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Vol. 12 No. 219 RNI NO. DELENG/2008/25465 New Delhi, Tuesday, 29 December, 2020 [email protected] 9971359517 12 pages. 2/- Maharashtra home minister asks CBI to reveal findings of SSR Farmers' protest against death case probe Mumbai Maharashtra’s Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Sunday said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should soon clarify whether late actor Sushant Singh agri laws enters day 33 Rajput was murdered or died by suicide. Speaking to members of the media, Deshmukh said, “It has been four months since the probe the protesting farmer was transferred to CBI. People ask me about the conclusion. I think CBI should soon unions had decided to clarify whether it was suicide or murder.” His comment comes months after the CBI was resume their dialogue handed over the investigation into the actor’s death earlier this year. Deshmukh has also with the Centre, and appealed to the agency to reveal findings of the probe in the high-profile case. In July, proposed December 29 almost a month after the actor's death, Deshmukh had said a CBI probe is not for the next round of required in the incident.It may be noted that talks. Simmi Kaur Babbar NEW DELHI: Farmers protest against the three central contentious agricultural laws entered day 33 on Monday (December 28) as the government and farmers' union leaders prepare for the sixth round of talks on Tuesday. On Saturday, the protesting farmer unions had decided to resume their dialogue with the Centre and proposed December 29 for the next round of talks. They have also decided that a tractor march will be held on Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Kundli-Manesar-Palwal highway on Bandra apartment on June 14 this year. But in December 30.Security remained tight at the October, the medical board of the All India Delhi borders with hundreds of personnel forcing police to divert vehicular movement. BJP said he can fix a date and place of his kilometres from the site of a farmers' protest Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) ruled deployed at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri AAP supremo and Chief Minister Arvind choice where the benefits of the legislation at Tikri border and police are trying to verify a out the murder angle and termed it as death where the farmers have been camping. The Kejriwal visited the protest site at Singhu could be explained to him.A lawyer from purported suicide note in which he said he by suicide caused due to hanging. protests have also led to traffic congestion, border for the second time and appealed to the Punjab allegedly committed suicide by was sacrificing his life in support of the In the aftermath of his death, several agencies Centre to scrap the contentious laws, but the consuming poison on Sunday a few farmers'agitation. including the ED and NCB launched parallel probes into the death of the actor. Besides his appeal to the CBI, Deskhmukh also Nitish Kumar says had no desire to spoke about Covid-19 restrictions that have Rajasthan Congress to launch Samvad Programme to been imposed ahead of the New Year. become Bihar CM; expresses anguish Deshmukh said, “Restaurants and other over 6 JD(U) MLAs joining BJP establishments will be shut after 11 pm. support farmers' protest against farm laws Those who want to commute can do so, but Patna Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday expressed anguish over six of Janata Dal (United) more than five people should assemble at Jaipur The Congress has decided to launch ensure that the programme is successful public places. This is being done in cities to Samvad Programme in all districts of at the government, as well as MLAs joining its ally the Bharatiya Janata Party avoid crowding.” Rajasthan to support the ongoing farmers' organisational level, the Congress has (BJP) in Arunachal Pradesh.Recently, six out of seven agitation against three farm laws brought urged party workers to support farmers members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) had Army Chief Naravane by the central government. The grand-old in their agitation."The Congress is joined the ruling BJP in Arunachal Pradesh. After the party plans to organise the state-wide standing with the protesting food givers departure of six MLAs, the JD(U) is now left with one proceeds on 3-day visit dialogue programme from December 28 for withdrawal of three anti-farmer legislator in the northeastern state."The party has to December 30. laws brought by the central expressed its deep anguish, displeasure, protest on Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot government," Ashok Gehlot said.With Arunachal Pradesh development. It is not a good sign to Republic of Korea said, "With the motive to further the motive of strengthening this for alliance politics," news agency PTI quoted JD(U) strengthen the voice of protesting farmers agitation, the Rajasthan State Congress secretary general KC Tyagi as telling reporters. New Delhi Indian Army Chief General MM against the farm laws, the Rajasthan State Committee, along with all colleagues "The partners should follow the 'alliance politics' as was Naravane has proceeded on a three-day visit Congress Committee will organise farmer of the ministerial cabinet, is organising practiced during Atal Bihari Vajpayees tenure or to the Republic of Korea (ROK) from 28 to state assembly-wise farmer dialogue 30 December 2020.During the visit, he will dialogue programme state assembly-wise being followed in Bihar for the past 15 years," Tyagi from December 28 till December 30 in programme with the slogan said.Addressing on the second day of the party be meeting senior military and civilian awareness towards achievements of the #Jai_Jawan_Jai_Kisan from December leadership of the Republic of Korea, the every district with the slogan "Jai Jawan meeting, Nitish Kumar further said that he didn't want Jai Kisaan".""In this state government's government and black farm laws, 28 - 30. Urge all Congress workers to to become the CM after the Bihar Assembly elections. Indian Army said. meetings of workers at the block level, campaign, the dialogue will be established make this programme successful and He said that he told the BJP that the people have given General Naravane will lay wreath at National with honourable ministers and press conferences and public awareness support food givers in their agitation. Jai Cemetery and War Memorial in Seoul. He is campaign will be organised to make the verdict and it doesn't matter if the CM is from the representative farmers associated with Jawan Jai Kisan", Govind Singh Dotasara, BJP or the JD(U)." scheduled to call on the Minister of National farmer signature campaign. Moreover, for farmers aware about the reality of the State Congress President, Rajasthan said. Defence, ROK Army Chief, Chairman of black laws," Ashok Gehlot said.In a bid to I had no desire to become the Chief Minister. I was Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Minister of pressurised and now I have assumed the post of the Defence Acquisition Planning CM. Anyone can become the Chief Minister, anyone Administration (DAPA) to discuss avenues can be made the Chief Minister, I do not mind," said for enhancing India-ROK defence relations. Rahul Gandhi likely to be proposed as Congress chief at Nitish Kumar.Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha member The Army Chief will also visit the Korea Ramchandra Prasad Singh better known by the initial Combat Training Centre in Inje Country, RCP Singh, a close confidant of Bihar Chief Minister Gangwon Province and Advance Defence party conclave in Rajasthan, say sources Nitish Kumar, was on Sunday chosen as the new Development (ADD) at Daejeon. president of JD(U)Without naming the BJP, the The visit like other recent ones to foreign Jaipur Congress will hold the party's While no location has been finalised party's newly-appointed national president RCP countries is aimed at enhancing military national level conclave in Rajasthan for the conclave, sources say it Singh seemed to be sending a message to its alliance diplomacy.The Indian Army chief earlier early next year, sources have told India will either be held in Udaipur or partner during JD(U)'s national executive meet on this month visited United Arab Emirates Today TV. Congress's conclave will be Jaipur. Sunday.Ramchandra Prasad Singh said that the JD(U) (UAE) and Saudi Arabia from 9 to 14 held in January or February 2021. The final decision on Congress's neither betray anyone nor does it conspires against December as part of India’s military According to the sources, the proposal conclave will be taken after Rahul anyone."We do not betray anyone, we do not create diplomacy in the neighbourhood.This was for the re-appointment of Rahul Gandhi Gandhi's return from abroad. conspiracies. the first visit by an Indian Army Chief to these two countries. as Congress president will be put forth During the last national conclave of With whomsoever we stay, we stay with honesty," said during the conclave.Senior Congress Congress in Rajasthan, held in RCP Singh.JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi lashed out Recently the Army Chief had visited Nepal at the BJP over the 'love jihad' laws to prevent inter- and also accompanied Foreign Secretary leader and Rajasthan Chief Minister 2012 in Jaipur, Rahul Gandhi was Harsh Shringla to Myanmar. Ashok Gehlot has been in talks with anointed as Congress's national faith marriages. These laws are now in effect in Uttar Rahul Gandhi's office for the conclave. vice-president. Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Telangana suffered loss of Rs 7500 crore since its inception due to MSP Hyderabad: The Telangana government on The officials underlined that the same had set up purchasing centres in the will be convenient for the farmers to get their Sunday (December 27, 2020) announced that situation is cropping up every year. village itself and purchased the produce on the appointed day. Implement this the state has so far incurred huge losses of They said that the state government agriculture produce on a humanitarian policy strictly," they said.This comes amid the over Rs 7,500 crore by giving MSP suffered a loss of Rs 3,935 crore by consideration that farmers should not farmers' protests against the three new farm (Minimum Support Price) to farmers since the purchasing paddy, Rs 1,547.59 crore suffer losses. "It is not possible to do the laws. The NDA government at the Centre, new state was formed in 2014. due to corn, Rs 52.78 crore due to same thing every time. The government is however, is repeatedly assuring them that they An extensive discussion took place at the sorghum, Rs 413.48 crore due to not a business organisation or trader. It is will not do away with the MSP. However, in review meeting on Sunday on the purchase of redgram, Rs 52.47 crore due to red not a rice miller or a dal miller. Sale and the meeting in Telangana Chief Minister's various crops, regulated farming policy, sale sorghum, Rs 9.23 crore due to black purchase is not the responsibility of official residence, disturbing signals were and purchase of agriculture produce in the gram, Rs 108.07 crore due to Bengal government. It is not possible to set up sent out to the farmers in the state."Rythu markets and the responsibilities of the Rythu gram and Rs 14.25 crore due to purchase centre in the village from next Vedikas (farmers' platforms) are being Bandhu Samithies. The discussion also took sunflower. year onwards," the officials at the review constructed all over the State. Farmers and place on the utilisation of Rythu Vedikas, Besides this, wages paid to Hamalis, and meeting unanimously stated. officers should meet regularly at the Vedikas. keeping the required seed and fertilisers in other administrative expenses, the They added, "The new Farm Laws being They should discuss and decide on which adequate quantity available on time, transfer total loss is Rs 7,500 crore, the officials Bandhu' is a scheme wherein every farmer in implemented in the country allowed the crops they should cultivate based on the of the required technical knowledge to the explained.Meanwhile, the Telangana Chief Telangana gets Rs 5,000 per acre per season as farmers to sell their crop anywhere. Hence, market conditions. farmers and other related issues. Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao declared that grant from the state government and as there the state government need not set a purchasing They have to formulate strategies from time to The officials present in the meeting informed all the farmers in the state would be given are two seasons - Kharif and Rabi, each centre in the villages and as there is no need. time on how to get the MSP," the officials that since the Telangana was formed as a state, financial assistance under 'Rythu Bandhu' farmer gets Rs 10,000 per acre. This But sale and purchase at the agriculture said.They further said, "Henceforth, it is the government had incurred heavy losses due (farmer's friend) scheme from Monday effectively means the number of acres is markets should be done properly. Farmers better if the State government stops advising to purchase of various crops till date to the (December 28, 2020) to January 2021. At a multiplied by Rs 5000 each per acre. The CM should not get their produce at one time to the the farmers on what crops they should tune of Rs 7,500 crore due to the purchase of review meeting on 'Rythu Bandhu', financial instructed the officials concerned to ensure markets, instead, they should get them in a cultivate and where. The government should paddy, sorghum, maize, redgram, Bengal assistance held on Sunday at Pragathi Bhavan, that every farmer gets the assistance in his phased manner and on turns." forthwith stop issuing guidelines on the crops gram and sunflower. Though the government the Chief Minister announced that Rs 7,515 bank account directly for every acre.On the "Rythu Bandhu Samithies, Marketing to be cultivated. There is no need for the had purchased these agriculture produces by crore financial assistance will be given to 1.52 other hand, the top officials of various Committees, Agriculture extension officers Regulatory Farming policy. Farmers should paying the MSP, it had to sell them at the lower crore acres of the cultivated land of 61.49 lakh departments said in clear terms that they will should work in coordination and decide which decide by themselves what crops they should prices in the market, as there was no demand farmers at the rate of Rs 5000 per acre for the not be able to set up 'purchase centres' of crops village produces should come to market on cultivate. They should sell their produce for these crops. 2020 summer season. Notably, the 'Rythu in the villages from next year.Notably, due to which day and issue tokens accordingly. It wherever it gets a more price." the COVID-19 pandemic, the government 2 New Delhi, Tuesday, 29 December, 2020 BUSINESS THE SIKH TIMES NEWS BOX Petrol, diesel prices unchanged for 21st day Explained: Reason behind – Check fuel prices in metro cities on December 28, 2020 Bitcoin’s meteoric rise in 2020 New Delhi: Petrol and diesel prices were Bitcoin, the popular written off by analysts after the dreaded regarding the cryptocurrency’s paused for the the 21st day on Monday after crash of 2018 has seen a sharp rise in its future.First, the coin launched in sixth straight day of hikes. valuation this year. At present, one Bitcoin 2009 is known for its wind swings cryptocurrency that was is valued at roughly Rs 20 lakh or $27,075. and extreme volatility also faces Fuel prices were hiked for the sixth straight day On Sunday, the digital currency almost regulatory hurdles. While the returns on December 7 by the oil marketing more or less written off by touched $28,000 after it had crossed on offer are far better than traditional companies leading rates to touch 2-yrear analysts after the dreaded $20,000 for the first time just a few days investments, the risk involved is high. Petrol price in Delhi was was hiked by ago. much higher due to the volatility 30 paise per litre and diesel by 26 paise, the crash of 2018, has seen a The current market value of Bitcoin has observed in the larger cryptocurrency sixth straight day of increase in rates due to reached a staggering $500 billion, market.In 2017, the coin saw a firming international oil prices on Monday. sharp rise in its valuation according to cryptocurrency platform similar rally when its value surged Petrol price in Delhi is at Rs 83.71 per litre Coindesk. It is more than the valuation of sharply, only to crash the following while diesel prices are Rs 73.87 per litre, this year. At present, one Visa, Mastercard and Walmart. year. So, the cryptocurrency has a according to notifications from Indian Oil Bitcoin’s meteoric rise in Covid-hit 2020 $7,200 dollar at the start of the year to almost reputation of unpredictability, Corporation.Here is looking at the price Bitcoin is valued at Most analysts believe that the Covid-hit year $28,000 now.Matt Hougan, chief making it impossible for analysts to give a difference of diesel and petrol in four metro is responsible for the revival and meteoric investment officer of Bitwise Asset concrete prediction of its future. However, cities on December 26.Petrol and diesel roughly Rs 20 lakh or rise of the digital currency. Many Bitcoin Management, was quoted in a Bloomberg analysts seem more optimistic about the prices that remained unchanged for 48 days, investors have said that the pandemic-hit report saying that “Bitcoin is moving from a acceptance of Bitcoin this time.Secondly, saw a rate revision on November 20 (Friday), $27,075. Here is what year offered a perfect environment for the fringe esoteric asset to the mainstream”. the digital coil could face further scrutiny for as state-run oil marketing companies hiked cryptocurrency.Analysts believe there has “If it’s going mainstream, there is just so much regulators if it continues its meteoric rally. fuel prices. Rates differ from state to state aided Bitcoin's meteoric been a growing acceptance for the digital money on the sidelines that is going to have Several strategists and investors have said depending on the incidence of VAT. Taxes currency in the current year as traditional to come in and establish a position that it Bitcoin trade or the broader cryptocurrency make up for nearly two-third of the retail rise in Covid-hit 2020. currencies and assets took a pounding due leaves me very bullish for 2021,” Hougan industry could see tighter regulations in future, especially in the United States under selling price. In September, diesel prices saw to the global economic crisis. Bitcoin’s added.While predicting the cryptocurrency’s future course is difficult, Joe Biden’s administration.Most first reduction since mid-March when Indian New Delh In a year when currency valuations valuation has also soared as many big brand across the world have suffered due to the investors and companies have also experts believe that the digital currency will cryptocurrency experts feel that a lot will Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd continue to gain in 2021 and added that it depend on how countries around the regulate (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd coronavirus crisis, one digital currency has stockpiled the digital currency. managed to register a meteoric rise and a The fact that interest rates on traditional could become a nice alternative for retail crypto trade, signalling that the air of (HPCL) froze rates for 82 days to adjust a investors to park their money if traditional uncertainty surrounding such trade remains record hike in excise duty on auto fuels surprising comeback. The value of the investments hit rock bottom during the year world’s most popular cryptocurrency, also helped in the rise of Bitcoin as more interest rates remain low. at large.While most experts believe that the against falling benchmark cost.Diesel rates Challenges remain digital currency will improve on its position had gone up by Rs 12.55 a litre between June Bitcoin, has surged over 200 per cent in investors poured their money into the 2020. cryptocurrency. As the digital currency saw While Bitcoin has managed to shine in Covid- in 2021, they have warned interested 7, when oil firms resumed revising prices in hit 2020, there are several concerns investors to be prepared for sharp line with cost, and July 25. Diesel price has The digital currency that was more or less more investors, its value soared from just corrections and wild volatility. remained unchanged in the country since July 25, except in Delhi where a reduction in VAT lowered the rate by Rs 8.38 per litre. Rupee rises 4 paise to Petrol price went up by Rs 9.17 per litre Bolstered by pandemic, tech between June 7 and June 29 before hitting a 73.51 against US pause. Oil prices edged down a tad, with U.S. crude dollar in early trade futures down 0.8% at $47.85 per barrel, a titans face growing scrutiny Reuters report said. Mumbai. The rupee appreciated by PARIS: Accelerating the transition to an ever their wings, ranging from limits to their power 4 paise to 73.51 against the US