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Home , Jaggi Vasudev, Prabodhankar Thackeray

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   P                                   +,-./#-+#01            !"           !       R      !"          !   #      49:69*-   $ "   %&    elhi is experiencing the       Dcoldest winter in over a      century. The  '()  % & Meteorological Department  *+   (IMD) declared Monday as a      coldest day in the national       -  Capital in 119 years with max- ''   ! imum temperature dipping to 9.4 degrees Celsius at "     Safdarjung (official) observa-       tory. The Regional Weather #$ % # .     Forecast Centre (RWFC) has       predicted no relief from cold      /01  wave on Tuesday.         Sixteen flights were divert-     $ ed and four cancelled at the "     Delhi airport on Monday due % &     ! to heavy fog, an official said. Many trains were running late.       P& Citing 24 hours tempera-  ' ( ture trend, the IMD said the              Aya Nagar observatory record-    2   ed day temperature at 7.8 3       degrees Celsius, followed by          4 O#67- -  Ridge 8.4 degrees Celsius, 8)/       Palam 9 and Lodi Road 9.2     49:69*- around 11.30 pm on  #   $"   degrees Celsius. Sunday.      Forecasting weekly weath- s the fog engulfed Delhi- The deceased have been          er for the national Capital, the                       ANCR on Sunday night identified as Mahesh (35),        ! RWFC has predicted rain on dropping the visibility to zero, Kishan Lal (50), Neeresh (17), January 1, 2 and 3 while degrees Celsius January 1 mal for this day of the year. was recorded 9.4 degrees ing 9.4 degrees Celsius and six people, including two Ram Khiladi (75), Mallu (12) ) & December 31 is still tagged as onwards. “Today was the coldest day Celsius. “Delhi is likely to Palam 9.0 degrees Celsius,” minors, were killed when their and Netrapal (40), all residents   P  * “cold wave” day. There will be Low visibility in Delhi and recorded for the December,” record the coldest day today in IMD tweeted. Maruti Etriga car skidded off of Sambhal district in Uttar     no respite before January 3 as National Capital Region (NCR) Kuldeep said. last 119 years for December On Monday, a thick blan- the road and fell into a canal Pradesh. Police said there was         minimum temperature will delayed thirty trains. Kuldeep Around 3.30 pm, the IMD month as day temperature till ket of fog engulfed in Uttar Pradesh’s Greater one more car accompanying     +   fluctuate around 3-4 degrees Srivastava, head RWFC, said announced that Delhi is likely 14.30 IST of today has been Delhi and the minimum tem- Noida. Five other occupants of them and they all were going  +     Celsius, while maximum tem- the day temperature was almost to break previous records of unusually following a coldest perature settled at 2.6 degrees the car suffered injuries in the to Delhi when the unfortunate   ! perature will be around 16 half of what is considered nor- cold as maximum temperature trend with Safdarjung record- Celsius. accident that took place incident occurred.    R  %               #     $             49:69*- #     R lose on the heels of an espi-  49:69*- Conage racket busted with-   in its ranks and the arrest of s expected Army Chief seven sailors, the Indian Navy AGeneral Bipin Rawat was    !  has banned the use of smart on Monday night appointed the phones and Facebook by its first ever Chief of Defence     personnel within naval estab- Staff (CDS). He will assume lishments and on warships. charge on December 31 when The arrested sailors were he retires as the Army Chief.  &+   $2- honey-trapped and allegedly Vice Chief of Army Manoj blackmailed through social Mukund Naravane aharashtra Chief Minister media to pass on sensitive will take over as the next Army MUddhav Thackeray on information. Chief. Monday sprang a surprise by “Directive on use of smart The CDS will have a tenure including his son Aditya phones and social media for of three years or will serve till Thackeray in his team and naval personnel were always the age of 65. Rawat will com- carried out his first full-fledged there. The new instructions on plete 62 years when he retires expansion of his Ministry by smart phones are that these as the Army Chief. The Union inducting Ajit Pawar as Deputy cannot be used within naval comfort, however, the decision the Eastern Naval command submarines after they fell into Cabinet on Tuesday last week Chief Minister and 35 new establishments and naval plat- is in the larger national inter- headquarters besides the sen- a honey-trap through social had approved the creation of Ministers in his Cabinet. forms. Social media, use of est, they added. sitive submarine building cen- media in 2018. the CDS. He will function as With the expansion, the Facebook, is banned for all The latest order comes tre where the nuclear sub- Incidentally, a similar case the Principal Military Adviser Cabinet size has gone up to 43, naval personnel,” Navy sources days after the Andhra Pradesh marines Arihant are under involving at least two soldiers to the Defence Minister and the maximum for 288-member said here on Monday. For mes- Police along with the Navy construction, the Western leaking information through head the new department of Assembly. !!   "  # $         %  saging apps, instructions are intelligence unit and Central Naval command is based in social media came to light two military affairs in the Defence Ajit Pawar, who returned as &  # $            '    ( $   expected to be issued shortly, intelligence agencies arrested . The lone aircraft car- months back in Rajasthan Ministry. the Deputy Chief Minister of  ! %     *      '    #+ they added. seven sailors, besides a hawala rier INS Vikramaditya’s base is despite the armed forces regu- Since Rawat is the senior the State for a record fourth The latest orders are in line operator. The sailors were in Karwar, . larly cautioning its personnel to most Service Chief, as the CDS time, and 35 other Ministers, Mumbai. number of Ministers in the with ensuring the security of arrested from Visakhapatnam, The spy racket was busted be careful on social media. he will first among equals including Aditya Thackeray Of the Ministers who were Cabinet information, officials said stat- Mumbai and Karwar naval on December 19 by the Andhra The Army recently warned among service chiefs. The and former Chief Minister administered oath by the has risen to 43, ing the recent incident involv- establishments. They report- Pradesh Intelligence its personnel against 150 fake CDS, who will draw salary Ashok Chavan, were sworn Governor, 25 are of the Cabinet including that of the Chief ing the seven sailors in edly passed on unauthorised Department in a joint opera- social media profiles, including equivalent to the Services into office by Maharashtra rank, while the remaining 10 Minister. Visakhapatnam has also been information about movement tion with the Navy code named of phoney spiritual and Chiefs, will be responsible for Governor Bhagat Singh are Ministers of State. Sena spokesperson Sanjay taken into consideration while of warships and other opera- “Dolphin’s Nose.” The police babas, being used by Pakistan’s rationalising weapons pro- Koshyari at an oath-taking cer- With the induction of 36 Raut’s MLA-brother Sunil Raut arriving at this decision. “We tional details through social claimed the sailors, recruited in Intelligence officers to honey- curement procedures, besides emony held on the Vidhan new Ministers, including the couldn’t find a place in the do understand that this may media to a Pakistan handler. 2017, passed information like trap officials for extracting integrating the operation of the Bhavan premises in south Deputy Chief Minister, the Cabinet expansion. come at the cost of some dis- While Visakhapatnam has locations of naval ships and sensitive military information. armed forces.            R  '  

+    +*944- the anti-CAA demonstrators. A ingenious style of protest to day in the life of an ordinary express their resentment. () * )    gitations by political parties Hindu family begins in Tamil Women activists belonging Ausually bring anxious Nadu with the lady of the house to the DMK and the CPI(M)  49:69*- area (1,483 sq km), the report moments in the minds of ordi- cleaning the courtyard or the assembled at Besant Nagar, a said. nary people for fear of violence. entrance and decorating the high-end residential area and he forest-and-tree cover in The tree cover, which refers The opposition against the area with Kolams made of white started drawing Kolams with Tthe country has increased to small patches of less than 1 Citizenship Amendment Act rice powder. anti-CAA messages and slo- by 5,188 square kilometres in hectare outside forests, is esti- 2019 drawing thousands of They draw Kolams in dif- gans inscribed in them. Taken the last two years, but in the mated at 95,027 sqkm, which is people to rallies across Tamil ferent sizes, shapes and mod- aback by the intruders who North-East it is on the decline. 2.89 percent of the geographi- Nadu is no exception as there els. “It is a way to welcome drew a kind of “surrealistic” India is also on track to achieve cal area. is apprehension that the law gods, prosperity and happiness. Kolams in front of their hous- its goal of creating an additional The top five States in terms and order may go haywire. The expertise with which the es, the residents opposed the art carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion &  ,        of increase in forest cover are But the last two days saw Kolams are drawn is a measure work because the tonnes under the Paris -        Karnataka (1,025 sqkm), the anti-CAA demonstrations in of the devotion and dedication contents were not in tune with Agreement, Environment +  !    ./01 Andhra Pradesh (990 sqkm), taking a new turn. the lady has for gods as well as tradition. Minister Prakash Javadekar    #+ Kerala (823 sqkm), Jammu & There are no rallies holding up her house,” said Vijayashree Following objections raised said while releasing the biennial Kashmir (371 sqkm) traffic or throwing normal life Ramesh, advocate and social 2      '  !   2  %  by the residents, the activists India State Forest Report 2019. is 21.67 per cent of the geo- and Himachal Pradesh (334 out of gear. The agitation has activist.        moved over to the public road According to the report, graphic area of the country. sqkm). women as protagonists and However, many houses in where they started drawing the forest cover increased by Delhi’s total forest and tree However, the North-East they are using an age-old Tamil Mylapore, Adyar and even in (the period from December 15 being followed only by believ- Kolams with anti-CAA mes- 3,976 sqkm (0.56 per cent), cover has increased from did not show positive results as custom to give vent to their Boat Club Roads spotted pro- to January 15), extra care is ers in Sanatana . Since sages. But the police detained while tree cover by 1,212 sqkm 305.41 sqkm in 2017 to 324.44 the current assessment showed resentment against the new leg- CAA Kolams making it a taken to make big and beauti- the law enforcing agencies got them under the charges of dis- (1.29 per cent). The total for- sqkm. Delhi’s total forest and a decrease of forest cover to the islation. Kolams or Rangolis Kolam war in Tamil Nadu. ful Kolams. There is no need to tough with the anti-CAA ral- turbing public order and they est cover of India is now esti- green cover is now 21.86 per extent of 765 sqkm (0.45 per are the new tools employed by The season being Margazhi mention that this is a practice lyists, the latter devised an withdrew for the day. mated at 7,12,249 sqkm which cent of the total geographical cent) in the region.   !"#$%"& 

               7      (&  #*- January 2. Kalpa, some 250 km from Department official said here.  $2% #    OCD3   Meanwhile. large parts of here in Kinnaur district, saw the Chandigarh, the common       #  +  C#+D imachal Capital Shimla and Himachal Pradesh reeled under minimum temperature at minus capital of the two states, was also             #  ! Hits nearby tourist spots like severe cold on Monday, with the 2 degrees Celsius, while it was 2 under the grip of biting chill. The #+   C   D        Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda, minimum temperature staying degrees in Dharamsala and 4.2 minimum here settled at 3.5 deg 2 3 #+          Manali and Dalhousie may expe- below freezing point. degrees in Dalhousie. C.     #+  3#2    E   rience snow on New Year's Eve Shimla saw the rise in the In Haryana, Rohtak was the  # C D   #   or later, Met department officials night temperature at 3.6 degrees HARYANA AND PUNJAB coldest place recording a low of      #+   C> D #   said on Monday Celsius owing to cloudy condi- SHIVER 1.2 deg C. Ambala, Hisar, Karnal,  # 7  #  7 Shimla and its nearby desti- tions. It saw a low of 2.8 degrees Haryana and Punjab Narnaul, Bhiwani and Sirsa were              ! nations, Manali and Dalhousie a day earlier. Popular destination remained under the grip of also swept by piercing chill had experienced season's first Manali recorded a low of minus severe cold wave with tempera- recording respective lows of 2.7 +,   + P& ,   snowfall on December 12. And 2.8 degrees Celsius. tures hovering well below normal in the morning. Ludhiana, Patiala and Gurdaspur deg C, 3.6 deg C, 2.8 deg C, 1.5  $2% # "      $ *   23 thereafter there was no snowfall. Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti dis- limits on Monday. Faridkot in Punjab was the recorded near similar below nor- deg C, 2.8 deg C and 2.7 degrees B 4          + 7   An official said that there was trict was the coldest in the state Fog also continued to engulf coldest place in the state, record- mal minimums at 4.6, 4.5 and 4.2 Celsius. >   .  %    !"    chance of snow or rain across the with a low of 11.8 degrees below most places in Haryana and ing a minimum temperature of degrees Celsius. Halwara braved The maximum tempera-        %      state between December 31 and freezing point. Punjab, reducing visibility levels 0.7 degrees Celsius, six notches the chill at a low of 1.5 deg C. tures in the two states including  E  !#        below normal limits. Among Bathinda experienced a cold Chandigarh have for the last over #  9          other places in Punjab, freezing night at 3.8 deg C while a week hovered several notches            cold swept Amritsar, which Pathankot''s minimum settled below normal and settling in the           ! recorded a low of 1.2 deg C, at 3.4 deg C, a Meteorological range of 8-12 degrees Celsius. + &,    *  7  $2% #=7      3 7               - 3 !"  %  ' 8)8)   %  / 8)8)!"                6   8@ 6    '/!6     3 9 6          %  '! "8& '34&+    ; '7   $2% #=*                      @)    /1      .   !#            + -      # 2  .        @)   !-    +-    >     #  +      /1       ! &    *(  $2% #=>  -  +        # '8E + +     # =>  -  " +      - !"     42>6 3     >-2*+  *.96!3  # 3 #>            !>!!#  6                              ! 7 * (*  )8)8  ( &   $2% #=   4 +      'E 4  ? 2 8)8)  6   8(8                    C9E88)D !                          ! +     *  (   $2% #=   >#  3 $ O# + #    3       6           >   2     3    GG4  . !   > 4    6   8    !$-   2     %        2            !           =*  +  %  > "     #  #  2  4 6   !" + H   #    EB     "  6    !*    *  B #       EB      *     E B             !*   H           EB #  !2          3      ! #     4 ?      +*46-7>*

aryana Police on Monday said it has made elaborate secu- Hrity and traffic arrangements ahead of the New Year Celebrations in the State. In a statement, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Navdeep Singh Virk said that extra force would be deployed for foot patrolling, mobile patrolling, naka duties and at crowded locations like shopping malls, pubs, bars, hotels, resorts, cinema halls on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 so that people can welcome the New Year peace- fully. Virk said all Commissioners of Police and district Superintendents of Police have already been instructed to ensure added arrangements for crowd and traffic management in their respective places of postings. The police would be deployed in all public places and roads without causing hindrance to the fes- tivities. Special focus would be given to the safety of women and children during the celebrations, he added.

