# Covid-19 positivity rate

• The national covid-19 positivity rate stood at 21%.

• 310 of the 734 districts had reported positivity rate greater than or equal to the national average.

• Health ministry said the country now had the RTPCR testing capacity of about 16 lakh a day and rapid antigen test (RAT) capacity of about 17 lakh a day.

• Health ministry said that RAT testing booths will be set up in cities, towns and villages.

# Israel-Hamas conflict

• Israel unleashed new air strikes on Gaza early on tuesday, hitting a pair of high rise buildings beleived to be housing terrorists.

• Prior to that, Hamas, a Palestine based terrorist organisation bombarded southern Israel with hundred of rockets.

• The escalation was sparked by weeks of tensions in contested Jerusalem.

# India’s GDP growth

• Moody’s investor service on tuesday sharply scaled down this year’s growth projection for India to 9.3% from its earlier estimate of 13.7%.

• It warned that the spread of the coronavirus as well as the rate of vaccinations will have a direct impact on economic outcomes.

# China’s population growth

• China’s once in a decade population census has recorded a slowing population growth rate.

• China’s population growth rate will likely see China’s population peak and be overtaken by India in about 2025.

• The seventh census, released on tuesday by the national bureau of statistics (NBS) in Beijing, noted 12 million babies were born last year.

# Saudi aid to pakistan

• Saudi Arabia has announced 118 humanitarian projects worth over $123 million for cash stripped Pakistan.

• This aid was announced during Imran khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia.

• The king salman humanitarian aid and relief center has announced this humanitarian aid.