Colombia’s ex-president Alvaro Uribe tests positive for COVID-19

Colombia top court places ex-President Uribe under house arrest

Supreme Court's ruling is the first ever in Colombia ordering the detention of a former president.

Medical workers in Colombia calling for a full lockdown

Coronavirus cases in Colombia soar, medical workers call for total lockdowns to bring infections under control.

In Colombia, Militant Groups Resort To Arson, Murder To Enforce Lockdowns

Armed groups in Colombia are going to extreme measures to ensure the transmission of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 slows down. According to CNN, Human Rights Watch says the groups are using killings and other forms of violence to force civilians to follow their guidance. In communities across Colombia, armed groups have violently enforced their own measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. José Miguel Vivanco, Americas Director Human Rights Watch.

Colombia journalist calls surveillance scandal threat to democracy

The surveillance operation in Colombia that journalists say is a threat to democracy.

PM Modi, Gujarat CM announce ex-gratia for Ahmedabad hospital fire victims

A massive fire broke out at a COVID care hospital in Gujarat's Ahmedabad on August 06. Around eight people lost their lives, including five men and three women in the fire incident at Shrey Hospital. One paramedic also received burn injuries. Reportedly, the fire occurred due to a short circuit in ICU of the fourth floor of hospital. An inquiry into the matter is underway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 Lakhs each from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the kin of the deceased. Rs 50,000 to be given to those injured due to the fire. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has announced an ex gratia amount of Rs 4 lakhs each to the families of the eight victims who died in the fire at Shrey Hospital in Ahmedabad. The CMO added that Rs 50,000 would be given to those injured in the incident. Earlier today as per Gujarat Chief Minister's Office, Gujarat Chief Minister has ordered a probe in the incident. "CM Vijay Rupani has ordered a probe in the incident of fire at Shrey Hospital in Ahmedabad. Sangeeta Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department) will be leading the probe. The CM has ordered for a report within 3 days."

RBI monetary policy: Repo rate unchanged, relief for MSMEs l Key details

The Reserve Bank of India left the repo rate unchanged at 4% and reverse repo rate at 3.35%. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das also said that they would maintain an accommodative stance in view of the Covid pandemic. Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends to commercial banks, and reverse repo is the rate at which it borrows from them. The Central bank also decided to allow lenders to provide a restructuring facility on some loans that were standard as on March 1, 2020. 'Real GDP growth in the first half of the year is estimated to remain in the contraction zone. For the year 2020-21 as a whole, real GDP growth is also estimated to be negative,' the RBI Governor said. Stressed MSME borrowers would be eligible for restructuring of debt, if their accounts were classified standard, Das added. The governor also raised the loan-to-value ratio against gold to 90% from current 75%, to mitigate COVID-19 impact on households. Watch the full video for all the takeaways from the RBI monetary policy announcements.

Watch: Akshay Kumar jets off to UK for shooting upcoming film Bell Bottom

Actor Akshay Kumar is set to start work on his upcoming film Bell Bottom. Akshay jets off to the UK for shooting of upcoming Bell Bottom. A chartered aircraft was hired for Akshay Kumar, the film cast and crew. Akshay is being accompanied by his family. The actor was seen inside the aircraft wearing a mask amid Covid scare. The shooting for his film Bell Bottom is set to take place in United Kingdom. The actor was seen with Huma Qureshi and Lara Dutta at the airport earlier. The chartered aircraft was booked keeping the Covid pandemic in mind. Akshay is among the first batch of actors to have resumed work post lockdown. Bell Bottom is a period thriller set in the 1980s & is based on a real-life story. During lockdown, Akshay shot for a Covid awareness ad with filmmaker R Balki.