3D printing enables swift response to Covid-19 amid disruptions

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3D printing enables swift response to Covid-19 amid disruptions

Amid worldwide disruptions in supply chains due to Covid-19 restrictions, the 3D printing technology has enabled on-demand solutions for needs ranging from personal protection equipment to medical devices and isolation wards, say researchers.

The researchers examined how the digital versatility and quick prototyping of 3D printing have enabled the rapid mobilization of the technology and a swift response to emergencies in a closed-loop economy.

“The agility and precision of 3D printing have allowed for innovative solutions amidst the supply chain pressures that we are facing globally,” said Professor Chua Chee Kai from Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).

“This has resulted in rapidly deployable built environment, healthcare medical devices and training tools which have been crucial in the fight to save lives and contain this virus,” said the professor who is also the corresponding author of an article published in the journal Nature Reviews Materials.

The researchers from SUTD, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and HP Inc explained how 3D printing has enabled product customization, complex designs and on-demand manufacturing using any decentralized 3D printing facility in the world by leveraging designs shared online.

This has led to the broad spectrum of 3D printing applications in the fight against Covid-19 including the printing of personal protective equipment, medical and testing devices, personal accessories, visualization aids, and emergency dwellings.

For instance, due to severe shortages of ventilator machines, continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) machines were used as substitutes for Covid-19 patients who require sub-intensive therapy.

An Italian engineering company, Innova, came up with a 3D printable mask connector design, the Charlotte valve, was produced and it was specially designed to fit and connect Decathlon’s Easybreath snorkeling masks to CPAP machines, the researchers noted.

The 3D printing technology also served as an alternative and more efficient manufacturing option to keep up with the demand for nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs.

The 3D-printed NP swabs were fabricated with complex tip structures for enhanced sample collection efficacy, hence eliminating the need to apply flocks at the tips.

Separately, 3D printing has even been used to fabricate temporary emergency dwellings to isolate those under quarantine, relieving the overloaded medical infrastructures, said the study.

Now special books for kids with intellectual disabilities

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Now special books for kids with intellectual disabilities

Children with intellectual disabilities will now find it easy to learn English as the English Language Teaching Institute (ELTI) is preparing to roll out books that have been specially designed for such students in primary classes.

The move comes after directions from the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).

The State Institute of Education and State Hindi Institute in Varanasi are also working on similar books.

The team that has worked on these books includes academicians, doctors working in the field of intellectual disability, and teachers experienced in teaching children with special needs.

ELTI Principal Skand Shukla said, “Such children usually have limitations in two areas. The first is intellectual functioning – the ability to learn- reason, make decisions, and solve problems. The second is adaptive behavior which involves skills necessary to communicate and taking care of oneself. These children might also be diagnosed with other learning disabilities like dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.”

The books have been designed differently to focus on the special needs of such children.

For instance, the pictures are colorful, while the text is in bigger fonts. Topics are presented in a way that they invoke a students’ curiosity. These books also have formats to document a child’s case history into an individualized education program.

Shukla said that intellectual disability is a condition when one’s IQ level is less than 70 and the mental growth is slower than the person’s physical growth.

“A child with an IQ over 50 can be educated by using special methods. Autism, attention deficit disorder, and Down’s syndrome are some of the conditions related to intellectual disability,” he explained.

NSNIS Patiala employee tests positive for COVID-19

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NSNIS Patiala employee tests positive for COVID-19

Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) Patiala’s catering manager, who traveled from Lucknow, UP earlier this week, has tested positive for coronavirus and has been shifted to a COVID Centre as per protocol.

He, along with two other officials, had reported back to NIS Patiala after availing leave and were quarantined as per guidelines of local health department and tested for COVID-19 upon arrival, SAI said in a statement on Tuesday.

While the other two employees tested negative, the catering manager’s test results came out positive for the virus and he has thus been shifted to a COVID Centre for better treatment and as a precautionary measure.

As he was in quarantine since arrival, he has not interacted with others at NIS Patiala.

