FALLING R-VALUES IN CHENNAI, DELHI, MUMBAI POINT TO COVID SLOWDOWN, BUT

SCIENTISTS WARN AGAINST LAXITY

The R-value, or reproductive number, for COVID-19 has fallen below ONE in

Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, indicating a slowdown in the spread of the

disease in three of India's biggest cities, according to a recent study.

A modelling study published in the journal Statistics & Applications found

the current R-value for Delhi is 0.66 while it is 0.81 for Mumbai and 0.86

for Chennai, lower than the national average of 1.16.

R-value is the number of people getting infected by an already infected

person on an average. Andhra Pradesh has the highest R-value of 1.48 in the

entire country right now.

The simplest way to think about the R number is that it measures, on

average, the number of people susceptible to the disease who can be infected

by someone with the infection, says Gautam Menon, professor of physics and

biology at Ashoka University in Haryana.

Menon said serological surveys suggested it is likely that 40 per cent or

more of the population has been infected in both Mumbai and Delhi by now.

Sero-surveillance studies provide estimates of antibody levels against

infectious diseases and is considered the gold standard for measuring

population immunity due to past infection or vaccination. "From what we know

from other countries, herd immunity from infection will probably require

that at least another 20 per cent or more will need to be infected," said

Menon. "So, while the slowdown is real, the pandemic could resurface if we

are not vigilant and relax our precautions too soon," he added.

Meanwhile, India has by now tested 2.02 crore COVID-19 samples so far. This,

according to the Health ministry, is pursuant to the key strategy to 'test

aggressively, track efficiently and isolate and treat promptly".

RAM TEMPLE BHOOMI PUJAN ON WEDNESDAY TO HAVE 175 PEOPLE

With the pandemic having put paid to the Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra

Trust's desire to have "all those who participated in the 77th revolution of

the temple in 1984" attend Wednesday's Ram temple groundbreaking ceremony,

175 people are being invited for the event, with Prime Minister Narendra

Modi as the chief guest to initiate it.

According to the Trust's general secretary, Champat Rai, the invitees

include 135 religious leaders from 36 spiritual traditions across the

country.

Modi is expected to arrive at the temple town around 11.30 am and leave soon

after the event concludes, around 2 pm.

While the bhoomi and shila pujan programmes, after which the temple

construction will begin, is scheduled for Wednesday, preparations are

already on. The city has been painted yellow - an auspicious colour of

knowledge and learning.

PAKISTAN COURT ORDERS GOVERNMENT TO GIVE INDIA 'ANOTHER CHANCE' TO APPOINT

LAWYER FOR KULBHUSHAN JADHAV

The Islamabad High Court on Monday ordered the Pakistan government to give

"another chance" to India to appoint a lawyer for death-row prisoner

Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistani media reports said.

The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan must undertake an

"effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and sentence of

Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay.

On Monday, a two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah

and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard a petition filed by the Pakistan

government to appoint a lawyer for Jadhav.

In its petition, the Pakistan government asked the IHC to appoint a legal

representative for Jadhav so that it can fulfil its responsibility to see to

the implementation of the ICJ's decision. It also claimed that Jadhav

refused to file a review petition or an application to reconsider the

verdict against him by the military court.

"Now that the matter is in the high court, why not give India another

chance," Justice Minallah was quoted as saying by Geo News.

The judge said that the Indian government or Jadhav may reconsider their

decision pertaining to the review petition.

Responding to the judge's remarks, Pakistan's Attorney General Khalid Javed

Khan said an ordinance was issued to give an opportunity to India and Jadhav

to file a review petition against the sentence. "We will contact India again

through the Foreign Office," he said.

T.N. CM REJECTS THREE-LANGUAGE FORMULA IN NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY

Rejecting the three-language formula proposed in the National Educational

Policy (NEP) by the Centre, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K.

Palaniswami said on Monday that the AIADMK government would "not allow the

three-language policy ever but would continue to implement the two-language

policy" in the State.

In a statement, Mr. Palaniswami requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to

accept the collective sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu and reconsider

the three-language formula so that States could implement it in line with

their respective policies.

"The collective sentiments of the people in Tamil Nadu and political

parties, including the AIADMK, are only for following the two-language

policy. It is saddening and painful to know that the three-language formula

is part of the National Educational Policy released by the Centre,"Mr.

