally in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak have resulted in competitive tariff rates in the solar energy sector.
According to the agency, a chance coming together of several positives has led to a new record low tariff bid in the interstate transmission system (ISTS) tranche IX auctions of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).

06:56 PM

Banks disburse over Rs 50,000 cr loans to MSMEs under credit guarantee scheme

06:50 PM

Reliance Jio opens web conferencing app JioMeet for public

Reliance Jio has opened JioMeet app for general public, which can support up to 100 users in a session, according to its website.
The application has now been made available for public after increase in usage of web conferencing apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, Google Meet, among others, in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

06:47 PM

Govt likely to hike liquidity package for discoms to Rs 1.25 lakh crore

The government is likely to enhance the liquidity package for distribution utilities to Rs 1.25 lakh crore from Rs 90,000 crore announced in May, according to a source.
The liquidity package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as part of more than Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus for COVID-19-hit economy, would be extended for payment of outstanding dues by two months till May 2020.

06:38 PM

Open book exam for Maharashtra Public Service Commission

Scheduled zonal MPSC (Maharashtra Public Service Commission) exams for direct appointee probationary police personnel of rank Dy Superintendent/Asst Police Commissioners is not only being postponed by month but it'll be held as open book exam: Maharashtra Home Min Anil Deshmukh

06:36 PM

64 deaths and 4329 new cases reported in Tamil Nadu today

Tally - 1,02,721
Toll - 1,385

06:34 PM

211 new cases reported in Kerala today, tally reaches 4964

06:33 PM

Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi over denial of OBC reservation in all India quota filled through NEET

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has written a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding "denial of reservation" to OBC candidates under all-India quota being filled through National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in the state and union territory medical education institutions.

06:24 PM

Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in India:

China has demarcated boundary with 12 of its 14 neighboring countries through peaceful negotiations, turning land borders into bonds of friendly cooperation. It's groundless to view China as "expansionist", exaggerate & fabricate its disputes with neighbours.

06:12 PM

Telangana in dilemma over fresh lockdown, city denizens rush to villages

A week after floating the idea of imposing fresh lockdown in Hyderabad amid rising coronavirus spread, the Telangana government seems to be in an impasse, worried over possible adverse effects on revenues as Hyderabad contributes over half of state’s revenue collections.
Holding a high-level review on rising Coronavirus spread last Sunday, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had hinted at imposing fresh lockdown in Hyderabad for 15 days with stricter curfew conditions, which includes shutting down flights and trains.
Citing examples of major Indian cities and states like Chennai and Maharashtra that have either imposed fresh lockdowns or extended lockdowns to contain the spread of virus, chief minister Rao said a Cabinet meeting will be convened to take a call.

06:11 PM

Have decided to continue with 14 days home quarantine for people coming from outside the state: Punjab CM

Have decided to continue with 14 days home quarantine for people coming from outside the state. Request people to generate a self-declaration from COVA app to enable hassle-free transit. Have also ordered Rapid Antigen testing from next week for surveillance.

06:10 PM

8 new cases in Dharavi, Mumbai

Tally -2309
Toll - 84

06:04 PM

Zydus gets nod for human trials of COVID-19 vaccine

Zydus on Friday said it has received approval from authorities to start human trials for its COVID-19 vaccine contender - the second Indian pharmaceutical firm to get such nod amid a surge in novel coronavirus infections worldwide.
The vaccine, ZyCoV-D, showed a "strong immune response" in animal studies, and the antibodies produced were able to completely neutralise the wild type virus, Zydus, part of Cadila Healthcare Ltd, said in a statement.

06:03 PM

Maximum late fee for delayed filing of GSTR-3B return capped at Rs 500

06:02 PM

Covid cases reach 1,021 in Himachal Pradesh out of which 344 cases are active: State Health Department