more digital existence, the coronavirus over the market to cracking down on hate dollar in opening trade on Markets touch new pandemic has tightened tech giants' grip on speech and requirements for transparency over Monday as sustained foreign fund billions of customers' lives.Governments and algorithms.Drawing lessons from past failures - inflows and strong domestic record highs; Sensex users are belatedly coming to terms with the - delayed and drawn-out procedures and weak power held by the likes of Apple and Amazon, penalties -- the Digital Services Act could see equities strengthened investor soars 370 points particularly in focus this year thanks to their companies face crippling fines or even bans sentiment. role in everything from setting up video from the EU market for breaches.The bloc's Traders said the weakness of the New Delhi: Markets opened in the positive American currency in the trade on Monday led by gains in index meetings to doing our shopping for us. competition chief Margrethe Vestager has said Most of the planet has spent at least part of 2020 in the draft laws would bring "order to chaos" overseas market also supported heavyweights and financial stocks amidst the domestic unit.At the interbank positive global cues. Both equity indices hit lockdown, and as Western consumers clicked online, reining in the massive "gatekeepers" record intra-day high. through Google and Facebook, hundreds of who dominate markets.The United States is also forex market, the domestic unit millions of Chinese users turned to Baidu, acting on competition concerns, with US opened at 73.52 against the US The BSE Sensex 370.24 points or 0.79 percent local market, are exploding in app stores around federal and state antitrust enforcers filing suits to 47,343.78. Similarly, the NSE Nifty Alibaba, Tencent or Xiaomi.These "superstars" dollar, then inched higher to 73.51 of online capialism "have given the impression, the world: notably TikTok but also SHEIN for against Facebook on December 9 seeking to against the greenback, registering jumped 110.55 points to 13,859.80 in early clothes shopping and another video sharing overturn its acquisitions of Instagram and trade.Major gainers in the Sensex pack were in this world where so many things that seemed solid are now fragile, that they are above it all platform, Likee.The pandemic may have WhatsApp."For nearly a decade, Facebook has NTPC, ONGC, Sun Pharma, SBI, HDFC and even invincible," said Paris-based strengthened these high-flying digital giants, used its dominance and monopoly power to bank, IndusInd Bank, RIL, Kotak Bank, economist Joelle Toledano.While governments but it has also energised calls to regulate the crush smaller rivals and snuff out competition, Titan, LT and Ultrachem, rising upto 1.35 are spending trillions of dollars to avoid conglomerates which continue to expand all at the expense of everyday users," Letitia percent. TCS was the only laggard in the widespread bankruptcies and mass through hundreds of acquisitions."Until 2017, James, New York's attorney general, said.In Sensex pack, falling upto 0.08 percent. unemployment, shares of these companies have the benefits, especially in terms of innovation, October the Justice Department and 11 states Markets were closed on account of Christmas been rising since January: Facebook's stock is were considered to outweigh the damage," said launched proceedings against Google, accusing on Friday.Japan`s Nikkei inched up 0.4%. up 35 per cent, Amazon 67 per cent and Apple Toledano, who has written a book about taking it of having illegally strengthened its monopoly MSCI`s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares 68 per cent.Zoom, created in 2011 by a control back from Google, Amazon, Facebook on online searches and advertising. outside Japan rose 0.2%, though trade is slow Californian engineer, has watched its share and Apple.That has changed, however, as they In China, meanwhile, authorities have been with many markets still closed for holiday. price jump 600 per cent in 2020, while Airbnb's now stand accused of not paying enough taxes, tightening regulation of content for several Oil prices edged down a tad, with U.S. crude share value doubled on the day of its IPO. unfair competition, stealing media content and months, and recently announced new rules for futures down 0.8% at $47.85 per barrel, a Meanwhile Chinese apps, long confined to the spreading fake news.The European Union has e-commerce. Reuters report said. unveiled an ambitious set of new rules to clip a rise of 4 paise over its previous close. Rise & reset: Rebuilding On Thursday, the rupee had settled Asian stocks advance after at 73.55 against the US dollar. in face of uncertainty Forex and equity market were NEW DELHI: The swift recovery displayed closed on Friday on account of by the economy after the bruising impact of Trump signs $900B aid package Christmas. one of the strictest lockdowns in the world to Meanwhile, the dollar index, which prevent the spread of the Covid-19 infection gauges the greenback's strength has surprised many. It has also brought some Beijing. Asian stock markets rose Monday after showing up on the radar due to the virus's latest On Monday, South Korea reported its first cases against a basket of six currencies, cheer for policy makers in an otherwise President Donald Trump signed a 900 billion variant, said Stephen Innes ofAxi in a report. of the new variant in three people who arrived fell 0.05 per cent to 90.18. gloomy year.Never before has so much economic aid package, helping to reduceThe Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.4% to from Britain. Over the weekend, Japan also attention been devoted to the gross domestic uncertainty as governments re-impose travel3,410.90 and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo added reported cases and re-imposed limits on entry On the domestic equity market product (GDP) growth figures as has been for and business curbs in response to a new 0.6% to 26,823.45. The Hang Seng in Hong into the country by non-resident foreigners. It front, the 30-share BSE June and September quarters. The June coronavirus variant.Shanghai, Tokyo and HongKong advanced 0.3% to 26,467.90. also said both Japanese and foreign residents benchmark Sensex was trading quarter data may have plunged the country Kong advanced as traders returned to work In Seoul, the Kospi was 0.7% higher at 2,827.97. would be required to show coronavirus test 227.35 points higher at 47,200.89, into gloom, as the economy had slumped following a three-day Christmas weekend.Singapore and Jakarta advanced. Australian results on arrival and to observe quarantines. and the broader NSE Nifty nearly 24%. But the sharp rebound and Trump signed the measure, which also includesmarkets were closed.On Wall Street, the In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude lost 9 advanced 75.60 points to narrowing of the contraction to 7.5% in the money for other government functions throughbenchmark S&P 500 index gained 0.4% to cents to 48.14 per barrel in electronic trading on 13,824.85.Foreign institutional three months to September triggered hope and September, despite expressing frustration that 3703.06 on Thursday in its last pre-Christmas the New York Mercantile Exchange. On investors were net buyers in the optimism.However, most economists reckon 600 payments to the public weren't bigger. His trading day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Thursday, the contract rose 11 cents to close at capital market as they purchased that it will be a long road to recovery before shares worth Rs 1,225.69 crore on the economy gets back to the 7-8% growth signature following last-minute objectionsrose 0.2% to 30,199.87. The Nasdaq composite 48.23. Brent crude, the basis for pricing trajectory. Several recent economic indicators helped to clear away uncertainty as reinstatedrose 0.3%, to 12,804.73. international oils, shed 12 cents to 51.22 per a net basis on Thursday, according have pointed to the fact that some sectors may travel and business curbs threaten to eigh onInvestors have been encouraged by the barrel in London. It rose 9 cents the previous to provisional exchange be running out of steam after the festival and global economic activity.development of coronavirus vaccines but that session to 51.29 a barrel.The dollar declined to data.Brent crude futures, the pent-up demand push. Still, other sectors have The stimulus balloon will allow the markets to optimism has been dented by the discovery of 103.55 yen from Friday's 103.68 yen. The euro global oil benchmark, fell 0.43 held up, and offer hope. navigate better the number of new air pockets the new, more contagious variant. rose to 1.2216 from 1.2180. per cent to USD 51.07 per barrel. While the low base will lead to a significant improvement in the numbers next year, experts call for a close vigil as several risks lurk along the path to recovery. First, the fresh wave of infections and lockdowns in the UK Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2020-21 series IX: and Europe as well as the US do not augur well for the country’s exports, which had shown some signs of getting back on Here's your chance to buy gold at great prices today track.The building of inflationary pressures also poses a significant risk and will act as an The tenor of the Bond will be for a Ltd (IBJA)] for gold of 999 purity of Who can buy Sovereign Gold Bond obstacle for the Reserve Bank of India’s the last three business days of the Scheme?The Bonds will be efforts to help boost growth by cutting interest period of 8 years with exit option week preceding the subscription restricted for sale to resident rates. Further, the high fiscal deficit is a after 5th year to be exercised on period, i.e. December 22 - 24, 2020 individuals, HUFs, Trusts, significant challenge, although some experts works out to Rs 5,000 (Rupees five Universities and Charitable reckon that the target should be relaxed to the interest payment dates. thousand only) per gram of gold. Institutions.What will be the tenor provide the government headroom to help The sovereign gold bond scheme was of the Sovereign Gold Bond with a bounce-back.The engines for the launched in November 2015 with an Scheme?The tenor of the Bond will revival will be in the farm sector as well as in New Delhi: The Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2020-21 series IX opened for objective to reduce the demand for be for a period of 8 years with exit manufacturing and construction. physical gold and shift a part of the option after 5th year to be exercised Additionally, the raft of reform measures subscription on Monday (December 28, 2020), and closes on Friday (January 01, domestic savings, used for the on the interest payment dates. unleashed by the government will help boost purchase of gold, into financial What is the investment limit of the the economy, with the infrastructure sector 2021). The issue price for the Bond will be fixed in savings. The RBI issued 10 tranches Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme? attracting fresh interest from overseas funds. of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) for The production-linked incentive schemes to Indian Rupees on the basis of simple average Minimum permissible investment of closing price of gold of 999 purity, an aggregate amount of Rs 2,316.37 will be 1 gram of gold. The boost ‘Make in India’ products have drawn crore (6.13 tonnes) during 2019-20. interest from investors and should act as a published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Bank on behalf of Government of India. maximum limit of subscribed shall growth enabler.The Budget, to be unveiled in Association Limited for the last 3 working Here’s all you need to know about your How will the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme be be 4 KG for individual, 4 Kg for HUF and 20 February, is also likely to have more steps to days of the week preceding the subscription eligibility, how to apply for the Sovereign sold?The bonds will be sold through Kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal help sustain the momentum and aid recovery. period. The issue price of the Gold Bonds Gold Bond Scheme. scheduled commercial banks (except Small (April-March) notified by the Government Already, the finance minister has promised a will be Rs 50 per gram less for those who Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme are government Finance Banks and Payment Banks), Stock from time to time. A self-declaration to this “Budget like never before”. Government subscribe online and pay through digital securities denominated in grams of gold. Holding Corporation of India Limited effect will be obtained. The annual ceiling spending has been key to aiding the rebound mode, RBI said. They are substitutes for holding physical (SHCIL), designated post offices, and will include bonds subscribed under and will be vital again in the 2021-22 fiscal The nominal value of the bond based on the gold. Investors have to pay the issue price in recognised stock exchanges viz., National different tranches during initial issuance by year. simple average closing price [published by cash and the bonds will be redeemed in cash Stock Exchange of India Limited and Government and those purchased from the the India Bullion and Jewellers Association on maturity. The Bond is issued by Reserve Bombay Stock Exchange Limited. Secondary Market. 3 New Delhi, Tuesday, 29 December, 2020 STATE THE SIKH TIMES

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given to Public at Large that the property described in Schedule herein below is owned by Smt. Sunita Nagi @ Sunita Negi, Shankar Sanskriti Pratishthan marks }xrd Birth Anniversary of W/o. Sh. Anand Singh Negi, R/o. A- 632, Jahangir Puri, Delhi-110033, which was purchased from Sh. Laureate with a Lecture on Education, Culture and Samskara Naresh Kumar, S/o. Sh. Mame Parkash by General Power of NEW dELH: On the occasion of the }xrd Birth Mahashweta Maharathi, the Secretary of Rajgir Mahashweta Maharathi talked about recognizing Attorney, Agreement to Sell & Anniversary of noted Parliamentarian and Buddha Bihar Society; Dr. Bal Ram Singh, the value of traditional education in India, that Purchase, Deed of Will. Possession Letter, Receipt and Laureate Dr. Shankar Dayal Singh, the Shankar Professor, Institute of Advanced Sciences at goes beyond just academics. From crafts, hand- Affidavit all dated 25.11.2011 and Sanskriti Pratishthan hosted a webinar on the Dartmouth, USA. Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha stressed looms and sculptors notarized on 25.11.2011 and stamp papers had been purchased from topic of Education, Culture and Samskara in his on the necessity for online education to e&pand in to traditional arti- NAME CHANGE Stamp Agent Naresh Kumar L. No. memory. The programÓs Chief Guest, Shri India if we are to successfully educate the huge sans, India has a I, GAYATRI SHANKAR alias GAY- 540, Near SR-VI, Pitampura on Manish Sisodia, HonÓble Deputy Chief Minister huge talent pool ATRI NEELAKANTAN W/O 01.11.2011 and 11.11.2011 vide PALAMANERI SIVASUBRAH- serial No. 75/30 and 75/31. Further of Delhi who also holds the Education portfolio that currently MANYA NEELAKANTAN R/O the General Power of Attorney recalled his first meeting with Dr. Singh at the remains untapped dated 25.11.2011 is missing and a 7533 D-7, VASANT KUNJ, NEW NCR report already lodge in this Rajbhasa Committee, when Dr Singh was a cele- and must be made DELHI-110070 hereby state that I regard. My above client has appre- brated writer and politician, while Mr Sisodia an essential element am known as GAYATRI hension that her husband Sh. SHANKAR and GAYATRI NEE- Anand Singh Negi or some other was a new entrant in journalism. He remarked of when we talk LAKANTAN and henceforth I shall person may misuse the aforesaid what a coincidence it was that today he was par- about education. Dr. be known and called as GAYATRI missing General Power of Attorney SHANKAR NEELAKANTAN. dated 25.11.2011 and may sold the ticipating in a program hosted in the memory of Bal Ram Singh also Scheduled Property without the Dr. Singh, now as a politician himself. In his noted the historic consent and knowledge of my client address, Shri Manish Sisodia stressed the need significance of India NAME CHANGE by forging Her signature. It is here- by inform that any person who for policy measures that inculcate emotional and its place in the I, Madhur N. Trivedi S/o Nirbhay deals with the husband of my client capabilities of students in the initial years and world, stressing Kumar G. Trivedi R/O B-6/6. Sh. Anand Singh Negi or with any create an entrepreneurial mindset in high upon the need for Safdarjung Enclave Extension Delhi- other person with respect to the 110029 Have Changed My Name scheduled property for its purchase school. He stressed that just the skilling of stu- more mainstream- from Madhur N. Trivedi to Madhur without the consent and knowledge of my client, then the said deal shall dents was not enough for nation building, and ing of traditional Trivedi for all future Purpose. be considered as null and void and that the model in Delhi built around the Indian knowledge same shall not be, binding upon my Happiness Curriculum, the Entrepreneurial population that India has. He noted that even like ayurveda and client Sunita Nagi @Sunita Negi in NAME CHANGE any manner. SCHEDULE ABOVE Mindset Curriculum and the Deshbhakti though in-person education has a lot of advan- yoga. Shankar I, GAYATRI SHANKAR alias GAY- REFERRED TO All Piece & Parcel Curriculum needs to be studied and adopted on a tages, there is a lack of qualified and trained teach- Sanskriti ATRI NEELAKANTAN W/O of First Floor, Admeasuring 21 sq. greater scale for the nationÓs students to reach ers especially in rural India and in government Pratishthan also PALAMANERI SIVASUBRAH- yards, part of Property No. A-1500. MANYA NEELAKANTAN R/O Jahangir Puri, Delhi-110033 within unto their true potential in building their own run schools. The best way to ensure quality edu- congratulated Shri the limits of Sub Registrar-VI A, 7533 D-7, VASANT KUNJ, NEW New Delhi. career and in building the nation. The other pan- cation in such circumstances might then be to Ranjit Singh Disale, DELHI-110070 have changed my Vijender Pal Singh elists in the program included Dr. Pramath Raj focus on delivering quality education using tech- the recent recipient name and I shall hereinafter be (Advocate) Sinha, the Chairman of Harappa Education; Dr. nology to all the schools in the nation. Dr. of Global known as GAYATRI SHANKAR Ch No-766-767 Western wing NEELAKANTAN Tis Hazari Courts Delhi -110054 THE SIKH TIMES DELHI/NCR New Delhi, Tuesday, 29 December, 2020 4 NEWS BOX Ahead of New Year’s Eve, traffic Crores in their coffers, these Manesar villages are so advisory out Gurgaon/Rewari: With many people from Delhi and Gurgaon rich they don’t want civic bodies to take over planning to go to Jaipur, Alwar, Udaipur and Chandigarh to celebrate the new year, Haryana Gurgaon:AMercedes zooms past, followed by a Gurgaon (MCG) when it is expanded. lot. Here, we can knock on the doors of the and Rajasthan police have issued a group of youths on three Bullet Thunderbirds. But villagers here are happy to be governed by “What is the need for a corporation? The sarpanch even at midnight if there is a problem. traffic advisory following the The roads are not highways, but as smooth as the local panchayat. There is no dearth of funds, panchayat here has a lot of money and acres of If our village is taken over by the corporation, blockade of NH-48 by agitating cheesecake. A row of houses, with acres of which ensures that the civic grievances are land under it. Now, if the village is taken over we will have to rush to the civic office for even farmers. backyard in each, would do any city locality mostly addressed. The panchayats of these by the corporation, the entire deposits will be the smallest of problems. Also, we will have to More than 6,000 vehicles ply on NH- proud. Clad in funky tees and jeans, a few villages are “rich” and have crores in their transferred to it. Will the corporation ensure depend on the whims of officials to get our 48 between Delhi and Jaipur. Five youths huddle over cups of tea. The school coffers. The residents, too, are better off. more development than the panchayat has done work done,” says Hari Ram (64).One of the points — Kapdiwas border, building seems to have had a fresh coat of paint. But how did these villages become rich? Most of for us for years,” asks 70-year-old Dayanand major concerns of most villagers is how they Dharuhera flyover, Masani bridge, A few metres ahead, a board says “welcome to the money is from the compensation for land Numberdar.Numberdar, who is well aware of would approach any civic official and explain NH-71 cut and Kasola Chowk — panchayat area”. Naurangpur could competeacquired by the government for developing the village records and holds a BSc degree from the problem to him or her. “For us, the sarpanch have been identified to divert with any modern Indian town in terms of roads and other infrastructure or private Panjab University, says Naurangpur got Rs 65 is more approachable than any other official. If traffic towards Alwar, Bhiwadi amenities. The village is set to come under the builders who want to set up realty projects. As crore after land was acquired for building our village is taken over by the corporation, we and Jaipur in Rajasthan, a senior new municipal corporation of Manesar — aGurgaon has expanded with the rise in sectoral roads at the rate of Rs 7.5 crore per will have a councillor or chairman. An illiterate Haryana police official said. move that would guarantee its residents “muchpopulation, private companies and the acre. The villagers chose to spend a part of the man feels comfortable discussing issues with Signages have been put up at the better civic amenities” — but none of them are government itself have invested in these amount on repairing internal roads and the sarpanch. But there will always be points and traffic personnel happy. The nearby villages of Shikohpur, improving sanitation. Naurangpur, he says, has hesitation if he has to explain the same problem deployed too. villages. And since these villages are in the Bajghera and Palra will also be covered by thevicinity of Manesar, one of the largest no scarcity of water and the panchayat ensures to a civic official,” says 43-year-old Sundar, a Those wanting to go to Chandigarh corporations of Gurgaon or Manesar, but the no waste is left unattended along the road. The farmer who cultivates mustard, wheat and bajra from Delhi have been advised to automobile hubs in the country, several decision hardly seems to excite the people ancillary units have also come up here. village, however, lacks a sewerage system. on his three acres.Like Shikohpur, Palra is take the Farrukhnagar-Jhajjar- living there.