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Tue, 28 July 2020
Maharashtra adds 7,717 COVID-19 cases in day

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23:36   Maharashtra adds 7,717 COVID-19 cases in day
The COVID-19 tally in Maharashtra rose to 3,91,440 on Tuesday with addition of 7,717 new cases while the death toll mounted by 282, including 121 fatalities in Mumbai region, to 14,165, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.
A total of 10,333 patients were discharged in the day, taking the number of recovered cases in the state to 2,32,277, he said.
The count of active cases dropped from 1,47,592 on Monday to 1,44,694 on Tuesday, the health minister said.
A total of 19,68,559 people have been tested so far in the state, Tope said.
After a long time, Mumbai, which has been steadily reporting more than 1,000 cases every day, added 700 cases to its tally in the day, taking the cumulative count to 1,10,882.

With 55 people succumbing to the infection, the death toll in the metropolis mounted to 6,187.
Mumbai now has 19,990 active cases, the minister said. 
However, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region continues to report higher number of cases.
On Tuesday, the MMR tally rose to 2,29,599 with addition of 2,223 cases. With 121 fatalities, the toll mounted to 9,275.
The number of cases mounted by 1,182 in Pune city while the neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad added 673 fresh cases.

The twin cities reported 12 deaths each during the day.
The number of cases sin Pune division rose to 91,977 with 2,477 deaths.
Nashik division now has 29,987 cases with 1,111 deaths, while Kolhapur division's tally of cases stood at 7,675 with 206 fatalities.
The case count and fatalities in Aurangabad division stood at 15,637 and 554, respectively, while Latur division has 4,433 cases and 190 deaths, the health department said.
Akola division case tally stood at 6,644 with 232 deaths.
In Nagpur division, the number of cases has reached 5,136 while 73 patients have succumbed to the infection.

The number of people in home quarantine across the state came down from 9,22,637 as on Monday to 8,85,545 on Tuesday.
Similarly, the number of people admitted in institutional quarantine also declined from 44,136 to 42,733, Tope said.
Maharashtra's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 3,91,440, deaths 14,165, recoveries 2,32,277, active cases 1,44,694, people tested so far 19,68,559. -- PTI
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23:25   Amid Raj crisis, Gehlot's brother summoned by ED
The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's elder brother for questioning in a money-laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities in exporting fertiliser, officials said Tuesday.
 
Agrasain Gehlot has been asked to depose before the investigating officer on Wednesday in Delhi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, they said.
On July 22, the central agency raided Agrasain Gehlot's premises in Jodhpur and a few other places in connection with the case filed under the criminal charges of PMLA.
Officials said the agency seized a number of documents during the raids and Agrasain Gehlot will be confronted with these during his questioning. Some other people involved in the case are also understood to have been summoned by the probe agency.
The raids happened after the agency filed an Enforcement Case Information Report, the ED equivalent of a police FIR, in the 2007-09 Customs department case registered for alleged irregularities in the procurement and export of subsidised Muriate of Potash meant for farmers and investigation in this case was finalised in 2013.
The ED took cognisance of the Customs FIR and a July 13 charge sheet to press money-laundering charges to probe a "smuggling syndicate" allegedly run by Agrasain Gehlot, his firm Anupam Krishi and others, officials said.
The agency said the case pertains to fraudulent export of MOP in the guise of industrial salts to buyers based in Malaysia and Taiwan. 

The MOP is a restricted commodity for exports so that it is easily available to farmers in the country.
The raids happened at a time when a political slugfest was on between CM Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot.
Pilot, a former Union minister, was sacked as Rajasthan deputy CM and PCC chief recently.
Responding to the raids, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told reporters in Jaipur, "Prime Minister Modi has created 'raid raj'  in the country but we are not going to be scared."
When the Centre's "gimmicks" failed to topple the Congress government in Rajasthan, ED raids started at the premises of Gehlot's elder brother, he had said.
Agency sources had said Agrasain Gehlot and his firm were slapped with over Rs 60 crore penalty by the Customs department for these alleged export irregularities in 2013.
It is alleged that Gehlot's company "diverted" 35,000 metric tonnes of MOP that had a value of Rs 130 crore in the international market.
The ED alleged Agrasain Gehlot, in his capacity as a dealer, was the custodian of the MOP and was "solely responsible" for its proper distribution to farmers, and his alleged connivance with the company Saraf Impex Pvt Ltd and others resulted in the diversion of MOP that was imported by Indian Potash Limited at a concessional rate of duty. -- PTI
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23:04   Preparations in full swing for Ram temple event
The preparation to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ayodhya to participate in the Bhoomi Pujan before the foundation stone laying ceremony for building the Ram temple here has begun in right earnest. 
     
Buildings on both sides of the roads that the prime minister's convoy will take from the helipad at the Saket College in the city to reach the Ram Janmabhoomi site is being given a fresh coat of yellow paint with plans to depict various characters of the Ramayana on them.
   
The work to paint the buildings on both sides of the three-km stretch of the road and draw sketches of the Ramayana characters on them has been given to Ayodhya Nagar Nigam, said Ayodhya Information Deputy Director Murli Dhar Singh.
   
While life-size sketches of both Lord Ram and Sita will adorn the helipad at Saket College, sketches and drawings of Ramayana characters will adorn the building walls on both sides of the roads, he said.
   
The stretch is also being cleared of the roadside vendors and shopkeepers to give the prime minister's convoy free and clear access, he said
   
The prime minister will also visit the Hanuman Garhi temple and the buildings on roads leading to it too are being spruced up, he said.
   
On the day, the prime minister visits Ayodhya, the roads and various temples will also be decorated with flowers and over one lakh earthen lamp would be lit on the banks of Saryu river and various temples in the city.
   
The temple administration will also make available over one lakh packets of 'prasad' for distribution among people and devotees on the occasion of Bhoomi Poojan for the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.
   
A media centre would also be established in Ayodhya to provide various requisite facilities to media persons, he said. -- PTI 
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22:32   Air travel expected to not recover before 2024: IATA
Global air passenger traffic will not return to pre-COVID levels until 2024, a year later than previously projected, as international travel curbs remain in place in most countries due to the coronavirus pandemic, International Air Transport Association said on Tuesday.
 
Moreover, the overall domestic passenger traffic was 86.5 per cent less in June 2020 than what was observed a year ago, the global airlines body added.
Passenger traffic is measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), which is calculated by multiplying the number of seats that were filled with passengers to the distance travelled by the flight.
The IATA, which has around 290 airlines as its members, said the international passenger traffic in June was 96.8 per cent less than the figures of June 2019.
"Global passenger traffic (RPKs) will not return to pre-COVID-19 levels until 2024, a year later than previously projected," it said.
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's director general and CEO, said: "Most countries are still closed to international arrivals or have imposed quarantines that have the same effect as an outright lockdown."
"Summer our industry's busiest season is passing by rapidly; with little chance for an upswing in international air travel unless governments move quickly and decisively to find alternatives to border closures, confidence destroying stop-start re-openings and demand-killing quarantine, said de Juniac.
Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23. However, India has formed bilateral air bubbles with countries like the US, Germany and France to allow airlines of the two countries in the pact to operate special international flights between them.
The aviation sector has been significantly impacted due to the travel restrictions imposed in India and other countries in view of the pandemic. All airlines in India have taken cost-cutting measures such as pay cuts, leave-without-pay and firing of employees.
India resumed domestic passenger flights from May 25 after a gap of two months. 

The airlines have been allowed to operate only a maximum of 45 per cent of their pre-COVID domestic flights.
The occupancy in Indian domestic flights has been around 50-60 per cent since May 25. -- PTI 
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22:22   Plea in SC to remove 'socialist' and 'secular' words from Constitution's preamble
A plea has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking to remove from the constitution's preamble the words "socialist" and "secular" which were added through 42nd constitutional amendment.
 
