ACTIVE COVID CASES FALLING IN 90% DISTRICTS ACROSS INDIA

While more than 50,000 new cases of coronavirus infections are still being detected across the country every day, almost 90 per cent of the over 650 districts for which data are available, are now in a phase of steady decline.

In the week from June 12 to June 19, only 70 districts in the country saw an increase in the numbers of active cases. The increase in active cases was more than 100 in just 27 of these districts. In 18 districts, the rise was in single digits.

However, 23 of these 70 districts are in West Bengal, the only major state where active cases have increased in the last one week.

However, the rise in active cases in West Bengal has not been due to detection of more cases. The new detections have been falling consistently, and these days, the state has been reporting less than 3,000 infections a day. But in the last one week, the number of people who are being declared as recovered has gone down even more sharply, leading to a rise in the active cases.

Manipur and Mizoram are the only other states to have seen a rise in active cases in the last one week, but in both these states, the number is well within 1,000.

There are six districts in Maharashtra which have seen a rise in active cases in the last one week — Mumbai, Palghar, Buldhana, Sangli, Aurangabad, and Parbhani. Mumbai, which has 21,000 active cases right now, saw an increase of 777 in the last one week.

KEY COVID NUMBERS

Current Active Cases Countrywide: 6,97,893

New Cases in last 24 hours: 52,986

Recovered in last 24 hours: 78,082

Change in no. of Active cases in last 24 hours: -26,520

No. of deaths in last 24 hours (Total Covid Deaths so far): 1,424 (3,88,164)

Daily Tests (Saturday): 18,11,446

Daily Positivity Rate (Proportion of Positives among total Tested): 3.2%

Percentage of Population Vaccinated (At Least One Dose / Two Doses): 16.9% / 3.8%

Most Affected States:

(S. No. / State / No. of Active Cases / New Cases in last 24 Hrs / Deaths in Last 24 Hrs)

1          Maharashtra     1,32,241           /           9,361    /           605

2          Karnataka         1,26,813           /           4,517    /           120

3          Kerala  1,05,940           /           11,647  /           112

4          Tamil Nadu       69,372  /           7,817    /           182

5          Andhra Pradesh            63,068  /           5,646    /           50

6          Odisha 33,645  /           3,577    /           40

7          Assam  32,207  /           1,775    /           30

8          West Bengal     23,016  /           2,184    /           53

9          Telangana        17,765  /           1,006    /           11

10        Manipur            9,613    /           527       /           8

11        Chhattisgarh     9,192    /           352       /           10

12        Jammu and Kashmir     8,631    /           585       /           14

13        Punjab  7,421    /           541       /           24

14        Gujarat 6,109    /           185       /           4

15        Meghalaya        4,587    /           390       /           4

16        Uttar Pradesh   4,569    /           219       /           46

17        Tripura 4,455    /           367       /           4

18        Mizoram           3,603    /           193       /           4

19        Puducherry       3,562    /           251       /           3

20        Goa      3,268    /           207       /           6

21        Bihar    3,188    /           294       /           7

22        Uttarakhand      3,136    /           136       /           9

23        Rajasthan         3,079    /           144       /           4

24        Himachal Pradesh         2,711    /           128       /           3

25        Sikkim  2,697    /           87        /           2

26        Arunachal Pradesh        2,515    /           158       /           Nil

27        Haryana           2,491    /           201       /           30

28        Madhya Pradesh           2,214    /           87        /           30

29        Delhi    2,091    /           124       /           7

30        Nagaland          1,890    /           57        /           1

31        Jharkhand        1,596    /           138       /           Nil

32        Chandigarh       353       /           27        /           Nil

33        Lakshadweep    319       /           13        /           Nil

CAN’T GIVE RS 4 LAKH COVID DEATH RELIEF: GOVT TO SUPREME COURT

Citing limited resources, the Centre has told the Supreme Court that giving an ex gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of Covid victims wasn’t possible as it would affect pandemic response on other aspects, leading to more damage than good.

“Already the finances of state and the central governments are under severe strain due to the reduction in tax revenues and increase in health expenses on account of the pandemic,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said in an affidavit filed in the top court.

The Centre also cautioned the court against stepping into the domain of the executive as it might have unintended constitutional ramifications.