“No, we don’t want our village to another rich village. Palra had hit the headlines Rohtak-Panipat route, added the Naurangpur, one of Gurgaon’s richest villages Barely 5km away is Shikohpur, the richest of come under any municipal corporation. We with a population of 2,500 (Census 2011), has a villages to be acquired by the corporations. The when it had donated Rs 21 crore to the chief official.From the Jaipur side, there minister’s Covid relief fund. The contribution will be diversions from five points have opposed the move since we came to know fixed deposit of Rs 53 crore. It got the money as village, which has more than Rs 123 crore in its towards Gurgaon or Delhi. These about it. But I don’t think we can do much since compensation when the government acquired account, got the money after private developers so far is among the highest, even more than will be in place at Shapura-Alwar it’s an administrative decision,” says 60-year- land to build sectoral roads.For years, the acquired land to build realty projects. A some of the big corporate houses in the country. tri-junction, Bansoor cut near old Mangat Ram in Naurangpur. A group of 60 villagers have approached the pradhan majority of the residents built shops or According to records, Palra has Rs 15.6 crore in Kotputli, Paniala, Jagoowas people sitting around him nod in agreement. whenever they landed in any trouble. Be it civic established other businesses — leaving the area its fixed deposit. Chowk and Ghiloth Road in Naurangpur is among 23 villages that will be grievances or the need for money, the village with only 30% farmland. As highrises came up Munesh Devi, the village head, says they got a Shahjahanpur, a senior official of taken over by the new corporation at Manesar,head has always been the helping hand, Now around Shikohpur, the need for shops and other huge compensation from the government when Rajasthan police said.Farmers now that the state cabinet has approved the that Naurangpur is set to be taken over by a businesses grew.Here, the villagers are worried Sector 70A was carved out of land from Palra. have been protesting against the proposal. Apart from these, 16 villages willcivic corporation, the villagers are a worried they will have to pay tax for almost every civic The village has a population of 2,786, farm laws on the Delhi-Jaipur come under the Municipal Corporation of service if it is taken over. “We are not used to it. according to the 2011 census. highway at Jaisinghpur Khera, the Haryana-Rajasthan border, since December 13. and then only the Sweaters, shoes and lane from Jaipur-Delhi was closed. Residents seek ‘wetland’ tag for Jhajjar village shawls: How help is pouring The agitation intensified on Friday, Jhajjar: Residents have demanded a species. The tree cover is primarily when about a thousand protesting ‘wetland’ status for a Jhajjar provided by Acacia and small shrubs. in from all quarters farmers marched from village, where around 150 species In addition, this wetland has rich reed Maharashtra via Rajasthan Ghaziabad: Sweaters, blankets, shawls, shoes and towards Haryana, after which of migratory birds have been beds of Typha, Phragmites and water spotted recently. The nearly 1,000- hyacinth. It is a destination within the even washing machines… help is pouring in from police closed both carriageways of all quarters for the farmers protesting at UP Gate. At NH-48, including the service lane. acre wetland is located in Mandothi Central Asian flyway which is one of village and was discovered by the major migration routes for birds a time the mercury levels are competing with each This resulted in long tailbacks in other every night to take the plunge, businessmen, Rewari and Alwar districts. birders recently. flying from Europe, Central Asia to the The area has been attracting so many Indian subcontinent during winter. It is NGOs and even students have come forward with birds every year that the residents located on a larger wetland complex warm clothes and other such protective gear.These Probe shoddy have raised the demand for a comprising Najafgarh (Sahibi river apart, about 350 water- and air-proof tents are being wetland status because they fear basin) and Sultanpur National Park set up along the Ghaziabad-Delhi lanes of the Delhi- beautification work encroachments due to gradual along with wetlands in Jhajjar district Meerut Expressway for the farmers to spend the urbanisation. (Dhigal village) and wetland in chilly nights free of cost. All they would need is just in park, say At present, a new road is being Mandothi village (Jhajjar), which a phone number and a photo ID card to get access to constructed that will connect the bird enthusiast. together is a part of the large ecosystem the tents.A small group of businessmen from residents village with the Delhi-Rohtak road. “We are Another resident, Sachin Dalal, said, “We want for migratory birds.“It is a very important Udham Singh Nagar, who helped fund the tents, said Gurgaon: Residents of Sector 10A witnessing more than 150 species of the government to protect this area and ensure ornithological hotspot in NCR. It has become they came up with the idea after learning that a have raised concerns over migratory birds every year. This is crucial for that this marshland gets wetland recognition one of the new birding sites in NCR in the past number of farmers had not been allowed by police to “shoddy” work carried out by the us and we have been protecting the area over before it gets disturbed by development four years. It attracts birds of various bring along their belongings. The tents are equipped contractor for the beautification of the years. This is all private land which projects.” categories as the habitat consists of reeds, Rao Tula Ram Park in the sector. belongs to our village. This land is in a low According to birdwatchers of the Delhi Bird swamps, trees, grassland which makes it ideal They have demanded a probe to lying area and thus it is covered under water Society, this wetland comprises an integrated for ducks, warblers and other bird species,” ascertain the construction quality for the majority part of the year,” Sonu Dalal, network of scrub land, fallow and reeds, said Panjak Gupta, a birder from the Delhi and sought the completion of a resident of Mandothi village, who is also a flooded zones that support a variety of bird Bird Society. pending work in the park. The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) had sanctioned Fire at Maruti showroom, Noida’s water table fell Rs 26 lakh for the development 17 metres since 2016 and beautification of the park, 26 cars damaged which is spread across two acres, Noida: The water table in Noida has depleted by around and the tender was allotted about showroom — were completely 17 metres since 2016. A government report has revealed two years ago. The contractor, destroyed. Twenty-six cars were that the level of groundwater has slid from 9.9 metres in however, didn’t complete the damaged, an official said, adding that 2016 to 26.7 metres this year. Greater Noida, in work, residents alleged. the firm sufered a loss of over Rs 1 comparison, is better off. The water table here has with phone chargers, mattresses and blankets and According to residents, the crore.“We have saved 150 cars in the depleted by around 6 metres. can withstand all types of weather.Not just locally, contractor also compromised with showroom. At the time of the incident, the farmers’ groups have also been getting help from the quality of construction by some employees were inside the Officials said increasing population, industrial demands their NRI relatives and friends. and rapid urbanisation have taken a toll on extraction of using substandard materials. As a showroom,” he added.An employee Baljeet Singh Sandhu, a farmer from Jalandhar, said a result, the stones used in the walls said the fire broke out at the second groundwater. During the survey, it was found that number of his friends were eager to provide funds are falling off at several places and floor. “Documents kept on the second multiple spots have gone “dry” in Noida, which means and ensure that those camping at the protest sites did the tiles used in the footpaths have floor have been damaged,” he added.In the water table is below the testing limits here. The not face any problem. “We have so far brought 500 cracked, they said.Residents also a similar incident last week, a blaze was average depletion rate in both cities has been around blankets, 700 shawls and over 800 pairs of shoes and pointed out that many fences are Ghaziabad: A massive fire broke out at a reported from a paint manufacturing 1.5m every year.The falling water table suggests that slippers. A lot of people here are struggling without damaged, landscaping work has car showroom at 10am near Delhi Public factory in an industrial area on Meerut water is being extracted at a much faster rate than it is School on Meerut Road on Sunday, them,” Sandhu told TOI.Several other organisations been left incomplete, and the gate road. Though no causality was reported, being recharged. Wetlands and ponds, which play a are not only providing medicines, winter clothes and has not been renovated well. They police said.The cops added that there goods worth lakhs were crucial role in recharging the water table, are mostly also alleged that the MCG were no injuries in the incident. The fire gutted.According to the fire officers, it blankets, but also asking farmers to register their officials didn’t supervise the work department took over an hour to control took eight fire tenders to douse the polluted and open grounds have given way to concrete requirement at their counters so that they can being carried out in the park. the situation, but four cars were flames that started around 2pm. jungles, causing more extraction of groundwater. arrange for the items within 24 hours.Rajat Cheema Udayvir Singh Yadav, the president completely burnt.The fire department Hundreds of drums filled with thinner “In comparison, Greater Noida is better off. The main from Bilaspur in Uttarakhand, who is a member of of Sector 10A RWA, said, suspect short circuit to be the reason were kept at the factory and a blast reason for the drop in water table is the increasing the Naujawan Kisan Sahayata Kendra, an “Neither MCG officials nor the behind the blaze. Chief fire officer occurred after the fire surrounded the population, which has automatically created a pressure organisation of students of Panjab University, said, contractor informed us or (CFO) Sunil Kumar Singh said three fire drums and they exploded one after on the water demand. Secondly, infrastructure “We have decided to help the farmers in every way. provided any specification while tenders from several areas were initially another.Officers said the flames were development, construction and industrial growth have Any farmer can tell us about their requirement and the beautification project was sent to the Maruti Suzuki showrrom. “It more than 20-metre-high which could be added to this pressure. The amount of rain is also going we will try to fulfil them. We have been working at underway.” took a total of 10 fire tenders an hour to seen from around a kilometre. Even the down over the years,” said Dev Sharma, an engineer the Tikri border for the past 22 days and have come douse the flame,” he saidThe firemen employees of the factory didn't dare to with the groundwater department. here from there. We are also providing medicines for Woman on way to said four cars — parked in the car douse it when it started. common ailments.” market molested, hit with weapon Gurgaon: A 19-year-old woman was Protesters clang utensils allegedly molested by two unidentified men on Sunday evening when she was headed alone to a vegetable market near her house.In her complaint, the woman said she was headed during Mann ki Baat towards Ravi Nagar mandi when the two men started following her. Gurgaon/Ghaziabad: Farmers protesting at protesting for more than a month, it was the She told them to leave her alone, various places across NCR clanged utensils, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) that brought but they persisted. At one point, she alleged, they touched her clapped their hands and rang bells to register out a similar march against Mann ki Baat. inappropriately. their protest against the last edition of Prime “The PM did not utter a single word about “When she resisted them, they Minister’s Mann ki Baat this year. In farmers but spoke about saving dogs and injured her face with a sharp Gurgaon, members of the Sanyukt Kisan stray animals from the biting cold. He also weapon,” said a police officer in Morcha took out a march through Sadar expressed happiness that lions, tigers and the know of the matter.When the Bazar and urged shop owners to switch off leopards had increased in numbers. He woman shouted for help, the men fled. She then informed her family their TV and radio sets as the PM’s address even spoke about bringing changes to the members about the incident and to the nation continued. toys that kids play with and from where later complained to police. “We had gathered at Kaman Sarai Chowk they can get them. He was all praise for an A case has been registered under IPC early morning. The support we got was more elderly writer working on the computer. sections 323 and 354-A accounting than what we had expected as people from Farmers kept waiting till the end. But there to voluntarily causing hurt and different walks of life showed willingness to was not a single word on their plight or sexual harassment at the Sector 9A boycott the PM’s address to the nation. We demands,” said Rakesh Tikait, the BKU police station.Police said they are still trying to ascertain the identity carried out a march and our supporters national spokesperson. of the accused.The incident has clanged utensils, rang bells, and raised anti- Tikait also confirmed that talks with the again hihlighted concerns about government slogans. Many shopkeepers government on December 29 would start women safety in the city. In also backed us by choosing not to watch or with the issue of repealing the three laws. October, a woman had been listen to the PM’s address,” said Santokh Later in the day, farmer leader VM Singh allegedly harassed and threatened Singh, a senior member of the Morcha in stressed on the need for a bill on the by two men on her way back from office near New Colony. The Gurgaon. minimum support price that would nullify accused had tried to grab her hand The farmers said that until the central the contentious farm laws, they would PM is scheduled to address the nation. all the three laws and help farmers get their and when she tried to free herself. government addressed their concerns over continue to boycott all such events where the At UP Gate, where farmers have been dues. THE SIKH TIMES DELHI-NCR New Delhi, Tuesday, 29 December, 2020 5 NEWS BOX Bihar Wins Award For Its Financial Aid Initiative Top IPS officers trade charges in Rs 620 crore During Covid Pandemic Bengaluru Safe City project tender process Patna: The Bihar government's initiative to transfer financial assistance directly to the "Consultancy Services" tender.4) But as accounts of beneficiaries during the COVID- IPS officer D Roopa alleged that per Rule 28H of KTPP rules, only for 19 pandemic has made its departments the Bengaluru Safe City project "Consultancy Services" QCBS - Quality winners of the Digital India Awards, tender was not held in the right cum Cost Based Selection - method can be instituted by the central government, this used. It is not permitted to be used for this year for innovative steps in e-governance, an manner and was biased. tender. Hence the KTPP rules violated by official statement said on Sunday. Meanwhile, Hemanth Nimbalkar tender.5) Rule 28H of KTPP prescribe that More than 21 lakh stranded workers outside a standard bid document must be used. But rubbished the allegation and neither KW4 nor KW5 standard bid Bihar were provided financial assistance documents were used. through the "Bihar Sahayata Mobile App". accused her of impersonating the 'Endless violations' The Chief Minister Secretariat, the Disaster state's home secretary. Roopa said the violations under the KTPP Management Department besides the Act with regards to the particular tender are National Informatics Centre (NIC) of the Bengaluru IGP admin Hemanth Nimbalkar endless. “These irregularities make it all state have jointly been chosen as winners in on Sunday rubbished the allegations that he the more necessary to investigate into the the "pandemic category" Digital India favoured one company in the tender process role of Mr Hemant Nimbalkar IPS, the Awards 2020, the statement said. for the Bengaluru Safe City project, chairman of the tender inviting committee President Ram Nath Kovind will give away the envisaged earlier to make the city safer for and tender scrutiny committee, who has Digital India Awards to winners on women and children by installing over 7,000 favoured or had biases in the tender, I've but minimum turnover fixed is Rs 250 been misguiding the higher authorities in December 30 in New Delhi.The Digital India CCTV cameras.IPS officer (PCAS) D kept the facts on record. The tender is crores. Even with the latest amendment, the the government,” she said. Awards, instituted under the aegis of the Roopa alleged that the tender was not held in happening in the most transparent manner,” minimum requirement is 100 per cent of On December 7, Nimbalkar had written to the the right manner and was biased. Nimbalkar said.After Nimbalkar’s press tender value or amount payable in the first Chief Secretary of the state asking for an National Portal of India, serve the purpose of Meanwhile, Hemanth Nimbalkar rubbished bringing to the fore innovative digital conference, D Roopa issued a counter year. Even that is about Rs 500 crores. So, it inquiry after D Roopa allegedly the allegations and accused Roopa of statement. "Mr Hemant Nimbalkar IPS, is a clear cut violation of the direction of the impersonated the state Home Secretary and solutions and thereby inspiring emulation by impersonating the state's home secretary to all government entities. Chairman of Nirbhaya Tender Inviting Finance Dept.2) BEL is the ‘Navratna’ that asked for classified information regarding obtain crucial details about the Rs 620 crore Committee and chairman of tender scrutiny has expertise in this work as floated in tender the tender of Rs 620 crore Bangalore Safe project.Nimbalkar said call one and call two Committee held a press conference today on (installation of CCTV). It has repeatedly City project.D Roopa also wrote the chief Telangana gets a fully for the tender had taken place and Bharat 27.12.20 and again gave wrong facts and complained that this is done to favour secretary stating her version of the event. Electronics Limited (BEL) was a part of misinformation, misleading the individual particular vendors. It has brought Roopa rubbished Nimbalkar’s charges and functional Women’s both bids, but due to the orders from the government, press and public,” she said.She out how the vendor that was favoured was said she is the home secretary and was Centre and Karnataka government, the noted several irregularities in the tender giving Chinese cameras that is unsafe for looking into the irregularities in the tender. Commission after 2.5 tender was cancelled as the order was about process. Some of the points she raised have security.3) Further, as per Rule 3 of Rajneesh Goel, additional chief secretary not procuring Chinese items."A fresh tender been mentioned below:1) As per the Finance Karnataka Transparency in Public (home dept) wrote to D Roopa asking her to years has been floated an will end on January 8. Dept’s standard bid document KW4 for such Procurement (herein referred to as KTPP) submit a copy of govt order or any We will know on January 8 who all have tenders, the minimum annual turnover of rules, this tender is "Supply of goods and instructions if responsibilities of applied for the tender. This is an inter-dept biddee must be 2-times the value of the services" tender because it is about CCTV implementing the Bengaluru Safe City Hyderabad Former minister Vakiti Sunitha project. I've seen on social media that I Lakshma Reddy was appointed as tender. Here tender value is Rs 620 crores procurement and installation. This is NOT a Project had been entrusted to her. chairperson of the Telangana state women’s commission, nearly two and a half years Shopping centres won’t after the post fell vacant. The women’s commission also got six new members who Karnataka’s first ‘rice ATM’ to soon be sealed over will hold office till 2025.Sunitha Lakshma Reddy was the minister for women and child conversion fee: SDMC welfare in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh come up in a Bengaluru slum government. An MLA from Narsapur New Delhi After complaints that assembly segment in Medak district, she Bengaluru Karnataka’s first rice dispensing (APL) family members get rice for Rs 15 per traders at local shopping joined the ruling TRS party in April 2019. machine or ‘rice ATM’ will come up in one of kg. Under Anna Bhagya scheme, ration centres (LSCs) were being sent And the new members are Shaheena Afroze, the slum areas in Bengaluru in the next few cardholders also get edible oils, sugar, sealing notices by civic body Kumara Eshwari Bai, Kommu Umadevi months, state Minister for Food and Civil iodized salt, kerosene and other items at a officials, the standing Yadav, Gaddala Padma, Sudham Lakshmi, Supplies K Gopalaiah said. Announced in lower price.