LIVE! PM Modi to address Leadership Summit of USISPF

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Tue, 01 September 2020

PM Modi to address Leadership Summit of USISPF

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23:40 PM Modi to address Leadership Summit of USISPF

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver key note address to the third leadership summit of US India Strategic and Partnership Forum on Thursday, organisers announced on Tuesday.

"We are honored that Prime Minister Modi has taken time to address USISPF annual event. It signifies importance of US-India relations in the current challenging environment," USISPF president Mukesh Aghi said.

"It is a win-win partnership mutually dependent geo-politically, trade, culturally, diplomatically and scientifically. Aggressive and assertive China provides further opportunity for both nations to collaborate and ensure international rule of law prevails," he said after USISPF announced Modi's address to the summit.

US Vice President Mike Pence had a fire side on Monday, the first day of the week-long summit titled "US-India Week: Navigating New Challenges".

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also participated in the discussion on Monday.

-- PTI

23:23 Vinesh Phogat recovers from COVID-19

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, has announced that her second test for coronavirus returned negative.

However, she will remain under isolation as a precautionary measure. "I underwent a second COVID-19 test yesterday and am happy to report that I have received a negative result. While this is great news, I will be remaining in isolation as a precautionary measure. A big thank you to everyone for your prayers," Phogat tweeted.

On August 28, Phogat had announced that she had contracted coronavirus and as a result, she had to miss the National Sports Awards 2020 virtual event. Phogat won the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.

"Really sad about missing the awards ceremony on National Sports Day today. Heartiest congratulations to all the awardees. I would like to profusely thank the Government of India and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs for finding me worthy of this prestigious recognition! Jai Hind," Phogat tweeted on Saturday.

-- ANI

22:51 Parl panel to discuss Facebook issue on Wed

Amid a political slugfest over the Facebook issue, a parliamentary panel will meet on Wednesday to discuss alleged misuse of the social media platform.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, headed by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, has summoned representatives of Facebook and will hear their views "on the subject of safeguarding citizens' rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms including special emphasis on women security in the digital space," according to the agenda of the meeting.

It has also called representatives of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on the same issue.

The meeting of the panel was adjourned on Tuesday in view of the national mourning due to the demise of former President Pranab Mukherjee. Its agenda for the day was suspension of internet services in several parts of the country.

However, panel members were intended to discuss the suspension of internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, a source said.

Tharoor's announcement that the panel would like to hear from Facebook about the report published in the Wall Street Journal claiming that the social media platform ignored applying its hate-speech rules to politicians of the BJP in India, evoked strong reaction from BJP members of the panel.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleged that the Congress leader has been using the platform to further his and his party's political agenda and even demanded his removal as chairman of the panel.

A fresh political slugfest has started on the matter with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claiming that international media has "exposed" Facebook and WhatsApp's "brazen assault" on India's democracy and social harmony.

IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday wrote to Mark Zuckerberg accusing the social media platform's employees of supporting people from a political predisposition that lost successive elections, and "abusing" Prime Minister and senior cabinet ministers.

In a three-page letter to Facebook Chief Executive Zuckerberg, Prasad alleged "bias and inaction" by individuals in Facebook India team on complaints by people supportive of right-of-centre ideology.

-- PTI

Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 15,765 fresh cases of coronavirus infection, taking the case tally in the state to 8,08,306, said a health official.

With 320 new fatalities being recorded, the death toll due to the pandemic reached 24,903.

The number of active cases in the state is 1,98,523. 10,978 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, taking the number of recovered cases to 5,84,537.

The state capital Mumbai recorded 1,142 new cases and 35 deaths. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the city thus rose to 1,46,947 and death toll to 7,693.

The number of active cases in the megapolis is 20,067.

-- PTI

An 18-year-old boy drowned in a water-filled quarry pit during Ganpati immersion in Wagholi area of Pune on Tuesday, police said.

He failed to judge the depth of the water and slipped and drowned, a Lonikand police station official said.

His friends and local residents who were taking part in visarjan alerted police after which the body was fished out, he added.

-- PTI

In a significant development, Indian security forces on Tuesday foiled an attempt by the Chinese army to transgress into the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control in the general area of Chumar in Eastern Ladakh, sources said.

This comes close on the heels of Indian Army thwarting Chinese Army's attempt on the night of August 29 and 30 to transgress into areas near the southern bank of Pangong Tso. Sources said on Tuesday that around seven to eight heavy vehicles of the Chinese army set off towards the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control from their Chepuzi camp.

In reaction, the Indian security forces also made precautionary deployments to prevent any intrusion," they said. The sources said seeing the vehicles from the Indian side along with troops, the Chinese vehicle convoy returned back towards their bases.

Indian security forces are on high alert all along the LAC to prevent any incursion by the Chinese in any sector, they added.

-- ANI

Public tours of the White House, halted nearly six months ago due to the coronavirus outbreak, are set to resume later this month with new health and safety policies in place.

Tours will resume September 12, for two days a week instead of five, and for just a few hours a day, the first lady's office announced Tuesday. The number of visitors will also be capped.

"In order to ensure the safety and health of all visitors, there have been new policies implemented that align with the guidance issued by Federal, State, and local officials," the White House said.

All guests over age 2 will be required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing.

Social distancing dots will be placed on the ground to guide guests during check-in, and hand sanitizer will be available in multiple locations.

Tours will be allowed only on Friday and Saturday, from 8 am to 11 am, and the number of guests will be capped at 18% of normal capacity, the White House said.

Actor Vidya Balan has called out the "vilification of Rhea Chakraborty" in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput's death, saying it is unfortunate that the tragedy has been turned into a "media circus".

Chakraborty and her family has been accused of abetting Rajput's suicide and misappropriating his money by the late actor's family in an FIR in Patna. The case is now being investigated by the CBI.

The TV coverage around Rajput, who was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14 at the age of 34, has been criticised with many on social media calling it insensitive and deeply intrusive.

Chakraborty, in an interview, had said she was being targetted in the case, callin gthe media scrutiny of her relationship with the actor a "witch hunt".

