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AMYRA UNPERTURBED PUTIN-XI HAILS PACT BENZEMA RECALLED Actor Amyra Dastur says she has reached Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin hail the nuclear Karim Benzema finds his name in the French a point in her career where failure cooperation between Russia and China squad for the first time since 2015 for the upcoming Euro 2021 hardly matters LEISURE | P2 during a meeting INTERNATIONAL | P10 SPORTS | P12

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 49 | www.orissapost.com BHUBANESWAR | THURSDAY, MAY 20 | 2021 12 PAGES | `5.00 IRREGULAR by MANJUL ‘Yaas’ threat looms large PROSPECTIVE SUPER CYCLONE EXPECTED TO HIT COASTAL PARTS OF ODISHA, MAY 26

PNN & AGENCIES TAUKTAE TOLL New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, May 19: BLACK-MARKETING OF O2, ESSENTIAL DRUGS ‘Cyclone Yaas’ is likely to form over CLIMBS TO 46 the Bay of Bengal around May 25, AHMEDABAD: A total of 46 people have the India Meteorological Department Let’s build a river front so majestic been killed due to Cyclone Tauktae that nobody can see anything (IMD) said Wednesday. Then it is across 12 districts of Gujarat, officials OHRC seeks floating in the river! likely to move north-westwards and said Wednesday. Saurashtra region’s reach West Bengal and adjoining Amreli district had the highest toll with Odisha coasts May 26 evening. There 15 deaths due to the severe cyclonic are enough indications that by the storm which completed landfall around strict measures SHORT TAKES time ‘Yaas’ reaches Odisha it will 1.30am Tuesday. Eight people each take the shape of a severe cyclonic were killed in Bhavnagar and Gir POST NEWS NETWORK against those indulging in storm. The storm is likely to make Somnath coastal districts while five such unethical practices. 2 farmers die at landfall anytime May 26-27. were killed here. Meanwhile 26 of the Bhubaneswar, May 19: The commission urged “A low pressure area is very likely 75 people gone missing from the barge Taking suo motu cognisance the Chief Secretary to en- Singhu border to form over north Andaman Sea and on the Arabian Sea have been con- of media reports high- sure opening of temporary adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal firmed as dead. The barge ‘Papaa-305’ lighting black-marketing of medical centres (TMCs) in Sonipat (Haryana): Two farmers around May 22. It is very likely to in- had 261 people on board when it sank oxygen and life-saving med- rural areas at the earliest as from Punjab, who were part of tensify gradually into a cyclonic storm due to the storm. So far 186 persons icines during the second the population has mostly the group protesting against the during the subsequent 72 hours. It is central Bay of Bengal around May 22, “The cyclonic storm would have have been rescued, officials said. wave of Covid-19 pandemic, been affected by the second new farm laws, passed away with one of them found Covid-19 very likely to move north-westwards the IMD stated. low to medium intensity (with wind the Odisha Human Rights wave of Covid-19. positive, officials said and reach West Bengal, Odisha coasts Local experts in Bhubaneswar speeds between 100 to 125 kmph) and PK Jena reviewed the situation with Commission (OHRC) sought The rights body asked Wednesday. The two farmers – around May 26 evening,” the ‘Cyclone opined that there is a possibility of make landfall between north Odisha, officials from IMD, NDRF, ODRAF and reports from the state Chief the Odisha government to Balbir Singh (50) and Mahender Warning Division’ of the IMD said. ‘Yaas’ making a landfall in Odisha West Bengal and Bangladesh,” Sahu district administrations of coastal Secretary and Additional follow the advisory of the Singh (70) are residents of The IMD added that the southwest even though the IMD is yet to pre- predicted. “It may hit the coastal dis- Odisha districts. “It is at a very pre- Chief Secretary of the NHRC regarding ‘disposal’ Patiala and Ludhiana monsoon is very likely to advance dict its path. tricts of Bhadrak, Balasore, mature stage. No prediction has been Health and Family Welfare of bodies of those suc- respectively. Both died Tuesday. over south Andaman Sea and ad- Former director of Bhubaneswar Kendrapara, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj,” made on the intensity, path, landfall department in this regard. cumbing to Covid-19. They were part of the group joining southeast Bay of Bengal Met Centre, Sarat Sahu said, “As per he added. Another weather expert and other status of the system. If at all The OHRC urged The OHRC has sought a protesting at the Singhu border. around May 21 in association with early indications of various weather Surendra Pasupalak said he is confi- the cyclone takes shape, it may reach Wednesday the departments compliance report by June the likely strengthening and deep- models, the cyclone will take shape by dent that the cyclone will move in Odisha and West the Bengal coast around concerned to take appro- 22, 2021. The state’s apex ening of south-westerly winds over the May 25. It is likely to make landfall ei- north-west direction and is likely to May 26 evening,” Jena said. priate measures to prevent rights body however, also Covid-19 patient region. Other atmospheric and oceanic ther May 26 evening or May 27 morn- make a landfall at the Sundarbans in The district collectors and SPs of black-marketing of oxygen lauded Odisha government’s conditions will help in formation of ing.” However, the picture will be West Bengal. He however, also did not costal area have been asked to take all and life-saving medicines. It decision of fixing the fares gangraped, dies a low pressure area over north clear by May 23, once the low pressure rule out a landfall in Odisha. necessary advance precautions for also asked the DGP and IGP for ambulances as there had Patna: A 45-year-old Covid-19 Andaman Sea and adjoining east- takes shape, informed Sahu. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) the possible cyclone, Jena added. to ensure stringent actions been many complaints. infected woman, who was allegedly gangraped by three employees of a private hospital, died here Wednesday. Her RULES GO FOR A TOSS daughter alleged that her mother was sexually assaulted May 16, a Govt stops drive-in jabs day after her admission. PROGRAMME NOT PERMITTED UNDER MoHFW OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES MARKET WATCH POST NEWS NETWORK 21 NEW FATALITIES

INDEX VARIATION Bhubaneswar, May 19: The Odisha BHUBANESWAR: Odisha’s Covid-19 tally government Wednesday directed con- surged Wednesday to 6,44,401 after cerned officials to stop conducting 11,099 people tested positive, while 21 SENSEX 49902.64 290.69 drive-in and door-step vaccination more fatalities pushed the death toll to programmes. This was done as the ac- 2,378, a Health department official said.

BOURSES NIFTY 15030.20 77.90 tivities are not permitted under op- The coastal state now has 1,05,375 DOLLAR 73.63 `0.08 erational guidelines. Additional Chief active cases, and 5,36,595 patients have Secretary (ACS), Health, PK Mohapatra recovered from the disease, including EURO 89.35 `0.03 wrote a letter to all collectors, mu- 10,2422 since Tuesday, he said. Of the

CURRENCY fresh cases, 6,214 infections were nicipal commissioners and chief dis- ` ` detected in quarantine centres. GOLD 48,703 396 trict medical officers, in this regard. SILVER `72,558 `638 “It has come to my notice that Covid-19 drive-in vaccination and (BMC) first initiated the drive-in vac- BULLION door-step vaccination have started cination programme in a shopping in some districts. I would like to bring mall parking complex here. Later, the to your notice that as per Covid-19 number of such centres was increased WEATHER operational guidelines of Ministry ity to manage adverse events follow- to five in the city. Following BMC, BHUB CTK of Health and Family Welfare ing immunisation (AEFI). the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (MoHFW), drive-in or door-step Covid- The ACS said it will be difficult to man- also conducted such a programme. MAX 39.0° 38.2° 19 vaccination is not permitted,” age AEFI, if it occurs during the drive- Few districts including Ganjam rolled Mohapatra said in his letter. in/door step vaccination. Moreover, out vaccination-on-wheels to provide TEMP MIN 28.5° 27.0° Forecast As per the guidelines, vaccination there is also high likelihood of vaccine the service at door-steps. Humidity 65% 66% sessions should be conducted in places wastage. Therefore, Mohapatra urged the Questions on drive-in programme Light rain with space for waiting areas, vacci- district and local administrations to re- was criticised as the poor, who don’t Rainfall Nil Nil very likely nation and observation rooms. The cen- frain from such strategies. have a vehicle especially four-wheel- Throwing caution to the winds and without proper social distancing, customers throng a fish market at tres also should have adequate facil- Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation ers were deprived from the service. Nayapalli locality in the Capital City, Wednesday OP PHOTO Mixing of 2 Covid-19 vax highly effective: Study Docs allay fears over black fungus disease AGENCIES AstraZeneca’s, or vice-versa, were NEW INJECTION RULES more likely to report mild or moderate POST NEWS NETWORK some cases we may need sur- London, May 19: A Spanish study on symptoms such as headaches or chills NEW DELHI: Vaccination for Covid- gery. If the treatment is started mixing Covid-19 vaccines has found than if they received two of the same 19 can be taken three months after Bhubaneswar, May 19: early, patients have nothing to that giving a dose of Pfizer’s drug to type. Data on immune responses are recovery instead of the usual 45 Allaying fears regarding worry about,” said Dr Panda. people who already received a first shot expected in the coming months. days, the Centre said Wednesday. the dreaded mucormycosis The doctor also said that of AstraZeneca vaccine is highly safe Spain embarked on the study to The second dose of the vaccine (black fungus), a top doctor the disease is not a new one and effective, preliminary results determine how best to proceed after should also be delayed by three said Wednesday that the and had been seen in pa- have showed. The ‘Combivacs’ study, limiting AstraZeneca’s shot to peo- months for anyone contracting government has adequate tients suffering from illness has been run by Spain’s state-backed ple aged over 60 yers due to concerns Covid after the first dose. The fresh quantity of the like diabetes. ‘Carlos III Health Institute’. It found about blood clotting in younger peo- rules are part of the ‘Amphotericin B’ injections Dr Paresh Nath Mohanty, that the presence of IgG antibodies in ple. That restriction caused wide- recommendations by NEGVAC (the for treating such patients. Dr a microbiologist who was National Expert Group on Vaccine the bloodstream was between 30 and spread uncertainty and meant some Jayant Panda from the also attending the event said Administration for Covid-19), which 40 times higher in people who got the younger people who had already re- have been accepted by the Union Department of Medicine at that a certain category of follow-up Pfizer shot than in a control ceived a first dose have been excluded Health Ministry. SCB Medical College and people were more prone to group who only received one from getting a second. Hospital made the revela- the black fungus infection. AstraZeneca dose. “The results support the possi- volved while mixing the two differ- tions at a government-spon- “Black fungus attacks hu- Meanwhile, the presence of neu- bility of vaccinating patients who ent vaccine jabs. sored health bulletin on mans who are on steroids tralising antibodies rose sevenfold have received the first dose from The concept of mixing vaccines COVID 19. He urged sus- during Covid-19 treatment. after a Pfizer dose, significantly more AstraZeneca, but the decision is not is nothing new, the researchers said. pected patients to come early It exists in the environment. than the doubling effect observed up to the investigators of this study,” They also informed that in April to hospitals for treatment People who have strong im- after a second AstraZeneca shot. said Jesus Antonio Frias, clinical another 1,050 participants were of black fungus and talked munity are unlikely to get y Around 670 volunteers between director at ‘Carlos III’. However, he added to the study in the United about its symptoms. affected by the disease.

the ages of 18-59 who had already re- also said that the mixing of the vac- Kingdom. “We have enough People who are on steroids,

k y m c ceived a first dose of AstraZeneca’s vac- cines can certainly increase the ef- “If we can show that these vac- ‘Amphotericin B’ injections on cancer drugs or who are cine participated in the study, with ficacy rate. “We have been observing cines can be used interchangeably in with us to treat patients in- undertaking organ trans- some 450 given a Pfizer dose. Just malaise, said Dr Magdalena Campins, In a UK ‘mix-and-match’ study, first this tendency among those who have the same schedule, we will greatly in- fected with the disease. We plant or taking medicines for 1.7% of the participants reported se- one of the study’s leaders. “These are findings recently showed that people had a mixed dose of the vaccine,” crease the flexibility of vaccine de- are also giving ‘Posaconazole’ diabetes are susceptible to vere side effects, which were limited not symptoms that can be considered vaccinated with a shot of Pfizer’s vac- informed Frias. He however, refused livery and also finds methods to con- after discharge. It takes four attack by the black fungus,” to headaches, muscle pain and general serious,” she said. cine followed by a dose of to comment on the risk aspect in- tain the various strains,” they said. to six weeks to treat it. In informed Dr Mohanty. P2 BRITNEY SPEARS LIKES TO ‘BLACK PANTHER SEQUEL WILL THURSDAY | MAY 20 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR PLAY WITH HER HAIR CARRY ON BOSEMAN LEGACY’ Singer Britney Spears loves to experiment with her hair, Actress Angela Bassett feels Black Panther: Wakanda says her hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos. “I've been working Forever will do justice in honouring the memory of late with Britney for almost five years now, she likes to play actor Chadwick Boseman. Bassett, however, adds it will

with her hair colour and her hair length. I'm very honoured be a challenge matching the first Black Panther film of y

she trusts me for all her hair changes,” adds Giannetos. 2018 that starred Boseman as the titular superhero.

k y m leisure c FORTUNE FORECAST Hitanshu excited about Tamannaah FAILURE DOESN’T playing Lord Jagannath gushes over ARIES Mumbai: Actor show will focus on the track of Lord You are enthusiastic Hitanshu Jinsi, Jagannath and I’m really excited November Story about mixing with peo- ple today, and you will who plays Lord about it,” says Hitanshu.He adds AFFECT AMYRA feel like combining business and leisure. Vishnu in that playing a mythological role is ac- Mumbai: Actress Tamannaah Bhatia You will be encouraged to take part in Vighnaharta tually helping him move towards can’t stop gushing about her upcom- group activities as you have the ability to Ganesh, is all set to spirituality. ing web series November Story, a mur- Mumbai: Actress Amyra film. As long as I get work, work and have fun at the same time. also essay the role “I always wanted to visit the der mystery that casts her as a young Dastur says she has reached I am happy. The day I Ganesha says that as a matter of fact you may emerge wiser from others' ideas. of the deity's avatar Jagannath temple and experience ethical hacker named Anuradha, who a point in her career don’t, that’s the day I Lord Jagannath in the famous Rath Yatra but couldn’t is trying to sell her father’s house so she where she is unaffected will be worried,” she the show. make it happen either for some rea- can pay for his Alzheimer’s treatment. by a film not doing well. said. TAURUS “As I play the son. But now when I am preparing “When I first heard the narration of “I think I have had The actress adds role of Lord Vishnu myself for the role by reading and November Story from director Ram enough films not do that there is a lot Ganesha finds this an in the show, I’m get- watching clippings on YouTube. Subramanian, I could have never an- well and do well, and more she has to excellent day for man- agers and administrators. ting an oppor- I will surely visit the tem- ticipated that the storyline was going to realise that it is part achieve. If you are one, the results you will achieve tunity to ple once things get nor- be so layered. I have never watched a and parcel of the “At the end of by the end of the day will far exceed the explore malised. Playing a crime thriller series that is so complex job. One film the day, I feel I efforts you put in. This is mainly because and act mythological role and intriguing at the same time, and one works and one still haven’t your subordinates will be enthusiastic, his in- is awaking spir- that engages audiences in every episode doesn’t. I just reached that compliant and cooperative. carna- ituality inside like an authentic whodunit,” she says. laugh and get position tion as me. I feel “What commences as a plain Jane ready where I GEMINI well. blessed and murder spirals into the unleashing for the wanted Now secured,” of a series of hair-raising events in- next to be at,” Routine work bores you, our he says. IANS terlaced with a multitude of char- she says. and today you will go all out to break free from the acters and narratives that come to “I am shackles of boredom. The results, however, the fore, raising more and more proud of may not be as dramatic. You will have to questions while building mystery how far I depend on your children, if any, to rescue around the killer and motive,” have come you from the tyranny of routine. Monetary she promises. without gains can be expected either in the form of The seven-episode who- knowing any- inheritance of ancestral property or as increment in your basic salary. dunit also features one. It is about Pasupathy, GM Kumar, hard work and Aruldass and Vivek I believe you CANCER Prasanna among create your own You wish to display your others, and re- luck. I am social prestige and mon- leases May 20 happy to see etary clout in front of in Hindi, where my ca- your relatives. But you Tamil and reer is going. have to pay a heavy price for that. Telugu on Your past experience will teach you Hopefully, I something, which will stand in good ‘Want to reprise Al Pacino’s Disney+ will have a stead for future dealings. Hotstar VIP. long career Tony Montana of Scarface’ IANS with dif- ferent LEO Mumbai: Casting director-turned-actor Abhishek roles,” she Your natural self-confi- Banerjee would love to reprise Al Pacino’s iconic adds. dence and capability character Tony Montana in Brian De Palma’s 1983 IANS will help you attain a classic Scarface. position of strength “I’ve been fascinated with Al Pacino all my life. today. As a result, all your tasks will be Something like Tony Montana in Scarface – that’s completed easily and you will reap the kind of dream role I have for me. If I ever get rewards greater than your expecta- tions, says Ganesha. to play something like that, I’m sure I’m going to kill it. The en- ergy, the gruesomeness of such a character is always VIRGO very exciting. It is very Ganesha says you liberating and helps you realise the importance vent your inner anger,” of family matters today. You have great Abhishek said. skills when it comes to negotia- After working in theatre tions, and you will use them in set- in Delhi, Abhishek arrived tling disputes amicably. in Mumbai around 12 years ago with the dream of being an actor, He took up casting Abhishek Banerjee direction in order to support LIBRA himself in the expensive city. Although he has It's a full platter today, been around for a while, life changed after he and you have to manage garnered critical appreciation for his per- it all somehow. The day promises to be full of formance in the 2018 horror comedy Stree. activities, especially those that involve On the work front, Abhishek features in writing letters and reviving old contacts. the latest Netflix anthology Ajeeb Daastaans. Expect a call to appear for an interview The actor has his kitty full with upcoming for a better job. projects like Dostana 2, Rashmi Rocket, Bhediya, Aankh Micholi and Helmet. IANS SCORPIO Try to take a chill pill as you may be worried about SUDOKU petty issues today. Do not post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, fill in the boxes in such a let them hinder your hap- PEANUTS piness and take a toll on your health. CROSSWORD manner that every row, column and 3x3 box contains However, the day looks promising towards the digits 1 to 9, without repeating any. the end. Friends are just a phone call away, call them and set out for a destination unknown to destress and rejuvenate.

SAGITTARIUS Ganesha foresees a day full of promises. People in the creative field, especially artists are going to benefit more. Radio jockey and television anchors can make a note of this day in their diary, as it may serve as a memorable day, says Ganesha. CALVIN AND HOBBES CAPRICORN You have projected your- self as a confused indi- vidual. You may have a tendency to remain in a double mind. But, today you'll come up with a very specific plan that will SOLUTIONS surprise many of the people around you. Be clear about what you want to do in life, how you want your life to be and make sincere efforts to achieve it, guides Ganesha.