The PIL said that the amendment made in 1976 was "antithetical to the constitutional tenets as well as the historical and cultural theme of India."
The move was "per se illegal for violating the concept of freedom of speech and expression enumerated in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and the right to freedom of religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution", it said.
It said the amendment was also against the historical and cultural theme of the "great republic of Bharat, the oldest civilization of the world, having clear concept of 'Dharma' different from the concept of religion", and that the communist theory of State cannot be applied in Indian context which was not in tune with the religious sentiments and socio-economic conditions of India.
"Issue appropriate direction striking down the words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' inserted in the Preamble of the Constitution by section 2 (a) of the Forty Second Constitution Amendment Act, 1976," the petition, filed by advocates Balram Singh and Karunesh Kumar Shukla and an individual Pravesh Kumar, said.
It sought a direction the Union of India to declare that the concept of 'socialism' and 'secularism' referred to the nature of the republic and was limited to the working of the sovereign function of the State and same is not applicable to the citizens, the political parties and the social organizations.
The petition filed through advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, has also challenged the insertion of the words 'secular' and 'socialist' in section 29 A (5) of the Representation of People (RP) Act that makes it compulsory for the political parties, applying for registration before Election Commission of India, "to make specific provision in its memorandum or rules and regulations that the association or body shall bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and to the principles of 'Socialism' and 'Secularism' and democracy and would uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India." -- PTI
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21:54   Govt relaxes export norms for face shields, surgical masks
The government on Tuesday relaxed norms for the export of face shields, certain kind of surgical masks and medical goggles which are in demand due to coronavirus pandemic.
   
The government has made export of face shields free and permitted outward shipments of 2/3 ply surgical masks and medical goggles with certain conditions.
Earlier export of 2/3 Ply surgical masks, medical goggles and face shields were banned in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
The export of these masks and goggles is moved from banned category to restricted one, under which an exporter has to seek a permission or licence from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
A notification is "amended to the extent that the export policy of 2/3 Ply surgical masks, medical goggles is amended from prohibited to restricted category and export of face shields has been made free," the DGFT said in a notification.
It said that a monthly export quota of four crore units has been fixed for 2/3 Ply surgical masks, and 20 lakh units per month for medical goggles for issuing licenses to eligible applicants as per the criteria to be separately issued.
These products are in huge demand on account of COVID-19 pandemic. -- PTI
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21:21   COVID-only LNJP Hospital records no death on July 27: Delhi CM
Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan Hospital, the Delhi government's biggest COVID-19 treatment facility, did not report any death due to the disease on Monday, for the first time in a couple of months.
   
The 2,000-bed hospital's medical director attributed the feat to "extensive ICU care, plasma bank facility, top heathcare facilities and dedication of doctors and other heathcare workers".
 
Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced, "No death in our biggest COVID hospital LNJP yesterday."
 
At least one death due to COVID-19 was recorded daily in the past couple of months, but "yesterday no fatality happened at LNJP", Medical Director Suresh Kumar said.
 
Till Tuesday evening about 389 of the hospital's 2,000 beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, of whom 88 were in ICU and two on ventilators, he said.
 
Delhi recorded 1,056 fresh coronavirus infections on Tuesday, taking the tally to over 1.32 lakh, while the death toll from the disease climbed to 3,881, authorities said.
 
Twenty-eight fatalities have been recorded in the last 24 hours, according to a Delhi health department bulletin.
 
In June, the national capital saw a huge surge in coronavirus infections and a large number of deaths, which started to come down in July.
 
The Kejriwal government has claimed that a multi-pronged strategy of aggressive testing, home isolation policy and public engagement were the attributing factors. -- PTI
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21:21   'Unprecedented times': Butchers stare at massive loss this Eid
Butcher Nawab Qureshi got more than a hundred bookings last year for animal sacrifice on Bakri Eid.

This year, there is hardly any work for him due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
 
Farzana Ahmad's family used to employ a butcher to offer animal sacrifice at their residence in Delhi, but they have other ideas this time.
 
A number of families in Delhi have decided against offering animal sacrifice on Eid al-Adha on August 1, fearing that the butcher might spread the contagion.
 
"People are afraid," Qureshi, who owns a mutton shop in Zakir Nagar, said. "They think butchers might infect them. There are a few bookings and we just hope they don't cancel on us."
 
"We used to have a busy schedule on Bakri Eid," he said wistfully.
 
Butchery has taken a hit this time, the 40-year-old said, adding that they were staring at a "massive loss".
Okhla resident Ahmad said they had asked family members in their village in Siwan, Bihar, to offer sacrifice on their behalf.
 
"We cannot afford to take the risk. Delhi is one of the worst-hit cities across the world," she said.
 
A goat would cost just Rs 5,000 in her village as compared to around Rs 10,000 in Delhi. The remaining amount can be distributed among the lockdown-hit poor, Ahmad said.
 
Till last year, Huma Afreen offered sacrifice at a demarcated place in her society at Okhla.
 
The 30-year-old woman has decided to donate Rs 10,000, which she kept aside to buy a goat this year, for the treatment of a kidney patient instead.
 
"On Bakri Eid, a butcher goes to around 20 houses a day to offer sacrifice. There's a greater risk of contracting the infection," she said.
 
Irkan Ali Chaudhary, a contractor in the area, said offering sacrifice was his "farz" (duty) but "these are unprecedented times".
 
"We could not offer a joint namaz with community members on Eid. This time, too, we will offer namaz at home," the 50-year-old said.
 
Chaudhary underlined that there was no question of doing something that might jeopardise the well-being of his family.
 
Shafeeq Qureshi won't be able to come to Delhi from Utar Pradesh's Amroha along with other butchers ahead of Bakri Eid.
 
Every year, hundreds of butchers come from Amroha, Saharanpur, Moradabad and Muzaffarnagar as they get better prices for their services in the capital -- around Rs 2,000 per sacrifice, according to him.
 
But, there is hardly any work this time, he added. -- PTI
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21:19   Few takers for bank loans, says Assocham
Stressing that there are few takers for bank loans, industry body Assocham on Tuesday expressed confidence the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee would brainstorm on the "difficult situation" during its meeting scheduled early next month.
          
Reeling under debt-ridden balance sheets and economic uncertainties in the face of Covid-19 crisis, the Indian industry is left with little appetite for any more loans, "with the result that most of bank deposits are either being parked with the RBI or used by the central bank to fund ever-increasing government borrowings", it said.
       
While the gross bank credit to industry has contracted by 1.5 per cent in the current financial year, up to the third week of May, disaggregate RBI data points towards a huge decline in gross bank credit deployment in sectors like fertiliser (down 29 per cent), chemicals and chemical products (- 10 per cent) and glass and glassware (7 per cent), it stated.
        
Barring far and few, most of the sectors witnessed degrowth in credit deployment with construction witnessing 3.7 per cent decline, gems and jewellery 3.7 per cent drop and leather & leather products by minus 4.4 per cent.
        
"The main issue today is as much capability to service a debt as availability of the loans. With a large number of industries still operating at less than half the capacity, leveraging their balance sheets further would be counter-productive," said Assocham secretary general Deepak Sood.
        
According to him, it is not the repo rate (at which the RBI lends to banks) which is playing out in the financial market, as it is the Reverse REPO -- the rate at which banks keep cash with the RBI.
        
"Even after meeting the increased requirements of the government borrowings, the system is flush with liquidity with virtually no takers," Sood said, expressing confidence that the RBI MPC would brainstorm on this difficult situation when it meets for the credit policy review.
        
The Monetary Policy Committee, headed by the RBI governor, is scheduled to meet for three days beginning August 4 and announce its decision on August 6.
        
Assocham in its analysis further noted that corporate India as also the informal sectors of the economy are in a 'fire-fight' mode and would avoid investment in the near future. -- PTI
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20:59   IAF chief to receive Rafales in Ambala tomorrow
Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria would be visiting Ambala tomorrow to receive the batch of first five Rafale combat aircraft arriving from France.

"The Air Force Chief would be in Ambala tomorrow to receive the fighter planes which are being inducted as part of India's biggest defence deal worth Rs 60,000 crores in 2016," IAF sources said.

The Indian Rafales are expected to take off from Al Dhafra in UAE at around 11 am IST and reach Ambala by 2 pm, they said.

The weather and other conditions are at the moment looking good and it is expected to reach the Ambala air base on time.

The backup base for the arrival of the aircraft in case there is a weather issue in and around Ambala would be the Jodhpur air base.

Once the aircraft land in Ambala, the pilots led by Group Captain Harkirat Singh would meet the air chief and brief him about their flying and training in France.

The pilots will follow the COVID-19 related protocols before starting their operational flying.

The formal induction ceremony of the aircraft would be held later. 

The Rafale aircraft would move out soon to another operational base for operational sorties.

The pilots include Group Captain Harkirat Singh who is the Commanding Officer of the 17 squadron along with Wing Commander MK Singh and R Kataria. -- ANI
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20:56   Efforts to clean banking system cost Urjit Patel his job: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that efforts by former Reserve Bank of India chief Urjit Patel to clean the banking system cost him his job.
 