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 $6*-4 The protest march started of the legislation, “those sitting being celebrated across the The people accepted the from Daresi Ground and cul- in Delhi continue to be world,” he added. demonetization and GST unjab Congress on Monday minated at the statue of adamant, refusing to pay heed Earlier, senior party leader assaults patiently but had now Porganized a protest march at Matarani to the voice of the nation”. and Finance Minister Manpreet lost all their patience, he said, and dharna at Ludhiana to Chowk. Capt Amarinder pointed Badal recalled Mahatama pointing to the country-wide protest against the Citizenship Capt Amarinder, address- out that Sri Nanak Dev Gandhi’s removal from a train anti-CAA protests, led by stu- Amendment Act (CAA). Led ing Punjab Pradesh Congress had also taught secularism, as in South Africa, prompting dents. by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Committee (PPCC) leaders manifest in his words “na koi him to warn the white officials Pointing to Modi’s shock- Amarinder Singh and the state and workers at a protest march hindu, na koi musalman, sab that he will throw them out of ing claims of identifying peo- Congress president Sunil and dharna, also joined by All rab de bande” (nobody is a his country. ple by their clothes, Jakhar Jakhar, the state Congress lead- India Congress Committee Muslim or a Hindu, all are Likening the current situ- flayed the tyranny of the NDA ers including Cabinet (AICC) secretary in-charge of God’s people). ation with that incident, Government, warning that no Ministers, MLAs, came out on Punjab affairs Asha Kumari, He added that the protest Manpreet said that if Modi citizen would escape the ill- streets to raise voice against warned that the BJP could not march, held in Punjab’s eco- tried to send Indians out of the effects of the Centre’s actions. Government get away with its nefarious nomic heartland, would help country, the Congress will turn He took a dig at the BJP and the “draconian” Act. designs. He pointed that send the anti-CAA message him (Modi) out of India. leadership’s ‘tukde tukde gang’ Lashing out at the protests against the draconian across India. Noting that the BJP had remarks, saying that the NDA (BJP) for Act were going on currently in Later, in an informal chat secured a mere 39 percent itself was a ‘tukde tukde’ gov- trying to “change the 16 states, including Punjab. with mediapersons, Capt votes in the last Lok Sabha elec- ernment, which was out to Constitution’s preamble”, the Reading out the preamble, Amarinder reiterated that his tions, he asserted that with the divide the country. Chief Minister called upon all he said that it was the very basis government would continue to remaining 61 percent support- Lok Sabha Ludhiana Lok Indians to unite against their of India’s foundation, which oppose the Centre’s attempt to ing the opposition parties, the Sabha MP Ravneet Singh Bittu divisive and dangerous nobody could disturb. “While destroy India’s secular charac- Modi Government could not termed the CAA a black law, attempts to destroy the nation’s Articles of the Constitution are ter and change the Preamble of get away with the enactment of which majority of the states secular fabric with the CAA. amended from time to time, the Constitution. such black laws. would not implement since At the same time, Capt not just in India but across the Capt Amarinder, referring Adiyanath’s knowledge. “Aren’t Massachusetts Institute of On the manhandling of PPCC president Sunil about 70 percent of the Chief Amarinder declared that world, no one can tolerate tin- to the manhandling of AICC you ashamed of such actions,” Technology (MIT) students Priyanka by UP police, he Jakhar lambasted the ‘kale Ministers were now from the Punjab Government will not kering with its basic struc- general secretary Priyanka he asked Adiyanath, warn- had also passed a resolution termed the incident shameful. angrez sitting in Delhi’ (BJP-led Congress and other Opposition allow implementation of CAA ture,” he said, pointing out Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh, said ing that the Congress would against CAA, the Chief “It is shameful that Guru central government) for trying parties, marking a clear decline in Punjab and the Congress that even the that the police could not have not forget this incident and Minister observed that while Nanak Dev ji’s secular ideolo- to implement the agenda which for the BJP graph. would continue to fight it tooth had termed the CAA discrim- indulged in such behaviour tables would turn one day. the entire world was expressing gy was being attacked while his the pre-Independence ‘goras’ and nail. inatory. without Chief Minister Yogi Pointing out that the concern over the ramifications 550th birth anniversary was (whites) had failed to execute. *   +  4  '      -   4#           $'' (   '      +*46-7>* ness outside the night shelters.  +*46-7>* HT and LT category respec- Mushroom Heating and The night shelter has a tively, but now Rs. 2.50 and 4.50 Mushroom Compost Unit,      aryana Chief Minister provision for the accommo- o promote horticulture- per unit will be applicable after Honey Processing Unit, Tissue  B3 HManohar Lal Khattar dation of 85 people. Tbased industries and cold this decision. Culture Lab and milk-related inaugurated a two-storey Rain Apart from this the two- supply chains in the State, The Horticulture depart- bulk milk chamber units will  +*46-7>* Basera (Night Shelter) for storey night shelter also Haryana Government has ment will be giving the gap also be included in the same   homeless in Prem Nagar, includes other facilities decided to subsidize the elec- amount of the electricity rates as slab. While the electricity aryana Home Minister Anil Karnal. including seven dormitories, tricity rates for the industrial a subsidy to these units through rate of Rs 4.50 per unit will be HVij on Monday expressed Equipped with modern council room, caretaker units of this sector. the Direct Benefit Transfer applicable in cold store,  +*46-7>* from 10 pm on December 31 to disappointment over functioning amenities, the night shelter room, kitchen, store, staircase, With this decision, Farmers, (DBT). This will put an addi- C.A. store 2 am on January 1 in the inter- of intelligence department of the has been made by the Karnal lobby, toilet facilities and Farmer Producer Organization tional financial burden of about The minister said that ear- he Union Territory Police est of safety and security of the Police saying it will be mod- Municipal Corporation and solar power system in bath- (FPO) listed with Small Framers 70 to 80 crores on the lier, the electricity rates of the Ton Monday said those general public as well as peace- ernised soon with equipment, has been set up at a cost of Rs. room, mineral water RO sys- Agri-Business Consortium Horticulture Department. This horticulture based industries drinking liquor at public places, ful celebration of New Year- appointments, training of staff 1.12 crore. tem, geyser for heating water, Haryana, Cooperative Societies decision will be applicable to the and cold supply chain were creating noise pollution 2020. among others. A three member After the inauguration, water pump, fire fighting and other Micro and Small new financial year April 1, similar to commercial indus- through exhaust of vehicles These roads are Inner committee headed by Additional Khattar directed the equipment, wardrobe, two Enterprises related to 2020. tries, but on the request of and indulging in hooliganism Market roads of Sector 7, Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan Municipal Corporation offi- CCTVs cameras, a LED. Horticulture will get electricity He informed that the hor- farmers and entrepreneurs, the on New Year eve will be dealt Sector 8, Sector 9, Sector 10, and two senior police officers- cers that as per the require- While other modern facil- on almost half the price. ticulture units where the elec- Chief Minister Manohar Lal has with strictly. Sector 11, Sector 17, Inner DGP Prabhat Ranjan Deo and ment, such night shelters ities like screens and battery Agriculture and Farmers tricity rate will be applicable at taken this decision. In a statement on Monday, Mkt road of Sector 22, Road DGP KP Singh has been formed should also be set up in other inverters have been provided Welfare Minister, Jai Prakash Rs 2.50 per unit, includes, pack Dalal said that this decision the Chandigarh Police said it in front of Leisure Valley, Sector and they have been asked to give parts of the city too. in the night shelter, three Dalal on Monday said that houses and activities done will not only give a boost to the will conduct a special drive 10, from Aroma Light Point to suggestion about the measures to Chief Minister Manohar dormitories have been built presently Rs 8.00 to Rs 8.35 per under the packhouse including horticulture sector but will also against drunken driving and Small Chowk near Dispensary be taken to improve the effi- Lal Khattar further directed on the ground floor and four unit is applicable to these Ripening, Pre- Cooling, Cold create employment opportuni- speeding in the city on the eve and around Elante Mall, ciency intelligence department. the officers to ensure cleanli- on the first floor. Industrial units listed under Room, etc. Apart from this ties in this sector. of New Year-2020. Industrial Area Phase 1. It may be mentioned here "Strict legal action shall be The Police requested gen- that in 2015, when Vij was the taken against those driving eral public is requested to make state Health Minister, he had under the influence of alcohol," own parking arrangements for alleged that the CID was 'spying' #$   % &' the statement said, adding vehi- their vehicles in the vicinity of on him as he had caught an offi- cles of drunk drivers will be these road stretches. Residents cer of the department. impounded, penalty of Rs. whose houses are accessed The Home Minister said 10,000 may be imposed and using the above said road Haryana has its own Police Act !   Singh to dismiss Randhawa, Minister-level people are ridi- State Government,” he added. bition at Delhi,” he said. their driving licenses may be stretches, have been asked to but it has not been implement- besides arresting him in view of culing Guru Nanak Dev when Demanding Randhawa’s “While the whole world is suspended. carry a valid identity card and ed strictly so far. Police rules will   $   his controversial video. we are celebrating his 550th dismissal at the earliest possi- celebrating the 550th parkash The Police also made sev- residence proof in order for be implemented strictly in the That is not all! The parkash purav. ble by the Chief Minister, the purab of Guru Nanak Dev eral stretches Vehicle Free Zone their facilitation. State, he said. Shiromani Gurudwara Lashing out at the “false SAD also demanded a fair and with utmost devotion and  +*46-7>* Parbandhak Committee sanctimonious pretence” of the through investigation by the humility, Randhawa has chosen (SGPC), known as the Sikhs’ State Government, Grewal said police. “Randhawa can use his to compare the great Guru day after Punjab Cabinet mini parliament, has also that a case was registered with- status and office to circumvent with the Chief Minister, which  !!" AMinister Sukhjinder Singh sought action against the in no time when the Christian the inquiry and his statement is highly unfortunate. It is sad Randhawa filed a police com- Punjab Minister. community complained of sac- that it is a doctored video is that a Minister of the govern- #$%&&& '$&#'  plaint alleging a “doctored” Saddened by the video rilege in Ajanala and here a nothing but prevarication tac- ment which claimed to be the video was being circulated on which has gone viral depicting senior Minister in the Congress tics to delay and sabotage the champion in celebrating the  +*46-7>* “one-sided” power agreements raise the electricity tariff further social media showing him Randhawa ridiculing and party is being protected even blasphemous statement made 550th parkash purab was entered into by the erstwhile by 36 paise per unit in the State making derogatory remarks laughing at Guru Nanak Dev, though there is enough evi- by him,” said Grewal. indulging in such a blasphemy,” lamming Punjab Badal government, AAP leaders from January 1, 2020, is a lop- about a Sikh guru which he the former SAD minister and dence to register a case. Meanwhile, BJP’s national he said. SGovernment over the pro- would submit memorandums in sided, which would leave every never made, the Shiromani party’s senior vice president Randhawa’s statement that secretary Tarun Chugh said Saying that the Minister’s posed hike in the electricity tar- every district of the State consumer in a fresh financial Akali Dal (SAD) and the Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal it is a “doctored video” to false- that Randhawa not only utterance has hurt the senti- iff which was already on the through respective Deputy quandary,” they said. Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on said that a case, under 295 of ly implicate him can be and deserves to be dismissed from ments of Sikhs, Chugh higher side, Aam Aadmi Party’s Commissioners (DCs) on Citing an example of the Monday opened front against the Indian Penal Code (IPC), should be checked as the lab- the Cabinet but should also be demanded that Randhawa (AAP) Punjab unit on Monday Tuesday. Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi the senior Congress leader. should be registered against oratory at is booked and arrested for his needs to be dropped with said that it would reach out to AAP MLAs Aman Arora Government providing Upping the ante against the Randhawa. equipped to discern if it’s his comparison of Guru Nanak immediate effect, booked and the Government demanding and Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, cheaper electricity to the people Congress Minister, SAD has “The State Government voice or someone else’s. Dev to the Chief Minister. arrested for what he has spo- roll back on the “anti-people” in a joint statement, described there, they said that the Punjab demanded an immediate should immediately dismiss “The Chief Minister should Terming it as “gross sacri- ken. decision besides changing the sharp hike the electricity tar- Government should replicate action against Randhawa “for him from his Cabinet rank as immediately ask the police to lege”, Chugh said that Notably, Chugh has also the power purchase agreements iff as an “anti-people” decision the Delhi model in the State. committing a sacrilege against a minister and apologize to the register a case and a prompt, Randhawa has committed an shot off a letter to Punjab with the private of the government, which would “If the government in Delhi the founder of the Sikh reli- Sikh sangat for its senior party fair investigation should be unpardonable sin. “The video Governor VP Singh Badnore companies. hit all sections of the society and could afford cheaper electricity gion”. AT the same time, the functionary to have committed done to assuage the anger at the which has gone viral and is asking him to dismiss the Seeking a rollback on the thus, the government should to consumers in Delhi, why saffron party has urged the a sacrilege of this huge magni- blasphemy committed by a being condemned by one and Minister if the Chief Minister proposed exorbitant hike, and mull an immediate roll back. couldn’t Punjab government do Chief Minister Capt Amarinder tude,” he said adding that the senior Minister serving in the all belongs to a painting exhi- fails to do so. pressing upon tweaking the “Government’s decision to in the state?” they asked.   $$ ' 4 ( )  %             %5 4  *+(%    "   +*46-7>* &)#* * ,  +*46-7>* ifferences have cropped + *#-##' Dup between Haryana #'#-* #$  +*46-7>* his job at the Horticulture pilot project on applying Home Minister Anil Vij and Department, where he worked Afor childcare leave online Chief Minister's Office (CMO)  #!! he controversial self-styled as a peon and took over his will be started soon by the over raids conducted in #  Tgodman Baba Piara Singh father's work. Haryana Education Regional Transport offices by Bhaniara, spiritual leader of a Subsequently, he pro- Department. the CM’s flying squad on !!/# # # breakaway Sikh sect based in claimed himself as ‘Baba’. He "The project will be start- Monday with the assistance of /#$*' Dhamiana village in Ropar, encroached upon a piece of ed keeping in mind the conve- police without informing the passed away on Monday land of the Forest Department nience of the woman employ- Home Department and Police  #! morning. and established a dera there. ees in the schools. chief. Aged 61, he was taken to His fame as a healer spread In the first phase of the Care Leave' for two weeks has Care Leave' will handle their Home Minister Anil Vij The CM Flying Squad car- reported to have expressed dis- Mohali’s Max Hospital after wide after political leaders, pilot project the PGT been started for PGT teachers, HRMS accounts themselves. also expressed his displeasure ried out the raids, headed by appointment as he was not complaining of a chest pain and government and judicial offi- teachers can apply for child care after which this facility will be He informed that officers will over transfer of nine senior IPS CID Chief Anil Kumar Rao. informed about the same. suffocation, in the early morn- cers started visiting his dera. leave online," a spokesman of started for other women also be imparted training to officers as he was not consult- Raids were conducted at RTO Sources said that regarding ing. Doctors declared him Recognized for his social work, the department said on employees as well. explain the process of ed in their transfer. of Bahadurgarh, where officials transfer of nine IPS officers, brought dead. and was even rumoured to feed Monday. In this, the official con- application. While talking to reporters, were absent. Empty bottles of controversy surfaced after Vij His ‘dera’ is situated at the wild animals and birds in He said that it was decid- cerned who approves the 'Child Vij said, “I was not informed in liquor were recovered from did not agree on the list of the Bhaniara village near Nurpur forests, he soon built a number ed to take the application for the transfer of nine IPS offi- the RTO office in Rewari, transfers. Shortly after his dis- Bedi in Ropar district. He had of deras across the State. 'Child Care Leave' and further cers.” sources said. Officers and per- agreement, transfer orders were thousands of followers, main- The most famous among process the leaves on the On Monday, Haryana gov- sonnel were apparently found issued. ly among the dalit communi- his followers were former HRMS portal to develop online ernment took major action missing during the raid in On December 28, a copy of ty. Union Minister Buta Singh. modules in the School against alleged irregularities Sonipat. Raids were also con- the proposed transfer list was Bhaniara, survived by his Soon, he proclaimed him- Education Department of in Regional Transport offices. ducted in Narnaul and officers sent to Home Minister Vij. wife and three sons, was an self to be the incarnate of the Haryana. Raids were conducted in the and personnel were not found When the list reached him, he employee of Horticulture Sikhs’ tenth master, Guru The facility has been pro- RTO offices of all the districts on duty. immediately sent an answer to Department at a sericulture Gobind Singh — an action that vided so that the woman in the state since Monday Sources said that Home deputy secretary. He returned farm in Asmanpur village. evoked the then Akal Takht employees do not have to run morning. Chief Minister Minister was not informed the list with suggestions. Even He was one of the seven jathedar (head priest) Bhai from pillar to post to enquire Manohar Lal Khattar has asked though CM Flying Squad took after this, transfer orders were children of Tulsi Ram, who was Ranjit Singh to ex-communi- about the status of their leave. the officers for the report to be assistance of police while con- issued, which Vij has appar- the care taker of two ‘mazars’. cate him from the Sikh panth He said that in the first phase, submitted by Monday evening. ducting raids at RTOs. Vij is ently objected to. After his death, Bhaniara left (community) in 1998. the online process of 'Child   !"#$%"&  0

#   Q%  & &'  ( ) ( -  '$  $  - .   +*46-7>* of essential commodities like Union, Punjab; Jai Kissan (MSP) of all crops as per Dr MS fixing the MSP of milk. “This 'Grameen Bharat grain, milk, vegetables, fruits, Andolan, Punjab. Sawaminathan report; waiving For all the suicide victim Band' is also against the uneth- o protest against the farmers’ and fodder etc will be altogeth- The farmer leaders said that off all types of debt of all farm- families, the farmers are ical or irrational and unholy  /     Tdistress and the policies of er stopped to the cities or urban a notice regarding this ‘Grameen ers completely; lowering costs of demanding  10 lakhs along alliance between Punjab the Government towards rural areas, and in the same way, noth- Bharat Band’ on January 8 will all types of agricultural input, with employment to one mem- Governments, (both previous areas, more than 250 farmers’ ing will be allowed to flow from be sent to the President on besides prices of seeds, fertiliz- ber of the family and complete and the current) and the private  #*- were becoming aware about organisations under the banner the cities to the villages on that January 3, 2020, through the ers, pesticides, insecticides, agri- waiving off their entire loan. thermal plant capitalist owners road safety after the launch of of All India Kissan Sangharash day. To make this event a perfect Deputy Commissioners across culture machinery etc must be The demand charter also as the electricity has become too ransport Minister Govind safety awareness campaign by the Coordination Committee success and more effective, all the country, including Punjab, controlled and lowered; provid- includes the farmers’ concern costly by which the burden is TSingh Thakur on Monday Government. "The Government (AIKSCC) will observe a com- means of transports will be and also the copies of this notice ing  10,000 per month to all 60 regarding the current decision of being shifted on to masses of said Himachal Road Transport was providing latest techniques plete ‘Grameen Bharat Band’ on made standstill,” announced the or letter shall be sent to the years plus farmers as ‘Kissan Punjab Government about vil- Punjab by increasing the elec- Corporation (HRTC) has start- in the driver training institutes January 8, 2020. leaders of 10 farmers’ organisa- Prime Minister and Punjab Pension’; implementing “pro- lage common or panchayati tricity rate by 30 paise per unit,” ed bus services on 174 new and safety driving education The Committee declared tions active in Punjab which are Chief Minister. farmer” Crop Insurance Scheme land. they said.They added that the routes during last two year and center established with the help that outflow of all kinds of the part and parcel of AIKSCC. The purpose of this Band is (CIS); among others. “This sort of common land Band was also for getting  200 seven more new routes were of Honda has started function- essential commodities will be The organisations include to awaken the Central and State The farmers demanded that should not be taken away by the per quintal compensation for approved on Monday. ing in Una," he said. Besides, altogether stopped to the cities Jamhoori Kissan Union, Punjab, Governments from their deep the agriculture commodities government as it will badly the management of paddy straw. Thakur said that the State HRTC was establishing modern and in urban areas, and nothing AIKS (Ajoy Bhawan), AIKS, slumber regarding the hard- and its allied vocations, like affect the landless agriculture They also demanded to Government was working to driver training institutes at will be allowed to reach villages Punjab; Kirti Kisaan Union, hitting demands of the farmers dairy, poultry etc, be kept out of workers or small and marginal compensate the farmers for the develop a safe and complete Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu, Taradevi from cities on that day. Punjab, Punjab Kissan Union, and their plight in the whole of Regional Comprehensive farmers’ families who get damage done to wheat crop due transport system in the State and and Jasur. The State Government “Big rallies, meetings, mas- Kissan Sangharash Committee, the country. Economic Partnership (RCEP) employment on these lands,” to non-burning of paddy straw efforts for safe transport and has provided 2.5 crore for upgra- sive flag marches shall be orga- Punjab, Azad Kissan Sangharash They said that their main and all other multilateral agree- they said while condemning and also demanded to withdraw minimizing road accidents have dation of these institutes and  nized in the villages, small Committee, Punjab, BKU demands include guaranteeing ments including World Trade the decision and decided to of cases filed against farmers on started showing positives results. 1.8 crore had been sanctioned, towns, and outflow of all kinds (Dakaunda), Krantikari Kissan the minimum support price Organization (WTO), besides fight it back with full might. the issue of straw burning. The minister said people Thakur said. 0 ))   )+&1 )  .

 +*46-7>* ferred to Karnal, Hardeep Singh, DIPRO (Offtg), Karnal has been transferred to Yamunanagar, Usha Rani, DIPRO, Hisar has been aryana Government has issued the transfer orders of 13 offi- transferred to Narnaul, Surender Saini, DIPRO, Kaithal has been Hcers of the Department of Information, Public Relations and transferred to Hisar and Paru Lata, DIPRO Rohtak has been trans- Languages (DIPRL). ferred to Bhiwani. Ranbir Singh Sangwan, Deputy Director, Faridabad has been Similarly, Sanjiv Kumar, DIPRO, Narnaul has been transferred transferred as Joint Director NCR, Gurugram. S.R Godara, to Rohtak, Jaipal Singh AIPRO, as DIPRO (Offtg), Jhajjar has Deputy Director, Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri District has been been transferred to AIPRO, Delhi, Krishan Kumar, AIPRO, transferred to Hisar division. Fatehabad has been transferred to as DIPRO (Offtg), He will also continue to work as DIPRO Charkhi Dadri, in Kaithal, Dinesh Kumar, AIPRO, Bahadurgarh has been trans- addition to his duties. ferred to as DIPRO (Offtg), Jhajjar, Balwan Singh, ICA, Rohtak, Surender Bazad, DIPRO Gurugram has been transferred to on promotion has been transferred to Jhajjar as Faridabad, Sunil Kumar, DIPRO, Yamunanagar has been trans- Superintendent.   1# & / *#/' 23 '

 #*- Sustainable Development Goals and provide a qualitative hief Minister Jai Ram assessment on the 17th goal. CThakur on Monday said Thakur said as per the Himachal Pradesh has been report the State has performed ranked as the second best State well in water and sanitation, of the country after Kerala in power, industry and other the list of States for achieving social services sector such as the targets under the health, education, nutrition Sustainable Development and gender equality. He said Goals Index 2019-20. that this was due to the effec- He said that NITI Aayog tive implementation of policies has released the Sustainable and programmes launched by Development Goals (SDGs) the State Government. Index for the year 2019-20, He said the SDG Index, adding that it covers 16 launched last year, ranked states based on 16 goals across 54 tar- gets spread among 100 indica- tors based on national identi- fied indicators. The first report just had 13 goals and 39 indi- cators.   !"#$%"&  4

6 2   ! !        5:'    