Dell launches ‘XPS 17’ laptop for over Rs 2 lakh in India

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Dell launches ‘XPS 17’ laptop for over Rs 2 lakh in India

PC and laptop major Dell on Tuesday launched a fresh XPS laptop ‘XPS 17’ at a starting price of Rs 2,09,500 in the Indian market.

The laptop features the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processors and up to NVIDIA GeForce GTXTM graphics.

The machine is badged with Creator Edition on Dell.com to support hobbyists and creative enthusiasts.

“The optional 4K Ultra HD+ (3840 x 2400) resolution provides pinpoint accuracy, precise detail, and sharp images, and immersive viewing experience. The Eyesafe display technology helps reduce harmful blue light while maintaining vivid colors,” the company said in a statement.

With very little borders, the XPS 17 comes with a 4-sided “InfinityEdge” display which, Dell claimed, will help bring the size of the laptop almost 48 percent down to about 15-inch laptops available today.

The XPS 17, like the XPS 15, features the Waves Nx 3D audio for speakers tuned by multi-Grammy Award-winning producer Jack Joseph Puig.

The laptop is made with recycled ocean-bound plastics, locally recycled plastic, sustainable materials, and recycled corrugate qualified by Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) Silver Certification said the company.

The 10th Generation Intel Core i7 FHD processor, i7 UHD processor with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU configured XPS 17 will be available across Amazon India and select Dell Exclusive Stores.

Cricket South Africa President Chris Nenzani steps down

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Cricket South Africa President Chris Nenzani steps down

Cricket South Africa has announced that Chris Nenzani has resigned as the President of the Members Council and the Chairman of the board of directors of CSA. The resignation came into effect from August 15.

Nenzani led Cricket South Africa since 2013. He provided valuable leadership, insight, assistance, and direction in advancing the game of cricket with a focus on achieving transformation and access for the majority of the South African population, said CSA in a media release.

“On behalf of Cricket South Africa’s Members Council and the board of directors, we thank Nenzani for his contributions to Cricket South Africa and for being a loyal servant to the game of cricket for over 20 years.

“We wish him well in his future endeavors, and we are sure that he will continue to contribute to the game of cricket,” it added.

Cricket South Africa further said that a new President and Chairman will be appointed at the annual general meeting scheduled for September 5.

Hockey India provides financial assistance to unemployed 61 players

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Hockey India provides financial assistance to unemployed 61 players

The Hockey India Executive Board has announced its immediate support to 61 athletes from across the senior and junior men and women core problems who are not currently employed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

From this initiative, 61 athletes will receive this financial assistance from Hockey India, this includes 30 junior women, 26 junior men, 4 senior women, and 1 senior men core probable.

The objective is to provide basic financial relief for the athletes to be able to assist them to again resume sporting activities.

“The ongoing battle with the COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on athletes who don’t have jobs, for them to be able to continue sporting activities while their families face financial constraints will be difficult,” expressed Hockey India Officiating President Gyanendro Ningombam.

“Hockey India was keen to find a way to give them some immediate relief and has decided to help these players with Rs 10,000 each as financial assistance in these difficult times, which would mean they would not add any additional burden on their families as they look to resume sports activities in the near future.

We hope this assistance will help the players to soon resume sporting activities and give them the necessary confidence to focus their energies on excelling for the country,” he added.

Amazon’s move in India’s online pharma space faces flak

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Amazon’s move in India’s online pharma space faces flak

Amazon has faced criticism from different quarters including an industry body and officials of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), an influential offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), for its move to enter into the medicine delivery business in India.

The e-commerce giant last week announced the start of a trial of the service, Amazon Pharmacy, in Bengaluru.

The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which claims to represent more than 850,000 members across the country has demanded that the government should immediately stop these “illegal online pharmacies”.

The Swadeshi Jagran Manch joined AIOCD in making similar demands.

“We at @swadeshimanch have long been saying that foreign-funded pharmacies are illegal. Now #Amazon is trying to barge into this, which again is illegal. Despite HC court orders, govts have failed to act…,” Ashwani Mahajan, national co-convener, SJM, said in a tweet this week.