Gandhi used a news report that quoted Patel saying that the insolvency law caused a rift with the government to buttress his claim.
"'Efforts to clean the banking system cost him his job'. Why? PM didn't want him to go after wilful defaulters," Gandhi said on Twitter while tagging the news report.
The BJP, however, hit back at the former Congress chief. Its IT department in-charge Amit Malviya tweeted a picture of Gandhi's post and said: "Writing sensational one-liners doesn't make you an expert on economics."
"There is little doubt that Rahul Gandhi's advisors are as daft as him if not more...," he said.
The new report quoted Patel as saying that moves to dilute a new bankruptcy law caused disagreements between the Modi government and the central bank. Patel's erstwhile deputy Viral Acharya was also quoted as saying that efforts to clean the banking system cost Patel his job. -- PTI 
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20:43   France sends ventilators, test kits to assist India
France on Tuesday handed over to India ventilators, test kits and other medical equipment as part of its assistance in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The medical equipment was handed over to the Indian Red Cross Society by French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain at the Palam Air Force Station after the assistance material was flown here on board a French Air Force aircraft.
"Delighted to hand over COVID-19 medical equipment from France to Shri RK Jain, Secy General @IndianRedCross," Lenain tweeted along with pictures of the handover.
"France earlier granted 200 million euros in financial aid to India through @AFD_en (French development agency). With @IFCCI1 CSR committee, French companies, too, have contributed to relief efforts in India," he said.
President Emmanuel Macron had recently announced the donation of medical equipment to India, as well as provision of technical expertise, according to a statement by the French embassy.
As part of this medical assistance package, France is donating to India 50 Osiris-3 ventilators and 70 Yuwell 830 ventilators with BiPAP mode, it had said.
Osiris ventilators are particularly useful for emergency transport, intra-hospital transfer and recovery. They have different ventilation modes, including non-invasive ventilation, it said.
The Yuwell 830 ventilators have bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) -- a non-invasive technique to supply oxygen to the lungs without intubation. These high-quality ventilators meet the needs of Indian hospitals, the embassy had said.
The donation by France also includes 50,000 high-quality serological IgG/IgM test kits and 50,000 nose and throat swabs and modes of medical transport, the statement said.
The equipment was transported on a French Air Force A330 MRTT equipped with a Morpheus kit, which enables the transport of critically ill patients. -- PTI 
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20:41   Cannot return to Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif
Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, currently in London for treatment, on Tuesday informed a court in Lahore that he is unable to return to the country as his doctors have told him not to go out as he may contract due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 70-year-old three-time premier is currently in London for treatment after he was diagnosed with an immune system disorder. 

He left for the UK in November last year after the Lahore high court granted him four-week permission to go abroad for treatment.
In his latest medical report, which he submitted to the Lahore high court through his counsel Amjad Pervaiz, doctors have recommended him to avoid going outside due to the coronavirus. 
Sharif said he has low platelets counts, diabetes, heart, kidney and blood pressure related problems.
"His heart is not getting an adequate supply of blood," the report says and adds that he may contract COVID-19 if he goes outside or return which may prove fatal for his life.
Sharif submitted his medical report to the LHC in connection with its permission to go abroad for his treatment.   
His daughter Maryam Nawaz had said her father was a high-risk patient therefore his cardiac catheterisation/coronary intervention had been postponed owing to COVID-19.
Earlier this month, a Pakistani anti-corruption court gave Sharif a final chance to appear before it on August 17 in a graft case, failing which he may be declared a proclaimed offender.
In the Toshakhana case, the accountability court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Sharif.
Sharif is accused of taking cars from Toshakhana by paying 15 per cent of the price of these vehicles.
Sharif left for London in November after the Lahore high court granted him four-week permission to go abroad for treatment.
He had submitted an undertaking to the court to return to Pakistan citing his record of facing the law and justice within four weeks or as soon as he is declared healthy and fit to travel by doctors.
He was also given bail in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case in which he was serving a seven-year sentence in Kot Lakhpat Jail and in a money laundering case to facilitate his travel abroad.
Sharif has been diagnosed with complicated coronary artery/ischemic heart disease. -- PTI
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20:39   Priyanka, Nick donate for Bihar, Assam flood relief
Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her husband, popstar Nick Jonas on Tuesday announced they have donated funds for Bihar and Assam flood relief and also urged fans to extend support to the disaster-struck states. 
 
According to an official report on Monday, 22.34 lakh people across 22 districts in Assam have been affected by the floods.
While 103 people died in flood-related incidents, 26 were killed in landslides, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said in its bulletin.
Priyanka, who served as the ambassador for Assam from 2016 to 2019, said the state has been "devastated" by the floods.
"The rapidly rising water level has also flooded the Kaziranga National Park, one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. They need our attention and support. I'm sharing details of a few credible organisations that are doing some good work on the ground in Assam.
"Nick and I have made a donation to each. Let us support them so they can continue to help those in need. #Assamfloods #PrayForAssam #AssamNeedsHelp," Priyanka said in a statement. 
The 38-year-old actor said the couple has also supported relief work in Bihar, where a total of 24.42 lakh people have been hit by floods across 11 districts in the state. 
More than 6,800 people have been evacuated by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from the flood-hit areas of Bihar till now, a spokesperson of the federal force said on Tuesday.
Priyanka, who was born in Jamshedpur now in Jharkhand, wrote that Bihar continues to battle "major flooding". 
"Much like Assam, millions of people have been affected and many have been displaced as their homes were washed away in the deluge. As they grapple with this devastation, they need all the help that we can provide. 
"Nick and I have already donated to a few organizations whose teams are engaged in active relief and rehabilitation work in the state. Now it's your turn. #BiharFloods," she wrote in an Instagram Story. 
The couple had earlier donated to various organisations, in India and the US, to help fight against the coronavirus pandemic. -- PTI
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20:38   Bhima Koregaon case: NIA arrests Delhi University professor Hany Babu
The National Investigation Agency on Tuesday arrested an associate professor of Delhi University in connection with the Bhima Koregaon Elgar Parishad case, an official said.
   
Hany Babu Musaliyarveettil Tharayil, 54, a resident of Gautam Buddha Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, is an Associate Professor in the Department of English, a spokesperson of the NIA said.
 
The case relates to inciting people and giving provocative speeches during an Elgar Parishad event organised by the Kabir Kala Manch at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, which promoted enmity between various caste groups and led to violence resulting in loss of life and property and statewide agitation in Maharashtra, the official said. -- PTI
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19:59   Rafale's arrival: Security tightened near Ambala
Authorities tightened security and imposed prohibitory orders near the Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana on Tuesday ahead of the arrival of five Rafale jets from France, banning shooting of videos and photography.
 
The Ambala district administration also prohibited people from flying private drones within the three-km radius of the air base, an official said.
Deputy Commissioner Ashok Sharma said in an order that Section 144, which prohibits assembly of four or more people, has been imposed in the villages adjoining the air base, including Dhulkot, Baldev Nagar, Garnala and Panjkhora.
The jets took off from France on Monday and will arrive at the Air Force station on Wednesday, after covering a distance of 7,000 km with air-to-air refuelling and a single stop in the United Arab Emirates. The fleet comprises three single-seater and two twin-seater aircraft, according to an IAF official.
The Ambala deputy commissioner said shooting of videos or taking photographs of the boundary wall of the air base and its adjoining areas will remain strictly prohibited during the imposition of the prohibitory orders.
Haryana home minister Anil Vij said Ambala police have taken the necessary measures. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader and six-term MLA from Ambala Cantt said the people of Ambala are very enthusiastic and thousands would have come out on the streets to welcome the fighter jets before the touch down had there not been a pandemic.
BJP's Ambala City MLA Aseem Goyal urged to people to light candles in their homes between 7-7:30 pm on Wednesday to welcome the Rafale jets.
Nearly four years ago, India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France for 36 Rafale jets under a Rs 59,000-crore deal to boost the IAF's combat capabilities.
The first squadron of the Rafale jets will be stationed at the Ambala air base. 

The five Rafales are scheduled to be inducted into the IAF on Wednesday, though a formal induction ceremony would be held later. -- PTI
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19:58   Govt showing people buoyant dreams despite its failures: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused the government of taking away people's jobs and savings, failing to stop the spread of coronavirus and still showing them "lofty false dreams".
 