  ( ,  social media to highlight its fea- interest groups. Sadhguru's video and said "stop The BJP has asserted that it is 49:69*- tures with Modi posting a #IndiaSupportsCAA," Modi believing lies and half truths on meant for minorities persecut- video of spiritual guru tweeted. CAA". He urged everyone, ed in three neighbouring coun- rime Minister Narendra Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev back- The Twitter handle of especially the youth, to watch tries due to their faith. PModi on Monday led the ing the legislation. Modi's personal website also the video and get a "historical Union Minister Prakash BJP's outreach campaign with Amid protests, including had a message saying that the perspective on why we need Javadekar took on the critics, the hashtag from Muslims in several parts CAA is about giving citizenship CAA". who have dubbed the law as #IndiaSupportsCAA to gather of the country, the Prime Min- to persecuted refugees and not Joining the campaign, discriminatory, and tweeted, support for the Citizenship ister has asserted that the law about taking anyone's citizen- party's working president JP "Spread Facts Not Myth: In the Amendment Act (CAA), which is about giving citizenship to ship away. The message was Nadda quoted from the spiri- last 6 years, 2830 Pakistani, 912 has sparked violent protests refugees from three countries posted with the hashtag "India tual leader's remarks to say that Afghani & 172 Bangladeshi across India in recent weeks. and not about taking away Supports CAA". "in a very calibrated way some- citizens have been given Indian Modi's official website tweeted anyone's citizenship. BJP has It also asked people to body sent the message to the citizenship. Many of them are that the CAA "is about giving announced a 10-day campaign share content, graphics and minorities that your citizenship from majority community of citizenship to persecuted across the country to spread videos from the Prime Minis- is under threat which is an these countries." refugees and not about taking awareness about the CAA and ter's NaMo app to show their absolute lie". He also posted several anyone's citizenship away". taken on the Opposition for support for the law, which has Opposition and other crit- tweets, highlighting key aspects Seeking to mobilise sup- pushing "rumours and fears" triggered protests in different ics slammed the CAA, saying of the amended law and quot- port for the amended citizen- around it. parts of the country. it is against India's secular ed Modi's comments that it will ship law, other BJP leaders too "Do hear this lucid expla- CAA and more by Sadhguru historical context, brilliantly erhood. He also calls out the BJP president and Home Constitution as it makes reli- not adversely affect any Indian launched the campaign on nation of aspects relating to Jaggi Vasudev. He provides highlights our culture of broth- misinformation by vested Minister Amit Shah also posed gion as a ground for citizenship. citizen. 5 73 8   3 7 + -   $         (  2%  % +  . 'P 07$   -82 %     2&+3   %4       E            49:69*- then public servants in this Corporation Jammu and  49:69*- "There was no breach in "During travelling, the pro-       conspiracy of issuance of Ranjan is CEO of Jammu security by the official" who tectee used non-bullet resistant > 3  !6    he CBI on Monday con- licences to non-residents of Srinagar Metro Rail he CRPF on Monday said happens to be the CO of civil vehicle without a personal  "      Tducted searches at 17 loca- J&K in violation of rules, Corporation Tthere was no breach in Hazartganj, Abhay Mishra, reads security officer. The protectee  !-    tions in Jammu & Kashmir at allegedly received gratifica- The case was handed over Congress leader Priyanka the statement. took a lift on Scooty as a pillion      the premises of senior IAS tion," the agency said in a to the CBI on the basis of a rec- Gandhi Vadra's security during It said the "only programme" rider," it said, adding that as this officers Yasha Mudgal and statement. ommendation from Rajasthan her recent trip to Lucknow. The of Priyanka indicated to the movement was not planned, the   ,  Kumar Rajeev Ranjan besides Several documents related Director General of Police O P paramilitary blamed Vadra for CRPF team for that day was CRPF team could not conduct  +  <   the then District to the cases, including bank Galhotra after the anti-terror "violations" by riding pillion on about her visit to the local an ASL which was a breach of  " +2-   Collectors/District Magistrates statements, were recovered squad had busted a racket a scooter. Pradesh Congress Committee security protocol mandated for        of Kupwara, Baramulla, during the searches that were related to the matter. Following The force, which provides (PCC) office for attending a Priyanka Gandhi.    -  Udhampur, Kishtwar, Shopian, carried out at three places in this, the two FIRs were lodged armed commandos under the party foundation day event. "Despite the security con- -  " E   Rajouri, Doda and Pulwama in Centre. After taking over the Kashmir, 11 places in Jammu by the agency. 'Z+' category of VIP security The CRPF said it had "con- straints, appropriate security C--"ED .    ! an alleged gun licensing rack- case in 2018, searches were also and one each in Gurugram The CBI's Chandigarh unit cover to her, said the Congress ducted" an ASL for this event and cover was provided by the CRPF " #  + 2   et busted by the Rajasthan earlier conducted at 11 places (Haryana), Mohali (Punjab) had registered the FIRs for leader undertook "unscheduled had intimated it to state author- during the visit," it said.  I+   E police in 2017. including Srinagar, Udhampur and Noida (Uttar Pradesh), alleged criminal misconduct movement without intimation". ities. The force added that such     .->    The move comes two years and Jammu at the locations of officials said. and criminal conspiracy under Therefore, an advanced It alleged that the Congress security lapses are communi-  6   8(  after the agency registered two private gun houses which led to Besides searching the the Ranbir Penal Code and in security liaison (ASL) could not leader's "personal staff did not cated to the protectee and      cases on allegations issuance of recovery of incriminating doc- premises of Mudgal, a 2007- violation of Section 3/25 of the be conducted, the Central communicate" the detailed pro- "advised" for ensuring proper   ! around two lakh arms licences uments including issue, renew- batch IAS officer, and Ranjan, Arms Act, besides provisions of Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said gramme of the day to the Uttar security arrangements. to non residents of the erst- al of arms licenses, blank appli- a 2010-batch IAS officer, hous- the Prevention of Corruption in a statement issued here by Pradesh Police CO when he Priyanka, also the Congress , )8   P while State. cation forms submitted by var- es of I Hussain, Mohammed Act. Inspector General (Intelligence came calling at Priyanka's place general secretary in-charge of UP       The CBI said incriminating ious licencees, money transac- Saleem, Mohammed Junaid According to Rajasthan and VIP security) P K Singh. of stay in Lucknow at about 8 am. (East), was in Lucknow on  -   documents recovered during tions of gun dealers with Khan, F C Bhagat, Farooq Police officials, the Jammu and Priyanka's office had written The force said while there December 27 and December 28 >-  C>"-D  searches are being scrutinised. licencees, blank NOC pur- Ahmed Khan and Jenhagir Kashmir government was to Singh's office on December 28 was no breach in Priyanka as part of her first visit to the State 9 +C9+D  The agency had registered portedly issued by District Ahmed Mir were searched, informed about the racket in with a complaint that a police cir- Gandhi's security, at least three capital after violent protests    8)    two cases in August last year on Magistrates and other docu- officials said. 2017 and several letters cle officer (CO) in Lucknow had "security violations" took place against the amended citizenship         the consent of Jammu and ments, the agency said in a Mudgal is at present CEO- addressed to then Chief issued threats to her security per- when she chose to ride a two- law and a proposed countrywide       Kashmir Government and fur- statement. and-Managing Director of Secretary B B Vyas remained sonnel and warned of restricting wheeler while on her way to visit implementation of the National      !" ther notification from the "It was also alleged that the Power Distribution unanswered. her movements on the same day. retired IPS officer S R Darapuri. Register of Citizens.      4   +   C4+D   6   C6D >  %   6 C>%6D!"   $ 9'    ( ' >"-       4   !"            '/  49:69*- 8)/!    0/ :'  he Ministry of Housing      Tand Urban Affairs on    *  *   49:69*- $/0#/ 20 00 Delhi Development Authority Monday signed an MoU with  # -#    /=- >020-#?-$ (DDA) has completed the work Flipkart in which products $ #    ccusing the AAP of spread- >#> #$% >/-@!$ !0-#/2 on preparing maps of unau- made by women self-help    9  Aing "lies" and misleading =--$/$A!/00- -$0/ thorised colonies in just two groups formed under the +C9+D    people on the issue regularisa- months while 35,000 people Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-      tion of unauthorised colonies, start in next 8-10 days to give have registered themselves on National Urban Livelihoods    "  !" Union Housing and Urban ownership rights to people. its website and submitted doc- Mission (DAY-NULM), will  +   Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh You keep telling lies, and we uments. now be available on e-com- +      E Puri on Monday said registry (Centre) will soon hand over In another tweet, the Union merce platforms.  #    for ownership rights in unau- documents of houses to the res- housing and urban affairs min- Union Housing and Urban      thorised colonies will start in idents of these colonies. You ister accused the Kejriwal gov- Affairs Secretary Durga %  / 8)8)   the next 8-10 days. cannot be an obstacle in the ernment of failing to prepare Shanker Mishra said the gov- 6   '/ 8)8)  6" Puri said that the Central happiness of Delhiites," Puri maps of 1,731 colonies in the ernment would also rope in cially independent. According "Today, we have signed an event.   !#  /1G  Government will soon hand tweeted in Hindi. past five years and they moved Amazon to provide a platform to the secretary, 12 lakh people MoU with Flipkart. It aims to According to the secretary, -#   $    over registry to the residents. It "The Aam Aadmi Party is a court seeking two-year-time for the online sale of SHGs' have so far been trained in dif- directly sell products made by 12 lakh people have so far been       is estimated that 40-50 lakh misleading people but the BJP- for the same. products. ferent skills in the last five years self-help groups through e- trained in different skills in the        9+! people living in 1731 unautho- led Centre has brought laws, he Earlier on Sunday, Chief Under the DAY -NULM, under the mission while commerce portals. We are also last five years under the mis- 4 6 =" +2-    rised colonies play a vital role said in reference to the Minister Arvind Kejriwal said self-help groups consisting 44 around 5.06 lakh people were likely to ink an MoU with sion while around 5.06 lakh       in deciding the fate of any Parliament passing a bill to give at a press conference that polit- lakh women have been work- given funds by the government Amazon on January 7 for the people were given funds by the      political party in every election ownership rights to the resi- ical parties indulge in politics, ing across the country, a move and they are currently self- same purpose," Mishra told government and they are cur- - "      in the national capital. In dents of unauthorised colonies. but if government starts fur- aimed at making women finan- employed. reporters on the sidelines of an rently self-employed. 2    -E 2015, people of unauthorised "...Tell, has the law been nishing wrong information, it is   C-D colonies voted to Arvind enacted or not? has the process saddening. Citing (FAQ) fre-       !" Kejriwal to bring changes in the of giving ownership rights to quently asked questions from      6  national capital. In 2020, both people begun or not? Their DDA website on unauthorised 3/ ;* 1#  $ $ +  - "  BJP and AAP is eying on unau- (AAP's) strategy is not to ben- colonies, Kejriwal claimed that C-  D #  4   -  thorised colonies vote bank. efit people, and mislead them neither central government is !%$!!#/1 +-"C  D6 "They (AAP) are weaving instead," Puri said. giving ownership rights nor     ! nets of words while registry will The minister said that the regularising them.  $  49:69*- '  53P23 2: o prevent the repeat of this   '$   Tyear's onion crisis, the Centre has decided to create a buffer stock of 1 lakh tonnes of 2     -  "     the key kitchen staple between March and July in 2020. Top sources said that   ( ,  49: The Niti Aayog vice chair- With regard to poverty Cooperative Nafed, which had 69*- man also said Modi govern- reduction, states which have maintained the buffer stock of ment will not leave any stone done well include Tamil Nadu, onion on behalf of the govern- erala and Chandigarh unturned to make sure India Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, ment, will continue to do so Kretained the top ranks achieves SDG Agenda 2030. Meghalaya, Mizoram and next year. It will source the rabi among States and Union According to the report, India's Sikkim. On 'zero hunger' para- (winter) onion crop — which Territories even as Bihar turned composite score improved from meters, Goa, Mizoram, Kerala, has higher shelf life— between out to be the worst performer 57 in 2018 to 60 in 2019 with Nagaland and Manipur were March and July directly from in Niti Aayog's SDG India major success in water and the front runners, according to farmers. Index 2019 that evaluates sanitation, industry and inno- the report. The Government had cre- progress on social, economic Bihar, Jharkhand and vation. The SDG India Index, ated a buffer stock of 56,000 and environmental parame- Arunachal Pradesh are the However, nutrition and launched last year by Niti Aayog tonnes for the current year but ters. worst performing States in this gender continue to be problem with the help of United Nations, it was not sufficient to contain According to 'SDG year's Index for Sustainable areas for India, requiring more took into account 16 out of 17 the prices which are still ruling (Sustainable Development Development Goals (SDGs). focussed approach from the goals specified by the United above Rs 100 per kg in most Karnataka by late January. government took several mea- The shipments are underway. Goals) India Index 2019', "The United Nations' SDG tar- government. The report said Nations as SDGs. The Index cities across the country. "The issue was discussed in sures to boost the domestic The first batch of 790 metric released on Monday, Uttar get of 2030 can never be met while three out of five states in this year ranked states based on The prices are expected to detail in the recent meeting of availability including ban on tonnes of onion arrived from Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim without India... We are fully the top spots perform equal to 54 targets spread over 100 indi- cool down by end of January the group of ministers (GoM), exports, stock limits on traders Turkey and Egypt and distrib- have shown maximum committed to achieving UN's or better than the country aver- cators out of 306 outlined by the next year with the domestic headed by Home Minister besides sale of onion at sub- uted to Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, improvement, but States like SDG target," Niti Aayog CEO age on 12 goals, the other two UN. supply of new produce from Amit Shah. It was decided that sidised rates from its buffer Karnataka amd Telangana. have not shown any Amitabh Kant said at the states do the same on 11 goals. The first report, which was the rabi (winter) and late higher buffer stock of about 1 stock and imports. According to agriculture progress vis-a-vis the 2018 launch of the report. "Only three states were launched in 2018 had 13 goals kharif (summer) seasons - lakh tonne will be created for Already, the government ministry's data, 0.98 lakh rankings. Speaking at the event, Niti placed in the category of Front and 39 indicators. The year thereby also giving rise to next year," sources said. has exhausted its buffer stock hectare area is covered under "Kerala retained its rank as Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Runners (with a score in the 2020 will be the fifth anniver- the possibility of a glut. This year, onion prices fell of onion which was disposed at late kharif as against 1.22 lakh the top State with a score of 70. Kumar said southern states range 65-99, including both) in sary of the adoption of SDGs by Sources said the arrival of sharply due to 26 per cent fall a subsidised rate in the local hectare in the corresponding Chandigarh too maintained its have done well in health. 2018 - Himachal Pradesh, 193 countries at the UN imported onions will coincide in kharif and late kharif (sum- market. Now, it is selling period last year. The area top spot among the UTs with a "West Bengal (rank 14) has also Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. In General Assembly. with the supply of late kharif mer) production due to late imported ones. under rabi onion crop, mean- score of 70. Himachal Pradesh done well in Niti Aayog's SDG 2019, five more states joined The SDGs, constituted onions from Maharashtra and monsoon and later untimely MMTC, which is import- while, is 2.76 lakh hectare as took the second spot while Index 2019, but given the edu- this league - Andhra Pradesh, through an unprecedented con- Gujarat in the last week of rains in key growing states ing on behalf of the govern- against 2.31 lakh hectare in the Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu cation level(in the state), West Telangana, Karnataka, Sikkim sultative process, have 17 goals December, as well as the early especially Maharasthra and ment, has contracted about corresponding period last year and Telangana shared the third Bengal should be in top 3 per- and Goa, taking the total tally and 169 related targets to be rabi produce from Rajasthan, Karnataka. 45,000 tonnes of onion from (until the first week of spot," the report said. forming states," Kumar added. to eight," it noted. achieved by 2030. Madhya Pradesh and To check rising prices, the Turkey, Afghanistan and Egypt. December this year).   !"#$%"&  <

 %  %- 7     00  3<7#!  %      $+4 : and you are saying that a person (imbibing Hindu religion) is     ttar Pradesh Deputy Chief doing such a thing,” he said.  $  $   $'  :  UMinister Dinesh Sharma “You have started a clash of Lucknow: The Congress party countered Congress general religions for your politics. will provide legal help to peo- secretary Priyanka Gandhi Please do not do this. This is  $+4 : the great warrior on the bat- “There were numerous ple facing prosecution for par- Vadra on her remarks against not the question of Hindu and tlefield. He only brought out examples through which it ticipating in the anti- Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Muslims. It is the question of ongress leader Priyanka the feelings of compassion and could be seen that the police Citizenship (Amendment) Act on Monday and accused her of India’s future and national CGandhi on Monday hit out truth,” she said. Sharpening her and administration acted on (CAA) protests, party sources denigrating . unity,” he added. at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister attack on the Chief Minister, the Chief Minister’s statement said on Monday. Addressing a Press confer- Sharma said no one would Yogi Adityanath, saying there is she said, “He is wearing the that he will take revenge. According to the sources, ence barely two hours after the leave saffron for the fear of no place for violence or dress (vastra) of an Yogi. He is “I think it has happened for Congress General Secretary Congress general secretary made expletives. “The more you hurl “revenge” in the country. wearing saffron clothes. This the first time in the history that Priyanka Gandhi has held a certain remarks against abuses, the more our self-con- Addressing a Press conference, bhagwa (saffron) is not yours, a CM has given such a state- meeting on the matter with Adityanath, before returning to along with the Chief Minister,” fidence will increase,” he added. the Congress general secretary it belongs to ‘dhaarmik’ (reli- ment that revenge will be taken lawyers associated with the New Delhi after winding up a Sharma alleged. “Yogi ji ne To a question, Sharma clar- took a dig at Adityanath’s ear- gious), ‘aadhyaatmik’ (spiritu- from the public,” she said. The party. At the meeting, Priyanka four-day visit to the State capi- dharam ko dhaaran kiya hai ified that Adityanath had used lier warning that rioters dam- al) tradition of Hindustan. It is properties which have been Gandhi told the lawyers that the tal, Sharma said, “Priyanka (Yogiji has imbibed a religion). the word ‘badla’ (revenge) to aging public property will have a symbol of religion. confiscated and notices served, party will provide legal help to Gandhi stands with those who The Hindu religion never teach- convey that vandals will have to to pay and said the saffron Uss dharma ko dhaaran kariye also include that of ex-IPS those who have been arrested in indulged in (anti-CAA) vio- es to do any harm to anyone. pay for the damage caused to denotes Hinduism, a religion (imbibe that religion). In that officer SR Darapuri. He prob- the peaceful protests and the lence.” Priyanka hit out at Chief Hindu religion does not speak public property during protests that does not advocate violence religion, there is no place for ably had used the earnings of party stands with the victims. Minister on Monday, saying about insulting any other reli- against the amended citizen- or “revenge”. anger, violence and revenge. his lifetime for his house, and The Congress General there was no place for violence gion. Hindu religion is very huge ship law. Concluding her four-day This is all I have to say.” he has got a notice, because he Secretary has been active here or “revenge” in the country. visit to Lucknow days after Releasing copies of a 14- had uploaded a Facebook post. in the Uttar Pradesh capital in In a jibe at Adityanath statewide violent clashes over the page memorandum submitted Quoting from the memo- support of the opposition to the days after he said those who   / /+  -=' Citizenship Amendment Act, to Governor Anandiben Patel, randum, the Congress leader CAA, meeting with the fami- damaged public property dur- she told mediapersons that her she said there are ample proof in said the conduct of the UP lies of those arrested in the ing protests against the 1 /0/O$% 0 >>#- =P own security was not a big the document on how the police police has been “patently protests. In one instance here, Citizenship Amendment Act issue. “The question of my secu- and the administration indulged unlawful, destructive of the Priyanka Gandhi even drove a (CAA) and the ensuing vio- Lucknow: Kaushal Kishore, BJP MP from Mohanlalganj in rity is not a big one. It is a small in wrong doing and vandalism. rule of law and repressive of scooty and then walked to lence would be made to pay, the Lucknow, has said the UP Police’s negative approach is respon- question on which there is no symbol of compassion. Lord The memorandum honest citizens”. “This is unbe- reach the home of the family of Congress general secretary said sible for the “uncontrolled crime” in the State. need to hold any discussion. I Ram was symbol of compas- claimed a total of 23 death fitting of a force that is duty- a victim. saffron denotes Hinduism, a The BJP MP’s remark on Twitter comes days after a fish sell- will not raise the issue of secu- sion. Everybody dances in the occurred in the state in the bound to safeguard and protect The Congress leader has religion that does not advocate er and a property dealer were killed in his constituency which rity because it is a trivial matter. marriage procession (baraat) of alleged police excesses during the citizens’ rights,” the mem- also alleged that the local police violence or “revenge”. lies on the outskirts of Lucknow. “Due to the negative It has nothing to do with the Lord . There is no place the anti-CAA protests by peo- orandum said. misbehaved with her to curb Hitting back at Congress approach of the police, crime has gone uncontrolled in public,” she said, in an apparent for ‘hinsaa’ (violence), ‘badlaa’ ple, while the UP Government After the Chief Minister’s her movement. The police, general secretary Priyanka Lucknow. Murder and loot are continuing unabated,” he said reference to her alleged man- (revenge) and ‘ranj’ (anger) in claims 19 deaths in clashes. statement, police and admin- however, have denied the alle- Gandhi, Sharma said the clash in a tweet. Kaushal Kishore, while talking to reporters later, said, handling by the State police. the country’s soul. There is also a video of stration appear to have acted in gation. The politics is at boil- of religions should not be start- “If the working of the police is based on extortion, then the fear “The issue is the safety of “When Shrikrishna gave police vandalism, police beat- “a manner that is biased, ing point in the state where the ed for the sake of politics. of police will automatically disappear. They do not even listen common man in UP,” she sermon to Arjun during the ing up a minor in Kanpur, she unlawful, and violative of the Congress party has taken cen- “The Congress general sec- to public representatives. This is tarnishing the image of the state asserted. “This is the country of Mahabharat war, he did not said, referring to the contents fundamental rights of citizens,” trestage in the opposition to the retary has accused the saffron Government.” IANS Lord — who was the talk about revenge or anger to of memorandum. the memorandum said. CAA. IANS 5  2    5 $     R   % -  

 #>-47>  &  ;  5." he cold wave further tight-  '   Tened its grip across Jammu    $   & Kashmir on Monday with  - '   #+ the winter capital, Jammu, recording the season’s coldest night in over a decade, while Srinagar shivering at minus 6.5 degrees Celsius. There was no relief from the bone-chilling cold for the residents of the Union Territory. Jammu recorded the season’s coldest night in over a decade as the mercury plummeted to 2.4 degrees Celsius, the mete- orological department said. It said the city had record- ed the coldest night on December 28, 1998, when the mercury had went down to 0.9 degree Celsius followed by 2.3 degrees Celsius on December 31, 2007. Jammu had also recorded office official said. was the coldest recorded place ;    "2       a low of 2.4 degrees Celsius on This lead to the freezing of in the valley, he added. The     '  $ December 27 in 2014. the fringes of the Dal Lake and official said Qazigund — the 6        '  In Srinagar, the mercury other water bodies as well as gateway town to the Valley - in ;  !      " continued its record-breaking water supply lines at several south Kashmir recorded a low spree as the city experienced places. The night temperature of minus 9.3 degrees Celsius —   (( the coldest night of the season in Srinagar, which has been slightly up from minus 9.5 Jaipur: so far at minus 6.5 degrees witnessing clear skies and some degrees Celsius on Sunday. Jaipur recorded sec- "(     Celsius on Monday. Dense fog sunshine during the day, is over Kokernag town, also in ond lowest-ever temperature in      $   forced cancellation of all morn- four degrees below the normal south, recorded a low of minus 55 years at 1.4 degrees Celsius    $     ing flights from the Jammu for this part of the season, the 7.3 degrees Celsius, while as a cold wave continued to  <'     #+ Airport. An official of the official said. Kupwara, in north, registered sweep Rajasthan, according to Airport Authority of India said The ski-resort of Gulmarg the minimum of minus 5.6 weather officials. The State all the four morning flights in north Kashmir recorded the degrees Celsius, the official said. capital had registered its low- scheduled to operate from the low of minus 7.8 degrees He said Leh town, in the Ladakh est ever temperature at 0 degree Jammu airport were cancelled Celsius last night — down Union territory, recorded a low Celsius on December 13, 1964. due to poor visibility as dense from the previous night’s minus of minus 20.1 degrees Celsius — For the last four days, the fog engulfed the city. 6.6 degrees Celsius, he said. down from the previous night’s temperature has been dipping “So far four flights to and The night temperature at minus 19.0 degrees Celsius. in state. On Sunday, Mount fro the Jammu airport were Pahalgam resort, which also The nearby Drass town Abu was the coldest at -3 cancelled, while the afternoon serves as one of the base camps froze at a low of minus 28.8 degrees followed by Jobner at flights are likely to get delayed,” for the annual Amarnath degrees Celsius. Kashmir is -1.6 degrees. he said. The minimum tem- in south Kashmir, settled at a currently under the grip of Sikar and Fatehpur regis- perature in Jammu marked a low of minus 10.2 degrees ‘Chillai-Kalan’ — the 40-day tered 0 degree, while Kota dip of 3.3 degrees compared to Celsius as against minus 10.4 harshest period of winter when shivered at 2.8 degrees, Churu #  $  the previous night to settle at degrees Celsius on Sunday, the there are most chances of fre- at 1.2 degrees, Vanasthali 1.8 $      $ 2.4 degrees Celsius — five official said. quent and maximum snowfall degrees, Jaisalmer 3 degrees   "  notches below normal during Pahalgam, in south and the temperature drops and Bundi 2 degrees.   #+ this part of the season, a MeT Kashmir’s Anantnag district, considerably. IANS 2&     !"$& '(*+&  )   , - (&!!&./01  Q$R    $+4 : hurk in Uttar Pradesh recorded 0.8 degree  $>4726 #* #/& CCelsius as the state continued to reel under !&)'-$# cold wave conditions on Monday, according etel leaf used to make the  * ' #  to the Meteorological Department. Bpopular ‘Calcutta paan’ has $/' Muzaffarnagar recorded a low of 1 degree got costlier in Aurangabad in ;=! %$'*! Celsius, followed by Kanpur (1.6 degree Maharashtra, leaving a bitter ;  #4** Celsius), Agra (1.9 degrees Celsius), Jhansi (2.2 taste in the mouth of patrons. #&' # =-  degrees Celsius), (2.3 degrees Celsius) These leaves come from &/ ) &&' and Meerut (2.5 degrees Celsius). Medinipur in West Bengal and According to the MeT department, Churk rates have now touched 1,200  !$''# ' town in Sonbhadra district was the coldest for a bundle of 100 against 500 place in the state recording 0.8 degree Celsius, till some days ago, paan leaves getting costlier. We have eight notches below normal. merchant Mohammed been told cultivation of these State capital Lucknow recorded a mini- Sharfuddin told PTI. leaves has decreased,” mum temperature of 6.7 degrees Celsius, one A tour of shops here Sharfuddin, who has been in notch below normal, while the maximum showed prices of the business for 54 temperature recorded was 12.3 degrees Celsius, ‘Calcutta paan’ had years, added. 10 degrees below normal. The sunshine came gone up from 8 to He said shops in as a respite to the city residents. anything between Aurangabad sell The weather is most likely to remain dry, 12-20 depend- some 20,000 paan a and shallow to moderate fog is very likely to ing on other day and the rise in occur at few places in the State. ingredients. prices was making "      Cold day to severe cold day condition is “Paan prices people move    $ very likely at a few places in the State, the weath- had to be towards leaves       " erman said. Dense to very dense fog is very like- increased here coming in from ly at isolated places over the State, according to because of the betel Chennai. the MeT department.   !"#$%"&  >