The Amazon Pharmacy offers both over-the-counter medicines and prescription-based drugs.

Some Ayurvedic medicines and several healthcare devices like oximeter and digital blood pressure monitors are also available at the store.

Following the launch of the online store, AIOCD drafted a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Amit Agarwal, Senior Vice President and Country Manager, Amazon India.

“We are writing to you as we came to know that www.amazon.com has decided to enter an online Pharmacy’ space, probably oblivious to the fact that the E-Pharmacies are illegal and not recognized by the laws under Drug & Cosmetic Act & Rules thereunder,” reads the letter dated August 14.

“This space has been marred by extreme controversies, court cases, and legal issues in the last few years.”

Amazon is not the first to launch an online drug store in India. There are already a few companies doing business in this space, but many players have struggled due to a lack of clear regulations, according to a CNBC report on Monday.

Amazon did not comment on the report.

Apple threatens to close Epic Games’ developer account on Aug 28

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Apple threatens to close Epic Games’ developer account on Aug 28

Fortnite developer Epic Games has said that Apple is threatening to terminate its developer account by August 28 which would cut the company off from iOS and macOS development tools.

Apple and Google have removed Fortnite game from their app stores because Epic Games allegedly added a direct payment option in both the iOS and Android versions of Fortnite, “bypassing the need to pay Apple and Google a 30 percent cut on all in-app purchases”.

According to Epic Games, Apple has sent the notice about the account termination after the antitrust feud between the two companies exploded.

“Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store and has informed Epic that on Friday, August 28 Apple will terminate all our developer accounts and cut Epic off from iOS and Mac development tools. We are asking the court to stop this retaliation,” the company tweeted on Monday.

According to Apple, Epic Games has grown into a multi-billion dollar business that reached millions of iOS customers around the world.

“Upon further review of the activity associated with your Apple Developer Program membership, we have identified several violations of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement. Therefore, your Apple Developer Program account will be terminated if the violations set forth below are not cured within 14 days,” Apple said in a letter to Epic, which is also included in the court filing.

According to a report in MacRumors, cutting off Epic’s access to Mac and iOS developer tools could have a significant impact on all of the apps and games that use Epic’s Unreal Engine.

Epic Games asked the court to prevent Apple from taking “any adverse action” against it, including restricting, suspending, or terminating Epic’s access to the Apple Developer program.

Launched in 2017, Fortnite features a battle royale format where 100 players compete to survive as the last player standing on a remote island. The popular game has amassed a huge following of 350 million players and is available on multiple platforms.

IPL 13: Delhi Capitals replace Chris Woakes with Anrich Nortje

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IPL 13: Delhi Capitals replace Chris Woakes with Anrich Nortje

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals on Tuesday announced the signing of South African pacer Anrich Nortje as a replacement for England’s Chris Woakes.

Woakes had pulled out of this year’s IPL edition to keep himself fresh for the English summer, but will not be able to join the team even after the post-COVID-19 pandemic schedule shuffle after being replaced.

Nortje was with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)last season, but a shoulder injury cut short his chances of making an IPL debut.

“I am excited to join the Delhi Capitals, a team that was the talk of the tournament last season,” the Proteas pacer said in an official statement.

“With its exciting mix of experienced and young players and a stellar coaching line up, there is no doubt this is going to be a massive learning experience for me. I am grateful to the Delhi Capitals management for giving me this opportunity.”

The 26-year-old made his Test debut in 2019 against India, and has to his credit, a total of 19 wickets from six Test matches, 14 wickets from seven ODIs, and two wickets from three T20Is. Nortje, who was named as Cricket South Africa’s Newcomer of the Year for 2020, will be joining fellow South African Kagiso Rabada at Delhi Capitals.

The 13th IPL edition starts on September 19 in the UAE. The tournament to be played across three venues in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah will run until November 10.

