LIVE! Brazil 'on brink of recession thanks to Covid-19

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Sun, 12 July 2020

Brazil 'on brink of recession thanks to Covid-19

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22:59 Brazil 'on brink of recession thanks to Covid-19

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said Brazil is on the brink of recession as the economy feels the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Millions of jobs destroyed, tens of millions of people in the informality without income and a country on the brink of recession," Bolsonaro said.

Accusing misinformation for causing widespread panic, Bolsonaro said, "People believed they had only one serious problem to deal with" and warned that the "side effects of fighting the virus could not be worse than the virus itself."

Bolsonaro said the situation could have been even worse had it not been for the action of the federal government which provided "emergency aid for more than 60 million people" and distributed resources.

He also asked families to "depoliticise from the pandemic and added, "It won't be easy, but we'll have to start over."

In April, the Brazilian government offered emergency aid to those without income during the pandemic, initially offering R200 a month (US $40) but after criticism from Congress, it was increased to R600 (US $120). This government assistance was initially to be paid for three months but last month was extended another two months.

Bolsonaro announced he tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday and has since been working remotely from Alvorada Palace, his official residence. The first lady announced Saturday that she and her two daughters tested negative.

22:43 Gehlot's meeting with Congress MLAs ends

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's meeting with party MLAs in Jaipur has concluded.

Congress MLA Rajendra Gudda says, "Gehlotji has the majority. We are also making efforts and some BJP MLAs are in our contact. We will bring more MLAs from BJP than we would lose."

Sources have now said that Sachin Pilot and 27 MLAs are in contact with BJP. Sachin Pilot and the MLAs who have pledged support to him will not be attending Congress Legislature Party meeting in Jaipur.

Earlier, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said the Ashok Gehlot government is in minority after several MLAs have pledged support to his camp, a statement from his office said.

Sachin Pilot said that more than 30 Congress MLAs and some independent MLAs have pledged support to him, the Deputy CM's office said.

Sachin Pilot said he will not be going to Jaipur to attend the legislature party meeting called on Monday morning. Sachin Pilot said he has his MLAs with him in Delhi.

21:36 7.89 lakh COVID-19 tests conducted in Delhi

A total of 7.89 lakh coronavirus tests have been conducted in the national capital till Sunday, according to data by the Delhi government.

As many as 11,793 rapid antigen tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, while 9,443 RT-PCR tests were carried out during the same time, it said.

According to the data provided by the AAP government, Delhi has conducted a total of 7,89,853 tests, that is, 41,571 tests per million population.

Meanwhile, the number of containment zones in the city has risen to 652.

Since June 18, when COVID-19 testing through the rapid-antigen method started, over 3 lakh tests have been conducted in Delhi - around 17,000 tests per day, it said.

Over 45 per cent of coronavirus tests were conducted here after the government commenced testing through the rapid-antigen methodology in and around containment zones of the city.

Over 2 lakh people have been tested through the antigen kits, according to the Delhi government's health bulletin.

The health authorities had conducted 3,21,302 tests for the disease using the "expensive but gold standard" RT-PCR method till June 18, it said.

The number of tests per day has also seen around four-fold increase from 4,190 tests per day in the first week of June to 15,863 tests per day in the last week of the month, the data said.

-- PTI

Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot will not attend Congress Legislative Party meeting scheduled to be held on Monday at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence.

Sources close to Pilot said the Gehlot government is in minority after over 30 Congress and some independent MLAs have pledged support to Sachin Pilot. The crisis in Rajasthan Congress intensified with Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot at loggerheads, while Gehlot is blaming BJP for trying to destabilise the state government by poaching MLAs, Pilot is camping in Delhi to speak to the party leadership regarding the political turmoil in the state.

According to sources, Pilot has sought an appointment with party's interim president Sonia Gandhi but time for the meeting has not yet been given by her. Although, Pilot met another party leader to apprise him about the situation in the state and spelled out his grievance.

As of now, many MLAs, who are believed to be in the Pilot camp, are also in Delhi to meet the party leadership.

According to sources, the deputy chief minister has the support of nearly 30 Congress MLAs along with many independent legislators.

-- ANI

20:48 Congress asks Pilot to reach Jaipur tonight

In a major development in the Rajasthan political crisis, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot has been told to return to Jaipur and work under the leadership of CM Ashok Gehlot, sources said.

The Congress High Command has reportedly asked Sachin Pilot to reach Jaipur tonight and meet the observers. Congress has appointed its Delhi leader Ajay Maken, Rajasthan Congress Pradesh Committee chief Avinash Pande and the party's senior spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala as observers.

The team comprising Ajay Maken, Avinash Pande and Randeep Singh Surjewala will board a chartered plane tonight. According to sources, they will reach just in time to attend a meeting called by CM Ashok Gehlot at 9 PM tonight.