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 %$ J&K High Court’s Registrar proper receipts duly stamped. Registrar General, J&K High   )    General Sanjay Dhar on “The applicants who do Court, Jammu by or before n a first step of its kind, December 26 with the last date not belong to the UTs of J&K February 7, 2020,” the adver- Iopening the State employ- for submission of applications and Ladakh shall submit their tisement said.  #>-47> tic political exercise. ment in the Union Territories of being January 31, 2020. application to the Registrar It said the selection would “It will help in reaching out J&K and Ladakh for candidates Following nullification of General, J&K High Court, be made as per J&K Reservation ive political leaders, who to the people at large and from across the country after the Article 370 on August 5, Jammu,” the advertisement read. Rules 2005. “The candidates Fhad been under preventive bridge the gap between the nullification of Article 370, the there had been demands from It said the principal district who are having age as on detention for the past 148 days, Government and people Jammu & Kashmir High Court various quarters, especially in judges of Kashmir province, January 1, 2019 not below 18 were released from the MLA besides creating conditions for has invited applications from eli- the Jammu region and Union Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and years and not above 40 years in hostel on Monday by the Union winning hearts and minds,” he gible candidates from all over Territory of Ladakh, carved out Ladakh would make neces- case of open merit, 43 years in Territory administration of said. Many political leaders India to fill 33 vacancies with it. of the erstwhile state of J&K sary arrangements for the case of SC/ST/RBA/ALC/OSCs, Jammu & Kashmir, officials were picked up from their res- The 33 vacant posts of after its bifurcation into two receipt of application forms 42 years in case of physically said. The leaders belonging to idences on August 5, the day non-gazetted officials include UTs, for a domicile certificate even during the ensuing win- challenged, 48 years in case of the National Conference and the when the Centre announced those of senior scale stenogra- or some legal restrictions on ter vacation. ex-servicemen and 40 years in PDP were released after the abrogation of provisions of pher, junior scale stenograph- the purchase of land by out- “All principal district case of candidates in authorities were satisfied that Article 370 and bifurcation of er, steno typist, compositor, siders as well as their appoint- judges of J&K and Ladakh Government service or con- they would not be indulging in the state into two union terri- electrician and driver. ments in Government jobs. shall submit the application tractual employees are eligible any agitation or call for any strike tories — Ladakh and The advertisement to fill “The application forms cerned principal district judges within whose jurisdiction the forms along with the list of can- for participation in the selection after their release, they said. Jammu & Kashmir. the vacancies was issued by the shall be received by the con- of the UTs of J&K and Ladakh applicant resides against the didates to the office of the process,” the notice read. Those released include The two Union Territories Ishfaq Jabbar and Ghulam Nabi came into existence on October Bhat (National Conference) 31 this year. The political  . " +    and Bashir Mir, Zahoor Mir detenues had been kept at +  9  :#$10  and Yasir Reshi (PDP), the offi- Centaur hotel and shifted to the *       +      cials said. MLA hostel in third week of 2   0= $  Reshi is considered as a November.   R   rebel PDP leader who had As many as 34 political openly revolted against then detainees were shifted to the         - %    Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi chief minister and PDP patron hostel from the hotel, located Adityanath said that disability Mehbooba Mufti. He was sub- on the banks of the Dal Lake, Kota: Fourteen more infants Out of the 14 infants who never hindered a person’s sequently removed as the dis- as Srinagar reeled under harsh  &+   $2- late father as the ’s Between 2010 and 2019, have died at the JK Lon hospi- died later, four succumbed to progress and his/her talent trict party chief. winter conditions and the hotel national executive president Aditya has not only estab- tal here in the last five days, tak- severe pneumonia, one to only needed an opportunity On November 25, two lacked proper heating arrange- aharashtra Chief Minister way back in January 2002. He lished a following of his own ing the number of deaths to 91 Meningoencephalitis, four to and an able teacher to conquer political leaders — Dilawar ment, the officials said. Mand Shiv Sena president has never contested an election, among the youth in various this month at the facility, offi- Congenital pneumonia, three to the world. Mir of the PDP and Ghulam The chill had taken a toll Uddhav Thackeray never fails to even though he has established parts of the state, but he has cials said on Monday. pneumatic septicemia, and one “Every such person has Hassan Mir of the Democratic on the health of the detenues, spring surprises. After permit- his firm hold over the party set- also learned the ropes of party “The 14 infants, including to respiratory disorder, he said. some special skills. But one Party Nationalist — were which included leaders from ting his son Aditya to contest up during the past 17 years. Nor politics by working in tandem six newborns, died in the peri- Rajasthan Medical must find a qualified teacher released by the new Union the the National Conference, and win the State Assembly has his uncle and Maharashtra with his father and party pres- od between December 25 and Education Secretary Vaibhav who can recognise the skill and Territory administration. the PDP and the People’s polls from Worli in south- Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief ident Uddhav. December 29 in NICU and Galariya said a three-member then the individual is sure to The National Conference Conference and prominent Central Mumbai, Uddhav bit the contested any Aditya has lined up sever- PICU units of the hospital,” the team comprising Dr Amarjeet succeed. There are many such welcomed the decision of the social activists — and the secu- bullet and became the Chief election. al plans for Mumbai. As a Yuv newly appointed superinten- Mehta, Dr Rambabu Sharma examples. Eminent scientist administration and said such rity personnel guarding them. Minister of the State. Now, he As much as his chief min- Sena leader, Aditya had during dent of the hospital, Suresh and Dr Sunil Bhatnagar Stephen Hawking, who uncov- moves will help in bridging the Three former Chief has chosen to induct his son ister-father Uddhav, the man to the previous BJP-Shiv Sena Dulara, said. Earlier, 77 infants that is probing the infant deaths ered the mystery of universe, is gap between the government Ministers — Farooq Abdulalh, Aditya into his Cabinet — be watched in the State politics alliance Government, Aditya had died till December 24, will submit its report in two a great example of this,” and the people. Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba unmindful of a possible criticism in the coming days — in his new had mooted “Vibrant Nightlife” including 10 within 48 hours on days following which action Yogi said. In a statement, party’s Mufti — are also under deten- about the presence of father-son mantle as a Cabinet Minister — proposal for Mumbai. December 23-24, he said. will be taken. The chief minister said provincial president Davinder tion. While senior Abdullah due in the State Cabinet. either holding the Education or It may be recalled that On the cause of deaths, The BJP, which has target- that the state government Singh Rana expressed hope was slapped with the stringent If anything, 29-year-old Environment portfolio. within months after the Sena- Amrit Lal Bairwa, Head of ed the Congress Government in would extend all possible sup- that other political detenues Public Safety Act on September Aditya Thackeray has arrived Aditya’s rise in the Shiv headed Brihanmumbai Department of Pediatrics, said Rajasthan over the child deaths, port to Jagadguru will also be released soon. 17 and remains confined to his on the State’s political scene. Sena began nine years ago, Municipal Corporation (BMC) that they are analysing the rea- said it has formed a committee Divyang He said such moves will residence, Omar Abdullah and Though there was speculation when late Thackeray launched adopted a resolution seeking sons behind the 77 deaths till comprising four MPs to look University to establish it as an facilitate a conducive atmos- Mufti are under detention at initially that the Shiv Sena the Shiv Sena’s youth wing “Vibrant Nightlife” for Mumbai December 25. into the matter. PTI example in the country. PNS phere for a genuine democra- different locations in the city. might pitch him for the posts “Yuva Sena” and anointed his and sent off a proposal to the of either the Chief Minister or grandson Aditya Thackeray as Maharashtra government sug- Deputy Chief Minister’s post, its head in October 2010, two gesting necessary amendments Uddhav scotched the specula- years before he passed away on to relevant laws, Aditya had in   *5+  6&   7*5+  tion a couple of months ago, by November 12, 2012. February 2015 met then chief saying that he should learn the A Bachelor of Arts in minister ropes before becoming either History from Mumbai’s elite St. and submitted a formal letter  +&  &+  $>$- “They think that after pass- ning. Banerjee had earlier ques- the Chief Minister or a Deputy Xavier’s College, Aditya has requesting the latter to put in ing the law they will be able to tioned the alleged faulty imple- Chief Minister. come a long way since his col- place the laws that make amata Banerjee on pursue their hidden agenda. mentation of NRC in Assam Coming from the family of lege days. As a third-year Arts Mumbai a “live 24/7” city. MMonday called upon all They think that India is their where she alleged about 14 Thackerays — four generations student, Aditya had hit head- In a series of tweets that he the parties and the non-BJP zamindari (fief)which in fact is lakh Bengalis had been robbed of whom have been in public life lines ahead of his anointment put out after he met Fadnavis Chief Ministers to isolate the not. I must remind them that the of their citizenship. but had never contested an as the Yuv Sena chief in 2010, to push his “vibrant Nightlife”, BJP and unite against the “mis- laws are made by the Centre but Meanwhile, even as the election till Aditya did so in the when he forced the Bombay Aditya had written: “Tweeps chievous” Citizenship implemented by the States. As of Chief Minister staged her sixth 2019 State Assembly polls, University withdraw Rohinton the GOOD News is CM has Amendment Act (CAA) and now most State Governments protest rally in the State the BJP Uddhav — who will be con- Mistry’s novel Such A Long accepted my proposal of National Register for Citizens are led not by the BJP but the too embarked on staging testing a State Assembly bypoll Journey, prescribed for the sec- nightlife and assured me tht (NRC) which have allegedly other parties who are opposing counter-rallies backing the in the next couple of months — ond year Bachelor of Arts necessary amendments to laws been designed to throw the the CAA and NRC. CAA. The party staged rallies and junior Thackeray will soon (English) as an optional text by March/August Session”. non-BJP people out of India. “Most State Governments at Coochbehar in North Bengal be well-entrenched in electoral book, from the syllabus. Aditya “I truly believe that this is Leading a colourful protest have rejected this law and so where the large procession was politics. had opposed Mistry’s book on well-deserved for Mumbai will rally at Purulia — backed by from the beginning this law is led by senior leader Mukul Roy Uddhav’s great the ground that it con- not only boost the core econ- tribaldance and drum-beats >   %       $  a failure,” Banerjee said, adding and Baruipur in South 24 grandfather Keshav tained foul language and omy but also the ancillary — which has in the recent past  '      ' '    #+ she would “not allow the mis- Parganas where State BJP pres- Sitaram Thackeray — derogatory references to industries like transport...At emerged as astronghold of the chievous law to be implement- ident Dilip Ghosh addressed a better known as the Shiv Sena. the same momentum, saffron outfit Banerjee said, “I chievous citizenship law which their line and throw out those ed in Bengal. In fact we have massive rally but not before Prabodhankar Thackeray The year 2010 proved Mumbaikars will have a time call upon every one… let us is a prelude to invoking NRC who reject it. India has a pop- also stopped the work of NPR being black-flagged by a local —was one of the key fig- to be eventful for zone at night to chill in soon! unite and discard CAA and in the country.” ulation of 130 crore. Out of this (National Population Register) TMC crowd. ures in the Samyukta Aditya. It was in I will ensure this happens,” a NRC and isolate the BJP.” She said India had a pop- they will give citizenship to which is as discriminatory as Ghosh questioning Maharashtra move- that year the Yuv confidant Aditya had tweeted. Alleging that the BJP lead- ulation of 130 crore out of their own people and throw out the CAA and NRC.” Banerjee’s repeated calls to ment who played a Sena for the first Currently, the restaurants ers were making confusing which the BJP Government the remaining ones. Where the She added “this is a protest reject the CAA iterated a Chief key role in the cam- time swept the and bars close down at 1.30 am. statements on the CAA and the wanted to throw out 30 crore remaining people will go? Will to protect a person’s democra- Minister being an elected per- paign for a linguis- Mumbai However, once Aditya’s pro- NRC she said that the party by marking them as foreigners. they it kela (banana)?” she cy (democratic rights),” remind- son had no right to defy and tic State of University (MU) posal gets implemented, these had a hidden agenda behind “They will give citizenship thundered at the end of a rally ing how she had descended on reject central law the way she Maharashtra, Senate polls from establishments will remain the enactment of the “mis- to only those people who follow at Purulia bordering Jharkhand. the streets from the very begin- had been doing. while most popu- the Graduates’ through the night – provided lar grandfather constituency. these establishments are not in — a Eight years later designated residential areas. cartoonist-turned politi- — in March 2018, The 1.30 am closure deadline cian — founded Shiv the Yuv Sena once for bars and restaurants has Sena in 1966. He carved again swept the been in force since 1992-93. a place for himself in MU senate by dec- Interestingly, acting on Maharashtra politics, but imating the BJP’s Aditya’s proposal, the Mumbai chose to remain a king- student outfit police have for the first time in maker than a king. Akhil Bharatiya recent years relaxed bar closing A wildlife photographer- Vidyarthi Parishad hours on the eve of January 1, turned-politician — Uddhav (ABVP) and 2020. It remains to be seen as to himself was a reluctant Congress-backed what kind of response the new beginner in public life. NSUI and winning year bar closing hours relaxation Uddhav was anointed by his all the 10 seats. will elicit from Mumbaikars. /        '    -    26$

  today it has become the "*->$B44"*$> supreme centre of worship for the followers of the Guru. ice-President M.Venkaiah “It is time for us to retro- VNaidu on Monday pointed spect and take pragmatic steps. out that though India has made We must end all discrimina- significant strides on the eco- tion, we should abolish the nomic and technological fronts, caste system. India of the future there are pockets in the nation must be caste-less and class- where social evils persist. less. It cannot be made by “We live in times of turbu- mere Bills. We need political lence. Increasing cases of dis- will and administrative skill for crimination based on caste, making that possible. community and gender are a “The nation we aim to build cause for great concern. must have a place for everyone “We must not doubt in our to reach their full potential and mind that injustice anywhere is lead fulfilling lives by providing a threat to justice everywhere. equal opportunities to one and The caste system in our coun- all,” added Naidu. try is a vicious cycle,” said “The movement to dispel Naidu while inaugurating the the caste system must come 87th Sivagiri Pilgrimage Meet within the heart and mind of at the Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala society. It must be an intellectual near here. revolution, a compassionate rev- Sivagiri Mutt is the abode olution, a humanitarian revolu- of Sree Narayana Guru and tion,” the Vice President said.   !"#$%"& - ?        !<   ;" 6     !<  < 00 1 *-2 0-3       :;;    '   $   %  8'     )    ) '  :;:;  @575    #   1        4>            $7         @577 )   C  )              E         C  0  3 # @57@ 0 ?     D   1S  (             % #          C  1  S  (          #            (      "  ? ( 1  C  )           #@5 C  )       @55=  E        @55=           1 $  D  +1$D,                 (    (  #@5        # 1  S      !  7                     he false propaganda unleashed by    1  )   )S  S C  ) -   some political parties against the           P1          1Q   Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019,                     ( has now got extended to the man- dated programme to prepare the                 #   : TNational Population Register (NPR) and the D                 1   conduct of the decennial census, which are ?     1S      %    ( scheduled for 2020 and 2021. Several oppo- nents of the current establishment in New      S     @57F  %        Delhi have been spreading disinformation          (       ?     about the NPR and the decennial census, both       $G 0          ( of which are tools essential for governance. The purpose of the CAA is to provide cit-   E   C  )     1S     ( izenship to persecuted religious minorities in           0   3 :  Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who                  crossed the borders and came into India before December 31, 2014. This has nothing       :  S       ! ?     ( to do with any Indian citizen, whatever be his     0 : S C  )  @575    ( or her religion. Nor does it open the flood-                $   gates for migrants because of the deadline E        #    1 0 fixed in the Act. The NPR and the decenni- al census are meant to get demographic infor- D      E 1 D          mation and also inputs on the social and eco-      1S           ( nomic status of the population in different                 #  regions of the country. Neither of these exer- cises is aimed at disenfranchising anybody.                 #    The NPR exercise was formulated and trict and taluk levels as well. It Union Government and many Articles 29 and 30 of the       %  S      1     ( introduced by the Congress-led United was, therefore, shocking to see State Governments have formu- Constitution will make it clear         3            Progressive Alliance (UPA) in 2010, to col- someone like Arundhati Roy lated policies and welfare that the intention of the found- lect demographic and biometric information exhort citizens to provide fake schemes especially to ameliorate ing fathers was to accord the 1              O      ( about individuals. Here, enumerators go names and addresses to the enu- the conditions of the religious same kind of protection to both     1              door-to-door and gather particulars about merators so as to render the ##""962?"*9 and linguistic minorities. These religious and linguistic minorities     755              “usual residents” — individuals residing at a entire exercise infructuous. 7 B9>494" "*9 schemes relate to education, and the State would be the unit given place for the preceding six months. It Media reports indicate that she employment, skilling and finan- to determine who is a minority.        @9  ) 1       is, therefore, strange to find that the Congress, even suggested that the people +94#$#-#"*9 cial assistance for self employ- A Kannadiga in Hindi- H # @5@5      1      1(    the very initiator of this idea, is now oppos- provide “7, Race Course Road” — 2-779#"# $>+9 ment. The scope and range of majority Haryana (as this writer          I             ing it and is doing so with such vehemence the address of the Prime Minister these schemes depend on demo- is) gets as much protection as say, that it all looks like a theatrical act. at one time — as their residen- .>->?6" graphics and a decadal head Mohammed Iqbal, in Hindu-               P:  1Q    The census in India is primarily a head tial address. ""*9B-79 count is an absolute must. The majority Haryana as per these                3   count and has been rightly described as the Even more preposterous was census data is used not just by the Constitutional provisions.        3      1    ( largest administrative and statistical exercise her suggestion that the Narendra " :446:>6 Union Government but by Therefore, if pseudo-secular- in the world. Three million individuals will Modi Government, which got a 9B9 > B-6-47 Governments and institutions ists oppose population data col-     @5@5 #  ?            be deployed to collect the data and for the first massive mandate from the peo- down below at the State, district lection and census, which is a  0      (        1   time, the enumerators will be using a mobile ple in May 2019 to govern till -+> E9B96" and taluk levels. legitimate Government activity in                   app and other modern applications to collect 2024, not be allowed to contin- 4B>- $# Pseudo-secularists seem to all nations across the world, the and collate data from the field. ue in office. believe that the Muslims are the presumption will be that they are      )           I   The decennial census is being conduct- Her attempt to paralyse the >9"9># only minority in India. Nothing afraid of the numbers that will       -        1 %  ( ed in India since 1892 without a break and working of the Union -4+$6-47 can be farther from the truth. The crop up. The steep rise in the       1        C 1    this is an important exercise from a nation- Government in regard to collec- in India constitute just Muslim population in India over   1)) #   H )       #@5 C  al point of view because it tells us about the tion of population data and to * $#-47 around 80 per cent of the popu- the decades and the huge differ- demographic changes that have taken place curtail the tenure of a duly- lation, which means in actual ence between the decadal growth )             H     1$D    at the national and local level in the preced- elected Government constitutes 96$+"- 4 numbers, they would be about rates of Muslims vis-a-vis the        H )         ( ing 10 years. Both these surveys provide pol- subversion of the Constitution. 9+ 4 -+ one billion of the 1.33 billion Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, H #   "        1      icy-makers critical data that enables them to Tolerance of such subversive population. But the Hindus con- Jains and Parsis, will nail the lie formulate national programmes, especially activities is inimical to national +"-B-"? -"9>+? stitute a minority in six of the 28 that Muslims are persecuted in                  with regard to basic amenities to the less- unity and integrity and we should -7>"- 4 States in the country and in a few India.     advantaged sections of society. not allow a small minority of dis- Union Territories, as do the Indian citizens, who are As stated by the Government, the census senters to disrupt governance and .9>"--"? Christians (except in some States adherents of Islam, must, there- is the biggest source of primary data at the vil- democratic traditions in this 47$79 in the North-east), the Sikhs fore, guard against the false nar- lage, town and ward level, providing micro- manner. (except in Punjab), the Buddhists, rative of this minuscule minor-     level data on various parameters, which Further, the propaganda that >9-7- 4 the Jains and the Parsis. The ity of pseudo-secularists and includes housing, education, economic activ- the enumeration undertaken for #+*96$96 Muslim population in India has should not allow themselves to ity, literacy, migration, fertility, language, reli- the NPR must be resisted because risen from 35 million at the be persuaded to oppose the 3  '%   $ '   $     gion, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. it is against the Muslim minori- +#"9#46 time of Independence to around NPR or the census. India will  -  ) 9 -  R %   Preparation of a NPR and decennial cen- ty in India, is totally baseless. It #+*96$96">-29# 175 million at this point in time. become ungovernable if such sus is a legitimate activity of the Union appears as if some people are Further, we have the linguis- tendencies emerge.  %        ( Government and the data thrown up by these afraid of the truth. tic minorities, who are at par with (The writer is an author spe-          exercises form the basis for policy-making not Data is critical for a number religious minorities as per our cialising in democracy studies. # just at the federal level but at the State, dis- of reasons. For example, the Constitution. A reading of Views expressed are personal.)  )*      +),    !   )*  + !),               5  2       -      - +  -     " $# E -8)/@            O         O !     C 3 D               S     (    2-        .    !"2       - H     + + 7   !                       -  2         O     (   !     ! #  ! CD !          0   >#0!  2# =0-# # $ $-@@=  +$-$$/0#           K# % B   K4  7 K   K %                 #      (           1        (   2             # 3  (     5     2 5         45                          6 $       Q  Press any matter in relation to a          political question or on a service 78        7755   #  S      subject or containing any service         94         S # 3 Sir — Air passengers have their  7       E information.” The Army must                    ticket details verified by security            preserve its identity. personnel at the departure gates of "   4   >  C4>D Sujit De    #     60  6: ) 2   ;   ( the airport. Upon producing valid              +  Kolkata                      ( identification proof and an e-tick-   C+D  4  >             1             ( et, passengers can proceed to the +  C4>+D! "            check-in counters. Being allowed 7        E                    to produce e-tickets on electronic    !4                 1 O      devices such as smartphones and       4>   Sir — It is unfortunate that the                     tablets has helped save paper. 4>+!"   4>         Uttar Pradesh police allegedly Otherwise, tonnes of paper get 4>+  !"        manhandled Congress leader         ()             wasted when people take printouts                 E Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who  O                      of tickets. However, owing to a lack         EE +          was on her way to pay a visit to         0  )  #     of awareness, many passengers still        E     ! #        7   retired IPS officer SR Darapuri   !" $E  4>                 /0EE   <=         49         rely on printouts instead of just at his residence. As the police producing soft copies. L  M        4>          3    E tried to stop her vehicle from     <4            >79  To prevent unnecessary paper   L M      E    E+ !"      moving further, Priyanka hood-        0       ?   ( usage, airline carriers should pro-    !4   L          ! L+      winked the police by riding pil-                 955    3   vide incentives to passengers who M       !  M7        lion on a two-wheeler and use soft copies of tickets instead of .                      7   reached her destination. While   @5        !            paper-based ones. Organisations   !4>+4> 3+           the police’s act is condemnable,                 ( such as the Center for Asia Pacific           E          ! the traffic police issued the             #     $     Aviation, the International Civil !-  7        & 20-$ owner of the two-wheeler a Aviation Organisation, the              challan of 6,000 because the                 Airports Council International two were riding without a hel-   %      P Q #       ( and the International Air met. This appears to be a                   #   Transport Association should       security experts as “overtly polit- sary safeguard against military revenge action by the police and extensively promote the use of ical.” Though such kind of coups. The Indian Army has is definitely in cheap taste. "                   ( paperless tickets for domestic remarks are common in Pakistan, always followed Article 21 of the Tharcius S Fernando       2      %       travel. This will go a long way in Sir — Army chief Bipin Rawat’s it is almost unheard of in our Army Act, which says no person Chennai                 1    protecting the environment. recent comments on anti-CAA country. subject to the Act “shall publish Varun Dambal protesters have rightly been seen The political nature of the in any form whatever or commu- ! '   $ :                   Bengaluru by many military veterans and armed forces is indeed a neces- nicate directly or indirectly to the 00#/0->-$#D% .=-    !"#$%"&  *## @       5) "  5      &&   * ,   +          *    %  ,   , & .( (       .(   , &   * ;&     *.   * **+  . " 3          L+       L& &     *'  +        #    *&  *   *  & ,   3        )% 

