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Himachal Pradesh’s ‘Kangra’ Focused Development Boost

Kangra is set to witness the development of a Rs 5 crore park and a selfie point worth Rs 30 lakh. Additionally, the Tandon Club will undergo expansion with a grant of Rs 1.5 crore…reports Asian Lite News

The Cabinet Minister in Himachal Pradesh and Chairman of the Himachal Tourism Board, RS Bali on Saturday announced a series of transformative initiatives in Kangra aimed at enhancing cultural and recreational facilities in the region.

The highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Mata Brajeshwari Public Library in the Joint Office Building in Kangra.
Bali emphasised the importance of cultivating a reading culture, announcing plans to establish library rooms in every senior secondary school across the state.

Expressing his appreciation for the initiative, Bali commended SDM Kangra Somil Gautam for the construction of the Mata Brajeshwari Public Library.He also highlighted the critical role of a conducive environment in shaping the aspirations of the youth, expressing gratitude for the efforts of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh in improving educational facilities in the state.

Bali also revealed plans to introduce digital libraries at various locations in the state, providing readers with access to a diverse collection of digital documents over the internet. In a bid to enhance the recreational landscape, RS Bali announced a generous allocation of funds. Kangra is set to witness the development of a Rs 5 crore park and a selfie point worth Rs 30 lakh. Additionally, the Tandon Club will undergo expansion with a grant of Rs 1.5 crore.

Recognising the aftermath of the Kangra flood, a sum of Rs 3 lakh was pledged for the channelization of drains, and directives were issued to provide designated spaces for street vendors. Bali further shared plans for future collaborations with the Chief Minister, including discussions about building a complex on vacant land in Tehsil Chowk.

Welcoming the chief guest, Kangra Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Somil Gautam highlighted the pivotal role of public libraries in providing the youth with opportunities to shape their future.
The event witnessed the presence of several distinguished guests, including President of Youth Congress Kangra Ishant Chaudhary, former MLAs Surendra Kaku and Amit Verma, and Block Congress President Nageshwar Mankotiya, who addressed the gathering.
The event was attended by SDM Nagrota Wagwa Munish Sharma, Block Congress President Nageshwar Mankotiya, State General Secretary Ajay Verma, DSP Ankit Sharma, Municipal Council Vice President Suman Verma, Congress State Spokesperson Ashok Himachali, and BDC President Babita Sandhu. Councillor Sanjeev Gupta, Temple Officer Neelam Kumari, Child Development Project Officer Vandana Katoch, Country Congress Committee Member Rajesh Raja, Youth Congress President Ishant Chaudhary, Video Tavinder Chanauriya, State Congress Committee Member Nishu Mogra, Executive of Nagrota Bagwan Officer Kanchan Bala, Rita Mankotia, BDC member Kanta Saroch, along with officers, employees, and workers from various departments, were also present. (ANI)

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-Top News UK News

Strong and united team is going to deliver, says Sunak

James Cleverly replaced Braverman as the Home Secretary…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addressed a meeting with his new-look cabinet on Tuesday, a day after the major reshuffle that saw the return of former PM David Cameron to the cabinet and the sacking of Suella Braverman.

During his remarks, the UK PM stressed not just delivering on the promises but also building a better future for the upcoming generations with reforms in education, healthcare and climate change.

Addressing the meeting, Sunak said, “Our purpose is nothing less than to make the long-term decisions that are going to change the country for the better. And I know that this strong and united team is going to deliver that change for everybody”.

The UK PM called the coming week as important as during this inflation numbers will be released, the Autumn Statement will be delivered and the apex court will give the ruling on the government’s Rwanda Plan, which was held “unlawful” by the Appeals Court earlier this year.

“But you know that is not the limit of our ambitions. We want to build a better future for our children and our grandchildren. And that’s what this team is going to do, whether it’s navigating the crisis in Ukraine, or in the Middle East to demonstrate that we will stand up for our values and provide security for everyone here at home, but also to make the big bold decisions that will drive the change,” he said.

“Looking around this table, I know that we have an energetic and enthusiastic team that is going to deliver for the country. So, let’s get to work,” Sunak added.

Earlier on Monday, in a major cabinet rejig, Sunak sacked Home Secretary Suella Braverman amid mounting pressure over her criticism of the Metropolitan Police for allegedly “going soft” on certain “radical elements” in Pro-Palestine rallies.

James Cleverly replaced Braverman as the Home Secretary.

In another surprising development, former Prime Minister David Cameron was also appointed as the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

Cameron resigned as the PM in 2016 after Britain voted to leave the European Union, in a referendum that was called by him.