The affidavit has been filed in response to a PIL seeking Rs 4 lakh each to the families which lost their dear ones due to the pandemic.

JNK PARTIES MULL WHETHER TO ATTEND PM’S MEET OR NOT

Amid a deep trust deficit in Jammu and Kashmir after the Centre abrogated Article 370 and downgraded the state by splitting it into two Union Territories, Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to kick-start the political process leading to Assembly elections, the first step towards having an elected government in the Union Territory of J&K.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has been working in the background to bring this meeting of Modi with 14 key political leaders — these are former CMs, Deputy CMs and heads of mainstream parties — to fruition. While Modi has reiterated that statehood is the inevitable destination of a political process, a possible roadmap towards that is also on the table for the meeting scheduled at 3 pm on June 24 in Delhi.

On Sunday, at the meeting of the PDP’s political affairs committee, the senior leadership of the party authorised Mehbooba Mufti to take the final decision on the June 24 meeting. National Conference Chairman Farooq Abdullah held consultations with the party’s senior colleagues at his Gupkar residence, and these are expected to continue Monday.

While Sajad Lone-led People’s Conference has called a meeting of its members at Srinagar on Monday, the constituents of the PAGD are scheduled to meet Tuesday. CPM’s MY Tarigami told The Indian Express that as a party, the CPM never closed the doors for a conversation with the Centre. “It was the Government of India that had stopped every line of engagement with us. However, since we are part of the PAGD, we will announce our final call after the Tuesday meeting,” he said.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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BEIJING RISKS ISOLATION IN QUEST FOR VIRUS ORIGIN, WARNS US NSA JAKE SULLIVAN

China will risk international isolation if it fails to allow a “real” investigation on its territory into the origins of the virus that caused the Covid-19 pandemic, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

Sullivan’s comments follow last week’s call by G7 leaders including US President Joe Biden for another probe into how the virus originated. The goal is to present China with “a stark choice: Either they will allow, in a responsible way, investigators in to do the real work of figuring out where this came from, or they will face isolation in the international community,” Sullivan said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” The US will continue pressing in cooperation with its allies and partners “until we get to the bottom of how this virus came into the world and who has accountability for that.”

“We are not at this point going to issue threats or ultimatums,” Sullivan said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” If China doesn’t live up to its obligations, “we will have to consider our responses at that point and we will do so in concert with allies and partners,” he said. “We’re not going to simply accept China saying no,” Sullivan said.

ISRAEL WARNS AGAINST NUKE TALKS WITH IRAN’S ‘HANGMEN REGIME’

Israel condemned on Sunday the election of hardline judge Ebrahim Raisi as Iranian president, saying his would be a “regime of brutal hangmen” with which world powers should not negotiate a new nuclear deal.

Raisi, who is under US sanctions for human rights abuses, secured victory as expected on Saturday in Iran’s presidential election. Israeli PM Naftali Bennett, convening his first televised cabinet session since taking office last week, described Raisi’s ascent as enabled by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rather than by a free and popular vote.

“Raisi’s election is, I would say, the last chance for world powers to wake up before returning to the nuclear agreement, and understand who they are doing business with,” said Bennett in a statement. “A regime of brutal hangmen must never be allowed to have weapons of mass-destruction,” he said. “Israel’s position will not change on this.”

THE REST

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DELHI RELAXES LOCKDOWN FURTHER: BARS, PARKS CAN REOPEN, GYMS STILL SHUT

The new phase of unlockdown in the national capital will see bars reopening and restaurants being allowed to serve alcohol starting today. Parks, gardens, golf courses and outdoor yoga have also been permitted under the new guidelines issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority Sunday.

However, educational institutions, gyms, spas and yoga institutes, and movie theatres, will continue to be shut while all social, political and sports gatherings and congregations remain banned.

The latest relaxations are applicable for a week, after which they will be reviewed. Last week, all shops, markets and malls were allowed to reopen without restrictions, which led to crowding at popular markets.

CRISIS IN CONGRESS OVER PUNJAB GOVERNMENT JOBS GIVEN TO SONS OF MLAs

The Punjab cabinet's decision to give two state government jobs to the sons of Congress MLAs has triggered fresh trouble for Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. Sunil Jakhar, the Punjab Congress chief, and two MLAs have demanded that the "ill-advised" move be rolled back. However, Amrinder, already battling dissent in the state unit, has refused to scrap the decision, saying it is a "small token of gratitude and compensation for the sacrifices of their families".