AQUARIUS Today, you're up against those who want to get back at you. But not for nothing are you the king! BREVITY Ganesha says you needn't worry, as CROSSWORD few can match your prowess. Amid all the hullabaloo, your spouse will be a

supportive presence. y

PISCES

k y m c Within adversity, lie the lessons of success; avoid having to resort to that philosophy by implement- ing your plans, if they are well thought out, in

a phased manner. This will help you achieve CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU your targets, says Ganesha. COVID-19 TRACKER P3 NEED OF THE HOUR THURSDAY | MAY 20 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD Policemen penalise World 16,52,32,551 14,43,00,869 34,24,592 lockdown violators at Sundarpada vegetable India 2,54,96,330 2,19,86,363 2,83,248 market in Bhubaneswar, Odisha 6,44,401 5,46,631 2,378

downtown Wednesday

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Raghunath’s son FS&CW dept afflicted with dies of Covid-19 NORMS FLOUTED PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Bhubaneswar, May 19: Former Odisha cricket team captain governance deficit: HC Prashant Mohapatra succumbed to Covid-19 during treatment at AIIMS, POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar Wednesday, hospi- tal sources said. New Delhi, May 19: Expressing Mohapatra, 47, breathed his last concern over the sale of plastic bot- at about 7:51am despite all possible tled water across the state even efforts by doctors, said AIIMS, after expiry date of its use, the Bhubaneswar superintendent Dr Orissa High Court has observed S N Mohanty. that the department of Food Prashant's father Raghunath Supplies and Consumer Welfare Mohapatra, Rajya Sabha MP and (FS&CW), vested with mainte- Padma Vibhusan awardee, had nance of food safety and stan- also died of Covid-19 May 9. dards in the state, seems to be af- Prashant was put in ventilator flicted with governance deficit. support after his condition wors- Asserting that the manufac- ened. A special team of doctors turers and retailers have a ten- was monitoring his condition at the dency to tamper with the labelling hospital. His brother Jasobant is by erasing the date of expiry and also admitted at the same facility fix a fresh date, a bench of Justice PLASTIC HAZARD after he tested positive for the virus. S K Panigrahi held that the state Born September 1, 1973, The bench held that there is The court observed that some of the government must activate its en- rampant use of plastic bottled water chemicals used in plastic manufacturing Prashant, popularly known as forcement authorities and sur- across the state even after the are strongly suspected to be disrupting Munna, was an opener and right- veillance mechanism to conduct expiry day of its use hormonal balance handed batsman. He made his frequent raids on such manufac- debut in cricket as an under-19 turing units and shops wherein THE HC HELD THAT PLASTIC BOTTLES WHEN EXPOSED TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT HAVE player of the Jaydev Vihar Square in Bhubaneswar witnesses traffic snarls Wednesday morning even though the Capital such expired goods are sold to THE PROPENSITY TO LEACH ITS CHEMICAL COMPONENTS INTO THE WATER state and city is under lockdown to tackle the second wave of Covid-19 OP PHOTO consumers. played “The department of consumer the bench said. leach its chemical components against welfare, vested with the mainte- The Orissa High Court observed into the water. Tamil Nadu. nance of food safety and stan- that some of the chemicals used “Some of the chemical compo- Later, he de- dards that protects consumers in plastic manufacturing are nents like BPA (Bisphenol A) used buted in the from unsafe food through for- strongly suspected to be disrupt- in plastic and plasticisers are Ranji Trophy against Bihar in 1990. BMC marks home isolation mulation of science-based stan- ing hormonal balance. The bench strongly suspected of disrupting He had also played for East dards and their enforcement said that the World Health our hormonal balance. Exposure Zone in the Duleep Trophy and through analysis of food and mar- Organisation (WHO) also warned to endocrine-disrupting chemi- Deodhar Trophy. Prashant has ket surveillance, seems to be af- about the possible carcinogenic cals is associated with around 80 played 45 first-class matches scor- flicted with governance deficit,” properties of endocrine disrup- diseases, including testicular can- ing 2,196 runs with an average of cases as Red, Green Flags the bench said. tors which can increase the cer, obesity and reproductive dis- 30.08 with five centuries and 11 The bench held that there is chances of breast cancer, infer- orders. Unborn and young chil- fifties to his credit. PNN & AGENCIES rampant use of bottled water tility and heart diseases. dren are particularly vulnerable After his retirement, the Board across the state even after the ex- The High Court held that plas- because their hormone system is of Control for Cricket in India Bhubaneswar, May 19: piry day of its use. “It is quite tic bottles when exposed to direct still at the stage of development,” (BCCI) had appointed him as a Bhubaneswar Municipal rampant in Odisha and elsewhere,” sunlight have the propensity to Justice Panigrahi said. match referee. Corporation (BMC) has categorised Covid patients under home isola- tion into ‘Red’ and ‘Green Flag’ Doorstep sample cases for better management and monitoring of their health collection from State exempts toll on O2 tankers status. Home isolation patients with POST NEWS NETWORK no or mild symptoms of Covid pregnant women will be treated as ‘Green Flag’ Bhubaneswar, May 19: The state cases, while the moderately-af- PIC FOR REPRESENTATIVE POST NEWS NETWORK government has exempted toll on fected ones would be termed as vehicles carrying liquid medical ‘Red Flag’ patients. Bhubaneswar, May 19: The oxygen (LMO) for treatment of According to BMC commis- itoring the Covid situation. Bhubaneswar Municipal Covid-19 patients. sioner Sanjay Kumar Singh, in After receiving the list, the ex- Corporation (BMC) Wednesday As per a government order, toll order to know the health status of Monitoring first ecutives at 1929 call centre con- began collection of swab samples will not be collected from vehicles the ‘Red Flag’ patients and effec- tact the ‘Red Flag’ or moderately- HOME ISOLATION PATIENTS WITH from expectant mothers in the City carrying medical oxygen in tankers tively monitor their health, the affected patients to know their NO OR MILD SYMPTOMS OF COVID for Covid-19 test at their doorsteps. or cylinders at toll plazas under civic body will ensure calling health status. WILL BE TREATED AS ‘GREEN FLAG’ The teams with the civic au- state government. The order will them every day for three days at With categorisation of home CASES, WHILE THE MODERATELY- thority Wednesday collected swab remain in force till July 30. a stretch. isolation cases, BMC is now able AFFECTED ONES WOULD BE samples of four pregnant women The decision was taken in view The executives, manning the to monitor the health parameters TERMED AS ‘RED FLAG’ PATIENTS for RT-PCR test who had earlier of the current pandemic situation PIC FOR REPRESENTATIVE outbound call stations at the 1929— of the moderately-affected Covid booked their appointment by call- and to facilitate smooth supply of 24X7 call centre situated at patients so that when needed, their ing on 1929 call centre. While the col- medical oxygen to different hos- and Angul districts. Bhubaneswar Operations Centre RED FLAG PATIENTS’ LIST IS hospitalisation could be easier. lection was done from two expec- pitals and Covid care centres (CVCs) TOLL WILL NOT BE COLLECTED A total of 282 tankers have been of the Bhubaneswar Smart City PREPARED AFTER GOING THROUGH Through this innovative exer- tant mothers in South-East Zone, one in the state, it said. FROM VEHICLES CARRYING sent to Andhra Pradesh and 236 Limited office, have already started THE INPUTS FROM THE RRTS AT cise, the moderately-affected pa- each got themselves checked from The Ministry of Road Transport MEDICAL OXYGEN IN TANKERS tankers to Telangana so far. Tamil calling the home isolation patients THE ZONAL LEVEL. 22 ‘RED FLAG’ tients, in case of any urgent de- South-West and North Zone. and Highways had exempted the OR CYLINDERS AT TOLL PLAZAS Nadu has received 48 tankers of under the ‘Red Flag’ category since PATIENTS WERE CALLED AND THEIR velopment, could have a It can be mentioned that people user fee May 8 for vehicles carry- UNDER STATE GOVERNMENT LMO while Haryana has received Tuesday evening. HEALTH CONDITION WAS NOTED conversation with the doctors can book their appointments by ing LMO at toll plazas across na- 131 tankers, Maharashtra 41 tankers BMC sources said that 22 ‘Red available at the round-the-clock dialing 1929 between 8am and 11am tional highways. THE ORDER WILL REMAIN IN and Chhattisgarh 29 tankers. Flag’ patients were called and call centre, according to a BMC to avail this facility. All zonal deputy Odisha has provided medical FORCE TILL JULY 30 As many as 52 tankers were sup- their health condition was noted. into three administrative zones source. municipal commissioners are in- oxygen over the last 27 days to the plied to Uttar Pradesh, 61 to Madhya The ‘Red Flag’ patients’ list is for achieving better citizen-centric While seven doctors are avail- structed and deployed for moni- states facing shortage of the life- and supervision of the Odisha Pradesh, 22 to Delhi, 4 to Punjab, prepared after going through the service delivery, the list from the able at 1929 call centre during the toring and ensuring hassle-free saving gas. A total of 919 tankers Police to 14 such states so far. 6 to Karnataka, 3 to Bihar, 2 each inputs of the Rapid Response respective zonal deputy commis- morning and afternoon shifts, collection of samples in their re- carrying 16,809MT oxygen have The oxygen is being supplied to Chandigarh and Rajasthan in last Teams (RRTs) at the zonal level. sioner’s office is being prepared by four doctors are available in the spective zones. been dispatched under direct escort from Rourkela, Jajpur, Dhenkanal 27days. As the civic body is now divided a senior official deployed for mon- night shift. Brace for urban flooding Brassware artisans in miseries as demand dips during monsoon: H&UD POST NEWS NETWORK Khurda, May 19: Gone are the POST NEWS NETWORK The ULBs were asked to days when people had a penchant for bronze and brassware. Utensils Bhubaneswar, May 19: Ahead identify vulnerable of stainless steel and plastic-made of the monsoon season, the state waterlogging and household goods have replaced government Wednesday instructed the traditional bronze and brass- district Collectors, municipal low-lying areas and take ware. commissioners and executive of- steps for discharging Rapid fall in the demand for ficers of municipalities to pre- bronze and brassware has pushed pare action plans for smooth man- water expeditiously many artisan families into finan- agement of flood and waterlogging cial miseries. Several artisan fam- in urban areas. cover has been damaged and take ilies of Muktapur in Khurda block Issuing a 10-point plan, the immediate steps to repair and here are on the verge of losing Housing and Urban Development cover the hole. Appropriate sig- their livelihood due to low demand (H&UD) department laid down nage must be put at places where for brass and bronze-made utensils an exhaustive set of measures to repair is not possible to caution and other household goods. be taken up in an urgent people,” the notification said. Around 50 artisan families of manner. The ULBs were also asked to Muktapur used to eke out their Laying emphasis on drainage identify vulnerable waterlogging living by opting for bronze and clearance, the notification asked and low-lying areas and take ap- brass crafts. These artisans were plastic goods has taken a heavy and other social functions. Now, the the urban local bodies (ULBs) to propriate steps for discharging shaping several varieties of uten- toll on the brass and bronze crafts. TALE OF MUKTAPUR trend has changed. The state gov- take up joint verification with water expeditiously. “Wherever sils, decorative pieces and idols Most of the artisan families have ernment should take immediate respective drainage division of there is encroachment of drain made from bronze and brass and left the traditional craft. Now, only SEVERAL ARTISAN FAMILIES SHORTAGE OF RAW MATERIALS, steps to revive the traditional craft Water Resources department to en- channels which cause obstruction supplying them to markets. five to seven families of Muktapur OF MUKTAPUR IN KHURDA LOW DEMAND FOR BRONZE AND by allocating funds,” said Muktapur sure desilting and repair of all to the free flow of storm-water, But, shortage of raw materials, are engaged in brassware busi- BLOCK ARE ON THE VERGE OF BRASSWARE AND RELUCTANCE brassware artisans’ association clogged drains. rainwater or waste-water, same low demand for bronze and brass- ness,” said artisans Abhiram LOSING THEIR LIVELIHOOD AMONG THE YOUNGSTERS TO OPT secretary Banamali Das. The government also instructed should be evicted/demolished ware and reluctance among the Maharana, Pramod Das and DUE TO LOW DEMAND FOR FOR THE TRADITIONAL CRAFT HAVE Local Sarpanch Bijay Kumar the ULBs to inspect all drains forthwith,” the notification added. youngsters to opt for the tradi- Prafulla Das. BRASS AND BRONZE-MADE FORCED THE ARTISAN FAMILIES TO Das too urged the state govern- and manholes, and repair or re- Moreover, observing the clog- tional craft have forced the artisan According to the artisans, they UTENSILS AND OTHER SEARCH FOR SOME OTHER ment to announce certain incen- place drain covers to prevent ac- ging of drains due to construction families to search for some other mould brass and bronze at their HOUSEHOLD GOODS SOURCES OF LIVELIHOOD tives for the artisans of Muktapur.

cidents. waste polythene, the H&UD de- sources of livelihood. foundries and shape them into “Artisans from other states are

k y m c “A full verification of all drains partment asked the officials to “Earlier, people had a liking for utensils and other goods by hit- muneration is very low if the ment has prevented the artisans to using modern technology in bronze and potholes (both open and increase monitoring of the same. bronze and brassware. Bronze and ting with hammers and other tools. amount of labour involved in it source raw materials and intro- and brass craft. The state gov- closed) to be made within the Alerting against the outbreak of brass utensils and decorative pieces “It is not easy to make bronze and is taken into consideration,” said duce new technology into the ernment should take steps to ULB limits. In case of closed vector-borne diseases, the de- were selling like hotcakes in the brassware. We have to toil hard Abhiram. bronze and brass crafts. arrange finance and modern tech- drains or potholes, identification partment also suggested proper markets. The mass use of stainless to shape the moulded metals into Lack of provision for bank loan “Earlier, people were buying nology for the artisans of is to be made where the drain sanitation measures. steel and aluminum utensils and household products. But, the re- and assistance from the govern- bronze and brassware for wedding Muktapur,” Das said. P4 THURSDAY | MAY 20 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR downtown

Pvt vaccinators told to display price on CoWIN ODISHA RECORDS 21

k y m c POST NEWS NETWORK FRESH CASUALTIES

Bhubaneswar, May 19: The state PNN/AGENCIES Health department Wednesday an- Covid scare: HC shuts nounced guidelines for private vac- Bhubaneswar, May 19: Odisha’s cination centres that are keen to pro- Covid-19 tally surged to 6,44,401 down for 8 days cure vaccine doses directly from the Wednesday after 11,099 people tested manufacturers for inoculating peo- positive, while 21 more fatalities CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court ple in the phase III of the ongoing pushed the death toll to 2,378, a and its offices will remain shut Covid vaccination drive. health department official said. from May 20 to 27 in view of Covid The norms now have asked the pri- The coastal state now has 1,05,375 upsurge. vate players to abide by all the pro- active cases, and 5,36,595 patients However, appeals can be made to tocols of Covid-19 vaccination and have recovered from the disease, in- registrar (Judicial) for hearing of also to display the price of the vac- cluding 1,02,422 since Tuesday. 'extremely urgent' cases during cine they are offering at their centres. Khurda district, comprising state the shutdown, an official order is- “Under liberalised pricing and capital Bhubaneswar, reported the sued by the High Court mentioned. accelerated Covid-19 vaccination highest number of 1,460 new cases, As per the order, offices of the HC strategy under phase-III, for seam- followed by Sundargarh (983), will resume functioning May 28, less and convenient vaccination Cuttack (867), Angul (552) and 2021 as per the vacation roster. to eligible citizens, private hospi- Sambalpur (547). Accordingly, the earlier notified tals can provide Covid vaccina- Chaos at a Covid vaccination centre at Nayabazar area in Cuttack, while those in the age group of 18-44 queue up maintaining social distance to get Taking to Twitter, the Health dates of the Vacation Benches will tion service by procuring vaccines inoculated at Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, Wednesday OP PHOTOS and Family Welfare department stand cancelled and instead, the directly from manufacturers. It is said, “Regret to inform the demise Vacation Benches, as notified, will requested that districts/corpora- them to offer vaccination services of twenty one Covid positive pa- function May 31, June 2 and June tions may actively engage with only through CoWIN system and tients while under treatment in 4 during the remaining period of the private providers,” the communi- they must not provide any offline Now, priority vax for health workers’ kin hospitals.” Summer Vacation, read the order. cation from the department to services.” Mandatory disclosure he Health department a priority basis. It also added, “It is pertinent to Kalahandi accounted for three It further said, “For the listing Collectors and Municipal of vaccine price on CoWIN is to be TWednesday allowed priority The communication said, “Since mention here that the family deaths, while two each died in of urgent cases during the HC Corporations said. ensured by the private players as vaccination for family members of beginning of the Covid-19 pan- members of these healthcare Khurda, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, shutdown, mentioning can be The norms said, “All private hos- per the new norms. healthcare workers. demic, our healthcare providers providers are equally at risk for Sambalpur and Sundargarh, the of- made only on the preceding work- pitals procuring Covid-19 vaccines The government however ex- This comes after the doctors’ have been fighting relentlessly to Covid-19 infection because of the ficial said. ing day before the Registrar must be registered on CoWIN and tended its helping hand in training association in Odisha wrote to the provide quality services to the nature of work of healthcare Odisha has so far conducted (Judicial) and the Deputy Registrar that should be made active by ad- the hospitals for the vaccination state government in this regard. community for saving valuable providers. In this context, it is over 1.10 crore sample tests, which (Judicial). During the period, only ministration. The credentials for drive but asked them to declare In a communication to the district lives of people in our state. The vac- requested to facilitate Covid-19 includes a record number of 60,510 extremely urgent matters that the site/vaccination centre manager their pricing for the vaccinations. Collectors and municipal cor- cination of healthcare workers vaccination of the family members tests Tuesday. The positivity rate cannot wait till May 31 for listing are to be issued immediately for It also said that suitable educa- porations, the Health depart- started on priority from January of healthcare providers at health stands at 5.83 per cent. may be mentioned before the scheduling sessions and publish tional materials must be published ment Wednesday asked them to 16, 2021 and in our state more than facilities in your district/corpo- With the state continuing to re- Registrar (Judicial) through the sessions online immediately to inform the persons who are tak- ensure vaccination for the fam- 95 per cent of healthcare workers ration at suitable Covid vaccina- port around 10,000 new Covid-19 ohc.mentionmemoskornail.com after getting vaccine to provide ing the vaccines. ily members of health workers on have been vaccinated till date.” tion centres.” cases daily, authorities Tuesday between 11am and 12 noon.” visibility of appointment slots to The department said that as per extended the ongoing lockdown the citizens in advance.” information from the Union gov- with stricter restrictions by two It also added, “All the private ernment, till now three hospitals- and Kishori nursing home, Bargarh “In this context, you are re- ordination mechanism to ensure more weeks till June 1. will take initiatives to increase vaccination centres must be in- -SUM hospital, Bhubaneswar, have contacted Serum Institute for quested to review the above in- vaccination of citizens smoothly,” The government has also con- production and provisioning of formed that, it is mandatory for Christian hospital, Berhampur procurement of 12,000 doses each. structions and develop suitable co- the norms said. stituted a state-level task force that medical oxygen. Dharitri reporter Speed up separation assaulted by 21 dists show positivity rate NOBLE GESTURE of Plus II from cops in Puri higher than state’s average degree colleges: Min POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK State’s average TPR has fallen to 18% other districts of Odisha recorded Puri, May 19: A reporter of lead- from 21% last week despite the a test positivity rate of above 10 per Bhubaneswar, May 19: Higher ing Odia daily Dharitri was as- Bhubaneswar, May 19: As many increase in testing cent. These districts are—Nayagarh Education (HE) Minister Arun Sahoo saulted by police at Badasankha as 21 districts of Odisha recorded (18%), Koraput (16.5%), Rayagada Wednesday asked the School and here Wednesday. a higher test positivity rate than Angul district topped the list with 36.1% (15.1%), Ganjam (13.8%), Deogarh Mass Education department to ex- The incident occurred when re- the state’s average positivity rate TPR, followed by Khurda (33.5%) and (12.3%), Gajapati (12%) and pedite the work pertaining to sepa- porter Dattatreya Nayak was gath- of 18 per cent during last week Boudh (33%) Malkangiri (10.5%). ration of Plus II from degree colleges. ering information about police (May 12 to 18). TPR is on declining path in Bolangir, The average test positivity of A virtual meeting was held be- highhandedness on a fruit seller in According to the data of Health Sambalpur, Sundergarh, Kalahandi, Odisha has fallen to 18 per cent tween HE Minister Arun Sahoo the locality, sources said. Ministry, 28 out of 30 districts of Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Bhadrak, from 21 per cent last week despite and School and Mass Education According to sources, police al- Odisha have recorded a test posi- Deogarh, Nabarangpur and Gajapati the increase in testing. The test- Minister Samir Ranjan Dash to legedly assaulted vendor Deepak tivity rate (TPR) above 10 per cent. districts ing target has been revised to resolve issues regarding separa- Kumar Sahoo while he was sell- The TPR is above 18 per cent in 21 60,000 per day and instructions tion of Plus II and Plus III. ing fruit on a pushcart. Sahoo sus- districts. a positivity rate of 24 per cent have been given by the govern- In 2019, both the departments tained injuries in the attack and was While Angul district was on top while it was 23.3 per cent in ment to conduct 70,000 per day decided to create separate infra- rushed to a hospital. position in the list with 36.1 per cent Nabarangpur, 23.2 per cent in from next week as the antigen test structure for Plus II and Plus III col- Soon, vegetable sellers of TPR, Khurda was in second posi- Nuapada, 22.6 per cent in Sonepur, kit availability has improved, leges in a phased manner. Badasankha staged a road block- tion with 33.5 per cent, followed by 21.6 per cent in Jagatsinghpur, 21.2 sources said. Sahoo asked the School and Mass ade to protest the incident. Boudh (33%), Bhadrak (32.7%), per cent in Sundargarh, 21.1 per The TPR is on declining path Education minister to complete the “Police personnel attacked me Balasore (32%), Bargarh (26.4%), cent in Bolangir, 20.3 per cent in in the districts like Bolangir, process of separating Plus II from and tried to drag me into the PCR Sambalpur (26%), Dhenkanal Jharsuguda, 19.8 per cent in Sambalpur, Sundergarh, Kalahandi, degree colleges by setting up sepa- van while I was gathering infor- (25.9%), Cuttack (25%), Jajpur Keonjhar and 19.5 per cent in Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Bhadrak, A volunteer distributes cooked food packets among the needy near rate infrastructure such as buildings mation on the incident,” Nayak (24.2%) and Kalahandi (24.1%) Mayurbhanj districts. Deogarh, Nabarangpur and Cuttack Railway station, Wednesday OP PHOTO and classrooms and also recruit- said. Similarly, Puri district witnessed Apart from the above list, seven Gajapati, the source said. ing teachers for Plus II classes. Protesting police highhanded- ness, Nayak staged a dharna on the Grand Road. Later, the issue was solved though mutual consulta- Make Covid testing mass movement: Pradhan tion, sources said. Naveen praises docs “There was an unfortunate in- AGENCIES and senior citizens to join the cam- than the national average. cident involving the policemen paign to make testing a mass move- According to data, 146 people and a working journalist. The po- Bhubaneswar, May 19: Union ment to combat Covid pandemic. per lakh were tested for the virus for saving newborn lice action was not intentional and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister The Union Minister said the en- in the country, while 120 per lakh the issue was resolved amicably. The Dharmendra Pradhan Wednesday tire country, including Odisha, is were tested for the viral infection journalist will not opt for any legal appealed to the people of Odisha to badly affected by the second wave of in Odisha till May 17. POST NEWS NETWORK recourse,” said a press note issued make Covid testing a mass move- the novel coronavirus. While the average testing rate by the police. ment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has per lakh in Kerala is 390, it is 417 in Bhubaneswar, May 19: Chief In a video message, Pradhan advised to chalk out strategy to in- Delhi. Minister Naveen Patnaik said people in Odisha are not com- crease testing, tracing and treatment Pradhan said that the positivity Wednesday appreciated the dedi- ing forward for testing due to fear ernment only, rather it is the re- to bring spread of the disease under rate in 14 districts of the state, in- cation of Dr Arijit Mohapatra and Door-to-door survey and misconception about Covid. sponsibility of the society and all control. cluding Sambalpur, Angul, Bargarh, his team of Jagannath Hospital To motivate the people to go for of us, he said. Pradhan said the testing rate in Sundargarh and Kalahandi, is in the city for helping a newborn to begin May 24 testing is not the job of the gov- Pradhan appealed to all Odias 23 districts of the coastal state is less higher than the national average. girl, Gudiya beat Covid-19 who was battling for life on a ventilator. POST NEWS NETWORK Gudiya’s successful win over Covid- OHRC for rehab of 19 is a silver lining amidst the bru- Bhubaneswar, May 19: Health and tal pandemic. Family Welfare department State energy sector has huge Balisahi displaced In his social media account he Wednesday decided to launch a Cuttack: The Odisha Human Rights admired the work of Dr Arijit door-to-door survey for monitor- Commission directed Cuttack Mohapatra and his team. ing Covid symptoms and co-mor- Collector and the Commissioner of As per report published in bid conditions among people May Cuttack Municipal Corporation to Orissa POST, in a rare case, a 25- 24. The three-month long survey will growth potential: DS Mishra day-old newborn baby, who was take immediate measures to continue till August 23, 2021. rehabilitate and resettle the people infected with Covid-19 and faced and found to be suffering from The department also created de- POST NEWS NETWORK frastructure support and has a Vishal Agarwal said the energy of Balisahi slum near Nuapada multiple organ failures, defeated the pneumonia. The team of doctors tailed action plan for undertaking large land bank. The state has its sector needs an integrated ap- area, affected due to road infection successfully. treating the patient put her on ven- house-to-house survey by ASHAs Bhubaneswar, May 19: The state’s plan for thermal and hydro power proach. Technology and innova- expansion. The direction came in The infant was admitted at a tilator for 10 days but her survival and Anganwadi workers. energy sector has a huge growth projects as the government is com- tions can bring in efficiency while response to a petition filed by rights private hospital in the city on the chance was thin owing to the in- As per action plan, they will potential as Odisha offers oppor- mitted to green energy.” areas such as digital media, smart activist and the chairman of 25th day after her birth. Earlier volvement of several organs and in- conduct regular fever surveillance tunities for industrial and com- The minister also said that the metering, smart grid, distributed ‘Human Rights of India’ organisation she developed Covid-like symp- fection at the tender age. at household level. They will also mercial development, said state government is open to suggestions generation, electric vehicles hold Manoj Jena. The commission also toms while her whole family was However, after regular moni- ensure that symptomatic cases un- Energy Minister Dibya Shankar from industry and assured full co- potential for future. directed both the authorities to infected with the virus. toring, medical assistance and use dergo early testing for Covid-19 at Mishra. operation for other states. He also M Shenbagam, CEO of TP submit a detailed report about the After diagnosis she was found of essential drugs like Remdesivir the nearest facility. Addressing at ASSOCHAM stated that Odisha believes in firm- Central Odisha Power Distribution incident during the next hearing by Covid positive. The patient, Gudiya and steroids, she was revived, doc- They will also create awareness Odisha Energy Meet Wednesday, ing up business friendly policies (Tata Power) spoke about the June 22. Around 1,200 families were belongs to Kalahandi district. She tors at Jagannath Hospital in the evicted from slums located at on Covid-appropriate behaviour Mishra said, “There would be sev- and is among the first that priva- capex investment and the exten- was admitted with several health city said. Behera Sahi, Ranihat Sagadia Sahi, by writing messages on Swasthya eral openings in renewable en- tised the power distribution. sive support of all stakeholders Pilgrim Road, Das Sahi, Malgodown issues owing to the viral infection. After treatment for three weeks, Kantha and distribution of leaflets ergy sector especially for solar Meanwhile, Chairman of AS- in terms of distribution and pri- Jalua Sahi for the expansion of The baby had complains of poor the baby was discharged in a