&"! ')   :; )   9 -  '  $%   '  '$%        )*      +), @578                   !/   '  '    )    %$        #     *       # (         0  )  +0),   (        48           ; @@ @5@5 1                                1           S                          #                                        H 1                    (                C (                    #           ?    ( ince the early 1990s, there has been a sense                   of optimism with regards to India’s econom- #                Sic progress. The process of liberalisation dur- ing 1991 brought with it a sense of hope regard-   0               ing a dramatic turnaround in the country’s eco-            *  ( nomic fortunes. While the nation’s growth did             1     accelerate from the 1980s onwards, however, it        wasn’t comparable to other emerging economies, #             including China.                  The first decade of the 21st century was      #           % believed to be India’s time as it had a Government         %    0  that was looking at the next generation of eco-         *    $   %   nomic reforms. These transformations happened             1 %   and the country witnessed the first serious pri- vatisation of several public sector enterprises I            FF       (PSEs) along with a drastic reduction in small 0  2   = @57F           savings rates. India’s macroeconomic situation         0  #       ( was stable and gradually growth started to    O           O  increase along with its investment rates. This  " .          0      % growth continued till 2007, after which it start- 9+ 4 -+ %    "           0)   ed to lose steam due to lack of economic reforms > 7>9##:#    ;            and then the 2008 crisis hit the country along 69-48)/               1  with the rest of the world. 46# 9 .-"               95   While many thought the impact of the 2008 + $629      0 0 ? + 00?,  ( crisis wasn’t as much on India as elsewhere, the 29+$#9 ."*9 rates at one of the highest levels in the will further augment productivity. huge majority. This shows how electoral reasons behind this were the policy instruments world. There’s also talk of a GST overhaul preferences are maturing in India.  S           @57=(@57F which were deployed to address the risks that # :6 :4! Clearly, India’s got a problem on the which may happen during the next cou- The outcome of the election made I    @57@  0)    7@@        emerged. These instruments, combined with a * :9B9> 8)/ monetary side, which needs to be rec- ple of years. This, when combined with it possible to take three significant eco-    $1D             " ( lack of reforms and an entitlement-based regime :-> tified if it is aiming to grow at seven per land, labour and agricultural reforms, nomic decisions. First was the merger     %              brought a fresh macroeconomic challenge in the #">$+"$> cent or more. Some progress has been will be critical to unlocking India’s pro- of 10 PSBs into four. This is likely to       P    Q #    4J second decade of the 21st century. 2>9. >-46- made on this by the RBI, however, it ductive potential. Demographics, too, consolidate the sector and improve its        1        "  Two decades have elapsed and India is yet #:994"9> continues to be conservative and the favour India as it has the world’s largest efficiency over a period. It also opens 7=<                   to justify the sense of optimism that prevailed at -4" 69+69 longer it takes for it to recognise the workforce which will act as a check in up interesting possibilities for future       #         75 the start of the century. But to be fair, the sec- :*-+*:- extent of the problem, the more pro- wage costs, thereby giving it a compet- privatisation of some of these big four       *  #      ond decade wasn’t that bad considering that +9>"-4? longed the bottom of the U. itive edge over other emerging market banks as there’s no need for having four                  India’s growth in 2014, 2015 and 2016 was fair- 29 47" "*9 Irrespective of these short-term economies for the next two decades. All big PSBs, especially at a time when the ly decent even when one ignores the fact that it challenges, the outlook for economic of this is essential to experience the kind nation has already pumped in 3 tril-                    witnessed two successive droughts in 2014 and + $4">?O# growth for the country in the medium- of transformation that several of the lion into them without any positive out-              2015. The country’s macroeconomic situation has 94">9>949$># term is completely positive as some of country’s peers experienced during come so far. 1    @57=          "   improved significantly since 2014 and the 46-"# the current supply-side issues will get the 1980s and 1990s. The second was to do with the cor-      @%        )-1   Government has undertaken several reforms that 9+ 4 -+ resolved and India will witness a Of course, fresh reforms will be porate tax cut, which was promised in                 will have long-term growth implications such as 2-"- 4# growth of 5.0-5.4 per cent in the third required — but they are already on the the previous tenure. Indeed, many   P0                the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the quarter (Q3) of the current Financial agenda of the Government as the consider it just a tax cut, however, it is               ( Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and the Year (FY) followed by a 6.2-6.6 per cent labour codes are coming into effect. a deep structural reform that will have   Q #        E )   Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act growth in the fourth quarter (Q4) of the Many of these reforms will be aided by long-term positive implications for         )-1   I        (RERA). current FY. India will end the decade the fact that there’s a mandate of 303, financial stability and financing of #  "                Despite these reforms, growth slowed with a modest growth rate; however, the which enables the Government to take investments. More importantly, it illus- towards the end of 2018 and throughout the first country will begin it with a seven per decisions that would be extremely dif- trates a shift in thinking of taxmen, who       H #       ( half of 2019. This has led people to question cent or higher growth rate in the FY ficult to push for in a divided now recognise that tax revenues can               -  ( whether the third decade will be any different 2020-21. Parliament. increase at lower rates due to improve-                from the previous two decades. However, there The question is whether this rate Global conditions, too, seem to be ments in tax compliance.               ( are compelling reasons that point at how this will be sustained throughout the decade conducive for India as Boris Johnson’s The third decision was of privati-             time, it will be different. For starters, the current or not. There is a reasonable belief that election in the United Kingdom (UK) sation of several firms, including BPCL. 0      1S 3       slowdown is not because of any inherent struc- India will sustain a seven per cent will end uncertainty regarding Brexit. This is a bold move as it signals a    (          1  tural factors but is a direct outcome of the finan- growth this decade and it may even He has expressed his willingness to staunch commitment to the phrase that      1           cial sector stress which spread over from banks attain an eight per cent or high growth enter into a trade agreement with “the Government has no business to be       0         ( to Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs). rate towards the end of the decade as India and the nation should be closing in business.”            )   The reasons behind the build-up of this stress are it witnesses a steady revival of invest- trade deals with the UK, Europe and the This move has signalled to the more to do with reckless lending during the first ments as a percentage of the Gross US to further integrate itself into glob- world that India is finally opening ;           $    ? decade of the century as the attempt to fix it start- Domestic Product (GDP). This al trade. greater space for private players in its 0      *         ed only post the introduction of the Insolvency improvement will be a direct product Global economic growth is also economy, which has hit all the right  #                and Bankruptcy Act. of some of the painful reforms that were likely to recover in 2020, which means notes. Indeed, a lot of economic   *    0  E        % ( As the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) latest undertaken in the past, which will that external factors will be conducive progress was made in 2019 and some                  Financial Stability Report suggests, the Public unleash the nation’s productive poten- for India’s growth, provided it can of it could be because of the slowdown.      *      #       ( Sector Banks’ (PSBs) Non-Performing Assets tial. The recent corporate tax cut would address some of its domestic con- However, 2019 will mark a structural             0      (NPAs) may increase by September 2020 and this result in steady improvements in cor- straints. The year 2019 goes down in break for India as we enter into a decade        ) 1      poses fresh concerns regarding the ability of the porate sector balance sheets, which will Indian economic history for many which will certainly belong to the                    PSBs to take prudent lending decisions. The result in fresh investments from 2022 reasons. For starters, it marks the first country’s entrepreneurs and its eco-         recent spike in NPAs could also be because of the onwards. At the same time, implemen- time in the history of India where a nomic ambitions. (The writer is a New Delhi-based +          , high cost of capital compared to the moderation tation of the Direct Tax Code (DTC) reformist Government was brought in inflation, which has artificially kept the real will simplify taxation procedures, which back into power and that, too, with a policy researcher) :;:; $   $                     ! 5  3       ! !  "  # #            $

to shift “health” into the concurrent In the last quarter, poor air qual- true that preventing such attacks stronger and effective surveillance funding for health by States, the list. ity returned to affect the health of the requires more than just a legislative system across all Indian States to Centre as well as by Urban Local A few States, namely Rajasthan, people in many districts of north approach. Improving the quality of tackle emerging disease threats. Bodies. Inter-departmental coordi- Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, India and all policymakers did was health services, preventing com- What to expect in 2020: In the nation is also needed for stronger " $+* deliberated about enacting the right to question the proven evidence on mercialisation of health services last two years, India has seen a lot implementation linkage between to health legislation. During the year, the impact of air pollution on peo- and changing health-seeking behav- of focus on policy formulation, leg- health, water and sanitation and "> 479 public health experts argued that the ple. Hence, it is clear that there are iour to get early care is the need of islation and other broader health nutrition-related initiatives. Ayushman Bharat Yojana, many issues that need to be the hour. A realistic expectation issues. However, in 2020, policymak- Taxation on “demerit goods” - 2%  announced in 2018, had put health addressed in this crucial sector. from health services needs to be ers would do well to rapidly scale- such as tobacco products should be       ") (   higher on the political agenda and Legislative approach in health developed and the “market-based up and allocate more resources for further increased to global recom-    nearly six States started a variant of works: The Motor Vehicle belief” that every health condition the health and wellness centres, a mendation of tax being 70 per cent  !" 8))0   Mohalla Clinics (neighbourhood (Amendment) Act, which has hiked is treatable, needs to be addressed. vital component of the Ayushman of the product price.     egislations or related delibera- clinics) to increase the provision of the penalties for traffic violations, In health services, the outcomes are Bharat programme. Beverages sweetened with sugar, tions were arguably the high- free primary health care services. has the potential to improve health, completely unpredictable and even States must also give additional including fruit juices, must be taxed   Llight for India’s health sector in There were a few negative devel- as nearly one in every 10 pre- the best of the treatment and priority to adopting community as demerit goods at higher rates.    !-  2019. The Prohibition of Electronic opments as well. Violent attacks on ventable deaths occurred due to road advanced care may not save a per- clinics for urban settings. The coun- And last but not the least, healthy     Cigarettes Act, 2019; the National doctors, health care providers and accidents. After the Mental son, while another person with a try also needs to follow a focussed behaviour should be encouraged at       Medical Commission (NMC) Act facilities were reported from differ- Healthcare Act of 2017, mental similar health condition may quick- approach to integrate preventive all levels, especially in schools and   and the Motor Vehicle ent parts of the country, followed by health services in India received a ly recover with basic health interven- and promotive health interventions colleges, with ban on sale of “junk (Amendment) Act were passed by protests and strikes by the medical boost at the implementation level as tions. with overall wellness initiatives and food” near schools and colleges.       the Parliament. The Surrogacy fraternity. the Insurance Regulatory and Kerala averted Nipah virus linkage with AYUSH. In short, for the health sector,      (Regulation) Bill is being considered In the summer of 2019, Development Authority directed outbreaks: Learning from the expe- The Government must shift 2020 should be a year of implement- L  M! by the select committee of the Rajya encephalitis deaths were reported companies to include mental health rience of 2018, the Kerala focus from making isolated health ing policies, improving provision of #   Sabha and a draft Bill to protect doc- from Muzaffarpur in Bihar. The care services in their insurance Government acted swiftly when a facilities functional to a group of a broad range of health services as tors and health care providers from experts were once again divided on package as one in every seven peo- new case of Nipah was reported in amenities in entire planning units, per the needs of the people, State       assault is also under consideration. the cause of this and consequently, ple have one or other mental health 2019. With effective surveillance, i.e. blocks in rural areas and entire Governments taking the lead in - 6 #!2 The health sub-committee of the the children of the nation are still care needs. early identification, effective con- corporation planning units, func- health provision to make a healthy     Fifteenth Finance Commission waiting for scientific and long-term Though the Bill to protect doc- tainment/isolation and case manage- tional. India.     ! made recommendations to enact the solutions to prevent such tragedies tors and health care workers could ment, an epidemic was averted. There should be at least a 20 per (The writer is a Delhi-based C     D right to health in India by 2022 and from recurring. not develop a consensus, it is also This highlights the need for a cent annual increase in Government senior public health specialist.)   !"#$%"& &;

Q08         R  5   *)'538.F6 ,  &,   $2- With government leaving fourth quarter of the fiscal. “tepid”. the debt-ridden airline to fend According to the official, it The official said that cur- truggling Air India might be for itself by refusing to inject would take “at least” six months rently 12 narrow-body Airbus Sforced to shut down by June funds any more amid its pri- to complete the transaction in A320 planes are on the ground next year unless it finds a vatisation plans, the airline is the eventuality of an investor for want of engine replacement buyer as “piecemeal” arrange- “some how” keeping it afloat coming on board, provided and are unlikely to be back in ments cannot be sustained for with peace meal arrangements, the sale process kick starts operations in the immediate long, according to a senior which are unlikely to sustain early next month. future. airline official. for long, the official said. At the same time, the offi- “We need at least $150 Amid continuing uncer- As per the government, it cial did not sound very hope- million (about 1,100 crore) to tainty over the fate of the has infused funds to the tune of ing the operations at present and books and parked in the spe- ful of the government getting get new engines for these 12 national carrier, the official 30,520.21 crore in the flag car- at best we can sustain this situ- cial purpose vehicle, Air India an investor in such an “eco- planes. With adequate funds said there is also need for rier from financial year 2011-12 ation till June. If a buyer does Asset Holding Ltd. Air India nomic situation,” which has not available even for normal funds to restart operations of 12 till December this year. Under not come by that time, we will spokesperson was not available also affected the domestic avi- operations, it looks difficult we grounded narrow-body planes. the turnaround plan approved have to shut shop,” said the offi- for comments. ation industry. will get funds for engine The airline has a debt bur- by the UPA regime in 2012, the cial on condition of anonymi- The Air India Specific Domestic air traffic, which replacement and make these den of around 60,000 crore airline was to get financial ty. After more than 25 years of Alternative Mechanism is one of the parameters for planes operational any soon,” and the Government is still assistance of 30,000 crore over flying, full service carrier Jet (AISAM) has approved re-ini- gauging the health of the indus- the official said.  >  +   -+ -      working on the modalities for a 10-year period. Airways shuttered operations in tiation of process for the the try, grew only 3.86 per cent in However, the official said    H  8 G/)!(0 4  #    $ the disinvestment. “We had sought 2,400 April due to cash crunch. government’s 100 per cent stake the January-November period that seven of the eight wide-   .   +      7   - O Sounding alarm bells, the crore sovereign guarantee to In 2018-19, Air India’s net sale in Air India along with Air of the year as against an impres- body planes, which were       -+O        official said Air India might mop up funds for meeting loss is provisionally estimated India Express and the carrier’s sive 18.60 per cent growth in grounded for engine and other '/!'!8)/!6   8)/1E/ -+         well go Jet Airways way if a operational requirement. But to be 8,556.35 crore. stake in joint venture AISATS. 2018. Response to the recent engineering related issues, are  @' 8/0!0/+      !  prospective buyer does not the government has provided Besides, it has a total debt The Government is likely to road shows in Singapore and back in operations. The eighth      !"    -+O come on board by June next guarantee only for 500 crore. of 60,000 crore, half of which issue Expression of Interest London for Air India disin- one is expected to start flying      @) )))+ ! year. “We are some how manag- has already taken out of the (EoI) for the stake sale in the vestment was reportedly soon. > 3  #   C.  D 6   #  #    C-  &.-D         -  +  - "+#   6 B  6    7 6 > 3  6!-+   G'        '      !#           '/!// + !-     @!G/ +   7<78          -  / 08 //!G      216:>     8)/1E/!6  8)/1E/   8  7-    %) ) $     @      /!G'  !-+O         3  (G!81      (/       ')4  8)/!  $2- On the other hand, Nestle this polarised valuation not to     India, Hero MotoCorp, sustain, there could be shift of  49:69*- The government has set a enchmark indices closed Mahindra and Mahindra, money from the overvalued 3.3 per cent fiscal deficit target     (&   ,  F8&+*  Bon a flat note after a topsy- Bharti Airtel and Tata Steel large caps to midcaps in 2020,” he Government might for the current fiscal. turvy session on Monday, with were among the gainers. Vinod Nair, Head of Research Tbreach the fiscal deficit tar- Singh further added that  $2- participants fence-sitting in Sectorally, BSE IT, bankex, at Geojit Financial Services, get this financial year amid given the resources constraints, absence of further cues ahead finance, teck and oil and gas said. drop in the revenue mobilisa- increase in fiscal deficit might o MDR charges on trans- of year-end holidays. indices closed in the red. Globally, bourses in tion and expected additional lead to crowding out of private Nactions through RuPay At the closing bell, the While, BSE auto, metal, Shanghai and Hong Kong expenditure by the investments. cards and UPI payments will BSE benchmark Sensex was telecom, industrial and basic ended higher, while those in Government, says a report. According to the report, kill the digital payments indus- 17.14 points, or 0.04 per cent, materials were among the Tokyo and Seoul settled in the According to Dun & corporate liabilities are already try, the Payments Council of lower at 41,558. The 30-share prominent gainers. red. Bradstreet’s Economy Forecast, higher. The balance-sheets of India stated on Monday while gauge swung between a high of In the broader market, BSE Stock exchanges in Europe the need for fiscal stimulus has corporates, Government, banks criticising the government’s 41,714.73 and low of 41,453.38 midcap and smallcap indices started on a negative note. increased even as the govern- and households remain con- move. in a highly volatile session. outperformed benchmarks, ral- There was hardly any sig- ment finances remain strained or weak and revenue After a meeting with The broader NSE Nifty, lying up to 0.75 per cent. nificant news flow on the “strained”. collection will play an impor- bankers last Saturday, Finance however, closed 10.05 points, or “Market was range-bound, domestic front, however, in “We expect that the drop in tant role. Minister Nirmala Sitharaman 0.08 per cent, higher at premium valuation and lack of the coming days the focus will the revenue mobilisation of “Revenue collection will had asked them not to charge 12,255.85. The 50-share index fresh triggers influenced remain on monthly numbers the government and likelihood thus be important for the gov- MDR on payments via RuPay, too faced bouts of volatility investors to take cautious from auto companies and on of additional expenditure by ernment to implement a fiscal UPI from January 1 during the day. ICICI Bank was approach on heavyweights. But the GDP numbers, analysts the government might breach stimulus. To do that, tax with a view to driving digital 00 # $A $ E        the top loser in the Sensex reasonable valuation of mid commented. the fiscal deficit target in FY20,” reforms are needed. GST payments. +  3  : 2  # 7 6$ pack, shedding 0.99 per cent, and small caps attracted inflows On the currency front, the Dun & Bradstreet should be simplified further, The move will apply to all 86   ')6   8)/    #  followed by SBI, TCS, HUL, leading to outperformance in rupee was 4 paise higher at India Chief Economist Arun and direct tax collections companies with a turnover of 7  >  >        L() Asian Paints and Axis Bank. the broad market. We expect 71.34 against the US dollar. Singh said. should increase,” Singh said. 50 crore or more. Merchant  M +  3  : C+:D!"   Discount Rate is the fee paid by   !>   +99 +:   a merchant to a bank for             %/  accepting digital payments.          3 9 -'%- <9 2&(3 *!$, * "' The move is part of          #6  > +! the Budget announcement          5$::                 !  $ )   4/4/ ,$P$* 3 in July. *3 *7Q'$9$.$*        2+   49:69*- 9 -  -   -  49:69*- working conditions. These are expected to improve ease of tate-owned Bharat Sanchar  49:69*- cated its unwillingness to keep s many as 44 central labour doing business and safeguard SNigam Ltd (BSNL) has )  $ *$%  any company out of 5G trials. Alaws are most likely to be interest of workers. cleared 1,700 crore of vendors ndia will not bar any equip- The government has decid- subsumed under four labour “We hope that 2020 would dues, its CMD P K Purwar said  49:69*- reduction in GST (Goods and tax as possible. ESOPs are one Iment suppliers, such as ed to give 5G spectrum for tri- codes in 2020, making it a year be an year of labour reforms. on Monday. Services Tax) rates on AIF of the best options for startups China’s Huawei, in the upcom- als to all operators in the coun- of reforms as the Government The four codes would be a real- The corporation has also he Government is expect- (alternate investment fund) at their early stages,” Saluja said. ing trials for 5G, with Telecom try, Prasad said on Monday on works to bolster investments ity in 2020. The codes would made salary payment to its Ted to provide tax incentives management fees; and tax ben- Further fees charged by Minister Prasad the sidelines of a telecom event. and tackle slowdown blues. safeguard the interest of work- employees for November, to start-ups in the forthcoming efits on ESOPs, they said. fund manager of AIF domiciled on Monday saying the govern- This implies that all opera- Besides, the Union Labour ers and employers. We have Purwar added. budget to support the growth Start-ups need talented in India is liable to 18 per cent ment will allocate airwaves to tors, backed by equipment ven- Ministry is mulling launching tried to strike a balance “Payments worth 1,700 of budding entrepreneurs, workforce and ESOPs are one GST as it qualifies as a taxable all telecom service providers for dors they have decided to part- a “Santusht” portal next month between workers’ as well crore have been released to our sources said. The Department of the best options to attract supply. Sources said that reduc- conducting trials of super-fast ner with, will be able to partic- for effective implementation of employees’ rights,” Labour vendors and contractors of for Promotion of Industry and skilled people as giving just tion in GST rates will help India speed 5G networks. ipate in the upcoming 5G trials labour laws at the grass-root Minister Santosh Gangwar told BSNL,” he said. Overall, the Internal Trade (DPIIT) has high cash payout add to the to become an investment hub. Huawei rivals western in the country, and the stance is level. PTI. outstanding to creditors is suggested several measures to burden on cash-starved enter- Startup India initiative of equipment makers, such as expected to spell a relief for Entering 2020, the gov- The labour reforms assume 10,000 crore, he added. the finance ministry for start- prises, industry players said. the government aims at foster- Ericsson, and is banned in the Chinese gear maker Huawei. ernment hopes that India significance in view of an over “Employee salaries for ups in the budget. Tiger Global-backed tea ing entrepreneurship and pro- US. Many countries, however, “The age of 5G is coming... would be able to implement all six-year-low gross domestic November too have been The recommendations cafe chain Chaayos founder moting innovation by creating have allowed telecom service We have taken a decision to four codes on wages, industri- product (GDP) growth of 4.5 released,” he said adding that include extension of tax incen- Nitin Saluja said that there an ecosystem that is conducive providers to use Chinese gears. give 5G spectrum for trials to al relations, social security and per cent in the second quarter monthly wage cost stood at tives to incubators supported should be less tax on ESOPs. to growth of budding entre- And now, India has also indi- all the players,” Prasad said. occupational safety, health and of this fiscal. about 800 crore. under Atal Innovation Mission; “It should attract as little preneurs. 70'0        ! 6:6:3%#+

