INDIA WENT PAST PEAK IN SEPTEMBER, COVID MAY RUN ITS COURSE BY FEBRUARY: GOVT PANEL

The coronavirus epidemic in India may have already peaked and, if the usage of masks and physical distancing measures continue at the current level, the disease will likely “run its course” by February next year, a government-appointed committee of scientists has said.

The committee, headed by Prof M Vidyasagar of IIT Hyderabad, used a new model to map the trajectory of the epidemic in the country. Its key finding is that the disease seems to have peaked in the middle of September, when the number of active cases touched 10.17 lakh. This number has been declining steadily for the last one month, and the committee suggested that the active cases, even if they rise in the coming months due to festivals or cold weather, were unlikely to surpass the figure reached last month.

Additionally, the committee, has projected that by February 2021, the total number of people who have been infected with the virus at some point in time would not exceed 106 lakh (1 crore 6 lakh). As on now, the number of people who have been found to be infected is about 75.5 lakhs.

“This of course is premised on the assumption that people would continue to take precautionary measures, at least to the same extent that they are currently doing. This is no reason to relax, or lower our guard, especially with the festival season approaching. If we follow the physical distancing norms, and use face masks, at least in the manner we are doing right now, the model says that by February we would have things under control,” said Prof Manindra Agrawal of IIT Kanpur, who is part of the committee.

“A recent case study of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu published in the journal Science a few weeks ago showed that almost 70 per cent of infected people were not passing the disease to others. The virus was spreading only through a small set of people who are referred to as super-spreaders,” Prof Agrawal said. These super-spreaders, he said, have a greater chance of getting infected during the early phase of the epidemic. “So, it is possible that the super-spreaders have already been infected, and become immune. And as we have seen, very few among the others transmit the disease. This could be one possible reason for what we are seeing right now,” he said.

SHASHI THAROOR’S REMARKS AT LAHORE EVENT SPARK BJP-CONG SPAT

The BJP and the Congress were engaged in a war of words on Sunday over MP Shashi Tharoor’s remarks at a Lahore event, as the ruling party accused him of “demeaning and discrediting” India and wondered if Rahul Gandhi wanted to contest elections in Pakistan.

The BJP attacked Tharoor after he posted a link to the comments made online at Lahore Think Fest, which his office said was held last month, in which he criticised the Modi government’s handling of the coronavirus and also spoke of alleged “bigotry and prejudice” against Muslims during the pandemic.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters that it was “unbelievable” that a senior Congress leader and an MP like Tharoor can make such comments against India at a Pakistani forum. “He has demeaned India and projected the country in dim light,” Patra said.

Referring to Tharoor’s remarks that Rahul Gandhi had warned about the severity of the COVID-19 as early as in February and that he should be getting credit for it, Patra claimed that the Kerala MP was a close friend of the former Congress president and wondered if Gandhi wanted to get credit in Pakistan and contest polls there.

At a press conference, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said such reactions from the ruling party “ridicule” the debate and “diminish us as a democracy”. “The BJP has always responded to substance and pointed facts with ‘jumlebaazi’. The BJP has always believed in rhetoric, not substance.

Patra also referred to Tharoor’s comments about Indian citizens from the Northeast at times facing problems elsewhere in the country. “What was the need to discuss such matters at a Pakistani forum? There is no country in this world as democratic and just as India,” he said.

Patra referred to various remarks made by Congress leaders in the past that allegedly targeted the Modi government at events in Pakistan and asked if the opposition party members have ever asked Pakistan at its forum about its “bigotry and violence” against minorities in that country.

In a swipe at Gandhi, Patra said he and the BJP will now call him “Rahul Lahori”.

BANGLADESH INVITES MODI TO ITS I-DAY EVENT

Bangladesh has invited PM Narendra Modi to visit Dhaka on March 26 next year to jointly celebrate the country’s Independence Day with his counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

“We’ve invited him and they agreed in principle,” reports quoted Bangladesh Foreign Minister DAK Abdul Momen as having said after meeting new Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami on Sunday. There was no confirmation from the MEA so far. “Our victory is India’s victory. We should celebrate together,” said the foreign minister.