On Sunday, South star Lakshmi Manchu lamented that media had made a monster out of Chakraborty and asked them to refrain from "being evil and cruel" towards her.

Replying to Manchu, Balan posted a statement and said that the coverage into Rajput's death is unfortunate.

"It is so unfortunate that the tragic and untimely death of a beloved young star Sushant Singh Rajput has become a media circus. In the same breath, as a woman, my heart breaks at the vilification of Rhea Chakraborty."

"Isn't it supposed to be 'innocent until proven guilty', or is it now 'guilty until proven innocent'!?" the 41-year-old actor wrote.

-- PTI

The national capital on Tuesday recorded 2,312 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day spike in around two months, taking the tally to over 1.77 lakh, while the death toll mounted to 4,462, authorities said.

Eighteen fatalities have been recorded in the last 24 hours, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Delhi health department.

On July 1 and July 2, the city had recorded 2,442 and 2,373 cases, respectively. On July 3-4, the single-day spikes were over 2,500. It had dipped to 2,244 on July 5, according to official figures.

The city had recorded its highest single-day spike in August on Sunday when it recorded 2,024 fresh cases. On Monday, 18 deaths were reported and the daily cases count was 1,358.

The number of active cases in the city rose to 15,879 on Tuesday from 14,626 the previous day.

On June 23, the national capital had reported its highest single-day spike of 3,947 new cases till date.

The COVID-19 death toll in Delhi stood at 4,444 on Monday.

-- PTI

20:45 Sushant case: No proof of murder yet, says CBI

Three officers, who are part of the CBI's investigating team probing the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, independently said that they haven't gathered any evidence that suggest the actor was murdered.

The investigation, however, is still on, and the CBI team is probing to see if a case of abetment to suicide can be made.

The next key element in the probe is going to be the report submitted by the AIIMS forensics team which will weigh in on the post-mortem and autopsy reports of Sushant Singh Rajput.

Rhea Chakraborty has not been called by the CBI today. The actress was questioned for more than 8 hours on Monday.

Sources say that Rhea might be questioned jointly with Sushant's sisters Meetu and Priyanka Singh.

On Monday, the CBI questioned Meetu Singh, who lived with Sushant from June 8 to June 13. Rhea was accompanied by her brother, Showik Chakraborty, who was also questioned by the CBI for the fifth day on August 31.

The day-long Brigade Commander-level meeting at Chushul has ended in stalemate with no progress and no results.

There are likely to be more rounds of meetings going forward, but, as of now, tension remains.

The ministry of external affairs on Tuesday said the Chinese army "engaged in provocative action" on August 31 even as commanders from both sides were engaged in discussions to de-escalate the situation at the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh on the southern bank of Pangong Lake.

Chinas attempt to unilaterally change the status quo on the Pangong lake was the first major incident in the area after the Galwan Valley clashes on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed.

"India and China have been closely engaged through diplomatic and military channels over the past three months to resolve the situation along the India-China border. The Chinese side violated this understanding and engaged in provocative military maneuvers in the late night of August 29-30 in an attempt to change the status quo in the South Bank area of Pangong Lake," said the MEA in a statement on Tuesday.

"On August 31, even as ground commanders of two sides were in discussions to de-escalate the situation, Chinese troops again engaged in provocative action. Due to timely defensive action, Indian side was able to prevent these attempts to unilaterally alter status quo," it said.

The MEA said the government has taken up the matter of recent provocative and aggressive actions with Chinese side through both diplomatic and military channels and has urged them to discipline and control their frontline troops.

After the Indian Army on Monday thwarted the provocative Chinese army movement in eastern Ladakh, the Chinese embassy claimed Indian troops had illegally trespassed across the LAC on the southern bank of the lake.

Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa on Tuesday informed that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

"I have been confirmed with coronavirus infection today, there are no other health issues. As of now on the advice of the doctors I am undergoing treatment at hospital," Eshwarappa tweeted.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa took to Twitter and wished Eshwarappa speedy recovery and to get back to work soon.

Last month, Yediyurappa and State Health Minister B Sriramulu also tested positive for coronavirus.

A day after the chief minister tested COVID-19 positive, his daughter and six members of the Chief Minister's Office had also tested positive.

-- ANI

19:05 India registers 65,081 recoveries in 24 hrs

India registered 65,081 recoveries in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative number of recovered patients to 28,39,882 and the recovery rate among COVID-19 patients to further high of 77 per cent, said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Tuesday.

The number of recovered patients has overtaken the active cases by 3.61 times, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, India's cumulative COVID-19 tests crossed 4.3 crores on Tuesday, 1,22,66,514 tests were done in the last two weeks alone, informed the MoHFW.

The states, which are contributing maximum to the overall number of tests include Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra among others.

These three states account for nearly 34 per cent of the total testing.

Over 10 lakh tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, it said.

India's COVID-19 case tally has reached 36,91,167 including 7,85,996 active cases, 28,39,883 cured/discharged/migrated and 65,288 deaths. -- ANI

18:24 Pulwama accused seeks bail to appear in NEET

Waiz-Ul-Islam, an accused in the Pulwama terror attack case, has moved an application in a special National Investigation Agency court in Jammu seeking bail in the case to appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

The bail plea is listed to come up for hearing before the special NIA court on September 3.

"Accused Waiz-Ul-Islam (in Pulwama terror attack case) has filed an application for bail as he wants to appear for NEET exams. Bail listed for 3rd September. We are opposing this application," NIA counsel Vipin Kalra told reporters in Jammu.

The NIA had last week filed a chargesheet against Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar Alvi and 18 others in a special NIA court in Jammu in connection with the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed.

The main case is slated to come up before the court on September 15.

According to NIA sources, the 13,500-page chargesheet has named several Pakistani nationals as accused in the case including Masood Azhar Alvi, Rouf Asgar Alvi, Ammar Alvi, Mohd Ismail, Muhammad Umar Farooq, Mohd Kamran Ali, and Qari Yasir.

