GAVE BEFITTING REPLY IN LADAKH: PM

"Those who cast an evil eye on Indian soil in Ladakh have got a befitting

response. India honours the spirit of friendship. she is also capable of

giving an appropriate response to any adversary, without shying away, said

PM Narendra Modi yesterday, during his radio broadcast 'Mann ki Baat'

He praised the sacrifice of the Indian Army, saying that "the entire country

comes together in paying tributes to the bravery of our jawans who attained

martyrdom in Ladakh". Every Indian painfully regrets the loss, he added.

India, Modi said, had solemnly resolved to safeguard her honour and

sovereignty. "India's aim is a self-reliant India. India's tradition is

trust and friendship. India's spirit is brotherhood. We shall keep moving

ahead abiding by these principles," he said in what is being seen as a

message to China.

Speaking about Covid, Modi said just 6-7 months ago "neither did we know the

catastrophe that corona was nor had we expected the fight to go this long".

The country will have to focus on defeating coronavirus and bolstering the

economy as it exits from the lockdown and enters the "unlock" phase, he

said.

17 COUNTRIES, 170 FLIGHTS FROM JULY 3-15 FOR STRANDED INDIANS

The government today said it would be commencing the Vande Bharat Mission

4.0 and Air India has been assigned to conduct 170 flights to and from 17

countries between July 3 and 15.

The government had started the mission on May 6 to help stranded people

reach their destination using special repatriation flights. Scheduled

international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23

due to Covid-19 induced lockdown.

Officials said under the fourth phase of the mission, Air India would be

conducting 170 flights connecting India with Canada, the US, the UK, Kenya,

Sri Lanka, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Thailand,

South Africa, Russia, Australia, Myanmar, Japan, Ukraine and Vietnam.

The officials said around 38 flights were scheduled to operate between India

and the UK and another 32 such operations would be conducted on routes

connecting different destinations in the US. The AI would operate 26 flights

between India and Saudi Arabia, they added.

'WE LONG FOR THOSE GREAT LEADERS': CONGRESS' LATEST ATTACK ON GOVT

The Congress party kept the heat on the government by once again accusing it

of "giving in to intruders" in reference to the face-off between the Indian

and Chinese soldiers in Ladakh's Galwan Valley. "India once had leaders with

great courage & fortitude. Leaders that never backed down from threat or

adversary. Today, as our govt gives in to intruders, we long for those great

leaders & the India they made," the Congress said on Twitter on Sunday.

The party attached a video with the tweet which talks about India giving a

befitting reply to the Chinese in the 60s which shaped the Indo-China

relations in the years to come.

In a separate tweet, Rahul Gandhi questioned, " Kab hogi rashtra raksha aur

suraksha ki baat (When will there be talk of national security)".

Sources in Mr Gandhi's office said the tweet was also a response to ally

Sharad Pawar, who -- amid the Congress-BJP face-off over Ladakh - said on

Saturday that matters of national security shouldn't be politicized.

During an interview with ANI yesterday, Union home minister Amit Shah said

the govt was ready for a debate in parliament on the Ladakh issue.

NEPAL PM OLI ALLEGES INDIA PLOT TO TOPPLE HIM, SAYS MEETINGS ON IN DELHI

As differences worsen between the two chairpersons of the ruling Nepal

Communist Party, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the

former alleged Sunday that his rivals were being instigated by India to

topple him.

Speaking at a programme, Oli alleged that "meetings" were being organised in

Delhi against Nepal's decision to amend its Constitution to include in its

map Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura areas.

"It is unthinkable. the things that are happening in Delhi against the

amendment to the Constitution. Listen to the Delhi media. Look at the

meetings being organised in India," said Oli, referring to an alleged "plot"

to overthrow his government. "You all must know Nepal's nationalism is not

that weak that outside forces will be able to topple it." he said.

Saying he had no desire to be in the post "forever", he, however, said there

was "no question" of his quitting at the moment. "If I quit, there will be

no leader to raise the issue of nationalism and territory," he said in an

apparent reference to the differences within the party.