during door-to-door visit. segment as Odisha offers the in- SOCHAM Odisha State Council vatisation. Taladanda canal road. feeding, fever, respiratory distress healthy condition.

k y m c P5 THURSDAY | MAY 20 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR state

Few takers for OMC’s chrome ore e-bids Rackets push iron ore

k y m POST NEWS NETWORK c HUGE REVENUE LOSS MC has fixed the floor price smuggling along NH-53 Jajpur, May 19: The state govern- Oof chrome ore at 13. 5 per cent of the market price of ment lost revenues worth `10 crore ferrochrome. Accordingly, the as the e-auction of chrome ore floated floor price of chromites should by the Odisha Mining Corporation have been fixed at `12,214 in the (OMC) failed to attract buyers due e-auction Monday to wrong pricing of chrome ore, a re- port said. ver 7,000 metric tonnes Over 7,000 metric tonnes (MT) of O(MT) of chrome ore have chrome ore have remained unsold remained unsold as no firm as no firm participated in the bid. It participated in the bid. It was was alleged that no industrial firms However, OMC levied an addi- ores based on the advice of the con- 12.65 per cent of market price of fer- alleged that no industrial firms participated in the bid due to arbi- tional `3070 on the floor price lead- sultancy firm KPMG. Members of rochrome. However, the OMC had participated in the bid due to arbitrary pricing of ore trary pricing of ore. ing to price escalation. In the e-auc- Kalinganagar Industries Association fixed the floor price at `16, 527 in the The failure of the e-auction has tion, the floor price of ore was fixed (KNIA) and industrial bodies alleged bidding process April 23, this year. he failure of the e-auction has dealt a blow to the OMC. The failure at 15,284 per MT following which that the OMC has missed the op- It has also urged the OMC not to add Tdealt a blow to the OMC. The of the e-auction has also shocked not a single tonne of chrome was portunity to liquidate the stockpiles additional royalty to the floor price. failure of the e-auction has also 14 industrial firms dependent on sold during the auction. of ore due to a wrong formula and The floor price of the chrome ore is shocked 14 industrial firms the OMC for chrome ore. Trade The mining body could manage to price set by the KPMG. The mining linked to ferrochrome price, said the dependent on the OMC for unions have alleged that over 30,000 sell only 14,800 MT of ore out of corporation and the state excheq- industries’ body. Notably, firms that chrome ore. Trade unions have workers and labourers will lose their 35,100 MT put out for sale during uer have suffered huge losses due do not have captive mines are de- alleged that over 30,000 workers livelihood if the problem persists. an auction held April 23, 2021. to lower offtake of chrome ore. pendent on OMC for chrome ore. and labourers will lose their livelihood if the problem persists SYSTEM Reports said OMC has fixed the Similarly, OMC failed to dispose of They have requested the state- However, it has become difficult POST NEWS NETWORK floor price of chrome ore at 13. 5 per all the chrome ore during similar auc- owned OMC to revise the formula as for them to buy chrome ore from LOOPHOLES cent of the market price of fer- tions held January 11, 2021, February suggested by the Price Waterhouse OMC at current prices. They appre- PK Swain, regional officer of OMC, Chandikhole, May 19: Some rochrome. Accordingly, the floor price 10, 2021 and March 15, 2021. Coopers (PWC). The PWC had sug- hend that if the OMC does not re- refused to comment on the issue places along the Chandikhole- part from Kaudikhol, of chromites should have been fixed It was alleged that the OMC arbi- gested fixing the floor price of chrome duce chrome price, it might lead to clo- stating that the auction is conducted Paradeep Highway (NH-53) in ` ` Aseveral other road-side at 12,214 in the e-auction Monday. trarily fixes the floor price of chromite ores at 13, 457 per tonne which is sure of their plants. When contacted, by the sale committee. Jajpur district have turned out areas between Chandikhole to be hubs of iron ore smug- and Paradeep have emerged gling. The raw material is si- as convenient places for iron 16 Khadia tribals phoned off from transporting ore siphoning trade that BATTLE AGAINST VIRUS vehicles. Such illegal activities allegedly goes on with the have been flourishing due to help of local police in Similipal area several rackets active in the area, a report said. eputy director of mines test positive According to the report, thou- D(Jajpur Road) JS Banra sands of trucks have been en- said that raids will be carried out with departmental POST NEWS NETWORK gaged in mineral transporta- squads. And accordingly tion from various mines of action will be taken against Baripada, May 19: As many as 16 Keonjhar and Sundargarh dis- those promoting such members of the Khadia tribal com- tricts to the Paradeep Port. illegality, he added munity hailing from villages around Several iron ore-smuggling the buffer area of Similipal sanctuary rackets are active at Kaudikhol in Mayurbhanj district have tested and other places along the NH- buy such illegal iron ore for positive for Covid-19 Wednesday. 53. Members of rackets unload their use, it was alleged. A rapid response team (RRT), a part of ore from trucks with Apart from Kaudikhol, sev- comprising of doctors and Asha the help of truck drivers. Ore eral other road-side areas be- workers, immediately visited the mafia has enrolled scores of tween Chandikhole and tribal villages and checked on the truck drivers in their pay roll. Paradeep have emerged as con- health conditions of the tribals in It was learnt that as soon as venient places for iron ore si- the villages. The RRT members trucks start mineral trans- phoning trade that allegedly have taken readings of the body portation from mines, drivers goes on with the help of local temperature and accordingly dis- intimate the mafia over phone police. The Kaudikhol area falls tributed medicines, an official of the in advance and strike deals to under Mahanga police limits in RRT stated. According to sources, deliver the qualities of iron ore Cuttack district. Khadia tribals residing in Lulung, they want to sell. Locals alleged that the district Kakarapani, Kochilaghati, Tarajodi Moreover, mafia manages to level task force, formed to check and Godipokhari villages under obtain forged documents for all kinds of illegal activities in Shyamakhunta block located in Fire personnel sanitising Boinda area under Kishorenagar block in Angul district following a surge in Covid positives OP PHOTO the smuggled iron ore and trans- mining and transportation, has the buffer area have been visiting port them to various agencies failed to act against the mafia. Rangamatia community health at Paradeep. They have demanded rou- centre (CHC) for the last few days. Angry over vax halt, Reliable sources said, some tine raids at these places along truck drivers are handed out the Chandikhole-Paradeep 7-month pregnant nurse works temporary permits when they Highway. people stage protests carry minerals from mines. Deputy director of mines Mafia sent these permits on- (Jajpur Road) JS Banra said POST NEWS NETWORK line to transporting agencies. that raids will be carried out for Covid patients, wins heart Once approved, the smuggled with departmental squads. And Keonjhar, Mary 19: Failure to have anti- iron ore is sold with temporary accordingly action will be taken POST NEWS NETWORK Covid-19 jabs left people infuriating in permits. against those promoting such Keonjhar Wednesday. Alleging adminis- Even some sponge iron plants illegality, he added. Bolangir, May 19: The second trative apathy during the vaccination wave of the Covid-19 pandemic drive, they staged protests in front of the has wreaked havoc in India. Doctors Collector’s office, a report said. A couple of days ago, a mem- and healthcare workers have been According to the report, hundreds of peo- ber of the Khadia community of working round the clock to save ple had been waiting in queues outside a Lalpani village had tested positive lives. The doctors and nurses in vaccine centre in Keonjhar municipal- for Covid-19. Later, a medical team hospitals have been at the fore- ity since early in the morning. The ad- had visited the village and col- front of the battle against the pan- ministration had intimated about the lected swab samples which were demic. However, nurses have proved vaccine shortage on social media on the sent for RT-PCR testing. Meanwhile, to be the lifeline of India's fight previous day. However, many residents 16 of them have tested Covid pos- against Covid-19. were unaware of the fact. itive after their reports came in, the A pregnant staff nurse at special After hours of wait, they came to know official source added. newborn care unit (SNCU) in Bhima that vaccines have not been available to Owing to lack of adequate aware- Bhoi Medical College and Hospital Pragati Putel (24) of She said attending to Covid pa- the centre. They were infuriated at this and ness among tribals, many have (BBMCH) in Bolangir has set an ex- tients battling with lives has given marched towards the collectorate, where been getting infected from the ample for others by dedicating her- Rengaljuri village has her an opportunity to do some- they staged a demonstration. deadly virus with no precautions self to the services of Covid patients. risked her life by thing for them. She believes her Collector Ashish Thakare came out of being taken to stop the spread of the She is now seven months pregnant. services to the patients will defi- his residence and held talks with the ag- pandemic. “Although Covid-19 had The staff nurse identified as dedicating herself to nitely have a positive impact on itating people. The locals were explained not reached out to tribals during the Pragati Putel, 24, is a native of the services of her unborn child as ‘service to about the situation. first wave, they are contracting Rengaljuri village under mankind is service to god.’ Covid-19 positive cases and casualties the virus in large numbers dur- Khaprakhol block in Bolangir dis- Covid patients Her husband Rajiv Putel has are spiralling in Keonjhar. Panicked, ing the second wave,” a doctor of trict. She is now pregnant for the inspired her most and given her peolpe are desperate to take jabs and RRT Uttam Dash said. second time after losing her first Covid patients. Reports said, she courage to attend to the Covid pa- throng various vaccine centres in the Notably, the infected Khadia pregnancy last year while attend- stayed calm and collected despite tients in the hospital. Her hus- town every day. community members have been ing to Covid patients. losing her first pregnancy and band accompanies her daily from However, it was learnt that supply of put in quarantine at a nearby However, that hasn’t deterred has been providing healthcare the village and drops her at the vaccine doses not match with the num- facility. The tribals are infected by her from discharging her duty. services to Covid and other pa- hospital and again takes her back ber of people having registered online for the virus due to exposure while District Collector Chanchal Rana tients since then. She did not even home, 80 km from the district head- vaccination. Locals demanded that on- going out in search of work or has appreciated the work of the hesitate to work for the Covid pa- quarters of Bolangir. Her in-laws line registration and vaccine availabil- even for buying daily essentials staff nurse and has thanked her for tients when the second wave of and parents have also inspired her ity should be streamlined in the larger in the local markets. her dedicated service towards the corornavirus struck the state. in her work. interest of people. Women turn marigold farming into a gold mine POST NEWS NETWORK OLM and ORMAS are jointly working for Sambalpur, May 19: With the state women government promoting women em- empowerment through powerment, many women SHGs have taken up various income-gen- income-generating activities erating activities that have made PUSHPASHRI NAYAK I OLM COORDINATOR them self-sufficient in the state. A case in point is an SHG work- ing, he or she can have good earn- ing in Baham panchayat under ing,” they observed. Jujumara block in Sambalpur dis- They lamented that due to pan- trict. The women of this group have demic, the flower business has been set an example for others by script- caught in slump with restrictions ing success in marigold farming imposed on political meetings, tem- that earns them `25000 a month. ples, religious activities and wed- Marigold farming has been a main dings. They are worried about unsold source of earning for the SHG named flowers that are left to rot. They are as Pudapada Brukhya Surakhya. now planning to use unsold flow- “Every week, nearly one and a half ers to make gum and perfumes. quintals of flower are produced from Dry flowers and the flowers aban- our farm. We get Rs5000 to Rs6000 The Odisha Livelihood Mission gested to take up marigold flower the women did all other works – from doned after rituals are being recycled from its sales. But lockdown has im- (OLM) and ORMAS are the support farming and they were imparted planting saplings to harvesting flow- in other states, they pointed out, stat-

pacted our flower business. Temples base for these women. “OLM and training on it. Two years ago, they took ers. They irrigate their farms with ing that a cold store is required to pre-

k y m c and religious places are shut while ORMAS are jointly working on up flower cultivation. They had taken water from a bore well and at times serve the unsold flowers. weddings and other ceremonies have women empowerment. The SHG flower saplings from Niladunguri from a nearby pond. Several other SHGs have also suc- been restricted,” they said. members had applied for income-gen- nursery of the horticulture depart- “Saplings were planted in January cessfully taken up flower cultiva- However, in normal months, erating activities,” said Pushpashri ment. The male members of their fam- and February. Flower harvesting tion in Bamara and Kuchinda areas. marigold flower sales mount to Nayak, the coordinator of the OLM. ilies extended a helping hand to them starts in March and continues till But sometimes they also face `25,000 to `30,000. Thereafter, the women were sug- by tilling the farmland. However, June. If someone takes up this farm- distress sale. P6 THURSDAY | MAY 20 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR power post

