Highlights: Delhi’s Covid-19 tally past 1.28 L with 1,025 new cases

97 more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Puducherry, taking the number of total cases in the union territory to 2,513. The death toll stands at 34 while more than 1,400 people have recovered from the infection, reports PTI.

The total number of positive #COVID19 cases in the union territory rises to 2513, including 996 active cases, 1483 discharged and 34 deaths: Government of Puducherry pic.twitter.com/H15abs8bMl

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2020

The Public Relations Department of the Central Railway said that the Central Railway Mumbai Division has launched an App called CheckIn Master for the ticket checking staff at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbaio with a view to curb the spread of Covid-19, reports ANI.

To prevent the spread of #COVID19, Central Railway Mumbai Division has launched an App called CheckIn Master for the ticket checking staff at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai: Public Relations Department, Central Railway pic.twitter.com/BC01saIUNx

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2020

116 more people tested positive for coronavirus in Chhattisgarh, taking the total number of cases in the state to nearly 6,400. The death toll has gone up to 34 and 4,387 have recovered from the infection, reports PTI.

President Ram Nath Kovind flagged off Red Cross Relief Material for people affected by floods and coronavirus in the states of Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and Chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society were also present at the event, reports ANI.

Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind today at Rashtrapati Bhawan flagged off Red Cross Relief Material for people affected by flood & COVID-19 in Assam, Bihar&Uttar Pradesh. Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister & Chairman of Indian Red Cross Society, was also present at the event. pic.twitter.com/Zo9MUQeQ0W

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2020

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued advisory for Independence Day celebrations. It asked all government offices, states, Governors etc to avoid congregation of public and use technology for the celebrations, reports ANI.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issues advisory for Independence Day celebrations. Ask all govt offices, states, Governors etc to avoid congregation of public and use technology for the celebrations. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/aQlxy9GXNA

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2020

375 more people tested positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan, taking the total number of cases in the state to 33,595 which includes 9,125 active cases. The death toll has climbed to 598 whereas more than 23,000 people have recovered from the infection, reports ANI.

375 new #COVID19 positive cases and 4 deaths have been reported in Rajasthan reported till 8.30 pm today. Total number of cases stands at 33,595 including 9,125 active cases and 598 deaths: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/pJBr1XsSnS

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2020

Coal should play no part in any country's post-coronavirus stimulus plan and economic recovery should align with global climate goals, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a lecture to Chinese students, reports Reuters.

China ordered the United States on Friday to close its consulate in the western city of Chengdu, ratcheting up a diplomatic conflict at a time when relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades. The ties between the two countries have taken a sour turn amid multiple issues such as trade, handling of Covid-19, Hong Kong, spying accusations and much more, reports AP.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that 1,54,28,170 sameples have been tested for Covid-19 till Thursday. Out of the total 3,52,801 samples tested on Thursday, reports ANI.

The total number of #COVID19 samples tested up to 23rd July is 1,54,28,170 including 3,52,801 samples tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) pic.twitter.com/Qbxrxw7e0B

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2020

India recorded nearly 50,000 cases and 740 deaths in last 24 hours due to the novel coronavirus. The country's tally is closer to 1.3 million and the death toll has crossed 30,000.

518 more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Germany, taking the total number of cases in the country to 204,183, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Friday. The tally showed that the death toll has now gone up to 9,111, reports Reuters.

Philanthropist Bill Gates pushed back some of the conspiracy theories circulated online accusing him of creating the coronavirus outbreak. "It's a bad combination of pandemic and social media and people looking for a very simple explanation," the Microsoft founder said during a CNN Town Hall interview, reports AFP.

Bolivia's general election will be pushed back until October 18 as the coronavirus pandemic grips the South American nation, which could fan tensions between the interim conservative government and the socialist party of former President Evo Morales. The vote is key to the political future of the Andean nation of 11.5 million people after a fraught election last year sparked widespread protests and led to the resignation of Morales, reports Reuters.

Australia’s Victoria state recorded a mounting death toll from the novel coronavirus, weeks after a rise in infections sent Melbourne into a second lockdown. Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews reported six deaths, all of them connected to aged-care facilities, and 300 new cases on Friday. The death toll in the state has now gone up to 55, reports Bloomberg.

United States President Donald Trump on Thursday canceled his Florida nominating convention, the biggest event of his re-election campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic. Trump insisted for months that he would still hold his multi-day extravaganza despite worries that the gathering would become a super-spreader event, reports Bloomberg.