In July, the NIA had informed that it has arrested the seventh accused named, Bilal Ahmed Kuchey, whom the agency has termed as 'a terror associate' on July 5.

According to the agency, Kuchey a resident of Hajibal, Kakapora, Jammu and Kashmir, runs a sawmill at his place and harboured and extended logistic support to the Jaish-e- Mohammad (JeM) terrorists involved in the Pulwama attack.

The main perpetrators in the case stayed in his house and Kuchey further introduced them to other over ground workers (OGWs) who provided safe houses during their stay and planning of the attack.

In February last year, 40 CRPF personnel were killed in a JeM-orchestrated terror attack in South Kashmir's Pulwama district.

The incident took place when a CRPF convoy, consisting of around 2,500 personnel, was attacked by a suicide bomber who rammed a car laden with explosives into one of the buses on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. -- ANI

Students queue up for the JEE exam in Gurugram today. Pic: ANI

18:03 Rahul slams Modi govt for holding JEE exams

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the Modi government has ignored the "genuine concerns" of JEE and NEET aspirants, who have been demanding postponement of the entrance exam, due to its "arrogance" and is jeopardising India's future.

Gandhi's attack came on a day the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE)-Mains for admission to engineering colleges began amid stringent precautions and social distancing measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Congress party and Gandhi have been supporting the demand by a section for postponement of JEE and NEET exams in the wake of the rising number of coronavirus cases. The JEE exam which has been postponed twice in view of the Covid-19 pandemic will be held between September 1 and 6.

"Modi Government is jeopardising India's future. Arrogance is making them ignore the genuine concerns of the JEE-NEET aspirants as well as the demands of those who took SSC and other exams. Give jobs, not empty slogans," Gandhi said on Twitter.

He also used the hashtag "SpeakUpForSSCRailwayStudents" while raising the cause of students who have taken the Staff Selection Commission exams but their results are yet to be out. -- PTI

17:37 Mask use may prevent 2L Covid deaths in India

Widespread mask use and data-driven social distancing measures in India may help prevent over 200,000 Covid-19-related deaths in India by December 1, according to a modelling study which shows the disease will continue to pose a major public health threat in the country.

The study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in the US suggests that there is an opportunity to further limit the toll of Covid-19 in India. It highlights the critical need for people to comply with face mask use, social distancing, and other COVID-19 prevention guidelines as advised by the public health authorities.

"India's epidemic is far from over, as a large proportion of the population is still susceptible," IHME Director, Christopher Murray, said in a statement. "In fact, our modelling shows there is a wide range of potential outcomes, depending on the actions that governments and individuals take today, tomorrow, and into the near future. Mask-wearing and social distancing are crucial to mitigate the spread of the virus," Murray explained.

Reacting to the findings of the modelling study, Gautam Menon, Professor, Departments of Physics and Biology, Ashoka University in Haryana said it is certainly true that mask wearing and distancing measures will significantly slow the progress of the disease while protecting vulnerable populations.

"My first view is that the IHME model predicts a peak in infections only by early to mid-December, peak numbers of close to 6 million new infections per day and total deaths of about 500,000 in the 'no intervention' scenario," Menon told PTI.

However, he noted that these numbers appear inflated compared to other estimates and models which suggest a peak that should happen well before mid-December.

"Given that, the estimate of lives saved (in the study) may be on the excessive side," Menon noted. The researchers in the IHME study noted that India's response to Covid-19 has produced some significant successes that highlight the opportunity to limit the pandemic's toll in the country. Giving the example of some urban areas, including Delhi, they explained that containment measures which include intensive contact tracing, widespread testing, mask-wearing, and social distancing mandates have helped reduce the spread of the virus.

Their modelling study found that, in the best-case scenario, India can expect approximately 291,145 total COVID-19 deaths by December 1, up from 60,000 in late August. This scenario assumes that face mask usage increases to near-universal (95 per cent) levels and that six-week, state-level lockdowns are re-imposed if the daily death rate exceeds 8 per million in the states.

17:21 India conducts total 4.3-cr Covid tests so far

India's cumulative Covid-19 tests crossed 4.3 crores on Tuesday, including 1,22,66,514 tests, which were done in the last two weeks alone, informed Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The states, which are contributing maximum to the overall number of tests include Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra among others. These three states account for nearly 34 per cent of the total testing.

Over 10 lakh tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry informed.

According to an official release, the guiding principle within the Centre-led strategy of TEST, TRACK, TREAT has been aggressive testing by the states/Union Territories. High level of testing on a sustained basis leads to early diagnosis and enhanced recoveries.

There has been sustained growth in the average weekly numbers of tests. The weekly average tests have multiplied by more than four times since the first week of January 2020.

Expanded diagnostic lab network and facilitation for easy testing across the country have given a substantial boost. The Tests Per Million (TPM) have also seen a sharp increase to 31,394.

Twenty-two states/UTs have better TPM than the national average. Goa, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are reporting maximum number of tests in a day, the ministry said. -- ANI

All Chennai Super Kings team members have tested negative for coronavirus in the recent test, a source within the franchise said. "All CSK team members who tested positive have now tested negative," the source told ANI.

The source said tests will be done before training as well, adding that the health and safety of players are of paramount importance and they are taking all precautions as per the Board of Control for Cricket in India SOP.

Earlier on Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed that 13 personnel including two players had tested positive for Covid-19.

However, the board did not specify as to which team had how many confirmed cases. The identity of the players and staff was also not revealed.

"13 personnel have tested positive of which two are players. All the affected personnel as well as their close contacts are asymptomatic and have been isolated from other team members. They are being monitored by the IPL Medical Team," the BCCI had said in an official release.

Former President Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit, a parliamentarian, Tuesday said he plans to convert one floor of their house in West Bengal's Jangipur into a museum-cum-library in the memory of the departed leader. Abhijit also said he would like the government to issue a postage stamp in honour of his father.

Mukherjee, who had tested positive for coronavirus and had been in coma after a brain surgery earlier this month, passed away on Monday evening at the Army's Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi. He was 84.