The Punjab government decided on Friday that the sons of Congress MLAs Arjun Pratap Singh Bajwa and Bhisham Pandey will be appointed as a police inspector and a naib tehsildar as their grandfathers had been murdered by terrorists.

"No question of rescinding Punjab Cabinet decision on jobs for sons of 2 Congress MLAs. It is just a small token of gratitude and compensation for the sacrifices of their families. It's shameful that some people are giving political colour to this decision," said Amrinder.

Reacting to the move, Jakhar on Saturday said the decision was against the "ethos and culture of neutrality".

Meanwhile, Navjot Singh Sidhu also continues to take on the CM on several issues. He says that he is willing to become even a zila parishad member in the state, and walk behind the CM if his (Sidhu’s) agenda for the development of Punjab was followed. “I am not a showpiece that you will take me out campaigning, win the elections and then keep me back in the almirah. So that I can see how you do mining, how you do this, how you do that. And selfish vested interests overriding the interests of the state. This is unbearable for me,” said Sidhu.

BTTLE FOR CONTROL OF RAMVILAS PASWAN’S LEGACY

The battle for control for the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) is now set to be played out in the streets of Bihar after Chirag Paswan — son of LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan — announced that from July 5, the birth anniversary of his late father, he would start an ‘Aashirvad Yatra’ through the state.

Chirag said the yatra would start from his father’s ‘karmabhoomi’ of Hajipur. The region is of particular importance as it is the Lok Sabha constituency of Chirag’s uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, who is leading the group that claimed to have ousted Chirag as both leader of the house in the Lok

The real battle for control of the party is now set to be played out in two parallel forums — one institutional, such as the EC and Lok Sabha and eventually, courts.

Both sides have approached the EC claiming legitimacy, and asking for the other to be barred from using the party symbol. On Saturday, Chirag also met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, a week after Paras and the five MP’s had done the same, making the claim that moves made by Paras did not pass muster of the party constitution. Chirag asked for the Lok Sabha to reinstate him as Leader of the LJP in the house.

CONGRESS ALLEGES ANOTHER LAND SCAM IN AYODHYA

The Opposition Congress today alleged another land purchase scam by the Ram Temple trust in Ayodhya and demanded a Supreme Court-monitored time-bound investigation into the matter.

Party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged a BJP leader bought 890 sq m land in Ayodhya for Rs 20 lakh in February and sold it to the temple trust for Rs 2.5 crore, at a profit of 1,250 per cent in 79 days.

“Lord Ram’s temple is being constructed as per orders of the Supreme Court. Is it not the responsibility of the SC and its judges and the Prime Minister, who formed the trust, to ascertain the truth? Shouldn’t the SC take cognisance of the matter?” he said. Last week also, the party had alleged that the trust bought a piece of land for Rs 18.5 crore, which the transferor had bought for Rs 2 crore just a few minutes earlier.

INDIA REFUTES UNHRC CONCERNS OVER IT RULES

India has refuted concerns raised by three UN Special Rapporteurs about the new IT rules by pointing out that these were framed after broad consultations in 2018 with various stakeholders, including individuals, civil society and industry associations. An inter-ministerial meeting discussed the feedback and, thereafter, finalised the rules.

The concerns regarding India’s IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, were conveyed by the Special Procedures Branch of the Human Rights Council (HRC).

Replying to the HRC wing, the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva said the rules were designed to empower ordinary users of social media and victims of abuse at social media platforms would have a forum for redressal of their grievances.

The mission also highlighted India’s well-recognised democratic credentials and that an independent judiciary and a robust media were part of India’s democratic structure.

The government had notified the IT Rules on February 25. The companies that do not sign up these will lose the “safe harbour” protection that gives them protection against liability for content posted on their platform by third party users.

NHAI MANAGED TO HOLD ON TO WORKERS, WITH VACCINES, FOOD, COVID TREATMENT

Vaccines, isolation wards, medical insurance, oxygen-fitted ambulances and food — these are some of the ways the country’s national highway builders checked an exodus of labourers from work sites, even as the second wave of the pandemic unfolded over the past two months.