Meanwhile, a legislature party meeting is slated to take place at the chief minister's residence on Monday at 10:30 am. Pilot is likely to attend the meeting.

Sachin Pilot is reportedly unhappy with the probe ordered by the state police into "poaching" of MLAs and the notice sent to him by the Rajasthan Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) over the same.

Pilot feels that a notice under provision for sedition is an "attempt to humiliate," sources said.

Rajasthan Congress in-charge Avinash Pande on Sunday accused the BJP of trying to topple Congress government in the state and said that the ruling party at the Centre will fail in its attempt as 'everything is fine'.

"We had a talk with Rajasthan Congress MLAs who had gone to Delhi and now, after talks, many of them have returned back to Jaipur. BJP is trying to topple Congress government in the state, but it will not be successful. Everything is fine," Avinash Pande said.

"Congress is strongly working together. All MLAs have trust and faith in the party and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. BJP is deliberately diverting the present situation," added Pande.

Expressing confidence that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led government will continue to rule in the state, he said that the Rajasthan government will complete a five-year term.

"This conspiracy is created by the BJP government and they have been trying this for one year. I can say that all Rajasthan Congress MLAs will work together and Congress government in Rajasthan will complete five years of its tenure," Pande said.

"BJP government at the Centre deliberately diverting the present situation. People need help on the ground level but the Central government could not fulfill the needs of the people in the present COVID-19 crises time," added Pande.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has called a meeting of party MLAs and ministers in Jaipur on Sunday night.

The crisis in Rajasthan Congress has deepened with Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot at loggerheads. While Gehlot is blaming BJP for trying to destabilise the state government by poaching MLAs, Pilot is camping in Delhi to speak to the party leadership regarding the political turmoil in the state.

-- ANI

19:54 Maken, Surjewala sent to Jaipur as observers

The Congress has sent its senior leaders Ajay Maken and Randeep Surjewala as central observers to Jaipur to avert a crisis as it faces factionalism in Rajasthan.

The two leaders along with party general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Congress Avinash Pande will be reaching Jaipur this evening and will hold discussions with party MLAs, sources said.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has summoned a meeting tonight of Congress MLAs.

The sources said that around 19 Congress MLAs are said to be siding with Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and are incommunicado.

The Congress is trying to save its government in Rajasthan, which faces a rebellion from within.

Pilot is miffed with Gehlot over the notice sent to him by the state police investigating the alleged horse-trading of Congress MLAs.

The chief minister has blamed the BJP for trying to topple his government, a charge the BJP has denied.

-- PTI

19:18 Maha adds 7,827 new COVID-19 cases in 1-day

Maharashtra's COVID-19 cases rose by 7,827 to 2,54,427 on Sunday, state Health department said.

With 173 more patients succumbing to the infection, the number of fatalities has gone up to 10,289, the department said in a statement.

A total of 3,340 people were discharged in the day, taking the number of the recovered cases to 1,40,325, it said.

13,17,895people have been tested so far.

The number of active cases in the state now stands at 1,03,813.

-- PTI

18:50 Aishwarya, daughter to stay in home quarantine

Aishwarya and her daughter Aaradhya who had earlier tested coronavirus positive will stay in home quarantine.

Abhishek Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan will remain in hospital till the doctors decide otherwise.

Civic authorities are sanitising the residential and office premises of Amitabh Bachchan in Mumbai's suburban area of Juhu after the megastar and his family members tested positive for coronavirus, an official said on Sunday.

Security was also stepped up outside Bachchan's two bungalows in Juhu and outside the Nanavati Hospital, where the veteran actor and his son were admitted, police said.

Delhi has recorded 1,573 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 1,12,494 in the city, while the death toll mounted to 3,371, authorities said on Sunday.

This is the first time in July that the fresh case count has remained below the 2,000-mark for two consecutive days. On Saturday, 1,781 cases were detected.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the national capital now stands at 1,12,494. The death toll due to the disease increased to 3,371 after 37 fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours, according to the latest Delhi health department bulletin.

As many as 89,968 patients have recovered, been discharged or migrated so far, while there are 19,155 active cases, it said.

The bulletin said as many as 9,443 RT-PCR tests and 11,793 rapid-antigen tests were conducted during the last 24 hours.

Till date, a total of 7,89,853 tests have been conducted, which is 41,571 tests per million population, it said.

The total number of COVID-19 positive patients under home isolation stands at 11,059, it said.

In the last one week, the number of new infections has grown by around two per cent every day.

For every 100 confirmed cases, three have died due to the virus in the city so far. The recovery rate has increased to more than 79 per cent, the bulletin said.

-- PTI

18:03 Sad to see Pilot being sidelined: Scindia

Former Congress leader, who switched over to the BJP, Jyotiadityarao Scindia tweeted, "Sad to see my erstwhile colleague, @SachinPilot too, being sidelined and persecuted by Rajasthan CM @ashokgehlot51. Shows that talent and capability find little credence in the @INCIndia."

