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POOJA ON OXIMETER MASK-FREE US SEAL WIN Actor Pooja Hegde shares video Top US health agency says it was lifting mask-wearing Liverpool overpower Manchester United 4-2 in that teaches the right way to use guidance for people who are fully vaccinated their Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester a pulse oximeter LEISURE | P2 against Covid-19 INTERNATIONAL | P10 SPORTS | P12

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 44 | www.orissapost.com | SATURDAY, MAY 15 | 2021 12 PAGES | `4.00

IRREGULAR by MANJUL Fuel prices skyrocket AGENCIES

New , May 14: Petrol and diesel prices Friday touched record high levels across the RECORD SURGE country after rates were increased for the fourth time this week. Petrol price was hiked by 29 paise per litre State logs highest one-day spike of 12,390 and diesel by 34 paise a litre, according to a price notification by state-owned fuel retailers. The increase propelled rates in Delhi to climb to an COVID-19 cases, 22 more fatalities all-time high of `92.34 a litre for petrol and `82.95 per litre for diesel. Rates had already crossed the POST NEWS NETWORK/AGENCIES `100-mark in several cities in Rajasthan, Madhya Sputnik V to cost Pradesh and and with the latest We have successfully Bhubaneswar, May 14: ` increase, prices in too were inching to- REQUEST TO READERS suppressed the second Friday registered its highest single- 995 per dose wards that level. wave ...data day spike of 12,390 new COVID-19 : Drug firm Dr Reddy’s Dear reader, cases, which pushed the tally to Laboratories Friday said it has CITY FUEL PRICES (MAY 14) 5,88,687, while a record number of launched COVID vaccine Sputnik V PETROL `93.10 (+0.26) At the outset, we would like to thank you for your con- MARKET WATCH in the Indian market with the first 22 fatalities raised the toll to 2,273, DIESEL `90.43 (+0.37) tinued support. As you might be well aware, the past a senior health department dose being administered in year has been hard on the economic front for all sectors, INDEX VARIATION official said. Bolangir, Boudh, Cuttack, Deogarh, Hyderabad, as part of a limited not excluding the newspaper industry. While adver- pilot. The company said the import- Accordingly, the number of ac- Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal. tising revenue has shrunk, the prices of raw materials SENSEX 48732.55 41.75 tive cases climbed to 1,04,016, the Besides, 53 COVID-19 patients ed doses of the vaccine are present- ly priced at a maximum retail price like newsprint, plates, chemicals have spiked like never official said. Of the 12,390 new in the state have died due to co- Sops rain for farmers before. Add to that, the ever increasing fuel and energy BOURSES ` NIFTY 14677.80 18.70 cases, 6,938 were reported from morbidities. As many as 4,82,345 pa- of 948, with 5 per cent GST per dose, amounting to `995.4 per dose. prices and other investment costs to stay updated with `0.14 various quarantine centres, and tients have recovered from the BHUBANESWAR: On the eve of Akshaya Tritiya, DOLLAR 73.84 “The imported doses of the vaccine technological advances in the print industry, it has be- the rest detected during contact highly infectious disease so far. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday announced are presently priced at an MRP of come difficult to provide you your chosen paper at the EURO 88.87 `0.13 tracing, he stated. Khurda district, Odisha’s positivity rate stands at that the state government has transferred a total CURRENCY `948 + 5 per cent GST per dose, present cost. of which state capital Bhubaneswar 5.47 per cent. The coastal state con- of `920 crore to the accounts of 42 lakh farmers ` ` with the possibility of a lower price GOLD 47,611 173 is a part, accounted for 2,201 new ducted 56,214 sample tests Thursday, in the state under the KALIA scheme. Wishing the We are unwillingly forced to hike the cover price of point when local supply begins,” Dr Orissa POST to `5 from 16th May 2021. SILVER `71,185 `712 cases, followed by Sundargarh at the maximum so far in a single Reddy's Laboratories said in a farming community on this occasion, Patnaik said, BULLION 882, Cuttack at 719, at day, which took the number of such statement. MORE P8 “I hope that all the small, marginal and landless The paper will be available at the same price on 677 and Angul at 532. examinations to 1,07,69,312. farmers in the state will make proper use of the Sundays with Sunday POST. WEATHER Taking to Twitter, the health de- KALIA money in the farming activities and in the Orissa POST remains committed to provide you partment said, “Regret to inform STATE FLOATS GLOBAL TENDER FOR VAX development of their livelihood.” unbiased, fact checked news at your doorstep daily. BHUB CTK about the demise of twenty two Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday released True journalism has no price tag but the costs are real. MAX 34.7° 36.4° Covid positive patients while under BHUBANESWAR: The state government Friday floated a global tender for procurement the 8th installment of financial benefits of `720.46 We appeal to our readers to bear with us and continue treatment in hospitals.” of Covid-19 vaccine. State-run Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd (OSML) has invit- crore to PM-KISAN beneficiaries of Odisha. to support us in bringing to you our best effort every day. TEMP MIN 22.5° 22.2° ed online global bids through e-Tender portal (https://tendersodisha.gov.in) from eligi- Forecast Four were recorded in According to the Ministry of Agriculture, as many ble bidders for supply of Covid-19 vaccine which can be stored in a temp of 2 to 8 Humidity 67% 56% Khurda, three in Angul and two as 25,90,315 farmers got the financial benefits under Thank you Light rain each in Kalahandi, Kendrapara, degree Celsius. The manufacturers can submit their tenders in between May 20 to 28. the 8th installment in Odisha. The Union govern- Rainfall Nil Nil very likely Rayagada and Sundargarh. One The manufacturers will enter into agreement to provide 75 lakh doses within 30 days, ment released `2.06 lakh crore to 9,50,67,601 bene- — EDITOR