Palaniswami.

COVID-19 DASHBOARD - (Nos. IN INDIA / Nos. WORLDWIDE)

(Indian data from covid19india / and World Data from

worldometers.info/coronavirus/ )

Total Cases 18,54,894 (+50,626) / 1,84,42,847 (+2,07,911)

Total Deaths 38,971 (+810) / 6,97,180 (+4,386)

Total Recovered 12,30,440 (+43,212) / 1,16,72,623 (+2,28,474)

Active Cases 5,85,483 (+6,604) / 60,73,044 (-24,949)

TOP IMPACTED NATIONS SO FAR: (AND SOME OF INDIA'S NEIGHBOURS)

Country, Total Cases / Total Deaths / Recovered Cases / Active

Cases

1 USA 48,62,174 / 1,58,929 /

24,46,798 / 22,56,447

2 Brazil 27,51,665 / 94,702 /

19,12,319 / 7,44,644

3 India 18,55,331 / 38,971 /

12,30,440 / 5,85,920

4 Russia 8,56,264 / 14,207 /

6,53,593 / 1,88,464

5 South Africa 5,16,862 / 8,539 /

3,58,037 / 1,50,286

6 Mexico 4,43,813 / 48,012 /

2,95,677 / 1,00,124

7 Peru 4,33,100 / 19,811 /

2,98,091 / 1,15,198

8 Chile 3,61,493 / 9,707 /

3,33,976 / 17,810

9 Spain 3,44,134 / 28,472 / N/A

/ N/A

10 Colombia 3,27,850 / 11,017 /

1,73,727 / 1,43,106

11 Iran 3,12,035 / 17,405 /

2,70,228 / 24,402

14 Pakistan 2,80,029 / 5,984 /

2,48,873 / 25,172

16 Bangladesh 2,42,102 / 3,184 /

1,37,905 / 1,01,013

116 Sri Lanka 2,828 / 11 /

2,517 / 300

TOP IMPACTED INDIAN STATES SO FAR

State / Confirmed Cases / Active Case / Recovered /

Deceased

Maharashtra 4,50,196 / 1,47,018 /

2,87,030 / 15,842

Tamil Nadu 2,63,222 / 56,698 / 2,02,283

/ 4,241

Andhra Pradesh 1,66,586 / 76,377 /

88,672 / 1,537

Karnataka 1,39,571 / 74,468 / 62,500

/ 2,594

Delhi 1,38,482 / 10,207 / 1,24,254

/ 4,021

Uttar Pradesh 97,362 / 40,191 / 55,393 /

1,778

West Bengal 78,232 / 21,683 / 54,818 /

1,731

Telangana 67,660 / 18,500 / 48,609 /

551

Gujarat 64,684 / 14,517 / 47,663 / 2,504

Bihar 59,567 / 20,722 / 38,508 / 336

Rajasthan 45,555 / 12,785 / 32,051 /

719

Assam 45,276 / 11,735 / 33,429 / 109

Haryana 37,173 / 6,263 / 30,470 /

440

Odisha 36,297 / 12,975 / 23,074 / 248

Madhya Pradesh 34,285 / 9,286 / 24,099 /

900

Kerala 26,873 / 11,484 / 15,278 / 85

Jammu and Kashmir 22,006 / 7,567 / 14,032 /

407

Punjab 18,527 / 6,203 / 11,882 / 442

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

======================

TRUMP SIGNS ORDER AGAINST HIRING H1B VISA HOLDERS FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTS

In a huge blow to Indian IT professionals eyeing the US job market,

President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order preventing

federal agencies from contracting or subcontracting foreign workers --

mainly those on H-1B visa -- from hiring.

The H1B visa, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a

non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in

speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

Trump told reporters that his administration will not tolerate firing of

hardworking Americans in the pursuit of cheap foreign labour.

THERE MAY NEVER BE A SILVER BULLET FOR COVID-19: WHO

The World Health Organization warned Monday that there might never be a

"silver bullet" for coronavirus (COVID-19), despite the rush to discover

effective vaccines.

The WHO urged governments and citizens to focus on doing the known basics,

such as testing, contact tracing, maintaining physical distancing and

wearing a mask in order to suppress the pandemic, which has upended normal

life around the globe and triggered a devastating economic crisis. "We all

hope to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent people

from infection," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a

virtual press conference.