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

(Indian data from covid19india / and World Data from

worldometers.info/coronavirus/ )

Total Cases 5,49,141 (+19,620) / 1,02,43,858 (+1,61,245)

Ttal Deaths 16,487 (+384) / 5,04,410 (+3,102)

Total Recovered 3,21,774 (+11,628) / 55,53,495 (+94,972)

Active Cases 2,10,880 (+7,608) / 41,85,953 (+63,171)

Serious / Critical Cases - N.A. / 57,670 (-78)

Top impacted nations so far: (And some of India's Neighbours)

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

Cases

1 USA 26,37,077 / 1,28,437 /

10,93,456 / 14,15,184

2 Brazil 13,45,254 / 57,658 /

7,33,848 / 5,53,748

3 Russia 6,34,437 / 9,073 /

3,99,087 / 2,26,277

4 India 5,49,197 / 16,487 /

3,21,774 / 2,10,936

5 UK 3,11,151 / 43,550 / N/A

/ N/A

6 Spain 2,95,850 / 28,343 / N/A

/ N/A

7 Peru 2,79,419 / 9,317 /

1,67,998 / 1,02,104

8 Chile 2,71,982 / 5,509 /

2,32,210 / 34,263

9 Italy 2,40,310 / 34,738 /

1,88,891 / 16,681

10 Iran 2,22,669 / 10,508 /

1,83,310 / 28,851

11 Mexico 2,16,852 / 26,648 / 1,26,843

/ 63,361

12 Pakistan 2,02,955 / 4,118 /

92,624 / 1,06,213

18 Bangladesh 1,37,787 / 1,738 /

55,727 / 80,322

107 Sri Lanka 2,037 / 11 /

1,661 / 365

Top 18 impacted Indian States so far: (Total No. of Confirmed case / No. Of

Deaths)

State / Confirmed Cases / Active Case / Recovered /

Deceased

Maharashtra 1,64,626 / 70,607 / 86,575 /

7,429

Delhi 83,077 / 27,847 / 52,607 / 2,623

Tamil Nadu 82,275 / 35,659 / 45,537 /

1,079

Gujarat 31,397 / 6,780 / 22,808 / 1,809

Uttar Pradesh 22,147 / 6,679 / 14,808 /

660

West Bengal 17,283 / 5,451 / 11,193 /

639

Rajasthan 17,271 / 3,261 / 13,611 /

399

Telangana 14,419 / 9,000 / 5,172 /

247

Haryana 13,829 / 4,689 / 8,917 /

223

Karnataka 13,190 / 5,470 / 7,509 /

207

Madhya Pradesh 13,186 / 2,545 / 10,084 /

557

Andhra Pradesh 13,098 / 7,021 / 5,908

/ 169

Bihar 9,224 / 2,006 / 7,156 / 62

Assam 7,493 / 2,390 / 5,089 / 11

Jammu and Kashmir 7,093 / 2,683 / 4,316 /

94

Odisha 6,614 / 1,843 / 4,743 / 28

Punjab 5,216 / 1,557 / 3,526 / 133

Kerala 4,190 / 2,015 / 2,150 / 23

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

US SANCTIONS, CORONAVIRUS MAKE FOR IRAN'S TOUGHEST YEAR: ROUHANI

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that his country is

experiencing its toughest year because of US sanctions coupled with the

Covid-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus crisis has exacerbated economic problems that worsened after

US President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018 from Iran's nuclear deal with

major powers and reimposed sanctions. On Monday, Iran's rial currency fell

to its lowest ever level against the US dollar.

"It's been the most difficult year due to the enemy's economic pressure and

the pandemic," Rouhani said in a televised speech.

"The economic pressure that began in 2018 has increased ... and today it is

the toughest pressure on our dear country."

COVID-19 DEATHS AMONG INDIAN-ORIGIN PEOPLE HIGH IN UK

The UK government on Sunday said it is planning to impose localised

lockdowns in some regions showing a spike in coronavirus infections, as

latest figures showed that Indian-origin people remain in the category of

those hardest hit from the deadly virus among Britain's ethnic minorities.

The UK had conducted a review into the disparity in the impact from the

pandemic among the country's black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and

Public Health England said it is exploring steps needed to address the

disproportionately adverse impact on some ethnicities.

The latest NHS England statistics revealed that 763 people identifying with

Indian heritage have died so far in the pandemic, according to data collated

until last Thursday. This amounts to three per cent of the total deaths

officially recorded.

Those of Pakistani and Caribbean heritage are the second-hardest hit ethnic

groups at two per cent each.

COVID-19 DEATH TOLL DROPS TO 5 IN NEW YORK

On Saturday, 5 people died from the coronavirus in New York state, a death

toll Gov. Andrew Cuomo called "the lowest number we have had since this

started."