“The Prime Minister has asked me to serve as his Foreign Secretary and I have gladly accepted,” Cameron posted on X (formerly Twitter) after his appointment.

Notably, this is only the second time after World War II that a former Prime Minister has returned to the cabinet.

In other appointments, Laura Trott was appointed Chief Secretary of Treasury Secretary, Victoria Atkins was appointed Secretary of Health and Social Care, and Steve Barclay was made Secretary of State, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Additionally, Esther McVey and Richard Holden were made Ministers without portfolios. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Braverman Accuses Sunak of ‘Betrayal’ in Fiery Letter

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-Top News UK News

Sunak’s cabinet gets new Indian-origin minister

Like Sunak, UK-born Coutinho grew up in a family connected with the National Health Service (NHS) and was in the field of investment banking before joining politics…reports Asian Lite News

Claire Coutinho, a close aide of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, got a big promotion as his new Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary in a mini reshuffle on Thursday.

Coutinho, 38, becomes the second Goan-origin minister after Home Secretary Suella Braverman in the Sunak Cabinet and has a tough brief ahead of her as energy costs have been soaring in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

She has committed herself to work on safeguarding energy security and reducing bills for families struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.

In her first Cabinet role, Coutinho replaced Grant Shapps after he was promoted to the post of Defence Secretary following the resignation of Ben Wallace.

“I am delighted to have been appointed Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. I will work with the Prime Minister to safeguard our energy security, reduce bills for families, and build cleaner, cheaper, homegrown energy,” she tweeted.

Like Sunak, UK-born Coutinho grew up in a family connected with the National Health Service (NHS) and was in the field of investment banking before joining politics.

The pro-Brexiter with a Master’s degree in Maths and Philosophy from Oxford University was elected member of Parliament for East Surrey, south-east England, in 2019 with a promise to serve people.

“I was elected the Member of Parliament for East Surrey in 2019. Growing up, I watched my parents work as GPs (general practitioners) in the NHS, listening to people’s problems and solving them as best they could. It is in that spirit that I hope to serve the people of East Surrey,” reads the London-born politician’s mission statement as a Tory MP.

Sunak’s decision to catapult her into the cabinet – as its youngest member in fact – marks her out instantly as a major figure in Conservative politics, present and future, the BBC reported.

She says she started her career at Merrill Lynch, before leaving the City of London firm for a career in social justice policy.

“I focused on a wide range of issues from education to financial inclusion, to the regeneration of deprived communities including at the Centre for Social Justice. I then spent two years within government as a Special Adviser, including at HM Treasury. My local priorities include fixing our roads, supporting the local economy, and protecting our environment,” she adds in her mission statement.

Having worked as special adviser in the UK Treasury department, Coutinho went on to become an aide to Sunak in his role as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and later Chancellor of the Exchequer.

She backed the British Indian candidate for Prime Minister in his leadership bid last year and was later rewarded with a junior ministerial post in the Department for Education.

“Big thank you to my stellar team who supported me as Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing. I know my successor, David Johnston, will be champing at the bit to improve the lives of children and families up and down the country,” she tweeted after her promotion.

“From the largest expansion of childcare in history, to our new Freedom of Speech Act, to driving forward reforms in SEND, for foster carers, in children’s social care and for childminders. It has been a privilege to work with so many talented people,” she said.

ALSO READ-Sunak apologises for ‘inadvertent’ code breach

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-Top News Science

Cabinet gives nod to Indian Space Policy 2023

After the cabinet approval, Lt. General AK Bhatt (retd.), Director General, the Indian Space Association said that this is a historic moment…reports Asian Lite News

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved Indian Space Policy 2023, which will aim to enhance the role of the Department of Space, boost activities of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) missions and give a larger participation of research, academia, startups and industry.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to open the space sector for private participation. Today because of this within 3 years, the number of startups has reached about 150 in ISRO…,” said Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh at a press briefing on Thursday.

“Today Cabinet has approved Indian Space Policy 2023 which in brief would offer clarity to the role of each of these other components which have been set up to enhance the role of the space department, to give a boost to the activities of ISRO missions. To have larger participation between the research academia, startups and industry,” the Minister added.

‘Historic moment’

After the cabinet approval, Lt. General AK Bhatt (retd.), Director General, the Indian Space Association said that this is a historic moment.

Speaking on the behalf of Indian Space Association, General Bhatt said, “This is a historic moment as the cabinet today approved the Indian Space Policy 2023. It will pave the way forward with much-required clarity in space reforms and augment private industry participation to drive the space economy opportunity for the country.” “We have been waiting for it for quite some time and today’s announcement has come as a pleasant surprise. We keenly await and look forward to going through the policy details,” added Bhatt.