Eng vs Pak: Root says bad light issue needs to be addressed

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Eng vs Pak: Root says bad light issue needs to be addressed

Following the culmination of the rain-marred second Test against Pakistan which ended in a pale draw, England captain Joe Root believes bad light issues need to be addressed to keep the players on the ground.

Only 134.3 overs could be bowled in the second Test at the Ageas Bowl because of rain and bad light, making it the ninth shortest Test in England in terms of balls bowled and the shortest match since England hosted Pakistan at Lord’s in 1987.

In his post-match press conference on Monday, the 29-year-old said authorities could consider using a brighter red ball, bringing forward the start time and improving floodlights.

“It is something that needs looking at higher up the chain,” Root was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

“It is way above my pay grade but there are different things that may be able to be trialed to see if there are other ways we could do things in this country to avoid similar scenarios.

“It has been a huge talking point but it needs to be addressed somewhere somehow,” he added.

Root, who did not blame the umpires, added: “We are all for playing but don’t want anyone getting injured or hurt because of light or wet ground.”

Pakistan, who lost the first Test at the Old Trafford by three wickets, must win the final Test, which starts at the Ageas Bowl on Friday, to draw the series.

Meanwhile, Root also said he would “love” to play in Pakistan, however adding that it was “not my decision to make”.

England has not toured Pakistan since 2005-06 over security concerns following the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore. The Three Lions are, however, scheduled to tour the country in 2022.

“It would be a great opportunity to go and play there personally,” said the England skipper.

“It looks a wonderful country to go play in. The wickets look nice and flat as well, which would be a nice change to what we have had here,” he added.

Sushant’s sister Shweta urges for early decision from SC

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Sushant’s sister Shweta urges for early decision from SC

Shweta Singh Kirti, sister Sushant Singh Rajput has urged for an early decision from the Supreme Court in the pending hearing for a CBI probe into her late brother’s case. Shweta took to social media on Tuesday to voice her demand.

“Requesting for an early decision from the Supreme Court, we have been very hopeful and have been patiently waiting. Every minute of delay is causing pain and heartbreak. #CBIForSSR,” Shweta tweeted from her unverified account on Tuesday morning.

Shweta has been vocal on social media over the past few days in demanding a CBI probe into her brother’s death.

“We stand together as a nation for CBI Enquiry! Demanding an unbiased investigation is our right and we expect nothing but the truth to come out. #CBIForSSR #Warriors4SSR #justiceforSushanthSinghRajput @PMOIndia @narendramodi @AmitShah,” Shweta had tweeted last week.

Sushant was found dead in his Bandra residence on June 14, and the late actor’s family has suspected foul play. They have also alleged that they are getting threats as they continue their fight for justice.

Instagram Reels emerges top choice in Tik Tok’s absence in India

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Instagram Reels emerges top choice in Tik Tok’s absence in India

After the departure of Tik Tok, Instagram Reels has become the most popular app for young Indians as seen in 10 (18-29 age group) said they would like to use Reels as a platform for video sharing, a new report said on Tuesday.

In the absence of the Chinese short-video-making app TikTok, nearly two-thirds of urban Indians (65 percent) said they are likely to turn to alternatives or start using video apps that are either Indian or non-Chinese in origin, according to data provided by YouGov, Internet-based market research and data analytics firm.

Millennials (69 per cent) were most likely to show their readiness to switch to Tik-Tok’s alternatives, as compared to GenZ (54 per cent).

Likewise, men were more likely than women to hold a similar view (70 per cent vs 59 per cent).

“The government’s decision to ban TikTok along with other Chinese apps has presented an opportunity for homegrown players who are gearing up to take advantage of this situation,” said Deepa Bhatia, General Manager, YouGov India.

“It is, therefore, imperative to gauge the needs of the audiences and understand their preferences in this space,” she added.

Nearly 68 percent of TikTok content creators said they are likely to switch to Indian or non-Chinese versions of video-sharing apps.

On being presented with a list of alternatives, Instagram Reels topped the list of apps most likely to be used by people in the future.

