ARMY AND GOVT SAY DISENGAGEMENT PROCESS INTRICATE, COMPLEX

Suggesting that the standoff with Chinese troops along the Ladakh frontier

could continue for a while, the Indian Army Thursday said while the two

sides remain "committed to the objective of complete disengagement", this

"process is intricate and requires constant verification".

In a statement on the fourth round of talks between XIV Corps Commander Lt

General Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military Region Commander Major

General Liu Lin, the Army said the two sides "are taking it forward through

regular meetings at diplomatic and military level".

Hours later, the Ministry of External Affairs said the two sides discussed

complete disengagement "at the earliest". Indicating the long-drawn nature

of the negotiations, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the process of

disengagement is "complex".

INDIA KEEN ON IRAN PROJECTS BUT US SANCTIONS A STUMBLING BLOCK: MEA

India on Thursday admitted that its two strategic projects in Iran were

facing turbulence due to US sanctions against Iran but denied reports that

they are in trouble. But the Chabahar port being operated by India is

functional and plans are under way to increase its usage, both for

Afghanistan and Central Asia.

India and Iran had held their last meeting on a railway line from Iran's

Chabahar port to the Afghan border over seven months back. However, Iran

says it started work earlier this month on the rail project which India had

signed on as would have provided Afghanistan its only access to the Indian

Ocean that bypasses Pakistan. At the same time, Iran has said the door

remains open for India to join the project later. The MEA indicated that

India was still interested in the proposed railway line.

India has also not given up on the Farzad-B Gas field negotiations in which

ONGC was involved in the discovery stage. The MEA said follow-up bilateral

cooperation was however impacted by policy changes on the Iranian side.

INDIAN OFFICIALS WALK OUT OF JADHAV MEETING AFTER PAK RENEGES ON CONDITIONS

Officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, who were offered

consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav on Thursday, protested against Pakistan

reneging on earlier assurances and left the venue after lodging a protest.

During backchannel talks on access to Jadhav that began on Monday, Pakistani

diplomats had assured their Indian interlocutors that no one would be posted

in Jadhav's vicinity during the meeting with consular officials. There would

also be no recording of the meeting.

But Pakistani officials with an intimidating demeanour were present close to

Jadhav. Indian consular officials detected a camera which meant the

conversation was being recorded. Jadhav, too, was under visible stress and

indicated that to the Consular officers.

"The arrangements did not permit a free conversation between them," said MEA

spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.

INDIA GOES PAST A MILLION CASES

The number of Covid-19 cases in India crossed the 1 million (10 lakh) mark

as more than 35,000 new infections were detected on Thursday. Data reported

by state governments until late in the evening showed the total number of

infections since the outbreak of the epidemic had crossed 10,04,000.

India's journey from half a million to 1 million cases has taken just 20

days. Only two countries, the United States and Brazil, have a larger

caseload than India.

Crucially, deaths in India have been far fewer compared to these two

countries. The WHO database shows the US had crossed the 1 million cases

mark on April 30, and more than 57,700 people were already dead in that

country by then. In Brazil, close to 50,000 people had died when the country

reached the 1 million infection mark on June 21. In India, a little more

than 25,000 deaths have so far occurred due to the disease.

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

(Indian data from covid19india / and World Data from

worldometers.info/coronavirus/ )

Total Cases 10,05,247 (+35,467) / 1,39,46,639 (+2,54,980)

Total Deaths 25,609 (+680) / 5,92,677 (+5,856)

Total Recovered 6,36,602 (+22,867) / 82,77,741 (+2,40,563)

Active Cases 3,43,036 (+11,920) / 50,76,221 (+8,561)

