FIFTH ROUND OF TALKS HELD AMID STALEMATE IN PANGONG TSO

Tthe fifth round of talks between the Commander of XIV Corps Lt General

Harinder Singh and his Chinese counterpart Major General Liu Lin, Commander

of the South Xinjiang Military Region, began on Sunday to try and find a

resolution to the stalemate at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern

Ladakh. There are nop reports yet about the conclusion of this meeting.

Since their last round of discussions, lasting 15 hours on July 14, there

has not been much of a breakthrough on the ground as disengagement has not

been completed at two of the four friction points. The two sides began a

mutual pullback at all these points after the third round of military talks

on June 30 but the stalemate persists in the Gogra Post sector and on the

north bank of Pangong Tso.

On Friday, China's Ambassador to India Sun Weidong had said that "China's

traditional customary boundary line is in accordance with the LAC" on the

north bank of the lake and had denied that China had expanded its

territorial claims there.

Responding to this, spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs Anurag

Srivastava had said that "there has been some progress made towards this

objective, but the disengagement process has as yet not been completed".

Significantly, reacting to the Chinese envoy's comments, former Army Chief

General V P Malik on Friday tweeted: "By his statement yesterday, Ambassador

Sun Weidong of China has virtually ended any possible progress in LAC talks

between military commanders".

Both sides have also increased their military presence in the depth areas.

China has brought in artillery guns, air defence radars along with

additional troops. India has moved in additional divisions, air force assets

and air defence assets. And has begun preparations for winter deployment of

an additional 35,000 troops given the long haul ahead.

CONGRESS COMES OUT WITH ITS CRITICISM OF NEW EDUCATION POLICY

The Congress on Sunday said the new National Education Policy misses the

fundamental goal of human development and expansion of knowledge, noting

that it is high on "catchwords" and "verbosity" but lacks critical finances

and a coherent roadmap for implementation.

It alleged that the policy has circumvented parliamentary oversight and

there has been no discussion with the academia except the RSS.

Addressing a press conference, Congress leaders MM Pallam Raju, Rajeev Gowda

and Randeep Surjewala said the NEP seeks to create a digital divide between

the poor and the rich as it promotes privatisation of public education and

"this will lead to it going out of reach of the middle class and the

disadvantaged in the society".

They also questioned the government's intent in raising spending on

education to 6 per cent of the GDP, saying the same has fallen from 4.14 per

cent of GDP in 2014 to 3.2 per cent currently under the Modi government and

is likely to fall further due to cuts in outlays on account of resource

crunch due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The National Education Policy 2020, which aimed to pave the way for

transformational reforms in school and higher education, is high on

catchwords, gloss, appearance and verbosity yet lacks a coherent

implementational roadmap and strategy, clearly defined milestones and the

critical finances necessary to execute this grand vision," they said in a

joint statement.

"All in all, the NEP 2020 misses the fundamental goal of human development

and expansion of knowledge," they said.

The Congress leaders said the timing of NEP in the middle of a pandemic when

all educational institutions are closed is, in itself, questionable. More so

when almost the entire academia has complained of no consultation, the

leaders alleged.

AHEAD OF RAM MANDIR 'BHUMI PUJAN', BJP SHARES VIDEO OF INDIRA GANDHI'S

SPEECH AIRED IN 1980

Ahead of the Ram Mandir 'bhumi pujan', the BJP on Sunday shared an old video

of former prime minister Indira Gandhi's speech at Deoband, aired on

state-run Doordarshan in 1980, to slam those objecting to the live telecast

of the event at Ayodhya on August 5, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi

will participate.

In the broadcast, Indira Gandhi can be heard saying: "Darul Uloom will

continue to serve India and the world in true Islamic tradition."

"What do people opposing the telecast of the bhumi pujan for the Ram Temple

on DD have to say about the DD broadcasting Indira's visit to Deoband?" the

BJP said, sharing the video of Indira Gandhi's speech.

Notably, some Left parties like the CPI have protested against the telecast

of the foundation laying ceremony of the Ram Mandir by DD, asking the

Central Government not to air the event live. It argued that the use of

Doordarshan to broadcast the religious function is against the accepted

norms of national integrity.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi has also been questioning whether the Prime

Minister of a secular state should attend a religious ceremony.