Rajasthan Deputy CM and Congress leader Sachin Pilot held a meeting in Delhi with BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia who earlier joined the party after quitting Congress.

Meanwhile, Sachin Pilot's wife on Sunday, in a veiled attack on Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, tweeted that even that magicians start sweating when the deputy CM takes the Delhi route.

Sources said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Pilot had been in touch over a last couple of days.

However, they assured that the issue will be resolved soon.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that the national capital has been able to minimise deaths of Covid-19 patients in home isolation with the help of pulse oximeters. The chief minister described it as a protective shield or suraksha kavach.

If patients detect their oxygen is falling, they reach out to us for help. We immediately send oxygen concentrators to their home or take them to a hospital, Kejriwal tweeted.

Kejriwals remarks in reaction to a Twitter users post wherein he thanked the Delhi government on proving an oximeter on time to his friend who tested positive for Covid-19.

Last month, during an address, Kejriwal said that one of the problems being faced by coronavirus patients under home isolation is the sudden drop in oxygen levels. The chief minister announced that all such patients will be provided pulse oximeters to monitor their oxygen levels, adding that once the patient has recovered, the oximeters can be returned.

On Saturday, the Delhi government announced all examinations, including final exams, to be conducted in universities under the city-states government stand cancelled in the wake of Covid-19 crisis.

17:16 Sachin Pilot meets BJP's Scindia in Delhi

Rajasthan Deputy CM and Congress leader Sachin Pilot is holding a meeting in Delhi with BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia who earlier joined the party after quitting Congress.

Both leaders have already spoken, no further meeting is planned, Pilot's aide said.

Pilot had sought time from Sonia Gandhi.

According to news reports, Pilot is also scheduled to meet Rahul Gandhi at 5.30 pm.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has summoned Sunday night a meeting of all party MLAs, an apparent show of strength amid speculation over his rift with deputy Sachin Pilot.

Johns Hopkins University has joined a growing list of prestigious higher education institutions in the US suing the Trump administration over its "cruel" decision not to allow foreign students to take online-only courses this fall semester.

On Monday, the Trump administration announced new rules for international students for the upcoming fall semester (September to December) that requires them to take an in-person class to remain in the country. Many American universities have scaled back or eliminated in-person classes due to the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

Johns Hopkins University filed a lawsuit in federal court on Friday, pushing back against the the Trump administration order that would abruptly rescind accommodations for online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic for the nearly 5,000 international students at the university and thousands more across the country.

Johns Hopkins said the policy change sending international students back to their home countries if they don't enroll in in-person classes, suddenly and unexpectedly" plunged Johns Hopkins, and virtually all of higher education in the United States, into chaos.

Hundreds of thousands of Indian students in the US will be affected by the decision of the Trump administration.

According to a recent report of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, there were over 1,94,000 Indian students enrolled in various academic institutions of the US in January this year.

The JHU's complaint, filed in US District Court in Washington, D.C., seeks a temporary restraining order against the proposal by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stating that it is "arbitrary and capricious," unlawful, and a reversal of earlier guidance upon which months of careful planning is based.

The Baltimore-based private institution joins other well-known schools such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California system in filing litigation to stop the US government from enforcing the new rule.

-- PTI

16:36 Abhishek's co-star Amit Sadh to get tested

A day after his 'Breathe: Into The Shadows' co-star Abhishek Bachchan tested positive for coronavirus, Bollywood actor Amit Sadh on Sunday confirmed that he would undergo the test for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure.

Abhishek Bachchan on Saturday evening revealed on social media that he and father Amitabh Bachchan tested positive for COVID-19 and have been admitted to hospital in Mumbai.

Amit Sadh and the actor shared screen space for the web series, 'Breathe Into The Shadows' that was released online on Friday.

Sadh said that he is feeling "perfectly fine," however, he will get the COVID-19 test done today, as a precautionary measure.

"Thank you everyone for all your concern and wishes. I am feeling perfectly fine. However, I will get a precautionary COVID-19 test done today. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr Bachchan, Abhishek and family. Hoping for their speedy recovery," the actor tweeted.

Reportedly, Sadh and Bachchan were spotted together recently at a dubbing studio for their web series.

-- ANI

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday wished megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan a speedy recovery from Covid-19.

"Wishing legendary actor of India @SrBachchan and his son actor @juniorbachchan good health and speedy recovery! (sic)," he tweeted.

Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan on Saturday said they have tested positive for Covid-19 and been hospitalised in Mumbai, while Abhishek's wife Aishwarya and daughter Aradhya tested positive on Sunday.

Oli's wishes for the Bachchans comes amid Nepal's border tensions with India.

The India-Nepal bilateral ties came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8.