Saturday's total compared to 13 fatalities the day before as the number of

fatalities caused by the virus continues to plummet in the state. During the

peak of the pandemic in April, nearly 800 people were dying a day from

coronavirus.

THE REST

========

CONCERN IN VALLEY OVER J&K ORDER TO STOCK UP ON LPG CYLINDERS

A communication by the Director, Food Civil Supplies & Consumers Affairs

Department in Kashmir asking oil companies to stock up on LPG cylinders led

to concern in the Valley.

The Food Department, however, has said the order was issued to prevent a

shortfall of "essential commodities" and maintained "some people are

spreading false information regarding a communication with respect to the

LPG stock in Kashmir valley."

The order, marked "most urgent", states, "The advisor. in a meeting conveyed

on 23-6-2020 has passed directions to ensure sufficient stocks of LPG in the

valley as the supply of the same gets affected due to closure of the

National Highway on account of frequent landslides, due to which consumers

face a lot of inconvenience."

This is the first time that such an order has come in the public domain in

the summer months. "Government orders are creating panic in Kashmir &

unfortunately after all the lies & false assurances last year even if/when

the government explains these orders hardly any of us will take the

assurances at face value. That said they still need to explain these

orders," former J&K CM Omar Abdullah tweeted on Sunday.

However, a statement issued by the Food Department late Saturday said the

order was passed "to prevent any shortfall of essential commodities." Last

year, before the abrogation of Article 370, the J&K administration asked

hospitals to stock medicines, among other measures. Then too, authorities

said they were routine orders.

COVID-19: MP, UP ANNOUNCE HOUSE-TO-HOUSE SURVEY

Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh announced a door-to-door survey joining

several states and UTs which have opted for the exercise in their efforts to

check the surge.

The Centre noted that recoveries exceeded active COVID cases by over one

lakh, stressing that "proactive steps" taken by it along with the states and

union territories are showing "encouraging results". The number of active

cases stands at 2,03,051, while 3,09,712 people have recovered and one

patient has migrated, according to the updated data. A total of 3,09,712

patients have been cured of COVID-19 so far with 13,832 patients having

recovered in the last 24 hours, it said. "The recovery rate is 58.56 per

cent amongst COVID-19 patients," the ministry said.

As the coronavirus cases continue to rise rapidly, the key focus areas would

include strict containment measures, surveillance, testing and predicting

emerging hot spots. The government also plans to closely monitor patients

with comorbidities and the elderly population.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly radio programme Mann

Ki Baat, said: "there could be any number of challenges but our history

shows that we have always overcome them".

MAHARASHTRA LOCKDOWN CURBS TO CONTINUE BEYOND JUNE 30, SAYS CM UDDHAV

THACKERAY

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Sunday said the battle against

coronavirus cannot be left halfway and urged the people of the state to

follow rules and ensure the lockdown was not re-imposed. However, Thackeray

made it clear that the lockdown curbs in the state would continue beyond

June 30.

In an address to the state, Thackeray said, "Will lockdown be lifted after

June 30? The clear answer is no. We can not leave this war halfway in this

final phase. The crisis is not over yet. I am sure that you will continue to

co-operate with the government to ensure that the lockdown is not

re-imposed."

Warning people against lowering their guard as economic activities resume in

the state after a three-month lockdown, the CM said, "In fact, we need to

show more stringent discipline. Take care of senior citizens and children

and leave home only if necessary. Even the youth must be careful." Thackeray

also thanked all religious communities for showing restraint during the

lockdown as several festivals passed through this period.

Stating that many senior doctors between 55-60 years having co-morbidities

were afraid of going to hospital, Thackeray requested them to shed the fear

of contracting the disease and return to work as the state required their

experience now.

He also urged Covid survivors to come forward and donate their plasma to

help the current patients recover. "I request those who were cured of Corona

to come forward and donate their blood plasma, as it contains antibodies

which can help cure those who are fighting the disease," he stated.

The Mumbai Police meanwhile tightened blockades across the city on Sunday

and urged people not to come out of their homes. The police informed

Mumbaikars that action will be taken against people for travelling beyond a

radius of 2 kilometres from their homes and only office-goers will be exempt

from the rule.

TALES OF POLICE BRUTALITY FROM TUTICORIN

The Tamil Nadu Government has decided to transfer the probe into the death

of a man and his son, victims of alleged police torture in Tuticorin

district, to the CBI, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said on Sunday.