Preparations for the foundation stone-laying ceremony are in full swing in

Ayodhya where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone on

Wednesday.

COVID-19 DASHBOARD - (Nos. IN INDIA / Nos. WORLDWIDE)

(Indian data from covid19india / and World Data from

worldometers.info/coronavirus/ )

Total Cases 18,04,268 (+52,781) / 1,82,34,936 (+2,21,747)

Total Deaths 38,161 (+758) / 6,92,794 (+4,076)

Total Recovered 11,87,228 (+40,349) / 1,14,44,149 (+1,17,716)

Active Cases 5,78,879 (+11,674) / 60,97,993 (+99,955)

TOP IMPACTED NATIONS SO FAR: (AND SOME OF INDIA'S NEIGHBOURS)

Country, Total Cases / Total Deaths / Recovered Cases / Active

Cases

1 USA 48,13,647 / 1,58,365 /

23,80,217 / 22,75,065

2 Brazil 27,33,677 / 94,130 /

18,84,051 / 7,55,496

3 India 18,04,702 / 38,161 /

11,87,228 / 5,79,313

4 Russia 8,50,870 / 14,128 /

6,50,173 / 1,86,569

5 South Africa 5,11,485 / 8,366 /

3,47,227 / 1,55,892

6 Mexico 4,39,046 / 47,746 /

2,89,394 / 1,01,906

7 Peru 4,28,850 / 19,614 /

2,94,187 / 1,15,049

8 Chile 3,59,731 / 9,608 /

3,32,411 / 17,712

9 Spain 3,35,602 / 28,445 / N/A

/ N/A

10 Colombia 3,17,651 / 10,650 /

1,67,239 / 1,39,762

11 Iran 3,09,437 / 17,190 /

2,68,102 / 24,145

13 Pakistan 2,79,698 / 5,976 /

2,48,577 / 25,145

16 Bangladesh 2,40,746 / 3,154 /

1,36,839 / 1,00,753

115 Sri Lanka 2,823 / 11 /

2,514 / 298

TOP IMPACTED INDIAN STATES SO FAR

(These numbers are not available today as the website covid19india.org is

down)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

======================

TRUMP TO GIVE TIKTOK'S CHINESE OWNER 45 DAYS TO REACH DEAL TO SELL

US President Donald Trump has agreed to give China's ByteDance 45 days to

negotiate a sale of popular short-video app TikTok to Microsoft Corp, two

people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

US officials have said TikTok under its Chinese parent poses a national risk

because of the personal data it handles. Trump said on Friday he was

planning to ban TikTok in the United States after dismissing the idea of a

sale to Microsoft.

But following a discussion between Trump and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella,

the Redwood, Washington-based company said in a statement that it would

continue negotiations to acquire TikTok from ByteDance, and that it aimed to

reach a deal by Sept. 15.

It was not immediately clear what changed Trump's mind. Several prominent

Republican lawmakers put out statements in the last two days urging him to

back a sale of TikTok to Microsoft.

CORONAVIRUS: IRAN COVER-UP OF DEATHS REVEALED BY DATA LEAK

The number of deaths from coronavirus in Iran is nearly triple what Iran's

government claims, a BBC Persian service investigation has found.

The government's own records appear to show almost 42,000 people died with

Covid-19 symptoms up to 20 July, versus 14,405 reported by its health

ministry.

The number of people known to be infected is also almost double official

figures: 451,024 as opposed to 278,827.

A level of undercounting, largely due to testing capacity, is seen across

the world, but the information leaked to the BBC reveals Iranian authorities

have reported significantly lower daily numbers despite having a record of

all deaths - suggesting they were deliberately suppressed.

THE REST

========

AMIT SHAH HOSPITALISED AFTER TESTING COVID POSITIVE; YEDIYURAPPA TOO CATCHES

VIRUS

Home Minister Amit Shah, 55, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus

and has been admitted to a hospital.

"On getting the initial symptoms of coronavirus, I got the test done and the

report came back positive. My health is fine, but I am being admitted to the

hospital on the advice of doctors. I request those who came in contact with

me in last few days to get tested for coronavirus and isolate themselves,"

he tweeted.

A host of political leaders cutting across party lines, including Congress

leader Rahul Gandhi wished Amit Shah a speedy recovery.