 49:69*- Tuesday, December 31. “The due date for linking of he last date for the manda- PAN with Aadhaar as specified Ttory linking of the under sub-section 2 of section Permanent Account Number 139AA of the Income-tax Act, (PAN) with Aadhaar has been 1961 has been extended from extended till March next year, December 31, 2019 to March the CBDT said on Monday. 31, 2020,” the department said The earlier deadline was on its official Twitter handle. + O   $#              29-%-47 ately available for comment. The signing of a phase one hina’s Vice-Premier Liu deal during Liu’s trip would CHe, who is also the chief mark a point of truce in the negotiator for trade talks with ongoing bitter trade war the US, will lead a delegation to between the world’s two biggest Washington this weekend, dur- economies. On December 13, ing which he is expected to sign China and the US have agreed a phase one deal to significantly on the text of a phase one eco- de-escalate the trade war nomic and trade agreement to between the two biggest glob- end the 18-month-long bruis- al economies, a media report ing trade war. said on Monday. According to an official “Washington has sent an statement, both the sides have invitation and Beijing has agreed to complete their nec- accepted it,” Hong Kong-based essary procedures, including South China Morning Post legal review, translation and quoted a Chinese official as proofreading, as soon as pos- saying. The Chinese delegation, sible and discuss the detailed headed by Liu, which would arrangements for officially leave on Saturday is expected to signing the agreement. stay “a few days” in the US, the Chinese Vice Commerce report said. Minister Wang Shouwen had However, neither side has announced that a breakthrough officially confirmed the trip. in the trade negotiations has China’s Ministry of been reached for a Commerce was not immedi- phase-one deal.  '(;;   !"#$%"& &   )  * )* ,)  ) -   .* )-)      /!  )) . 0).  ) .* / -  ) * / 1 *  *   . )1 - .*.* 1,  . /     .* . / . -    .1 / #/  #-  )  ) ,)  00*+,-1**+*+22 8   -  3  '%       ' %  $!:; %   ' '          R!  % .  R      - )   -     $     6.1=(.

/8& Mediterranean Diet The World Report ranked theMediterranean diet No 1 in overall diet in 2019. The diet is rich in whole vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, fatty fish, olive oil, nuts, legumes, and some red wine and dairy. The diet’s focuses on choosing whole, plant-based foods over those you might find in a vending machine that may make you to stick with it. Besides the benefit of weight loss, there are various other health benefits associated with opting Mediterranean diet. It also supports heart and brain health. Intermittent fasting /=./#&=(>= This diet is a popular way to lose weight for those who want to shed kilos faster. It involves not eating for prolonged period. Some people fast for two days out edical devices and equipment improving delivery, user experience devices and equipment sector also  &  +  +& of the week — 5:2, which involves eating very little on form a significantly essential and bringing down healthcare costs. plays a significant role in reducing While technological fast days, while others set themselves a specific eating Mpart of healthcare delivery. Here is a breakdown of areas where healthcare costs which is critical to make advancements in the devices sector time like 16 hours fasting and eight hours feeding. Constant innovation and technological constant innovation in medical healthcare services more affordable to are expected to play a critical role in There is evidence that this diet can help people lose advancement in the field of medical devices industry is helping India the masses in India. improving healthcare outcomes, it is weight however it is not for everyone. devices is crucial to ensure the goal of achieve better health outcomes: Newage surgical equipment has important that appropriate measures One has to understand ones needs and schedule to universal healthcare. Medical devices enabled doctors to treat highly complex are initiated to ensure greater know if what will work, since the eating pattern is puts are essential for accurate and timely  &   and critical cases, and reduce the length affordability and accessibility. In a restrictions on when you can eat and when you can’t. diagnosis, safe and effective prevention, Thanks to innovation and of extended hospital stays. For example, nutshell, improving the ecosystem There is tendency to overeat or binge eat. quality treatment as well as rehabilita- technological advancement, real time advancements in laproscopic surgery governing the sector is the need of the While the above two diets found favour with many tion. World Health Organisation recog- diagnostic tools have emerged as an * have increasingly made it possible to hour. people abroad and in India, two diets while worked won- nises that the achievement of health- important element in fighting /*/ * perform procedures such as angiogra- This includes improving ders found disfavour. related development goals is dependent infectious diseases. Classical detection phy, stenting and spine surgery easily regulatory mechanisms, quality testing Keto Diet on proper manufacturing, regulation, methods such as culture and ' /&# with improved outcomes and reduced as well as incentivising innovation in This diet caught the attention of the Indian public planning, assessment, acquisition, man- immunoassays offer accurate results '/# length of hospital stays. This has the sector. Also important is the need with almost everyone wanting to lose weight swearing agement and use of quality medical but the time taken in obtaining results #/  tremendously helped in lowering costs to create a more congenial tax by this diet plan. However, there’s a lack of research to devices. is often crucial time lost in treatment. of treatment. environment. GST on medical devices prove that this diet is safe in the long run. The diet The medical devices sector consist Rapid detection tools are expect- -/'-*  Similarly, with the onset of the era currently stands at 12 per cent. On the involves eating high-fat, moderate-protein, and low- of a wide array of tools and equipment ed to play a significant role in ensuring // ** of remote monitoring and devices to other hand, customs duty is low. This carbs diet. This can be a challenge if one is following a that help clinical practitioners deliver better treatment of communicable dis- &- help better manage chronic diseases, the tax policy negatively impacts diet without medical supervision. The downside is the quality healthcare effectively and save eases such as TB. overall healthcare costs are bound to indigenous production and supports minute you are off the diet, one is likely to gain back crucial lives. Medical devices consists of Overall, improvement in technolo-  */  come down over a period of time. imports, which is counter intuitive to all the weight lost. diagnostics imaging, IV diagnostics, gy has also improved the accuracy of $/&#=# the Make in India initiative. Notably, The health benefits of this diet for Type II Diabetes, consumables, patient aids, equipments screening. Portable/point-of-care &-         & imports constitute 75 per cent of the certain types of cancer and Alzheimer’s and its long- and instruments, ortho and prosthetics, devices are other important category ---  Remote monitoring is the new industry sales of medical devices in the term effect is lacking. The diet restricts foods that help dental products and other devices such that have made it possible to improve buzzword in the medical devices sector. country while local manufacturers fight cancer and heart disease, like whole grains and as patient monitors, oxygenarators and diagnostic mechanisms at primary & #$#  With rise in incidence of chronic dis- mostly produce products in the lower legumes.

ECG. healthcare level, provide care at home  '#$ eases and an increasingly ageing pop- end of the value chain. The There are many in which one can follow this diet,

Each of these categories is crucial and resulted in improved health out-   ulation, there has been a rise in demand government must consider revising its however not all of them are healthy. For example if the to quality healthcare delivery. The comes and patient satisfaction. Point- for medical devices and tools that can tax policy for devices to lower the GST diet involves eating a lot of spinach and kale, people gen- Indian medical devices market is of-care testing allows the patient get his !!' %* ' monitor patients continuously, more while increasing the customs duty to erally eat bacon and eggs. expected to grow to $50 billion by 2025. diagnoses in a doctor's clinic, at a health //##%*❝ effectively and reduce the need to visit help local manufacturers gain a larger Atkins diet India is currently the fourth largest camp, an ambulance or event at home clinics and hospitals. share of the market. This will also help This diet was popular among those wanting to lose medical devices market in Asia after as these are portable devices that can be A growing interest in IoT-driven them manufacture products at more weight a few decades back. It involved eating a low-carb Japan, China and South Korea. easily transported and offer a reliable healthcare services and wearable med- affordable costs. diet. the original low-carb diet, made popular decades alternative to laboratory testing in ical devices is an emerging trend of our The Make in India initiative presents ago.     ,    places where hospitals and labs are in times. Using cloud based platforms a platform for the sector to revisit the The diet involves eating high-fat, high-protein, with Constant improvement and short supply. these devices can alert doctors of operating model, identify key impera- low-carb vegetables like leafy greens. This kick-starts technological advancement in the It also improves the access to qual- important changes in vital signs in a tives for growth and explore possibili- the weight loss. Slowly one can add more nuts, low-carb field of medical devices and ity healthcare in underserved and patient. These advancements in health ties for creating a step change in the vegetables and small amounts of fruit back to the diet. equipment has helped doctors remote regions, while also making it screening devices have enabled patients medical devices sector. This in turn, Do not eat fruit, bread, pasta, grains, starchy veg- improve clinical outcomes and quality possible for patients to avail treatment to monitor their health conditions at allows Indian manufactures to provide etables, or dairy products other than cheese, cream or of healthcare delivery. Increase use of outside traditional healthcare facilities. home, reducing the need for hospital affordable options for crucial equip- butter. And do not eat nuts or seeds in the first two digital technology is driving a new visits and bringing down the pressure ments such as CT scans, catheters, dial- weeks. Foods that combine protein and carbohydrates, revolution in the medical devices  +&      on the over-burdened healthcare cen- ysis equipments and many more. such as chickpeas, kidney beans, and other legumes are sector with greater focus on Technological advancements in the ters. #   '  8 $ % also not permitted at this time.

 Nine out of ten people breathe pollut- chemotherapy. . % ed air every day. In 2019, air pollution is  *+,-  Vaccine hesitancy — the reluctance or  $ considered by WHO as the greatest envi- refusal to vaccinate despite the availabil- ronmental risk to health. Microscopic  WHO is constantly monitoring the development goals, including on child ity of vaccines — threatens to reverse   pollutants in the air can penetrate respi- circulation of influenza viruses to detect and maternal health, remains unmet. progress made in tackling vaccine-pre-  '? ratory and circulatory systems, damag- potential pandemic strains: 153 institu-  The development of antibiotics, antivi- ventable diseases. Vaccination is one of ing the lungs, heart and brain, killing 7 tions in 114 countries are involved rals and antimalarials are some of the most cost-effective ways of avoiding team from the (MCI). million people prematurely every year in global surveillance and modern medicine’s greatest suc- disease — it currently prevents two-three ADepartment of The six-year study, from diseases such as cancer, stroke, heart response. cesses. Now, time with these million deaths a year, and a further 1.5 Psychological Medicine and which was conducted from and lung disease.  More than 1.6 billion peo- drugs is running out. million could be avoided if global cov- Department of Biochemistry 2011 to 2017, collected data  Noncommunicable diseases, like ple (22% of the global popu- Antimicrobial resistance erage of vaccinations improved. at the Yong Loo Lin School from more than 600 Diabetes, cancer and heart disease, are lation) live in places where — the ability of bacteria,  Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease of Medicine at the National Chinese seniors over the age collectively responsible for over 70 per protracted crises (through a parasites, viruses and that causes flu-like symptoms and can be University of Singapore of 60 living in Singapore. cent of all deaths worldwide, or 41 mil- combination of challenges fungi to resist these medicines lethal and kill up to 20 per cent of those (NUS) has found that The research was carried lion people. This includes 15 million peo- such as drought, famine, con- — threatens to send us back to with severe dengue, has been a growing seniors who consume more out with support from the ple dying prematurely, aged between 30 flict, and population displace- a time when we were unable to threat for decades. than two standard portions Life Sciences Institute and and 69. ment) and weak health services leave easily treat infections such as pneu-  An estimated 40 per cent of the world of mushrooms weekly may the Mind Science Centre at  The world will face another influen- them without access to basic care. monia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, and sal- is at risk of dengue fever, and there are have 50 per cent reduced NUS, as well as the za pandemic — the only thing we don’t  Fragile settings exist in almost all monellosis. The inability to prevent around 390 million infections a year. odds of having mild cogni- Singapore Ministry of know is when it will hit and how severe regions of the world, and these are where infections could seriously compromise WHO’s Dengue control strategy aims to tive impairment Health’s National        it will be. half of the key targets in the sustainable surgery and procedures such as reduce deaths by 50 per cent by 2020. Medical Research  %  9 H  Council. The results $    I.  were published     +*$ f you love a midday online in the Journal N E$    >   Isnooze, then we have some What we learnt of Alzheimer’s +        great news as it turns out   Disease on     *-B  napping could actually be  A study from Tel Aviv bone marrow donor. While March 12,       good for your health. University suggests that donor DNA is common- 2019.   !>    While scien- risk of a heart attack often they took naps for five plants make ultrasonic ly found in the recip-        tists previously by almost half. years, with their sleeping screams when harmed. Their ient's cheek, lip, and      found that A study car- patterns and general health experiments involved micro- tongue cells, this is     !" sleeping reg- ried out in being tracked by researchers. phones, chopping stems, one of the first times         ularly could used The results — published and depriving toma- where it may be       help data for 3,462 in the journal Heart, found toes and tobacco of passed on.      improve people living in that those who napped once water.        productivity Lausanne, who or twice a week were 48 per  Forensic investigators        at work, now were aged 35 to cent less likely to experience from Nevada presented the     new research 75. these health issues, even case of a man whose sperm      has found it The group were when other factors were only contained DNA from his   4  >  ! could also cut the told to record how taken into account.   !"#$%"& *'; 4 0  . 0   &!   + ( $    + ?!    .@ "   27*66 The US blames the militia Hezbollah also blasted the Kataeb Hezbollah is led by "   for a rocket barrage on Friday "brutal American aggression," Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, one n Iranian-backed militia that killed a US defense con- saying those who took the of Iraq's most powerful men. O Asaid on Monday that the tractor at a military compound decision to carry out the attack He once battled US troops and       death toll from US military near Kirkuk, in northern Iraq. "will soon discover how stupid is now the deputy head of the strikes in Iraq and Syria against Officials said as many as 30 this criminal decision was." Popular Mobilization Forces.     its fighters has risen to 25, vow- rockets were fired in that attack.  * 47 47 ing to exact revenge for the Iraq's Hezbollah Brigades,  * $#" 4 "aggression of evil American a separate force from the   >(  ong Kong police on ravens." Lebanese militant group gunman pulled out a shot- HMonday accused activists The announcement in Hezbollah, operates under the Agun and opened fire on in the long-running pro- Baghdad came a day after US umbrella of the state-sanc- @  ' worshippers at a church during democracy movement of incit- Defense Secretary Mark Esper tioned militias known collec- Sunday service in Texas, killing ing minors to commit crimes. said Washington had carried tively as the Popular two persons before being shot The claim Monday comes out military strikes targeting Mobilization Forces. Many of Q $ )    A by an armed member of the two days before a planned the Iranian-backed Iraqi mili- them are supported by Iran. congregation, the authorities New Year's Day march that is tia blamed for a rocket attack The Popular Mobilization   "9*>4 spokesman Abbas Mousavi said. expected to attract tens of that killed an American con- Forces said Sunday that the US said, referring to IS. The shooting took place thousands of participants. tractor in Iraq last week. strikes killed at least 19 of ran said Monday that the "With these attacks, at about 11:50 am (local time), Chief police spokesman Secretary of State Mike Kataeb Hezbollah's members. IUnited States has shown its America has shown its firm during the morning service Kwok Ka-chuen told reporters Pompeo said the strikes send But Kataeb Hezbollah "support for terrorism" by car- support for terrorism and its on Sunday. The service was that the force was in close the message that the US will spokesman Mohammed rying out air strikes on forces neglect for the independence being live-streamed on social contact with the organizers not tolerate actions by Iran that Mohieh told The Associated in Iraq that have dealt blows and sovereignty of countries media. of the Jan. 1 event, but would  jeopardize American lives. Press on Monday that the death against the Islamic State group. and it must accept conse- According to the not tolerate threats to public The US military said "pre- toll rose to 25. The Pentagon said on quences for its illegal act," he authorities, the gunman pulled safety. criminals incite youngsters to sent to China for trial. cision defensive strikes" were At least 51 militiamen were Sunday that it targeted an Iran- said in a statement. out a shotgun at the West Kwok also said young peo- commit crimes," Kwok said, The movement started in conducted against five sites of wounded and some of them linked militant group in west- The spokesman said the Freeway Church of Christ ple had been motivated to adding that some of the vio- opposition to a now-shelved Kataeb Hezbollah, or were serious condition, he said, ern Iraq and eastern Syria in presence of foreign forces in the in White Settlement, a commit criminal acts during lence had been inspired by the proposed law that would have Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq adding that the militia group's response to a barrage of rock- region was the cause of inse- suburb of Fort Worth, and the protests, including drop- children's teachers. allowed suspects in Hong Kong and Syria. commanders would decide on ets that killed a US civilian con- curity and tensions. begun firing. ping objects from the upper Children as young as 12 to be sent to mainland China "Our battle with America the retaliation. tractor two days earlier. "America must put an end The two churchgoers who stories of apartment buildings. have been among the nearly to stand trial. Protesters' and its mercenaries is now In Tehran, foreign ministry "These attacks have once to its occupying presence," said were shot, died later in a hos- It wasn't clear whether 7,000 people arrested during demands have since expanded open to all possibilities," Kataeb spokesman Abbas Mousavi again proved America's false Mousavi. pital, police said. those actions were directly tied the protests, which have drawn to include universal suffrage Hezbollah said in a statement condemned the US strikes claims in fighting Daesh... As US-Iran tensions have Video footage showed the to any specific demonstration. broad support and were origi- and an investigation into around midnight Sunday. "We against Kataeb Hezbollah as an the United States has targeted soared since Washington pulled gunman stand up and speak to "Over the weekend, during our nally sparked by now-discard- alleged police abuses, and have have no alternative today other "obvious case of terrorism" the positions of forces that out of a landmark nuclear a man nearby, who gestured at arrest operation, we arrested a ed legislation that would have frequently broken out into than confrontation and there is and accused Washington of over the years have inflicted agreement with Tehran last another parishioner. The gun- large number of youngsters allowed citizens of the semi- pitched battles between the nothing that will prevent us ignoring Iraq's sovereignty. heavy blows to Daesh terror- year and began reimposing man then fired at the man he and are very alarmed that some autonomous Chinese city to be two sides. from responding to this crime." Lebanon's Iran-backed ists," Iran's government crippling sanctions. gestured toward.    &$ ' $   #    O $   9 "  "     2$ media have been releasing Trump in September. Afghanistan, potentially even    %  )Q)%A untrue reports about a cease- However, the insurgents before a deal between he Taliban on Monday fire... The fact is that, the have repeatedly stated that any Washington and the Taliban is > Tdenied agreeing to any Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan potential truce will only be cemented.   #+ : selling crude oil abroad. country began new operations ceasefire in Afghanistan after has no ceasefire plans," the ironed out after American Deadly bouts of fighting   #+ : “Because of the destructive at a heavy water nuclear reactor. rumours swirled of a potential Taliban said, after multiple troops withdraw from the continue however, with tens of ran’s nuclear deal with world line that Washington keeps tow- Iran's moves have been deal that would see a reduction media reports, including a country. thousands of Afghan security ussian President Vladimir Ipowers is in danger of “falling ing, this important achievement condemned by Western gov- in fighting after more than 18 story in the Wall Street Journal, The US-Taliban talks, held forces killed since they inher- RPutin spoke with President apart" without the compliance of of international diplomacy... Is in ernments as unwelcome and years of war. suggested the group was on the mainly in Doha, were aimed at ited combat operations from Donald Trump on Sunday to the United States and the danger of falling apart,” Russian escalating tensions in the region, The statement from the verge of announcing some type allowing Washington to begin NATO at the end of 2014. thank him for information that European Union, Russia's for- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov while Russia and China have insurgents comes as local and of temporary truce. withdrawing troops in return Earlier Monday, in north- Putin said helped Russia foil eign minister warned Monday said, adding that “colleagues repeatedly blamed the US. international forces brace for The US and the Afghan for various security guarantees. ern Afghanistan's Jowzjan terrorist attacks over the New after meeting with his Iranian from the European Union” were After meeting with Iranian another bloody winter amid government in Kabul have long They were on the brink of province, the Taliban killed at Year's holiday, the Kremlin counterpart in Moscow. not fully complying with the Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on renewed US-Taliban talks, after called for a ceasefire with the a deal when Trump abandoned least 13 Afghan security forces said. The 2015 deal between Iran agreement either. In response to Monday, Lavrov said Russia President Donald Trump called Taliban, including during the the effort in September, citing during a raid on a pro-gov- Putin thanked Trump “for and Britain, China, France, the US sanctions, Iran has pres- would demand full compliance off the negotiations earlier this year of negotiations between Taliban violence. Negotiations ernment militia position, information transmitted Germany, Russia and the United sured the European signatories from both the U.S. And the EU, year over insurgent attacks. Washington and the militants have since restarted in Doha, according to a provincial through the special services States lifted sanctions on Iran in to find a way to limit the impact in which case Iran would be able "In the past few days, some that were abruptly called off by but were earlier this month put spokesman. that helped prevent the com- exchange for limits on its nuclear on the Iranian economy. to return to fulfilling its obliga- on a "pause". Every day Afghan civilians pletion of terrorist acts in program. The U.S. Withdrew Tehran has slowly inched tions in accordance with the Trump is looking to slash also continue to bear the brunt Russia,” the Kremlin said in a from the accord last year and toward ceasing its own compli- deal. Otherwise the agreement the troop presence in of the bloody conflict. brief statement posted on its imposed crippling economic ance with the terms of the deal. should be considered “no longer website. sanctions that block Iran from Last week, for example, the existing,” he said. " O  9 29B $

