| Welcome to The Morning Filter, your guide to the busy news day ahead. We hope you are staying safe. Here are the latest updates and the big news stories to follow today: 1. Coronavirus | Latest numbers and developments The number of positive coronavirus cases reported from India now stands at 21,51,950 at the time of publishing this newsletter. The death toll from the disease stands at 43,463. As of August 7, nearly 200 doctors, the majority of them general practitioners, have lost their lives to Covid-19, according to information released by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). 2. Reaching understanding with China a big challenge: Jaishankar Reaching an understanding with China is one of the big challenges before Sino-Indian relations, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Addressing the India@75 summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the Minister said India and China have similarities in various aspects as two of the biggest economies of the world, but an understanding between the two is a crucial issue. 3. Rajasthan political crisis | BJP shifts MLAs to Gujarat  In a new twist to the political drama in Rajasthan, the Opposition BJP has started shifting its MLAs, especially those from the tribal-dominated districts, to neighbouring Gujarat, alleging that the ruling Congress was trying to poach them ahead of a crucial State Assembly session, beginning on August 14. Six BJP legislators left Jaipur by a chartered flight for Gujarat's Porbandar on Saturday, while 12 others left for Ahmedabad on Friday. From Porbandar, the MLAs were reportedly taken to Somnath where they will be staying at a hotel booked by the Gujarat BJP. 4. Idukki landslip death toll rises to 26 after recovery of 8 more bodies With the recovery of eight more bodies, the death toll in the Pettimudy landslip rose to 26 on Saturday. At least 44 persons are estimated to be missing. The search operations, which were discontinued late on Friday due to unfavourable weather, resumed on Saturday morning. 5. Modi to launch financing facility under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund on Sunday  He will also release the sixth instalment of funds of Rs. 17,000 crore to 8.5 crore farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme, an official statement said on Saturday. 6. New low-pressure area forming over Bay of Bengal, rainfall expected in many parts of Odisha A cyclonic circulation now lies over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas, the department said on Saturday. Under its impact, another low-pressure area is likely to form over north and adjoining central Bay of Bengal by Sunday, said H.R. Biswas, director of Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar. 7. Bring down Mullaperiyar dam level, Kerala urges T.N. With a considerable increase in the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam, Kerala has asked Tamil Nadu to initiate urgent measures to keep the storage in the dam at a manageable level. The water level in the dam reached 134.85 ft at 10 p.m. on Saturday, an unprecedented increase of over 10 ft in two days. The maximum level of the dam is 142 ft. There was an inflow of 8,143 cumecs while the discharge was 167 cumecs. 8. Noida gets 400-bed dedicated COVID hospital, Yogi Adityanath reviews facilities The hospital begins services with 162 beds initially from Sunday and will have 400 beds in the course of time, officials said. 9. Mahinda Rajapaksa to take oath as Sri Lanka PM for 4th time on Sunday  The 74-year-old Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) leader will take the oath of office at the Rajamaha Viharaya in Kelaniya, a north Colombo suburb. 10. France set to launch aid conference for Lebanon The videoconference, scheduled on Sunday at 5.30 p.m. IST, will be co-hosted by France and the United Nations, French President Emmanuel Macron's office said. 11. Belarus leader faces toughest challenge yet in Sunday vote Discontent over a worsening economy and his government's dismissive response to the coronavirus pandemic has helped fuel the country's largest opposition rallies since the collapse of the Soviet Union, when Alexander Lukashenko became independent Belarus's first and only elected president, so far. Morning Filter will return tomorrow. Follow up on the day's biggest stories and get concise analysis by The Hindu with the Evening Wrap newsletter. Click here to get it in your inbox. | 
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