JOINT FRONT BY OPPOSITION IN LOK SABHA

The Opposition Thursday mounted joint protests against the govt over the Pegasus spyware issue in Parliament, with the Congress deciding to further raise the heat by collecting signatures of MPs to press for a debate in the House on the matter.

Fourteen Opposition parties had met Wednesday to plan joint action on the Pegasus issue in Parliament, and for the first time since the Monsoon Session began on July 19, they worked in tandem.

While the govt has been repeatedly saying it is ready to debate every issue, Congress and TMC leaders have alleged that the Treasury benches do not want to discuss either the farm laws or Pegasus.

As the Lok Sabha assembled Thursday, Birla expressed his “pain” over the unruly behaviour of Opposition MPs who had torn agenda papers and thrown them at the Chair the previous day, and warned every member to ensure this is not repeated. “We should collectively decide to protect the dignity of Parliament… I will have to take stringent action against such people if this happens repeatedly… Any recurrence may attract action from the Chair,” Birla warned, adding that Wednesday’s events “were against the basic ethics of this august House”.

Leader of the Congress in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said they all respected the Chair. “The productivity of this House has reached a new high under the current Speaker and we acknowledge this. But whatever is happening in the House is due to the stubbornness of the govt,” he said.

INDIA RAISES PITCH AGAINST PAKISTAN, ASKS IT TO ‘VACATE ALL AREAS UNDER ILLEGAL OCCUPATION’

New Delhi Thursday slammed Pakistan and asked Islamabad to “vacate all areas under illegal occupation”, even as it came down heavily on Beijing over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and said it is inside India’s territory.

India Thursday also reacted against Taliban leaders visiting China and meeting the country’s leaders there.

Reacting to the recent elections held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs Thursday said it was a “cosmetic exercise”. “The so-called elections in Indian territory under the illegal occupation of Pakistan are nothing but an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its illegal occupation and the material changes undertaken by it in these territories. Pakistan has no locus standi on these Indian territories. We call upon Pakistan to vacate all Indian areas under its illegal occupation,” Bagchi said at a media briefing.

Bagchi added that India has lodged a strong protest with the Pakistani authorities on this “cosmetic exercise, which has been protested and rejected by the local people.”

Bagchi also said that the “so-called” China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is in “India’s territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan.”

Reacting to Taliban leaders visiting China, India said “unilateral imposition of will” by any party will not lead to the creation of a stable and democratic Afghanistan “As you now, we are closely monitoring developments in Afghanistan … I would like to reiterate that India, and the world, wishes to see an independent, sovereign, democratic and stable Afghanistan, at peace with itself and neighbours,” he said.

IN TANDEM, OFFICIALS FROM 3 MINISTRIES SKIP IT PANEL MEET: SHASHI THAROOR

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, which is expected to discuss the Pegasus spyware issue, had called officials of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of Home Affairs, and Department of Telecommunication on the subject ‘Citizens’ Data Security and Privacy’.

While the meeting could not take place as the 10 BJP members present did not sign the attendance register, and hence ensured lack of quorum, it is the actions of the ministry officials that the panel chairman Shashi Tharoor has taken up with the Speaker.

Tharoor has pointed out that the officers notified that they would not be appearing before the panel within minutes of each other, at 2.33 pm, 2.44 pm and 2.55 pm.

Citing Direction 59(1) of the Directions by Speaker, which say a ministry or department should be represented by the Secretary or the Head of the Department if required to give evidence before a committee on any matter, Tharoor has written, “it is important to share that, as Chairperson, I did not excuse these witnesses from attendance”. Tharoor has said the failure of a witness to appear before a committee when summoned constitutes contempt of the House.

SIX-MEMBER CENTRAL TEAM TO VISIT KERALA TODAY AMID RISE IN COVID CASES

From being held up as a model state for its Covid-19 control during the first wave of the pandemic, Kerala is contributing to nearly half the cases reported nationally, drawing criticism from experts and the Opposition on the way the state has tackled the second wave.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday said the Centre would send a six-member high-level multidisciplinary team to the state to assess the situation there.