He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, “We would like to thank PM Modi for his visionary leadership with a special focus on long-due reforms in the Indian space sector.”

Union Cabinet on Thursday approved Indian Space Policy 2023, which will aim to enhance the role of the Department of Space, boost activities of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) missions and give a larger participation of research, academia, startups and industry. (ANI)

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-Top News UK News

No place for white men in Truss’ cabinet?

Secretary of State for International Trade, Liz Truss see's an Aston Martin DBX that will be exported to the United Stated, in Southampton. Picture by Pippa Fowles / No 10 Downing Street.

There is expected to be a clear out of Rishi Sunak and his supporters after a bitter blue-on-blue campaign in which he seems almost certain to be defeated…reports Asian Lite News

Liz Truss is expected to become UK Prime Minister on Tuesday and appoint a Cabinet featuring no white men in the great offices of state for the first time, the media reported.

Truss is expected to make long-term ally Kwasi Kwarteng chancellor, with Suella Braverman moving to the Home Office and James Cleverly to the Foreign Office, the Daily Mail reported.

If selected, Kwarteng would be the fourth non-white chancellor in a row, directly following Sajid Javid, Rishi Sunak and Nadhim Zahawi. And Braverman would become the third minority home secretary, after Priti Patel and Javid.

Cleverly, currently the Education Secretary, would become the first ever non-white foreign Secretary, the Daily Mail reported.

There is expected to be a clear out of Rishi Sunak and his supporters after a bitter blue-on-blue campaign in which he seems almost certain to be defeated.

Into the political wilderness too will go Michael Gove, after serving under the three previous PMs.

Dominic Raab, the First Secretary of State, and Boris Johnson himself, are expected to return to the backbenches. Both have question marks over whether they can hold on to their seats at the next election.

There is also expected to be a clear out of political advisers within No 10. The Times suggests only a handful of long-serving advisers will be kept on as Truss seeks to slim down the operation.

ALSO READ-Liz Truss wins UK PM race

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India News

Shinde faces flak over all-male cabinet


He was forced to quit as MoS in February 2021 following allegations after the death of a Pune-based social media star, Pooja Chavan…reports Asian Lite News

Soon after his much-awaited mini Cabinet expansion with the induction of 18 members on Tuesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde faced flak from various quarters for not including a woman in the team, but inducting three allegedly tainted legislators, and excluding Independents and smaller parties.

With this, the number of Cabinet ministers has gone up to 20, including Shinde and BJP’s Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis — less than half the total strength of 43.

Tuesday’s exercise was aimed at ‘sailing through’ the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Assembly starting August 17, and the next phase of expansion with a few Cabinet ranks and others as MoS will be done later.

Shinde has included legislators, including himself, who were part of the former MVA government — Gulabrao Patil, Dadaji Bhuse, Sanjay Rathod, Sandipan Bhumre, Uday Samant, Abdul Sattar and Shambhuraj Desai — besides two new faces, Deepak Kesarkar and Tanaji Sawant, who were ministers in the previous Devendra Fadnavis regime.

Despite the presence of several women MLAs in both Shinde group (three) and the BJP (12), the two sides have ignored them — at least for now — 41 days after the new government was sworn-in on June 30.

However, three allegedly scarred MLAs, two from Shinde camp and one from the BJP, are now ministers — Abdul Sattar, Sanjay Rathod (Shinde group) and BJP’s Vijaykumar Gavit.

Shiv Sena leader Kishori Pednekar and BJP’s Chitra Wagh have slammed the Chief Minister for inducting Rathod – who was a minister in the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government headed by former CM Uddhav Thackeray.

He was forced to quit as MoS in February 2021 following allegations after the death of a Pune-based social media star, Pooja Chavan.

Wagh on Tuesday vowed to continue her fight to ensure justice for the victim, while Pednekar said the same BJP had sought Rathod’s removal from the Cabinet and now they have taken him back as a Cabinet minister.

Sattar’s family member’s name has cropped up in the ongoing probe into the TET scam, but he has denied any involvement and expressed readiness to face any probe.

BJP’s Gavit was named in the alleged Rs 6,000 crore scam in the tribal department between 2002 and 2006 that was later probed by the Justice M.G. Gaikwad panel.

Meanwhile, NCP Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi took potshots at Shinde-Fadnavis for failing to include any women in the Cabinet.