"However, there's no silver bullet at the moment - and there might never be.

For now, stopping outbreaks comes down to the basics of public health and

disease control."

THE REST

========

SUSHANT PROBE: MUMBAI VS BIHAR POLICE AS PATNA SP IS QUARANTINED

The investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death turned into a

Mumbai Police versus Bihar Police row on Monday, with Bihar IPS officer

Vinay Tiwari alleging that he was "selectively quarantined" till August 15

after his arrival in Mumbai on Sunday.Tiwari, Superintendent of Police,

Patna City (Central), was sent to Mumbai to monitor the investigation by a

Bihar Police team, which is probing an "abetment to suicide" case on the

basis of a complaint filed by the actor's father in Patna last week.

"I did point out that I am a police officer on duty and there are exceptions

to the quarantine rules," said Tiwari. "Four other members of my team have

been in Mumbai since July 27. They have been out in the field every day. No

one from the BMC approached them. I have been selectively home-quarantined,"

he said.

In a statement, the BMC said Tiwari was quarantined as per the rules for

domestic air travellers. However, the civic body did not say why the police

team which arrived from Patna on July 27 was not quarantined.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh said while he could not comment

on the officer being quarantined as it was a BMC issue, as per the Code of

Criminal Procedure, the Mumbai Police has the jurisdiction to investigate

the case.

In a video statement on Monday, Rajput's father, K K Singh, said he had

approached the Patna Police as the Mumbai Police did not act on his earlier

complaint, filed on February 25, about a "threat" to the actor's life.

AIIMS TRIALS: 1 IN 5 WHO SIGNED UP FOR COVAXIN TRIAL ALREADY HAVE ANTIBODIES

About 20% of those who expressed an interest in enrolling at AIIMS for

clinical trials of India's first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, had

already developed antibodies against coronavirus, making them unfit for the

trials.

Two weeks after AIIMS began enrolling participants, the institute has

screened more than 80 volunteers, but only 16 have been recruited. The

medical institute is to administer the vaccine to 100 people, who will be

monitored for at least two weeks after getting the first shot.

Those between 18 and 55 years of age with no heart, kidney, liver or lung

illness and no uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension are eligible for the

study.

"The rejection rate is very high as we can only recruit healthy volunteers.

In almost 20% of the volunteers, we have found antibodies. This means they

have already been infected. The remaining people do not have optimum liver

or kidney function," said a senior doctor at the hospital closely monitoring

the trials.

FRONTRUNNER OXFORD VACCINE CLEARED FOR ADVANCED TRIAL IN INDIA

India's top drug regulator has approved the application of Serum Institute

of India (SII) to conduct late-stage human trials in the country for the

Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine candidate.

Researchers in Oxford announced last month that their candidate had

triggered an immune response in humans against the novel coronavirus in

early trials. The Oxford candidate is considered to be one of the global

frontrunners for the Covid-19 vaccine, along with candidates being developed

by Moderna with the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious

Diseases, and Pfizer with BioNTech.

SII, the world's largest maker of vaccines, has a tie-up with AstraZeneca,

the Swedish-British pharma giant, to manufacture the Covid-19 vaccine for

low- and middle-income countries. The vaccine is already being tested in the

UK, South Africa and Brazil, where participants are being administered two

doses nearly a month apart.

CENTRE ISSUES GUIDELINES FOR 'UNLOCK 3'

The Centre on Monday released detailed guidelines for gymnasiums and yoga

institutes, specifically advising people above 65 years and those with

comorbidities against using gyms in closed spaces.

"Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women,

and children below 10 are advised not to use gyms in closed spaces.

Organisations managing yoga institutes and gymnasiums shall advise all

members, visitors and staff accordingly," the guidelines noted.

The government has allowed opening of yoga institutes and gymnasiums from

August 5 as part of the 'Unlock 3' phase.

In the case of gyms, the guidelines state that spas, sauna, steam bath and

swimming pools would continue to remain closed. "Plan yoga/gymnasiums floor

area based on 4m2 per person. Place equipment, including cardio and strength

machines, 6 feet apart, wherever feasible, by moving equipment to facilitate

social distancing. Where available, utilize any outdoor space by relocating

equipment outside," they state.