  #9 $ Pyongyang has been demanding the easing of inter- orth Korean leader Kim national sanctions imposed NJong Un has called for over its nuclear and ballistic "offensive measures" to missile programmes, while strengthen security ahead of a Washington is insisting it takes New Year speech that could more tangible steps towards flesh out the nuclear-armed giving them up. nation's threat to seek a "new The North has not so far way" forward after the expira- specified the "new way" it would tion of its year-end deadline for adopt if the US does not offer US sanctions relief. fresh concessions by the end of Kim's latest comments, the year, and Kim is expected to made during a meeting of top  2    2- &   '   >  P   make it clearer on Wednesday. ruling party officials in    2   " This month China and Pyongyang, came amid con- Russia — the North's biggest cerns that the North could for- Kim stressed the need "to take Nuclear talks between the economic partners — proposed mally close down dialogue with positive and offensive mea- North and the US have been loosening UN sanctions against Washington and resume sures for fully ensuring the largely stalled since the collapse Pyongyang, and analysts say nuclear and long-range missile sovereignty and security of the of a February summit between Kim is likely to seek to exploit tests. country," the state news agency Kim and US President Donald rivalries between Washington, Addressing the officials, KCNA reported Monday. Trump in Hanoi. Beijing and Moscow. #'    0.='$  +!+!

 4> ed 31 houses, detaining 24 were from Iraq, Syria and other jihadists back to their suspects, including four foreign Morocco. Police were searching home countries in 2019, olice in Turkey detained at nationals. for some 17 other suspects, the Interior Minister Suleyman Pleast 124 people suspected Police conducted report said. The country was Soylu said Sunday. of links to the Islamic State simultaneous, pre-dawn raids hit by a wave of attacks in 2015 Turkey has stepped up its group, the state-run news in the city of Batman, in south- and 2016 blamed on IS and efforts to expel foreign fighters agency reported Monday, in an east Turkey, where 22 suspects Kurdish militants that killed back to their countries of ori- apparent sweep against the were detained, it said in a sep- over 300 people. gin in recent months, accusing militant group ahead of New arate report. The IS group also claimed many European countries of Year celebrations. Raids were also conducted responsibility for an attack at an not taking responsibility for At least 33 foreign nation- in the cities of Adana, Istanbul nightclub during New their nationals and saying als were detained in the capi- Kayseri, Samsun and Bursa Year celebrations in the early Turkey was "not a hotel" for for- tal Ankara in a joint operation where 45 people, including six hours of 2017. eign fighters. by anti-terrorism police and the foreign nationals were The attack killed 39 peo- national intelligence agency, detained. ple, most of them foreigners. according to the Anadolu Anadolu said the IS sus- Meanwhile, Turkey Agency.In Istanbul, police raid- pects apprehended in Ankara deported a total of 778 IS or  /;   !"#$%"&

$&  /# 2 ' /&# + H+         E   !0/0   -       2    # >         I   L              2      !E        6  2  M*  ! #    L: # H C#  D        2    E  K 2  2  - !6          -      * !-   ashion is not defined just by a one- 4  5    %%   - off choice or what one wears to an   !-  Fevent. It’s more about the everyday  Q  1     sartorial choices that we make. This year, besides the sea of animal prints on every-    thing from jackets to pants, tops, hand-   7*+*+ 85 8  1      bags and footwear, athleisure scored big.   From Bolly and Hollywood stars sport-         7  2 ing leggings and pants to men giv-  !M ing a thumbs up to their Lululemon ABC %   .)" ' pants, comfort ruled 2019. I have always been a believer in easy-wear clothes that that we went back to the pre-industrial cular economy, there is a conscious effort are fuss-free and this trend signalled a Revolution production and consumption to reduce over production, on the one O /&!& relaxing in the otherwise almost-dracon- patterns. Let us take inspiration from our hand, and reuse materials in production &''*8 ian dress codes dictated by top-drawer 2,000 year old textiles tradition and lega- processes, on the other, thus diverting /* ## design houses. cy. What we urgently need to do is to go tons of textile waste from landfills. For 2020, I’d personally root for fash- back to how our forefathers operated. At As for fashion choices of 2020, % /1$' ion that is more environmentally con- that time, mankind was in sync with remember that Indian colours work well ' scious. Slow fashion, which is focussed nature and clothes were organic and on our skin tones. So there will be more ' = *' on revisiting design, production, and plant-based. Each region had its own of burnt orange, fuchsia, indigo, ivory, # consumption patterns, including recy- distinctive signature textile. Cotton, vermilion red, kesari yellow, rani pink, cling of clothes through the simple expe- flax, hemp, jute, sheep wool and so on and the eternal favourite, white. With  *$##*B) dient of reusing and refashioning one’s were the go-to choices. These textiles winters having well and truly set in, lay- %# '  # wardrobe, should become the norm, were derived from one’s natural sur- ering will be back and will keep the peo-   C& ! '! rather than the exception. Another rea- roundings and suited the region’s climate ple toasty. Classic Indian jackets have a son that slow fashion gets my thumbs- and aesthetics. tremendous potential as they can be ! *$B'$C up is that it follows the principles of fair I’m happy to note that in recent worn short, mid-thigh or long to suit  ! '!=$/  treatment of producers, in this case, the years, sustainable fashion — where the one’s body type. Chogas, the long, loose ' $  weavers, as well as in causing the least entire production process, from sourc- garment of Turkish origin, if cut expert- damage to our planet. ing natural yarns to manufacturing the ly, can be extremely slimming and can %/ $#$C# With the advent of factory-based end product — is gaining momentum. add height. In terms of motifs, if you like ! *$ '#$//## production post the industrial revolu- My label was launched 33 years ago O$# 1#-  them bold, don’t shy away from vibrant # && #$B= tion, the concept of fast fashion was keeping the same values and principles !&$=8 8*' weaves that offer a high contrast. But if ! *$ **'#C born. Production processes were speed- in mind. Being ahead of the curve in you prefer something more subdued, a ed up, to churn out yardage after environmental responsibility has been a *# ' ' white-on-white on weave can be equal- !!/&BP yardage of man-made, synthetic fabrics. hallmark of our textiles, notably our 100 ly eye catching. And finally, keep the LE%  & Prices dropped, and consumption per cent biodegradable bamboo cloth- * /B  stoles handy. It is one of the most ver- zoomed. Thus was born the “use-and- ing and, the first in the world, bamboo satile fashion accessories which will con- throw” concept. However, now that silk ikkat textile. $*''# tinue to flatter any outfit. Team it up with more and more people in the fashion Additionally, it is important that % /1$ a small clutch or an Indian potpie or world are cognisant of the fact that the companies in the clothing business batua, jewelled sandals or embroidered garments industry is the second-high- close the loop between the production !! #- 'P jutis, and you will be good to go. est environmental polluter, it is high time and recycling of clothes. In an ideal cir- Happy 2020! =   )   ,   +     #      4 ?    *  O      -  E E E     8)/ , #!$  $    4   6  ! s we bid adieu to 2019, we look at the Atrends in entertainment choices of        Indians with BookMyShow introducing      millions of its users to newer out-of-home   !#   B  experiences.    L   !M The online booking app hosted over 1,880 films across languages on its plat- 43B   form in 2019. The Marvel craze took over B      India as Avengers: Endgame broke all      records to sell over 8.6 million tickets to #    ! become the highest-selling Hollywood film on our platform. This was followed by Uri - The Surgical Strike, with over 5.7 $-*" million tickets sold for the film. )  . 3) While the demand for Hindi films #  &     grew by 12 per cent from the last year,   L  M  movie buffs booked an average of 2.6 tick- ets per transaction. The top-rated region-     # 1 # ! al language films were in Telugu, Tamil, #   #   Malayalam, Kannada and Marathi, where- 6   88  !L-O as the demand for English and Hindi films !-O   rose at 45 per cent and 25 per cent respec- 5 :8   O   M  tively. Hindi versions of regional films like Saaho, Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy and KGF inger Akasa Singh says American had come to play in Mumbai for Fly        have matched up to the primary language’s Ssinger-songwriter Lauv is warm Music Festival. I even went to the  ! success at the box office. The uptake for and humble beyond being talented. concert because I have always been #     English language films increased signifi- Akasa, popular for singing foot- a huge fan of his work and his tal-    $ cantly by 56 per cent vis-à-vis last year. The tapping numbers like Kheech Meri ent. This collaboration with Rochak Avengers series retained the top spot Photo and Thug Ranjha, got a and Lauv was like a far-fetched    3  among English language films, wherein chance to work with Lauv on song dream for me but is one the things  3   Avengers: Infinity War led the race in 2018, Dil Na Jaaneya from film Good ticked off my bucket list,” she said.       Avengers: Endgame shattered all ceilings in Newwz. Composed by Rochak Kohli Looking back at her experience #   2019. and Lauv, the song is sung by of working on the song, Akasa said,       Looking at the genres, about 30 per Rochak, Lauv and Akasa. The lyrics “My aim was to just dub and do my cent of the top 10 films (as per number of 3(3 number of film lovers, which was followed are by Gurpreet Saini, Ari Leff and best. After the dub there was no con-      tickets sold on the app) were based on real- The year also saw an 89 per cent rise by Mumbai and Bengaluru. Hyderabad Michael Pollack and music is pro- versation about it and one day I just      life stories and incidents. The trends also in the number of screens occupied by the moved from fourth position in 2018 to duced by Lauv, Johnny Simpson and wake up to a post by Lauv and the 6  $! pointed towards an interest in Assamese widest circulated films as compared to the outnumber its peers and lead the charts Rochak. rest is history! It’s been a fantastic     films, which grew five times to match the previous year. The advance ticket sales in 2019. Kochi also witnessed a 56 per cent “Rochak Kohli has always been feeling. People have been texting me L  increase in the number of users who chose grew by 11 per cent on the app in 2019, increase in the number of people using the one of the dream producers that I non-stop, appreciating this side of my the app to watch these films and rated which is just shy of 20 million tickets with app to watch films as compared to 2018. have wanted to work with because voice in Dil Na Jaaneya which is so   ! O them on the platform. 11 per cent of the tickets being booked all his melodies are magical. different to Naagin or Aithey Aa.”   And action films witnessed a growth before the release. Following this, over 45 5;;52 ) Gurpreet called me to dub a song for On working with Lauv, she said,   O  of 45 per cent, becoming the most pre- films crossed the one million ticket sales Avengers: Endgame Rochak, they played me the song “I think Lauv brings so much ener-    O E ferred genre followed by drama and com- mark on BookMyShow. Just three per cent URI - The Surgical Strike and the first thing that came into my gy and passion to the song and he is       ! edy. of the total tickets were booked in the last Singh head was finally I get to sing a slow, in fact, one of the nicest people I have While actors Hrithik Roshan and 30 minutes before a film’s show time. Saaho romantic song,” Akasa said. met from the global music industry " O   ! Ranveer Singh ruled the top 10 Hindi film War “They hinted of the possibility of till date. He is warm and humble     bucket with two films each to their cred-  3)   3 .3) The Lion King Lauv being a part of the song but beyond being very talented. I feel    !"      it, Akshay Kumar with 9.2 million tickets  Mission Mangal nothing was confirmed. blessed to be ending 2019 on such a   O !M and Ayushmann Khurrana with 6.3 mil- While Sunday evening was the most Simmba Coincidentally, I had met and inter- positive note.” lion tickets overall had a great year with preferred show time for movie-goers, Gully Boy viewed Lauv early this year when he L+"! three films each. Hyderabad was home to the maximum Chhichhore  /  .;0   !"#$%"& ECHOES OF THE PAST AND THE PRESENT   33.(" 5     %    7.   %   ) - -    P !"              n amalgamation of nature, approach through colours and Amovement, human activity, forms. a manifestation of the artists, Along with them are dis- their experience and observation played Biswapati Maity and his of their surroundings are inter- feminism, Gautam Pramanik twined for the sixth edition of and his colours, Jyoti Prasad the group exhibition Vision’20. Mallik painting humble lives, The contributing artists Rabindranath Choudhury, Saroj Ajay Ghose, Biswapati Maity, Basu and Subhrata Biswas who Gautam Pramanik, Jyoti Prasad create a different world with Mallick, Karna Puri, Manoj their works. All of these critical- Sarkar, Rabindranath ly acclaimed artists bring out the Choudhury, Saroj Basu, Subrata visual aspects of life on their can- Biswas, Tapas Basu, Tirthankar vas, overwhelming us into an Biswas and Tilok Mandal have epitome of non-visual feelings. interwoven these ideas and Most of the artists con- developed them further. tributing to this exhibition have Rabindranath Chaudhury been inspired by Nature, and one of the senior contributing everything that surrounds us. he Sunder Nursery has brought cept of congruency between nature,   +  artists whose work has been col- Biswapati Maity says, “Although alive the 64 sandstone yoginis garden and utility, coupled with envi- Over the years, Kohli has worked lected by various institutions Nature is the main inspiration of Tand larger-than-life sculptures ronmental conservation. on the philosophy and the wisdom of across the globe says, “In my my paintings, I am heavily influ- by artist and performer Seema Kohli. Kohli has been working with the Hiranyagarbha/The Golden Womb, current series, I am experi- enced by human figures and its antiquity for the past 15 years. She Tree of Life and Vasudhaiva menting with colours, forms, behavior. In my paintings,  +   began creating the yoginis first as zinc Kutumbakam. This show is an exten- textures, and perspectives to human figures come out in a Chief architect and CEO of the plates and then translated them into sion of research in the art of illustra- uncover the deepest crevices of very natural way. Sometimes it Agha Khan Trust for Culture, Ratish sandstone sculptures with the help of tive patterns. The sculptures blend well the human psyche. Nature can be a full figure and some- Nanda, picked out the lotus pond as artisans. The temples of the chausath into the expanse of greenery where ear- always haunts me and unleash- times it may be only the face.” the right site for the yoginis to rest at. (64) yoginis, are strewn across the heart lier there was dust and rubble. Offering es my mind a profound thrill Nature is a dominant theme With one stroke, the became the con- of India, in Madhya Pradesh and a contemporary stage to a design with all her beautiful things.” for most artists, it’s beauty and fluence of cultures and thereby spoke Odisha. In more ways than one, it is inspired by historic Indian myth and In the exhibition, one can the magical colours can draw to us about the essence of a pure spir- the enigmatic aura that keeps us sacred literature becomes an important find unity in Ajoy Ghosh’s excel- anyone to itself, however, as it. glued to the imagery as we think of the statement in the signal for art events lent intertwining of nature with Tirthankar Biswas explains, The Trust has been rehabilitating feminine power in a world that has in modern moorings of Delhi. The mythology or, in the meditative sometimes inspirations are real- existing parks and creating new spaces turned a blind eye to the protection of Sunder Nursery gardens enhance the vibes of Karna Puri. While the istic and sometimes semi-real- for over 20 years with the objective of women and abused the feminine arrival point on the edge of the lotus paintings of Tilak Mondal teach istic, “The common denomina- demonstrating that these green spaces body for its own lust. pond. The glimpse of the sculptures the world tenacity through tor in my paintings is a moment, can be catalysts for positive econom- becomes a testimony to the power and womanhood, Tapas Basu’s movement and force. It can be ic, social and cultural change. The Aga      poetry that can be brought alive in a works are an amazing example a sixer from an energetic crick- Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) The Tree of Life sculpture and other garden as a sculpture court. of finding peace in the beauty of eter, it can be an escaping deer focusses on the physical, social, cultur- ones in bronze and wood are a heady nature and contemporary soci- from an approaching tiger, it can al and economic revitalisation of mix of haute history and the power of   &+  ety. As Manoj Sarkar takes you be an out-posted hut from a communities in the developing world. yogic stances. The placement of the “The translation of an ancient through an adventure of many flash flood or it can be a swing- sculptures under the salient tree speaks form, specially feminine, in terms of aspects of human life, ing head of palm tree with 56    of the age of regalia. Perhaps in terms the goddesses and figures of the past Thirthankar Biswas’ will make monsoon wind. The variation of The landscape design of the of language and grammar, the idea of makes art more universal and acces- you live through the moment of the medium is also just like my Sunder Nursery has become a plush creating a sculptural park of a precious sible,” states Kohli. the topic in his canvas. subject. I use from diluted ink stage for Kohli’s sculptures. When you architectural heritage becomes impor- As an artist, Kohli is both Tapas Basu’s work reflect an to pencil, pastel, charcoal, acrylic look at them under the tree and then tant in the unveiling of a new trend. engrossed and deeply driven by an expression of the inner world and oil colour depend upon the see the yoginis, you know that the The bronze and the large wooden instinct. Her sculptures embody the with eclectic colours. The demand of the subject. The amalgamation of art and landscape sculptures echo the pulse of the past ing the traditions of passing on the harmony of the feminine yogic sculp- compassion of many of exis- award-winning artist says, “My recent works belong to the aims to enhance the historic charac- and the present. We think of the eter- knowledge of restoration methods tures sitting in peace and utter calm. tence. This exhibition also tells Delhi work is inspired by the beauty semi-realistic category with the ter. It provides a connection with a nal power of the human mind and with appropriate technologies and You also think of the zenith in the dic- that we have one more space to exhib- of nature and contemporary medium of oil on canvas.” truly urban scale as it derives inspira- hands, the skills of building with the materials. Conservation of ideas spring tionary of building traditions, tech- it and sculptures will get a new lease society, where life is captured in (The exhibition will be held tion from the traditional Indian con- elements of the earth and re-energis- forth when you see the balance and niques and human heritage. of life at the Sunder Nursery. a symbolic, yet surrealistic from January 3 to 9.)