“I wish Shinde-Fadnavis had followed the Prime Minister. It is sad that among the 18 ministers sworn-in on Tuesday, no woman has taken oath,” said Sule, referring to how Maharashtra was the first state in the country to give reservation to women who comprise 50 per cent of the population.

“Spot a woman on the dais. Hint: Give up, there were none,” Chaturvedi tweeted with a picture of the all-male oath ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan.

There are presently 28 women lawmakers comprising 25 MLAs in the 288-member lower house besides three MLCs in the upper house of the state legislature.

Responding to the criticism, Fadnavis later assured that representation will soon be given to women MLAs in the state Cabinet.

Meanwhile, the total absence of Independent MLAs and those from the smaller supporting parties in the first mini-Cabinet expansion has led to loud whispers of discontent among these legislators with whose crucial help the new government became possible after the Shinde-led revolt on June 20.

ALSO READ-Thackeray sacks Shinde as ‘Shiv Sena Leader’

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-Top News Asia News Sri Lanka

New Cabinet in Lanka

President Gotabaya and Prime Minister Mahinda will continue, while some new faces will be taken in as Cabinet ministers, reports Ashoke Raj

Amid the ongoing anti-government protests in Sri Lanka following the economic and political crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is all set to draft fresh blood in the council of ministers in the island nation while it has been learnt that the size of the Cabinet would remain small to ensure smooth functioning of the government.

The swearing-in of the ministers would be taking place today amid spiralling protests against the government.

“New cabinet is to be sworn in today. President and PM (Mahinda Rajapaksa) to continue. Some new and young faces will be taken in as Cabinet ministers,” a ruling party MP told ANI.

Sources also told ANI that in the recent meeting, the “President told the members of his political alliance to constitute a limited Cabinet to run the government”.

The entire Sri Lankan Cabinet resigned in the first week of April due to massive anti-government protests.

An opposition party in Sri Lanka opposed the decision of the President to appoint a new Cabinet with inexperienced ministers.

President is, incidentally, constituting a new Cabinet seemingly under the pressure of the protesters in the country and also ahead of the Parliament session.

Sri Lankan Parliament is going to meet on April 19 with new Cabinet ministers while the Opposition is likely to step up pressure on the back of the mounting protests.

In the last Parliament session, ruling party MPs had said, “President is not going to resign from his post before completing his tenure.”

Sri Lanka is facing a foreign exchange shortage, which has affected its capacity to import food and fuel. The shortage of essential goods forced Sri Lanka to seek assistance from friendly countries.

The economic situation has led to huge protests with demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Earlier, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in a special address to the nation had requested people to remain patient and stop taking to the streets in order to enable the government to resolve the situation.

Stock market closing

Sri Lanka’s largest business group Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has opposed a decision by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to close the stock market for five working days.

By shutting down the stock market, potential sellers are prevented from exiting the market at the time and price of their choice, and potential buyers are prevented from acquiring shares, the Chamber said on Sunday.

“All investors will be unable to carry out valuations and mark to market their respective investment portfolios,” Chairman of the Chamber, Vish Govindasamy said in a letter to SEC Chairman Viraj Dayaratne.

Govindasamy said there are circuit breakers in place to arrest a sharp movement in market indices, and the Chamber believes that there is no need to close the market in this manner sending out a wrong signal to all investors across the globe, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Therefore, we earnestly request you to reconsider this move and direct the Colombo Stock Exchange to operate freely even amid challenging market conditions safeguarding its reputation as an investor-friendly stock market,” he added.

On Saturday, the SEC announced that it had decided to direct the Colombo Stock Exchange to temporarily close the stock market for a period of five business days starting April 18.

The SEC said it would be in the best interests of investors as well as other market participants if they are afforded an opportunity to have more clarity and understanding of the economic conditions presently prevalent, in order for them to make informed investment decisions.

The Colombo Stock Exchange has been adversely affected by the economic woes in the South Asian country and the index has fallen 26 per cent by the end of March compared to the end of 2021.

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-Top News Asia News PAKISTAN

PPP may not join new cabinet

At the same time, the PPP has also invited applications from candidates for the National Assembly and provincial assemblies for the forthcoming general election…reports Asian Lite News

PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, who is considered a key player behind the ouster of Imran Khan as Pak Prime Minister, said that his party will not take ministries, The News reported.

In a brief press talk at Parliament House on Saturday, Asif Zardari said that they want their friends to be accommodated first.

When asked if he wants to put all the burden on Shehbaz Sharif, he said that there is no such thing. “We want friends to be given a chance.”

At the same time, the PPP has also invited applications from candidates for the National Assembly and provincial assemblies for the forthcoming general election.