His attack came amid reports that people who have lost their jobs have been utilising their Employee Provident Fund savings for sustaining a living during the lockdown period enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Snatched jobs, grabbed savings, could not even stop the disease from spreading. But they continued to show lofty false dreams," the Congress leader said in a tweet in Hindi, without naming the government.
He tagged a news report that claimed Rs 30,000 crore has been withdrawn from Provident Fund accounts by people during the last four months for their sustenance during the crisis caused due to the coronavirus pandemic. -- PTI  
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19:56   Dharavi sees 3 new COVID-19 cases in day
Dharavi slum colony in Mumbai on Tuesday saw one of the lowest single-day growth in new COVID-19 cases with just three additions, taking the cumulative tally to 2,543, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.
A total of 2,204 patients have recovered so far, leaving the area with only 88 active cases, an official said.

Once a COVID-19 hotspot, Dharavi battled out successfully over a period of time.
On July 7, it had recorded only one COVID-19 case, its lowest.
On two occasions on July 4 and July 26, the largest slum had reported two cases in a day. On July 8, three new cases were detected. -- PTI

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19:24   Sushant Singh's father files FIR against Rhea
Sushant Singh Rajput's father, KK Singh, has filed an FIR with the Patna Police, against the late actor's girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty. 

Sanjay Singh, Inspector General of Patna Central Zone, told ANI that the FIR was registered under various sections, including abetment of suicide.

"A four-member team has been sent to Mumbai. The team will collect case diary and other important documents from Mumbai Police," Singh added.

Earlier this month, Rhea Chakraborty had called for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into Sushant Singh Rajput's death, tagging Union home minister Amit Shah in a post on Instagram.

Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his apartment in Mumbai's Bandra on June 14.

Around 40 people including Rhea have recorded their statements so far in the case.
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19:10   NIA opposes Sudha Bharadwaj's bail plea
The National Investigation Agency told Bombay high court on Tuesday it "strongly opposed" the plea filed by activist and lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj seeking interim bail on health grounds.
Bharadwaj is an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case and has been lodged in Byculla women's prison since September 2018.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who appeared for the NIA, told a bench led by Justice RD Dhanuka that the agency had ample evidence Bharadwaj had "participated in anti-national activities", and, thus, did not deserve to be let out on bail.
Bharadwaj approached HC seeking bail on health grounds after a special court in the city rejected the same on May 29.
She had applied for bail after a Byculla women's prison inmate tested positive for coronavirus earlier this year.
Last month, the NIA filed an affidavit in HC opposing her bail plea saying Bharadwaj (58) was taking "undue advantage" of the pandemic and her pleadings on her having comorbidities and, therefore, being a high risk candidate for COVID-19 were a mere "ruse" to seek bail.
On Tuesday, Bharadwaj's counsel Ragini Ahuja told the court Bharadwaj, a former professor of law, had been in jail for almost two years and she suffered from diabetes that put her at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19.
ASG Singh, however, said, "As far as her apprehensions on getting COVID-19 in jail are concerned, today any person can get infected with COVID-19 anywhere. One can get infected with COVID even without going out, or while in office, at home, or going anywhere else."
In fact in jail, the authorities are taking all safety precautions and implementing ICMR guidelines on COVID-19 prevention and treatment, he said.
Singh said the state government had, earlier this month, submitted details of precautions and ICMR guidelines being implemented in prisons before a bench led by Chief Justice Dipankar Datta.
Besides, Bharadwaj would be provided adequate medical treatment in jail as and when required, Singh told HC.
Last week, in compliance with a previous order of the court, Byculla prison authorities had submitted a report in HC saying that while Bharadwaj was diabetic and suffers from ischemic disease, a heart condition, her "vital parameters" were "normal".
The HC has now directed NIA to submit an additional affidavit detailing its contentions opposing Bharadwaj's bail plea.
The same bench also heard a plea filed by activists Vernon Gonsalves and Anand Teltumbde, Bharadwaj's co-accused in the case, seeking coronavirus tests as the two had been in close contact with another co-accused, poet-activist Varavara Rao, in Taloja prison.
Rao tested positive for coronavirus on July 16 and is admitted in Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai. -- PTI
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18:50   China claims troops disengaged on most of LAC
Indian and Chinese frontline troops have completed disengagement at most locations, the Chinese government said on Tuesday, adding that the preparation is underway to hold the next round of military-level talks to resolve the border issues.

"Chinese and Indian border troops on the frontline have disengaged in most locations. The 5th round of commander-level talks is currently under preparation to resolve the remaining issues," Chinese state media Global Times quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin as saying.

On Friday, India and China had held the 17th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination and agreed that early and complete disengagement of the troops along the Line of Actual Control, de-escalation from India-China border areas and full restoration of peace and tranquillity was essential for the smooth overall development of bilateral relations.

The meeting came after it was reported that Chinese troops People's Liberation Army were reluctant to de-escalate the situation on LAC as it has a continued deployment of around 40,000 troops in its front and depth areas for the Eastern Ladakh sector.

The fourth round of commander-level talks between Indian and Chinese troops was held on July 14.

The meeting between Corps commander-level officers including Lt Gen Harinder Singh lasted for close to 15 hours. It started on July 14 at 11:30 am and ended at 2 am on July 15, the Indian sources said. -- ANI
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18:43   PM Modi to meet heads of banks, NBFCs tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet heads of large banks and NBFCs on Wednesday to take stock of the economy that has been hit hard by the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
   
According to an official statement, the prime minister will join stakeholders from banks and NBFCs on Wednesday to discuss and deliberate on vision and roadmap for the future.
 
"The topics on agenda include credit products and efficient models for delivery, financial empowerment through technology, prudential practices for stability and sustainability of financial sector," it said.
 
The banking sector plays an important role in economic growth through financing infrastructure, agriculture, local manufacturing including MSMEs. Financial inclusion can play a big role in financial empowerment through technology, it said.
Senior officers from the government will also be a part of the interaction, it added.
 
This is part of a series of meetings that the prime minister is holding for the last few weeks on various sectors of the economy, sources said.
 
Discussion is likely to be around reviving the economy which is expected to contract by 4.5 per cent in the current fiscal, according to some estimates.
 
Banks and other financial institutions are implementing the bulk of the measures announced under the Rs 20.97-lakh crore economic package to deal with the COVID crisis in May.
 
The government announced one of the world's biggest stimulus packages with a focus on the survival of the business and setting a roadmap for the revival of the economy.
 
The five-part stimulus package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman beginning May 13 comprised Rs 5.94 lakh crore in the first tranche that provided credit line to small businesses and support to shadow banks and electricity distribution companies.
 
The second tranche included free foodgrain to stranded migrant workers for two months and credit to farmers, totalling Rs 3.10 lakh crore. Spending on agri infrastructure and other measures for agriculture and allied sectors in the third tranche totalled to Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
 
The fourth and fifth tranches that dealt mostly with structural reforms including relaxation of foreign direct investment limit in defence, privatisation of six more airports, and fully opening up coal mining to the private sector.
 
As a result of all these measures, green shoots are visible in the economy, a fact acknowledged by both the prime minister and the finance minister, the release noted. -- PTI 
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com
18:40   What Varavara Rao's family wrote to Maharashtra home minister
This is a copy of the letter poet-activist Varavara Rao's family sent to Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh:     

To The Minister for Home,  
Government of Maharashtra,  
Mumbai.    

Subject: Disturbing status of health of Sri Varavara Rao - Request for regular and transparent information - reg.   

Sir,   

We, the family of Sri Varavara Rao, are compelled to write this letter to you, as we are denied any information about his health condition or treatment at Nanavati Hospital for the last twelve days. We are extremely worried and anxious to know about his health. 

We are writing to you since he is lodged in a jail under your ministry as an under-trial prisoner and it is your bounden duty to look after his well-being. 

It is also your duty to inform his family in case of any problem to his health, as per the Charter of Patient Rights prepared by Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. 

You should appreciate that we as family of an ailing, 80-year old prisoner admitted in a hospital as a tested positive Covid patient, have every right to know about his status and line of treatment. It is not only our legal right, but also a right based on principles of natural justice. 

We hope you will understand the anxiety of a family who is kept in dark for 12 days when a member is lodged in a hospital in a grave condition.   

From the time he was shifted out of Taloja Jail to JJ Hospital, later to St George's hospital and then to Nanavati hospital, the only official information provided to the family was that he had tested positive for the COVID-19 on July 16, 2020.   