"I also request a postal stamp. If the government agrees, I will be very happy," he said. "And on personal side, I am planning to convert the first floor or the ground floor of the house my father constructed at Jangipur into a museum-cum-library," Abhijit said. "I will gather his personal belongings, particularly the vast number of books, gift items like plaques and put them into that museum," he said.

Abhijit, however, rued his father could never stay in that house for longer durations. By the time the house was constructed, he had gone to a bigger house, the President's House, he said, as the elder statesman left on his final journey.

Abhijit remembered he had brought a jackfruit for his father from their farm in Jangipur on August 4. "Jackfruit is available in Delhi, too, but I took all the pain because that's from our field. I travelled by a train and brought him one," the former Jangipur MP said. "My father ate it. Fortunately, his blood sugar level remained in control. I am happy I could at least fulfill this wish of my father," he said.

Abhijit said his father had told him that in politics and otherwise, one should avoid being revengeful. "His message was clear and I will always remember it. Abhijit also thanked the doctors for trying their best while treating his father. They tried everything but it seems he had completed his role in the world. He passed away at the right age. He got everything whatever a common man wants to have," Abhijit added.

Family members, relatives, friends, politicians, members of the general public and Congress workers paid their homage to the departed leader at his 10, Rajaji Marg residence.

Also read: The minister who read too much

The national capital's third round of monthly sero-prevalence survey began on Tuesday to analyse the Covid-19 situation in Delhi, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said.

In the serological survey, blood samples of the people are taken to check for the presence of antibodies for COVID-19 in their body. If the report comes positive for antibodies, it proves that those patients had been infected but have been cured of the viral infection.

The sample size this time will be 17,000 and the exercise will be carried out for seven to ten days.

"The third phase of sero-survey is beginning today. This time it is being done on a ward-wise basis. The sample size is 17,000. The sampling will be complete within a week and it will take 7-10 days after that to process it," said Jain while speaking to ANI.

Notably, the last sero-prevalence survey was held from August 1-7, according to which antibodies against COVID-19 infection were found in 29.1 per cent of people surveyed in Delhi. -- PTI

The Pawar family with the Thackerays

16:12 Sharad Pawar visits Uddhav's home for Ganpati

Nationalist Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar along with his family on Tuesday visited the residence of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to offer prayers to Lord Ganesha a day before the Ganesh Visarjan (immersion).This year, Ganesh Chaturthi is being celebrated amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is dedicated to the Lord of new beginnings, Ganesha. It started as a reason for get-togethers and meet-ups during the British rule, but today it is marked with the installation of the deity's idol at homes and at elaborate pandals. -- ANI

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday hailed the Allahabad High Court directive quashing the detention of Dr Kafeel Khan under the National Security Act and hoped the Uttar Pradesh government will immediately release him "without any malice".

The Allahabad High Court has ordered the immediate release of Khan, who has been in jail since January after a speech he delivered at the Aligarh Muslim University during the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests in December.

"The Allahabad High Court today ordered the removal of NSA and immediate release of Dr Kafeel Khan," Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet. "It is expected that the UP government will release Dr Kafeel Khan without any malice," she said.

The Congress leader added that she also congratulated all the justice loving people and party workers in the state who had been making efforts for Khan's release.

The Allahabad High Court bench, comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh, passed the order on a petition filed by Khan's mother Nuzhat Parveen. The petition alleged that Khan was granted bail in February by a competent court and he was supposed to be released on bail. However, he was not released for four days and the NSA was subsequently invoked against him. Hence, his detention was illegal, the petition argued. PTI

How should India handle the challenge posed by China at the Line of Actual Control?

Strategic analyst Manoj Joshi offers a perspective in a paper for the Observer Research Foundation.

'India knows that given the asymmetry with China, it is simply not possible to deal with it through its own resources. New Delhi will have to add heft to its position through diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region and elsewhere to ensure that Beijing begins to address Indian concerns seriously,' he writes.

'The Sino-Indian border is unlikely to assume the status of Fravel's primary strategic direction. But India can, and should, sharply escalate its military capacity, generally, as well as along the LAC, and adopt a posture that will enhance the importance of the "south-west direction' in Chinese calculations. India already occupies strong defensive positions along the LAC, but Indian military capabilities are defensive and erratic: good in certain places, but mediocre and poor in most.

'Some capabilities are already causing China worry in parts of the LAC, but boosting them to pose a significant challenge to China beyond Tibet is a different level of enterprise, given India's current economic predicament. Yet that may be the only route available to persuade Beijing of the importance of stability that it could obtain by settling its border with India,' Joshi writes, here.

15:31 Railways plans more special trains

To ease passenger movement in high-demand areas, the Railways will run more special trains apart from the 230 plying currently, for which consent has been sought from state governments, an official said. The Railway ministry spokesperson, however, did not say how many trains will be added to the network. Currently, all regular passenger services are suspended due to the coronavirus crisis.

Sources said the announcement for the new trains will be made in a couple of days. "More special trains are being planned. State governments are being consulted," the railway spokesperson said. -- PTI

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maharashtra government has advised vulnerable people, including those aged above 65 and below 10, to stay at home and step out only for essential and health purposes. The government on Monday issued fresh guidelines, further easing restrictions in Maharashtra, but said the general lockdown in the state will continue till September 30.

"Persons above 65 years of age, those with co- morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes," the government said in the new guidelines.

It said movement of people for the purpose of non-essential activities will be carried out with all necessary prescribed mandatory precautions of wearing masks, social distancing and person hygiene. The government, which in its new guidelines has allowed inter-district movement of persons and goods and has done away with the requirement of e-pass, also said wearing masks will be compulsory in the transport facilities.

The government also said as far as possible, the practice of work from home should be followed. Work/business hours in offices, workplaces, shops, markets, and industrial and commercial establishments should be staggered, it said. The government also said that thermal screening should be carried out at workplaces and sanitisers be made available at all entry and exit points and common areas.