The platform, which is Facebook’s answer to TikTok, is welcomed by more than six in 10 (62 percent) urban Indians who claim to have tried it and are likely to continue using it.

“Nearly as many have a similar view about Singapore-based app Cheez (59 percent), which has a higher appeal among tier-2 users as compared to tier-1 city residents,” said the survey.

Apart from these foreign apps, more than half claimed to have tried the homegrown app Roposo and are likely to use it in the future (54 percent).

Other regional social media apps such as moj (47 percent), Gana hotshot (44 percent), Josh (42 percent), Taka Tak (42 percent), Mitron (40 percent) and Chingari (36 percent) also appear to have gained ground, said the survey.

Google testing secret 6GHz network in 17 states in US: Report

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Google testing secret 6GHz network in 17 states in US: Report

As the world aims to switch to a faster Wi-Fi network soon, Google is reportedly testing a 6GHz network in 17 different states in the US.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in April opened up spectrum in the 6GHz band for unlicensed use — the way 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands which are currently in operations.

According to a batch of FCC filings spotted by Business Insider, Google is secretly experimenting with the 6GHz spectrum to “produce technical information relevant to the utility of these frequencies for providing reliable broadband connections.”

The tech giant has asked permission to do the tests in 26 cities and towns across 17 states —Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

A 6GHz network would allow faster and more reliable connections as it carries more bandwidth than the 2.4GHz or 5GHz connections.

Devices are expected to begin supporting 6GHz Wi-Fi by the end of this year.

Wi-Fi 6E brings a common industry name for Wi-Fi users to identify devices that will offer the features and capabilities of Wi-Fi 6 – including higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates – extended into the 6GHz band.

According to Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi 6E devices are expected to become available quickly following 6GHz regulatory approvals, utilizing this additional spectrum capacity to deliver continuous Wi-Fi innovation and valuable contributions to consumers, businesses and economies.

“If the regulatory landscape permits, we expect companies to move forward aggressively with products that operate in 6 GHz because they understand the tremendous value brought to their customers by this portion of unlicensed spectrum,” Phil Solis, research director at IDC, said early this year.

“The capacity of 6GHz is enormous and will be efficiently used by Wi-Fi 6 and newer versions of Wi-Fi. The US is taking a big lead on the 6 GHz market, with Europe and APAC regions also exploring access to this band”.

Once 6GHz is made available by regulators, analysts predict the first Wi-Fi devices to use the band will include Wi-Fi 6E consumer access points and smartphones, followed by enterprise-grade access points.

“6GHz will help address the growing need for Wi-Fi spectrum capacity to ensure Wi-Fi users continue to receive the same great user experience with their devices,” according to Edgar Figueroa, President, and CEO, Wi-Fi Alliance.

The Wi-Fi Alliance® is the worldwide network of companies that brings you Wi-Fi.

Shah admitted to AIIMS after complaining of fatigue

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Shah admitted to AIIMS after complaining of fatigue

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who tested negative for the novel Coronavirus on August 14 has been admitted to the All India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after he complained of “body ache” and “fatigue”.

According to a statement from AIIMS, Shah has been complaining of fatigue and body ache for the last three-four days.

“He has been admitted to AIIMS for post-COVID-19 care. He is comfortable and is continuing his work from the hospital,” the AIIMS administration said.

On August 2, Shah had tweeted about his corona positive report after initial symptoms of the disease. He said that he was fine but was getting admitted to a hospital on the advice of doctors. Ever since he has been undergoing treatment at the Medanta Hospital.

Genevieve strengthens into Category 1 hurricane off Mexico coast

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Genevieve strengthens into Category 1 hurricane off Mexico coast

Tropical storm Genevieve has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane off Mexico’s Pacific Coast states of Guerrero and Michoacan, the National Meteorological Service (SMN) said.

Genevieve, which could potentially intensify into a Category 4 hurricane as it moves west over the ocean, was expected to lash five states in southern and western Mexico with heavy rains, strong winds, and high waves, Xinhua news agency quoted the agency as saying on Monday.