each succumbed to the infection in 2.25 crore doses within 60 days and 3.75 crore doses within 90 days. ficiary farmers across the country. MORE P4

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k y m c P2 ANDREW TOO ‘SENSITIVE’ FOR SOCIAL MEDIA ‘GIMME FIVE FOR PEACE’: IDRIS ELBA SATURDAY | MAY 15 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR Actor Andrew Garfield says he wants to stay away from social British star Idris Elba makes a beautiful appeal for media because he is too sensitive. “I don’t think it would be peace in his new Instagram post. Elba’s caption beneficial to my mental health. I think I’m too sensitive, and I want seems to be an appeal to the heavens to restore to stay that way. What these platforms promise is some form of peace in the world, at a time when the Covid

negative or positive feedback, and either one can be addictive for pandemic has paralysed life globally, and fresh y

someone who equates attention with love,” Garfield said. violence has erupted between Israel and Palestine.

k y m leisure c FORTUNE FORECAST Witty response to hoax Mumbai: Veteran actor photo with a condolence message in fake news with humour. Pooja’s tips on right Paresh Rawal Friday Hindi, announcing that “Paresh Rawal “Action should be taken against this reacted to a social ji, a member of the film industry has page. I can’t tolerate such kinds of joke. ARIES media page claiming passed away at 7am on 14th May, 2021”. You are my fav sir. I pray god this day will that he has passed Reacting to the hoax with humour, never come,” commented a fan. A favourable day as any away. the 65-year-old actor tweeted: “Sorry for “Yes, this is bad in taste,” suggested can be, says Ganesha. You are happy and con- The actor shared the misunderstanding as I slept past another fan. “Some respect must be tent with what you have, and you've screenshot of a 7am...!” shown to all the living legends. They use of oximeters planned and are working towards what Twitter The actor’s fans, however, are can’t have more likes n share (asTRP) by you want. A romantic date may prove page that not amused by the death hoax. announcing someone’s death. Not Mumbai: Actor Pooja Hedge is among the of a patient. She took to her Twitter handle and interesting or throw up a controversy — has While some expressed acceptable in civilised Society,” tweeted latest celebrities who recovered from COVID- further shared her experience with the in- decide where you want to take it. his anger, others prayed for another fan. On the work front, Rawal 19 recently and ever since then, she has been fectious corona virus and wrote, “When I was his long life. Some fans will next be seen in Hungama 2, sequel actively sharing information with her fans down with COVID-19 and home quarantined, also shared memes to the 2003 film Hungama. The film also on battling the deadly virus. I was told to monitor my O2 levels very closely. TAURUS featuring the actor, stars Shilpa Shetty, Meezaan Jaaferi In the latest, she shared a video that teaches I didn’t know there was a right way to do it until for tackling the and Pranitha Subhas. IANS the right way to use a my doctor told me. I hope this helps. No detail There is every possibility pulse oximeter, a is too small in our efforts to fight this disease. that you will enjoy a good rapport with people device that Stay safe everyone.” around you, predicts Ganesha. You will monitors the Previously, the actress announced the think with your stomach today, craving for oxygen good news with her fans that she has delicacies. Such a feeling might be Sanjana helps hapless kids, levels tested negative for COVID-19 after weeks because of repressed hunger. of treatment in home isolation. “Thank you for all the love ya’ll have sent my way. I have recovered well, kicked GEMINI families down with Covid stupid corona’s butt and finally tested NEGATIVE! yeyy! All Your highly competitive Mumbai: Actress Sanjana Sanghi Friday ise you will better the life or save the lives your wishes and healing en- nature will push you to perform better and bet- announced that she will help Covid-in- of those for whom the basics like a ther- ergy seemed to have done ter. You don't even know what being fected underprivileged children and their mometer, oximeter, a mask or medicine, are it’s magic. Forever grateful. second best means. Getting in touch families. a huge, huge privilege. Let’s open our Stay safe out there” she with like-minded people will only She has joined hands with Save The hearts up, like we already have, and penned. make your resolve stronger. Children to support such families, residing help each other and fight for the chil- On the work front, in remote parts of . The mission, dren of our country.” Pooja Hedge will be named Protect A Million, aims to reach She captioned the post as: seen with CANCER one million affected underprivileged chil- “#ProtectAMillion | Save The Prabhas in Ganesha believes that dren and families across the nation.