We have been calling Taloja jail ever since he was transferred to Nanavati Hospital. On July 22, 2020, the jail personnel picked up our call and said that the jail hospital/ jail doctor might have information about Mr. Rao's health. We tried to contact the jail hospital but there was no response. 

Our lawyer Ms. Padma called the Jail Superintendent on July 22, 2020 on his mobile number. Once she had introduced herself, the call was disconnected. She received no response to the text message that she had sent to the same mobile number. 

We have called Taloja jail again on July 24, 2020 and the person that answered the phone said that the jail has no information about Mr.Rao's health.    

We have been calling Nanavati Hospital also every day since July 20, 2020 but received no response from them. 

We contacted the PRO of Nanavati Hospital on July 21, 2020. In response to our message to the hospital authorities (the PRO of Nanavati Hospital), we were informed on July 26, 2020 (yesterday) that the hospital has been updating the jail authorities regularly about his health: "Ms. Pavana, we are regularly giving updates to jail authorities, you can approach them for details ...' was the message we received. 

It is a mystery why this information is not passed on to the family by the jail authorities.    

We believe that it is inhuman and unethical to withhold the information about Mr Rao's health to his anxious family. It is very clear that the Jail authorities have regular updates about Mr. Rao's health. 

Mr. Rao is an under-trial prisoner in your custody and the jail authorities have the responsibility to give us regular updates or instruct the Nanavathi hospital to release regular health bulletins.    

We, therefore, request you to direct Taloja jail authorities or Nanavati Hospital to provide regular updates on Mr. Rao's health status, the diagnosis of his health problems and line of treatment to us. 

Is Mr. Rao doing well? Given his age and ailments, what is the impact of Covid-19 on his health? We have many questions and doubts lingering in our minds.  

We believe as Mr. Rao's family we should have access to information about his health, according to the law of the land and medical ethics.    

Yours sincerely,    

P. Hemalatha (Wife of Varavara Rao)  
P. Sahaja, P. Anala, P. Pavana (Daughters)   

Copy to ADG (Prisons), Maharashtra

Also, senior journalist Jyoti Punwani has been highlighting the health condition of Dr Varavara Rao in a series of articles on Rediff.com. You can read them here and here
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18:31   Sudharak Olwe through the Mirror, Darkly
As part of the Glass House Festival, Riyaz Komu interviews photographer Sudharak Olwe. You can watch the engrossing conversation, here.
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18:29   Dr Kafeel Khan's legal travails continue
'For the 12th time in five months, the Allahabad High Court on 27 July 2020 deferred a hearing for Kafeel Khan, a doctor incarcerated in Mathura jail for a speech he delivered at Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh Muslim University in December 2019,' reports Saurabh Sharma/101 Reporters in article-14.com.   

If the hearing is again postponed on the next date, August 5, then Kafeel Khan's wife, Shabista Khan, who is also a doctor, will protest in front of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in Lucknow, Sharma reports.   

'Khan has been in jail since 29 January or 180 days for a speech in which he criticised the government during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. He was granted bail on 10 February by the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Aligarh but wasn't allowed to leave jail. Three days later, the UP government of Yogi Adityanath brought charges under the 40-year-old National Security Act, 1980, against the former government lecturer and paediatrician,' Sharma reports, here.
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18:25   New appointment at New York Times
Jyoti Thottam is the New York Times' new deputy op-ed editor. 

Introducing her to the NYT's reader, Kathleen Kingsbury, editorial page editor, writes: 'In her two-plus years at The Times, she has shown exquisite news judgment, sure editing hands and decisive leadership... In her new role, Jyoti will... oversee the vertical editors for World, Culture and Business/Technology,' here.
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18:10   Modi shouldn't attend Ayodhya ceremony as PM: Owaisi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not attend the 'Bhoomi pujan' ceremony of the Ram temple at Ayodhya on August 5 in his official capacity, but can do so as an individual, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi said on Tuesday, even as VHP called for celebrations on that day.
     
"Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi should not attend this event as the prime minister of this country. He can definitely attend this function in his individual capacity. The prime minister also has freedom of religion. Every Indian citizen has freedom of religion," Owaisi said, speaking to reporters.
     
The Supreme Court had in a unanimous verdict last year cleared the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, and directed the Centre to allot a 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque.
     
In one of the most important and anticipated judgements in India's history, a five judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi put an end to the more than a century old dispute that has torn the social fabric of the nation.
     
"But I want to know from the Prime Minister that does the government of India have a religion? No, because the Constitution clearly says that secularism is part of the basic structure of the Constitution," Owaisi said.
     
The government of India has no religion, the government of India celebrates all religions, he said.
     
He wondered why President Ram Nath Kovind had not been invited to the event.
     
According to him, Modi's attendance at the function would "open up wounds."
     
International Joint General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Surendra Kumar Jain, in a Facebook live address, said that the 500-year old struggle of Hindu society would soon fructify.
     
"Lakhs of people sacrificed for the Ram Temple construction. The whole country is determined to construct a temple at Ram Janmabhoomi. Bhoomi Pujan will be held on August 5. The prime minister will take part in that Bhoomi Pujan," he said.
     
Jain appealed to the people to face towards Ayodhya at 10.30 am on August 5 and chant Ram''s name offering 'Aartis' with determination in mind for construction of the temple. -- PTI
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17:37   Bengal extends lockdown till August 31
The West Bengal government has extended the bi-weekly lockdown in containment areas in the state till 31st August. "Complete lockdown will be observed in the state on 2nd, 5th, 8th, 9th, 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th and 31st August," CM Mamata Banerjee said.

The state government implemented the biweekly lockdown last week. The next lockdown is scheduled on July 29.

All government and private offices, commercial establishments, public and private transport will remain shut. Only the essential services will be functional. Petrol pumps are allowed to open. The functioning of courts, work in agricultural fields and tea gardens, intra-state and inter-state goods movements and home delivery of cooked food will be permitted.
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17:28   When Virat Kohli went up a tree
It may not be Thursday, but ever day is throwback day, when Virat Kohli decides to share a picture. The cricketer tweeted this picture of himself up in a tree, with a tinge of nostalgia, "Throwback to when you could just climb up a tree and chill." 

Kohli today credited his wife Anushka Sharma for making the 'rigid' skipper a more practical person. Kohli was speaking to Indian opening batsman Mayank Agarwal in the Latest Episode of the 'Open nets with Mayank' where the skipper praised Anushka for changing him as a person for a good.

The right-handed Kohli said he is very ''grateful and blessed'' to have a life partner like Anushka.

"I give her full credit for making me see different sides of things altogether and I am so grateful that she is my life partner. Because you learn from each other. I was a very closed person, I wasn't a very practical person before. So when you see another person and know that your life partner has a different outlook on things. You invariably are challenged to see another point of view," said the Indian skipper during the candid chat with Mayank.

"So that was something that changed my mindset completely and chase me as a person completely. I was rigid I did not have an understanding of things. She made me realise a lot of things which have to do with the larger picture like my responsibility as a player setting an example for people in the right manner," he added.
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17:17   Maha legislature: Monsoon session to start on Sep 7
The monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature will start from September 7 and not from August 3 as earlier scheduled, an official said on Tuesday. The decision was made after the business advisory committee, comprising representatives of ruling and opposition parties, held a meeting in Mumbai.
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17:15   HC rejects bail plea of former DU professor Saibaba
The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail application of former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba, who is serving life sentence in a prison here for links with Maoists. 

Saibaba, who is wheelchair-bound with over 90 per cent physical disability, had filed the bail application on medical grounds, saying his weak health along with comorbities make him vulnerable to contract the coronavirus infection in jail. The former university professor, convicted in March 2017 for links with Maoists, is currently lodged in the Nagpur Central Jail. -- PTI
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17:11   Maharashtra SSC results tomorrow
Results of SSC (10th standard) of Maharashtra state board to be declared tomorrow. It will be available online after 1 pm tomorrow (29 July): Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Education
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17:09   43% Indians suffering from depression: Study
Ever since the pandemic hit India over five months back, followed by an unprecedented lockdown, stress levels have been on the rise with 43 per cent Indians suffering from depression, according to a new study. Conducted by GOQii, a smart-tech enabled preventive healthcare platform, the study surveyed over 10,000 Indians to understand how they have been coping with the new normal. 