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

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

Cases

1 USA 36,95,025 / 1,41,118 /

16,79,633 / 18,74,274

2 Brazil 20,14,738 / 76,822 /

13,66,775 / 5,71,141

3 India 10,05,637 / 25,609 /

6,36,602 / 3,43,426

4 Russia 7,52,797 / 11,937 /

5,31,692 / 2,09,168

5 Peru 3,41,586 / 12,615 /

2,30,994 / 97,977

6 South Africa 3,24,221 / 4,669 /

1,65,591 / 1,53,961

7 Mexico 3,24,041 / 37,574 /

2,03,464 / 83,003

8 Chile 3,23,698 / 7,290 /

2,95,301 / 21,107

9 Spain 3,05,935 / 28,416 / N/A

/ N/A

10 UK 2,92,552 / 45,119 / N/A

/ N/A

11 Iran 2,67,061 / 13,608 /

2,30,608 / 22,845

12 Pakistan 2,57,914 / 5,426 /

1,78,737 / 73,751

17 Bangladesh 1,96,323 / 2,496 /

1,06,963 / 86,864

108 Sri Lanka 2,686 / 11 /

2,007 / 668

TOP IMPACTED INDIAN STATES SO FAR

State / Confirmed Cases / Active Case / Recovered /

Deceased

Maharashtra 2,84,281 / 1,14,648 /

1,58,140 / 11,194

Tamil Nadu 1,56,369 / 46,717 / 1,07,416

/ 2,236

Delhi 1,18,645 / 17,407 / 97,693 /

3,545

Karnataka 51,422 / 30,651 / 19,730 /

1,037

Gujarat 45,567 / 11,303 / 32,174 / 2,090

Uttar Pradesh 43,441 / 15,720 / 26,675 /

1,046

Telangana 41,018 / 13,327 / 27,295 /

396

Andhra Pradesh 38,044 / 18,159 / 19,393 /

492

West Bengal 36,117 / 13,679 / 21,415 /

1,023

Rajasthan 27,174 / 6,666 / 19,970 /

538

Haryana 24,002 / 5,495 / 18,185 /

322

Bihar 21,558 / 7,290 / 14,101 / 167

Assam 20,647 / 7,034 / 13,555 / 55

Madhya Pradesh 20,378 / 5,562 / 14,127 /

689

Odisha 15,392 / 4,412 / 10,877 / 103

Jammu and Kashmir 12,156 / 5,488 / 6,446 /

222

Kerala 10,276 / 5,372 / 4,862 / 38

Punjab 9,094 / 2,587 / 6,277 / 230

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

RUSSIA ACCUSED OF STEALING COVID-19 VACCINE RESEARCH

In the latest positive sign, British media reported on Thursday that an

Oxford University trial had shown its prototype vaccine generated an immune

response against the virus.

But hours later, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre said a hacking

group called APT29 had targeted British labs conducting vaccine research to

"steal valuable intellectual property". The agency said it was "almost

certain (95%+) that APT29 are part of the Russian Intelligence Services" and

its targeting of researchers was "highly likely (80-90%)" to "collect

information on COVID-19 vaccine research".

The US, UK and Canada all accused Russia in a joint security advisory.

Moscow denied any involvement, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying:

"Russia has nothing to do with these attempts."

Anthony Fauci, director of the (US) National Institute of Allergy and

Infectious Diseases, said yesterday that he expects results for a clinical

trial on monoclonal antibodies by late summer or early fall, underscoring

the speed at which the government has been working to quickly approve and

roll out treatment for the novel coronavirus.

"What we really need are drugs that, when given early, can prevent a

symptomatic person from requiring hospitalization or very dramatically

diminish the time that they're symptomatic," Fauci said during a Facebook

Live interview on Thursday. Monoclonal antibodies can be administrated

intravenously or through a shot.

OLI'S LIKELY TO FACE PARTY STANDING COMMITTEE TODAY

Prime Minister K P Oli on Thursday told his rival Pushpa Kamal Dahal

Prachanda that he would not resign, and that he would face the Nepal

Communist Party's standing committee meeting on Friday.

The developments came after a two-and-a-half hour meeting between Oli,

Prachanda and another dissident leader and former prime minister Madhav

Kumar Nepal.

The standing committee meeting that began three weeks ago had been adjourned

four times, last on July 10, for a week on the insistence of a group of 11

party leaders in order to attempt to resolve the issues. However, with

Thursday's meeting ending in failure, sources feared that the party could be

split.

The two top leaders - Oli and Prachanda - met one-on-one at least four times

during this period. Oli has maintained that while he was willing to address

any issue, he would not resign under pressure. As per a party sources, Oli

had told Prachanda that resigning either as party chief or prime minister

was out of the question.