INDIAN DEMOCRACY PASSING THROUGH ITS ‘MOST DIFFICULT PHASE’: SONIA GANDHI

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the government over the three farm laws, the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic slowdown and alleged atrocities against Dalits, while claiming that Indian democracy is passing through its “most difficult phase”.

Addressing a meeting of AICC general secretaries and state-incharge which she presided over, Gandhi also alleged that the country was being ruled by a government which was “systematically” handing over the rights of citizens to a handful of crony capitalists.

This was the first meeting of general secretaries and state in-charges Sonia Gandhi chaired after a major organisational reshuffle last month.

Hitting out at the government over the recently passed farm laws, she said the BJP-led dispensation has attacked the very foundation of India’s resilient agrarian economy by bringing in “three anti-agriculture black laws”. “A conspiracy has been hatched to defeat the gains of the ‘green revolution’. Lives and livelihoods of crores of farm labourers, leasehold farmers, small and marginal farmers, toiling labourers and small shopkeepers are under attack. It is our solemn duty to join hands to defeat this sinister conspiracy,” Gandhi asserted.

The country was pushed into the “abyss” of coronavirus pandemic by “sheer ineptitude” and “mismanagement” of the Modi government, Gandhi alleged in her opening remarks at the meeting.

Gandhi claimed that the government has simultaneously “demolished” the economy, built painstakingly by the hard work of fellow Indians and the vision of successive Congress governments.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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FRANCE RALLIES AFTER BEHEADING OF A TEACHER

Tens of thousands of people rallied in Paris and cities across France on Sunday in solidarity with a teacher beheaded for showing pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

Demonstrators on the Place de la Republique held aloft posters declaring: “No to totalitarianism of thought” and “I am a teacher” in memory of murdered colleague Samuel Paty.

“You do not scare us. We are not afraid. You will not divide us. We are France!” tweeted Prime Minister Jean Castex, who joined the Paris demonstration. Castex was accompanied by Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and junior interior minister Marlene Schiappa who said she was there “in support of teachers, of secularism, of freedom of expression”. Politicians from the other major parties also attended.

Samuel Paty was murdered on his way home from the school where he taught in a suburb northwest of Paris on Friday afternoon.

On Saturday, anti-terror prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard said Paty had been the target of online threats for showing the cartoons to his civics class.

The father of one schoolgirl had launched an online call for “mobilisation” against the teacher and had sought his dismissal from the school.

The aggrieved father had named Paty and given the school’s address in a social media post just days before the beheading, which President Emmanuel Macron has labelled an Islamist terror attack.

IMRAN KHAN VOWS TO JAIL NAWAZ SHARIF IN A ‘COMMON PRISON’

As the joint opposition movement held its second rally on Sunday, Pakistan government went into overdrive to reply to the speeches made at its first major meeting.

A visibly upset and angry Prime Minister Imran Khan told a conference of his supporters in Islamabad on Saturday that he would get "tougher" with the opposition leaders and put them all behind bars.

"Come back and see where I put you," he said in reference to exiled former prime minister and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, at whom he largely directed his ire. "Now I will try my best to bring you back and put you in common prison, not VIP."

Khan told his supporters that the 11-party Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) thrust was to create a rift between his government, the judiciary and the army.

Other ministers attacked PDM leaders over the weekend. Railways minister Shaikh Rasheed, seen to be close to the military, told a press conference, "Now it is a free for all. We will not hold back."

Also targeted were Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who had said in his speech at the Gujranwala rally on Saturday that he was not sure who brought Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar to power. "Was it a Jadugarni (witch) or a Khalai Makhluq (extra terrestrial being)?" he asked. He was referring to Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi, herself a political and religious figure who is known to make decisions in the province and to ISI, the powerful intelligence agency.