According to the study, 26 per cent respondents were suffering from mild depression, 11 per cent were feeling moderately depressed, and six per cent were facing severe symptoms of depression. 

"The last five months have been unexpected. The situation has taken a major toll on the mental health of citizens. With the series of lockdowns, anxiety, job cuts, health scares, and the overall volatile environment, stress levels are at an all-time high. 

"Copious amounts of stress can lead to depression. With the current lockdown and lifestyles drastically changing, we have seen that 43 per cent of Indians are currently plagued with depression and are learning to cope with it," the study said.

To monitor the severity of depression in the respondents, the study relied on self-administered Patient Health Questionnaire or PHQ-9 (a form of primary care evaluation of mental disorders). It took into account nine aspects of an individual's daily routine, including interest levels in activities, appetite, sleep cycles, ability to concentrate, and energy levels.
File pic
File pic
17:06   Submit report on Varavara Rao's health, HC tells hospital
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed Nanavati Hospital in the metropolis to submit a report in court on the health condition of jailed poet- activist Varavara Rao. A bench led by Justice RD Dhanuka also directed the hospital authorities to submit details of the "nature of medical treatment" being provided to Rao, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case, who tested positive for coronavirus on July 16 and is admitted in Nanavati Hospital.

The court directed the hospital authorities to submit the report on Rao's health and treatment within three days from the time the hospital receives communication on the court's order. The court said once it went through the hospital's report, it will then decide on the plea filed by Rao's family seeking a copy of such report.
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17:04   Bachchan incensed at troll who wished he dies
In a rare outburst on social media, megastar Amitabh Bachchan hit back at an anonymous troll, who wished death upon him from coronavirus. The 77-year-old actor, along with son Abhishek, was admitted to Nanavati Hospital on July 11 after he tested positive for COVID-19. 

Addressing one "Mr Anonymous", Bachchan wrote on his blog that the troll was trying to gain a sense of self-importance by verbally attacking a star like him. 

"If I die, you wont get to write your diatribe anymore, by weathering your remark on a celebrity name. Pity, for, the reason of your writing to be noticed was, because you took a swipe at Amitabh Bachchan, that shall no longer exist.

"If by God's grace I live and survive you shall have to be weathering' the swipe' storm , not just from me , but on a very conservative level, from 90+ million followers," he wrote. 

Bachchan said though he has not asked his fans to take any action against the troll, if he survives COVID-19, he will. 

"They are a force incensed. They traverse the entire world. From the West to the East from the North to the South and they are not just the EF of this page, that extended family shall in the flash of an eye become extermination family.'" Bachchan even wrote a paragraph in Hindi, calling the troll a "blot on society." PTI
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16:07   Sushant death: Dharma CEO questioned for 3 hours
Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Dharma Productions, left the Amboli Police Station after being questioned for 3 hours in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Several Bollywood personalities are being questioned in connection with the case. Filmmaker Karan Johar is also expected to be called in for questioning later this week.
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16:06   Covid: Highest testing, lowest cases in Mum today
Maharashtra Minister Aditya Thackeray sends out a celebratory tweet: "Only 700 cases today in #Mumbai & that too with the highest testing till date in Mumbai in a single day (8776)", and warns, "Caution: dont let the guard down! Dont let your mask down! Only get numbers down! "

Thackeray says that Mumbai will see more testing with chase the virus initiative of the city's civic body, BMC. "It is also the only city to have liberalised testing and allowed citizens to "test at will".

"Chase the Virus model of Mumbai is being implemented in MMR region actively that has seen a ramping up of facilities in the past few weeks. 
Along with MMR, rest of Maharashtra too is taking all efforts to tackle covid pandemic effectively," Thackeray said. 

On a day Mumbai recorded its highest coronavirus testing figures with almost 9,000 tests, only around 700 positive cases were reported from these tests. From the 8,776 tests conducted on Monday, around 700 samples were positive, which is the lowest in the last 100 days.


The country's financial capital reported 1,033 COVID-19 cases on Monday from tests conducted on Sunday. The doubling rate in the city is 68 days now and Mumbai's recovery rate is at 73 per cent. The overall growth rate of coronavirus cases in Mumbai from July 20 to July 26 was 1.03 per cent.


Image: Healthcare workers during a check-up campaign for the coronavirus disease in Mumbai today. Pic: ANI
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra
15:48   Rajasthan govt sends revised note to governor
The Rajasthan government on Tuesday forwarded a revised recommendation to Governor Kalraj Mishra for calling an assembly session from July 31 after the Cabinet discussed the points raised by the governor on the issue. 

The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. 

"The revised note was forwarded to the Raj Bhawan on Tuesday after approval from the Cabinet," official sources said. They said the government has not mentioned in the note whether it wants to seek vote of confidence in the assembly session. They said the Cabinet has maintained the same date of July 31 for holding the session. PTI
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15:43   Raj govt wants to hold session on Friday
Rajasthan Government sends proposal to Governor Kalraj Mishra seeking to convene assembly session from 31st July. The proposal includes the Government's reply on the 3 conditions to be met to convene the session: Sources
Thoothukudi victims: P Jayaraj and his son Beniks
Thoothukudi victims: P Jayaraj and his son Beniks
15:04   Thoothukudi custodial deaths: 2 accused Covid +ve
Head Constable Murugan and Constable Muthuraj, two accused in the Tuticorin lockup death case tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, Madurai Central Prison sources confirmed.

"The Central Bureau of Investigation officers probing the case also tested positive on Friday, along with another accused Sub-Inspector Pauldurain,'' Prison Deputy Inspector General Palani informed.Last month, P Jeyraraj (55) and his son J Benicks (31), were allegedly tortured in the police station, leading to their deaths.

Five policemen have been arrested in the case and have been transferred to the Madurai Central Jail from Tuticorin. A district police court had earlier ordered a 15-day remand for three police officials in the case.

The father-son duo was arrested were taken into custody on June 19 and were lodged in Kovilpatti sub-jail for keeping their mobile shop open during a curfew imposed during COVID-19 lockdown. -- ANI
MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in hospital
MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in hospital
14:47   If detected early, Covid is curable: MP CM
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who tested positive for coronavirus, on Tuesday chaired the first virtual cabinet meeting from hospital and said if the infection is detected early, then it is not incurable and is like any other cold, cough and fever. 

Sharing his experience with his ministerial colleagues while chairing the cabinet meet from hospital through video conferencing, Chouhan said there is no need to panic about coronavirus and it can be controlled by remaining alert. "If it is detected soon, then it is not an incurable disease and is like cold, cough and fever only. The infection becomes dreaded only when it reaches the lungs of the affected person, the 61-year-old BJP leader said. He said if a person develops any symptom of the disease, then he or she should immediately consult a doctor.
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14:39   Vikas Dubey encounter: SC dismisses pleas seeking removal of members of inquiry commission
The Supreme Court Tuesday dismissed the pleas seeking removal of former high court judge, Justice (retd) Shashi Kant Agarwal and retired Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) K L Gupta, from the three-member inquiry commission set up to probe into the encounter killing of gangster Vikas Dubey. 


A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said it would not allow the petitioners to cast aspersion on the members of the inquiry commission, which would probe into the killing of eight policemen and the subsequent encounters of Dubey and five of his alleged associates. 

The bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, perused the media reports pertaining to interviews by Gupta and said the inquiry would not be vitiated as there are former judges of the apex court and the high court as part of the commission. -- PTI
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14:31   Karnataka snips Tipu Sultan from textbooks
The Karnataka government has limited or omitted various topics including chapters on Mysuru rulers Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. The unit requires no separate class, introduced through assignments, the government cited as the reason for the decision. Notably, the move is only applicable for the current academic year.

The reduction in syllabus comes as schools are closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state, and classes have been moved online.

The Department of Public Instruction of the Karnataka government also limited or removed various other topics from the syllabus of class 6 to 10 as they were repeated or can be alternatively taught.Earlier, the Central Board of Secondary Education revised the syllabus for the classes IX to XII for the academic session 2020-21 in a "one-time measure" owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. -- ANI
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14:16   Sushant death: Dharma CEO records statement
Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, reached Amboli Police Station on Tuesday (July 28), to record his statement in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput death case. 

Several Bollywood personalities are being questioned in connection with the case. Filmmaker Karan Johar is also expected to be called in for questioning later this week.

Yesterday, Mahesh Bhatt had recorded his statement in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. 