THE REST

========

SACHIN PILOT REACHES OUT TO CHIDAMBARAM

Keeping the Congress guessing, Sachin Pilot sprang a surprise Thursday by

reaching out to senior party leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram

even as he approached the Rajasthan High Court to challenge the

disqualification proceedings initiated against him and 18 other MLAs.

Pilot spoke to Chidambaram, a permanent invitee to the Congress Working

Committee, over phone in a reach-out that came days after the Congress

stripped him of the posts of Deputy Chief Minister and president of the

Rajasthan PCC.

"I just reiterated that the leadership had publicly invited him to meet with

it, and all issues can be discussed. I advised him to seize the

opportunity," Chidambaram told repporters.

Another senior leader said the party's leaders, who were in talks with

Pilot, have assured him of an "honourable return" if he decides to come

back.

While the Pilot camp approached the High Court, Congress sources said the

party can consider giving more time to the rebels. The notice issued to the

MLAs by the Rajasthan Assembly Secretariat makes it clear that they would

have to send their written remarks and submissions within three days - and

that the disqualification petition will be brought on Friday afternoon

before the Speaker for appropriate action.

AFTER OUTRAGE OVER GUNA POLICE ASSAULT ON DALIT COUPLE, 6 COPS SUSPENDED

After widespread outrage over alleged police brutality against a Dalit

farmer couple, caught on tape, during an anti-encroachment drive in Jaganpur

Chak village of Guna district (MP), six policemen, including a Sub-Inspector

and two women constables were suspended Thursday. The suspension followed

the transfer of Guna District Collector S Vishwanathan and Superintendent of

Police Tarun Nayak late Wednesday.

On Tuesday afternoon, a couple of hours after a bulldozer began destroying

the soybean crop on their land, Rajkumar Ahirwar and his wife Savitri

consumed pesticide.

While authorities alleged the couple had encroached on the 45-bigha plot

meant for a government college, their relatives said Ahirwar had taken the

land on lease from one Gabbu Pardhi and had even raised a loan to cultivate

soybean.

Sources said the couple had requested the anti-encroachment team to give

them time till their crop was harvested but when the bulldozers rolled in,

Savitri rushed inside their hut and consumed pesticide. A few minutes later,

Rajkumar, 38, too followed her.

The couple's condition is stable.

Photographs and videos of the incident went viral - some showing the

couple's six children crying next to their unconscious parents, and others

with police raining blows and kicking Shishupal and a woman who tries to

shield him.

The Opposition Congress slammed the BJP government, with former CM Kamal

Nath saying the incident is proof of "jungle raj" in the state.

GOVERNOR ACTING DANGEROUSLY, LIKE BJP MOUTHPIECE: MAMATA BANERJEE

The West Bengal Governor and the state government got into another round of

war of words on Thursday after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dismissed

Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar's remarks that the state education system is

"politically caged and controlled", which is harming interests of students.

Accusing Dhankhar of acting "more dangerously than a BJP mouthpiece",

Banerjee said the Governor should not take any vindictive steps against

state university vice-chancellors who skipped a virtual meeting he had

called on Wednesday.

All but one V-Cs of state-aided varsities had skipped the meeting, convened

to discuss the academic situation in the state during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing the media at the state secretariat hours after Dhankhar accused

the state government of creating this "unwholesome situation" in the

education system, Banerjee said: "Despite being elected representatives, we

are expected (by Governor) to behave like servants.and have to answer (him)

every moment. We are in regular touch with the Governor - I spoke with him

four times on Wednesday. What will the (state) government do: tackle the

pandemic or continue answering his queries? Enough is enough."

Earlier in the day, Dhankhar had sought an explanation from the V-Cs for

skipping the meeting. "Education is the soul of a society, as it passes from

one generation to another. It is unfortunate that in our state education is

politically caged and controlled. The political grip on education is

tightening - it will hurt students, the education scenario, and the society

at large," he said.

AT TOP BENGALURU HOSPITAL, 97% CORONA PATIENTS ON VENTILATOR DIED

The leading government hospital in Bengaluru for treatment of Covid-19 has

seen a 97% death rate among patients put on ventilators.

Of the 1,500 patients admitted at the Victoria Hospital so far, 92 have

required intubation to help in breathing, with 89 of them dying, senior

BMCRI officials said. At 50, Victoria Hospital has the most ventilators of

any government facility in Bengaluru.