Maharashtra government has cancelled the e-pass requirement for inter-district travel from September 2. "No e-pass will be required for inter-district movement in Maharashtra from September 2," said State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in a video message on August 31. The State has also allowed passenger movement by private bus, mini bus and other operators. Notably, schools and colleges will remain closed while e-learning and online classes will continue in the state. -- ANI

China on Tuesday paid rich tributes to former president Pranab Mukherjee, saying he was a veteran statesman and his death is a huge loss for India-China friendship.

The 84-year-old veteran politician died after he suffered a septic shock on Sunday. He died of a cardiac arrest on Monday evening in a hospital in New Delhi following a 21-day battle with multiple ailments.

"Former President Mukherjee was a veteran statesman of India. In his 50 years in politics, he made positive contributions to China-India relations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here, replying to a question.

Referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India in 2014 and his meeting with Mukherjee, she said after the meeting the two countries issued a joint statement on building closer development partnership.

"It is a heavy loss for China, India friendship and to India. We express deep condolences over his passing and extend sincere sympathies to the Indian government and his family," Hua said. -- PTI

14:00 Pranab Mukherjee cremated

Hearse carrying Pranab Mukherjee's body reaches Lodhi road crematorium, family, relatives accompany in PPE kits. Pranab Mukherjee's last rites have been performed.

Wearing masks and maintaining a six-feet distance, people and political workers cutting across party lines stood in long queues to pay their last respect to former president Pranab Mukherjee at his residence before his last rites on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, the mortal remains of India's 13th president, who died on Monday after a three-week battle with multiple ailments, were taken to his residence from the Army's Research and Referral hospital in a flower-bedecked white vehicle. As the nation observed seven-day mourning in honour of its "Bharat Ratna", a long-time Congress politician and one of India's most respected people in public life, a host of leaders and others visited his 10 Rajaji Marg residence.

Congress party workers said that their leaders offered floral tribute at a photo of Mukherjee, and they were able to see his mortal remains from a distance, kept in another room.

All those who arrived to catch a glimpse of Mukherjee for one last time and to pay their tribute wore masks, while some also had face shields on. The security staff managing the crowd wore face shields. In view of Covid-19 related protocols, arrangements were made to carry the mortals of the former president in a hearse van instead of a normal gun carriage. -- PTI

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Pinjra Tod member Devangana Kalita in connection with a case related to the northeast Delhi violence in February this year.

A single-judge bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, while granting bail, said, "I find no substance in arguments of learned ASG and cases relied upon are no help in the facts and circumstances of the present case. Thus, without commenting on the merits of the prosecution case, petitioner deserves bail".

"She shall be released on bail on her furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of Trial Court, if not required in any other case. Petitioner shall not directly or indirectly influence any witness or tamper with evidence," the bench said.

The bench said that it had gone through the inner case diary produced in a sealed cover and found that though her presence is seen in peaceful agitation, which is fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution of India, the prosecution failed to produce any material that she instigated women of a particular community or gave hatred speech.

-- PTI

File pic

13:25 Indian army pushed back PLA despite cameras

Despite the presence of cameras and surveillance equipment deployed by the Chinese Army near the height close to Pangong lake southern bank, the Indian Army troops managed to occupy it before the People's Liberation Army troops.

"The Chinese Army has deployed advanced cameras and surveillance equipment to monitor Indian activities near the dormant height but despite that, the Indian troops managed to occupy height there," sources told ANI.

The Chinese Army has installed such equipment all along the Line of Actual Control and use them effectively to monitor Indian activities and respond quickly whenever they find Indian patrols on the areas claimed by them.

Sources said the cameras and surveillance equipment has been removed after the Indian side occupied the dormant height within its territory.China has been claiming that the height belongs to them and wanted to capture it to get into an advantageous position all along the southern bank of Pangong lake area and the nearby Spangur Gap, an open territory where Chinese armoured regiments were deployed.

Sources said the Indian side has prepared very well for responding to the Chinese reaction in view of the action by own troops including a Special Operations unit and Sikh Light Infantry troops there. One of the Indian Army jawans also lost his life in an anti-personnel mine explosion while patrolling in the area.

The Indian side has done heavy deployment of armoured regiments including the BMP Infantry Combat Vehicles and different types of tanks flown in from armoured divisions from the plains.

The preparation for the action had been done by the Indian Army recently as the heavy movement of logistics and equipment was done by the force. The Indian Army has preempted the Chinese action to occupy the strategic height on the intervening night of August 29-30 and thwarted a Chinese action to do so after an intense face-off there.

The Chinese and Indian troops are engaged in a standoff for over three months after the PLA troops marched into Indian areas in Finger area and other parts of the Ladakh sector. -- ANI

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chiefs of the three defence services and politicians cutting across party lines paid their last respects to former president Pranab Mukherjee at his residence on Tuesday.

The mortal remains of India's 13th president, who died on Monday after a three-week battle with multiple ailments, were taken to his residence from the Army's Research and Referral hospital in a flower bedecked white vehicle. The last rites will be conducted at the Lodi Road crematorium in the afternoon.

As the nation observed seven-day mourning in honour of its "Bharat Ratna", a long-time Congress politician and one of India's most respected people in public life, a host of leaders and others visited his 10 Rajaji Marg residence.

Following COVID-19 protocols such as maintaining social social distancing and wearing masks, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, BJP chief J P Nadda, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and several Union ministers such as Nirmala Sitharaman and Harsh Vardhan were among those who paid homage to him. Leaders paid floral tributes to a photo of Mukherjee, while his remains were kept in another room. Besides the 'VIPs', workers of various parties and the general public stood in long queues maintaining social distancing, wearing masks and carrying bouquets as they waited patiently to catch a glimpse of Mukherjee for one last time.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Chief Gen M M Naravane, Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria and Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh visited the late president's home to condole his death.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, CPI general secretary D Raja and BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia were also there to pay their respect to a man who had spent more than five decades in public life and was admired as a "consensus builder". "Whether people agreed with him or not, he was very forthright in articulating his views keeping in view the interests of the country," Raja told reporters. -- PTI

Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is suffering from COVID-19, was administered plasma therapy after his condition deteriorated late on Monday night, doctors said. Gogoi's condition, however, is stable on Tuesday, they said. His condition had deteriorated due to a sudden fall in oxygen saturation levels, a spokesperson of the team of doctors attending to the senior Congress leader said. Gogoi had tested positive for COVID-19 on August 25 and was admitted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on the next day.

