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The experts on Thursday (August 4, 2022) expressed concerns over people letting their guard down and not following social distancing norms and highlighted that this is leading to a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi. The experts also stressed that these fluctuations also indicate that the disease is at the endemic stage.

Dr Avi Kumar, senior consultant, pulmonology, Fortis Escorts, Okhla, in an interview with news agency PTI, said, "We are seeing the number of Covid cases going up mainly among young people and those with comorbidities. No one is wearing masks, people are visiting overcrowded spaces by letting their guard down and not washing their hands frequently. People are certainly lagging in their defence."

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday told the House that he received an "urgent" summon from the Enforcement Directorate, investigation a money laundering case related to the National Herald newspaper.

He said the summons issued to him by ED was inappropriate considering that the Parliament session is underway.

"I received Enforcement Directorate (ED) summon. They called me at 12:30 pm (on Thursday). I want to abide by law, but is it right for them to summon when Parliament is in session?" Kharge asked the Parliament.

He further asked, "Is it right for Police to gherao residences of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi? ..We won't be scared, we'll fight."

China fired ballistic missiles and deployed fighter jets Thursday as it held its largest-ever military exercises around Taiwan, a show of force condemned by Washington as a gross overreaction to Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island.

The US House speaker was the highest-profile US official to visit Taiwan in years, defying a series of stark threats from Beijing, which views the self-ruled island as its territory.

In retaliation, China launched a series of exercises in multiple zones around Taiwan, straddling some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and at some points just 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the island’s shore.

Chinese missiles are expected to be fired over Taiwan for the first time with People’s Liberation Army (PLA) navy also readying to enter within 12 nautical miles of the self-ruled island, a state media report said on Wednesday, adding the ongoing military drills were “unprecedented”.

Quoting military experts, the nationalistic tabloid, Global Times said, the PLA were “completely blockading” Taiwan.

“The exercises are unprecedented as the PLA conventional missiles are expected to fly over the island of Taiwan for the first time,” the report said.

After Babul Supriyo took oath as the West Bengal cabinet minister on Wednesday, he targeted the BJP for not picking any Bengali as a cabinet minister in eight years.

Supriyo, who was earlier a minister in the Modi government, joined the Trinamool Congress in September 2021. He had won the prestigious Ballygunge constituency in April from the TMC.

"My entire family was heartbroken. It was a 'Biswasgath' to the Bengali people. Why can a Bengali not be a cabinet minister in Delhi? I don't need any acknowledgement. I have been elected from Asansol twice," Supriyo said.