After Zardari’s press talk, senior leaders of the PPP started explaining his remarks and said he did not mean that the PPP was not joining the cabinet, the report said.

A senior PPP leader, on the condition of anonymity, said that the PPP wanted to fulfil promises and agreements that it had made with coalition partners, then it would join the cabinet. Sources said the PPP, in a meeting with the PML-N, had finalised names for the cabinet

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to add 12 PML-N MNAs to his federal cabinet, while PPP will get seven slots, sources told Geo News Thursday.

PM Shehbaz was sworn in as the prime minister on April 11, following the removal of Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion making him the first premier to be removed through the democratic process.

ALSO READ-Rift in PPP over joining Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet

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Africa News Arab News News

South Africa Cabinet safe from dismissal after no-confidence vote

South Africa’s National Assembly, or the lower house of Parliament, voted down a motion of no confidence in the Cabinet, excluding President Cyril Ramaphosa, in open voting…reports Asian Lite News

The voting on the motion, which was tabled by Official Opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), took place during a hybrid plenary meeting shortly after lawmakers debated the matter in the Good Hope Chamber at Parliament in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa, reports Xinhua news agency.

Deputy Speaker Solomon Lechesa Tsenoli announced the voting was 231 against, 131 in favour, and one abstention.

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Had the motions passed, all cabinet members, led by the ruling African National Congress (ANC), excluding the President would have been dismissed.

A motion of no confidence against Ramaphosa, presented by opposition party African Transformation Movement (ATM), did not proceed as scheduled during the over-five-hour meeting due to disagreement over the procedure, and Speaker Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula ruled that the matter will be dealt on Wednesday with National Assembly’s Program Committee.

ANC has been governing the country since the first democratic election in April 1994.

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-Top News India News

Cabinet clears setting up of G20 Secretariat in India’s Presidency

A Coordination Committee will also be set up to oversee all G20 preparations and report to the apex committee…reports Asian Lite News

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the setting up of a G20 Secretariat and its reporting structures, which will be responsible for implementation of overall policy decisions and arrangements needed for steering India’s forthcoming Presidency of the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

A G-20 Secretariat is being established to handle work relating to substantive/ knowledge/content, technical, media, security and logistical aspects of India’s G20 Presidency. It will be manned by officers and staff from the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and other relevant line Ministries/Departments and domain knowledge experts, as per a statement by the Cabinet Secretariat.

India will hold the Presidency of the G-20 from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023, culminating with the G20 Summit in the country in 2023. The Secretariat, which will be functional till February 2024, will be guided by an apex committee headed by Prime Minister, and comprising the Finance Minister, Home Minister, External Affairs Minister, and G20 Sherpa (Commerce & Industry Minister), to provide overall guidance to India’s G20 Presidency.

A Coordination Committee will also be set up to oversee all G20 preparations and report to the apex committee.

“The G20 Secretariat will enable long term capacity building, including knowledge and expertise, for India’s leadership on global issues in multilateral fora,” an official release said.

Meet in Jakarta

Finance Ministers and central bank Governors from G20 members will gather from February 17 to 18 for their first meeting in 2022 under the Indonesian presidency in Jakarta, despite a steady increase in daily Covid-19 cases.

High-profile topics to be discussed in the first Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting would be about inflation, policy normalization and digitalization to help G20 members recover their economy from the pandemic situation, Xinhua news agency quoted Perry Warjiyo, Governor of Bank Indonesia.

“We’ll also talk about the development and stability of the global financial market. However, digitalization could be our primary focus because that is what we need to recover our economy and expedite the economic transformation after we’ve suffered the pandemic for two years,” Warjiyo said on the sidelines of the Casual Talks on Digital Payment Innovation of Banking in Jakarta.

The FMCBG meeting would be held at the Jakarta Convention Center and the Gelora Bung Karno sports stadium in central Jakarta.

The meeting would be preceded by a meeting of finance ministry and central bank deputies from Feb. 15 to 16.

Both of the meetings were initially scheduled to take place in Nusa Dua in Indonesia’s popular resort island of Bali, but moved to Jakarta as the Indonesian authorities are sure that the capital city is much safer due to its high Covid-19 vaccination rate.

The meetings would take place both offline and virtually, Indonesia’s Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said recently, reminding that the meeting be held under tight health protocols and all participants be strongly required to follow the rule.

The high-level meetings are held amid increasing daily Covid-19 cases including those Omicron cases in Indonesia.

Southeast Asia’s largest economy on Monday confirmed 36,501 new Covid-19 cases, raising its tally of infections to 4,844,279.

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