As the PDM continues its rallies all over the country, the political temperature in Pakistan has started to rise. Apart from personal attacks, there has been a rise in questions about the role of the army in the political affairs of the country.

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TENSION AT ASSAM-MIZORAM BORDER AS SEVERAL INJURED IN VIOLENT CLASH

Simmering tension prevailed on the Assam-Mizoram border after a violent clash took place between the people of the two states, injuring several, officials said on Sunday. The situation is now under control in the area, which is in Kolasib district of Mizoram and Cachar district of Assam, they said.

A meeting, chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, between both the states will be held today to take stock of the situation, Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana said.

The two states have deployed security personnel, including those of the Indian Reserve Battalion, in the violence-hit areas near the Vairengte village in Mizoram and Assam’s Lailapur, officials said.

The incident could be the fallout of the demolition of a makeshift hut used by local volunteers who guard the inter-state border near the Saihaipui ‘V’ village. The volunteers are guarding the border to check the movement of the people in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Assam government also said the situation is under control and senior officials along with police are in the area to defuse the tension.

Mizoram’s MNF MLA Lalrintluanga Sailo said that his state is not hostile to Assam or its people but is protecting its territory from infiltration by illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, who are living in the border areas. He claimed that more than 80 per cent of people living along the Assam-Mizoram border are illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

Sailo alleged that the border dispute is a ploy by some politicians with vested interest to take advantage in view of the Assam election, likely to be held early next year.

SINGLE-WINDOW CLEARANCE EXPECTED TO START IN APRIL WITH 20 STATES ON BOARD

The government’s proposal to launch a single-window clearance is seeing traction among foreign investors even before the scheme’s launch. At least half a dozen foreign investors are said to be in talks with the government for this mechanism.

These investors will get to identify lands or sites for setting up manufacturing units across 20 states. Government officials say the scheme will become operational from early 2021-22.

“Single-window clearance will begin from March-end or April first week next year. We have been negotiating with states on industrial manufacturing and attracting investments. So far, eight states have agreed and given their consent on land banks. Six more states will be added by November 15. We are expecting to get 20 states on board by the end of the current financial year,” said a senior government official privy to the plan.

The exercise is part of India’s efforts to attract investment. Central ministries, including finance and commerce, along with state governments, are working on the said mechanism. The system is to handhold foreign investors keen to invest in India. It will help obtain all the requisite regulatory and state clearances required for foreign investors to set up manufacturing units in India.

To augment this facility, the government has decided to make a repository of the county’s land bank, comprising information of all the vacant plots, heat maps (agriculture, horticulture, mineral layers), and multiple layers of connectivity, along with satellite views of the terrain.

BARC SAYS REPUBLIC NETWORK MISREPRESENTED ITS PRIVATE EMAIL

The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) Sunday accused Republic TV of “misrepresentation”, after the Arnab Goswami-led channel quoted a communication from the viewership-tracking agency to claim it was innocent of malpractice in the TRP scam.

In a statement issued on Twitter Sunday afternoon, Republic TV cited an “official email” from BARC and claimed that “there is not a single complaint or malpractice found against Republic TV, Republic Bharat or any other affiliate of the News Network”.

It claimed that a BARC email to Republic Media Network Group CEO Vikas Khanchandani “specifically confirms that there is no malpractice by the network”. “With the disclosure of BARC, the fake news-based campaign against Republic led by Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh comes to an end,” the statement added.

Hours later, BARC issued a statement saying it is “dismayed at misrepresentation of its communication by Republic Network”. The council added that it has not commented on the ongoing investigation and that it is providing necessary assistance to the law enforcement agency.

“BARC India is highly disappointed with the actions of the Republic Network by disclosing private and confidential communications and misrepresenting the same,” it said.