"We have seen 206 admissions and 91 deaths in ICU (44% of the total) as of

July 15. As many as 103 (50%) have been discharged from ICU," Dr Smitha

Segu, nodal officer of the hospital's Covid-19 core committee and a

professor at the BMCRI said, adding that the reason for the high mortality

among patients put on ventilators was that they reached Victoria after other

hospitals had failed to treat them.

"These deaths are occurring due to very late referrals. Among patients who

have come on time very few have gone into ICU. They come in a totally bad

state and 39 patients have been lost within 24 hours of arrival," Dr Segu

said.

She added that 95% of the fatalities had comorbidities, while around 30%

were above 60. Dr Segu said they used a ventilator only as the last resort.

"High flow oxygen (basic respiratory support) is so much better. We want to

treat patients with that, but when they do not get better, we have to use

ventilators."

INDIAN PHARMA INDUSTRY CAN MAKE VACCINES FOR ENTIRE WORLD: BILL GATES

India's pharmaceutical industry will be able to produce Covid-19 vaccines

not just for the country but also for the entire world, according to

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates.

A lot of "very important things have been done" in India and its pharma

industry is doing work "to help make the coronavirus vaccine building on

other great capacities that they have used for other diseases", said the

Co-Chair and Trustee of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Commenting on the strength of India's pharma industry, he said, "India has a

lot of capacity there -- with the drug and vaccine companies that are huge

suppliers to the entire world. You know, more vaccines are made in India

than anywhere -- starting with Serum Institute, that's the largest."

INDIA CREATES FOUR 'AIR BUBBLES' FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

Interim international flights to the United States of America and France

will begin from Friday while flights to Germany and the United Kingdom will

operate shortly following necessary permissions and clearances. Union

minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri said the flights will operate

under special bilateral arrangement - "air bubble" -- with these four

countries and some more destinations may be added in the coming days.

According to the minister, Air France will be operating 28 flights between

Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Paris from July 18 to August 1 while American

carrier United Airlines will be flying 18 flights between India and the US

from July 17 to July 31. From India, Air India will be operating flights to

France and US under these `air bubbles'.

The government is also planning to gradually increase domestic flights from

present 45 per cent to about 60 per cent in the coming months.

NASA RELEASES 'CLOSEST EVER' BREATHTAKING PICTURES OF THE SUN

Scientists on Thursday released the first images taken by Solar Orbiter,

launched from Cape Canaveral in February.

The orbiter was about 48 million miles from the sun - about halfway between

Earth and the sun - when it took the stunning high-resolution pictures last

month.

Solar Orbiter's new pictures showing vibrant swirls of yellow and dark smoky

gray - the first images from so close and at such small scale - are so

precious. The team had to create a new vocabulary to name these tiny

flare-ups, said European Space Agency project scientist Daniel Muller.

Muller described the observed multitude of "campfires" shooting into the

corona, or sun's crown-like outer atmosphere, as quite possibly "the tiny

cousins of the solar flares that we already know."

JOFRA ARCHER MISSES 2ND TEST FOR BREACHING BIO-BUBBLE

England dropped fast bowler Jofra Archer for the second Test against West

Indies following a breach of the team's bio-secure protocols, announcing the

decision hours before the start of the match at Old Trafford on Thursday.

The ECB did not specify the nature of the breach in the statement but media

reports said Archer exited the bio-secure bubble to visit his flat in

Brighton between the series opener in Southampton and the second match in

Manchester.

West Indies great Michael Holding didn't hold himself back as he slammed

Archer. Citing the example of Nelson Mandela, Holding ripped into Archer,

stating sacrifices should be made for the larger good. "I have no sympathy

at all. I don't understand why people can't just do what is required.

Talking about sacrifices - Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in a little cell

and he did nothing wrong. That is a sacrifice," Holding said.

On day one in Manchester Test, put in to bat first, England were 207/3 in 82

overs, in a rain shortened day.

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55.39, Aus$- Rs. 52.36

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/US$

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm. In the real world

all rests on perseverance. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

OFF TRACK

Pati: Dekho maine poore 1 crore ka bima kara liya hai.

Patni: Is se kya hota hai. Baat to tab hai jab paisa haath mein aaye!