“It is Children We need all your Radhe today you may have to my honour to be joining hands with Save help in helping us be able Shyam. take certain financial The Children, a century-old Global Child to provide critical re- decisions at home as well Rights Organisation in our mission to lief to the most dis- AGENCIES as at work. If you are in-charge of a certain #ProtectAMillion. Together we will be pro- advantaged project, you will trust the judgement of those working on it, mostly because they viding Covid support in the form of oxy- COVID-im- have been hand-picked by you. gen, critical care, essential medicine, psy- pacted chil- cho-social support, and nutritional packages, dren & fam- to the most underserved and vulnerable com- ilies in the LEO munities which is children and their fam- most re- Motivating people ilies in remote parts across 57 districts of mote parts through your own actions India. Our aim is to reach One Million of India. is one way; the other is to such children and families and we just let your words do the can’t do this without you,” she said in an @savethechil- talking. Both are equally effective, says Ganesha. With a bit of help from the stars, Instagram video. dren_india and I are on today, it is your words that shall hold more She added: “Join me and save the chil- amission #ToProtectAMillion weight than your actions, as you make opti- dren as we fight to protect the future and such children & families and fight mum use of your presentation skills. fight for hope. Every single penny, I prom- for them, as they fight for their lives.”IANS

VIRGO You will remain Sharad on solo lead film engrossed in personal matters at the cost of Mumbai: Actor of money is riding on any kind of pressure. professionalism. Solve your problems today by taking them head-on. Sharad Kelkar is all me, because the con- If you take pressure, Ganesha warns you not to let your set for the release of tent is very good. I be- things might go emotions suppress your enterprising his first solo lead lieve that the film will wrong, and if you spirit, especially in the evening. film, the thriller Deja be appreciated be- don’t take any vu. He won’t get cause of the way we pressure they go weighed down by shot it and I have full very smoothly.” LIBRA pressure because he faith in the director Sharad, who Trivialities should be the feels pressure only Abhijeet Warang,” is known for his per- least of your concerns leads to things going Sharad de- formance in films like today. Do not let the wrong. clares, small things faze you Tanhaji: The Unsung out. Remember that it is the overall pic- “I chose the speaking to Warrior, Laxmii and ture that matters, and not one small project very IANS. Darbaan, will soon be seen stroke of the brush. Bear this is mind, carefully and He alongside Ajay Devgn, since you may come under some pressure wisely. It is not adds: “I Sonakshi Sinha and Sanjay from subordinates at your workplace. a big budget am not Dutt in Bhuj: The Pride Of film where a lot feeling India. IANS SCORPIO You will live the day in two dominant shades, feels Ganesha. One part of your SUDOKU day will be tinted in nos- PEANUTS post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, fill in the boxes in such a talgia and thinking, while the other will CROSSWORD manner that every row, column and 3x3 box contains be spent in making up for the time you the digits 1 to 9, without repeating any. lost while star gazing and ignoring your work. Do not let the of your past haunt you because some things are best left behind while making a new beginning, says Ganesha.

SAGITTARIUS You will discover a flair for flirting as you puppet words to your romantic will with ease and grace. Most of today will be spent in the compa- ny of a loved one, perhaps a picnic for two, or a day-long romantic date. CALVIN AND HOBBES CAPRICORN It will be one of those mundane days with nothing remarkable hap- pening on any front. But don't be disheartened, advises Ganesha; planetary movements indi- SOLUTIONS cate there may be a change coming soon, most likely a good one. So, perk up and look forward to tomorrow.