carlet shackles sit peacefully on museum in Lagos, Portugal, where portion, visitors encounter shack- day slavery in partnership with Sdisplay in front of a sad, gray the European slave trade began. But les and chains used in forts and cas- Liverpool charity City Hearts. The backdrop. The now rusted leg irons  %5  Liverpool’s museum is much larg- tles along the African coast to hold project links current human traf- once locked human ankles during er, more interactive, and more humans before their horrific jour- ficking to the story out of the 18th century voyages from Africa to ambitious without being exploita- ney. A small replica of a slave boat Middle Passage. some European port, then to the tive. illustrates how captives were tossed In the US, journalist Nikole Americas.              Inside, visitors immediately are into small compartments. Next to Hannah-Jones has sparked conver- Who the shackles held remain taken on a meditative experience the ship are 18th-century whips and sations about the legacy of slavery a mystery. But as a citizen of the focusing on Africa before European branding irons. Yes, these were in that nation’s history with her United States, I’ve likely broken contact. You are greeted by quotes used. interactive 1619 Project in The bread with a descendant of the of American abolitionists and civil Then, there was resistance, lib- New York Times. It examines the woman forced to wear this instru- rights leaders etched into stone eration, and the long fight for civil 400th anniversary of the arrival of ment. Maybe my uncle fought walls before you see traditional rights. Surprising, I walked into an the first enslaved people from West alongside her kin in a war. Or it’s masks from present-day Sierra area dedicated to the African Africa on the present-day America’s possible one of her distant relatives Leone and Mali. There are vibrant American heroes from Harriet eastern shore. The project chal- is now be my relative. textiles from Ghana, intricate head- Tubman to the Rev Martin Luther lenges readers to consider how These are the thoughts I enter- dresses from Cameroon and sam- King Jr and Malcolm X. US news their own lives have been shaped by tain recently while walking through ples of Igbo wall painting from footage from the 1950s and 1960s the legacy of slavery and it is help- the reflective International Slavery Nigeria. You can listen to samples illustrates how the descendants of ing inspire activists in places like Museum in Liverpool, England. of drum signals from the Republic those who crossed the Middle Albuquerque, New Mexico, to push Founded in 2007 on the bicentenary of Congo or a Mbuti hunting song. Passage had to fight for human for their own museum of black his- of the abolition of the British slave The messages are clear: before rights and against violence amid tory. trade, the museum sits just a short enslavement, Africa was a diverse white supremacy — the ideology Walking by an installation of walk from the dry docks where slave and complex continent with long that launched racialised slavery in former slave and abolitionist trading ships were repaired and fit- artistic and religious traditions. the first place. There are also pho- Olaudah Equiano, I heard two ted out in the 1700s. (And it’s close Next, visitors are whisked tos of the Civil Rights struggles in young black women discussing the by the The Beatles Story, the world’s toward a room tackling enslave- the United Kingdom from London’s 1619 Project and how they didn’t largest permanent exhibition pure- ment and the brutal Middle “Keep Britain White Rally” in 1960 understand the criticism it faced for ly devoted to the hometown band.) Passage. Racial ideologies and to the Toxteth Riot of 1981 in trying to reshape a narrative in the Once a major slaving port, Liverpool Europe’s unfamiliarity with the cul- Liverpool over allegations of police U S. As we left the Equiano sculp- grew thanks to merchants’ financial tures of Africa sparked the slave harassment. ture, we stopped at a display of a ties to the enslavement of people to trade which grew once European The museum ends with a space 1920-era Ku Klux Klan robe and the Americas. powers expanded to the Americas, for changing exhibits related to the hood from Port Jervis, New York. Today, the building tells the the museum tells us. In this room, themes around modern-day slavery. The outfit that was once used to ter- story of the enslavement of people details of the voyage of the ship During my visit in November, I rorise blacks and Catholics stared from Africa and how this British city Essex are reconstructed. That’s a encountered an exhibition called back down at us. We were silent. But benefited from human bondage. slave ship that left Liverpool on June “Am I not a woman and a sister” — I could feel we were relieved the The Liverpool location reclaims a 13, 1783, just nine years after the a moving image installation by glass case surrounding it protected space once connected to worldwide American Declaration of England-based artist Elizabeth us. We were safe for now. human suffering and is similar to O Independence. Kwant. She co-created the project But were we? Mercado de Escravos — the slavery During the Middle Passage with female survivors of modern- L"

 5  "   /@(     #      B    >              /0 + +  K  +  :      & ' )      7  #          -                                $  4O      2  %   !*                    2                  #              H    $     7           81            #  4     !(  # O      > 3     2        8) !   7  2  E   # 6 !" %  0  @        # 3 B  4                        EE   H       # 4 !          (  7   >      6           2      ( %  0  @=')      H      ! >                   2   3!( "%  8   (     +  ( %  1/0  // ( .   6 6  (8      !( "%  /((   // ((  -.+#7   >      * ! (  B   " 3 6  # 8/! 9  ! 7    81! #   ! #-;4   !"#$%"& Red’s ‘brilliant’ 2019 just a building block for Klopp    46 4 “2019 was brilliant but it’s to Anfield just 45 hours after a compounded in first-half stop- the intensity and the flow? The not go down without a fight in not important because we thrilling 3-2 win over page time when Pedro Neto's referee here.” the final stages. iverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists count seasons, not years, so the Manchester City. equaliser was ruled out. Nuno was booked among “If it would be easy to win the European champions must build on 2019/20 season is not over,” said In the match they were left Jonny was adjudged to be the Wolves protestations, but the that number of games a lot La “brilliant” 2019 to turn a 13-point lead Klopp. fuming at the two calls that offside by the tiniest of margins Portuguese coach’s decision to more teams would have done it,” at the top of the table into a first Premier “We are halfway there, we went against them in quick suc- in the build-up to add to a start with top scorer Raul added Klopp. League title in 30 years. still have 19 games to play and cession towards the end of the number of Premier League Jimenez and Adama Traore on “It is not easy and you have Klopp’s men were not at their flowing best probably 18 or 19 of them will first half. goals over the past two days the bench meant he had to fight with all you have. and needed the help of two VAR reviews to be like this tonight, for differ- Mane swept home his 14th ruled out for the most margin- weapons up his sleeve come the Sometimes we have more and continue their relentless march towards the ent reasons. goal of the season from Lallana’s al of offside calls. second half. sometimes less and the boys do title with a 1-0 win over Wolves on Sunday. “Who cares about points in knockdown with his shoulder “Anfield is amazing but Traore’s pace was unleashed that all the time, so I couldn’t be Liverpool have now won 18 of their first December? We just created a and referee Anthony Taylor’s they were celebrating a non- on the hour mark and Jimenez more proud of what they did 19 league games of the season and lost just basis which we will work with initial decision was overturned. goal. It doesn't make sense. The followed shortly after, but only again. To get that result over the once in the calendar year in the league, on top from now on, that’s all.” However, Wolves were referee should sustain his deci- after Diogo Jota’s fierce strike line is just impressive.” of winning the Champions League, Club unhappy that another claim for sion,” said Wolves boss Nuno forced Alisson Becker into a Jimenez had the best chance World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. +& ,  handball against Virgil van Espirito Santo. smart save. to claim an equaliser, but was Wolves were angry even Dijk earlier in the move was not “The VAR referee is miles The visitors had lost just denied by a block from Joe before the VAR controversies as checked. away taking decisions on a lot once in their previous 14 league Gomez before Joao Moutinho, the Premier League Christmas of things happening here. Who games to move into contention Romain Saiss, Ruben Vinagre scheduling meant they travelled Wolves’ frustration was is inside the game? Who feels for a top-four finish and they did and Traore all fired off target. %    

 49:69*-

anchester City shrugged off a tight turn- Maround from defeat at Wolves to beat Sheffield United 2-0 on Sunday thanks to second- half strikes from Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne. City boss Pep Guardiola had lambasted the scheduling that saw the English champions kick off less than 48 hours after playing the majority of Friday's 3-2 defeat at Molineux with 10 men. Fatigue seemed to get the better of City in the first half as the Blades enjoyed the better of the chances and had a Lys Mousset goal ruled out after a VAR review for offside. However, the greater individual quality at Guardiola’s disposal decided the game as De Bruyne teed up Aguero to smash into the roof of the net seven minutes after the break. De Bruyne then rounded off another excel- lent display by scoring the second himself with a fine finish eight minutes from time to inflict United's first defeat away from home for nearly a year and bring City back to within 14 points of runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool. “Today I understood why Sheffield United are in the place they’re in the table,” said Guardiola. “In the first half we had problems, we changed some things and the second half was much, much better.” Despite claiming that the crowded Christmas scheduling showed the Premier League and broad- casters “don’t care” about player welfare, Guardiola made just three changes to the side that started against Wolves. 2  ' $   $   9$    City's sluggish start should have punished by the visitors with Mousset particularly wasteful. Norwood picked out Mousset, who was onside The Frenchman spurned a glorious early this time but could only shoot into the side-net- chance to put United ahead when he get on the ting with just Claudio Bravo to beat. end of a floated Callum Robinson cross but head- “You always know when you comes to ed wide. grounds like Manchester City you have to take United thought they had claimed the lead on your opportunities, and unfortunately we didn’t,” 29 minutes when Mousset raced onto a long ball said Blades boss Chris Wilder. from John Fleck and fired home. “The first goal is the game-changer. We were City were furious because they thought in the game and then we had to open up to try Aguero had been fouled in the build-up but, while to get back into it and a world-class player fin- their complaints were brushed aside by referee ishes us off in the last ten minutes.” Chris Kavanagh, VAR came to their aid by rul- The lack of a clinical finisher has been the only ing Mousset was marginally offside. thing holding back Wilder’s men, who sit eighth “If the Mousset goal was not offside, it would in the table, on their already impressive return to have been very difficult for us,” added Guardiola. the Premier League and they got a lesson in tak- “In the second half we put more players closer to ing their chances from City’s all-time record scor- Sergio, and we passed the ball with more quali- er soon after the break. ty.” De Bruyne picked out Aguero with a fine It was a let-off for City but they were caught through ball and the Argentine blasted high past out by a long ball again soon after as Oliver Henderson from a narrow angle. 4    "+   9>"*

apanese star Kei Nishikori Jpulled out of the inaugur- al ATP Cup Monday as he continues to struggle with an elbow injury that has kept him out since the US Open. The former world num- ber four, who has slipped to 13, said he was disappointed not to be representing his country in Perth at the team event starting on January 3. “Today, together with my team, we have made this decision as I am still not 100 percent ready to compete at the highest level,” he said in a statement. Nishikori’s elbow needed surgery in October and it is unclear whether he will be fit for the Australian Open when the first Grand Slam of the year begins at Melbourne Park on January 20. Yoshihito Nishioka will replace him as the top- ranked player in Japan’s ATP Cup team. Yasutaka Uchiyama also withdrew from the event ear- lier this week, with Toshihide Matsui taking his place. Nishikori’s absence is another blow for the event after Britain’s Andy Murray pulled out over the weekend with a pelvic injury and Roger Federer opted not to play. The innovative team championship, from January 3-12, offers $15 million in prize money and a maxi- mum of 750 singles and 250 doubles ATP rankings points. #-;<   !"#$%"&

4      & ('  %    - 2    Shaw had hit a blazing double hundred against Baroda in the lung-opener but faltered in both  6$2- the essays against Railways at  8(   Wankhede Stadium. ndian captain Virat Kohli Rahane also had a horrendous will end the year at the top time with the bat against Railways. Iof the ICC Test ranking  % Mumbai had won the game chart for batsmen but five-day against Baroda while lost to specialist Cheteshwar Pujara Railways by 10 wickets. slipped a place to fifth.  92 $>49 Australians he has opted for Rahane, who has played 63 With 928 points, Kohli is Steve Smith and David Tests, will be playing consecutive way ahead of second-placed ormer Australian captain Warner along with spinner Ranji games after a long time. Australian maestro Steve Smith FRicky Ponting on Monday Nathan Lyon. Shreyas Iyer and Shivam (911) and New Zealand’s inspi- picked India skipper Virat “Everyone’s picking teams Dube, who were criticized heavi- rational skipper Kane Kohli to lead his all-star Test of the decade so I thought I’d ly for not playing the last Ranji Williamson (822), while team of the decade, which fea- join in the fun,” Ponting wrote games, have been not named in Australia’s Marnus tured four English players. on his twitter handle. the squad as they are away on Labuschagne, who has amassed Ponting’s Test team of “This would be my Test  !    * 4   India duty. 1,085 runs in 11 Tests this year, the 2010s doesn’t feature any team of the 2010’s: David $'    Pacer Shardul Thakur, who is improved a place to grab the other Indian apart from Warner, Alastair Cook, Kane also away on India duty, has not fourth spot. Kohli, who is currently Williamson, Steve Smith,  $2- named in the squad either. Pujara was placed fifth ranked No.1 in both ICC Virat Kohli (c), Kumar Meanwhile, young batsman with 791 points, while Ajinkya Test and ODI rankings for Sangakkarra (wk), Ben est specialist Ajinkya Rahane Sarfaraz Khanhas been Rahane was joint seventh with batsmen. Stokes, Dale Steyn, Nathan Tand young prodigy Prithvi includedinthesquad. 759 points. The Englishmen in his Lyon, Stuart Broad, James Shaw will turn up for Mumbai in This could possibly be the last With his enterprising 95 team include all-rounder Ben Anderson.” their Ranji Trophy game against game Shaw plays for the timebe- against England in the first Stokes, batsman Alastair Kohli was also named heavyweights Karnataka. ing as he then heads to New Test, Quinton de Kock not only Cook, and the pace duo of captain of the Test XI of the The two were named in the Zealand with the India A squad. set up his team’s win, but also Stuart Broad and James decade by Cricket Australia's 15-member squad announced by Mumbai squad: Suryakumar shot into the top of the latest Anderson. Among the official news website. the associationon its website on Yadav (Captain) Aditya Tare (Vice rankings release on Monday. Monday. Captain) Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi In bowling, India’s lead The game will be played at the Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan, Shubham pacer Jasprit Bumrah, return- (772 points) and seamer Pat Cummins was at the top of Bandra Kurla Complex from Ranjane, Akash Parkar, Siddhesh ing from an injury layoff, Mohammed Shami (771) were the standings with 902 points January 3. Lad, Shams Mulani, Vinayak remained static at sixth posi- ninth and tenth respectively in ahead of Neil Wagner (859) Both Shaw and Rahane played Bhoir, Shashank Attarde, Royston tion with 794 points, while the order. and South African paceman the previous games against Baroda Dias, Tushar Deshpande, Deepak +  $   * 2    $  '    spinner Ravichandran Ashwin Australian pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada (832). and Railways. Shetty andEknath Kerkar. (  7& 4Q !   $" 5+   +   *+ %   92 $>49 in Short, a top-order batter who for Australia, hitting 83 runs at also bowls wrist spin, to replace an average of 26.66. Unless ustralia on Monday called pacer Abbott. “It is extremely there's an injury, he will likely bat   46 4 the list of leading run-scorers Aup explosive opening all- unfortunate for Sean, who is in the middle order given of all time with 21,444 runs, rounder D’Arcy Short in place of very much a part of our white- Warner and Finch are going to ndia skipper Virat Kohli and was also included in Wisden’s injured pacer Sean Abbott in ball squad plans leading into the open. David Warner and Steve Ipace spearhead Jasprit Test and ODI teams of the their ODI squad for the upcom- ICC T20 World Cup and the Smith will also be touring India Bumrah were the only two decade, besides being named ing tour of India. World Cup,” selection convener for the first time with the Indians who found a place in in Wisden’s list of five crick- The tour begins on January Trevor Hohns was quoted as say- Australian team since the ball- Wisden’s T20 International eters of the decade which also 14 with the first One-day ing by Cricket Australia. tampering scandal, both expect- team of the decade, which features Steve Smith, Dale International in Mumbai. “D’Arcy offers the squad edly figuring in the squad. didn’t feature Mahendra Singh Steyn, AB de Villiers and Ellyse The second and third ODIs another spinning all-rounder Dhoni. Perry. will be held in Rajkot and option along with Ashton Agar, +   H+  Australia’s limited overs While Kohli was picked in Bengaluru on January 14 and which, along with the four Aaron Finch (capt), D’Arcy captain Aaron Finch was Wisden’s T20I team of the January 19, respectively. world-class fast bowlers and Short, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey named captain of the team, decade to strengthen the bat- Short has been included in Adam Zampa, balances the (wk), Pat Cummins, Peter which has two more Australian ting order, Bumrah found a the squad after a side strain dur- squad out nicely. His proven Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, in Shane Watson and Glenn place in the bowling unit due ing a Big Bash League game record and ability to bat any- Marnus Labuschagne, Kane Maxwell, two England crick- to his superb economy rate and ruled out Abbott for four weeks. Mitchell Starc and Kane where in the order will also be Richardson, Steven Smith, eters — Jos Buttler and David reputation for being a reliable With fast bowlers Pat Richardson already in Australia’s a great asset to the squad.” Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Willey, two Afghanistan all- death bowler. Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, ODI squad, selectors have called Short has played four ODIs David Warner, Adam Zampa. rounders — Mohammad Nabi “Bumrah’s overall econo- and Rashid Khan, and New my rate of 6.71 is the second Zealand’s Colin Munro and Sri best in the world among quick ;< Lanka’s Lasith Malinga. bowlers, behind Dale Steyn,” On Kohli, Wisden said: Wisden said about Bumrah, “While Kohli’s record in who has overall taken 216  domestic T20 cricket is patchy, wickets, including 51 in T20Is, the same cannot be said of in his international career so .3 = T20Is. Kohli’s average of 53 was far. the best in the decade, and “This statistic is more while his consistency compro- impressive when you consid- 3 mises his strike-rate slightly, he er he did the majority of his is still able to score at a good bowling in the death overs, " )3  rate, even if not exceptional. where his economy rate of 7.27 “Strong against pace and was the seventh best in the   :9-47" 4 spin, and rapid between the -   '  '   $$   world, and comfortably the wickets, Kohli is an ideal play- best by a quick bowler. ew Zealand have turned er at No.3, able to fight fires accelerate when a platform is slide down the order in this XI,” Bumrah is likely bowl three Nto Will Somerville for his when an early wicket is lost and set. Following a huge first- it said on its website. overs at the death for this experience of playing in stabilise the innings, but also wicket partnership, Kohli will Kohli, who ranks third in side.” Sydney as they look to avoid a whitewash in the third and final Test against Australia. Off-spinner Somerville, ##' / ** who was raised in Australia and played Sheffield Shield for New South Wales, will replace injured pace bowler  1 #!' Trent Boult for the Test start- ing in Sydney on Friday. Sunday to wrap up late New Zealand sec- Coach Gary Stead said ond innings resistance, said there was no the inclusion of the lanky 1.93 way he would be standing aside. metre (6ft 4in) Somerville “Did Warnie ever want a rest and give was a nod to the expected Stuart MacGill a go?” he asked, noting the conditions at the Sydney lack of opportunity given to Warne’s leg- Cricket Ground. spin rival at the height of their careers. “There’s no secret the “I won’t be resting. I haven’t met any SCG pitch is one of the more Australian cricketers that would like to be spin-friendly in Australia,” rested. Stead said. “It’s that hard playing Test cricket, but “Will offers something it’s that rewarding as well so every oppor- different to our two other tunity you get to play cricket for Australia spinners in the squad with his it means the world to us. right arm off-spin and height. “So I can’t imagine Mitch Starc, Pat “The fact he’s played a lot (Cummins) or Patto (James Pattinson) of cricket in Sydney during putting his hand up to say I need a rest.” his career for New South Queensland’s Swepson has been Wales will also be helpful as added to Australia’s squad for Sydney, we prepare for this final where conditions often assist slow Test.” bowlers, and was taking tips from Warne Somerville, 35, has in Melbourne. played three Tests, taking There is a chance that Australia will seven wickets on his debut play two specialist spinners in the third against Pakistan in Abu Test, with the call to be made after Paine Dhabi last year and a total of and selectors look at the pitch. seven in two Tests away to Sri Swepson, who has taken 12 wickets Lanka four months ago. from six Sheffield Shield games at 26.58, Boult is returning to was a member of Australia's Test squad New Zealand after suffering for tours of India and Bangladesh in 2017 a fracture to his right hand in but has yet to make his debut. the second Test which Lyon said if both of them played, he Australia won comfortably would be more than happy. by 247 runs on Sunday with- $!   '; '$  %< ! >     “Mitch has been bowling brilliantly in four days in Melbourne. for Queensland,” he said. “He’s a great fella Australia won the first to start off with, but he gives it a rip and Test by 296 runs, again wrap-   92 $>49 Melbourne on Sunday, following their that's what I really love to see. ping up the match inside four comprehensive win in Perth. “I’m a big fan of Mitch, it’s great to see days. ustralia’s Nathan Lyon on Monday Cricket great Warne has championed him in and around our squad so he gets New Zealand already Ashot down a suggestion from Shane Swepson and over the weekend flagged his chance and fingers crossed we can have Matt Henry and Kyle Warne that he take a rest for the Sydney the idea of axing Lyon if selectors opt for have a great combination together.” Jamieson in the squad to pro- Test against New Zealand this week so one spinner in Sydney. If Australia go down that road, they vide fast bowling cover while leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson can make “Just giving Mitchell Swepson a taste would almost certainly retain Cummins, Somerville’s height and local his debut. of it, giving him a chance, I reckon it will Starc and Pattinson, meaning a batsman knowledge could see him Tim Paine’s team have already won pay dividends in the long run,” Warne would be axed with Matthew Wade the overtake the incumbent spin- the three-match series against the Black said. likely candidate after Travis Head scored ners Mitchell Santner and Caps after crushing them by 247 runs in But Lyon, who took four wickets on a century in Melbourne. Todd Astle.