On July 28, the state reported 22,129 cases, contributing to nearly 50 per cent of the 42,498 cases reported nationally, with an average test positivity rate of 12.35 per cent, which is several times higher than the national average of 3 per cent.

Experts indicate that bad management, an exhausted govt vigilance mechanism, delay in roping in private players, relaxing norms, and over-dependence on antigen tests may be the reasons for this.

Meanwhile, the BJP and the state’s ruling CPI(M) traded barbs over the situation, with the former blaming “politics of appeasement” for the rise in cases in Kerala and criticising the state govt for relaxing curbs for Eid-ul-Adha.

Hitting back at the BJP, senior CPI(M) leader and former Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac urged the Centre to provide more vaccines to Kerala than “free advice”. He said Kerala has the lowest seroprevalence of 44 per cent. “It implies that Kerala has managed Covid better,” he said.

KEY COVID NUMBERS

Current Active Cases Countrywide: 3,99,315

New Cases in last 24 hours: 44,653

Recovered in last 24 hours: 42,119

Change in no. of Active cases in last 24 hours: + 1,985

No. of deaths in last 24 hours (Total Covid Deaths so far): 549 (4,23,244)

Daily Tests (Wednesday): 17,28,795

Daily Positivity Rate (Proportion of Positives among total Tested): 2.5%

Percentage of Population Vaccinated (At Least One Dose / Two Doses): 26.4% / 7.4%

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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UK ALLOWS VACCINATED EU & US TOURISTS BUT KEEPS INDIA ON RED LIST

Fully vaccinated travellers from the US and European Union (EU) countries will be able to avoid a 10-day compulsory quarantine when they arrive in England from next Monday, the UK govt said on Wednesday.

Currently, only people who received their Covid-19 vaccine in the UK can avoid quarantine when arriving from these "amber list" countries under the govt's traffic list travel system.

“We've taken great strides on our journey to reopen international travel and today is another important step forward. Whether you are a family reuniting for the first time since the start of the pandemic or a business benefiting from increased trade — this is progress we can all enjoy,” said UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. “We will of course continue to be guided by the latest scientific data but thanks to our world-leading domestic vaccination programme, we're able to look to the future and start to rebuild key transatlantic routes with the US while further cementing ties with our European neighbours,” he said.

India remains on the red list under the international traffic system, which bans travel and imposes a compulsory 10-day hotel quarantine for returning British residents. The next review of that status is expected by the middle of next week.

TAKING NSO SPYWARE CLAIMS SERIOUSLY, ISRAEL TELLS FRANCE

Israel is taking seriously allegations that spyware developed by an Israeli company was used against public figures including French President Emmanuel Macron, Israel’s defence minister told his French counterpart during a visit to Paris on Wednesday. Israeli defence chief Benny Gantz met French defence minister Florence Parly in part to share initial findings from an Israeli govt assessment of exports to France by NSO Group, which sells the Pegasus spyware. At Parly’s request, Gantz “commented on the issue of NSO and told her that Israel is taking the allegations seriously”, a statement from his office said. “Israel grants cyber licences only to nation-states and only to be used for the needs of dealing with terrorism and crime,” it said.

THE REST

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ASSAM GOVT ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY, SAYS GOING TO MIZORAM IS NOT SAFE

Four days after six Assam Police personnel were killed in violent clashes at the Assam-Mizoram border, the Assam govt Thursday issued an unusual travel advisory asking people not to travel to Mizoram citing a “threat to personal safety”.

Mizoram, meanwhile, objected to a large contingent of Assam Police personnel being mobilised at the interstate border.

Assam’s advisory, from the state’s Home and Political Department, said: “Given the critical prevailing situation, the people of Assam are advised not to travel to Mizoram as any threat to personal safety of people cannot be accepted.” It also advised people of Assam, who stay in Mizoram for work, to “exercise utmost caution”.

MAHARASHTRA TO RELAX CURBS IN 25 DISTRICTS, INCLUDING MUMBAI

Mumbai and 24 other districts of Maharashtra which have reported COVID-19 positivity rates lower than the state's average are likely to get more relaxation from restrictions, state health minister Rajesh Tope said on Thursday.