FOCUS PLANET Always do what you know to be

the best even if it is the most

k y m difficult thing to do. c THE MOTHER THE CLIMATE X FACTOR

limate change and bio- use of wind and solar power, which diversity loss are the most are already the least costly op- pressing challenges of tions for power generation in many Green Funeral Cour time, so all respon- parts of the world. sible political leaders must offer New technologies will enable he day that the COVID testing team (I have no idea where they came long-term policies for confronting a major shift toward sustainably from. There are so many astronaut like creatures floating about from them effectively. We need clear fueled transportation in many de- Tso many different departments, governments, hospitals, testing cen- strategies based on achievable tar- veloped and developing countries. tres, that I stopped wondering a long time ago and now just meekly submit gets, and we must be bold in de- They will not only allow us to re- to sticks being poked into my nose and throat, and blood taken) declared I ploying all means at our disposal. duce global CO2 emissions, but had the virus, my thoughts went immediately to death. So many people I know In particular, any credible climate will also position many industries have died. Two died when I was on the phone trying to get oxygen for them. strategy must take proper account to become carbon-negative in the Another was admitted by me into hospital after begging the owner. Every of technological innovation. future. morning a person I know turns into a memory. With the goal of becoming cli- But technology will not solve the So, the next step was, what would I like to do with my body? If I have COVID mate neutral by 2035 and carbon climate crisis for us. We also need there is not much that can be done: they will probably come and take it, wrap negative (removing more atmos- to create the right policy envi- it up in plastic and throw it in the heap to be burnt. pheric carbon than is emitted) ronment. A key component of the But I don’t want to be burnt. I want to go like the actor Luke Perry. For soon thereafter, Finland’s climate The climate and biodiversity crises we face green transition will be higher years I have been demanding from my family that I be buried in my garden, Sanna Marin targets are among the most am- demand that we not only shift to carbon- carbon pricing, which requires that part of the earth that I have turned into a forest of calm and wonder. bitious in the world. My country coordination and support at the in- When I wake up every day, I throw the door open to see its beauty. I hear the aims to be a leader among ad- neutral energy sources, but also usher in a ternational level. Agreeing on sus- sounds of hundreds of busy birds day and night. I watch the seasons change vanced economies, not just in circular economy in which a significant share of tainable criteria for carbon-mar- STRANGE terms of emissions reductions, as the berries of the trees change. My granddaughter found two four-leaved material resources are reused and repurposed ket mechanisms would be an clovers hidden in the undergrowth. I want to be buried in this wild place. AS IT MAY but also by ushering in a circular important step forward. And gov- This Eden created by me, where all the trees are alive and the old Pipal tree economy focused on sustainabil- ernments should do more to sup- looks after us all. SOUND, WE ARE ity and the elimination of waste. able products such as textiles and could become a source of syn- port structural changes through I don’t want to be embalmed. I don’t want to be cremated in that ugly emo- Our plan is to double our resource construction materials, thereby thetic liquid and gaseous fuels for regulatory frameworks and fi- tionless, soot filled government crematorium, and I would just die of shame NOT FAR FROM efficiency and circularity rate safeguarding biodiversity by re- carbon-neutral road, maritime, nancial incentives. if I learnt that I was burnt with wood. BEING ABLE TO (the percentage of all material ducing the demand for resources and air transportation. These The global transition away from But how do I want to be buried? Not wrapped that is fed back into the economy) harvested from our forests. And methods produce synthetic fossil fuels will require a trans- in an old white sheet and smothered with salt. I CREATE FUELS by 2035. ‘Power-to-X’ conversion tech- methanol as an intermediate prod- formational shift in energy pro- want to be interred like the actor Luke Perry. OUT OF These are the key benchmarks nologies open the door for a vari- uct, which can then be converted duction and industrial processes. Luke Perry died at the age of 52. I had never on our path to becoming the first ety of processes that turn elec- into gasoline, kerosene, and diesel. And even then, much more work heard of him before he died, but his burial in- THIN AIR country to liberate itself from fos- tricity into heat, hydrogen, or Strange as it may sound, we are not will need to be done to develop a terested me. He was buried in his farm in a suit sil fuels. But achieving climate synthetic fuels. far from being able to create fuels genuinely circular and green econ- made of mushrooms, a mycelium based coffin targets is not possible without bet- With more investment and in- out of thin air. omy. Different countries will have designed to accelerate natural decomposition, and ter methods of preserving our novation, these technologies could These new technologies and different needs and advantages. help remediate contaminated soils. It neutralizes Maneka Gandhi valuable natural resources. allow us to part ways with coal, oil, processes may start out with a But the best solutions will be the toxins and boosts plant growth. Scientific discovery, new tech- and natural gas, by making it pos- large price tag. But as we’ve seen ones that can be scaled up in in- There is a company called Coeio.com that I cannot bear the nologies, and innovation will play sible to produce synthetic fuels with solar panels and fuel cells, a dustrialised and developing coun- makes them in America. “The self-recycling or- a central role in any long-term so- from captured carbon-dioxide technology’s costs tend to plummet tries alike. ganic cotton suit/shroud is infused with a bio- idea of being lution. emissions. Here, one can start as soon as its usage starts to scale The bottom line is that global mix of mushroom mycelium and other mi- environmentally But, first, all national leaders with the existing industrial flue up. Moreover, markets for other emissions must peak soon if we croörganisms that aid in decomposition, work vicious to other living must examine more closely how gases generated by bio-based in- new climate-friendly technologies want to achieve our emissions- to neutralize toxins found in the body, and trans- they intend to move their countries dustry, cement kilns, and solid are developing quickly, though reduction targets and avert fu- fer nutrients to plant life, so that the remains of beings when I die away from fossil fuels. The focus waste incinerators. But soon these vary in depth and scope, de- ture climate disasters. The full the person lost end up helping create new life.” should be on increasing the use of enough, new technologies could be pending on the level of govern- suite of promising new tech- “My dad discovered it, and was more excited by this than I have ever seen fuels and energy sources that do developed to harness less con- ment support (through measures nologies will need to be devel- him,” his daughter wrote on Instagram. “He was buried in this suit, one of not compromise biodiversity. We centrated sources of carbon, such such as blending regulations for oped, optimised, and deployed his final wishes. They are truly a beautiful thing for this beautiful planet, must encourage uptake of fuels that as by collecting exhaust air from fuels and carbon pricing). globally if we are going to create and I want to share it with all of you.” adhere to strict sustainability cri- office buildings or even by direct For example, promising new a fully climate-neutral, circular The idea came from the Dutch researcher Bob Hendrikx. The Living teria and reduce emissions air capture (DAC). hydrogen-based technologies will world economy. Cocoon, as he calls it in his company Loop, is made from mycelium -- the thread- throughout their lifecycle. Experimentation is already un- require a massive increase in fos- The writer is like, vegetative part of a fungus. The idea is to accelerate the natural For example, the byproducts of derway. Using hydrogen produced sil-fuel-free electricity production Prime Minister processes of decomposition, while also improving the surrounding soil as biomass fuels can be used for high- by electrolysis, CO2 emissions in order to achieve scale. But this of Finland. the body and its container gradually break down within a couple of years. quality sustainable and biodegrad- from industrial plants and DAC need can be met by expanding the ©PROJECT SYNDICATE The Living Cocoon is made from fungal mycelium mixed with an or- ganic substrate and placed into a mould. The mycelium gradually con- sumes the substrate, slowly growing to fill the mould to form the shape of the coffin, a process that takes about a week. The process is natural: it does- n’t require any heat, light or energy. As it breaks down in the soil it removes SPECTRUM ODISHA contaminants like heavy metals, petroleum-based fuels, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides and more. As Hendrikx explains, the aim is to use the transformative powers of mycelium to close the loop of life. “Our behaviour is not only parasitic, it’s also short-sighted. The Living Cocoon enables people to become one with na- Fiscal prudence amid crisis ture again, and to enrich the soil instead of polluting it.” Hendrikx adds, “This will help us to convince local municipalities in the he COVID-19 pandemic has largest and has a maximum rev- Did Odisha mobilise more rev- Management Act by maintaining future to transform polluted areas into healthy woodland, using our bodies posed serious fiscal chal- enue surplus. Therefore, I focus on enue during the pandemic to main- revenue surplus and also fiscal as nutrients.” Tlenges before the Union and Odisha for a detailed fiscal analy- tain a higher revenue surplus and surplus in a few years. For a poor Even in death humans kill the planet. Some religions embalm bodies so state governments. Keeping in view sis during 2020-21. reduce the fiscal deficit? Compared state like Odisha, how far is this that the dead look as if they are sleeping. In just one country – the USA- buri- the slowdown of GDP/GSDP Before we get into a detailed to the previous year, Odisha’s total fiscal over-discipline wise? The als entail the use of approximately 4.3 million gallons of embalming fluid growth rates, states were ready to fiscal analysis, we should know revenue receipts have fallen by 5.8 state had a poverty rate of 32.6 per a year, according to Cornell University research, and 827,060 gallons of that embrace a significant revenue con- the relative economic position of per cent from `90,288.70 crore in cent in 2011–12 (Tendulkar method- is formaldehyde, methanol, benzene, glutaraldehyde and phenol. They put traction and explore ways to fi- the state vis-à-vis the national February 2020 to `85,019.23 crore in ology) compared to the national the bodies into caskets which are increasing more expensive and bizarre. nance a large deficit. In order to cope level. In 2019, Odisha’s per capita February 2021. Tax revenue has average of 21.92 per cent. Of the 30 Caskets and vaults use 20 million board-feet of hardwoods, including rain- up with the fiscal shock, the Union GSDP at `1, 12, 907 was 80 per cent fallen by 8.6 per cent from `54601.49 districts of the state, 10 are recog- forest woods, as well as 17,000 tonne of copper and bronze, 64,500 tonne of Finance Minister had relaxed the of the national average of `1, 40, crore in February 2020 to `49924.88 nised as aspirational districts by steel leaches iron, copper, lead, zinc and cobalt into the environment. And Fiscal Responsibility and Budget 422. The tax GSDP ratio of the crore in February 2021. GST col- the NITI Aayog. As per the rank- thousands of tonnes of toxic plastic. The funeral industry itself earns over Management Rules and allowed state was 6.2 per cent against the lection has fallen by 4.1 per cent. ing on the SDG Index of the NITI 20 billion dollars. And it takes more than 10 years for the body to decompose states to borrow extra two per cent national average of 6.3 per cent. The Stamps and registration fees have Aayog (2019), Odisha ranked 16th and leach all these toxic substances into the soil. of GSDP. State governments were state government has proposed to gone up by 95 per cent. Land rev- among Indian states. The state Other religions cremate. Lakhs of trees are cut down, especially mango allowed to incur up to five per cent spend `1,50,000 core during 2020- enue collection has gone up by 10.6 needs to improve its performance trees. There will come a time in the next twenty years when there will be Amarendra Das fiscal deficit from the normal time 21. The state government had `6,500 per cent. Sales tax has fallen by 1.6 in 10 out of 17 indicators, namely no mangoes left in a mango country. Cremation in an electric crematorium target of three per cent of GSDP. crore off-budget resources under per cent. State excise duty collec- on SDG–1 No Poverty, SDG–2 Zero is not much better. The process uses fossil fuels to reach, and maintain, 1,900 The state governments fought hard multiple sources like the Odisha tion has fallen by 16.4 per cent. Hunger, SDG–3 Good Health and degrees Fahrenheit for more than two hours, releasing dioxins and mercury FOR A POOR with the Union government to avail Mineral Bearing Area Development State’s share in the Union Taxes has Wellbeing, SDG–4 Quality into the air and water, and creating byproducts like nitrogen oxide, dioxins STATE LIKE the promised GST compensation at Corporation, District Mineral fallen the most by 21.5 per cent. Education, SDG–6 Clean Water and particulates that are found in acid rain. any cost. At the end of the fiscal year Fund, state PSUs during 2020-21. Collection of other taxes has gone and Sanitation, SDG–7 Affordable I cannot bear the idea of being environmentally vicious to other living be- ODISHA, 2020-21, let’s see how the states have By February 2021, the state had up by 19.4 per cent compared to and Clean Energy, SDG–8 Decent ings when I die. So an eco-friendly way will have to be found. It may seem HOW FAR IS managed their finances. spent only `91,808.96 crore against the situation in February 2020. Work and Economic Growth, bizarre now, but people will move towards “green funerals.” Starting with For most of the states, the the total expenditure of `1,03,425.18 Overall, non-tax revenue collec- SDG–9 Industry, Innovation and urns that biodegrade and grow into trees as the seeds within mix with the THIS FISCAL monthly data provided by the CAG crore by February 2020, which is tion has gone up by 21.5 per cent, Infrastructure, SDG–11 Sustainable ashes of the cremated human. is available up to February 2021. an 11.2 per cent reduction in total in which grants-in-aid has fallen Cities and Communities, and The concept of transforming our dead bodies into something that will nur- OVER-DISCIPLINE Only for a few states is it avail- spending. by 14.6 per cent. The borrowing SDG–16 Peace, Justice, and Strong ture the earth again is something that appeals to me. All these years all the WISE? able up to October (Arunachal Surprisingly, during the time of and other liabilities of the state have Institutions. animals that have shared my life and gone to that great Heaven, where my Pradesh) or December (Assam a major socio-economic crisis fallen by 45 per cent. The 15th Finance Commission, husband lives, have been buried in the garden and we have grown trees on and Bihar). Among all states, only caused by the pandemic, Odisha has The state has reduced the rev- in its state-specific recommendation, their bodies. They have simply changed form – as I will, if you allow me this Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, chosen to maintain revenue surplus enue expenditure by 8.5 per cent and has suggested the Odisha govern- luxury after I die. Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and reduce the fiscal deficit com- capital expenditure by 25.8 per ment “take decisive steps to break Odisha, and Uttarakhand had pared to last year. By the end of cent. In sectoral spending, the state the low-income trap and improve To join the animal welfare movement contact [email protected], recorded revenue surplus, and all February 2021, Odisha had `5,435.76 has reduced the social sector ex- social outcomes. But it is hard to www.peopleforanimalsindia.org other states had revenue deficits. crore revenue surplus compared to penditure spending by 15.6 per understand why the state govern- All states have recorded fiscal `3,346.44 crore during February cent and economic sector spending ment prefers to be fiscally prudent deficits at different levels. Among 2020. The fiscal deficit of Odisha fell by 14 per cent compared to and remain socially bankrupt.” WISDOM CORNER the states with a registered revenue to `7,664.58 crore in February 2021 February 2020. surplus, data is not available up to from `13,968.96 crore in February For a long time, Odisha has been The writer is February for two states. Among the 2020. What does it imply for a poor over-complying with the Fiscal Reader-F (Economics), Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. ALFRED LORD TENNYSON rest four states, Odisha is the state like Odisha? Responsibility and Budget NISER Bhubaneswar. Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU

The time is always right to do what is right. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Shailaja shunned Safe vaccination Judicial transparency

Sir, The exclusion of popular health Sir, Vaccination has started almost Sir, Accessibility to the day-to-day trials of higher courts is WORDSWORTH minister KK Shailaja from the sec- everywhere in the country. However, a far cry for the majority of Indians. High courts and their etters ond Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF gov- in Cuttack it is quite disappointing benches and the SC are located in major cities as a result of Natiform ernment in Kerala has raised eye- to see crowds at vaccination centres which a common man is handicapped to be there physi- omething natiform resembles or has the form of the buttocks. It derives brows. Barring the Chief Minister, not following Covid protocols. This cally. The appellate courts are attended by only a handful of from Latin nates, plural of natis, a buttock. Ammon Shea mentions this TOL THE EDITOR no other CPM member from the out- has been happening as there is fixed people apart from judges and concerned lawyers. The gen- S word in his book Reading the OED, in which he records his experience of Readers of Orissa POST going Cabinet made it to the new time duration in a day to get the vac- eral public has a shockingly altered conception about court spending a year scanning the second edition of the Oxford English Dictionary are most welcome to contribute letters Cabinet, which also has the chief min- cine and that duration is not enough proceedings. It is often swayed by highly exaggerated depic- cover to cover, all 21,730 pages of it. He wrote that he was surprised to learn (200 words), articles and ister’s son-in-law and DYFI national to cater to the people waiting for tion of court proceedings in cinemas. Due to the pandemic, most columns (between 750-1250 that it had never been used as an insult, so refuting the premise of an entry words). Contributors are president Mohammed Riyas. Shailaja vaccination. The state government of India’s higher courts have gone virtual, the first time in the in Depraved and Insulting English, which he earlier wrote with Peter requested to send their had gained international fame and should take action against people country’s judicial history. Even here, barring the presiding judges, Novobatzky. This may be explained easily enough. The word never moved contact numbers and full became the face of the LDF government flouting Covid protocols at vacci- the lawyers and their clients, no others are privy to the pro-

beyond a limited medical circulation and so it never gained the instant postal address/email ID. They may also on handling the Covid-19 and Nipah nation centres. Besides, more pre- ceedings. If key cases of national importance are telecast live

k y m send in their valuable comments, opinion c recognition necessary for it to be applied insultingly. Also, it has never been and suggestions, preferably by email, outbreaks in the state. Though the cautionary steps should be taken to then the open court concept propagated by many judges may employed to refer to the buttocks themselves, instead always to some to: [email protected] CPI(M) defended the policy to rotate make the vaccination process smooth receive a boost. No less than the CJI NV Ramana has ex- anatomical feature that contains a deep cleft. The OED marks it as obsolete, responsibility, one suspects that and safe. Otherwise the vaccination pressed his keenness to permit live telecast of important though natiform skull, bony nodules on the surface of the skull in infants Shailaja’s larger-than-life image made centres may become Covid hotspots. cases. Live airing of court hearings will provide the much needed with congenital syphilis (also called Parrot nodes), is in some current B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, the party clip her wings. Swagatika Pradhan, shot in the arm for public participation and judicial transparency. medical dictionaries. Bhubaneswar-751010 NJ Ravi Chander, BANGALORE CUTTACK Ganapathi Bhat, AKOLA KARNATAKA P7 DELHI

THURSDAY | MAY 20 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m AAP, BJP spar over Singapore tweet ‘Karnataka inviting c