“We will identify a slum with a committee of the South Delhi and Katari Revathi Rao. September, the initiative is part of the Centre’s large number of people and install it. It will Municipal Corporation passed A fully functional women’s commission has pilot project ‘Annapurti’, that is being very useful for the poor people since it will a resolution that LSCs and been a longstanding demand of several implemented in close partnership with the remain open 24X7 with rice availability, and shops that are under its women’s groups in the last couple of years. United Nation’s World Food Programme people can make use of it accordingly and jurisdiction will not be sealed (WFP). will potentially do away with the need to wait over non-payment of Activist Spurthi Kolipaka, who has been conversion charges.Leader of mobilising support for the cause, hailed the The WEP, which won the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, in long queues in front of ration shops,” Gopalaiah said.The minister said that Rice the House Narendra Chawla state government’s decision.She tweeted: has been working closely with the Government said there were complaints that “My timeline is filled with cheer! in carrying out reforms in the Public Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. These ATMs will be beneficial for BPL carholders, who don’t find time to go to the PDS centre people who had purchased Congratulations to all of us who put up this Distribution System (PDS).Gopalaiah told machines, expected to check malpractices in the shops under a commercial fight of almost 30 months! Extremely indianexpress.com: “We have appointed an PDS, can dispense two commodities at a speed during working hours.“As per the initial project report, the rice-dispensing machines will come arrangement were being sent grateful for the journey, community, officer to look after this programme and follow of 25 kg per 1.3 minutes. Each of these notices over non-payment of learnings, relationships. My State seems up with the centre and WFP to set up the Rice dispensers has a built-in storage capacity of 200- in different sizes from 100 kg to 500 kg capacity. conversion charges. “The civic pretty hopeful now <3 <3” ATM. In another few months, the ATM will be 500 kg. The person who needs rice should insert a coin body passed the resolution so Tripurana Venkataratnam, who headed the ready and the first rice-dispensing machine will in the machine and a certain quantity of rice will there is no fear of sealing in The Karnataka government has been providing 5 be dispensed,” the minister explained. Commission, had demitted office in July be set up in one of the slum areas in kg of rice per month under Anna Bhagya scheme their minds,” he said.Property 2018. A PIL was filed in the Telangana High Bengaluru.”Automatic grain dispensing to every member of a Below Poverty Line (BPL) To make Rice ATM’s convenient for public usage, owners have to pay conversion Court by social activist R Ramya Rao machines will also be set up at five locations household since 2013, and Above Poverty Level the government is also considering a smart card charges to MCDs if the status of seeking directions to the government for the across five states Karnataka, Uttarakhand, or a biometric system similar to bank ATMs. the area in which they are appointment of the Chairperson to the located changes from Commission. The high court on December 2 residential to commercial. had directed the state government to appoint There are 56 commercial the Chairperson before December 31. Street vendor scheme a hit, govt shopping centres in South Delhi with hundreds of shops.Vishal Ohri, general Cotton procurement: secretary of LSCs Federation of Delhi, said, “Several local Harsimrat Kaur Badal plans next phase: Digital payments shopping centre owners have got notices that their properties New Delhi Starting New Year, over a million said.Launched by Prime Minister Narendra would be sealed if they do not seeks PM’s intervention pay conversion and parking street vendors across India will accept and make Modi for street vendors as they were among the charges.” Chandigarh Former Union minister payments digitally, having come on board for hardest hit by the lockdown, the PMSVANidhi the ‘Main Bhi Digital (me too digital)’ drive scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban This despite an amendment by Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Sunday said the the Delhi Development apprehensions of farmers were already designed by the Centre for them. Affairs entitles them to Rs 10,000 interest-free Authority in the 2021 Master coming true in Punjab with “the Cotton The drive has been prompted by the success of the loan as working capital to restart their Plan which states that local and Corporation of India (CCI) putting daily Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar businesses. Government data show that around commercial shopping centres, ceilings on procurement of cotton and Nidhi (PMSVANidhi) scheme, launched in the 46 per cent of the street vendors who have as well as shop plots, that are in effecting a four times reduction in its wake of the Covid-19 lockdown, to provide applied for the loan so far are fruit and vegetable the commercial use category purchase”. vendors microcredit. As part of the new drive, sellers, while some 21 per cent sell fast food. are not liable to pay conversion betweenJanuary 4 and 22, over 10 lakh street not just receive payments digitally but also pay Over 41 per cent are women. and parking charges, he vendors across the country who have availed of for material they procure from sellers using Encouraged by the response to PMSVANidhi, the said.President of the the Rs 10,000 loan will be trained in using unique QR codes. The mobile phones of the government has also launched its first-ever association Rajesh Goyal digital payments.As per official data, 12 lakh vendors will be equipped with the software official socio-economic survey of vendors, to pointed out that the notices also street vendors have already availed of the loan needed for the transactions, and training bring them under schemes such as the Pradhan mention paying for floor area while the total number of applicants has crossed provided to them on safe and secure Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan ratio for excess coverage to get 30 lakh — or half the estimated number of street payments.Available data show that only 20 per Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Jan-Dhan their buildings regularised. vendors. Over 16.65 lakh applications have cent of the beneficiaries are digitally enabled. Yojana, Building and Other Construction “While owners are ready to pay, already been sanctioned by partner banks. Even among those who accept payments Workers Act, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi they (MCD) are not ready to Officials underlined that the unique aspect of the digitally, not all use digital payments to Maandhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Matri accept it unless we pay new drive was that the vendors would be able to purchase material,” a senior official VandanaYojana, and others. conversion charges as well,” he said. Asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take note of the actions of CCI, Harsimrat said “even though you have given repeated statements about the continuance of minimum support price (MSP), your Panchkula Municipal Election: 54% inability to specify anything regarding assured government purchase at MSP is already having an adverse effect on government departments”. She added, “It is unfortunate that the CCI is not turn out to vote, counting on Dec 30 ready to procure lint as per even last year’s schedule and is throwing cotton farmers to Panchkula PANCHKULA’S DECISION stand around 50 per cent for urban and 60 per personalities who cast their votes on the mercy of private players by announcing a was sealed on Sunday, with an average of 54 cent for rural.Even though the last one hour Sunday.As many as 89 candidates, daily purchase ceiling of 12,500 quintals per cent voter turnout recorded in the high- of polling had been reserved for Covid including six for the mayoral post and 83 against a daily arrival of 50,000 quintals of stakes Panchkula Municipal Corporation positive patients, no patients came forward for councillor posts, have contested the cotton in mandis across seven districts in election. More than one lakh people out of a to vote, informed Returning officer and elections. The polls are expected to remain Punjab.”Harsimrat said “a clear-cut total 1.8 lakh voters exercised their right to ADC Mohammed Raza.As per official data, a direct contest between the BJP-JJP directive needs to be issued by you choose the councillors and mayor in the first the highest number of votes were polled in alliance and the Congress party, which is guaranteeing government procurement of all direct elections.The voting percentage ward 20 with 84 per cent voter turnout, hoping to make a comeback in the city. agricultural products listed under the MSP recorded remained low as compared to the followed by ward 16 with 78 per cent voter Despite the state election commission system”This is the need of the hour as even a last MC elections held in 2013 where the turnout, ward 19 with 76 per cent voter making special arrangements in view of government department like CCI, which has voter turnout had stood at 64.01 per cent. turnout, ward 1 with 65 per cent voter Covid-19 pandemic, several booths, a mandate to procure cotton at MSP, is The polling across 275 booths remained turnout, and ward 8 with 64 per cent voter candidate for BJP also seemed confident of especially in the rura areas were spotted abdicating its responsibility. If CCI can do peaceful with no cases of any disruption turnout.Even though special arrangementsthe win. “The rural population has voted in flouting norms.The counting of votes will this, what can farmers expect from private reported.Staying true to the voting trends of were in place, political parties speculatehigh numbers. There is no way this is a win done on December 30, following which the players?” stated Harsimrat while asking the the district, rural Panchkula recorded a Covid-19 may have kept voters inside for Congress,” he said.Main contenders results will be declared.Two people carrying Prime Minister to bring in simultaneous better turnout than urban, which led the homes.“The fear of spread of Covid as well from both the parties were spotted visiting 92 bottles of English liquor were nabbed by legislation making it mandatory for private average to rise.The turnout remained slow as the voting day being amid the holiday polling booths throughout the day. Polling the Panchkula Police, during a checking players to procure farmer produce at rates since the morning, and even though numbers season may be the prime reason which kept agents were selected on proximity basis — raid, on Saturday.Police teams spotted the not less than the MSP.“All this is feasible but increased slowly around noon, no rush was the voters away,” said Upinder Kaur to booths near their homes — to ensure accused at different places carrying bottles for it to succeed the PM will have to cut out spotted at most polling booths. The voting Ahluwali, Mayoral candidate from thevoters see friendly faces on arriving.Union of liquor. The accused have been identified intermediaries who have messed up the percentage stood at a mere 35 per cent Congress party and former Mayor ofMinister Rattan Lal Kataria, Haryana as Sanjay, a resident of Ashiana Sector 20 around 2 pm. The remaining 20 per cent Panchkula. She has also expressed strongSpeaker, local MLA Gian Chand Gupta, and and Sushil Kumar, a resident Pir Muchchala farmer dialogue and interact with them votes were cast between 2 pm to 5.30 pm. confidence of her win with a huge margin in who were arrested by the team of police directly. former deputy chief minister Chander The average of voter turnout is expected to her favour.Kulbhushan Goyal, the MayoralMohan were among the prominent station Sector 20 Panchkula. THE SIKH TIMES EDITORIAL New Delhi, Tuesday, 29 December, 2020 6 Here’s what you need to know Dalip Tiwana, the voice, the words resonate IT is almost a year now since Dalip Kaur Tiwana society. But she did not limit her exploration of about childhood left us. This is a personal tragedy for all who knew We must endeavour to do justice to women’s and men’s lives to this dimension. She her, her friends and family with whom she shared was concerned with the whole person, male and her life. It is a measure of her achievement, and her work: to recognise the female, alone and in relationships. With what blindness and its her deep impact, that this loss is so felt even by makes for meaning and promise in life, and what those of us who knew her less, or even not at all. inequalities of our time, makes for disappointment and loss. And with that prevention For, she was known to us through her words, which can allow us to transcend our circumstances through the books that she wrote and the stories complexities of our lives, and and llow us to become more. she composed, the lives she wove into words and This is why this loss, the loss of this voice, is pages, and the voices and worlds she captured and embrace the beauty of Punjabi profound.And we must mark its passing. For those described. And through the ideas that she of us relatively new to Punjabi as a language and as presented before us, and forced us to consider. language, and the literature that literature, like myself, or for those for whom it is She was unlike many other writers, in that there was their language of birth, life and death — for all of not one voice, not one aspect of our complex and expresses it us, this is a passing that is a great loss. Her voice varied lives, that she made hers through the shall be missed dearly. telling. She wrote of women often, but We must recognise this loss for what it is, certainly not only. She wrote of the spirit, but and endeavour all the more to do justice also the trials and limitations of the body. Of to her work and her vision: to recognise the frailty of the human spirit, of cruelty and the inequalities of our time, the We often take our eyes for granted, not realising violence, and of the fragile possibility of hope. complexities of our lives, and — as ever they are the windows to the world. Any damage to She wrote of the Gurus and of their wives and — to embrace the beauty and complexity these vital organs — especially at a young age — mothers; she told a history of the Sikh tradition of the Punjabi language, and the literature can cause a lifetime of misery and dependence. through their eyes, words and deeds. She told that expresses it. “From the time of birth to early childhood and us of honour, of anger, of pride, and of I have chosen here to embrace the creative adolescence, eye care for children must be a generosity. And she wrote about families and spirit and diversity of voices that Dr special focus for families and paediatricians. Yet, individuals, and how each are riven to each Tiwana articulated through her works. I India has the dubious distinction of not only other, neither complete without the other. could write it in a different way: there are having the largest number of blind in the world, Those of you who know her work may recognise her accomplishments as Professor and but also possibly the largest number of blind some of the specific ones I have in mind, in former Dean (Faculty of Languages) at children with estimates ranging between 1.6 to 2 mentioning these features — although these Punjabi University, Patiala, and the many million,” Dr Smita Kapoor Grover, Consultant themes and more echo through many works. I awards she received, both at the Paediatric Ophthalmology, Vision Eye Centres, think of ‘Mata Dharti Mahatu’ (The Greatness university (such as her appointment as New Delhi, tellsDr Grover points out that corneal of the Mother Earth) of 2014, told from the UGC National Lecturer for a year) or clouding and scarring were considered to be the perspective of the women important to Guru beyond, such as the the Sahitya Akademi most common causes of childhood blindness in Gobind Singh. We see the meanings of Award in 1972 for ‘Eho Hamara Jeevna’, India. “Studies in the early 2000s concluded devotion, of what a woman’s position can the Nanak Singh Puruskar for her novel refractive errors constituted the biggest cause of mean, both in relation to a man and in her own ‘Peele Patian di Dastan’ in 1980 and childhood blindness, followed by retinal terms. There is ‘Katha Kaho Urvashi’ (Tell Us Gurmukh Singh Musafir Puruskar for her degenerations, corneal opacities, congenital eye a Tale, Urvashi), published in 1999, which autobiography ‘Nange Pairan da Safar’ in anomalies and amblyopia.” explores in depth the lives of individuals 1982. There is also the Shiromani It is to be noted at least 1/6th of the cases could have wedded together by blood as well as marriage, Sahitkar Award from the Punjab been prevented if causes such as vitamin A by birth and by choice. We live with them Government in 1987, and the Best deficiency were taken care of. The remaining through their trials and their failures, and Novelist of the Decade Award from cases of childhood blindness were found to through the terms of their transformation. PunjabiAcademy, Delhi, in 1994. happen because of congenital eye anomalies and retinal degeneration. “Research in the last few In these works, we do see continuing interest in There are more that could be added. The list suggests that globe abnormalities in terms of women's lives, so well known to readers in her of her works is too long to be included childhood blindness have been attributed to early works such as ‘Eho Hamara Jeevna’, here. I discuss a very small number of genetic mutations as well as usage of drugs and which Prof Harjant Gill in 1980 called “a these many works above. What is all the alcohol and exposure to pesticides or fertilizers creative exercise in women’s lib, or an more striking is Dr Tiwana’s position in anthropomorphic [sic] statement on feminine the first generation of modern Punjabi during pregnancy,” the doctor says. Feet) — explored her debts to the women of her family, Importance of vitamin A condition in the lower class peasantry of the Punjab, or writers moving out from the colonial era, through the an exploration in existential anthropology of this and her path to becoming a writer. These works in all trauma of Partition, and in and on to the present. She was Timely introduction of corrective glasses to their different forms retain an interest in women’s lives, children depending on the degree of severity can region”, or all three of these things at the same time a leader in so many ways.These are her achievements in perhaps. but not only in the sense of their experience of exclusion concrete terms, and these are significant. But what she go a long way in preventing blindness. Not only and violence — as real as that so often is. Dr Tiwana was that, nutritional blindness among children can be We also have her autobiographical