P Jayaraj and his son Fennix, arrested for 'violating' lockdown norms over

business hours of their cell phone shop, died at a hospital in Kovilpatti on

June 23, with their relatives alleging they were severely thrashed at the

Sathankulam police station by cops earlier. The incident has triggered a

nationwide furore, leading to the suspension of four policemen, including

two sub-inspectors.

Several film stars too condemned the "police brutality".

A judicial inquiry has found that nearly a dozen people had reported being

beaten up at the same police station two weeks ago, by the same officers.

The hashtags #JusticeForJayarajAndBennix and #JusticeForJayarajAndFenix have

been trending on all social media platforms for the last couple of days.

MAN FINED RS 6.2L AS 15 GUESTS TEST +VE

The Rajasthan Government has slapped a fine of Rs 6,26,600 on a groom's

father for flouting Covid-19 norms by organising a lavish wedding in

Bhilwara recently.

Of the 250 invitees, 15 contracted virus and the groom's grandfather died of

the infection. As many as 58 others were quarantined, said Rajendra Bhatt,

Collector, Bhilwara. The invitees flouted norms like wearing face masks,

social distancing, cleanliness and did not even use sanitisers.

The man had sought permission for 50 guests to solemnise his son's wedding

at Bhadada Mohalla in Bhilwara on June 13, but 250 guests attended the

event.

OXFORD VACCINE MOST ADVANCED, SAYS WHO

Even though there are more than 13 experimental vaccines in clinical trials

among the 140 being developed to combat Covid-19, the World Health

Organisation has identified the candidates developed by Oxford

University-AstraZeneca and Moderna Inc as the front-runners.

AstraZeneca, which has already begun phase III human trials of its AZD1222

(formerly known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) vaccine candidate, signed its tenth

supply-and-manufacturing deal. Brazil announced on Saturday it had signed a

$127 million agreement to start producing locally the Oxford-AstraZeneca

vaccine. "Certainly in terms of how advanced they are, the stage at which

they are, they are I think probably the leading candidate," says WHO chief

scientist Soumya Swaminathan as saying.

"We do know that Moderna's vaccine is also going to go into phase three

clinical trials, probably from the middle of July, and so that vaccine

candidate is not far behind. AstraZeneca certainly has a more global scope

at the moment in terms of where they are doing and planning their vaccine

trials," Swaminathan said.

APPLE-GOOGLE COVID FEATURE IN OUR PHONE BUT IT DOESN'T WORK IN INDIA

In April, rivals Google and Apple made an unprecedented move of joining

hands to help governments in tracing contacts of Covid-19-positive people.

On Sunday, the "COVID-19 exposure notifications" feature appeared on Android

and Apple phones everywhere. But that means very little for those living in

India.

The feature will only work in a phone that has downloaded an application

that it works with. "What we have built is not an app - rather public health

agencies will incorporate the API into their own apple that people install,"

the companies said in a release.

In other words, the software links up to the government's own contact

tracing applications through an API, or application programming interface.

An API is a highway that allows two programs to speak to each other, and it

is different from a single application installed in your phone.

India's contct-tracing application, Aarogya Setu, has not linked up to the

Apple-Google API.

DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, SOME BILLIONAIRES ARE BECOMING RICHER

The COVID-19 pandemic may have pushed the world economy into a tailspin,

with 2020 projected to be worse than any of the years since the global

financial crisis. But billionaires, at least a select group of them across

countries, have seen their wealth soar during the past three months, which

have been financially painful for most people across the world.

In the US, billionaires have become richer to the tune of $565 billion since

March 18, according to a report published earlier this month by the

Washington DC-based think tank Institute for Policy Studies and Clearwater,

Florida-based advocacy group Americans For Fair Taxation. The total wealth

for billionaires stood at $3.5 trillion, up 19 per cent from the low point

near the beginning of the pandemic, the report said.

The surge in wealth of the richest Americans is being driven by the sharp

bounceback of the stock market in US, primarily driven by the unprecedented

action from the US Federal Reserve. Nasdaq has been hovering at close to

record highs. The US Fed's emergency response to the crisis, including

cutting interest rates to zero and undertaking to buy unlimited amounts of

bond has translated into assets such as stocks, despite being risky

investments, seeing fresh demand.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Everyone wants answers until they get one they don't like. - Unknown

OFF TRACK

A drill sergeant had just chewed out one of his cadets, and as he was

walking away, he turned to the cadet and said, "I guess when I die you'll

come and dance on my grave."

The cadet replied, "Not me, Sarge. I promised myself that when I got out of

the Army I'd never stand in another line."