Nepal reacted sharply to the inauguration of the road claiming that it passed through Nepalese territory. India rejected the claim asserting that the road lies completely within its territory.

Later, Nepal updated the countrys political map through a Constitutional amendment, incorporating three strategically important Indian areas Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura.

India termed as untenable the artificial enlargement of the territorial claims by Nepal. India has handed over a diplomatic note to Nepal over the map issue, Nepalese media reports said.

15:43 Gehlot to hold meet with Congress MLAs tonight

The Congress appears deep in crisis in Rajasthan three months after it lost Jyotiraditya Scindia and Madhya Pradesh to the BJP after a long-drawn tussle between the old guard and the new.

Ashok Gehlot has called a meeting at 9 pm tonight. He has sent a message to all Congress MLAs, to be in Jaipur by this evening.

Rajasthan Sports Minister Ashok Chandna alleged that horse-trading is going on. He said that MLAs should learn from what happened in Madhya Pradesh where those who left the party were sidelined for four months and when elections are around the corner in MP, they were made ministers.

Chadana further said that they will face the ire of the people during the elections and Rajasthan Congress MLAs should learn from their fate.

Pakistan has restored the bank accounts of top five leaders of defunct Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Lashkar-e-Taiba, including its chief and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

The restoration of bank accounts has taken place following formal approval of the Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council, The News reported on Saturday.

The other members of defunct JuD/LeT who got their bank accounts restored include Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, Haji M Ashraf, Yahya Mujahid and Zafar Iqbal. All of them are UNSC's enlisted terrorists though and currently facing sentences ranging 1 to 5 years in Lahore jail for terror financing cases filed against them by the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department.

The sources claimed that each one of the defunct JuD leaders had appealed to the United Nations for restoring their bank accounts so that they could run their family affairs.

-- ANI

15:19 Rahul's love for nation is fake: Nadda

BJP president JP Nadda on Sunday said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was meeting the Chinese Ambassador "secretly" during the Doklam stand-off and alleged that his love for the nation is "fake".

"The people of India know that Rahul Gandhi was meeting the Chinese Ambassador secretly during the Doklam stand-off and you misled the nation and did not inform the country. India got to know only when the Chinese Ambassador broadcast your picture with him online. This 'love for your nation' is fake. You've missed all 11 defence committee meetings. This is how you run a country?" he said after inaugurating the newly constructed BJP District Committee office 'Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Mandiram' in Kasaragod, Kerala.

The BJP president also urged the workers of United Democratic Front, Left Democratic Front and the Congress to join his party.

"UDF, LDF, Congress have always kept the nation in the dark. I call upon the workers and people of Kerala to leave LDF, UDF and Congress to join the BJP and make the state stronger," he said.

Notably, earlier today Gandhi had targeted the Central government over the June clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers and asked what had happened that China "took away" the sacred land of India.

"What had happened that China took away the sacred land of Mother India during Modi ji's tenure?" the Congress leader asked on Twitter (translated from Hindi). He also posted an article by a news website about the Galwan valley clash.

Twenty Indian soldiers had lost their lives in a violent face-off in the Galwan valley on June 15-16 when Chinese troops attempted to unilaterally change the status quo during the de-escalation.

India and China have been involved in talks to ease the ongoing border tensions since last month.

-- ANI

15:04 Aishwarya, daughter test positive for Covid-19

After Amitabh Bachchan and son Abhishek Bachchan were taken to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai after testing positive for coronavirus, now it has emerged that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and daughter Aaradhya Bachchan too have tested positive.

Jaya Bachchan has tested negative for the virus.

On Saturday night, it was revealed that father and son had been tested, following which all the family members and staff at the residence would be tested and quarantined.

14:29 Varavara Rao's health deteriorating: Family

The health of poet and activist Varavara Rao, an accused in the Elgar Parishad case, is deteriorating and he is "hallucinating and is in a delirious state", his family claimed on Sunday and urged the authorities concerned to provide him better medical aid.

The 81-year-old activist is currently lodged at the Taloja jail in Maharashtra's Navi Mumbai township.

Addressing an online press conference, Rao's wife, daughters and other family members said they were worried about his "deteriorating health".

They claimed his health condition has been deteriorating ever since he was shifted to the state-run J J Hospital in Mumbai in an unconscious state on May 28, 2020.

Three days later, he was discharged and sent back to the jail even as there was no improvement in his health condition, they said.

"We were very much disturbed as during his routine calls (to family members) allowed by police, his voice was weak, he was incoherent, mumbling and unable to speak," Rao's wife said.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari said he is not in self-isolation and feels perfectly alright. He says he has no symptoms of Covid-19.

This happened after 18 personnel at Raj Bhavan in south Mumbai tested coronavirus positive, a civic body official said on Sunday.

Two Raj Bhavan employees tested positive last week, after which 100 others there got tested, of which 16 have tested positive, the official said.