The govt is also considering if those who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus can be allowed to travel by local trains in Mumbai, he said.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the state's COVID-19 task force chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Tope said in the remaining 11 districts, where the infection rate is high, more restrictions may be imposed. But there will be no relaxation in the remaining districts of Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Beed and Ahmednagar where the infection positivity rate is higher than the average, the minister said.

"We are still discussing the ways to verify if a passenger has taken both doses. We will also speak to the railway authorities," the minister said. At present only those engaged in essential and emergency services are allowed to travel by local trains in the state capital.

BJP SLAMS LEFT FOR ATTENDING CHINESE EMBASSY EVENT; LEFT HITS BACK

The presence of Left leaders at an online event organised by the Chinese embassy to mark the centenary of the Communist Party of China has triggered a row with the BJP accusing Left parties of having a long tradition of opposing the national interest and harbouring extraterritorial loyalties.

The Left, however, defended the decision noting that the govt itself is engaged with China on several issues and accused the BJP of raising it to divert attention from its govt’s failures.

The Chinese embassy said that it had organised an online seminar on July 27 to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury, CPI’s D Raja, DMK MP S Senthilkumar and All India Forward Bloc’s G Devarajan were among those who attended and addressed it.

27 PC RESERVATION FOR OBC, 10 PC FOR EWS IN ALL-INDIA QUOTA FOR MEDICAL COURSES

Students from other backward classes and economically weaker sections will find it easier to study in any medical college of their choice across India from the 2021-22 academic session with the govt on Thursday announcing the decision to reserve 27 per cent seats for OBCs and 10 per cent for EWS students in MBBS, PG, Dental seats earmarked under all India quota.

The All India Quota (AIQ) Scheme was introduced in 1986 under the directions of the Supreme Court to provide for domicile-free merit-based opportunities to students from any state to aspire to study in a good medical college located in another state. All India Quota consists of 15% of total available UG seats and 50% of total available PG seats in govt medical colleges.

Initially, there was no reservation in AIQ Scheme up to 2007. In 2007, the Supreme Court introduced reservations of 15 per cent for SCs and 7.5 per cent for STs in the AIQ Scheme.

When the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act became effective in 2007 providing for uniform 27 per cent reservation to OBCs, the same was implemented in all the Central Educational Institutions namely Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Harding Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University etc.

However, this was not extended to the AIQ seats of State medical and dental colleges. That gap is being filled now.

CAN’T PROSECUTE GOOD SAMARITAN: DELHI HIGH COURT

Taking exception to the Delhi Drug Controller prosecuting AAP leaders who arranged oxygen for Covid patients when the Centre and Delhi Govt failed to arrange sufficient medical oxygen in the Capital during the pandemic, the Delhi HC on Thursday said good Samaritans could not be prosecuted.

“Go and book every gurdwara, every temple or church...prosecute every good Samaritan giving oxygen,” a Bench, led by Justice Vipin Sanghi, told the Delhi Drug Controller which had launched a prosecution against MLAs who sourced oxygen cylinders. Don’t get into hyper-technical interpretation of law to book people who helped patients with oxygen, it said.

TALIBAN KILLED DANISH, CLAIMS REPORT

Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was murdered by the Taliban, according to a write-up by Michael Rubin in the Washington Examiner.

The report, quoting the local Afghan authorities, says Siddiqui travelled with an Afghan National Army team to Spin Boldak region to cover the clash between Afghan forces and the Taliban to control the border crossing with Pakistan. When they were within one-third of a mile of the Customs post, a Taliban attack split the team, with the commander and a few men separated from Siddiqui, who remained with three other Afghan troops.

During this assault, a shrapnel hit Siddiqui, after which he and his team went to a local mosque where he received first-aid. As the word spread that a journalist was inside the mosque, the Taliban launched an attack, the report says, adding that a local probe suggested the Taliban attacked the mosque only because of Siddiqui. “It verified Siddiqui’s identity and executed him,” Rubin wrote.

TOKYO OLYMPICS: HOW INDIA'S ATHLETES FARED ON THURSDAY, JULY 29

India's athletes had a reasonably good day at the Olympic Games on Thursday, even as iconic pugilist M C Mary Kom failed to go through to the quarter-finals in the women's flyweight boxing despite putting a good fight.