The veteran filmmaker, in his statement, clarified that the lead role in his upcoming film Sadak 2 was never offered to Sushant Singh Rajput and that the film was always to be made with Sanjay Dutt in the lead role since it is a sequel to the original Sadak. 

Mahesh Bhatt further said that Sushant Singh Rajput was keen on being a part of Sadak 2 and had asked him for a role.

Before Mahesh Bhatt, statements of Bollywood personalities like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Shekhar Kapur and Aditya Chopra were recorded. Kangana Ranaut was also summoned by the Mumbai Police. 

The actress, however, said that since she is in her hometown in Manali, it will not be possible for her to travel to Mumbai during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Kangana requested to have an official sent to her Manali residence for recording her statement or offered to record it herself and send to the concerned authorities.

Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide on the morning of June 14, leaving the entire nation in shock. 
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14:06   Raj Cabinet sticks to its demand for holding state assembly session
The Rajasthan Cabinet on Tuesday discussed the points raised by Governor Kalraj Mishra for calling a state assembly session and said it is sticking to its demand for holding the session from July 31.

Transport Minister Pratap Singh said that a discussion was held for the reply to be sent regarding the three points raised by the governor. 

"The Cabinet wants the assembly session from July 31. The proposal is being sent to the governor," he told reporters.

-- PTI
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13:32   Fake news: Ram Janmabhoomi Trust on time capsule
The General Secretary of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said today that all reports about placing of a time capsule under the ground at the Ram Temple construction site on 5th August are false. "Do not believe in any such rumour," Champat Rai said.

Yesterday, Mahant Nritya Gopal, the president of the Trust, president claimed, "It is 100 per cent correct that a time capsule, enlisting the history and facts related to the Ram Janmabhoomi, will be placed thousands of feet below the construction site. It will be done in order to ensure that there are no disputes in the future. A grand Ram Temple will be built here and all arrangements are in place for Bhoomi Pujan." 
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13:08   India has 70% of world's tiger population: Govt
India is ready to take a leadership role and work with other tiger range countries for the management of the reserves, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Tuesday. Speaking on the eve of the Global Tiger Day, the minister said India is proud of its achievements and despite the scarcity of land and rainfall, it boasts of eight per cent of the world's biodiversity. 

India has 70% of the total tiger population of the world. India should be proud of it. This is one of our soft powers. We have 30,000 elephants, 3000 one-horned rhinos and more than 500 lions.

"In 1973, there were just nine tiger reserves which have now increased to 50. It is important to know that none of these reserves are poor quality. Either they are good or the best. 

"Despite India's constraint of 2.5 per cent of global land, four per cent of rainfall and 16 per cent of world's human population, India is home to eight per cent of world's biodiversity which includes 70 per cent of the world's tiger population," he said. He said India is ready to work with other tiger range countries for the conservation of the big cat. 

"We are ready to take leadership role and work with all 12 tiger range countries in their training, capacity building and in actual management of tiger reserves," Javadekar said. There are currently 13 tiger range countries -- India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam. At the event, a report on the condition of all 50 tiger reserves was released. 

As per the report, Madhya Pradesh has the maximum number of tigers followed by Karnataka. Besides the minister, the event was attended by Minister of State for Environment Babul Supriyo who said India's contribution to tiger conservation is so fascinating that the Guinness Book of World Records has acknowledged it. 

The prime minister had in 2019 released a tiger estimation report as per which, India recorded 2,967 tigers, more than double the number from 1,411 in 2006. -- PTI
Representational image
Representational image
12:43   Covid exposure found in pets in Italy
Scientists have found neutralising antibodies to the SARS CoV-2 virus, that causes COVID-19, in a small proportion of household cats and dogs sampled in Italy, suggesting that the pets may be susceptible to the disease. The researchers, including those from the University of Liverpool in the UK, tested samples from over 500 pets collected during visits to vets in Northern Italy. 

While no animals tested PCR positive for the virus itself, 3.4 per cent of dogs and 3.9 per cent of cats had measurable SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies, the researchers said. Dogs from COVID-19 positive households were significantly more likely to test positive than those from COVID-19 negative households, according to the results of the yet to be peer reviewed study published as a pre-print on the website BioRxiv. 

"Whilst none of the tested animals were shedding virus at the time of sampling, vets and the public need to continue to be aware that pet animals living in COVID-19 households will almost definitely have virus on them, and our research adds to the evidence that suggests they may also be infected," said Professor Alan Radford from Liverpool university. "We must keep this in context though. There is no evidence for pet animals transmitting this virus to people," said Radford. He said the overwhelming majority of people that are infected seem to get COVID-19 from other people they contact, and this is why following local guidelines on social distancing and hygiene remain critical.
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12:35   2nd plea against Raj Cong, BSP merger in HC
BJP leader Madan Dilawar on Tuesday filed a second petition in the Rajasthan High Court challenging the merger of six BSP MLAs with the Congress party in the state.

The High Court, in relief for Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led government, had yesterday dismissed Dilawar's plea against the merger. Dilawar moved the petition in the High Court seeking directions to quash the merger of six BSP MLAs with the Congress party, which had helped the ruling party in retaining a majority in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

The petition had also challenged the Speaker's inaction in not deciding on his plea seeking disqualification of the six MLAs from the Assembly.

Notably, Dilawar had also sat on a protest in the office of the Vidhan Sabha Secretary yesterday demanding a copy of the order given by Rajasthan Speaker on the merger. -- ANI
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12:25   Don't visit religious places, Bengaluru civic body tells people
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Monday advised people not to visit temples, mosques and other places of worship during the coming festival season.

"COVID-19 is now spreading rapidly in Karnataka, especially in Bengaluru. The festival season is starting with Varamahalakshmi festival on July 31, followed by Bakrid, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Gowri Ganesha, Moharram and then Onam. This festival season is the riskiest time for the spread of the coronavirus. Therefore, please STRICTLY follow the rules in order to stay safe. Do not visit religious places even if they are officially declared open," a notification from BBMP said. 

In the context of Bakri-id, unauthorised animal sacrifice (slaughtering) was prohibited in BBMP limits on roads and sidewalks, religious places, school and college premises, playgrounds and other public areas, as per the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act of 1976. -- PTI
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11:52   Washing clothes helps, says Covid+ve MP CM
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has uploaded a video giving an update of his health, saying he is feeling better. Chouhan tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday.

"Since I am Covid positive, I've been washing my clothes myself. This has benefitted me a lot. Even after several physiotherapy sessions, I wasn't able to clench my fist as my hand was recently operated on, but now it is perfectly fine," he said.

In a series of tweets yesterday, Chouhan appealed to all his colleagues, whoever has come in contact with him to get their coronavirus tests done.
"My close contacts should go into quarantine. I will quarantine myself and I appeal to the people of the state to be careful," the MP CM also said.
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11:15   Sacrifice children, not animals in Eid: BJP MLA
Days ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, Nand Kishore Gurjar, a BJP MLA from Loni assembly constituency in Ghaziabad, has stoked controversy as he asked people celebrating the festival to "sacrifice their children instead of animals" on the occasion. He also claimed that "meat spreads coronavirus" so people should not be allowed to sacrifice innocent animals.

"People who want to sacrifice on Eid should sacrifice their children. I will not let people consume meat and alcohol in Loni. We will not let people sacrifice innocent animals because meat spreads coronavirus," the BJP legislator said while speaking to reporters. 

"The way people have followed the guidelines of the government by not offering prayers and namaz at temples and mosques to contain COVID-19, in the same way, they must not give the sacrifice of animals on this Eid," he added.

"Earlier, sacrifices of animals used to be done in Sanatan Dharam as well. However, now coconut is offered instead. I request the Muslim brothers not to give 'qurbani' of animals. We will stop those who will perform the ritual animal sacrifice. We will not let this happen in Loni," he said. -- ANI
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11:04   Flood waters claim Bihar police station
The Kushewarsthan Police station in Darbhanga district of Bihar is flooded following incessant rainfall in the region. Snakes were seen swimming in the flood waters at the police station. 

And the same story of government indifference. ASI Mithlesh Singh says, "We have kept everything on tables to prevent them from getting submerged. We go for patrolling in rural areas using boats. We have not received boats from the govt yet, we are doing this on our own expenses. There is no electricity since last 3-4 days." 