He was administered one unit of plasma and two litres of oxygen since midnight and his oxygen saturation level is being maintained, the spokesperson said. "Ex CM @tarun_gogoi who is admitted in GMCH for COVID-19 had a sudden fall in Oxygen saturation to 88% at 11.30 pm. The team of doctors supervising his health immediately decided to give 1 unit of plasma with 2 litres of oxygen on Mask. O2 saturation now is maintained between 96 and 97%," Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted.

The minister said he had rushed to the hospital to monitor the treatment and also spoke with the former chief minister's son and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who is out of the country at present.

"I was there with Sri @tarun_gogoi in the hospital and just reached back home as I have assembly. Also had a telephonic conversation with @GauravGogoiAsm. I shall remain in touch with our team at @GMCHGuwahati," Sarma said in another Twitter post.

Rajeev Kumar assumes charge as the new Election Commissioner of India. He joins the Election Commission of India with Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra. Rajeev Kumar replaces Ashok Lavasa who resigned with effect from August 31.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted telecom companies, including Airtel Bharti and Vodafone Idea, a period of 10 years to clear their pending adjusted gross revenue dues to the Central government.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra, passing the order through video conferencing, asked the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to decide on spectrum trading as part of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

The top court had, on July 20, reserved its order on the timeline for the payment of AGR dues by telecom companies after observing that the request of telecom companies seeking 15 to 20 years for the payment of AGR dues in a staggered manner was unreasonable.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by the Central government through the Department of Telecommunication seeking the approval of a formula allowing telecom service providers to make annual installments of unpaid or remaining AGR dues in next 20 years or more.

The plea said if the telecom companies face proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, it will have adverse impacts on competition and service in the telecom sector.

The telecom companies, during the hearing, had also sought a period of 15-20 years for the repayment of AGR dues.On February 14, the Supreme Court had directed telecom companies to pay the AGR-related liabilities to the government by March 17. Thereafter, the telecom companies had partly or fully paid their self-assessed AGR dues to the Central government. -- ANI

12:32 Sushant: CBI begins questioning Rhea's parents

Actress Rhea Chakraborty's parents arrived at the DRDO guest house here on Tuesday for questioning by the CBI in connection with the case of death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, a police official said. This is the first time that Chakraborty's parents are being questioned by the CBI in the case. Her father Indranjit Chakraborty and mother Sandhya Chakraborty reached the DRDO guest house in suburban Kalina, where the probe team is stationed, around 11 am in a car which was escorted by a police vehicle, the official said.

Rhea Chakraborty and her parents are among those named in the FIR registered by Patna Police for allegedly abetting the actor's suicide and misappropriating his money, he said. The actress and her brother Showik Chakraborty have not been called by the probing team on Tuesday so far. She was grilled for around 35 hours over the last four days while her brother was quizzed for last five days.

Rajput (34) was found hanging in his apartment in suburban Bandra on June 14 following which the Mumbai Police registered a case of accidental death. The late filmstar's father subsequently filed a police complaint in Patna, accusing Rhea Chakraborty and her family of abetting Rajput's suicide and misappropriating his money. The Supreme Court last week upheld the transfer of the FIR lodged in Patna to the CBI. PTI

The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday granted conditional bail to Dr Kafeel Khan, who was charged under National Security Act for his alleged inflammatory statements at the Aligarh Muslim University during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Notably, the order comes days after the Supreme Court asked the High Court to decide and dispose of the petition related to the release of Dr Kafeel Khan in 15 days.

Khan was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force in January from Mumbai after he allegedly made inflammatory statements at the Aligarh Muslim University during a protest against the CAA on December 12, 2019. He was on February 14, 2020, charged under the National Security Act. -- ANI

The Central government submitted before the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the loan moratorium period may get extended by up to two years in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the economy.

A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, was hearing two pleas filed Gajender Sharma and lawyer Vishal Tiwari seeking to extend the moratorium period to help borrowers in deferring their EMI payment on term loans amid the pandemic.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, submitted that the loan moratorium may be extended by two years.The bench said that it will hear the matter tomorrow, after the Union of India, through the Solicitor General, files its reply in the moratorium issue. Mehta said that the affidavit was filed on Monday online. The bench said that it has not received the affidavit yet.

"The lordship may go through it, the matter may be taken up tomorrow or day after tomorrow. The interest on interest part, we have discussed with the RBI officers," Mehta said.

"Let the Union of India, Reserve Bank of India, and others sit together and find out a proper solution, the bench said, to which Mehta submitted no adversarial step are being taken.

"I am saying with a great sense of responsibility. Harish Salve also spoke with the bankers association. Most of the issues are addressed," the Solicitor General said.

"We have also to hear the interest in interest part also," said Justice MR Shah, one of the judges in the three-judge bench hearing the matter.Vishal Tiwari, one of the petitioner, said that it is a public interest matter and he will be there tomorrow also before the apex court and argue for the extension of the moratorium period. -- PTI

File pic

11:48 Indian troops illegally entered LAC again: China

The Chinese Embassy in India releases statement on the India-China border situation. The statement says, "Indian troops illegally trespassed LAC again at the southern bank of Pangong Tso." It further reads, "China made solemn representations to India, urged them to control and restrain frontline troops."

The statement comes amid a meeting of brigade commander of the Indian Army with his Chinese counterpart in Chushul/Moldo to discuss issues related to the situation on the southern bank of Pangong lake, Indian Army sources said.

The meeting came after the Indian Army thwarted an attempt by the Chinese Army to transgress into Indian areas near the southern bank of Pangong Tso near Chushul in Ladakh on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

"On the night of August 29/30, PLA troops violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements during the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh and carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo," said Army spokesperson Colonel Aman Anand in a statement on Monday.

The Indian Army took measures to strengthen its position and "and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on the ground".