With its maximum sustained winds of 120 km per hour and gusts of 150 km per hour, the hurricane also threatened to impact the states of Oaxaca, Jalisco, and Colima.

The cyclone evolved into a hurricane in the morning and could gain strength and intensify into a Category 4 hurricane by Tuesday night when its center was expected to be located off the coast of Jalisco, said the agency.

The SMN called on seafaring vessels and residents in coastal areas in the five states to shelter from the rains, wind, and waves caused by the hurricane, which was not expected to head inland.

Genevieve rapidly evolved into a hurricane from a tropical depression that formed on Sunday morning off the coasts of Oaxaca and Guerrero.

US ethnic groups more likely to be hospitalized due to Covid-19

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US ethnic groups more likely to be hospitalized due to Covid-19

A new analysis has revealed that African-Americans, Hispanics, and the American Indian/Alaskan Native ethnic populations in the US are significantly more likely to be hospitalized due to COVID-19 than whites.

The analysis from the University of Minnesota, published on Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine, found significant disparities among racial and ethnic groups after reviewing nearly 49,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations over a two-month period in 12 states, reports Xinhua news agency.

“The unique clinical, financial and social impacts of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic populations that are often systematically marginalized in our society must be well understood in order to design and establish effective and equitable infrastructure solutions,” said Pinar Karaca-Mandic, professor and academic director of the Medical Industry Leadership Institute in the University of Minnesota Carlson School, and the study’s lead author.

The study found that the African-Americans were hospitalized at higher rates than those who were white in all 12 states reporting data, with Ohio, Minnesota, and Indiana having the largest disparities.

The Hispanics were hospitalized at higher rates than those who were white in 10 of the 11 states reporting this data, with Virginia, Utah, and Rhode Island with the largest disparities, according to the study.

The American Indian/Alaskan Natives were hospitalized at higher rates than whites in the eight states reporting data.

Researchers note the disparities found in other population groups are largely reversed among Asian communities.

In six of the 10 states that reported data for the Asian group, the proportion of hospitalizations was lower relative to their population representation.

In Massachusetts, individuals who identify as Asian comprise 7 percent of the population but only 4 percent of the coronavirus hospitalizations, according to the study.

Now Oracle joins the race to acquire TikTok: Report

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Now Oracle joins the race to acquire TikTok: Report

In an interesting turn of events, Cloud major Oracle has entered the race to acquire TikTok as US President Donald Trump issued an executive order to direct China-based ByteDance to sell its TikTok business in the US within 90 days.

According to a report in The Financial Times on Tuesday, Oracle “held preliminary talks with TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, and was seriously considering purchasing the app’s operations in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand”.

According to the report, Oracle was working with a group of US investors that already own a stake in ByteDance, “including General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital”.

Oracle was yet to comment on the report.

“ByteDance is opposed to selling any assets beyond those in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand,” said the report.

Microsoft is the frontrunner to purchase TikTok’s US business following a discussion between the company’s CEO and the US President.

However, reports surfaced that the Microsoft-TikTok deal may not happen as odds of the deal are “not higher than 20 per cent”.

The probability of Microsoft buying TikTok is “not higher than 20 per cent” since the initial price offered by the US software giant was akin to “robbing the owner when his house is on fire”, reported the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Earlier reports also claimed that Twitter discussed a “potential combination” with TikTok, currently facing immense political heat in the US.

Apple, however, clarified that it was not interested in acquiring TikTok after some reports surfaced, saying the iPhone maker was willing to buy the China-based app.

The earlier executive order from Trump prohibited the China-based company from doing business with the US firms after 45 days.

TikTok has already threatened legal action against the first executive order.

The new executive order directed ByteDance to “divest any data it obtained from users of TikTok or Musical.ly in the United States”.

It also authorized US officials to inspect TikTok and ByteDance to ensure the safety of personal data of nearly 80 million American users of the short video making app.

The earlier executive orders were issued amid discussion by Microsoft to purchase the US business of TikTok by September 15.