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA presence is ascertained through another Covid wave genome sequencing. It is a differ- New Delhi, May 19: The AAP ent strain (in Singapore) indeed. Wednesday alleged that the BJP Whether it is from Singapore, Delhi, by reducing testing’ and its government were more con- America or London, what's im- cerned about their image abroad portant is that the strains are dif- than the children in India after ferent,” he told reporters. the saffron party accused Delhi Sisodia said, "Kejriwal talked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of Singapore strain and the chil- of serious violation of constitu- dren. The issue is not Singapore but tional propriety with his remarks safety of our children," he said. on COVID strain in Singapore. The deputy chief minister fur- The two parties sparred after ther alleged that the Centre had Singapore called the Indian envoy failed to act when scientists and doc- and conveyed to him its strong ob- tors alerted about the "London jections to the ‘unfounded asser- strain" of COVID which has now tions’ by Kejriwal and External Meddling in foreign policy It only indicates that party and its central led to large number of deaths in Affairs Minister S Jaishankar ticked matters which is as per the government are more worried about Singapore India. Chief Minister Arvind off the Delhi chief minister, saying Constitution of India is not a and how Singapore views us. They will Kejriwal rightly notified two facts he does not speak for India and ir- state subject amounts to serious not bring vaccines for children but to the public- firstly, the development responsible comments from those violation of constitutional propriety worry about Singapore of new strain in Singapore and who should know better can dam- GAURAV BHATIA I BJP SPOKESPERSON MANISH SISODIA I DELHIDYCM secondly how this strain might af- age long-standing partnerships. fect children and India needed to PRESS TRUST OF INDIA to two lakh a week now. In his controversial tweet, be careful, Sisodia said. “This is not a nice thing. It does- Kejriwal had Tuesday called for spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said. anarchy and seems to be compet- procuring vaccines from other "However, instead of preparing Bangalore, May 19: Karnataka n’t help, according to me. Every test cancelling all air services with He charged Kejriwal with seek- ing with the Congress in propa- countries, with which it has re- or taking any action on this im- may be inviting another wave of denied is a denied opportunity for Singapore with immediate effect, ing political mileage at the cost of gating lies and destabilizing the acted to Kejriwal’s statement,” portant input, the Central gov- COVID-19 in the state by reducing entire life of a person, especially saying ‘a new strain’ of coron- India’s image with his ‘irrespon- country,” Bhatia charged. Sisodia said. He said the BJP-led ernment has shown condemnable the number of tests from 1.9 lakh for the vulnerable. If the government avirus found there could reach sible’ tweet and said the Delhi chief The Aam Aadmi Party fielded government needs to prioritise behaviour by playing cheap politics daily a month ago to over 93,000 now, doesn't test, vulnerable may not test Delhi and was ‘very dangerous’ minister keeps making ‘hue and cry’ Deputy Chief Minister Manish children, instead of playing politics of blame and lies," he alleged. warned a member of the state positive. Therefore they may not for children. over one issue or another so that Sisodia and Health Minister and "fixing its image" abroad. “It only indicates that party and COVID-19 Technical Advisory get treatment and that person may “Meddling in foreign policy mat- nobody questions him on his ‘all- Satyendar Jain to defend Kejriwal. Jain too claimed there was a its central government are more Committee (TAC). lose his life,” Babu said. ters which is as per the Constitution round failure’ in dealing with the “Vaccines would be available ‘different strain’ of coronavirus worried about Singapore and how The state had conducted 97,236 Babu and another TAC member of India is not a state subject COVID-19 pandemic in the city. for the adults as well as children in spreading in Singapore. Singapore views us. They will not tests Monday out of which 38,603 Dr C N Manjunath, who is the di- amounts to serious violation of “Kejriwal has presented his the country, had our foreign min- “There are many strains of coro- bring vaccines for children but people were found to be positive rector of Jayadeva Institute of constitutional propriety,” BJP toolkit of spreading confusion and istry shown same swiftness in navirus in India at present... Their worry about Singapore,” he said. whereas Tuesday 93,247 tests were Cardiovascular Sciences and done and 30,309 people tested pos- Research, said a door-to-door sur- itive. This was in sharp contrast to vey and extensive use of Rapid 1.72 lakh tests April 28 and 1.9 lakh Antigen Tests could offer a solution ICU ON WHEELS April 24. in early detection of infections. Delhi govt prepares Batting for extensive COVID-19 “Now the Rapid Antigen Tests tests, Dr Giridhara R Babu, a TAC have also been pushed into the test- member and Professor of ing protocols. Because, when the Epidemiology at the Public Health testing rate is very high, Rapid to protect children Foundation of India, said those Antigen Tests are very handy, which who have not been tested yet could can test in three to five minutes,” be spreading the infections further. Dr Manjunath said. “In a way we are inviting third The suggestions of door-to-door from third wave wave because people are spreading survey came a day after Prime the infection and that will continue Minister Narendra Modi asked the PRESS TRUST OF INDIA dren from the third wave, adequate to fast transmit and then it will re- district collectors and deputy com- beds, oxygen and a better man- sult in more people getting infected missioners of the districts with New Delhi, May 19: Delhi Chief agement of essential medicines,” and we cannot solve this problem. high prevalence of COVID to go Minister Arvind Kejriwal Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. The only solution right now is to test for aggressive testing. Karnataka Wednesday said his government He said the number of beds in extensively,” Babu told PTI. Tuesday reported its highest ever will form a special task force com- the city hospitals will be increased To a question whether reducing single day recovery with 58,395 dis- prising paediatricians and senior on priority, along with an enhanced tests was a cost-cutting measure of charges, outnumbering fresh cases IAS officers to protect children oxygen allocation, according to the government, Babu said lives lost which is at 30,309. However, the from the third wave of COVID-19. the statement. cannot be compared to the test kit state recorded a spike in fatalities A committee of officials will The chief minister directed the price. “How do you cut cost? I am told at 525, as the total number of in- also be formed to overlook the avail- officials to work in advance to ensure that there is Rs 30 per kit, which is fections stood at 22,72,374 and the ability of medicines, oxygen and a sufficient number of oxygen least in terms of price now. When the toll at 22,838. The number of new beds in the national capital, a state- tankers and proper functioning of test kits are so economical why they COVID-related deaths Monday was ment issued by the Delhi govern- oxygen plants for an optimum sup- (government) have not scaled up 476. Out of the 30,309 fresh cases reg- ment said. ply of the life-saving gas to hospitals. buying? This is the best time buy the istered Tuesday, 8,676 were from Kejriwal convened a meeting The third wave may require Delhi kits,” the epidemiologist said. Bangalore Urban alone, which is with officials to review the cur- to be prepared with 40,000 oxy- He expressed concern over the a decline of over 4,600 cases com- rent COVID situation in Delhi and genated beds and the city government reduction in the number tests in pared to Monday, when the city deliberate on the measures to be is making preparations to install A state road transport bus converted into an ICU for needy Covid-19 patients in Bangalore, Wednesday. PTI PHOTO Bangalore from six lakh a week had reported 13,338 cases. taken to prevent the third wave of 10,000 ICU beds, the statement said. the pandemic, it added. The management of medicines Deputy Chief Minister Manish was also discussed at the meeting. Sisodia, who is also the nodal min- “Increased number of COVID ister for COVID-19, and Health beds also require an increased As daily cases decline, vacant beds increase at Delhi hospitals Minister Satyendar Jain were pres- amount of oxygen allocation to ent at the meeting. hospitals. We need to keep enough PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Wednesday, as per the corona claiming a massive number of lives “If the third wave of the coron- oxygen tankers at hand so that we app, 11,429 beds with oxygen sup- daily, with the recent oxygen sup- avirus emerges, we have to be pre- do not fall short of supply. We also New Delhi, May 19: Amid a steady ply were vacant and 1,246 ICU beds ply shortage issue at hospitals, pared in advance to fight it. Took need to ensure optimum oxygen fall in daily cases of COVID-19 in were available till about 11 am for adding to the woes. some important decisions today at storage and proper functioning of the national capital, the number of COVID patients. The wave which began late a meeting with officials -- to cre- oxygen plants,” Kejriwal told the vacant beds has again started to go At the Delhi government-run March, spiralled up with over 28,000 ate a special task force to protect chil- officials. up at hospitals, offering some re- hospitals, the tally of vacant ICU cases being recorded April 20. lief to coronavirus patients and beds were -- GTB Hospital (411 beds The national capital had re- their families. out of 900), LNJP Hospital (266 out ported a record 448 COVID-19 deaths According to Delhi corona app, of 750), Rajiv Gandhi Super in a day and 18,043 cases May 3. till about 11 am Wednesday, 13,791 Speciality Hospital (133 out of 325), Medical experts say that while beds were available, out of the total among other facilities. At Centre- lockdown majorly has brought 27,726 beds across the facilities, run facilities, ths figures for va- down the count of daily cases, the government or private-run. cant ICU beds were -- Safdarjung severity of cases is still the same, About a few weeks ago, in the mid- Hospital (10 out of 80) and AIIMS so “we should not lower our guards”. dle of the worst phase of the second (6 out of 72), as per the app. Sunday, 6,456 cases and 262 deaths wave of the pandemic, there was a COVID beds with oxygen sup- were reported, while the tally was massive shortage of beds with oxy- port were also available at many fa- Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital numbers, and doctors say the sever- 6,430 with 337 deaths on Saturday, gen supply, and ICU beds and ICU cilities across the city -- LNJP hos- (283 out of 475), as per the app. The ity of cases is still the same as it was and 4,524 cases and 340 deaths beds with ventilators, with cases spi- pital (1,198 beds out of 1,750), GTB COVID-19 situation has improved a few weeks ago. Monday. Tuesday, the cases fur- ralling up to as high as over 28,000 Hospital (758 out of 1,250), Sardar in the last few days, with daily cases Delhi has been reeling under a ther dipped to 4,482, while the pos- April 20, with a huge number of Vallabhbhai Patel COVID hospital on the decline, however, fatalities brutal second wave of the pan- itivity rate slipped to 6.89 per cent, fatalities recorded every day. run by DRDO (269 out of 500), Rajiv are still being recorded in large demic that is sweeping the country, according to official data. Braving risks, volunteers tend to the sick & the dead Karnataka announces REUTERS passed 10,000 Tuesday and its daily `1,111cr Covid relief package number of new infections has over- Bangalore, May 19: Every day taken those of Mumbai and New after he wraps up the online classes Delhi. More than a third of INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Announcing the relief package he teaches at a Bangalore college, Bangalore’s fatalities have occurred here, Yediyurappa told media per- Akshay Mandlik puts on his mask, I took some time so far in May. Bangalore, May 19: Amidst spec- sons that the state government re- gloves and overalls and heads out to think about getting Informal groups of volunteers ulations about extending lockdown alises the need of a relief package to help bury the COVID-19 dead. involved as I am not have sprung up, with the likes of IT due to rising Covid cases in rural as people from all sections of society The 37-year-old professor of so- vaccinated, but the professionals, investment bankers, parts of the state, Karnataka gov- are facing financial difficulties due cial work is one of many citizen vol- need of the hour was estate agents and students working ernment Wednesday announced to Covid. “There is no respite from unteers across India who have greater than my own fear together to locate critical care beds, a relief package of Rs 1,111.82 crore this dreaded virus, therefore, we are stepped up to help families affected AKSHAY MANDLIK I PROFESSOR stocks of Remdesivir, oxygen con- for those in distress due to the announcing this relief package by the country's devastating second centrators or ambulances. Covid induced lockdown. second time since last May, 2020,” wave, often risking their own per- Azmat Mohammed, 44, said he Karnataka also announced plans the CM said. sonal safety. Muteeb Zoheb, both well-known had taken a sabbatical from his to hire 2,150 doctors in the next He noted that farmers includ- Mandlik helps grieving relatives motorcycle racers and entrepre- job in IT to help full-time, while three days to ramp-up its Covid ing flower growers are facing severe find burial spaces, carry the dead neurs, are now volunteering as law student Akshaya, 22, said she treatment facilities across the state. problems due to Covid induced and even dig graves when no ambulance drivers in Bangalore, was balancing classes with her The Covid relief package, an- lockdowns, shutdowns and other gravedigger is available. responding to hundreds of calls COVID volunteering. nounced by Karnataka Chief forms of severe restrictions en- “I took some time to think about every week. “I believe that if we do good, Minister BS Yediyurappa aims forced by the governments from getting involved as I am not vac- Zoheb, 33, said he and his brother you get back good,” said Akshaya, to bring relief to unorganised time to time to contain the virus.

cinated, but the need of the hour decided to volunteer a month ago who prefers to use only her first labour class and farmers, flower- Karnataka announced com-

k y m c was greater than my own fear,” after hearing accounts of families name. growers, washermen, rag pick- pensation of Rs 10,000 per hectare Mandlik said. being overcharged by professional “I attend classes and go to the ers, porters, low-wage labourers, to the maximum extent of one India, the world’s biggest vac- ambulance services. cemetery for burials. I also spend tailors, barbers, housemaids, hectare for the flower, fruits and veg- cine producer, has fully vaccinated population as of Wednesday. for help on social media and in With the epicentre of India’s time collaborating with other peo- auto rickshaw and taxi drivers, etable growers who have suffered just over 40.9 million people, or Volunteers say they have been their local communities. second wave constantly shifting, ple to help with ambulances. It is weavers, construction workers loss, which will benefit 89,000 such only 3.3 per cent of its 1.35 billion moved to act by desperate pleas Brothers Murthaza Junaid and Bangalore’s COVID-19 death toll a lot of multi-tasking.” and folk artists. growers in the state. P8 In Kerala, so far 15 cases of PM CONDUCTS AERIAL SURVEY OF GUJARAT black fungus has been THURSDAY | MAY 20 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday reported and the saving grace is this approved assistance Rs 1,000 crore for "immediate will not spread from one affected to relief activities" in Gujarat after conducting an another and hence there need not be aerial survey of areas hit by cyclone Tauktae in the undue worries. Those who are state, an official release said. He also announced diabetic and those with other serious y ex-gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of

co-morbidities have to be careful

k y m those killed due to cyclone in all affected states c national PINARAYI VIJAYAN | KERALA CHIEF MINISTER

of the day uote NARADA CASE TAUKTAE AFTERMATH India has always stood for peaceful No court relief resolution of bilateral disputes through political and diplomatic means. Peace and stability in the South for TMC leaders Caucasus region is important from the regional security perspective PRESS TRUST OF INDIA sting case that is being investi- ARINDAM BAGCHI | SPOKESPERSON IN THE gated by the CBI on an order by the MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Kolkata, May 19: The Calcutta high court. High Court adjourned till Thursday The CBI prayed before the high the hearing in the Narada sting court that it transfers all proceed- All cyclone tape case, in which two West Bengal ings in the Narada sting tape case centres and ministers, an MLA and a former to itself. It also prayed that the di- shelters have mayor of Kolkata were arrested been asked to be vision bench declares that the pro- readied. The district by the CBI. ceedings before the special CBI magistrates have In view of the adjournment court post production of the ar- been directed to take Wednesday, ministers Subrata rested accused virtually on May all precautionary measures in the Mukherjee and Firhad Hakim, 17 are a nullity in the eyes of law wake of the warnings Trinamool Congress MLA Madan and to conduct the proceedings Mitra and former city mayor Sovan afresh. The CBI further prayed MAMATA BANERJEE | WB CHIEF MINISTER Chatterjee will continue to remain that pending the final hearing and in judicial custody. disposal of its petition before it, the The petition of the CBI seeking high court direct continuance of its For those transfer of trial in the case and order staying the bail granted to the above 45 years, the recalling application filed by the accused by the lower court. healthcare four leaders on the high court's Workers remove garbage from the Mahim beach in Mumbai PTI PHOTO workers and frontline Seeking transfer of the case workers, Covaxin's stay order on the bail granted by from the special court, the CBI stock is left for one a CBI court on Monday will be fur- claimed that all the four persons ar- day, and Covishield's ther heard by the division bench rested are very influential persons stock is remaining for three days comprising acting Chief Justice and it apprehends that they will in- Mucormycosis Rajesh Bindal and Justice Arijit fluence and threaten the witnesses ATISHI MARLENA | AAP MLA How celebs, politicians get Banerjee Thursday. and the system. Solicitor General claimed 90 lives The high court on Monday night Tushar Mehta, appearing for the stayed the lower court's decision to CBI, submitted during the hear- in Maha so far SHORT TAKES grant bail to the four leaders, ar- ing through the virtual mode that nCoV drugs, asks Bombay HC rested and charge-sheeted by the the incidents following the arrests PRESS TRUST OF INDIA CBI in the Narada sting case. were unprecedented. The Narada Ex-NSG chief The division bench had said that sting tapes, which were made pub- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA prerogative of a state and the Centre Mumbai, May 19: As many as 90 it deemed it appropriate to stay lic before the 2016 assembly elections merely allocated such resources people have died of Mucormycosis, dies of Covid the special court's order and di- in West Bengal, were claimed to Mumbai, May 19: The Bombay to states based on the latter's de- a rare but fatal fungal infection, in New Delhi: Former NSG rect that the "accused person shall have been shot in 2014, wherein High Court Wednesday directed mands. Maharashtra so far, state public director general J K Dutt, who be treated to be in judicial custody people resembling TMC ministers, the Maharashtra government and The bench took an exception to health minister Rajesh Tope said headed the commando force till further orders". The four lead- MPs and MLAs were allegedly seen the Centre to file affidavits ex- the responses of the state govern- Wednesday. during the 2008 Mumbai terror ers were arrested on Monday morn- receiving money from represen- plaining how celebrities and politi- ment and the Centre (represented The cases of mucormycosis, also attacks, died Wednesday due ing from their residences in the tatives of a fictitious company in cians were procuring anti- Covid- by Singh). The HC said it had ex- called Black Fungus, have been on to complications arising out of city in connection with the Narada lieu of promised favours. 19 drugs, medical oxygen and other pected better replies and compliance rise since the outbreak of coron- Covid-19, officials said here. relief materials for coronavirus of its previous orders from both the avirus last year, though the minister He was 72. Family sources told patients. respondents. "These persons did not mention any timeframe. PTI that the retired IPS officer A bench of Chief Justice (celebrities) have no licence (to He also warned against indis- was admitted to the Medanta Dipankar Datta and Justice GS procure Covid-19 drugs, medical criminate use of steroids to treat Hospital in Gurgaon April 14 Kulkarni had asked for such details oxygen), who will take the guar- Covid-19 patients. "So far, 90 people after his oxygen saturation last week as well from the the Siddique and the Sood Charity antee? There should have been a re- have died due to mucormycosis in started declining. "He passed Maharashtra government and the Foundation (an NGO of actor Sonu port. "You (the state government)) Maharashtra. It is serious. It should away today at 3:30 pm after Centre, who faced flak during hear- not be taken lightly," he told re- suffering a massive cardiac Sood), but was yet to receive their have only issued show cause notices, arrest," one of them said. Dutt is ing for non-compliance of previous replies. Additional Solicitor General we said place a report on this. We porters here. "Indiscriminate use survived by his wife, a son, who orders. However, Wednesday the Anil Singh told the HC the Union are not happy with this," the HC of steroids to treat Covid-19 pa- works in Noida, and a daughter, state government submitted a re- government had not filed any re- said. The bench said its primary tients should be avoided," the min- who is based in the US. port merely saying it had served port since procurement and dis- concern was that the needy must ister added. show cause notices (on procuring tribution of Remdesivir (a key not miss out on getting relief since Policemen stand guard outside the Calcutta High Court during the hearing of Covid-19 relief materials) to Covid-19 drug) and medical oxy- all were not in a position to make Oxygen langar the Narada sting case Tuesday PTI PHOTO Mumbai Congress MLA Zeeshan gen, among other items, were the appeals on social media. in Guwahati Guwahati: With many Covid- Super Blood Moon 19 patients in the city facing problem in getting oxygen in eastern sky Rescued workmen recall horror in sea cylinders at home, the Khalsa PRESS TRUST OF INDIA "I was in the water holding on Centre North East (KCNE) is CYCLONE TAUKTAE with the life jacket for more than providing them free oxygen on May 26 concentrators for four days. Mumbai, May 19: Battling tidal 14 hours. There were gusty winds Naming the initiative as 'Free PRESS TRUST OF INDIA waves as high as 15 metres and and waves of more than 15 me- Oxygen Langar', KCNE strong winds while trying to stay tres," he said. Talking to reporters chairman Capt P P Singh Kolkata, May 19: A rare Super afloat in the cyclone-hit rough here, workman Manoj Gite said, Wednesday said the Blood Moon will be seen in the Arabian Sea for almost 12 hours, "It was a horrific situation on the concentrators after four days eastern sky May 26 evening, just workmen rescued from a sinking barge. I had not thought I would with a patient will be after a total lunar eclipse. barge near here narrated their survive. But, I swam in the waters Factors such as severe diabetes circulated amongst other Kolkata had seen its last total horrifying experience in their quest for seven to eight hours with the and suppression of immune system needy Covid-19 patients. The lunar eclipse, 10 years ago, December for survival. determination to stay alive and also lead to people catching the in- 'Free Oxygen Langar' was 10, 2011, Director of M P Birla One of the survivors said the was rescued by the Navy." fection, Tope said. According to launched Monday, he said. Planetarium and renowned astro- incident was similar to the scenes Gite (19), a resident of Kolhapur, medical experts, steroids which physicist Debiprasad Duari said from the movie 'Titanic' that de- said as the barge started sink- suppress immune system make a Wednesday. "On the night of May picted the sinking of the RMS ing, all workmen got worried and patient vulnerable to catching the 5 die of black 26, the sun, earth and moon align- Titanic ship in 1912 in the North he along with others wore a life fungal infection. ment will be such that from earth Atlantic Ocean, while some oth- jacket and jumped into the waters. "The Maharashtra government fungus in Sirsa it will be viewed as a full moon and ers said that they had almost lost 'Titanic' movie the occupants jump- us and we saw their life boat was The workman, who had joined is prepared to tackle it and has Sirsa: Five people have died also eclipsed for some time. Moon the hope of making it alive back ing out of the sinking ship to save also broken, said Bandgar, a na- as a helper on the barge only last prepared nine-page guidelines for due to black fungus in Sirsa on its journey around the earth home. At least 22 personnel on themselves and dead bodies float- tive of Mangalwedha town in month, said said he lost all his doc- doctors who treat mucormycosis district of Haryana, officials will be passing through earth's board accommodation barge P305 ing, but we saw all this unfold be- Maharashtra's Solapur district. uments and mobile phone in the patients. The guidelines also sug- said Wednesday. Chief shadow for a few moments and will that went adrift in Cyclone Tauktae fore our eyes," Vishwajeet Bandgar Thanking the Navy for rescuing cyclonic storm. gest preventive measures such as Minister Manohar Lal Khattar be totally eclipsed," Duari said. fury before sinking in the Arabia (28), who worked on the barge as a him and several of his colleagues, Asked if he would return to the use of sterilised or distilled said the infection has The total lunar eclipse will be vis- Sea off Mumbai coast are dead welder, said after his rescue Bandgar said the Navy is like God the rig again, Gite said he is not water in humidifiers of oxygen become a matter of concern ible mostly from Eastern Asia, and 65 still missing, a Navy official by the Navy. to them. "We were not sure if we keen to go back and is contented supplying machines (in COVID-19 and directed officials to Pacific Ocean, most parts of North said Wednesday. "It was worse than the Titanic, could be rescued until help came. to be alive after the nightmarish wards)," he said. Compared to the make necessary and South America and Australia. The Navy said its personnel have as dead bodies of our colleagues, During that horrific situation, experience. Another workman, first wave of coronavirus pan- arrangements for its The partial eclipse of the moon so far rescued 186 of the 273 people who worked with us, could be seen we kept supporting each other by who was injured in the incident, demic, there have been more cases treatment. Mucormycosis will start at around 3:15 pm and who were onboard barge P305. floating in the water," he said. They saying that we will be alive and thanked the Navy for of Black Fungus in the second (black fungus), which is end at 6:22 pm. "People might have watched in had jumped into the water before there is no need to worry," he said. saving his life. wave, doctors have noted. primarily affecting people recovering from Covid-19, has claimed five lives in the district in the past two days, Sirsa Chief Medical Officer COVID DEATHS RISE (CMO) Manish Bansal said. He said 25 people from districts adjoining Sirsa were admitted to a hospital, of Thousands of kids have lost one or both parents whom some were referred to other major health facilities. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Mr Singh, whose name has also only living an emotional tragedy, children are orphaned," said phaned child must be seen by a been changed to protect the chil- they are at high risk of neglect, Akancha Srivastava, a cybersecu- government official and is put in New Delhi, May 19: Three days dren's identities. "I don't want to tell abuse and exploitation", said rity expert who has launched a an institution if there are no rel- 4 bootleggers after their father died of coron- them the truth now they're too UNICEF India's chief Yasmin coronavirus helpline for children. atives to look after them. Smriti held in Delhi avirus, six-year-old twins Tripti young." Their heartbroken mother Haque. However online evidence points Irani, Union minister for women and Pari were found sleeping next refused to eat properly after her DEVASTATING TRUTH to a devastating scale. Social media and child development, this month New Delhi: The Delhi Police to their mother, unaware that she husband's death, which compli- In another case, media reported appeals are being made for breast warned that unofficial approaches said Wednesday that they had also become a victim. cated her recovery from coron- last month on a baby found next to milk and food for infants who have to adopting Covid-19 orphans are have arrested four Thousands of children have lost avirus, Mr Singh said. its mother who had been dead for lost their mothers. a "trap" and "illegal". bootleggers, including one one or both parents in the new When repeated knocks on the 48 hours and whose neighbours Some coronavirus orphans are BROKEN GENERATION carrying a fake ID card of a pandemic wave ravaging India, door went unanswered, relatives prominent media house, with feared contracting the virus. also being put up for illegal adop- Children whose parents have

several bottles of liquor and where there were already millions threw water on the girls from a The official number of deaths due tion on social media. Ms Srivastava died or are sick have been reduced y beer. Atul Kumar Thakur, of orphans. window to make them open up. to the pandemic is more than said her helpline received at least to selling vegetables on the streets,