Among those who tested positive are senior staff members at Raj Bhavan, sources said.

Maharashtra, India's worst-hit state, registered a record single-day jump of 8,139 new cases on Saturday, taking the state's tally to 2,46,600 positive cases.

13:43 UP to impose weekend lockdown

Uttar Pradesh is set to go for weekend lockdowns. Stringent restrictions to be put in force on every weekend.

Markets will be closed, public transport will be one-third of its capacity, and private offices will be shut too, while essential services will be exempted from the restrictions.

India saw the biggest daily jump in coronavirus cases on Sunday as 28,637 new infections were identified in the 24 hours since 8 am on Saturday, the union health ministry said.

The total case count is now just shy of 8.5 lakh at 8,49,553.

India also witnessed 551 deaths during the last 24-hour period, taking the total death toll to 22,674.

Congress leader Kapil Sibbal tweeted: "Worried for our party. Will we wake up only after the horses have bolted from our stables?"

His reaction came as Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot alleged that the BJP is attempting to topple his government by bribing Congress and Independent MLAs, triggering a fresh round of political uncertainty in the state.

On Saturday, Ashok Gehlot said BJP leaders have "gone beyond humanity" as they are tried to destabilise his government in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.

Meanwhile, the BJP has rubbished these charges and accused Ashok Gehlot of trying to deflect people's attention from the infightings within the Congress, and the failure of his government in responding promptly to the coronavirus pandemic.

The civil aviation ministry has told the airlines that passengers who submit a self-declaration form that they have not tested positive for COVID-19 during the three weeks prior to the departure date are allowed to take their flight, officials said.

On May 21, the government had made it mandatory for all passengers to submit the self-declaration form before a flight stating that they did not test positive for COVID-19 during two months prior to the departure date.

The officials said that as there are a large number of people in India now who have recovered from the deadly virus, a need was felt to update the self-declaration form to avoid any hardships to them.

Therefore, a few days back, the government told the airlines that passengers need to give a declaration that "they have not tested positive for COVID-19 in the last three weeks" prior to the flight, the officials said.

"Persons who have recovered from COVID-19 and who fulfil the three-week criteria will be allowed to travel by flights if they show a COVID-recovery or COVID-discharge certificate from their hospital," they mentioned.

Out of around 8.2 lakh people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in India till now, around 5.15 lakh have recovered. This means the recovery rate is around 63 per cent. More than 22,000 people have died due to the virus in the country.

India resumed domestic passengers flights from May 25 after a gap of two months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in the country.

-- PTI

12:21 Rahul again targets Modi over Ladakh face-off

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday again attacked the government over the Ladakh face-off, and asked what happened that China "took away" India's land when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is at the helm.

He also tagged a news report quoting a defence expert, alleging that the Government is "misleading" the media on the Chinese disengagement along the LAC and that disengagement at the Galwan Valley is disadvantageous to India.

"What has happened that under Modi ji rule, China took away Mother India's sacred land," he asked in a tweet in Hindi.

Gandhi has been attacking Modi and his government on the standoff in Ladakh and has accused the prime minister of "surrendering" India's land to China.

The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in a bitter standoff in multiple locations in eastern Ladakh for the last eight weeks. The tension escalated manifold after the Galwan Valley clashes on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed.

-- PTI

Indian soldiers patrol the border with China at high altitudes. Photograph: Utpal Baruah/Reuters

12:08 Has India actually lost territory to China?

While the government has been at pains to insist that the Chinese have disengaged from the Line of Actual Control, Colonel Ajai Shukla, strategic affairs editor of the Business Standard, who has been consistently taking a different line on the Chinese incursions, has now, in a video interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, claimed that contrary to claims that there has been disengagement whatsoever at Hot Springs and Gogra.

Not only that, Shukla also says in his interview that the Chinese are refusing to vacate Indian territory.

In fact, he asserts in the interview that far from India removing Chinese soldiers from India-claimed territory, the LAC has not shifted westwards, ie, into Indian territory.

"It had shifted 12-15 km in Depsang, 1 km in Galwan, 2-4 km in Gogra and 8 km in Pangong Lake,' Shukla says, adding, "I'm absolutely sure about this."

"This would be the largest loss of territory to China since the 1962 war," he adds for good measure.

In his defence, Col Shukla also points out that while he has taken a line contrary to the government line, the government has so far not denied anything he's written.

About other defence correspondents and strategic affairs editors citing army sources, he says, "The government is misleading the media," and putting pressure on the Army. "The Army is spouting the line given by the NSA's office,' he says, referring to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Another devastating claim Col Shukla makes is that where disengagement has taken place at Galwan, 'the buffer zone that has been created is almost entirely on Indian territory.'