Later on Sunday, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa also tested

positive for coronavirus. The CM tweeted: "I have tested positive for

coronavirus. Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on

the recommendation of doctors. I request those who have come in contact with

me recently to be observant and exercise self quarantine."

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit also tested positive for Covid-19 on

Sunday. "He is asymptomatic and clinically stable. He underwent further

tests and assessment," a medical bulletin said. Purohit has shown mild

symptoms and has been advised home isolation and will be monitored by the

medical team of Kauvery hospital.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh minister Kamal Rani Varun, 62, who had

earlier tested positive for the novel coronavirus, died due to the infection

in Lucknow.

So far, more than two dozen politicians, including legislators, have

contracted the virus.

CONGRESS CRACK-OPENS ITS DOOR FOR SACHIN PILOT'S RETURN

After Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said he will embrace rebel

Congressmen if they apologise to the "high command", the Congress on Sunday

made it clear that Sachin Pilot must first spell out his position

unequivocally and hold a conversation.

The Congress also claimed that its government in Rajasthan was safe and

would prove its majority on the floor of the house when the assembly meets

on August 14.

"Sachin Pilot must come and hold a conversation first. Pilot must come out

and state his position clearly and unequivocally first and only then can any

talk of his return happen," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala

said at a press conference.

Asked about Gehlot's comments that he will embrace the rebels and accept

them, after having used some harsh words against Pilot a few days ago,

Surjewala said the same were stated out of "hurt feelings and sentiments"

due to the conspiracy to topple his government. "Ashok Gehlot ji has acted

responsibly and in a mature fashion in what he has stated," he said.

"It should also set to rest all criticism of some remarks in a way out of

his hurt feelings and sentiments, on account of a clear conspiracy in

collusion with the BJP to topple his government in the state," the Congress

leader said.

PUNJAB HOOCH TOLL 104; OPPOSITION CALLS FOR CM'S RESIGNATION

Opposition parties in Punjab on Sunday attacked the state government over

the hooch tragedy that has killed 104 people, with the Shiromani Akali Dal

(SAD) asking chief minister Amarinder Singh to step down and demanding

action against "Congress leaders patronising spurious liquor trade."

The SAD also rejected the magisterial inquiry ordered by the state

government and sought a probe either by the CBI or a sitting judge of the

high court. The Aam Aadmi Party also demanded an investigation by the CBI,

with its state chief Bhagwant Mann indicating that political leaders might

be involved in it.

Meanwhile, some families of the deceased in Amritsar flayed the police for

not taking any action against those culpable.

HEALTH MINISTRY NOTIFIES RULES FOR INBOUND PASSENGERS

On Sunday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued fresh guidelines

for international arrivals. These will be applicable from August 8, and will

replace the guidelines issued on May 24.

All travellers should submit self-declaration form on the online portal

(www.newdelhiairport.in) at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel.

They should also give an undertaking on the portal that they will undergo

mandatory quarantine for 14 days i.e. 7 days paid institutional quarantine

at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring

of health.

Only for compelling reasons/ cases of human distress such as pregnancy,

death in family, serious illness and parent(s) with children of the age of

10 years or below, home quarantine may be permitted for 14 days.

Travellers may also seek exemption from institutional quarantine by

submitting a negative RTPCR test report on arrival. This test should have

been conducted within 96 hours prior to undertaking the journey. The test

report should be uploaded on the portal for consideration. Each passenger

shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report

and will be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise. The test

report could also be produced upon arrival at the point of entry airport in

India.

AMITABH DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL, ABHISHEK'S TREATMENT CONTINUES

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Sunday said that he has tested negative for

COVID-19 and will now be quarantining at home.

The 77-year-old actor, who was admitted to Nanavati hospital along with son

Abhishek after testing positive for COVID-19 on July 11, expressed his

gratitude to well-wishers for their continued support and prayers.

Abhishek tweeted that he is still COVID-19 positive and will remain under

medical care. "I, unfortunately, due to some comorbidities remain Covid-19

positive and remain in hospital. Again, thank you all for your continued

wishes and prayers for my family. Very humbled and indebted. I'll beat this

and come back healthier! Promise," he added.