works, the first of captured in language and in character, and idea: this is which — ‘Nange Pairan da Safar’ (A Journey on Bare absolutely clear in her interviews, as she was in her what will stay with me, for the rest of my life. prevented by properly administering vitamin A work, about the relative lack of power women have in doses according to their age. “Deficiency of Vitamin A can lead to a range of eye conditions: from xerophthalmia (incapacity to produce tears) to severe dryness of the cornea, and conjunctiva Keeping track of travellers and nyctalopia (night blindness) to keratomalacia (clouding and softening of the cornea), which can The detection of a new coronavirus strain in the new strain, which is more lead to corneal rupture and permanent blindness,” the United Kingdom has come with its transmissible, being drug-resistant, says Dr Grover. own set of challenges for India. It has led the government has clarified that it Deficiency of vitamin A can also lead to measles in to the cancellation of flights from that will not impact vaccine development children which, in turn, leads to measles keratitis. country amid the New Year festivities and and that the jab will be equally “In this, the child while developing an infection in raised doubts over the proposed visit of effective in this case too. But the the cornea, may tend to produce excessive tears the British PM for the Republic Day government has not come out with while also evincing extreme sensitivity to light. function. Then there is the task of tracking the exact roadmap for rolling the The infection can lead to corneal swelling or the travellers who have moved to different vaccine out and plans still appear to states upon their arrival, crucial to be nebulous, with pricing and scarring which could cause permanent containment and surveillance. While the efficacy yet to be spelt out. blindness.” government has clarified that the new With many countries imposing fresh Additionally, if the mother contracts measles mutant strain has so far not been detected lockdowns to check transmission, during pregnancy it becomes hazardous for the in the country, contact tracing and safeguards are needed to prevent any baby who may lose their vision because of screening are imperative to rule out a exigency. corneal and retinal complications. An recurrence of the disease that has tested Night curfew had been imposed in encouraging fact is measles in children under five the limits of the healthcare system. some states but has been relaxed has shown a demonstrable decline over the years Sharing the list of passengers with the after protests. Restrictions on social in India, says the doctor. states may be the right thing to do, but the gatherings though continue as a Addressing the problem problem gets compounded with details of safety measure, but all this only Parents must identify early signs of a disorder — close contacts not always forthcoming impede a return to normalcy. children with uncoordinated eyes or cross-eyes at and the absence of channels of Reviving the economy will require birth. “This is because it takes time for communication due to passengers Institutional quarantine being like inadequate availability of hospital that no more shutdowns are imposed and coordination between eyes. travelling to remote and rural areas after recommended in case of the new strain beds and the burden it puts on the people for that prevention, rather than the landing. will not help matters because of problems economically. Amid apprehensions about remedy, will hold the key. Good riddance, over to New Year

for conversations with invited guests. First on my to-do list after the end of The guest was often the late Moin Akhter, who rose to fame in the era of this pandemic will be to touch and feel Radio Pakistan along with his co-actors Anwar Maqsood and Bushra Ansari. human hands and hold them in a warm Moin was a television, film and stage artiste, also a brilliant comedian who, grip. Next, being able to see faces like a chameleon, could change into behind masks. I pray that the coming whatever he decided to be when being ‘interviewed’. Please watch the episode year brings a closure to all the ugliness where he is a Bangladeshi cricketer and another where he is a harmonium player. that has made us forget that somewhere I cannot stop shaking with laughter every time I hear him. there is a new world waiting to be Of course, we have some terrific stand-up comedians in India as well but I have to reborn say that the Pakistanis display a level of sly humour and a political tinge of such It is with heartfelt relief that I bid 2020 goodbye. Not in a refined subtlety that one has to doff century has mankind experienced another like it and no one’s hat to them. The earthy Punjabi or country, race or human being has remained unaffected by the cultured Urdu they speak may have the trail of devastation it has brought. So join me in something to do with it, but unlike many praying that the start of a New Year will bring back the of our own comedians, they do not freely hope and joy that have all but vanished at present. pepper their speeches with four-letter I cannot remember another year when I have lost so many words to raise a laugh.It is like a yearning I have for the old middle class dear friends and beloved family members. Some died of the most important on one’s wishlist. I no longer want to those who do not share their enthusiasm for the hills. All natural causes, many fell victim to Covid. The latest loss TV programmes of the old Doordarshan days, when a Sai travel to New Zealand or go on an Alaskan cruise (even if of you who have a similar background will agree when I Paranjpye and Manohar Shyam Joshi or Basu Chatterjee was of a dear Chandigarh friend, Anil Anand, who lost I could afford to), but just go to my beloved Kumaon and say that all mountain communities are different from his brave month-long battle against post-Covid and Saeed Mirza brought credible, well-spoken comic meet my family there. The magnificent Himalayas, the those who live elsewhere. I recall Khushwant Singh once characters that have remained with us till today. Decency complications just a few days ago. Surely one of the tall deodars, those laughing brooks and tumbling saying that either one is a mountain person or a sea saddest duties one performs is attending the memorial of in language, character and plots are only memories now streams, little temples dedicated to well-loved deities: I person. ‘I am a mountain person,’ he told me. ‘I love my and although I have immense admiration for some of the a person younger than oneself. have missed these more than I had ever thought possible. Kasauli.’ That is why his beloved Kasauli was the place That said, let us turn to happier thoughts. First on my to-do series that have been released recently on our digital It is humbling to know how deep the call of one’s native chosen by his children to celebrate his memory in the platforms, I still rue the loss of pure, clean fun. However, list after the end of this pandemic will be to touch and feel land can be.Strangely enough, even though my family annual Festival of Letters held there. human hands and hold them in a warm grip. Next, being one must also concede that these new serials, such as has such a deep connect with Kumaon, not one of us Forgive this nostalgic personal digression, but there is ‘Mirzapur’, are also a reflection of the grim times we live able to see faces behind masks and breathe without a siblings ever built a place of our own there. However, something about the end of a year that forces one to seek muzzle over my nose. Dropping in on friends, enjoying a in and that the truth they portray is not something we can whenever we talk to each other, it is always old one’s inner self. So before I become more maudlin, let close our eyes to. meal out with loved ones, snuggling next to little reminiscences, old faces and old memories that form the me tell you about a brilliant Pakistani TV programme So, as I end this column, I pray that the coming year brings children and travelling to meet our children and bulk of our conversation. Sad to think that this intense called ‘Loose Talk’. Anchored by a mild-mannered and a closure to all the ugliness that has made us forget that grandchildren… the list seems endless. What is love for Kumaon may not outlive our generation as many genteel host, Anwar Maqsood, it was an interview forum somewhere there is a new world waiting to be reborn. remarkable is the discovery that these simple desires are of our children have decided to settle abroad or marry THE SIKH TIMES FILM New Delhi, Tuesday, 29 December, 2020 7

Parineeti Chopra, 32, Mansi Srivastava to enter and Dasgupta, known for directing Te3n and Netflix romantic thriller show 'Ishq series Bard of Blood, ParineetiParineeti are currently Mein Marjaawan 2' awaiting the release of their Hindi remake of 2016 Hollywood blockbuster The Girl ChopraChopra on The Train. to play covert agent in her next with Ribhu Dasgupta

Actor Parineeti Chopra will be reuniting with her The Girl on The Train director Ribhu Dasgupta for an action-thriller in which she will play the role of an undercover agent. The yet-untitled film revolves around a covert rescue operation of Indian agents, led by Chopra’s protagonist. “It is not (set in) an India-Pakistan backdrop. The film has Parineeti as a covert agent, she is leading the operation. The film is also about her personal journey and her revenge,” a source close to the film’s team told PTI. According to the insider, the film’s ensemble cast also features Rajit Kapur, TV star Mansi Srivastava is all set to add a twist of Kay Kay Menon, Dibyendu Bhattacharya mystery to the plot of the romantic thriller series and Hardy Sandhu, among others. 'Ishq Mein Marjaawan 2', with her entry on the The project, scheduled to go on floors in show. March, is produced by Reliance In the upcoming episodes, Mansi enters the show as Entertainment. a mysterious character named Ahana, who helps The makers are in the process of scouting protagonist Riddhima Raisinghania, played by locations and getting permissions to shoot Helly Shah, unveil certain dark secrets about her amid the coronavirus pandemic. husband Vansh Raisinghania (Rrahul Sudhir). Chopra, 32, and Dasgupta, known for Vansh is convinced Ahana's entry in their lives is a directing Te3n and Netflix series Bard of ploy by Kabir (played by Vishal Vashishtha), his Blood, are currently awaiting the release step-brother and Riddhima's former fiance. of their Hindi remake of 2016 Hollywood "My character is very daring and it was a challenge blockbuster The Girl on The Train. to play it. I love playing such roles as they are The original American movie, featuring opposite to my own personality. I am taking Emily Blunt, was based on Paula inspiration from Priyanka Chopra's character as Hawkins’ 2015 best-selling novel of the far as acting and styling the character is concerned. same name. I have worked with Helly before and I am very excited to work with her again. The audience will not be disappointed with the character of Ahana and they will have fun watching her," said Mansi, about her role in the Colors show. With Every Release Your Stature, Stardom Keeps Changing: Sara Ali Khan

n a span of two years, Sara Ali Khan has seen the highs of glamour and has also garnered a substantial Rashmi Rocket: Taapsee Pannu is Ifan base. The daughter of Bollywood stars Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh may have been born in the lap of fame, but she insists she does not believe in stardom. "I don't look at stardom. Till now, I don't use the word halfway through the finish mark fans. I don't use the word star. I don't believe in these things. I think Friday to Friday -- I mean it used to be aapsee Pannu is living every moment of the shoot Friday and it can now be released any day. With every and preparation for her forthcoming film 'Rashmi release of a film your stature, stardom -- whatever you Rocket'. The actress on Sunday shared a still from call it -- keeps changing T "I think the only thing that matters is your 'neeyat' the shoot on social media where she could be seen running on the tracks wearing athletes' costume. (intention).Aapki jo 'neeyat' hoti hai woh matter karta hai aur kahin na kahin jo aapki shiddat, passion aur "Halfway through the finish mark. From running legs to junoon hota hai woh matter karta hai (what matters is shake a leg... Roll the music and...... Halo Garbo Karva your intention, hard work, passion and craze). #RashmiRocket," Taapsee wrote on her official Everything else keeps changing and will continue to Instagram account. change," she added. Taapsee recently concluded the Jharkhand shooting Sara entered Bollywood in 2018 with Abhishek schedule for the film and informed about it on social Kapoor's "Kedarnath", co-starring late Sushant Singh media. Rajput. She was then seen in Rohit Shetty's "Simmba" And it's a wrap of the Ranchi schedule! Done with the races opposite Ranveer Singh, the Kartik Aaryan co-starrer finally! Hasn't been a day I haven't tipped my hat to the "Love Aajkal 2" by Imtiaz Ali, and, her latest release, real athletes who do this everyday of their life for years! I David Dhawan's "Coolie No. 1" opposite Varun am glad I don't have to do this for real. #RashmiRocket," Dhawan. she wrote. Coming from a family of stars and having worked with The actress also expressed her love for Jharkhand in a tweet that sort of a line-up of big co-stars and co-actors, Sara where she wrote,"What a wonderful experience to shoot says she is lucky. While friends lament their nine-to- in Ranchi, Jharkhand. My first time in the city and taking five jobs, for Sara acting is no work.. back some really good memories and an after taste of "I am lucky to be in a profession I like. I see a couple of 'Litti Chokha'. Amazing world standard tracks and people -- friends of mine -- do nine-to-five jobs they stadiums."Taapsee's tweet was acknowledged by don't like, and are like, "oh god! work'. But this is not Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren who responded work. My work is the most exciting part of my life. I with the words,"Thank you for your kind words am lucky to have that, rest is all irrelevant," Sara, who @taapsee ji.@VisitJharkhand and @prdjharkhand are is the granddaughter of veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and former skipper Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, glad to host you and your team. We are strongly focused said.The actress has an equally important film lined up on the development of sports and welfare of for her in future. She will next be seen with Akshay sportspersons in Jharkhand along with development of Kumar and Dhanush in Aanand L. Rai's "Atrangi Re". tourism in Jharkhand, especially eco-tourism. THE SIKH TIMES SPORTS New Delhi, Tuesday, 29 December, 2020 8 Liverpool stumble as Sam Allardyce's West Brom snatch draw at Anfield LIVERPOOL: Liverpool blew the threedifferentclubs. saw the German booked by referee chance to open up a five-point lead at the The Baggies set out to limit the sort of Kevin Friend. top of the Premier League on Sunday as damage suffered by Crystal Palace in a Despite their lowly position in the table, Semi Ajayi's header eight minutes from 7-0 hammering inflicted by Liverpool West Brom have already taken points off time earned West Brom a shock 1-1 last weekend, but could barely get out of Manchester City and Chelsea this draw at Anfield. their half before the break.Mane ended season and were extremely unfortunate The Baggies remain second bottom of the his longest drought of nine games not to take at least a point away to table, but gave their chances of survival without a goal as a Liverpool player Manchester United. a huge boost by becoming the first against Palace and showed his sharpness Allardyce's game plan to stay in the game visiting side to take even a point at in front of goal is back with a brilliant as long as possible worked to perfection Anfield in the league this season in Sam touch to control and finish from Joel as West Brom began to threaten in the Allardyce's second match in Matip's pass on 12 minutes. final quarter.Karlan Grant outpaced charge.Sadio Mane had given Liverpool A series of dangerous crosses from Andy Williams to burst clear on goal 20 a 12th minute lead, but Jurgen Klopp's Robertson failed to find the finishing minutes from time, but Alisson Becker men lived to regret not making more of a touch, while Mane headed just wide spread himself brilliantly to block. dominant first-half display to give the from Jordan Henderson's delivery. Ajayi was denied his first Premier League chasing pack in the title race an However, Liverpool's failure to put the goal when his strike away to City in a 1- unexpected boost. game beyond West Brom's reach led to a 1 draw earlier this month was credited as The defending champions move three nervy second-half. a Ruben Dias own goal. points clear at the top of the table, but The Reds suffered another injury blow at But he repeated the trick and this time got just four points separate Everton in centre-back as Matip pulled up with a the credit with a powerful header in off second from Southampton in ninth. muscle problem and had to be replaced the inside of the post that this time left Allardyce was the last visiting manager to by 19-year-old Rhys Williams with Alisson helpless.Liverpool have made a win a Premier League game at Anfield, Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez long- habit of winning games late in the past when in charge of Crystal Palace back in terminjuryabsentees. two seasons, most recently when April 2017, and the former England Williams was penalised for an innocuous Roberto Firmino's injury time header manager is now unbeaten in his last four foul with his first involvement, sparking beat Tottenham 2-1 in their last outing at away games against Klopp's men with a furious reaction from Klopp, which Anfield. Boxing Day Test: Ajinkya Boxing Day Test: Big admirer of Rahane was calm under Boxing Day Test: Another injury scare for India as Ravindra Jadeja, Test cricket is his pressure, he is a very strong suit, says Sanjay Manjrekar cricket savy guy, says Umesh Yadav limps off the field on Day 3 Melbourne Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar acknowledged that he has always been a Shoaib Akhtar ZUmesh Yadav was in a lot of big admirer of Ravindra Jadeja in Test cricket after Melbourne Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib the star all-rounder impressed with the bat once Akhtar lauded Ajinkya Rahane's captaincy, pain when he limped off the again in the second Test against Australia in saying India's stand-in skipper is a cricket Melbourne. savvy guy and the visitors have shown field Manjrekar, who was involved in a controversy character under his leadership. ZUmesh seemed to have hurt having called Jadeja bits and pieces limited-overs Ajinkya Rahane has taken the charge of Team cricketer during World Cup 2019, said Test cricket India in the absence of regular captain Virat his knee as he wobbled is all-rounder's strong suit. Manjrekar was replying Kohli, who returned back after the first Test to to a Twitter user who taunted the former Indian attend the birth of his first child. Going into after completing the run-up cricketer about Jadeja being the best Indian all- the match, India were under a lot of pressure ZIndia are already without the rounder after Kapil Dev."Guess due to their shambolic performance in the @sanjaymanjrekar won't agree or like. But Adelaide Test.Rahane's captaincy bowling services of Ishant Sharma @imjadeja is the best Indian all-rounder with the changes, field placements, positivity and and Mohammed Shami best record after Kapil Dev. And his batting in the calmness was a reason why India could last few years has just got better. Well played Sir bundle out Australia for 195 in their first innings. And when the team needed Rahane Jadeja," the user tagged Sanjay Manjrekar on Imelbourne ndia suffered a scare as fast Twitter and wrote."Big admirer of Jadeja, when it the batsman, he led from the front with a bowler Umesh Yadav limped off the field splendid century. comes to Tests, have always been for years. Test midway through his fourth over during cricket is his strong suit," Manjrekar gave a India vs Australia 2nd Test Day 3: Live Score Australia's second innings on Day 3 of the In a true show of character, Rahane built befitting reply to the user.Earlier, Manjrekar had Boxing Day Test. Yadav looked in fine Siraj completed the 8th over. India are lead under a cloudy sky that cleared to lauded Jadeja's improved batting saying the all- partnerships after partnerships to take India to already without the services of star pacers brilliant sunshine. rhythm and dismissed Australian opener, rounder always had the technique and a position from where they can smell a Joe Burns, for 4 in his second over before Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami in Those hopes were dashed when Jadeja ran possible victory now. leaving the field in the middle of his fourth the Border Gavaskar series. out the India skipper for 112, hitting to "I get happy to see the character of teams. One