Learning from the experience of the first lockdown in 2020 — when scores of migrant labourers left their places of work, including highway construction sites, and walked back hundreds of kilometers to their villages — contractors working on projects of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) worked overtime to ensure that workers had a strong reason to stay back.

Towards the end of April, with the second wave raging, 5,000 highway construction workers were down with Covid, according to official data. That number has now been brought down to around 2,000 across all 480 NHAI projects that involve the construction of 25,000 km worth of highways at over Rs 5 lakh crore.

Early April, contractors and officials consciously drove home the message that labourers are much better off, and safer, staying in their camps at work sites than heading to their villages.

As the government insisted that vaccines were the only real protection against the disease, the NHAI organised around 700 vaccination camps at its work sites across India.

Subsequently, as and when labourers started showing symptoms of Covid, around 2,700 beds were made available at isolation wards set up across projects. Oxygen-equipped ambulances were deployed too. The regional offices of the NHAI were activated to coordinate with district administrations and contractors at the project sites.

Besides, testing for Covid became a matter of routine for all contractors. Life insurance cover of NHAI officials was also increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh

FIXING ISSUES, 1L I-T RETURNS FILED ON SITE, SAYS INFOSYS

Infosys said it fixed many technical glitches in the income tax (IT) e-filing portal over the last week and close to one lakh returns have already been filed. The remaining, it said, will be fixed over the coming weeks.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is supposed to meet the company on June 22 to discuss the issues plaguing the portal. “Over the last week several of the technology glitches that impacted the performance and stability of the portal have been addressed and as a result we have observed lakhs of daily unique users in the portal,” chief operating officer U B Pravin Rao said at the company’s AGM on Saturday.

The upgraded portal, which went live on June 7, suffered glitches, leading to an uproar from many users who complained on Twitter tagging the FM. Sitharaman responded by asking Infosys to fix the problem, and tagged chairman Nandan Nilekani. Infosys won the project, worth Rs 4,232 crore, to develop the I-T filing portal in 2019.

INDIA-PAKISTAN ROMANCE SERIES SPARKS ROW ON PAKISTANI TWITTER

A Pakistani web series on a cross-border romance between an Indian boy and a Pakistani girl has found itself in the eye of a storm, with social media users in Pakistan labelling it as “unpatriotic” and calling for a ban.

The trailer of the series Dhoop Ki Deewar was released Wednesday and tells the tale of the children of rival soldiers who were killed in Kashmir.

The series stars Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir and will release on Indian streaming platform Zee5 on 25 June

However, soon after the trailer’s release, the hashtag #Bandhoopkideewar began trending in Pakistan. According to Twitter users, the series monetises “blood of Kashmiris” and undermines the ‘Two Nation Theory’.

The makers of the web series, meanwhile, said that the show was approved by the Inter-Services Public Relations — the media and public relations wing of the Pakistani army.

However, several social media users have severely criticised the series, calling it “anti-Pakistani” and dubbing the actors and makers as traitors.

WTC FINAL, DAY 3: JAMIESON, CONWAY GIVE NEW ZEALAND A LEG UP

Kyle Jamieson wrecked India with the ball and opener Devon Conway compiled a half-century to put New Zealand in a commanding position in the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in Southampton on Sunday.

New Zealand reached 101-2, 116 runs behind, when bad light forced early stumps on Day 3 at the Ageas Bowl.

Earlier, resuming on 146/3, India fell short of the 250-mark which they believed would be a par total at this ground.

India captain Kohli could not add to his overnight score of 44 and fell lbw, a decision he got reviewed but not overturned.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill

OFF TRACK

A judge asks a defendant to please stand. "You are charged with murdering a school teacher with a chain saw." From out in the audience a man shouts, "You lying bastard!"

"Silence in the court!" the judge shouted back. He turns to the defendant again and says, "You are also charged with killing a paperboy with a shovel."

You goddamned tightwad!" blurted the spectator.

"Quiet!" yelled the judge. "You are also charged with killing a mailman with an electric drill."

"You cheap son of a..." the man starts to shout.

The Judge thunders back "If you don''t tell me the reason for your outbursts right now, I will hold in contempt!"

"I''ve lived next to that lying bastard for ten years now, but do you think he ever had a bloody tool when I needed to borrow one!"