The prospect of a surge of aban- They were taken away as doctors 2,70,000 in India, though the real 300 calls and messages in a day. according to the Protsahan India

k y m Deputy Commissioner of c Police (DCP), South Delhi, said doned minors worries many. Tripti arrived to declare their mother number is widely believed to be "Our authorities are overburdened, Foundation, a child rights NGO. that on the intervening night and Pari, whose names have been dead. While the twins are being far higher with many people dying people are hassled. It's extremely "We're looking at a generation of of Tuesday-Wednesday, the changed, are now being cared for looked after, the pandemic -- which outside of the overwhelmed med- easy in these circumstances to mis- children in extreme distress and fac- police got a tip-off that few by their mother's uncle, Ramesh is claiming thousands of lives a ical system. assign a child to some trafficking ing severe trauma who will grow bootleggers were selling Singh. "I keep telling the girls their day -- is leaving others without a "We don't know how many peo- racket or an adoption racket," she up to be broken adults," said Sonal liquor at very high rates. parents will come home soon," said caregiver. Such children "are not ple are dying, let alone how many said. According to the law, an or- Kapoor from the foundation. P9 TIGRESS KILLS THURSDAY | MAY 20 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR ZOO ATTENDANT What is happening in A 35-year-old zoo attendant UP is nothing less was mauled to death by a than a crime against Royal Bengal tigress at the humanity Biological Park in Arunachal y PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA | Pradesh's Itanagar, an

CONGRESS GENERAL SECRETARY

k y m national official said c

of the day uote India tells WhatsApp to Different states ‘Vax to all adults by end of year’ in the country have received roll back privacy policy 4,000 oxygen AGENCIES ities in peri-urban and rural areas, concentrators from the statement said. In Assam, INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE the WHO. They will New Delhi, May 19: Union Health Kamrup (Metropolitan) is con- be beneficial in Minister Harsh Vardhan tributing almost 45 per cent of the New Delhi, May 19: The Ministry providing treatment to patients. The Wednesday said India will have daily new cases; while in of Electronics and Information government has been continuously procured 267 crore Covid-19 vaccine Meghalaya, East Khasi Hills and Technology has again directed making efforts to check the spread doses by the end of this year, and Righboi are reporting sharp in- WhatApp to withdraw its much of coronavirus in the state will be in a position to inoculate at creases in daily cases. Manipur's controversial revised privacy pol- least all of its adult population, icy and has warned action against VISHVAS SARANG | recovery rate of 78 per cent and case MP MEDICAL EDUCATION MINISTER according to an official statement. fatality rate (CFR) of more than 1 the platform. The minister said that 51 crore per cent was highlighted as a mat- According to official sources, in Covid-19 vaccine doses will be made ter of concern, it underlined. its notice to the company, the min- This is a big available by July and 216 crore States were advised to ensure istry has said that there are var- conspiracy to more between August and complete utilisation of available ious options available for the mes- insult Kumbh December. He urged states to ensure saging platform under Indian law. Mela and the ancient vaccination slots for 45+ age- Hindu religion by that the healthcare and frontline group/HCW. Vardhan assured the The government has told preparing such a workers are fully vaccinated, as states of all support from the WhatsApp to respond to its con- toolkit. This is a big they form the vulnerable cate- Centre in augmenting their vac- cerns by May 25. crime gories. Interacting with the health ber of daily cases, high mortality drive, the minister highlighted cine drive. Biplab Kumar Deb, the Noting that many Indian users is a violation of several provi- ministers and principal secre- and increasing positivity rate, the that India has achieved another Chief Minister and Health depend on WhatsApp for com- sions of the existing Indian laws RAMDEV | YOGA GURU taries/ additional chief secretaries statement said. Pointing out the landmark by crossing 18 crore Minister of Tripura; Keshab municating on a daily basis, the and rules. The ministry has also of West Bengal and eight northeast new emerging trend in the country, doses recently. Mahanta, the Health Minister of ministry said that it is irrespon- strongly taken up the issue of Now the states, Vardhan said, "Between Vardhan highlighted that now He also pointed out that more Assam; AK Hek, the Health sible for WhatsApp to leverage WhatsApp's 'discriminatory treat- pandemic is August to December 2021, India position in Indian market to im- ment' to Indian users in compar- spread in smaller states are showing an up- than one crore doses are still in Minister, Meghalaya,; villages. It is will have procured 216 crore vac- ward trend in terms of number of stock with the state governments. Lalpoklakpam Jayantakumar pose unfair terms and conditions. ison to the users in Europe. apprehended that cine doses while, by July this year, infections and there is a need to be Highlighting the critical chal- Singh, the Health Minister of As per the ministry, the changes WhatsApp's decision to share statements of Pragya 51 crore doses will be procured." cautious about this. lenges faced by the NE states and Manipur; Dr R Lalthangliana, the to WhatsApp privacy policy and data with its parent company, Singh Thakur will He said that by the end of the Speaking of the government's West Bengal, Vardhan said in Health Minister of Mizoram; the manner of introducing the Facebook as per its revised privacy leave the villagers who have faith in year, the country will be in a posi- efforts towards fighting coron- Mizoram, all districts are show- AloLibang, the Health Minister of changes undermines the sacro- policy drew a lot of flak from the 'Gau Mata' (the cow) confused and tion to vaccinate at least all of its avirus, Vardhan said that from ing a rise in new cases. Nagaland Arunachal Pradesh; sanct values of informational pri- public and the government. they will start tasking this adult population, according to the having just one Covid testing lab- has shown a sharp increase in PangnyuPhom, the Health vacy, data security and user choice It had deferred its new privacy medication (cow urine) ignoring the health ministry statement. West oratory at the start of the pan- daily cases (15-20 per day to 300 Minister (Nagaland) and Dr Mani and harms the rights and interests policy beyond May 15, 2021. The well-established treatment of Bengal and the eight states of the demic, there are over 2000 across per day) and weekly positivity rate Kumar Sharma, the Health of Indian citizens. The commu- matter is sub-judice as the ministry allopathy North-eastern region are depicting the country now. Underscoring the (1 per cent to 34 per cent); there is Minister (Sikkim) were present vir- nication also notes how approached the Delhi High Court PC SHARMA | SENIOR CONGRESS LEADER a higher growth rate in the num- critical importance of vaccination a need to strengthen testing facil- tually in this meeting. WhatsApps its new privacy policy over the same. Plea moved in SHORT TAKES BEATING THE RAIN Did Shailaja dig SC seeking probe Chacko made NCP chief in Kerala into ‘Toolkit’ Thiruvananthapuram: Former INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE senior Congress leader PC her own grave? Chacko was Wednesday New Delhi, May 19: A plea has appointed as the NCP's new INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE her status changed. been moved in the Supreme Court Kerala President by party Then came the mega floods that seeking direction for an investi- supremo Sharad Pawar. A Thiruvananthapuram, May 19: year and again in 2019 and her sta- gation into the 'Toolkit'. The plea press statement issued by The decision is now final that peo- tus in people's eye catapulted when also sought suspension of regis- party General Secretary and ple’s ‘shero’ outgoing Kerala Health Covid pandemic struck in 2020 tration of Congress party, if former Union Minister Praful Minister K.K.Shailaja is not going January, when the first Covid case in charges against the party for in- Patel, said Chacko, 74, has to be there in the new Pinarayi the country was identified in Thrissur. dulging in anti-national acts and been asked to assume office Vijayan cabinet, which will be Since then Shailaja has been a playing with lives of people were immediately. He replaces sworn in here Thursday and even constant on TV screens on a daily found true. veteran TP Peethamabaran, though none doubts her perform- basis explaining the Covid situation On Tuesday, the BJP alleged a who has been heading the ance, the moot question is did she and even the international media 'Toolkit' has been prepared by the NCP's Kerala unit for some dig her own grave? came calling on her and there were Congress party to tarnish the image time now. Incidentally, unlike the national level where it is The decision by the party to leave even talks she might be consid- of Prime Minister Narendra Modi allied with the Congress, the out Shailaja has come under heavy ered for a Nobel prize. over handling of the Covid-19 pan- NCP in Kerala is part of the criticism, especially on the social There were times, when the local demic. CPI-M led Left Democratic media, even demanding the party to media had to wait for days to get an However, the Congress party Front. change their decision. This clearly interview with the Teacher and had accused BJP leaders of re- shows she will go the way her illus- the answer that was given was leasing a forged and fabricated let- trious predecessors KR Gowri who “you are in the queue as even the ter and termed it as an attempt to passed away last week and late international media is waiting”. divert attention of the people and Five injured in Sensing the shift, Vijayan, who is to hide the failures of the govern- acid attack known for his anti-media stand, broke ment in the handling the health the shackles and his daily Covid crisis. Patna: At least five persons briefing soon became one of the most The plea moved by advocate have sustained burn injuries viewed TV programme. Ever since Shashank Shekhar Jha urged the in Bihar's Supaul district then Shailaja was seen only as an top court to issue direction to the following an acid attack, the onlooker and day by day, her place in Centre to prepare guidelines against police said. The incident happened during an the public domain was restricted. hoarding of essential items during altercation between some What's more surprising Shailaja the Covid-19 pandemic. The petition villagers in Machaha village was very active when the state had A vegetable vendor uses a plastic sheet to protect herself during a shower in New Delhi PTI PHOTO named the Indian National under Triveniganj police a handful of cases and she disap- Congress, the Union government station. Sunil Kumar, peared into oblivion when the daily and the Election Commission as re- investigating officer of cases crossed 40,000 cases and then spondents. Triveniganj, said: "A puja was the talk of the town was -- did she Record 4,529 fatalities in single day "Issue a writ, order, or direction organised in the house of one dig her own grave and was she in the nature of mandamus or any Rupesh Shah. As per the Susheela Gopalan went after rais- portraying herself above other AGENCIES The number of people who have samples being tested Tuesday. The other direction the respondent no. ritual, the family members of ing high hopes of even being con- party leaders and even the party. recuperated from the disease surged 4,529 new fatalities include 1,291 2 (Union government) to register Shah spread pop corn in the sidered for the post of Chief Minister. Incidentally after her stunning New Delhi, May 19: : India saw a to 2,19,86,363 while the case fatal- from Maharashtra, 525 from a preliminary inquiry pertaining adjoining areas including in In 1987 Gowri and in 1996 Gopalan victory by recording the highest ever record 4,529 fatalities due to coro- ity rate has increased to 1.11 per Karnataka, 364 from Tamil Nadu, to the alleged Toolkit for the pur- front of the house of one that hogged centre stage -- even margin of over 60,000 in the April 6th navirus in a single day pushing cent, the data stated. 265 from Delhi, 255 from Uttar pose of enquiring whether the Anmol Yadav." being considered as the first woman assembly polls, the media went to the Covid-19 death toll to 2,83,248, India'sCovid-19 tally had crossed Pradesh, 231 from Punjab, 153 Toolkit or any actions pursuant Chief Minister, but at the last town that Vijayan will retain only while 2.67 lakh fresh cases were the 20-lakh mark August 7, 30 lakh from Chhattisgarh, 146 from to it, disclose any offence under minute on both occasions, Comrade Shailaja in his new team from his recorded, according to the Union August 23, 40 lakh September 5 Rajasthan, 145 from West Bengal, Section 124-A , 153A and 120B of the 12 booked for EK Nayanar breasted the tape and party and it remained intact till Health Ministry data updated and 50 lakh September 16. 124 from Haryana and 111 from Indian Penal Code and Section of the CPI-M said they never said Tuesday when at the State Secretariat Wednesday. It went past 60 lakh September Bihar. the UAPA, 1967, and for the said pur- killing dolphin anything like this and the party's meeting of her party which she is also With a total of 2,67,334 fresh in- 28, 70 lakh October 11, crossed 80 A total of 2, 83,248 deaths have pose to secure the custody of the Sitapur (UP): Twelve persons decision was final. a member decided not to include her. fections, India's total tally of cases lakh October 29, 90 lakh November been reported so far in the country said Toolkit", said one of the prayers have been booked for killing a Incidentally, Shailaja's status Though a weak defence came climbed to 2,54,96,330. 20 and surpassed the one-crore including 83,777 from of the plea before the top court. rare fresh water dolphin from grew as a Minister after Nipah from a few, the decision not to in- The active cases dipped to mark December 19. Maharashtra, 22,838 from The plea also urged the apex court the Sharda auxiliary canal. struck the northern district of clude anyone from the previous 32,26,719 comprising 12.66 per cent India crossed the grim milestone Karnataka, 22,111 from Delhi, 18,369 to direct the Union government to Fresh water dolphins are Kozhikode in 2018 and it came at a cabinet was conveyed to the nearly of the total infections, while the na- of 2 crore May 4. from Tamil Nadu, 18,072 from issue necessary guidelines to each categorised as endangered time, when murmurs made rounds 80 member state committee and tional COVID-19 recovery rate has According to the ICMR, Uttar Pradesh, 13,576 from West and every political party, group, species in the International in the party that her performance here too it was cleared, paving the improved to 86.23 per cent, the data 32,03,01,177 samples have been Bengal, 12,317 from Punjab and and individual to stop all kinds of Union for Conservation of was not as desired, but since then way for her exit. updated at 8 am showed. tested up to May 18 with 20,08,296 12,036 from Chhattisgarh. hoarding. Nature red book. The FIR was lodged after a video of the incident started doing the rounds on social media. Sitapur superintendent of India’s vax drive stumbling when it is most crucial: Report police (SP), Rakesh Prakash Singh said that one Prithivi Sahu has been arrested and Over the past six weeks, the number of vaccinations per day has fallen by about half, from a high of 4.2 million per day April 2 to 2 million last Thursday two teams formed to arrest the other accused. INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE world, India's vaccine programme more than 60 million doses to be ex- alleviate the shortfall in local pro- is being hobbled by supply short- ported or donated to other countries duction. Last week, the govern- New Delhi, May 19: Vaunted as ages and an abrupt shift in pro- between January and March, the ment acknowledged that vaccine Man shoots self the largest in the world, Indias vac- curement policy that appears to report said. shortages in India will persist at Agra: A 28-year-old man shot cine programme is being hobbled be without parallel. The woes of the Now the vaccine exports are a least until July, the report said. himself with his father's by supply shortages and an abrupt inoculation drive are especially source of increasing anger, the re- The inability to accelerate the licensed gun here Wednesday shift in procurement policy that striking given India's unique ad- port said, adding that in Delhi, vaccination drive in the short term as he was allegedly disturbed appears to be without parallel, The vantages, including a large vac- posters appeared with a question means that immunisations will do after the death of his wife, Washington Post reported. cine industry and a record of mass for Prime Minister Narendra Modi: little to blunt the ferocity of the cur- police said. Son of a retired The report said as India con- immunisation campaigns," the re- "Why did you send our children's rent wave of infections, it said. y sub-inspector, Lavkesh shot fronts a devastating Covid out- port said. vaccines abroad?" Vaccinating India's more than 1.3

himself at around 9.30 am in break where thousands are dying Just months ago, public health The police arrested and ques- billion people was always going to

k y m c Tagore Garden locality under each day, the country desperately experts were counting on India to tioned over 20 people in this con- be a monumental task. But experts New Agra Police Station, they needs to vaccinate its population play a crucial role in supplying nection over the weekend. say that India's present predica- said. His family members as soon as possible. Yet the vac- Coronavirus vaccines to the world. Faced with surging infections, ment is the product of miscalcu- informed the police after they cine drive is stumbling just when The government was so confident India suspended exports at the end lations and optimistic predictions found him lying in a pool of it is most crucial, it said. of its ability to meet domestic de- of March and has begun importing by policymakers and manufac- blood alongside the gun. "Vaunted as the largest in the mand for vaccines that it allowed Russia's Sputnik vaccine to try to turers, the report said. The bilateral meeting will PRINCESS BEATRICE P10 take place after the THURSDAY | MAY 20 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR evening’s final Arctic Council EXPECTING A BABY event and will provide an The Buckingham Palace said opportunity to test the proposition Wednesday that the 32-year-old of whether we can achieve a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth relationship with Moscow that is II and her husband Edoardo more stable and predictable Mapelli Mozzi are due to have

NED PRICE POLITICAL ADVISOR, US their first child in the autumn

k y m international | c of the day uote CORAL COLLECTION China-Russia biggest nuclear The purpose (of the call for a ceasefire) is to protect civilians and to give full humanitarian access energy project put in motion in Gaza. We condemn the rocket attacks by Hamas and China and Russia signed a strategic package of agreements on nuclear other terrorist groups on the Israeli territory energy in June 2018 to jointly construct four nuclear power units, with a JOSEP BORRELL | FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF, EU total contract value of over 20 billion yuan (about USD 3 billion)