over. India were bowled out for 326 in the short cover and taking off for a single that man takes the onus of changing the scenario of Umesh Yadav seemed to have hurt his knee morning session on Day 3, having built a was never really there. Jadeja pulled a the match. Team India has regrouped and as he wobbled after completing the run-up lead of 131 runs in reply to Australia's first short ball to deep midwicket where smashed Australia. They have also shown the in the 8th over. Umesh was in a lot of pain innings 195. India had resumed on 277 for Cummins scurried forward and dropped to world that they have the power to regroup," and called for attention immediately. five, with stand-in captainAjinkya Rahane his knees to take a fine, low catch. Jadeja ShoaibAkhtar said on his Youtube channel. Umesh went off the field and Mohammed and Ravindra Jadeja looking to build a big was out for 57. "This is the character of a team under a captain like Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane, who is a Maharashtrian, is a sensible, very cricket savvy guy and did very good captaincy, " Boxing Day Test: Ajinkya Rahane's gesture after getting Akhtar added."You can see his bowling changes, the way bowlers responded. Rahane was calm under pressure and did perfect maneuvering in field placements. Rahane has run-out before Ravindra Jadeja fifty wins hearts temperament."Things changed after 2015 with shown maturity. Ravindra Jadeja -- the batsman. It was also the time "Teams build on the characters of captains, New Delhi Ajinkya Rahane continues to team man!" Moody wrote on social when Ashwin was batting before him, Ashwin had bowlers respond, batting line-up charges in. impress as a leader. After getting run-out media.Notably, Ajinkya Rahane was four Test hundreds and Jadeja had nothing. Jadeja Rishabh Pant played a handy cameo but for the first time in his Test career, Rahane involved in the run-out of Virat Kohli in was competing with Ashwin as the spinner in side. Jadeja was effective. You have to praise came up with a wonderful gesture as he the first innings of the 1st Test -- a mix-up Ashwin's batting dropped Jadeja's batting sort of Rahane for his knock of 104 runs and bringing patted Ravindra Jadeja on his chest, that triggered a massive collapse for Team skyrocketed. This guy always had a great first- signaling the all-rounder to carry on as India. India went on to lose the series India in the driver's seat vs Australia," Akhtar class record and finally when he got his number, he further said. India's first innings was inching past 100 opener by 8 wickets after collapsing to on Day 3 of the 2nd Test betweenAustralia 36-all out in the second innings. felt 'Wow, let me make most of it'," Manjrekar told and India at the Melbourne Cricket However, Rahane put behind the much- Sony Networks.India were bowled out for 326 in Lionel Messi says Ground.It was a bad call for a quick single talked-about run-out and India's slump to the morning session on Day 3, having built a lead of as Ravindra Jadeja, batting on 49, poked triggered a collapse as India were all-out their lowest-ever Test total to come out 131 runs in reply to Australia's first innings 195. Barcelona 'my life' but Nathan Lyon to the off-side and set off. for 326, adding just 49 runs to their firing in the Boxing Day Test. Taking up India had resumed on 277 for five, with stand-in Ajinkya Rahane responded to the call but overnight score and losing 5 wickets. the captaincy from Virat Kohli, who has captain Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja stays tight-lipped on Marnus Labuschagne fielding at short While making his way back to the pavilion, headed home on paternity leave, looking to build a big lead under a cloudy sky that cover came up with a brilliant piece of Rahane did not lose his cool but comforted Rahane was tactically brilliant on the field, cleared to brilliant sunshine.Those hopes were future fielding effort. Rahane's bat was on the Jadeja and urged him to carry on and helping India bowl Australia out for 195 in dashed when Jadeja ran out the India skipper for MADRID: Lionel Messi remained coy on his crease when captain Tim Paine broke the extend India's lead. The gesture won hearts the first innings.Rahane became only the 112, hitting to short cover and taking off for a single future at Barcelona in a long interview stumps.The Austrlaians didn't look second India captain after Sachin confident as the decision was sent to the on social media with former Australia that was never really there. broadcast on Sunday in which he called the cricketer Tom Moody applauding Rahane. Tendulkar in 1999 to hit a hundred at MCG Seemingly rattled, Jadeja pulled a short ball to deep third-umpire but there was joy for them as as India captain when he completed the Catalan giants "my life". Rahane was run out for 112. India were "Again @ajinkyarahane88 showing midwicket where Cummins scurried forward and Speaking to Spanish TV channel La Sexta, leadership begins with actions, his landmark on Sunday, helping India take a playing the Australian attack comfortably handy first-innings lead. dropped to his knees to take a fine, low catch. Messi insisted that he was "excited" to play well before that unfortunate run-out. It response to his fate was true of a genuine Jadeja was out for 57. under coach Ronald Koeman this season despite trying to leave the club where he has played his entire senior career last summer. He said that at the time he felt like he "needed a change", but his attempted exit was blocked Roger Federer to withdraw from Australian amid a spat with former Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu.Messi's contract expires at the end of the season and from next month he will be free to negotiate a move away from Catalonia."Barca is my life, I'm in love with Open but planning 2021 return: Agent the club. And the city, my children were born here," Messi said in an interview conducted discussions with his coaches Severin Luthi of the rest of the season in 2020.Federer was earlier this month. Australian Open 2021: Roger and Ivan Ljubicic and fitness coach Pierre hopeful of returning to Australian Open "It's true I had a bad time in the summer. It came Federer will miss the Paganini. The Swiss great has kept his long- action, provided the tournament began in from everything that happened before the term benefit in mind before making the call February, 3 weeks from its original schedule. summer, how the season ended, the burofax season's first Grand Slam but to delay his return to the circuit.Notably, the Despite the main draw beginning on (how Messi communicated his desire to 20-time Grand Slam champion, who has February 8, the 20-time Grand Slam leave), all of that."I carried that into the start is working on a schedule for been training in the UAE, was part of the champion has decided to pull out of of the season a little bit." the rest of the new season. entry list which was announced earlier this it.Federer also spoke about his future and Bartomeu stepped down in October and a new month by the Australian Open."Roger has retirement during his acceptance speech at a Barcelona president will be elected on Federer has made strong decided not to play the 2021 Australian sports awards ceremony in Switzerland January 24, after which 33-year-old Messi is progress in terms of his Open. He has made strong progress in the earlier this year."I hope there is still expected to begin talks over whether to last couple of months with his knee and his something to see from me next year. But if extend his career-long stay. recovery from a long-standing fitness. However, after consultation with his that was it, that would have been an team, he decided that the best decision for incredible ending for me at these Sports "I feel good right now, ready to fight for then start to build a schedule for the rest of everything. I feel excited," he said. knee issue, him, in the long run, is to return to Awards,"Federer had said after receiving the competitive tennis after the Australianthe year," Godsick said. award for the best Switzerland sportsperson Messi said he is under no illusions over the Tennis great Roger Federer will not be Federer has not played competitive tennis position Barca find themselves in, with the Open," Godsick told the Associated of the last 75 years.Unlike the previous participating in Australian Open 2021 Press.However, his agent is confident that since the Australian Open 2020 where he years, Australian Open 2021 qualifiers will financial problems exacerbated by the despite having made "strong progress" in looked injured during his semi-final defeat coronavirus pandemic likely to hamper Roger Federer will be able to work out a be held in Dubai and Doha from January 10 terms of his recovery from the knee issues, schedule to return to competitive action into Novak Djokovic. Federer initially ruled to 13 after which the players will head to player recruitment."I know the club is goig his agent Tony Godsick has said.Roger himself out for four months of the calendar through a difficult period and that makes 2021 wherein Wimbledon and the Tokyo Melbourne for quarantine. Two ATP 250 Federer decided against resuming Olympics are likely to be his priority."I will after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his events and a revamped ATP Cup will be held everything surrounding Barcelona difficult, competitive action at Australian Open, right knee. However, Federer confirmed that but I am motivated," he said. start discussions this coming week for from the last week of January as players will starting February 8 in Melbourne after tournaments that begin in late February and he had to repeat the procedure and pulled out look to warm-up to the Grand Slam. THE SIKH TIMES WORLD New Delhi, Tuesday, 29 December, 2020 9 NEWS BOX 2020 Weather Disasters Boosted By Donald Trump signs massive measure Climate Change: Report Paris, France: The ten costliest funding government, Covid relief weather disasters worldwide this year saw insured damages worth West Palm Beach US President Donald Trump what he meant.In the face of growing Washington for a vote Monday on Trump's $150 billion, topping the figure for has signed a $900 billion coronavirus pandemic economic hardship and spreading disease, proposal to send out $2,000 relief checks, 2019 and reflecting a long-term relief package that will deliver long-sought cash lawmakers urged Trump on Sunday to sign the instead of the $600 approved by Congress. impact of global warming, to businesses and individuals. It also averts a legislation immediately, then have Congress But the idea is likely to die in the according to a report Monday. government shutdown.The massive bill follow up with additional aid. Aside from Republican-controlled Senate, as it did The same disasters claimed at least includes $1.4 trillion to fund government unemployment benefits and relief payments to among Republicans in the House during a 3,500 lives and displaced more agencies through September and contains other families, money for vaccine distribution, rare Christmas Eve session. Democrats than 13.5 million people. end-of-session priorities such as money for businesses, cash-starved public transit systems were also considering a vote Monday on a cash-starved transit systems and an increase in and more is on the line. Protections against stopgap measure aimed at keeping the From Australia's out-of-control food stamp benefits. evictions also hang in the balance."What the government running until President-elect wildfires in January to a record Democrats are promising more aid to come once president is doing right now is unbelievably J o e B i d e n i s i n a u g u rated Jan. number of Atlantic hurricanes President-elect Joe Biden takes office, but cruel," said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. "So 20.Washington has been reeling since through November, the true cost of Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see many people are hurting. ... It is really insane Trump turned on the deal, without warning, the year's climate-enhanced approach.The fate of an end-of-year Covid-19 and this president has got to finally ... do the after it had won sweeping approval in both calamities was in fact far higher relief and spending bill remained in doubt right thing for the American people and stop houses of Congress and after the White because most losses were Sunday as millions lost unemployment aid, the worrying about his ego."Republican Sen. Pat House had assured Republican leaders that uninsured.Not surprisingly, the government barreled toward a mid-pandemic Toomey of Pennsylvania said he understood Trump would support it. burden fell disproportionately on shutdown and lawmakers implored President that Trump "wants to be remembered for Instead, he assailed the bill's plan to provide poor nations, according to the Donald Trump to act.Trump blindsided advocating for big checks, but the danger is $600 Covid-19 relief checks to most annual tally from global NGO members of both parties and upended months of he'll be remembered for chaos and misery and Americans - insisting it should be $2,000 - Christian Aid, entitled "Count the negotiations when he demanded last week that erratic behavior if he allows this to and took issue with spending included in an cost of 2020: a year of climate the package - already passed the House and expire."Toomey added: "So I think the best said. "I don't understand what's being done, attached $1.4 trillion government funding bill to Senate by large margins and believed to have thing to do, as I said, sign this and then make the why, unless it's just to create chaos and show keep the federal government operating through breakdown".Only four percent of power and be upset because you lost the economic losses from climate- Trump's support - be revised to include larger case for subsequent legislation." September.And already, his opposition has had relief checks and scaled-back spending.If he The same point was echoed by Maryland Gov.election."Trump, who spent much of Sunday at consequences, as two federal programs impacted extreme events in low- his West Palm Beach golf course, has given no income countries were insured, continues his opposition, the federal Larry Hogan, a Republican who's criticized providing unemployment aid expired Saturday. government will run out of money at 12:01 a.m. Trump's pandemic response and his efforts to indication that he plans to sign the bill as he Lauren Bauer of the Brookings Institution had compared with 60 percent in high- spends the last days of his presidency in a rage. income economies, the report said, Tuesday while he spends the holidays golfing in undo the election results. "I just gave up calculated that at least 11 million people would Florida.On Sunday evening, Trump offered the guessing what he might do next," he said. Indeed, his dissatisfaction with the legislation lose aid immediately as a result of Trump's citing a study last month in The vaguest of updates, tweeting, "Good news on seems only to have grown in recent days as he Lancet."Whether floods in Asia, Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said failure to sign the legislation; millions more Covid Relief Bill. Information to follow!" The too much is at stake for Trump to "play this old has criticized it both privately to club members would exhaust other unemployment benefits locusts in Africa, or storms in White House did not respond to questions about switcheroo game.""I don't get the point," he and publicly on Twitter.Days ago, Democrats within weeks. Europe and the Americas, climate said they would call House lawmakers back to change has continued to rage in 2020," said Christian Aid's climate Sydney Told To Watch Its policy lead, Kat Kramer. Extreme weather disasters, of course, Pakistan's Sindh govt not to release Daniel Famous New Year's Eve have plagued humanity long before manmade global warming began to Fireworks From Home mess with the planet's climate Pearl murder accused Omar Sheikh Melbourne: Sydney, one of the world's first major system.But more than a century of cities to welcome each New Year with a public temperature and precipitation data, World Three days after ordering immediate life terms in the case - almost two decades after countdown featuring a fireworks display over its along with decades of satellite data release of Omar Saeed Sheikh declaring his they were found guilty and jailed. well-known Opera House, has banned large connection with the abduction and murder of on hurricanes and sea level rise, However, the Sindh government refused to gatherings that night amid an outbreak of the US journalist Daniel Pearl null and void, release them and kept them in detention under coronavirus.A mid-December resurgence of have left no doubt that Earth's Pakistan's Sindh province government on warming surface temperature is the Maintenance of Public Order.Their COVID-19 in the city's northern beach suburbs has Sunday decided not to release the British- continuous detention was challenged in the amplifying their impact.Massive grown to 125 cases after five new infections were born al-Qaeda leader and his three aides, in Sindh High Court, which ordered their release tropical storms -- variously known recorded on Monday. About a quarter of million of view of a Supreme Court order, media report on Thursday.On Friday, US State Department people there must stay in strict lockdown until Jan. 9 as hurricanes, typhoons and said.On Thursday, in a surprise move, a two- had said it is “deeply concerned” at the reports cyclones -- are now more likely, for That has led to further restrictions of the already judge bench of the Sindh High Court directed of a Pakistani court ordering the release of toned-down plans for the New Year's Eve. New example, to be stronger, last longer, security agencies not to keep Omar Saeed terrorists involved in the murder of Daniel carry more water and wander South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian Sheikh and other accused under "any sort of Pearl.In a series of tweets, the State banned most people from coming to Sydney's beyond their historical range. detention" and declared all notifications of family of the slain US journalist against the Department has said, “We are deeply 2020's record-breaking 30 named acquittal of Sheikh by the Sindh High Court in downtown that night and limited outdoor gatherings the Sindh government related to their concerned by the reports of the December 24 to 50 people."We don't want to create any super- Atlantic hurricanes -- with at least detention "null and void". The court observed April, on September 28 noted that till the next ruling of Sindh High Court to release multiple 400 fatalities and $41 billion in date of hearing, the accused shall not be spreading events on New Year's Eve, which then that the four men's detention was "illegal". terrorists responsible for the murder of Daniel ruins it for everybody across the state moving damages -- suggest the world could The court, however, had clarified that the released.A senior government official said the Pearl. We have been assured that the accused apex court order has not been specifically forward," Berejiklian said at a news conference, see more such storms as well. accused should not be released if there is a have not been released at this time.” adding that watching the fireworks from home was The World Meteorological Supreme Court restraining order regarding recalled."The SHC in its December 24 order It also added, “We understand that this case is Organization (WMO) had to use their detention.Citing its sources, the Express also clarified that accused should not be ongoing and will be following closely. We Greek symbols after running out of Tribune newspaper said that the provincial released if there is a Supreme Court restraining continue to stand with the Pearl family through letters in the Latin alphabet. government will not release these men in view order regarding their detention," he added.The this extremely difficult process. We continue of the Supreme Court's September 28 order. sources said the Sindh government will also to honor Daniel Pearl’s legacy as a courageous The Pakistan People's Party-led Sindh challenge the SHC's December 24 order in the journalist.”Daniel Pearl, the 38-year-old South Britain To Restrict government believes that the apex court's apex court on Monday. Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, September 28 order in the case is still in the In April, a two-judge Sindh High Cort bench was abducted and beheaded while he was in Promotion Of field, sources told the Express Tribune. commuted the death sentence of 46-year-old Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the A three-judge apex court bench which is hearing Sheikh to seven years imprisonment. The court links between the country's powerful spy Unhealthy Food the appeal by the Sindh government and the also acquitted his three aides who were serving agency ISI and al-Qaeda. From April 2022 London: Britain will ban "buy one get one free" promotions for food US Facing "Four Historic Crises high in fat, sugar or salt and free refills of sugary soft drinks in restaurants from April 2022, the the 'safest' way to do so."On New Year's Eve we government said on Monday, its At Once", Says Joe Biden don't want any crowds on the foreshore around latest step in its plan to tackle Sydney whatsoever," she said.Only residents with obesity and improve public Washington: US President-elect Joe Biden on families don't know if they'll be able to make are really at a very critical point. So I share the permits for hospitality venues downtown will be Sunday said that his country is facing "four ends meet because of President Donald concern of President-elect Joe Biden that as we allowed there on New Year's Eve. Households historic crises at once", adding that his team is Trump's refusal to sign an economic relief bill get into the next few weeks, it might actually across Sydney are only allowed to host 10 people work working hard to tackle the time-bound approved by Congress with an overwhelming get worse," DrAnthony Fauci added. until further notice.NSW Police have issued 15 challenges."From COVID-19 and the and bipartisan majority," Joe Biden said in a Joe Biden last week had said that "darkest days" notices for breaking public health orders since economy to climate change and racial justice -- statement.Members of both parties had urged against coronavirus "are ahead of us, not Christmas Eve in Sydney, including to 11 people at our nation is facing four historic crises at once. Donald Trump to sign the USD 2.3 trillion behind us."PromotedListen to the latest songs, a house party at North Bondi on Saturday. And come January, there will be no time to packages, The Hill reported. Earlier, the bill only on JioSaavn.com "When most of New South Wales, indeed most of waste. That's why my team and I are hard at was passed with bipartisan support in US The COVID-19 case total in the United States Australia, is doing the right thing, I would say to work preparing to take action on day one," Joe Congress.Earlier today, top infectious disease surpassed the 19 million mark on Sunday those people half contemplating doing anything Biden tweeted.Hours after Joe Biden's tweet, expert Dr Anthony Fauci said the United States (local time), according to the US-based Johns President Trump officially signed the trillion- is headed for the worst of the COVID-19 stupid in the next few days, forget it," NSW Health Hopkins University, which tracks and Minister Brad Hazzard said. health. dollar coronavirus relief and government pandemic in the upcoming weeks as compiles data from various sources including spending bill, The Hill reported.On Saturday, Americans will see the effects of the holiday Australia as a whole, has avoided the worst of the The government says obesity is one local authorities and media outlets. pandemic due to swift border closures, lockdowns, of Britain's biggest long-term Joe Biden had accused Donald Trump of season."The reason I'm concerned and my As of 6:35 IST on Monday, Johns Hopkins "abdicating responsibility" and had pressed colleagues in public health are concerned is widespread testing and social distancing. It has public health problems with University had registered 19,107,675 positive recorded just over 28,300 infections, the almost two-thirds of adults in the outgoing President to immediately sign the that we very well might see a post-seasonal, in tests for the coronavirus disease in the United COVID-19 relief bill that was pending."It is the sense of Christmas, New Year's, surge," overwhelming majority in Victoria state, and 908 England overweight and one in States. The country's deaths, at the same time, deaths. three children leaving primary the day after Christmas, and millions of CNN quoted Dr Anthony Fauci as saying."We stood at 333,069. school overweight or obese. The mesures will also restrict where in a store promotions on such products can be advertised, and Chinese citizen journalist faces trial for unhealthy promotions will not be allowed at checkouts, shop entrances or at the ends of aisles. reporting on coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan "We are restricting promotions and introducing a range of measures to AChinese citizen journalist held since May for origins of Covid-19.Another lawyer said make sure the healthy choice is the her livestream reporting from Wuhan as the Zhang's health was in decline and she suffered easy choice. Creating an Covid-19 outbreak unfurled was set for trial from headaches, dizziness and stomach environment which helps Monday, almost a year after details of an pain."Restrained 24 hours a day, she needs everyone eat healthier foods more "unknown viral pneumonia" surfaced in the assistance going to the bathroom," Zhang Keke, regularly is crucial to improving central China city.Zhang Zhan, a former lawyer, who visited her on Christmas Day, wrote in a the health of the nation," public could face up to five years in jail if convicted of note circulated on social media."She feels health minister Jo Churchill said. "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" for psychologically exhausted, like every day is a Britain first proposed restricting her reporting in the chaotic initial stages of the torment." "buy one get one free" deals on outbreak.Her live reports and essays were He said Zhang has vowed not to stop her hunger junk food in July, and also widely shared on social media platforms in strike despite repeated pleas from family, announced measures such as February, grabbing the attention of authorities, friends and lawyers.Prosecutors have banning TV and online adverts for who have punished eight virus whistleblowers recommended a prison sentence of four to five junk food before 9.00 p.m.Last so far as they defang criticism of the years, but she has maintained her innocence month the government went government's response to the outbreak.Around throughout.Zhang was critical of the early further and proposed a total ban on a dozen supporters and diplomats gathered response in Wuhan, writing in a February essay online advertising of unhealthy outside Shanghai Pudong New District People's that the government "didn't give people enough food.Being overweight has been Court on Monday morning, but police pushed information, then simply locked down the journalists and observers away from the shown to increase the risk of city"."This is a great violation of human rights," entrance as the defendant and her lawyer she wrote.Rights groups have also drawn serious illness or death from arrived.The 37-year-old Zhang began a hunger COVID-19 - a fact highlighted by attention to Zhang's case.Authorities "want to strike in June, according to her lawyers, and has use her case as an example to scare off other Prime Minister Boris Johnson been force-fed via a nasal tube as concerns grow thinks she will die in prison," said Ren Quanniu, on trial in opaque courts between Christmas and one of Zhang's defence lawyers.It's an extreme New Year to minimise Western scrutiny.The dissidents from raising questions about the who has publicly talked about his about her health."She said when I visited her pandemic situation in Wuhan earlier this year," own need to lose weight since (last week): 'If they give me a heavy sentence method of protesting against this society and trial comes just weeks before an international this environment."China's communist team of World Health Organization experts is said Leo Lan, research and advocacy consultant being hospitalised with the then I will refuse food until the very end.'... She at the Chinese Human Rights Defenders NGO. disease. authorities have a history of putting dissidents expected to arrive in China to investigate the THE SIKH TIMES BEAUTYBeauty New Delhi, Tuesday, 29 December, 2020 10 Tips to reduce HairHair breakagebreakage thisthis winterwinter

locks don't lose their lustre this season. But during this season, it's recommended Condition More Than You to go for a trimming session once in six weeks because it's a great way to keep the Shampoo ends from splitting." Even if you are hard-pressed for time, make sure you condition at least once every alternate day Protect Hair From Heat because it's dry hair that breaks easily . Alaynna Avoid using heat on hair And that Angami, a beautician, says, "Avoid shampooing includes hot water, curling irons, your hair every day because the chemical straightener, even hair dryers. While hot ingredients will only do more damage in this water dries the tresses, hot air sucks away weather. Instead, use an intensive conditioner all the moisture. regularly. Cold weather absorbs all the moisture Don't Leave Your HairWet in the hair. So, when you are choosing products, Towel dry your locks before stepping out look for those that can retain it. You can also use of home. Stepping out of home in the cold leave-in conditioners." with wet hair not only breaks them, but Massage Your Scalp And Oil also gives you a cold! Your Ends Keep YourTresses Covered While a good scalp massage will help you Style your hair such that the ends are a l w a y s tucked in.Preferably, twist them into If you thought your precious locks were safe in the three-odd cleanse flakes and dandruff, oiling your strands actually prevent friction between the hair and buns so that the strands are h i d d e n from cold.This winter months, think again. will control split ends and boost volume. Bidisha says, "A pillowcase. So, I braid my daughter's hair till the ends helps in reducing loss of moisture.Gauri S, a sales Dry and brittle hair, flaky scalp and sticky tresses are common good massage boosts blood flow to scalp and encourages and wrap it in a silk scarf. The hair fall has visibly executive, says, "I wear a soft scarf when I'm occurrences this time of the year, all thanks to the cold spell. hair growth. Use oils that are thick and viscous, like reduced." stepping out. If I'm wearing woollen, then I'm Bidisha Dip, a trichologist, says, "Hair is vulnerable to damage castor, olive, jojoba or almond." Trim Once In Six Weeks because of changes in the environment. Loss of moisture, Sleep On Silk doubly sure that my hair doesn't come in contact exposure to dry air and not giving due importance to a haircare At least in the cold climes, it's advisable to trim the ends with the material. Because wool is rough, it can Wrap your hair in a silk or satin scarf when you hit the regimen are some of the reasons why you end up with damaged of your hair once in six months. Alaynna adds, "We cause a lot of damage to delicate hair strands." sack. Divya Raj, a primary teacher, says, "Satin can hair." Some simple tricks and a little TLC will ensure your suggest people to come in for a trim once in 10 weeks. 5 inside-the-mouth facial for Here’s how to trim your own stress-free skin pure form of oxygen at high pressure directly into procedures of diamo the skin's pores using an airbrush. The oxygen used Fringe microdermabrasion, acoustic wave in this facial is usually treated with a number of Having a fringe gives your hairstyle that edge and takes years off therapy and infrared laser in a single skin-beneficial supplements like vitamins. Dr your face. session. "This facial affects the Geeta says, "Since it involves introducing oxygen But one inconvenience that comes with having a fringe is the need deeper layers of the skin and helps in into the skin, it acts as a healing tool to improve the to get it trimmed every now and then, especially if your hairdresser the release of skin-firming collagen, appearance and texture of the skin. A small dose of charges a bomb to do it. However, with the right equipment and a which makes the treatment quite nourishing serum is also added to penetrate through little practice, you can trim your own fringe. Here's how... beneficial," says dermatologist Dr deep layers of the skin and thus open the skin 1. Get the right equipment: Don't make the mistake of using nail or Nihar Mistry. channels so that the serum soaks into it." kitchen scissors to trim your fringe. You'll need haircutting shears, Benefits Works miraculously on Benefits n along with a comb. blemishes Soothes slack skin Helps get rid Improves blood circulation Rejuvenates the skin, 2. Style your hair first: Style your hair and your fringe as you of premature signs of aging like fine lines makes it blemish-free Helps get a clearer and wrinkles Duration A one-hour procedure complexion involving exfoliation procedure before the Duration The procedure is quick and painless and treatment; it is done with a diamond tip to peel needs exfoliation before it begins. It does not off rigid dead skin cells involve using chemical peels. It simply oxygenates Photo facial the skin for a more healing and soothing effect. As the name suggests, the facial involves the use of a Unlike other facials, one can resume normal bright burst of BBL (broadband light) that penetrates activities as well as apply make-up soon after the through the skin. By utilising specific light procedure. parameters, this procedure helps improve the tone, A-lift facial texture and elasticity of the skin with no downtime. It involves using nano current technology (small Dermatologist Dr Geeta Oberoi says, "This facial not electric currents). These currents synchronise with just rejuvenates your face, but your neck and the natural frequency of our body, which then help decolletage. Being a mechanical procedure, it is to combat ageing by working at the cellular level. painless and can be done on any skin type. It Skin specialist Netra Prabhu says, "Small measures specifically works on lines and wrinkles." of current are used for this facial, as they perfectly normally would so that you trim your fringe to suit your hairstyle. Benefits n sync with our skin wavelength. Although high tech, 3. Separate your fringe from the rest of your hair: Do this by While facials and spas for rejuvenation are the Reduces hyper pigmentation, excessive sun-damage, this facial causes absolutely no harm and has no clipping up all your hair, except for your fringe. This way, you won't norm, high-tech facials are the new beauty wrinkles, age spots and other signs of ageing side-effects at all." cut into the rest of your hair by accident. buzzword for women in the city. Helps the skin get rid of acne and birthmarks Benefits n 4. Start the actual trim: Pull your fringe down in front of your face With the promise of no-redness, no skin damage Stimulates collagen in the skin Makes the skin A visible improvement in skin texture, muscle tone, and make sure it's even. Insert the comb under your fringe and pull and no downtime, these super facials, which they're youthful deep lines and wrinkles Makes the skin firm and it down till where you want to cut your fringe. Then, position your often referred to as, are gaining quite a fan- Duration lifts it Enhances the radiance by improving the scissors in such a way that they're pointing upwards, perpendicular following off late. A 60-minute treatment, the skin will have to be free of blood circulation to the line of your The buccal technique any sunscreen, cream or make-up before the Duration fringe. Cut into your What makes this facial different is the fact that it is procedure. Men need to shave at least five hours In just a 55-minute session, it works to recharge the fringe, starting in the done inside the mouth. It consists of massaging before undergoing this facial. cells of the skin by boosting the ATP levels centre, and working facial musculature like the upper lip, cheek and jaw Oxygen facial (adenosine triphosphate), triggering the your way outwards area, often the stress zones. Says Dr Radhika A simple procedure that introduces hyperbaric or a rejuvenation process quickly. till you reach the Khona, a cosmetic dermatologist, "It is one of middle of your the most effective facials as the massage is eyebrows. Work on done from within your month, where the actual the outer sides of pressure points and muscles that determine the your fringe by shape and structure of the face lie." inserting your comb Benefits Tones the facial muscles Improves under those areas blood flow and hence promotes oxygenation of and holding your the skin cells Results in contoured and scissors at a 45-degree angle and then start to trim. plumped-up skin 5. Check to see if your fringe is even: Move your fringe around with Duration your fingertips to check whether it's even and is the way you want it A 60-minute intense technique that focusses on to be. the deeper pressure points and lymphatic TIPS massage movements around the jaws and gum. - Do not wet your fringe when you're trimming it. This is because Triple action facial wet hair is longer than dry hair, which means you could end up This facial works on all the three layers of skin cutting your fringe too short when it's wet. — epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous - Do not cut straight across your fringe as this will give it a more tissue — by combining three high-tech severe and less natural look. Beauty THE SIKH TIMES BeautyBEAUTY-1 y New Delhi, Tuesday, 29 December, 2020 11 There are some habits Everyday we indulge in unknowingly, and frequently, that can Habits become extremely harmful for our skin that could be health. Trying to treat ruining your your skin with information researched online, or taking cues from your friends could be detrimental and land you with some major skin problems. Here's looking at some skin-sins that experts SkinSkin say, you should avoid... According to Dr Trasi, rubbing and excessively Waxing is traumatic to hair follicles and can lead to infection What you need Buying over-the-counter medicines scrubbing the skin, trying to make it fairer, is a myth. and inflammation. This can result in scars which are difficult A black eyeshadow - Petroleum jelly - A spatula - Tweezer Using over-the-counter medicines, without having Instead, it becomes darker by these methods. to treat." Using a razor on face: There are women, who have excessive -A small empty bottle complete knowledge of them, can cause damage to hair on their sideburns and they resort to drastic measures like your skin. Dermatologist Dr Shefali Trasi Nerurkar Using Steam at home to clean your face using razor on their face to get rid of it. says, "Every individual has a different skin type. Dermatologist Dr Apratim Goel says, "Skin needs Cosmetologist Dr Rashmi Shetty says, "Whenever you shave, Hence, any treatment cannot be standardised. It's steaming to open the pores, but it needs to be done at a the new hair that grows is darker and thicker than before." She commonly observed that if a patient is given certain temperature. Moreover, the skin has to be explains that natural hair on a woman's face is light and fine a treatment for any skin condition and prepped for that, or else it may not only burn because they are at a resting phase. "However, after a woman if their relative suffers from a the face, but can also dehydrate your shaves the hair on her face, it changes and now, is at a growing similar problem, they tend to skin." phase. A good alternative to reduce excessive facial hair is use those medicines without laser removal treatment. This technique not only helps in hair consulting the doctor. Such Using hot water to wash removal, but reduces its growth in six to eight sittings. cases have damaged many However, if your facial hair is fine and matches your skin patients' skin." your face colour, then do not get tempted to go in for a laser treatment as Going by the bran Using extremely hot water for it may not help at all and lead to paradoxical growth and excess bath and washing your face hair." value of cosmetics with it can be damaging. Dr Trasi says, "Hot water removes Haircare mistakes you should avoid Another common all the oils present in the skin - Tying your hair tightly can lead to hair loss (tractional mistake most women and as a result, the natural alopecia). Hence, keep your hair loosely tied. - Avoid combing make is using wrong moisturisation is lost with it." hair too frequently. It can cause hair breakage. - Frequently cosmetics, solely relying oiling of hair may not remove or treat dandruff. In fact, it is upon their brand value. Just Waxing your face likely to increase it. because you watch an DIY guide for a gel eyeliner advertisement that promises to do Excessive facial hair can be a big away with wrinkles in a few weeks, problem for some women and sometimes, Method - Take the tweezer and scrape off the black you should not dab it all over face and wait local salons suggest waxing to get rid of it. eyeshadow into an empty bowl. - Take a spoonful of petroleum for the miracle to happen. "Before using the cosmetic Experts warn that this can be harmful. Waxing tugs at the jelly and mix it well with the scraped eyeshadow using a on any part of the fact, check it by doing a patch test on delicate facial skin and could lead to early wrinkles. Dr spatula. - Now keep alternating between the eye shadow and the hand or behind the ears," says Dr Trasi. Goel says, "Waxing your face to get rid of excessive hair petroleum jelly, till you have a considerable amount in the is a blunder, but still most of us have done it at some bottle. - Once you have the consistency that you require, store Scrubbing skin to become fairer point in our life. Of course, if the hair is thick, laser hair the bottle in the refrigerator. removal is the best, but one could go for bleaching too.