'India has accepted, under Chinese pressure, that the Y-nullah at Galwan will be considered the marker for the LAC rather than PP-14. As a result, India's troops are now pushed back some 2.4 kms from PP-14, the traditional marker for the LAC, whilst China is only 400 metres from this point,' Karan Thapar says quoting Col Ajai Shukla, here.

Jaya Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Aaradhya Bachchan have tested negative for coronavirus, Nanavati Hospital informed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials on Sunday morning.

They had undergone tests on Saturday night after Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan were found to be positive for coronavirus.

The father-son duo is currently admitted to Nanavati Hospital. They had informed people about the illness through their respective Twitter accounts.

Jaya, Aishwarya and Aaradhya were tested along with other staff members of the house. The trio's coronavirus antigen test came had come negative last night.

Meanwhile, as per the latest update by the hospital authorities, Big B is stable with mild symptoms. The 77-year-old star will post his health update twice a day via social media.

11:42 Gehlot, Pilot likely to be summoned to Delhi

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has alleged that the BJP is attempting to topple his government by bribing Congress and Independent MLAs, triggering a fresh round of political uncertainty in the state.

On Saturday, Ashok Gehlot said BJP leaders have "gone beyond humanity" as they are tried to destabilise his government in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.

Ashok Gehlot said the BJP also made such attempts in the run up to the recently held Rajya Sabha elections. Meanwhile, the BJP has rubbished these charges and accused Ashok Gehlot of trying to deflect people's attention from the infightings within the Congress, and the failure of his government in responding promptly to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the sources, Sachin pilot has complained of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's sidelining attempts.

Meanwhile, both the leaders will likely be summoned to Delhi.

Anupam Kher's mother, Dulari, tested positive for coronavirus. The veteran actor revealed the same on Twitter along with a video. The actor's mother is admitted to Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai. Kher's brother, Raju Kher, his sister-in-law, and niece have also tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The actor's reports, however, turned out to be negative.

Sharing the same on social media, Kher wrote, "This is to inform all that my mother Dulari is found Covid + (Mildly). We have admitted her into Kokilaben Hospital. My brother, bhabhi & niece inspite of being careful have also tested mildly positive.I got myself tested as well & I have tested negative.@mybmc is informed."

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan revealed that they had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The father and son duo is admitted to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai.

11:04 Security beefed up outside Bachchan's home

Mumbai Police have beefed up security outside the Nanavati Hospital, where megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachahan have been admitted after they tested positive for coronavirus, officials said on

Sunday.

Security has also been stepped up outside the megastar's two bungalows in Juhu area here, they said.

After the Bachchans on Saturday said they tested positive for coronavirus and were admitted to hospital, some people tried to gather outside the medical facility located in Vile Parle (West), but they were asked to leave and not allowed to stand on the road, a police official said.

"We have beefed up security to avoid assembling of people outside the hospital. Other COVID-19 patients are also in the hospital, they should not face inconvenience. Our officers are outside the hospital and not allowing anyone to assemble," Santacruz police station's senior inspector Shriram Koregaonkar said.

Additional security has also been deployed outside the actor's bungalows where people may assemble, an official from Juhu police station said.

Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan on Saturday said they had tested positive for COVID-19 and have been admitted to hospital.

While Amitabh is 77, Abhishek is 44 years old. -- PTI

Designer Riddhima Kapoor Sahni has slammed rumours that her mother Neetu Kapoor and brother, actor Ranbir Kapoor, have tested positive for COVID-19 and asked people to not spread misinformation.

Soon after megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan tested positive for COVID-19 and were admitted to a city hospital on Saturday, rumours started to spread that even Neetu and the "Sanju" actor are infected with the novel coronavirus.

Dismissing the reports, Riddhima told PTI, "Obviously not (true). Please stop spreading fake rumours. At least not at this time, would appreciate."

Social media was abuzz with a tweet which claimed the Bachchans, who are at Nanavati Hospital, got the virus after Amitabh's grandson, Agastya Nanda, attended a birthday party hosted by Riddhima.

The fashion designer also took to Instagram and called the claim baseless.

"Attention seeking? Least verify/clarify! We are fit. We are good! Stop spreading rumours! #lunatics," she wrote .

Amitabh and Abhishek on Saturday said that they had tested positive for COVID-19 and have been admitted to Nanavati hospital.

"I have tested COVID positive. Shifted to Hospital. Hospital informing authorities, family and staff undergone tests, results awaited," Amitabh, 77, posted on Twitter.

"All that have been in close proximity to me in the last 10 days are requested to please get themselves tested," he added.

Abhishek, 44, said both his father and he had mild symptoms and requested everybody to be calm and not panic.

Earlier today both my father and I tested positive for COVID 19. Both of us having mild symptoms have been admitted to hospital. We have informed all the required authorities and our family and staff are all being tested. I request all to stay calm and not panic. Thank you," Abhishek tweeted.

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said the complete Bachchan clan, including veteran actor Jaya Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, have underwent swab test for COVID-19.