The government said that the practice of yogic kriya "may be avoided for the

time being". It said, "Even if it is to be practiced essentially, it may be

done in open spaces."

In view of potential threat of the spread of infection, "as far as feasible

recorded music/songs may be played" and "shouting/ laughter yoga exercise

should not be allowed".

The guidelines state that temperature setting of all air-conditioning

devices in these facilities should be in the range of 24-30 degrees C,

relative humidity should be in the range of 40-70 per cent and "intake of

fresh air should be as much as possible and cross-ventilation should be

adequate".

"Use of face covers/masks is mandatory at all times within the premises.

However, during yoga exercise or exercising in gymnasiums, as far as

possible only a visor may be used," the guidelines state.

EXPRESSION OF OPINION IS NOT CONTEMPT, PRASHANT BHUSHAN TELLS SC IN REPLY

After the Supreme Court initiated contempt proceedings and issued notice to

him over two of his tweets, advocate Prashant Bhushan has responded in an

affidavit that "such expression of opinion however outspoken, disagreeable

or however unpalatable.cannot constitute contempt of court". The court will

hear the matter on August 5.

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra had on July 22 issued notice to

Bhushan and Twitter Inc regarding the tweets dated June 27 and June 29,

stating that they "brought the administration of justice in disrepute".

Replying to the notice, Bhushan told the court in the affidavit dated August

2 that the June 29 tweet on photos of Chief Justice of India S A Bobde

seated on a bike "was made primarily to underline my anguish at the

non-physical functioning of the Supreme Court for the last more than three

months, as a result of which fundamental rights of citizens, such as those

in detention, those destitute and poor, and others facing serious and urgent

grievances were not being addressed or taken up for redressal".

The June 27 tweet, he contended, was "my bonafide opinion about the state of

affairs in the country in the past six years and the role of the Supreme

Court."

"It is the essence of a democracy that all institutions, including the

judiciary, function for the citizens and the people of this country, and

they have every right to freely and fairly discuss the state of affairs of

an institution and build public opinion in order to reform the institution.

I submit that my criticism has been outspoken yet it has been carefully

weighed and made with the highest sense of responsibility. What I have

tweeted is thus my bonafide impression about the manner and functioning of

the Supreme Court.," Bhushan wrote.

The affidavit also noted speeches made by Justice D Y Chandrachud and former

Supreme Court Judge Justice Deepak Gupta on dissent in a democracy.

Referring to the press conference by four senior Supreme Court judges on

January 12, 2018, Bhushan said that "so serious were the misgivings of the

senior sitting judges that they felt compelled to disregard the Code of

Judicial Conduct to call a press conference and warn citizens of danger to

democracy because of danger to a free judiciary".

Bhushan contended that "freedom of speech and expression guaranteed to every

citizen under Article 19(1)(a) is the ultimate guardian of all the values

that the Constitution holds sacred."

In the affidavit, Bhushan also questioned the top court for being a "mute

spectator" during the recent Delhi riots.

STUNNING IMAGE OF 'SPACE BUTTERFLY' THOUSANDS OF LIGHT YEARS AWAY

Astronomers have found a "space butterfly" thousands of light years away,

colored in brilliant blues, purple and red. They've also managed to capture

a photo of the "butterfly," in more vivid details than we've ever seen it

before.

The "butterfly" is actually a planetary space nebula, which is named its

resemblance to the Earth insect. The nebula is a giant cloud of gas that

forms around an ancient star that hasn't yet exploded. The European Space

Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope stationed in Chile, recently

captured the vibrant image of the interstellar object. This telescope can

see things more than 4 billion times more than the human eye.

Resembling a butterfly with its symmetrical structure, beautiful colors, and

intricate patterns, this striking bubble of gas-known as NGC 2899-appears to

float and flutter across the sky in this new picture.

NGC 2899's vast swathes of gas extend up to a maximum of two light-years

from its center, glowing brightly in front of the stars of the Milky Way as

the gas reaches temperatures upwards of ten thousand degrees.

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Silver (Rs. Per KG) 65,130

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

In order to be able to think, you have to risk being offensive. - Jordan B.

Peterson

OFF TRACK

How did you get that black eye?

My husband gave it to me.

But I thought your husband was out of town?

That's what I had thought too.