INSTAGRAM INFLUENCER, WHO BELIEVED COVID-19 WAS HOAX, DIES OF THE VIRUS

A 33-year-old Ukrainian fitness influencer, who once thought that the coronavirus does not exist, has succumbed to the disease.

Dmitriy Stuzhuk had caught the virus during a recent trip to Turkey.

His ex-wife Sofia Stuzhuk confirmed the news of Stuzhuk's death on her Instagram account.

Stuzhuk was rushed to an overcrowded hospital. Sofia revealed, that he was in a "grave condition" and unconscious. She told her followers that he had “problems with his cardiovascular system... his heart is not coping. His state is extremely grave. No-one can do anything with this,” Sky News reported.

She later announced his death, saying: “Dima is no longer with us. His heart could not stand”.

Stuzhuk had shared his experience with his 1.1 million followers on his Instagram handle on October 15. He wrote: “I also thought that there was no Covid… Until I got sick”. “COVID-19 DISEASE IS NOT EPHEME (short-lived)! And heavy,” he wrote.

IPL 2020: SUNIL NARINE CLEARED BY SUSPECT BOWLING ACTION COMMITTEE

The Indian Premier League on Sunday said West Indies spinner Sunil Narine can continue to bowl after it found nothing illegal in his deliveries during an assessment that was prompted by an on-field caution earlier this month.

Narine's team, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), asked for the assessment after umpires suspected an illegal elbow bend in an Oct. 10 tie against Kings XI Punjab and issued a warning.

The clearance means the 32-year-old can continue bowling in this year's tournament.

"The committee also noted that Narine should reproduce the same action going forward in the IPL 2020 matches as presented to the committee in the video footage." The bowling all-rounder remodelled his action after he was reported twice during the now-defunct Champions League T20 in 2014. He was reported in the 2015 IPL and also after a one-day match against Sri Lanka the same year. He was reported again during the 2018 Pakistan Super League.

Each time, Narine was subsequently cleared to bowl.

KKR DOWN SRH WITH LOCKIE’S SUPER OVER

Lockie Ferguson produced one of the most incredible bowling performances of this IPL edition to lead Kolkata Knight Riders to a thrilling Super Over win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Ferguson took just three deliveries to dismiss David Warner and Abdul Samad in the Super Over, leaving KKR with only a three run-target to chase.

The match was pushed to the Super Over after SRH scored 17 runs off the final over, bowled by Andre Russell, to level the scores at 163.

Ferguson was magnificent during the regulation 20 overs also as his 3/15 in 4 overs had SRH in all sorts of trouble.

SCORES LEVEL TWICE; KXIP DOWN MUMBAI INDIANS IN SECOND SUPER OVER

Kings XI Punjab won the second super over against Mumbai Indians after scores levelled twice - once in the allotted 20 overs and then again in the first Super Over - in the 36th match of this IPL in Dubai. MI won the toss and they elected to bat first. A fifty from Quinton de Kock (53), a fiery cameo by Kieron Pollard (34*) and Nathan Coulter-Nile(24*) powered MI to 176 for 6 in 20 overs.

In reply, KXIP finished with the same score and tied the game.

The match entered the Super Over where Kings XI Punjab batted first and put 5/1 on the board. Mumbai Indians amassed as many runs in return, forcing a second super over to be played. Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya came out to bat in the final Super Over as MI posted 11/1. In pursuit of a 12-run target, Chris Gayle hit a six off the first ball while Mayank Agarwal struck two boundaries to take KXIP home.

Each team has played 9 matches so far – DC top the points tallyy with 7 wins, followed by MI (6), RCB (6), KKR (5), and the rest of the four teams with 3 wins each.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking. - Albert Einstein

OFF TRACK

A man secretly loved a woman, and she had no way of even knowing about it. Now he was up in his years and neither of them had ever been married. One day, he became determined to ask her the question. So he manages to get hold of her number and calls her on the phone, "Sally?."

"Yes, this is Sally."

"Will you marry me?"

"Of course I will! Who's this?"