"Swab test have been taken of all the other family members, including Jaya ji and Aishwarya ji. Their reports are awaited. They have undergone RTPCR test...," he said. -- PTI

Separatist Hurriyat leader Ashraf Sehrai and some members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami have been detained and are likely to be booked under the stringent Public Safety Act, Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbagh Singh said on Sunday.

Sehrai is chairperson of the pro-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Hurriyat,

Besides him, about a dozen other members of the Jamaat-e-Islami have been taken into custody, Singh said.

The police action comes days after veteran separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani announced his complete disassociation from politics.

Sehrai had taken over from Geelani and was representing the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat at All Party Hurriyat Conference, a conglomerate of 26 separatist parties.

This faction of the Hurriyat is different from the one led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who has favoured dialogue as a means to end the violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sehrai's son, Junaid Sehrai, a divisional commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, was killed in an encounter in the city's Nawakadal area in May this year. -- PTI

10:47 BMC sanitisation team reaches Jalsa

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation workers arrive at 'Jalsa', the residence of actor Amitabh Bachchan in Mumbai, to disinfect for possible COVID-19 virus infection.

India on Sunday reported a record single-day spike of 28,637 COVID-19 cases, taking country's tally to 8,49,553, according to health ministry data.

The death toll climbed to 22,674 with 551 people succumbing to the disease in 24 hours, the updated data at 8 am showed.

This was the ninth consecutive day that COVID-19 cases in the country increased by more than 22,000.

According to Union health ministry data, the number of recoveries stands at 5,34,621 while there are 2,92,258 active cases.

The total number of confirmed cases include foreigners.

10:29 At least 18 test +ve at Maharashtra Raj Bhavan

At least 18 people at Maharashtra's Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor in Mumbai, have tested positive for coronavirus.

The people who tested positive also include staff working in close proximity to the Governor.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari is self-isolating after the developments.

Around 100 Raj Bhavan staff members took the COVID-19 test.

Maharashtra -- the worst-hit state -- registered a record single-day jump of 7,862 new cases on Saturday, taking the state's tally to 2,38,461. Active cases in the state stand at 95,647.

After actor Aamir Khan, director Karan Johar, veteran actor Rekha's security guard has tested positive for coronavirus.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has sealed the 65-year-old actor's bungalow 'Sea Springs'.

Located in Mumbai's Bandra area, the 'Umrao Jaan' actor's bungalow falls under BMC's M west ward.

The BMC has also put a board outside the premises declaring the place as a containment area.

As per a local resident, the security guard got infected from COVID-19 last week, after which the board, stating the bungalow as a containment zone, was installed.

Earlier on Saturday night, legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and son, actor Abhishek Bachchan were admitted to Mumbai's Nanavati Hospital, after testing positive for coronavirus.

Big B is known to be in a "stable" condition with "mild symptoms". -- ANI

A 5.1-magnitude earthquake on Sunday jolted China's north Hebei province's Tangshan city, according to officials.

Strong tremors were felt in the nearby regions including Beijing, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The epicentre of the quake, which struck Guye district at 6:38 AM local time, was monitored at 39.78 degrees north latitude and 118.44 degrees east longitude, the China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC) said.

The quake struck at a depth of 10 km, the CENC said.

A second tremor with 2.2-magnitude hit the district again at 7:02 AM.

No casualties have been reported, the report said.

Firefighters have been dispatched to the district.

The railway department immediately launched the emergency plan to suspend passenger trains passing through the area, and is organising a comprehensive inspection of railway equipment and facilities.

A 7.8-magnitude quake had jolted Tangshan in 1976, killing more than 240,000 people. -- PTI

A day after the World Health Organisation lauded Mumbai's Dharavi for breaking the chain of COVID-19 transmission, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday congratulated all those responsible for the achievement.

At a virtual press conference on Friday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Dharavi, among other places in the world, is an example that shows that even if the outbreak is very intense, it can still be brought under control.

"A strong focus on community engagement and the basics of testing, tracing, isolating and treating all those that are sick is key to breaking the chains of transmission and suppressing the virus," he said.

In a tweet in Hindi, Gandhi said, "The WHO has praised our country's Dharavi model for preventing the spread of coronavirus infection. The entire team responsible for this achievement of Dharavi, especially the residents, deserve applause."

Spread over an area of 2.5 square kilometres, Dharavi is one of the world's largest slums. It has a population of 6,50,000.

In April, the doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in Dharavi was 18 days, it gradually improved to 43 days in May and slowed down to 108 and 430 days in June and July, respectively, according to official data.

As many as 2,359 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in Dharavi so far, while 1,952 patients have recovered.

At present, there are only 166 active cases in Dharavi. -- PTI

Former India cricketer and Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Chetan Chauhan has tested positive for COVID-19.