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA In the absence of a peaceful Beijing, May 19: Chinese President settlement Xi Jinping and his Russian coun- within a reasonable terpart Vladimir Putin Wednesday timeframe - in the event that hailed the nuclear cooperation be- Azerbaijan’s military tween the two neighbours as they does not return to its original virtually attended the ground- positions without any preconditions - breaking ceremony of the biggest the Armenian armed forces have the nuclear energy project to build right to resolve the issue by other four nuclear power plants in China means, including by force costing about USD 3 billion. This Aquarist Jeremy Simmons is watched by Marcelo Noone-Taylor as he plants corals rescued from illegal trading, in a The ceremony, which was at- SERGEI LAVROV | FOREIGN MINISTER, RUSSIA has been the biggest seven-metre-long reef tank ahead of ZSL London Zoo’s reopening of indoor exhibits in London, Britain REUTERS tended by the two leaders via a China-Russia nuclear video link, was held to mark the first energy cooperation project to day of construction of power units struction of two countries so date and represents the highest I share his No. 7 and 8 of the Tianwan Nuclear the nuclear far, with a total horror at the Kachin rebels hit Power Plant, and No. 3 and 4 of power level of contract value outbreak of Russian lawmakers exit practical cooperation between the Xudapu Nuclear Power Plant. plants, and of over 20 billion anti-Semitic the two sides incidents and the junta’s aviation The Tianwan Nuclear Power noted that yuan (about USD ZHAO LIJIAN | FOREIGN MINISTRY government has Plant is located in the city of the energy 3 billion), state-run from ‘Open Skies Treaty’ SPOKESMAN, CHINA conveyed that fuel supplies Lianyungang in eastern Jiangsu projects set an ex- CGTN-TV re- message loud and clear to those province. The Xudapu Nuclear ample for bilateral ported. who are responsible for enforcing Power plant is located in Xingcheng cooperation in other sectors. All four units will adopt the the law against hate crime INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE in northeastern Liaoning province. Stressing that the bilateral co- third-generation VVER-1200 reac- “This has been the biggest China- operation on nuclear energy is tors developed by Russia. Compared BORIS JOHNSON | PRIME MINISTER, UK Yangon, May 19: Rebels of the Russia nuclear energy coopera- meaningful for the high-level de- to its predecessor VVER-1000 re- Kachin Independence Army (KIA) tion project to date and represents velopment of the China-Russia actor, the latest VVER-1200 reactor hit and set ablaze seven tanker the highest level of practical co- comprehensive strategic partner- features advantages in many as- SHORT TAKES trucks in northern Shan state operation between the two sides,” ship of coordination for a new era, pects, according to Russia’s Rosatom with artillery to cut down aviation Chinese Foreign Ministry Xi said he hopes the two sides will State Nuclear Energy Corporation. fuel supplies for Myanmars mil- spokesman, Zhao Lijian told a follow the sound momentum and Once completed, the four units Anti-Asian crimes itary junta. media briefing Tuesday. conduct more effective coopera- are expected to effectively reduce The trucks were attacked on the Speaking on the occasion, Xi re- tion in other sectors. carbon dioxide emissions. bill passed by US Union Highway and Kutkai-Hseni iterated China’s close attention to China and Russia signed a strate- The two countries firmed up Washington: US lawmakers road, transporting fuel from China PRESS TRUST OF INDIA energy cooperation with Russia gic package of agreements on nu- their close ties as they faced mount- Tuesday sent an anti-hate bill through Muse. Moscow has signalled as it is a traditional cooperative clear energy in June 2018 to jointly ing adversity from the US and to President Joe Biden’s desk The fuel is used by Burmese Air Moscow, May 19: The Russian its readiness to reverse area between the two countries. construct four nuclear power units, European Union on a host of issues that aims to prevent violence Force to bomb and strafe rebel tar- parliament's lower house voted He hailed the beginning of con- the biggest of such between the including human rights violations. against Asian Americans, gets or for helicopter gunship raids Wednesday to withdraw from an in- the withdrawal following an alarming rise in on them. KIA information officer ternational treaty allowing sur- attacks including murders Colonel Naw Bu told IANS five veillance flights over military fa- procedure and stay in during the coronavirus tanker trucks were hit on the Union cilities following the US departure the treaty if the US pandemic. The House of Highway, two in separate attacks from the pact. Spain’s enclave struggles Representatives passed the on the Kutkai-Hseni road Monday The Russian exit from the Open returns to Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act with and Tuesday. Skies Treaty is yet to be endorsed the agreement a strong bipartisan vote of 364 “People told us that the fuel is not by the upper house of parliament to 62. “Together, these steps for public use but for the military and needs to be signed by President will make a significant to handle migrant influx Vladimir Putin to take effect. difference to address hate aviation, so we opened fire,” said year, arguing that Russian violations The withdrawal vote comes hours PRESS TRUST OF INDIA crimes in America -- not only Col. Naw Bu. made it untenable for Washington HUMANITARIAN CRISIS of counterparts in Rabat. during this pandemic, but for There was no fighting with the before US Secretary of State Antony to remain a party. “This is an act of defiance,” years to come,” said House military in northern Shan State, Blinken and Russian Foreign Washington completed its with- Ceuta, May 19: Spain’s North Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told Speaker Nancy Pelosi. apart from these artillery attacks, Minister Sergey Lavrov were to drawal from the treaty in November. African enclave of Ceuta Spain’s Parliament, a day after he he said. Myanmar’s military used hold their first meeting on the side- Moscow has deplored the US Wednesday saw thousands of mi- visited Ceuta. “The lack of border jet fighters to retake control of the lines of a gathering of top diplomats withdrawal, warning that it will grants who crossed over from control by Morocco is not a show strategic hilltop Alaw Bum base on from the Arctic countries in erode global security by making it Morocco spent the night sleeping of disrespect of Spain, but rather UK launches the Chinese border in Kachin State’s Reykjavik, Iceland. more difficult for governments to where they could find shelter. for the European Union.” Covid booster Momauk Township, which was The Open Skies Treaty was in- interpret the intentions of other na- Exhausted by either scaling a Foreign Minister Arancha seized by the KIA in late March. tended to build trust between Russia tions, particularly amid height- doublewide border fence or swim- that it had returned roughly half González Laya also increased her London: Thousands of The outpost allows the KIA to and the West by allowing the ac- ened Russia-West tensions. ming in the Mediterranean, some of the migrants, but there were tone Wednesday, saying for the first volunteers will receive a control the road between Kachin cord’s more than three dozen sig- The European Union has urged migrants spent the night in an many unaccompanied minors, time in public that Spain believes booster Covid-19 vaccine in a State’s capital, Myitkyina, and natories to conduct reconnaissance the US to reconsider its exit and overcrowded warehouse under the which Spanish law says must be Morocco loosened its border con- new clinical trial to study the Bhamo, also in Kachin State. The flights over each other’s territo- called on Russia to stay in the pact gaze of Spanish police. taken into care by authorities. trol to retaliate for Spain having impact of the third jab to KIA had good reason to believe the ries to collect information about mil- and lift flight restrictions, notably More than 8,000 people crossed While Morocco was tightening given medical assistance to the protect against the deadly virus. The Cov-Boost study will tanker trucks were providing jet fuel itary forces and activities. over its westernmost Kaliningrad into Spanish territory during the controls of a border after two days head of the Western Sahara lib- trial seven vaccines to provide to bomb Momauk, Col. Naw Then US President Donald region, which lies between NATO previous two days. of allowing crossings, Spanish au- eration movement, a disputed ter- data on the impact of a third Bu said. Trump pulled out of the pact last allies Lithuania and Poland. Spain’s Interior Ministry said thorities increased their criticism ritory to Morocco’s south. dose on patients’ immune responses. During a briefing, Hancock reiterated UK PM Boris Johnson’s earlier Indian expats in UAE warned statement that there is France files ceasefire resolution at UN “increasing confidence” that the vaccines are effective against spreading rumours against B1.617.2 variant. ISRAEL-GAZA 52K Palestinians take refuge in UN run schools PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Last week, a WhatsApp message CONFLICT A UN report said Tuesday that 52,000 Palestinians took refuge at schools was circling in the Indian dias- run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Gaza Dubai, May 19: Indian expatri- pora which stated that elderly per- Strip, as a round of probably heaviest fighting between Israel and Gaza Turkey bans ates in the UAE have been warned sons on visit visas would be inoc- since 2014 has lasted nine days, the Palestinian news agency WAFA against spreading unverified re- ulated against Covid-19 and that the reported. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said plastic imports ports that applications would be Indian mission here was making that Israeli fighter jets destroyed, 448 constructions in the Palestinian coastal enclave since May 10. Jens Laerke, a spokesman for OCHA, said in Istanbul: Turkey has banned the opened for elderly persons on visit necessary arrangements. the statement that 132 buildings were completely destroyed and 316 importation of ethylene visas to be vaccinated against the Indian Consulate officials said partially destroyed, including six hospitals and nine healthcare centres. polymer plastic waste as coronavirus, ac- the vaccination environmental groups sound cording to a media COVID VACCINATION drive in the UAE the alarm on the world’s plastic report Wednesday. will first cater to ing must stop, the time has come Sisi, a key ally and defence client consumption and lack of Speaking to the Gulf News, an the permanent citizens and that for a ceasefire and the UN Security of France despite activists’ con- effective recycling. In an official with the Indian Consulate such rumours should not be spread, AGENCE-FRANCE-PRESSE French President Emmanuel Council must take up the issue,” the cerns over Cairo’s rights record. amendment published in in Dubai said: “We have no such in- the newspaper reported. Macron and his Egyptian coun- Elysee Palace said. The UN Security Council has Turkey’s Official Gazette formation from local authorities “Beware of rumours. Always Paris, May 19: France has pro- terpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who France, which has been calling failed to adopt a simple declara- Tuesday, the Trade Ministry here and currently, only UAE res- check with a trusted source before posed a resolution with the UN is in Paris for summits on Africa, for a rapid ceasefire for several tion on the conflict, with the United added ethylene polymer idents holding valid Emirates ID are forwarding a message,” the con- Security Council, in coordination agreed on the resolution in a video days, said it supports mediation States, a staunch Israel ally, having plastics to its list of waste eligible for vaccination. People sulate wrote on its Twitter handle. with Egypt and Jordan, calling for conference with Jordan’s King led by Egypt. rejected three prior statement drafts materials that are illegal to should not believe in such infor- Indians are the largest expatri- a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza con- Abdullah II, the statement said. Macron had Monday underlined proposed by China, Norway and import. The environmental mation and avoid forwarding such ate group in the UAE based on na- flict, the president’s office said late “The three countries agreed on the importance of Egyptian me- Tunisia which called for an end group Greenpeace stories to others.” tionality. Tuesday. three simple elements: The shoot- diation after talks in Paris with to the fighting. Mediterranean welcomed the news, calling it a “very important step towards the goal of zero waste importation”. New antiviral developed with 99.9% efficacy against Covid Quake jolts Nepal The new antiviral approach used gene-silencing RNA technology called siRNA (small-interfering RNA) to attack the virus’ genome directly, which stops the virus from replicating Kathmandu: A 5.8-magnitute INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE used gene-silencing RNA tech- viral genes,” said co-lead re- work on all betacoronaviruses for greater than one month, mean- earthquake struck Nepal’s nology called siRNA (small-in- searcher Nigel McMillan, such as the original SARS virus ing this agent could be used in central Lamjung district Sydney, May 19: An international terfering RNA) to attack the virus’ Professor at Menzies Health (SARS-CoV-1) as well as SARS- low-resource settings to treat in- Wednesday, injuring at least six team of scientists, from Australia genome directly, which stops the Institute Queensland (MHIQ) at CoV-2 and any new variants that fected patients. persons and damaging dozens and the US, has developed an ex- virus from replicating, as well Griffith. may arise in the future because it The results suggest that siRNA- of houses, officials said. The perimental direct-acting antiviral as lipid nanoparticles designed at When tested in SARS-Cov-2 in- targets ultra-conserved regions nanoparticle formulations can be epicentre of the quake, which therapy that can reduce viral load Griffith University and City of fected mice the treatment with in the virus’ genome,” added Kevin developed as a therapy to treat

occurred at 5:42 AM, was by 99.9 per cent and may be a new Hope to deliver the siRNA to the the therapy improved survival Morris, Professor and associate di- Covid-19 patients, as well as used

k y m c located at Marshyangdi Rural treatment against Covid-19. lungs, the critical site of infection. and loss of disease. Remarkably, rector of the Center for Gene for future coronavirus infections Municipality of the district. The Traditional antivirals, which “Treatment with virus-specific in treated survivors, no virus Therapy at City of Hope. by targeting the virus’ genome 5.8-magnitude quake include Tamiflu, zanamivir and siRNA reduces viral load by 99.9 could be detected in the lungs, Further, the researchers also directly. damaged around two remdesivir, reduce symptoms and per cent. These stealth nanopar- the findings published in the jour- showed that the nanoparticles are “These nanoparticles are scal- dozen houses and left six people injured. help people recover earlier. ticles can be delivered to a wide nal Molecular Therapy, showed. stable at 4 degrees Celsius for 12 able and relatively cost-effective The new antiviral approach range of lung cells and silence “This treatment is designed to months and at room temperature to produce in bulk,” Morris said. The shrunken base of the PFRDA SUBSCRIBER BASE P11 lockdown in April 2020 has THURSDAY | MAY 20 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR boosted the pace of year-on-year expansion UP BY 23PC TO 4.27 CR of several high-frequency indicators in April The Pension Fund Regulatory and 2021, resulting in a widespread Development Authority (PFRDA) has improvement compared to the performance registered over a 23 per cent jump in the in March 2021. However, the optimism subscriber base under its two flagship

generated by this trend is limited pension schemes at 4.27 crore by the end of

k y m business ADITI NAYAR | CHIEF ECONOMIST, ICRA April this year, data showed on Wednesday c of the day uote Govt to conclude CPSE privatisation this fiscal Royal Enfield to As Ola scales recall 2.37 lakh up further and AGENCIES recognition of the award". expands into Once a court recognises Air units to fix coil new areas such as GOALPOSTS SET New Delhi, May 19: India as the alter ego of the Indian connected rivatisation of PSUs like Air manufacturing, Notwithstanding the disruption government, Cairn can seek at- AGENCIES to businesses caused by the sec- PIndia, BPCL and Shipping tachment or seizure of its assets in intelligent charging Corporation, Pawan Hans, BEML infrastructure, and a sophisticated ond wave of COVID-19, the gov- the US such as airplanes, immov- New Delhi, May 19: Mid-sized ernment is aiming to conclude pri- and NINL - where the able assets and bank accounts to re- motorcycle maker Royal Enfield global supply chain, having a robust divestment process has already vatisation of PSUs like Air India, cover the amount it was awarded Wednesday said it is recalling IT infrastructure enabling this started – will end this fiscal growth is imperative BPCL and Shipping Corporation - by the arbitration tribunal. around 2,36,966 units of Classic, where the divestment process has he Budget for 2021-22 has "India is defending itself in the Bullet, and Meteor models in India BHAVISH AGGARWAL | CHAIRMAN AND GROUP set a disinvestment target of CEO, OLA already started - this fiscal, sources T tax case. The Air India privatisa- and various international markets said Wednesday. `1.75 lakh crore, higher than tion is on track and will not be im- to replace defective ignition coil. The worst outbreak of pandemic `32,835 crore garnered in the pacted," a source said. Air India, The company has discovered a LPS would in the country has led to disrupt- last fiscal which was earlier this week served defect in one of the parts used carry a total of ing the timetable of scheduled ac- nce a court recognises Air the lawsuit filed by Cairn in a New across some of the motorcycle mod- more than 50 tivities such as physical due dili- India as the alter ego of the York court, will challenge it being els it manufactures and sells, Royal product lines and O gence because of travel restrictions. Indian government, Cairn can made liable for the discharge of Enfield said in a statement. would offer a But the process is likely to get back seek attachment or seizure of its In her Budget speech, Finance Ispat Nigam Ltd, and Ferro Scrap any payment obligations of the seamless credit on track from September, the sources assets in the US such as airplanes Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Nigam Ltd (FSNL) is ongoing. The Government of India. lifecycle with over 35 with the direct knowledge of the gov- strategic disinvestment of BPCL, sources said privatisation of these Even if Cairn succeeds in getting interface touch points to many ernment's privatisation plans said. disinvestment target of `1.75 lakh Air India, Shipping Corporation of PSUs will be completed this fiscal Air India recognised as alter ego satellite systems The process of privatisation of crore, higher than `32,835 crore India, Container Corporation of ending March 2022. of the government, it would not SURESH KHATANHAR | DEPUTY MD, IDBI BANK Air India, BPCL, Pawan Hans, garnered in the last fiscal. Of the India, IDBI Bank, BEML, Pawan They said Air India privatisation mean that the airline's assets will BEML, Shipping Corp and NINL `1.75 lakh crore, `1 lakh crore is to Hans, Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd, is on track despite Cairn Energy's law- fall into the hands of the British has already moved to the second come from selling government among others, and IPO of LIC suit to get Air India recognised as the firm, the sources said. All it means I reckon that stage after the government received stake in public sector banks and fi- would be completed in 2021-22. alter ego of India and that "it should is that Cairn can seek the seizure The defect is in the ignition coil for the survival ` of the F&B multiple expressions of interest nancial institutions. 75,000 crore The process of privatisation of Air be held jointly and severally re- of any asset Air India may have in that can cause misfiring, reduced industry through this (EoI) for these CPSEs. would come as CPSE disinvest- India, BPCL, Pawan Hans, BEML, sponsible for India's debts, including the US. There may not be many vehicle performance, and in rare second wave, The Budget for 2021-22 has set a ment receipts. Shipping Corp (SCI), Neelachal from any judgment resulting from such assets. cases, an electric short circuit, it revenue share is a added. The company will be calling very fair model that in close to 2,36,966 motorcycles of the will ensure that malls don't lose out Classic, Bullet, and Meteor mod- if we see an unexpected early surge els, Royal Enfield noted. Of these, in business volumes Das asks PSBs to quickly Ongo empowers 12,000 the company will call in Meteor ANURAG KATRIAR | PRESIDENT, NRAI motorcycles manufactured and sold between December 2020 and April micro merchants in state 2021, and the Classic and Bullet implement RBI directives manufactured and sold between SHORT TAKES POST NEWS NETWORK January and April 2021, it added. AGENCIES “These motorcycles will undergo DAP fert subsidy Bhubaneswar, May 20: Ongo, inspection and replacement of the Mumbai, May 19: RBI Governor one of India’s leading digital pay- said defective part if required. We raised by 140 pc Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday ments brands, has supported micro estimate that less than 10 per cent New Delhi: In a major pro-farmer asked state-owned banks to quickly merchants across Odisha by trans- of these motorcycles will require decision, the Centre on implement measures announced by forming their day-to-day business replacement of the part,” the com- Wednesday hiked the subsidy on the central bank recently in the with cost-efficient and secure dig- pany, which is a part of Eicher DAP fertiliser by 140 per cent, "right earnest", and to continue ital payment solutions. Motors, noted. costing the exchequer an addi- focussing on steps to enhance the Ongo has empowered over 12000 The proactive recall action will tional `14,775 crore, in a bid to resilience of their balance sheets. merchants across Odisha with var- be applicable to Meteor, Classic, and ensure the soil nutrient is avail- Das during a meeting with the ious POS-based and device-less so- Bullet model motorcycles sold in able to farmers at old rates MDs and CEOs of public sector lutions. Over 1600 merchants from India, Thailand, Indonesia, despite a sharp rise in global banks acknowledged the impor- Bhubaneswar use Ongo’s digital Philippines, Australia, New prices. The decision was taken at tant role being played by PSBs in platform to offer seamless and se- Zealand, and Malaysia between a high-level meeting chaired by extending various banking facili- cure services to their customers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the respective time periods men- according to a PMO statement. ties including credit facilities to The company offers innovative tioned above, it added. After urea, Di-ammonium individuals and businesses while digital solutions that transform The company said the defect was Phosphate (DAP) is the most tackling the challenges brought to emergency health services, to fur- and implementation of Covid-re- traditional merchants into smart discovered during routine inter- widely used used fertiliser in the on by the pandemic. ther improve lending to MSME lated policy measures taken by merchants. Currently, it has about nal testing and the issue has been country. "A historic decision was "He impressed upon the banks sector, restructuring of loans, and RBI too were discussed. In his open- 440 device-less payment touch clearly identified and isolated to taken to increase the subsidy for to quickly implement the meas- rationalisation of compliance to ing remarks, the governor ac- points in Odisha. This includes India Transact Services Ltd, Sunil specific batches of material sourced DAP fertiliser from `500 per bag to ures announced by RBI recently in KYC, in wake of the second wave knowledged the important role link-based payments, QR-based Khosla, said, “We strive to bridge from its external supplier between `1200 per bag, which is an the right earnest. He also urged of the Covid-19 pandemic. being played by PSBs in extend- payments and payment gateway the digital parity by offering a wide December 2020 and April 2021. increase of 140 per cent. ....With the banks to continue focussing Other matters that came up for ing various banking facilities in- in 60 locations across the state. range of payment solutions to our While the issue is rare and does today's decision, farmers will con- on steps to enhance the resilience discussion during the meeting, in- cluding credit facilities to indi- Furthermore, Ongo offers mul- merchant partners. Our efforts not impact all motorcycles manu- tinue to get a DAP bag for `1200," of their balance sheets," the RBI said cluded the current state of the fi- viduals and businesses while tiple services like card-based pay- have also been towards educating factured during the above-men- the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a statement post the meeting nancial sector; credit flows to dif- tackling the challenges brought ments, QR payments, Cash@PoS, our merchant-base about various tioned period, in keeping with said. Despite the rise in interna- held over video conference. ferent sectors including to small on by the pandemic. bill payments, Ongo motor insur- digital initiatives that will help safety regulations and as a pre- tional market prices of DAP, it has Earlier this month, the gover- borrowers, MSMEs; and progress The meeting was also attended ance as well as loyalty programs them provide customized solutions cautionary measure, the company been decided to continue selling it nor had announced a slew of meas- in the implementation of Covid by Deputy Governors MK Jain, M that enable merchants to improve and value-added services that can has decided to undertake a proac- ` at the older price of 1,200 per ures, including term liquidity fa- Resolution Framework. Rajeswar Rao, Michael D Patra customer experience. aid growth for small businesses tive, company-initiated recall of bag, it said. cility of `50,000 crore to ease access Monetary policy transmission and T Rabi Sankar. President of Digital Business, across the state.” select motorcycles models.

