Left, Right & Centre

Sources say India and China have pulled back troops by at least 1 kilometre in the tense Galwan river valley in eastern Ladakh. A buffer zone has been created between the troops of both sides, according to the sources. Temporary structures built by Chinese soldiers at the illegally occupied site at the river-bend embankment are being removed by both sides, according to the sources.

There are no signs of de-escalation between the Congress and the BJP in Delhi as their skirmishes continue unabated. The Congress has questioned the BJP over the Galwan 'surrender', whereas the BJP says, "Why was Rahul Gandhi missing from all defence house panel meetings?"

China pulling back at least a kilometre in the tense Galwan river valley should be treated with cautious optimism, former Army chief General Bikram Singh said. "China pulling back troops is a very positive development, but we need to treat it with cautious optimism. Most important thing that happened was PM Modi's statement in Ladakh, which put China under pressure," he said.

Director General of CSIR, Dr Shekhar C Mande, tells NDTV, "We are just learning about the virus. The pandemic has been upon us for less than 6 months, what the current understanding is tilting towards is that this also spreads through smaller aerosols. Therefore, the recommended practise would be wearing masks".

The Indian Army does not see immediate plans by Pakistan to amass forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir at a time when India and China are in the midst of a standoff in Eastern Ladakh. At the same time, the Pakistani Army has brought forward some reserve formations in the area, the army's Srinagar Corps Commander said.

"As on today, I do not see any visible increase in deployment or any major movement opposite my area of responsibility. But Pakistan has upgraded defensive posturing, which they do when there is tension. We are prepared for any action," Lt General BS Raju, Corps Commander, 15 Corps, Srinagar, told NDTV.

A day after asking Bharat Biotech to fast-track COVID-19 vaccine, the Indian Council of Medical Research or ICMR on Saturday issued a clarification saying the process is in accordance with globally accepted norms. Is ICMR's timeline to launch a vaccine realistic?

Karnataka saw the highest single-day spike in coronavirus case with 1,839 new cases, while 32 Class 19 students have also tested positive. Meanwhile, the body of a Bengaluru resident was seen lying on the road after he died of COVID-19 as the ambulance was delayed by over two hours.

A report in the LA Times suggests that secret deals are keeping a COVID-19 drug away from millions. Not necessarily in India, where generic versions of the drug are being manufactured but for other countries including the US, Brazil and Russia, who rely on the branded drug Remdesivir which sells for $2340 for a 5-day course. Though its far cheaper in India, it is still too expensive for many.

With a new one-day high of 1,502 coronavirus cases, Karnataka has crossed the 18,000-mark. With the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Karnataka and Bengaluru, there is concern over whether the city can cope with the demand for hospital beds. A man, who later tested positive for coronavirus, died after being turned away from several hospitals. The municipal body, the BBMP, claims there is no shortage of beds - only that coordination on allotment should be better.

India and China on June 30 held a military-level talks to resolve the stand-off in Galwan Valley. Lt General PJS Pannu (Retd), Former 14 Corps Commander, tells NDTV that, "If the Chinese agreed to withdraw, then there has to be a verification. We cannot have a situation where the Chinese have said something on the ground and something else is being executed"