Satish Kumar, another boxer, badminton icon Pusarla V Sindhu, archer Atanu Das and the men's hockey team kept the country's hopes of a medal alive in their respective disciplines with exhilarating performances.

Here's a look at how the country's athletes fared on Thursday, July 29 at the Games.

ARCHERY

Atanu Das beat Chinese Taipei’s Yu-Cheng in men's individual 1/32 elimination; beat South Korea’s Oh Jin Hyek in 1/16 elimination.

BADMINTON

P V Sindhu beat Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt 21-15, 21-13 in women's singles Round of 16 match.

BOXING

Satish Kumar beat Jamaica’s Ricardo Brown 4-1 in men's +91kg Round of 16 bout.

M C Mary Kom lost to Ingrit Colombia’s Lorena Valencia 2-3 in women's 51kg Round of 16 bout.

GOLF

Men's Individual Stroke Play Round 1:

Anirban Lahiri carded 4-under 67 and was placed tied 8th after Round 1.

Udayan Mane, who made the field of 60 at a late stage, carded 5-over 76 and was last on the leader-board.

HOCKEY

India beat Argentina 3-1 in men's Pool A league match.

ROWING

Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh finished fifth in Final B (for rankings; non medal round) and 11th overall in men's lightweight double sculls event.

SAILING

K C Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar finished 7th and are placed 17th overall in Men's Skiff 49er Race 5 and 6. They were 16th in Race 5 before pulling off a seventh-place finish in Race 6.

They are 17th out of 19 competitors with 76 net points.

Nethra Kumanan was placed 31st with 176 net points out of 44 sailors after finishing 22nd and 20th in Women's Laser Radial Race 7 and 8.

Vishnu Saravanan was 23rd overall out of 35 sailors with 138 net points after finishing 27th and 23rd in Men's Laser Race 7 and 8.

SHOOTING

In a field of 44 shooters, Rahi Sarnobat aggregated 287 and Manu Bhaker 292 in women's 25m Pistol Qualification Precision and finished 5th and 25th respectively.

The second stage of qualification -- the rapid round -- is on Friday. The top-8 shooters in qualification enter the final.

SWIMMING

Sajan Prakash placed 46th overall after finishing second in his heat in men's 100m BButterfly; failed to qualify for semi-finals.

SRI LANKA TROUNCE INDIA IN THIRD T20 TO WIN SERIES

Wanindu Hasaranga took four wickets for nine runs and scored an unbeaten 14 as Sri Lanka beat India by seven wickets in the third T20 International and clinched the series 2-1.

Leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga did the start turn as Sri Lanka beat India by seven wickets in the third and final T20 International to clinch the series 2-1, in Colombo, on Thursday.

Electing to bat first, India, playing with at least two batsmen short, were restricted to 81 for 8, their third lowest total, as Hasaranga scalped four wickets for nine runs in four overs.

The bowler then batted doggedly with Dhananjaya de Silva after Sri Lanka were reduced to 56 for 3 in the 12th over, scoring an unbeaten 14 off 9 balls, to help the side through in 14.3 overs.

This is Sri Lanka's first T20 series victory over India. They were beaten in the preceding ODI series 1-2.

INDICATORS

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GBP 0.71 /US$, Euro 0.84 /US$, Jap.Yen 109.67 /US$, Aus$ 1.35 /US$, Sing 1.35 /US$, Bang Taka 83.18 /US$, Can$ 1.24 /US$, Mal Ring 4.23 /US$,

Pak Re 161.36 /US$, Phil Peso 50.22 /US$, Russian Rouble 73.22 /US$, NZ$ 1.43 /US$, Thai Baht 32.83 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 26.59 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 40,040

Dollar Index 91.95 Brent Crude 75.72 BDI 3,214

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,827 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 4,808 / 4,708, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 72,300

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Be scared. You can’t help that. But don’t be afraid. --William Faulkner

OFF TRACK

OFF TRACK: When a patient was wheeled into our emergency room, the nurse on duty aske her: "On a scale of zero to ten, with zero representing no pain and ten representing excruciating pain, what would you say your pain level is now?"

The patient shook her. "Oh, I don't know. I'm not good with math."