The development of Chauhan testing positive for the dreaded virus emerged late on Saturday night from the tweets of former India players Aakash Chopra and R P Singh, who wished him a speedy recovery.

"Chetan Chauhan ji is also tested positive for #COVID?19. Sending best wishes in his direction too...get well soon, sir," Chopra tweeted.

"Just heard about @ChetanChauhanCr ji Chetan has tested positive for #coronavirus . Praying for his speedy recovery," R P Singh wrote.

The 72-year-old underwent the COVID-19 test on Friday and has been reportedly admitted to the Sanjay Gandhi PGI hospital in Lucknow.

Chauhan's family members will undergo COVID-19 tests and they have been put under home quarantine for now. Chauhan holds the Sainik Welfare, Home Guards, PRD and Civil Security ministry in the UP cabinet.

Chauhan, a former Lok Sabha MP, is one of the few former international cricketers who have contracted the virus.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi and Scotland's Majid Haq were among the high-profile names to test positive and recover from the infection.

Known to be a gritty player, Chauhan played 40 Tests between 1969 and 1978 and scored 2084 runs at an average of 31.57 with 97 being his highest score. He also played in seven ODIs, scoring 153 runs from them.

He and Sunil Gavaskar formed a successful opening partnership, scoring over 3000 runs together with 10 century stands in numerous Tests in the 1970s.

He was a heavy scorer of runs in domestic cricket while playing for Delhi and Maharashtra. -- PTI

09:15 Trump wears face mask in public for 1st time

In a first since the coronavirus pandemic began, United States President Donald Trump, who had for months declined to wear a face mask in public, was spotted donning one on Saturday.

Trump wore a dark coloured face mask during his visit to Walter Reed to see wounded military members.

This comes as US is ravaged with coronavirus pandemic which has claimed over 1,34,000 lives.

"I think when you are in a hospital, especially in that particular setting when you are talking to a lot of soldiers, people that in some cases just got off the operating table, I think it is a great thing to wear a mask," Trump told reporters at the White House just before his visit to Walter Reed.

"I've never been against masks, but I do believe they have a time and a place" he said before boarding his plane to take him to the hospital.

Earlier at news conferences, coronavirus task force updates, rallies and other public events, Trump had been never seen wearing a protective face covering. -- ANI

The who's who of Indian film industry took to Twitter to wish good health and speedy recovery for megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan, after the two tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The Bachchans, who are at Mumbai's Nanavati Hospital, shared their health update on Twitter, on Saturday night.

Bollywood celebrities, including Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Taapsee Pannu, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Shahid Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh among others took to Twitter and wished the duo good health.

Amitabh's "Pink" co-star Taapsee wrote, "And you shall be back to health and happiness soon... champ!"

Madhuri hoped for a quick recover of the veteran star.

"Wishing you speedy recovery Amit ji," she wrote.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta said he was "praying" for the megastar's "early recovery."

Actor Shahid Kapoor posted on the microblogging site, "Wishing you the speediest recovery Amitji and Abhishek. Wishing the entire family the best of health. Much love."

"Take care sir. Love you. Awaiting your tweet when you say you're fine & going back home," wrote filmmaker Kunal Kohli.

Director Sudhir Mishra tweeted, "What a man ! Look at the matter of fact way he announces . So correct . Nothing will happen to him . He's been through tougher times . Prayers for the speedy recovery of Amitji and Abhishek."

"Get well soon sir," said veteran Malayalam actor Mammootty.

Actor Bipasha Basu said she was praying for speedy recovery.

South superstar Mahesh Babu and Dulquer Salmaan as well as actors Pankaj Tripathi, Nimrat Kaur and Rajkummar Rao were among those who sent him their wishes.

"Get well soon Amit uncle. All my love and prayers," actor Sonam Kapoor replied on his tweet.

Actor Riteish Deshmukh said he's praying for the family's health.

"Get well soon my brother - @juniorbachchan - praying for the family's well-being and good health- love you man," the actor wrote.

Veteran actor-host Simi Garewal said she is sure the father-son duo will be fine soon.

"Dearest Abhishek..so so sorry to hear about this - but I know you both will be fit and fine soon - you have our prayers and love to see you through," she tweeted. -- PTI

08:31 Amitabh is stable with mild COVID-19 symptoms

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is in a "stable" condition with "mild symptoms", after he was tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday.

The 'Don' actor has been admitted in the isolation unit at Mumbai's Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital.

The actor has confirmed that he will keep updating via Twitter.

His son, actor Abhishek Bachchan also tested positive for Covid-19 last night, according to separate tweets by the two.

Big B also said that the other family members and staff have undergone tests for the virus.

However, the results are awaited.

The 77-year-old actor also requested those, who have been in "close proximity" to him in the last 10 days to get tested for the deadly virus.

Abhishek too tweeted, shortly afterwards, about the news and urged all to stay calm and not to panic. -- ANI

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