IF YOU'RE INNOCENT STOP PLAYING HIDE-AND-SEEK: BIHAR COPS TO RHEA

Accepting that it could not trace Rhea Chakraborty in the Sushant Singh

Rajput alleged suicide case so far, the Bihar Police on said that their

motive is not to punish any innocent. "If Rhea has not done anything wrong

then she should stop playing hide-and-seek with the police and come forward

to clarify the things," the Bihar Police argued.

Meanwhile, Rhea has filed an application in the Supreme Court to hear the

entire case in Mumbai instead of Patna. Sushant's father, through his lawyer

Vikas Singh, has also filed a counter-petition to keep the case in Patna.

The case is to be heard on August 5.

Earlier, Rhea had released a video and claimed herself innocent. On this,

Director-General of Bihar Police Gupteshwar Pandey said that instead of

telling herself innocent through video, Rhea should record her statement

before the police, this will be in her favour.

On July 25, Sushant's father had registered a case against Rhea Chakraborty

and her family members at Rajiv Nagar police station in Patna for abetting

his son to suicide. After the registration of the case, the Bihar Police

reached Mumbai and started investigating the case.

According to Pandey, An IPS officer from Bihar, in Mumbai to probe the case,

was "forcibly quarantined" by civic authorities.

SPACEX CAPSULE AND NASA CREW MAKE A SPLASHDOWN

Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday in a dramatic, retro-style

splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out

an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk's SpaceX company.

It was the first splashdown by US astronauts in 45 years, with the first

commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from

orbit. The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as

next month and possible tourist flights next year.

Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode the SpaceX Dragon capsule back

to Earth less than a day after departing the International Space Station and

two months after blasting off from Florida. The capsule parachuted into the

calm gulf waters off the coast of Pensacola, hundreds of miles from Tropical

Storm Isaias pounding Florida's Atlantic coast.

A SpaceX recovery ship with more than 40 staff, including doctors and

nurses, moved in following splashdown, with two smaller, faster boats

leading the way.

IPL 2020 IN UAE, DATES OUT; GOVT APPROVAL AWAITED

The 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) will be played from September 19 to

November 10, as confirmed by the IPL Governing Council on Sunday. The BCCI

hasn't yet received the Indian government's approval to hold the tournament

in the UAE. However, governing council chairman Brijesh Patel hoped that the

nod is forthcoming.

He also mentioned that like every year, the Women's T20 Challenge would be

played this season as well; in the first week of November in UAE.

"The 53-day tournament will witness 10 afternoon matches starting at 15:30

IST while the evening matches will start at 19:30 IST," a BCCI release

stated.

The IPL Governing Council has decided to retain all its sponsors, including

Chinese mobile company VIVO.

It is expected that the squad strength in terms of playing members will be

24 the eight franchises. Standard Operating Procedure is still being

prepared but there would be any number of COVID replacements this year.

LEWIS HAMILTON CLOSES IN ON SCHUMACHER'S RECORD

Lewis Hamilton held on to win the British Grand Prix on Sunday despite a

puncture on the last lap to clinch an 87th career win and move within four

of Michael Schumacher's Formula One record.

The championship leader's record-extending seventh Silverstone win saw him

finish six seconds ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who unexpectedly

moved up a place after Hamilton's Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas

sustained a puncture with three laps left.

With Hamilton so far ahead, Verstappen went in for a tire change in a bid to

gain an extra point for the fastest lap but that pit stop ultimately cost

him victory because Hamilton's front left shredded with half a lap to go.

Verstappen swallowed up most of the 25-second gap but ran out of time.

Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari.

When his tire melted, Bottas had to come back for a tire change and dropped

out of the points altogether into 11th spot and 30 points behind Hamilton in

the title race.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

People treat you the way you treat yourself. - Michael Bassey Johnson

OFF TRACK

The boss called one of his employees into the office, "Rob," he said,

"you've been with the company for 3 years. You started off in the post room,

one month later you were promoted to a sales position, and in just a year

after that you were promoted to district manager of the sales department.

"Saix months ago, you were promoted to vice-chairman. Now it's time for me

to retire, and I want you to take over the company.

"What do you say to that?"

"Thanks," said the employee.

"Thanks?" the boss replied. "Is that all you can say?"

"I suppose not," the employee said. "Thanks, Dad."