The Patna Meteorological Centre has warned of more rain till August 1, especially in northern parts of the state which are closer to the foothills of Himalayas. Flood waters have spread to new areas in 11 districts, affecting one million more population, the state disaster management department said. 
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10:45  
A meeting of the Rajasthan state cabinet begins at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence.
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10:44   Rethink B.Ed exams in Covid: Priyanka to Bihar govt
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday urged the Uttar Pradesh government to have a rethink on holding B.Ed entrance examination on August 9 in the wake of the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases. There have been coronavirus cases in different educational institutions and in such a situation, it does not seem appropriate to put 4.5 lakh students at risk without assessing their safety, she said. 

"B.Ed entrance examination is going to be held on August 9 in UP. The speed of coronavirus spread in the state is increasing rapidly," the Congress general secretary said in a Facebook post. "The UP government is requested that keeping in mind the prevailing circumstances, a rethink should be done over the schedule of the examination," Priyanka Gandhi said. PTI
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10:25   Sensex, Nifty open higher tracking global peers
Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty opened higher in early trade on Tuesday tracking positive cues from global markets. The BSE Sensex was trading 182.41 points or 0.48 per cent higher at 38,117.14; while the NSE Nifty was up 50.80 points or 0.46 per cent at 11,182.60. On Monday, the 30-share Sensex had settled 194.17 points, or 0.51 per cent, lower at 37,934.73; and the broader Nifty had ended 62.35 points, or 0.56 per cent, down at 11,131.80. Asian shares were also trading higher tracking cues from upbeat Wall Street.
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10:13   Roadside shoe-seller's daughter gets 97% in HSC
As we wait for the vaccine to make this world alright again, here's some feel-good news that will cheer you up. Madhu Arya, the daughter of a roadside shoe-seller in Sheopur, MP, has secured 97% and a 3rd place in the stream's merit list in the Higher Secondary School Certificate Exam. 

Her mother says, "We provided her education with great difficulty but she worked hard. We're very happy." 

Madhu adds, "I've worked hard. I used to wake up at 4 am and studied for 8-10 hours every day. I want to be a doctor. I am preparing for NEET. My parents and the entire family is very happy. I appeal to the govt to support me in my higher education because my father can't afford it."
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09:54   India's Covid tally 14.85L, lower spike in 24 hrs
There has been single-day spike of 47,704 positive cases and 654 deaths in India in the last 24 hours. But it's not the highest spike so far, so that is a good sign specially considering India conducted a record 5.28 lakh Covid tests yesterday. 

The total number of COVID-19 positive cases stand at 14,83,157 including 4,96,988 active cases, 9,52,744 cured/discharged/migrated and 33,425 deaths: Health Ministry.
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09:38   Record 5.28L COVID tests conducted in 24 hours
A total of 5,28,000 samples were tested for COVID-19 across the country on July 27, the Union ministry of health and family welfare said on Tuesday.

This, according to the MoHFW, is a result of the coordinated efforts of the Union and various State and Union Territory governments push to increase the testing for the infection in the country. Earlier on July 26, 5,15,000 samples were tested for the infection in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had said that efforts are being made to ramp up the testing capacity in the country to conduct up to 10 lakh COVID-19 tests per day.

Meanwhile, the case fatality rate for COVID-19 has been constantly falling in India and is currently at 2.28 per cent, while the total recovered cases crossed nine lakhs in the country.

"With an effective containment strategy, aggressive testing, and standardised clinical management protocols based on the holistic Standard of Care approach, the Case Fatality Rate has significantly dipped. The Case Fatality Rate is progressively falling and currently, it is 2.28 per cent. India has one of the lowest fatality rates in the world," the MoHFW said on Monday.

It further added on Monday that "Continuing the streak of more than 30,000 recoveries per day for the fourth successive day, 31,991 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours. This has taken the total recoveries beyond nine lakhs and the number currently stands at 9,17,567. The Recovery Rate is 64 per cent."

-- ANI
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09:05   Morari Bapu announces Rs 5 cr donation for construction of Ram Temple
Spiritual leader Morari Bapu announced a donation of Rs 5 crore to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust, from his Vyaspeeth, for the construction of Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya.

Several organisations had proposed donating large sums of money for the construction of the temple, noteworthy among those is the Mahavir Mandir Trust, Patna, which in February had said it will donate Rs 10 crore for the construction of the temple. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5, according to Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the president of the temple trust.

The construction will begin after the ceremony in which chief ministers of several states, ministers from the Union Cabinet and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, among others are also likely to participate.

The Ram temple will be made from stones, while iron and steel will not be used, according to the temple construction workshop's supervisor.

Anu Bhai Sompura, the temple's construction workshop supervisor, said on Sunday, "I am working here for 30 years. The stones are here, other stones will come from Rajasthan. Plain stones will come and the cutting will be done here. We have two machines here that cut stone."

"No iron will be used, wood, copper and white cement will be used," he said.

Mahant Raju Das, from Hanuman Garhi Mandir, said, "Trust has decided the temple will be made of stones as they are long-lasting. Hanuman Garhi mandir is also made of stone which was built in 1164 AD. Gold, silver and copper which people will give would be put in the temple's 'neev' (foundation)." 

-- ANI
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08:39   Lockdown didn't slow Covid: Shashi Tharoor
The lockdown could not stem the rapid growth of coronavirus cases in Thiruvananthapuram; thus, people should be allowed to return to work, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted. 

"Spoke to Kerala Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta to convey my concerns about reports of extended lockdown in Thiruvananthapuram. Many constituents point out that 3 weeks lockdown have not slowed the spread of COVID-19. We need to let people go back to work to balance lives and livelihoods," he tweeted.

The number of COVID-19 clusters in the corporation area of the city has also seen an increase, health officials say.

Kerala reported 702 new COVID-19 cases in the previous 24 hours. The doubling rate for COVID-19 in the state is around 13 days compared to 24 days in the beginning of the month.

Kerala's total of cases touched 19,727, including 63 deaths. As many as 9611 people are presently under treatment, 10,049 patients have recovered and over 1.55 lakh people are under observation, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters.
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07:55   Google employees to work from home till July '21
Google has decided that most of its 200,000 employees and contractors should work from home through next June, a sobering assessment of the pandemic's potential staying power from the company providing the answers for the world's most trusted internet search engine.
 
The remote-work order issued Monday by Google CEO Sundar Pichai also affects other companies owned by Google's corporate parent, Alphabet Inc. It marks a six-month extension of Google's previous plan to keep most of its offices closed through the rest of this year.
"I know this extended timeline may come with mixed emotions and I want to make sure you're taking care of yourselves," wrote Pichai, who is also Alphabet's CEO, in an email to employees.
Pichai's decision was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The prolonged lockdown of Google's offices could influence other major employers to take similar precautions, given that the technology industry has been at the forefront of the shift to remote work that has been triggered by the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Even before the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, Google and many other prominent tech firms had been telling their employees to work from home.
Google had originally planned to allow a significant number of employees to begin returning to its Mountain View, California, headquarters and other offices during the summer. 
But the pandemic's ongoing spread prompted Google to push back the reopening until January and now it has prompted yet another delay.
Besides helping protect people from the virus, the new July 2021 target date for reopening Google's offices should make it easier for workers with children to adjust to schools that aren't allowing students to return to campus next month and in September. 

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00:06   Delhi govt allows hawkers to work from 10 am to 8 pm
The Delhi government on Monday issued an order allowing street hawkers and vendors in the city to operate from 10 am to 8 pm for an initial period of one week.
The order issued by Chief Secretary Vijay Dev, however, said weekly bazaars were not allowed.
"...Rehri-Patriwallahs (street vendors) are allowed to work from 10 am to 8 pm, initially for a period of one week, in NCT of Delhi (except in containment zones), subject to all instructions guidelines issued by Government of India and Government of NCT of Delhi, to contain the spread of COVID-19, such as face covering, social distancing, hygiene practice etc," the order stated.
Earlier in the day, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said an order was being passed by the government to allow street vendors and hawkers to restart their work and businesses, as there was some confusion regarding it.
The coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown triggered by it have hit both small scale and individual businesses, with street vendors being one of the most affected groups.
"A special order is being passed through which the street vendors and hawkers can restart their work and livelihood in Delhi," Kejriwal said in a virtual press briefing.
Hawkers will be allowed to operate from 10 am to 8 pm every day, and they will have to ensure social distancing and all other precautionary measures to avoid the spread of COVID-19, the government said in a statement.
The district magistrates and deputy commissioners of police have been for strict compliance of the order and take action against offenders for not wearing face covers, violating social distancing norms and spitting. -- PTI 

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