"The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and tranquillity through dialogue but is also equally determined to protect its territorial integrity. A Brigade Commander level Flag Meeting is in progress at Chushul to resolve the issues," Anand said further.

Army sources said the Chinese Army had tried to transgress into Indian areas using a sizeable number of troops but Indian Army came to know about their intentions and preempted the Chinese attempt and foiled their move.

11:36 Woman IPS to head terror-hit Srinagar for CRPF

For the first time, a female IPS officer has been appointed as Inspector General of Central Reserve Police Force Srinagar sector, one of the terrorist-affected areas in Jammu and Kashmir. Charu Sinha, IPS officer of the 1996-batch Telangana cadre, will now be heading the Srinagar sector for CRPF as the Inspector General. This is not the first time when she has been assigned such a tough task, earlier also, she had worked as IG, the Bihar sector in CRPF and has dealt with Naxals.

Under her leadership, various anti-Naxals operations were carried out. Later, she was transferred to IG Jammu in CRPF where she spent a long and successful tenure. On Monday, a fresh order came appointing her as the IG Srinagar sector.Current Director-General CRPF AP Maheshwari headed the Srinagar sector as IG in 2005.The sector, which started functioning in 2005 never had a female officer at the IG level. This sector involved in anti-terror operations and closely work with the Indian Army along with Jammu and Kashmir police.

"Srinagar sector is located at Brein Nishat, Srinagar (J-K). It started functioning in 2005. Srinagar Sector has operational jurisdiction over three districts of J-K- Budgam, Ganderbal, and Srinagar and Union Territory of Ladakh," the CRPF said.

"It includes 2 ranges, 22 executive units, and 3 Mahila companies. Apart from it, Srinagar Sector has administrative control on Group Centre-Srinagar," the paramilitary force added. Sinha will also be heading all operations involved in this sector. -- ANI

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat condoles former President Pranab Mukherjee's death. "Pranab Mukherjee has left a void. He was generous and kind, who used to make me forget that I am talking to President of India. Iwas t in his nature to make everyone, his own, despite political differences. He'll be remembered always."

The United States seeks to formalise its closer defence ties with countries of the India-Pacific region -- India, Japan and Australia -- similar to something like the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) with an aim to counter China, US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said on Monday.

He said that Washington's aim is to get the grouping of four countries and others in the region to work together as a bulwark against "a potential challenge from China", and "to create a critical mass around the shared values and interests of those parties in a manner that attracts more countries in the Indo-Pacific and even from around the world ... ultimately to align in a more structured manner", South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

Biegun made the comments while speaking with former US ambassador to India, Richard Verma in an online discussion organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

"The Indo-Pacific region is actually lacking in strong multilateral structures. They do not have anything of the fortitude of NATO or the European Union. The strongest institutions in Asia oftentimes are not, I think, not inclusive enough and so ... there is certainly an invitation there at some point to formalise a structure like this," Biegun said.

"Remember, even NATO started with relatively modest expectations and a number of countries (initially) chose neutrality over NATO membership," he added.

However, he cautioned that the US would keep its ambitions for a Pacific NATO "checked", asserting such an alliance "will happen only if the other countries are as committed as the US".Biegun said the grouping of four countries are expected to meet in New Delhi this autumn and cited Australia's possible participation in India's Malabar naval exercise as an example of progress towards a formal defence bloc, according to SCMP.

India is "clearly indicating an intention to invite Australia to participate in the Malabar naval exercises, which will be a tremendous step forward in ensuring the freedom of passage and the security of the seas in the Indo-Pacific," the senior US department official said.

The naval exercises have been conducted by the US and India since 1992 and mostly takes place in the Bay of Bengal. Japan has been taking part in this exercise since 2015. -- ANI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called for an investigation into the operations of social media giants, Facebook and WhatsApp, in India and asserted that no one can be allowed to interfere in our nation's affairs.

He claimed that international media have fully exposed Facebook's and WhatsApp's brazen assault on India's democracy and social harmony.

"International media have fully exposed Facebook's & WhatsApp's brazen assault on India's democracy & social harmony. No one, let alone a foreign company, can be allowed to interfere in our nation's affairs. They must be investigated immediately & when found guilty, punished," he tweeted while citing a media report.

Earlier, the Congress leader had alleged that the BJP has a hold over WhatsApp and said the platform now needs the approval of the Central government to launch its payment services in India.

"America's Time magazine exposes WhatsApp-BJP nexus: Used by 40 Cr Indians, WhatsApp also wants to be used for making payments for which Modi Govt's approval is needed. Thus, BJP has a hold over WhatsApp," he had tweeted while citing a media report.

Congress alleged "quid-pro-quo" relationship between Facebook and the BJP and wrote a letter to the social networking platform founder Mark Zuckerberg seeking information about steps the company is planning to take to investigate the matter.

"We draw your attention to the article in Time magazine dated Aug 27, 2020, that reveals more information and evidence of biases and a quid-pro-quo relationship of Facebook India with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)," read the letter by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal to Zuckerberg.-- ANI

10:39 Naidu pays last respects to Pranab Mukherjee

Vice president Venkaiah Naidu pays last respects to former President Pranab Mukherjee at his residence, 10 Rajaji Marg.

10:33 PM pays his last respects to Pranab Mukherjee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays last respects to former President Pranab Mukherjee at his residence, 10 Rajaji Marg.

The meeting of brigade commander of the Indian Army with his Chinese counterpart is underway in Chushul to discuss issues related to the situation on the southern bank of Pangong lake, Indian Army sources said.

"On the night of August 29/30, PLA troops violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements during the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh and carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo," said army spokesperson Colonel Aman Anand in a statement on Monday.

The Indian Army took measures to strengthen its position and "and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on the ground".

India and China are engaged in a standoff since April-May over the transgressions by the Chinese Army in multiple areas including Finger area, Galwan valley, Hot springs and Kongrung Nala.