Taking right care for your Do’s and dont’s for 5 things girls with wavy teeth is essential not only to keep shiny white them in good health but hair struggale with also to keep them bright out, it is your silly way hair that have and shiny. Being an Indian, you are obviously ended up looking disgusting after a And there long day at work or travel. You can are only few never bank on them to make you look simple do's used to wavy hair, as it is the most good on a day when your face or body and dont's that can give Teeth doesn't feel like. Teeth common hair type in our country. you a bright Any new hairstyle or smile. You never take the risk of letting them Don't: Maintaining shiny dry on their own; you always make treatment ends up looking Avoid baking soda as much as you can. While it might be sure you either blow dry it or tie ti into good for many things, it starts to remove the enamel from a bun to take a certain shape, than go the same white teeth is simpler the teeth resulting in yellowness. frizzy and all over the place. Just a hair wash, and all the moolah you spent on getting that new haircut Avoid fruits and other foods that have dark color You can never experiment from that plush salon, will go the pigmentation. Food items like soy sauce, marinara than you think. Read drains. No matter how stylish the hair sauce etc have dark pigmentation that can stain with bangs and bob cut or style is or how good a hair spa or your teeth. conditioning treatment is, you hair Avoid drinking those much marketed on to know how energy drinks. They are not as good as So what if you have a playground- ends up looking the same. months is a good idea. Or any time size forehead or are feeling they tell you, especially for your teeth. The acids they contain have eroding you feel your brush looks worn- extremely uncomfortable out, make sure you get a new to manage you long hair effects which can remove the whitening from your teeth. one. Get a good quality during summers, you have toothbrush. Although it doesn't seem that much an no choice but to keep it as Do's: Keep your tongue clean. issue to many, only girls with wavy hair it is; since no other fancy Cleaning your tongue is not Keep your toothbrush know what they have to go through on a hairstyle like a fringe, only about having fresh updated. Replacing daily basis. Here are five most common bangs or bob will ever suit breath, but also keeping your toothbrush struggles every wavy hair girl goes your hair type. away bacteria that can every three through. cause discoloration. Too many bad hair days There are several Eating fruits is a good idea for retaining the whiteness You are just used to your hair looking occasions when you of your teeth. It is said that horrible; its not that long after you had a eating fruits helps in hair wash, but the next day after a hair had to stay in cleaning the teeth and also wash feels like a disaster. Even a few keep them healthy. drops of water or a strong wind can because of your Rinse your teeth every make it a mess. hair time after eating citrus Letting it dry on its own is fruits like lemon, Its never your clothes or oranges and limes as like taking a huge risk non-waxed legs that have they contain acid that stopped you from going erodes enamel. 12 New Delhi, Tuesday, 29 December, 2020 NATIONAL THE SIKH TIMES

NEWS BOX India records 20,021 new coronavirus cases in Assam Assembly winter session begins, bill repealing last 24 hours, recovered cases cross 97.8 lakh provincialisation of Madrassa to be tabled New Delhi India recorded 20,021 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the Biswa Sarma said."Yesterday [Sunday], the Union health ministry said on Monday. The Assam cabinet has decided to reform the total number of positive coronavirus cases in The three-day winter educational system to make it secular and as the country now stands at 1,02,07,871.With a result, now all these High Madrassas will 279 fresh deaths, the coronavirus toll has session of the Assam stop of functioning and we will convert mounted to 1,47,901. every such institution to a general Meanwhile, 21,131 recoveries were reported in assembly began on educational institute like any other institute," the last 24 hours, taking the recovered cases he said."198 High Madrassas, 542 Title tally to 97,82,669. Also, there are 2,77,301 Monday. Assam Madrassas, Pre-Senior Madrassas, Senior active Covid cases currently in the Madrassa will not give admission to any country.According to the data provided by Education Minister student for theological study. Henceforth, it the health ministry, 95.83 cases have been will be functioning only for general cured, while 2.72 per cent of the total positive Himanta Biswa Sarma education," Himanta Biswa Sarma said. cases constitutes the total active cases. According to the Assam government, the State India had reported the lowest spike in daily said that he will Madrassa Board will be dissolved from the coronavirus cases on Sunday with 18,732 date of declaration of results of the new Covid-19 infections. This was the lowest examination to be held for the academic year daily infections since July 1. introduce a bill to repeal 2021-22.There will not be any fresh To assess the readiness of the mechanism laid admission in the Madrassa Educational out for the Covid-19 vaccination drive, a dry provincialisation of Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted. tabled in the winter session of the state Institutions in any of their existing course run has been planned by the Centre on According to reports, around 12 government assemblyEarlier, Himanta Biswa Sarma said prescribed by State Madrassa Board with December 28 and 29 in four states Punjab, Madrassas. bills -- including 'The Assam Repealing that in a bid to facilitate the secular education effect from April 1, 2021.They will admit Assam,Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Bill, 2020' (repeal provisions of Madrassa system in Assam, the state government students from April 1, 2021 against the Guwahati The three-day winter session of the and Sanskrit Tolls in the state), Assam decided to stop the functioning of all relevant courses of SCERT, SEBA and The exercise will include necessary data entry AHSEC as applicable for their in Co-WIN, an online platform for Assam assembly commenced on Monday, Education (Provincialisation of Services of government-run Madrassas and convert following Covid-19 protocols. Assam Non-Teaching Staff of Venture Educational them into general educational institutions. institution.All the Pre-Senior Madrassa monitoring of vaccine delivery, testing Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma schools will be treated as primary, upper receipt and allocation, deployment of team Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The In 1934, when Assam was run by a Muslim said that he will introduce a bill to repeal Moran Autonomous Council (Amendment) League government under Prime Minister of primary schools and they will follow the members, mock drill of session sites with test provincialisation of Madrassas. academic course curriculum prescribed by beneficiaries, the Union Health Ministry had Bill, 2020, The Matak Autonomous Council Assam Sir Syed Sadullah, the Madrassa "Today I shall introduce a Bill to repeal (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Kamatapur education was introduced in Assam SCERT,Assam.The subjects -- namely Holy said.As part of the strategy that has been put Provincialisation of Madrassa. Once the Bill Quran and Islamic studies -- will be in place to detect and contain the mutant Autonomous Council (Amendment) Bill, education curriculum and the State is passed, the practice of running Madrassa 2020, The Bodo Kachari Welfare Madrassa Board was also created. Even in withdrawn from these schools and all other variant detected in the UK, 5 per cent of the by the Government in Assam will come to an subjects available in primary and upper- positive cases of Covid-19 from all states and Autonomous Council Bill, 2020, TheAssam normal academic courses upto the Matric end, a practice which was started by Muslim Micro Finance Institutions (Regulation of level, a chapter basically of 50 marks was primary schools -- including Arabic UTs will be tested for Whole Genome League govt in pre-Independence Assam," Money Lending) Bill, 2020 -- are likely to be allotted for education on Quran," Himanta language -- will be added. Sequencing (WGS), the Union Health Ministry had said on Saturday after a meeting of the National Task Force (NTF) on Jharkhand's COVID-19 on the issue. Shopian fake encounter: Chargesheet says Army coronavirus Over 50 representatives recovery rate nears of panchayat bodies in captain, 2 aides 'planted' weapons on civilians' bodies 98%, CM Hemant Chhattisgarh resign to Soren lauds state's Srinagar/New Delhi Nearly five months after Shopian to work as labourers.On September 18, oppose 2 BSF camps set three youths were gunned down in a fake the IndianArmy said following an internal probe efforts in fighting encounter in Shopian district, the Jammu and into the case, prima facie evidence indicates that pandemic up on 'sacred land' Kashmir (J&K) Police has chargesheeted three army personnel exceeded powers vested in them persons, including an Army captain, paving way under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act Ranchi In a major relief to New Delhi More than 50 representatives of for a possible court-martial. (AFSPA).During the probe, police conducted Jharkhand, the recovery rate panchayat bodies in Chhattisgarh's The 1,400-page chargesheet was filed in the court DNA profiling of the deceased and their samples in the state shot up to 97.72 insurgency-hit Kanker district resigned from of principal district and sessions judge, Shopian which matched with three Rajouri families on per cent even as the national their post to protest against the setting up of on Saturday by the head of the Special September 25. This proved that the people killed average of recovery stands at two Border Security Force camps at sites Investigation Team (SIT), officials said on by the Army were not militants but labourers which are reportedly revered by local 95.78 per cent. Sunday. who were earning their living in Amshipora. According to a report released residents. The chargesheet indicted the Army officer and two The victims were identified as Abrar Ahmed (25), "At least 46 sarpanches, seven Janpad by the Union health ministry, others stating that "They deliberately and of law and a total of 75 witnesses were listed ImtiyazAhmed (20), and Mohammed Ibrar (16). the maximum recovery rate purposefully chose not to follow SOPs, they under the list of witnesses annexed. In a On October 3, after around 70 days, bodies of the planted illegally acquired weapons and material significant move, one accused was later made an three labourers were exhumed and taken to was registered in Daman Diu on their dead bodies after stripping them of their approver in the case.According to J&K Police, Rajouri for final burial by the families. -- where the recovery rate identities and tagged them as hardcore terrorists an order has been issued by Shopian Court After DNA reports came out, two persons -- Tabish was recorded at 99.61 per in possession of war-like stores and deliberately asking the Army authorities under relevant Nazir and Bilal Ahmed Lone -- identified as cent. providing false information to colleagues and sections of law to give their opinion whether the sources of the Army captain, were summoned at Pleased over the state's seniors."The Special Investigation Team (SIT) accused Captain Bhoopendra Singh alias Major Heerpora Police Station for questioning and performance in battling the that was constituted by the J&K Police to probe Basheer Khan of 62 RR be tried by the Criminal were arrested in the instant case. Whereas Covid-19 pandemic, the case recreated all the scenes of the crime, Court of ordinary jurisdiction or by court Captain Bhoopendra Singh alias Major Basheer Jharkhand Chief Minister including routes used after meeting the victims martial.On July 18 this year, three labourers Khan of 62RR was detained by the Army under Hemant Soren and Health by the accused and the place where the victims were killed in a fake encounter at Amshipora in relevant sections of law.During further Minister Banna Gupta said were murdered, as per the statements of Shopian. Their pictures went viral on social investigation, all the circumstantial evidence, that the state worked with a panchayat members, one deputy sarpanch witnesses. media, following which their families from which includes two vehicles, service rifle of and one zila panchayat member submitted strategy to keep a check and During the investigation, a statement of 49 Rajouri district of Jammu claimed that the Captain Bhoopendra Singh of 62 RR etc, was control on the surge of the their resignations on Saturday via two letters witnesses was recorded under relevant sections people killed were their kin who had travelled to seized. to the Pakhanjore sub divisional magistrate," Covid-19 graph.They said an official said, news agency PTI reported. that with restrictions, The BSF camps have been set up near Katgaon Jharkhand was the first state and Kamteda villages on the strategically to import it's labourers by important Partapur-Koyalibeda route to Over 176 more telecom towers in Punjab train and flight. The state provide security to road work underway worked on different fronts to there, an official said, according to the make sure that graph is in report.Thousands of people from over 100 check, the ministers said. villages have been staging a protest in damaged despite Amarinder Singh's Pakhanjore in Kanker since December 23 Further, with the emergence of New Delhi Over 176 more signal transmitting Another source, according to the PTI report, said the new coronavirus strain demanding that the BSF camps be shifted, sites have reportedly been vandalised in the last the telecom towers damaged belong to Jio and sarpanch Lachhuram Gavde of Siksod said, 24 hours in Punjab despite Chief Minister Over 176 more signal common access infrastructure of telecom and as many as 32 returning according to the report. Amarinder Singh's appeal to protesting farmers industry.Amid reports of disconnection of to the state from the UK, to not damage telecom infrastructure.transmitting sites have power supply to various mobile towers across Gupta said, "We have Major terror plot foiled As many as 176 telecom towers have been reportedly been vandalised in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder launched a fresh drive to damaged since Saturday, sources said, news Singh on Friday appealed to protesting farmers make the people aware. There in J&K's Poonch; 3 agency PTI reported. the last 24 hours in Punjab not to inconvenience the general public with was no mass gathering on With this, the total number of telecom tower sites such actions."Forceful disruption of telecom Christmas. Administrations arrested, grenades damaged stood at 1,411, sources said, according despite Chief Minister services due to snapping of power supply to have been directed to conduct to the report.Sources said that incidents of mobile towers by farmers in several parts of the random checks. They have recovered snapping of power lines to attempts to axe the Amarinder Singh's appeal to state is not only adversely affecting studies and been asked to adopt a strict towers have been reported from different parts future prospects of students, who are dependent measure to ensure that people Jammu In a major success, Jammu and protesting farmers to not entirely on online education, but also Kashmir Police and Indian Army's Romeo of Punjab. "Site managers are slapped and are wearing masks while abused for trying to persuade protestors from hampering the daily life of people working Force (Rashtriya Rifles) busted a militant damage telecom infrastructure. stepping out. The rigorous damaging sites," the source said, PTI report from home due to the pandemic," Amarinder vigil will continue till module working in Poonch district. stated. Singh said. The Jammu and Kashmir Police said three January 15, 2021. militants have been arrested and six grenades have been recovered from their possession, foiling a terror plot to attack religious places in the border district of Poonch.Senior Superintendent of Police Poonch Ramesh Coronavirus vaccination dry Angral said that a joint team of Jammu and Kashmir police and it's Special Operation Group, along with Indian Army's 49 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, laid a naka in the run starts in 4 states intervening night of Saturday and Sunday and detained two brothers -- Mustafa Iqbal A two-day dry run of the Khan and Murtaza Iqbal of Galhuta village -- said.Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat disease transmission.The mock drill from their vehicle near Basooni"Their coronavirus vaccination drive and Assam, where the dry run has been will include concurrent monitoring and organised, will report their observations review at block and district levels, and interrogation was conducted at 49 Rashtriya to assess the readiness of the to the Centre during the programme. The preparation of feedback to be shared Rifles Battalion headquarters, Basooni," the mechanism laid out for the dry run will also include testing of cold with the state and the Centre. officer said.It was found that Mustafa had storage and transportation arrangements Last week, a detailed checklist has been received a call from a Pakistani number, he inoculation drive begins today for coronavirus vaccine, management of prepared by the health ministry and said."On being questioned further, he in Punjab, Assam, Andhra crowd at session sites with proper shared with the four states to guide them admitted to have been tasked with throwing a physical distancing, the ministry said. in the dry run."The Central government grenade at a temple in Ari village," the SSP Pradesh, and Gujarat. Each state will plan it in two districts and is gearing up for the rollout of the said.SSP Poonch Ramesh Angral said that preferably in five different session-type coronavirus vaccine across the country. during investigation, it has come to fore that settings -- district hospital, community As the vaccine administrators will play the arrested militants were in regular contact New Delhi Atwo-day dry run of the health centre (CHC) or primary health an important role in the immunisation coronavirus vaccine immunisation drive to with the handlers in Pakistan who were care centre (PHC), urban site, private including improvements that may be process, training of trainers and those assess the readiness of the mechanism laid health facility and rural outreach. who shall administer the vaccine has been instructing them to carry out militancy strike. out for the coronavirus inoculation drive required in the envisaged process," the It has also come to fore that the accused were "This exercise will enable end-to-end health ministry said.The two-day dry run taken up across various states," the health starts today in four states, Punjab, Assam, ministry said. planning to carry out strike at religious Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat.The exercise mobilisation and testing of coronavirus will also provide a hands-on experience to places in Poonch which was an attempt to will include necessary data entry in Co-WIN, vaccination process [except the vaccine] andprogramme managers at various levels.An As many as 2,360 participants were trained trigger communal tension in the region, SSP an online platform for monitoring of the check the usage of Co-WIN in fieldimportant focus of the dry run will be on during a national level training of trainers, Poonch Angral.Some videos regarding coronavirus vaccine delivery, testing receipt environment, linkages between planning,management of any possible adverse events which comprised state immunisation tactics of grenade lobbying were also found and allocation, deployment of team implementation and reporting mechanisms,following immunisation (AEFI) as well as officers, cold chain officers, information, identify challenges and guide the way on adherence and management of infection education and communication officials and in the mobile phones of accused. members, mock drill of session sites with test beneficiaries, the health ministry had forward prior to actual implementationcontrol practices at the session site to prevent development partners.