With 55K new cases, India crosses 27L-mark

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With 55K new cases, India crosses 27L-mark

India’s Coronavirus tally crossed the 27-lakh mark on Tuesday with 55,079 fresh cases in 24 hours, while the toll climbed to 51,797 with 876 more fatalities, said the Health Ministry.

Out of the total 27,02,742 cases, recoveries have surged to 19,77,779 with 57,937 more people recuperating in the past 24 hours, taking the recovery rate to nearly 73.17 percent. The actual caseload of the country is the active cases, which currently stands at 6,73,166.

The country had touched the 20-lakh mark on August 7 and added more than seven lakh cases in 11 days.

The silver lining, however, is that the gap between recoveries and active cases is growing every day. Currently, recoveries are over 12 lakh more than the active cases.

As far as the death toll is concerned, the country had registered its first death on March 13 and crossed the 25,000-mark on July 17. The next 25,000 deaths were logged in the span of a month.

Notably, the case fatality rate, which is the proportion of people who die from the disease among individuals diagnosed, has dropped to 1.91 percent, the ministry said. As many as 8,99,864 samples were tested on Monday.

Maharashtra remained the worst-hit state with a total of 5,95,865 cases and 20,037 deaths; followed by Tamil Nadu with 3,38,055 cases and 5,766 deaths. The southern state is followed by Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

India continues to be the third-worst hit after the US with 5,437,969 cases and 170,491 deaths and Brazil with 3,359,570 infections and 108,536 deaths.

Vinesh Phogat pulls out of national camp citing Covid scare

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Vinesh Phogat pulls out of national camp citing Covid scare

Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat will continue to train at her home in Bhiwani as she has refused to attend the national camp, starting from September 1 in Lucknow.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) recently got a green signal from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to hold national camp from next month, despite the fact that many wrestlers were ‘against it’.

Speaking to IANS, Vinesh said she has requested the federation to let her train alone and be exempted from the camp.

“Yes, I am not going to attend the camp. I have informed the federation about it and they have given me the permission (so far),” laughed Vinesh.

“Coronavirus cases are rising and I don’t want to take any risk. So, I thought of giving the camp a skip for the time being,” added the Tokyo-bound wrestler.

Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia and Pooja Dhanda have confirmed their participation.

A total of 26 wrestlers in eight weight categories — five in freestyle and three in Greco Roman�will take part in the month-long camp.

The women’s camp will be held in Lucknow with 15 wrestlers including Pooja, Sakshi Malik, and Divya Kakran. And the men’s camp will be held in Sonepat where Bajrang and Narsingh Yadav will be seen in action. Sushil Kumar will train at his own center – Chhatrasal stadium in the national capital.

According to SAI protocols, athletes, coaches, and support staff joining the camp will be given mandatory COVID-19 tests upon arrival at the camp and they will resume training after a 14-day quarantine.

19 kids rescued in UP, 9 traffickers held

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19 kids rescued in UP, 9 traffickers held

Nineteen minors have been rescued and nine persons arrested by the anti-human trafficking unit (AHTU) in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur.

According to AHTU inspector Ajit Pratap Singh, “On the tip-off by Surya Pratap Mishra, UP state coordinator of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, that children were being trafficked from Araria in Bihar to Delhi by bus, the operation was launched on Monday.

“Police surrounded the Jagdishpur area under Khorabar police station limit. During the checking of buses coming from Bihar, the police caught nine human traffickers and rescued 19 children who have been handed over to the childline.”

The nine accused have been booked under sections 370 (buying or disposing of any person as a slave) IPC, 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) IPC, and section 79 Juvenile Justice Act and 3 Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act 2016 and sent to jail.

SP crime Ashok Kumar Verma said, “Human trafficking is an organized crime and it is a matter of investigation that how big their network is. However, 9 traffickers have been arrested and 19 rescued children are being given counseling.”

The arrested traffickers include Mohd Hashim, Mohd Zahid, Ishtiyaq, Shamshad, Murshid, Maroof, Noor Hassan, Shahid, and Haseeb. All of them belong to Araria in Bihar.

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