`24,792 crore I-T returns refunded PPT GETS MEDICAL FB rolls out Covid announcement tool New Delhi: The Income Tax department Wednesday said it THIS CAN BE USED TO SHARE INFO ABOUT VAX ELIGIBILITY, REGISTRATION, LOGISTICS has issued over `24,792 crore O2 FROM SINGAPORE refunds to more than 15 lakh AGENCIES Announcements, we amplify their and regulation that can impact taxpayers so far this fiscal. Of POST NEWS NETWORK reach so that people located in the communities and day-to-day ac- this personal income tax New Delhi, May 19: Social media community are more likely to see tions like lockdowns, night cur- refunds worth `7,458 crore has Bhubaneswar, May 20: The giant Facebook Wednesday said it them. We will send notifications to fews and changes to treatment pro- been issued in over 14.98 lakh Paradip Port Trust (PPT) handled is expanding its 'COVID-19 people located in the affected area, tocols. The tool can also be used to cases. Corporate tax refunds ` 24 medical oxygen cylinders (40- Announcement' in India that will and will also show that information share information about vaccine el- of 17,334 crore have been litre capacity each), along with help health departments of states on the COVID-19 Information igibility and registration, and the issued to 43,661 taxpayers. five medical oxygen cylinder and and Union Territories share es- Center," Facebook said. logistics of acquiring a vaccine; “CBDT issues refunds of over `24,792 crore to more than 15 oxygen regulator-humidifiers, sential COVID-19 related updates state jurisdictions. States will be able This will help distribute impor- providing accurate information on lakh taxpayers between 1st brought in by MV Anna Maria with their communities. India is the to issue these alerts statewide or to tant and urgent updates related to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour; April 2021 to 17th May 2021," from Singapore for distribution second country after the US to specific cities within their state," COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccina- and suggesting preventive behav- the Income-tax department among various state-run hospitals Dreyfus Company Freight Asia launch this feature. it added. The roll out of the COVID- tion efforts to people in the com- ioural health measures to stop the tweeted. The I-T department in Jagatsinghpur district. Paradip from Singapore in MV Glory Facebook said it has partnered 19 Announcement tool in India is munity, it added. Facebook said spread of COVID-19, it added. did not specify the financial ADM Kanhu Charan Dhir received Amsterdam for PPT Hospital. In with 33 states and UTs to roll out part of the company's ongoing ef- COVID-19 Announcements can be Previously, the FB had said it year for the refunds. the oxygen cylinders on behalf of view of the ongoing COVID-19 this tool in their respective juris- forts to support the public health used to communicate information would roll out a vaccine finder tool However, it is believed that the state government. pandemic, Steel Authority of India dictions. "The COVID-19 authorities' work to keep people on existing COVID-19 resources on its mobile app in India to help the refunds are for tax Paradip International Cargo along with Paradip Customs has Announcement feature will give safe and informed during the coro- such as helplines; updates on hos- people identify places nearby to returns filed for the 2019-20 Terminal Private Limited (PICTPL) provided necessary assistance health departments the ability to navirus public health crisis, it said. pital bed availability in districts get inoculated. The company had fiscal. In the previous fiscal, also handled 30 medical oxygen for this endeavor. This is the first push out timely, credible COVID- "When posts by state health de- such as Intensive Care Unit (ICU) also announced a USD 10 million which ended March 31, 2021, cylinders (10-litre capacity each), time medical oxygen is being han- 19 and vaccine information to peo- partment pages on Facebook are beds and oxygen supported beds; and grant for emergency response ef- the department had issued sent by the shipping line Louis dled at PPT. ple in their local communities/ marked as COVID-19 changes to existing COVID-19 rules forts for COVID-19 situation. `2.62 lakh crore worth refunds to more than 2.38 crore taxpayers. GOOGLE ANNOUNCES NEW PRIVACY SETTINGS, AI TOOLS Audi warranty service extended AGENCIES most difficult moments yet". enhancements to its Password "COVID-19 has deeply affected Boosting security Manager, which helps users create, New Delhi: German luxury New Delhi, May 19: Google has every community, it's also inspired remember, save and auto-fill pass- carmaker Audi on Wednesday announced a slew of new features coordination between public and dditions to Google words across the web. This will said it has extended including new privacy settings, private sectors, and across inter- AWorkspace will enable help easily change compromised warranties and service plans AI tools and release of the first beta national borders. richer collaboration, especially passwords with Google Assistant; for its customers in India till of Android 12 that will become "At Google, we launched products in view of the pandemic that provide automatic, proactive no- June 30 in the wake of the part of its products over the course and initiatives to help one another has driven enterprises across tification of compromised pass- second wave of the of the year. through this time - to help students the globe to embrace remote words; and provide a new tool to coronavirus pandemic. The Kicking off Google I/O 2021 in a and teachers continue their learn- working solutions make it easy to import passwords extension of standard and virtual format from the Mountain ing from anywhere, to help small from files or other password man- extended warranty and View campus, Google CEO Sundar businesses adapt and grow, and to oogle is introducing a new agers. "quick delete" option that service plans are applicable to Pichai also announced additions to get emergency relief and vaccines G The tech giant is also releasing those customers whose plans will help delete the last 15 Google Workspace that will enable to communities in need," he said the first beta of Android 12, fea- lapse during the lockdown minutes of search history with a months of April and May. richer collaboration, especially in on late Tuesday night. single tap from the Google turing the biggest design change Customers facing challenges view of the pandemic that has driven Pichai and other Google execu- Account Menu since 2014. The latest version in-

enterprises across the globe to em- tives laid out the roadmap for tools cludes features that give more

k y m owing to the lockdown will c benefit from these extended brace remote working solutions. and features that will be rolled out option that will help delete the last "Locked Folder" is a new pass- transparency around which apps plans. Audi India Head Balbir Pichai said that COVID-19 has through the year across products 15 minutes of search history with code-protection feature in Google bums. The feature will be intro- are accessing user data, and offers Singh said, in line with the deeply affected every community like Search, Lens, Photos, Maps a single tap from the Google Photos where select photos can be duced to Google Pixel phones first, more controls so users can make need of the hour, we are over the past year, and "places like and Shopping among others. Account Menu. It is also intro- saved separately and these photos and more Android devices through- informed choices. Currently, there rolling out extensions on Brazil, and my home country of For enhanced privacy, Google ducing Location History reminders won't show up as users scroll out the year. are 3 billion active Android de- standard warranty. India, are now going through their is introducing a new "quick delete" in Maps Timeline. through their grid or in shared al- Google has also announced new vices around the world. P12 THURSDAY | MAY 20 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR sports

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

y

k k y y m m c Blues CHHETRI RETURNS AS c INDIA LEAVE FOR DOHA

hunt PRESS TRUST OF INDIA New Delhi, May 19: Talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri made a re- turn after recovering from COVID- 19 infection as a 28-member Indian down football squad leaves for Doha Wednesday for the three upcom- ing matches of the joint 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup Qualifiers. The team will have a prepara- tory camp inside a bio-bubble in Doha before their first match June Foxes 3 against hosts Qatar. After miss- ing the two international friendly matches against Oman and the FANS RETURN TO WITNESS UAE March 25 and 29, Chhetri is CHELSEA EDGE PAST TOP set to feature in the forthcoming games. FOUR RIVAL LEICESTER; As per the health parameters re- BRIGHTON COME FROM quired to travel to Qatar, all the players and staff will carry with BEHIND TO STUN 10-MAN MAN them negative results from the CITY, WHILE MAN UNITED RT-PCR COVID-19 tests conducted HELD AT HOME BY FULHAM in the last 48 hours. Prior to their departure, all of them were serv- ing quarantine in the national capital since May 15. INDIA’S FIXTURES RIGHT ON THE MONEY: Jorginho (R), after scoring from the spot against Leicester, celebrates with Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta (L) and Christian Pulisic, Tuesday FC Goa midfielder Glan Martins THE SQUAD JUNE 3: India vs Qatar is the lone face to make it to the Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh JUNE 7: Bangladesh vs India ASSOCIATED PRESS the pandemic 14 months ago. India squad for the first time, Sandhu, Amrinder Singh & Dheeraj Supporters immediately got back while the likes of winger Udanta JUNE 15: India vs Afghanistan Singh; Defenders: Pritam Kotal, London, May 19: Even though into the rhythm with the familiar Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Pronoy Rahul Bheke, Narender Gehlot, “Super Frankie Lampard” wasn’t abusive songs about VAR and ref- Halder and Abdul Sahal also made three goalkeepers and Subhasish Chinglensana Singh, Sandesh completely forgotten in the reper- eree Mike Dean. There was a lot to a return to the national team Roy Chowdhury missed out. The Jhingan, Adil Khan, Akash Mishra & toire of songs, Stamford Bridge be angry about in the first half as setup. Indian team, fourth in Group E Subhashish Bose; Midfielders: was finally able to serenade Thomas twice Timo Werner put the ball in Midfielders Jeakson Singh, with three points, is already out of Udanta Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Tuchel and found so much to be ap- the net but twice video reviews in- Raynier Fernandes and contention for a World Cup berth Liston Colaco, Rowllin Borges, Glan preciative of. tervened. “It’s not football any- Halicharan Narzary, who were in but it is still in the reckoning for Martins, Anirudh Thapa, Pronoy Having waited since last year more,” Chelsea fans protested. the 27-member squad for the in- the 2023 Asian Cup in China. Halder, Suresh Singh, Lalengmawia to be allowed back into their home, VAR was favorable, though, in the ternational friendlies in March, Stimac stated that although it Ralte, Abdul Sahal, Yasir 8,000 Chelsea fans saw a 2-1 vic- second half — advising Dean to missed out this time, as did for- is not the ‘ideal situation’ ahead Mohammad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, tory that dislodged Leicester from award a penalty when Werner was ward Hitesh Sharma. of the June Qualifiers, the Blue Bipin Singh & Ashique Kuruniyan; third place heading into the Premier brought down by Wesley Fofana, Defenders Rahul Bheke, Tigers will be putting in ‘intense’ Forwards: Ishan Pandita, Sunil Chhetri & Manvir Singh. League finale. and Jorginho converted from the Narender Gehlot and Subhashish sessions during the camp before They also saw why Chelsea, ruth- spot in the 66th minute. Bose were back in the squad while their matches get underway. lessly perhaps, fired Lampard in By that time, Chelsea was al- Ashutosh Mehta, Mandar Rao “It’s not an ideal situation as we begin in Kolkata at the beginning of January and replaced the club leg- ready in front after Antonio Rudiger Dessai and Mashoor Shereef were move ahead to the Qualifiers in May had to get cancelled. The pan- end with Tuchel. “This is a com- used his thigh to divert Ben left out. June. Due to the pandemic, our na- demic also robbed us of a friendly pletely different match, football Chilwell’s deflected corner over Head coach Igor Stimac opted for tional camp which was slated to match in Dubai,” Stimac said. with and without spectators,” the the line two minutes into the sec- HIGH INTENSITY: Chelsea and Leicester players involved in a fight during their German manager said. ond half. match at Stamford Bridge It wasn’t delivering under Kelechi Iheanacho pulling one Lampard, who left the team five back for Leicester in the 76th minute Asia Cup in SL points from the top four. Chelsea will set up the type of thrilling climax Benzema recalled to be certain of finishing in one of the to a game only enhanced by the called off due four Champions League spots by return of fans. beating Aston Villa Sunday. But for a second successive sea- Oh, and there’s also still a son, a Champions League place to rise in cases France squad for Euro Champions League final to complete could be snatched from Leicester PRESS TRUST OF INDIA the season May 29 against on the final day even if it beats ASSOCIATED PRESS he had accused Deschamps of giv- Manchester City. Tottenham. Colombo, May 19: The 2021 Asia ing in to pressure from racists when What anguish, though, for While N’Golo Kante went off for Cup, which was shifted from Pakistan Paris, May 19: France coach Didier the coach decided not to include Leicester. The FA Cup was picked Chelsea with a hamstring injury, to Sri Lanka, was Wednesday called Deschamps recalled forward Karim him in the squad for Euro 2016. up on Saturday for the first time — Ilkay Gundogan came off with a leg off due to rising COVID-19 cases in Benzema after nearly six years out Deschamps, whose family home by beating Chelsea — and Leicester injury in Manchester City’s 2-3 the island nation. for his alleged part in a ‘sex tape’ was tagged with offensive graffiti has been in the top four all 36 loss at Brighton, 11 days before the The Asia Cup, which was last scandal, including the Real Madrid after Benzema’s interview, said he rounds. But by the time the 37th Champions League final. held in 2018, was scheduled to be star in his squad for the European had spoken directly with Benzema round ends, Leicester will have Gundogan had scored the opener held in June but Sri Lanka Cricket Championship. to clear the air. dropped to fifth if Liverpool wins in the second minute before the CEO Ashley de Silva announced The 33-year-old Benzema played “Obviously to come to this de- at Burnley Wednesday. champions had Joao Cancelo sent that it will be difficult for them to the last of his 81 games for Les cision there were important steps While the title has already been off for bringing down Danny conduct the tournament. Bleus in October 2015, scoring twice to take, one of which was very im- sealed by Manchester City, and Welbeck. STUNNING COMEBACK: Brighton players celebrate their winning goal against “Due to the prevailing situation, in a friendly against Armenia to portant. We met each other, we Manchester United will be run- Although Phil Foden doubled Man City as the visiting players have something to complain for, Tuesday it will not be possible to play the take his international tally to 27 spoke for a long time,” Deschamps ners-up, the tussle for the final two City’s lead at the start of the sec- tournament in June this year,” De goals. said. “That was the most important Champions League spots is set- ond half, goals from Leandro Spotting goalkeeper Alphonse of the owning Glazer family were Silva told reporters. “Why now? I don’t have the ca- step, after which I obviously had a ting up a thrilling final day. Trossard, Adam Webster and Dan Areola was off his line, Cavani — held up by some fans as the teams The tournament was supposed pacity and no one does, not even very long think about many things No wonder tensions were so high Burn completed the recovery for helped on by a flick from Bruno came out for kickoff at the sta- to be hosted by Pakistan but since Karim, of going back and chang- and to reach this decision now.” in the closing minutes at Stamford 15th-place Brighton. Fernandes — chipped the ball from dium’s first game with fans al- India were unlikely to travel there due ing the past,” Deschamps said when Deschamps made clear that any Bridge as Chelsea and Leicester PROTESTS AND CELEBRATIONS about 50 yards (meters) into the net. lowed since March 2020. to political tension between the two announcing his squad on national lingering grudges seem to have players squared up and clashed, Manchester United’s protesting The United fans saw why the Around two-and-half weeks ago, nations, it was shifted to Sri Lanka. television. “The most important been firmly buried. “I won’t tell with even substitutes getting in- fans were back inside Old Trafford team needs more investment to some United supporters got into the With all the teams planning for thing is today and the future.” you a single word about the dis- volved. — legally this time — and were strengthen itself by failing to hold stadium and onto the field during their FTPs for the next two years, Benzema expressed his relief cussion between us, it concerns Perhaps they were fired up by the treated to a wonder goal by Edinson onto the lead when Joe Bryan more fervent protests, causing the the continental showpiece might in a statement on his Twitter ac- only us two. But he needed it and biggest crowd allowed at the west Cavani in a 1-1 draw against al- headed Fulham level. postponement of a match against only find a slot after the 2023 50-over count. “So proud of this return to I needed it,” Deschamps said. London stadium since the start of ready-relegated Fulham. Placards calling for the removal Liverpool. World Cup. the France team and the trust I’ve “I think the France team is above been shown,” he wrote. everything else. It doesn’t belong He had been banned from the to me, even though I’m aware of the RECALLING 1999 WORLD CUP GAME national team because of the ‘sex important responsibility I have.” tape’ scandal in which he was al- All eyes will be on Benzema if India wait for playing conditions legedly involved in blackmailing for- he’s selected against Germany mer France teammate Matthieu June 15 — seven years after play- Dada, Dravid tons had PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Valbuena. ing in a losing side against the Benzema faced a deluge of crit- Germans in the World Cup quar- New Delhi, May 19: What happens icism, and then-Prime Minister terfinals in Brazil. an ‘impact’ on Buttler if next month’s World Test Manuel Valls said the forward had A strong performance at Euro Championship final between India no place in the national team. 2020 could also push his cause to be- and New Zealand ends in a draw? Benzema, who is of Algerian de- come France’s first winner of the PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Or a tie? Or worse, a washout? scent, had a good relationship with prestigious Ballon d’Or award since The Indian cricket team are ea- Deschamps. But in an interview, Zidane in ’98. London, May 19: England’s swash- gerly awaiting a response to this and buckling batsman Jos Buttler says other questions concerning the at the Ageas Bowl. ter Jemimah Rodrigues. Even KL Indian greats Rahul Dravid and ‘Playing Conditions’ for the mar- “Yes, India will be in Rahul, who is recovering from an Sourav Ganguly’s big hundreds in quee clash in Southampton from Southampton only when New appendicitis operation is in Mumbai the 1999 World Cup match against June 18 to 22. The International Zealand and England play the first and expected to join the bubble Sri Lanka had an “incredible im- Cricket Council (ICC) is expected of their two Tests. We expect ICC May 24. pact” on him. to release the ‘Playing Conditions’ to give an idea of the duration of BCCI has deployed three charter The duo of Ganguly and Dravid in the ‘coming days’. hard or soft quarantine in the next flights – from Delhi, Hyderabad had stitched together a mammoth “Since this is not another bilat- few days. Since it’s an ICC event, and Chennai – for both male and partnership of 318 runs for the eral series Test match, we need to the final notification needs to come female cricketers. All those who second wicket to set up an easy know about the playing conditions. from them,” the source said. are not in these three metro cities victory for India. There are three basic pointers that The Indian team are hoping to are supposed to take a private car That was long before the T20 Sourav Ganguly (L) and Rahul Dravid we need to know,” a senior BCCI of- train during their soft quarantine and reach the destinations for their revolution took the game by storm have something to laugh about dur- ficial privy to the Indian team’s but negotiations are still on with respective flights. but, on that day in Taunton, sixes ing their partnership against Sri Lanka requirements told this agency on regards to duration of quarantine. A few who wanted to fly com- and fours rained down from the in a 1999 World Cup game in Taunton conditions of anonymity. While the likes of Mayank mercial with their negative re- blades of the two Indian batsmen, “What happens in case of a draw, Agarwal, Ravichandran Ashwin, ports have been allowed. “Also the something the destructive Buttler game and how cool it would be to tie or an eventual wash-out with- bowling coach Bharat Arun rule for boarding a charter flight often does these days. play in a World Cup,” added Buttler. out at least one innings of both Wednesday arrived in Mumbai on is that even the driver of the pri- “Those were my formative years Buttler looked in good form for teams not being completed,” he a charter flight from Chennai, vate car needs to quarantine three and watching that game with Rajasthan Royals in the now-sus- added. Mohammed Siraj, men’s team field- days before the journey and have Ganguly and Dravid scoring big pended IPL-14, including scoring a “The ICC will be publishing the ing coach R Sridhar, women’s Test a negative RT-PCR report. hundreds had an incredible im- scintillating 64-ball 124 against Playing Conditions in coming days. and ODI captain Mithali Raj will “There was no reason for this y pact,” Buttler told ‘Cricbuzz’. Sunrisers Hyderabad. We can’t put a date but I believe they all be boarding from Hyderabad. clarification but when former play-

He was surprised by the mas- Considered one of England’s will send it soon.” However, all those living in ers, who have played at the highest

k k y y m m c c sive Indian presence in the crowd finest limited overs batsman, Buttler The Indian team, after reach- Mumbai, Pune and adjoining areas level, amplify rumours on social for a match in England. “India ver- was instrumental in guiding them ing London, early next month is ex- can join the team bubble May 24 like media, you are left with no choice,” sus Sri Lanka in 1999 World Cup was to the 2019 World Cup victory at pected to leave immediately for men’s team skipper Virat Kohli, a senior official said. “Each and my first experience of seeing Indian home, and is expected to play a Southampton where it will be in his respective red and white ball every member of the men’s and crowds and that ignites the fire of crucial role in the upcoming T20 quarantine during the England deputies Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit women’s team are aware of travel how passionate people are about the World Cup. versus New Zealand Test match Sharma, and women’s team bat- details,” he added.

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