The talks between the two sides have been going on for the last three months including five Lieutenant General-level talks but have failed to yield any results, so far. -- ANI

10:17 India's COVID-19 tally climbs to 36,91,166

With 69,921 people testing positive for coronavirus infection, India's COVID-19 tally mounted to 36,91,166, while recoveries surged to 28,39,882 on Tuesday pushing the recovery rate to 76.94 per cent, according to the Union health ministry data.

The death toll climbed to 65,288 with 819 new fatalities being reported in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate has further declined to 1.77 per cent.

There are 7,85,996 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 21.29 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 and went past 30 lakh on August 23.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a cumulative total of 4,33,24,834 samples have been tested up to August 31 with 10,16,920 samples being tested on Monday.

10:07 RIP Pranab Da: National flag fly at half-mast

National flags at Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament in New Delhi were at half-mast on Tuesday as the country observes a 7-day State mourning following the demise of former President Pranab Mukherjee.

The state mourning is being observed throughout the country from August 31 to September 6 as a mark of respect to the former president, who passed away on Monday.

"As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, seven days state mourning will be observed throughout India from August 31 to September 6, both days inclusive. During the period of state mourning, the national flag will fly at half-mast on all buildings throughout India, where it is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment," the ministry of home affairs said in an official release.

Mukherjee, 84, passed away on Monday at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) Hospital where he was admitted earlier this month and had undergone surgery for removal of a clot in his brain. -- ANI

10:04 Bombay HC refuses to stay JEE-Main examination

The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Tuesday refused to stay the JEE-Main examination, but said any student residing in flood-hit parts of Maharashtra's Vidarbha region who cannot reach the exam centre or reaches late can apply to the National Testing Agency to seek a re-examination.

A division bench of Justices Ravi Deshpande and Pushpa Ganediwala said the National Testing Agency shall consider such applications and decide accordingly, after checking the veracity of the same.

The engineering Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Main began at 9 am across the country on Tuesday.

"The situation is grim in several districts due to flood. Students should not suffer for no fault on their part, the bench said.

The court said any aggrieved student can file an application to the NTA via their centre coordinator.

"The National Testing Agency shall then decide on the application after consulting with the district collector concerned within a period of 15 days, the court ordered.

Earlier, the high court on Monday took cognisance of a letter written to it by Nitesh Bawankar, a resident of Bhandara district, raising concern over how students will reach the exam centres to appear for the JEE amid the flood situation.

Bawankar sought postponement of the exam for students residing in flood-hit parts of Nagpur, Amravati, Akola, Chandrapur, Gondia and Gadchiroli districts.

Due to floods, students from these areas will find it difficult to appear for the JEE-Main examination, he said.

The court on Monday directed the Union government, Maharashtra government, National Testing Agency and collectors of these districts to consider postponing the JEE-Main for students from flood-affected areas who would be unable to reach the centres to appear for the exam. -- PTI

09:19 Amid Covid, lakhs take JEE-Main exam today

Lakhs of students are appearing for the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) for admission to top engineering colleges in the country with unprecedented preparations.

Around 8.58 lakh candidates have registered for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main.

These exams were earlier deferred twice in the wake of the pandemic.

The National Testing Agency, which is in charge of conducting competitive entrance tests across the country, said entrance to the exam centre (and reporting times) will be staggered and that students will have to clear thermal scans.

There will be "isolation rooms" for candidates whose body temperature is above a prescribed limit.

The NTA has also sought a self-declaration that says candidates do not have any symptoms or suffer from Covid or have not been in touch with a Covid-positive person.

As per the SOP in place, the number of aspirants per room has been brought down to 12 from 24 for the computer-based test and the computers used in the first shift of the day will not be used in the second shift.

These exams were earlier deferred twice in the wake of the pandemic.

While the engineering entrance exam JEE-Main has been planned from September 1-6, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is scheduled to be held on September 13.

Four people were killed while as many others were injured on Monday night after a speeding car rammed into the footpath outside a restaurant in a busy market area in south Mumbai, police said.

Prima facie, the incident occurred when the driver of the car lost his control over the vehicle in Crawford Market area, an official said.

He said it was not clear whether the deceased were sitting on the footpath outside the restaurant or were travelling in the car.

Police rushed eight injured persons to state-run JJ hospital, where four of them were declared dead on arrival, the official added.

The deceased were identified as Naeem, Saroja, Zubeda and an unidentified woman.

Further investigation is underway. -- PTI

Japan said it will extend emergency loan support of upto 50 billion yen towards India's response to the Covid-19 pandemic that includes implementation of health and medical policy.

Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs of Finance Ministry, CS Mohapatra and Japanese ambassador Suzuki Satoshi exchanged notes in New Delhi on Monday, concerning the provision of the yen loan to New Delhi to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to an official release by the Japanese embassy, this "COVID-19 crisis response emergency support loan" provides the necessary funds for India's fight against coronavirus.

This financial support will support the implementation of health and medical policy by the Government of India, and will lead to the development of hospitals equipped with ICUs and infection prevention and management facilities.

It is expected that these measures, in addition to controlling the spread of infection in the country, will also contribute to the recovery and stability of the country's society and economy, as well as to sustainable development.

The loan will have an interest rate of 0.01 per cent per annum with a redemption period of 15 years, including a four year grace period. -- ANI

In a big boost to the 'Make in India' initiative, the defence ministry has signed contracts worth Rs 2,580 crores with Indian companies to supply six army regiments with Pinaka missiles.

The acquisition wing of the ministry of defence signed contracts with Bharat Earth Movers Ltd, Tata Power Company Ltd, and Larsen & Toubro on August 31, a statement from the ministry said.

The six Pinaka Regiments comprise of 114 Launchers with automated gun aiming and positioning system and 45 command posts to be procured from M/s TPCL and M/s L&T, and 330 vehicles to be procured from M/s BEML.

These will be operationalised along the northern and eastern borders, and their induction is planned to be completed by 2024.

The project has been approved by defence minister Rajnath Singh, and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The Pinaka multiple launch rocket system has been indigenously designed by the DRDO and it is produced by the industries named above in a flagship project showcasing public-private partnership. -- ANI

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