AQUARIUS You do have a way with words and today, you may succeed with your gift of the gab! But Ganesha says that your confused feelings BREVITY may come in the way of your triumphant CROSSWORD achievement. Also, sentiments may lead to a disastrous outcome. Sounds familiar?

PISCES y

The fount of your creativi-

k y m ty spurts today like there c is no tomorrow. For lesser mortals, it takes inspira- tion, perspiration and a lot of desperation to come up with something creative. You, on the other hand, keenly remember the lessons from your past efforts, and use them today to CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU scale new heights, says Ganesha. COVID-19 TRACKER P3 CAR FEST PREP SATURDAY | MAY 15 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD A fresh batch of logs for the World 16,21,66,296 14,00,05,854 33,63,143 construction of chariots for this year’s Rath Yatra India 2,40,46,809 2,00,79,599 2,62,317 reaches Puri from Boudh Odisha 5,88,687 4,91,674 2,273

downtown forest division, Friday

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Docs caution youths against lax attitude SUMMER RITUAL TO BEGIN TODAY

months. He also added, “Delay in test- DELAY MAY ing certain key parameters which PROVE FATAL prognosticate the disease sever- ity and course, and delay in start- n Timely diagnosis of the viral ing medications during the ap- infection and its treatment propriate window period increase could reduce the chances of the the mortality and morbidity of infection turning severe the disease." The physicians opined that the n The second wave of the youth should never ignore flu-like pandemic has affected the symptoms and get tested them- youths more and thus the selves as early as possible and start young people should be more Covid medicines soon, if tested cautious positive. However, most of them opined that youths with other co- MANISH KUMAR, OP turning severe. They also added that n Several asymptomatic Covid morbidities are prone to severity the second wave of the pandemic patients are also at risk due to of the disease. Bhubaneswar, May 14: Doctors has affected the youths more and ‘happy hypoxia’ – a condition Some others, however, claimed working in several Covid hospi- thus the young people should be where youths are unaware that several asymptomatic Covid tals have blamed the lax attitude more cautious. about the declining oxygen patients are also at risk due to of young patients for loss of many “In the second wave, we wit- levels ‘happy hypoxia’ – a condition where precious lives to the deadly virus. ness more number of people below youths are unaware about the de- The health experts opined that the age of 40 years infected with ments. Also, most of them are clining oxygen levels. timely diagnosis of the viral in- the virus. They are the ones who not vaccinated," said Dr Siba Dr Pooja Sah, who is working in fection and its treatment could re- spend more time outside and are Prasad Dalai, who has treated a private Covid Hospital, said, duce the chances of the infection more exposed to risk environ- many Covid patients in the last few “There are instances when the youths are asymptomatic or in- fected but their infection is not detected during RT-PCR test. In Newborn wins battle against nCoV many of them the oxygen level sometimes declines and they re- BHUBANESWAR: In what can be The baby had complains put her on ventilator for 10 days. main unaware of the situation termed as a hope amid the gloom Chances of her survival were which could turn severe or fatal at surrounding the spike in Covid- of poor feeding, fever, thin due to involvement of a any moment." 19 cases and resultant deaths, a respiratory distress and host of organs and the tender She also added that youths 25-day-old newborn from age,” a senior doctor at the City’s should monitor their oxygen lev- Kalahandi recovered from the found to be suffering Jagannath Hospital said. els at regular intervals especially viral infection after a 10-day from pneumonia The doctor added that round- if they are comorbid or living in struggle for survival on a venti- the-clock monitoring, medical a house shared by other Covid pa- lator, becoming one of the coun- Covid positive. Later, she was too assistance and use of essential tients. try’s youngest survivors. tested positive for the virus. drugs, including Remdesivir as The experts also said that According to sources, after de- “The baby had complains of well as steroids, helped a lot. undernourished and obese peo- veloping symptoms for Covid, poor feeding, fever, respiratory After her treatment for around ple can face severity of the dis- Gudia was admitted to a private distress and found to be suffer- three weeks, the baby was dis- ease if they ignore the symp- A day before the commencement of Chandan Yatra of Srimandir deities, an artisan paints wooden swans at healthcare facility in Bhubaneswar. ing from pneumonia. The team charged in a healthy condition and toms or delay the testing and Narendra pond in Puri, Friday, to decorate the rafts for the summer ritual. (Bottom) Carpenters busy constructing Almost all in her family were of doctors treating the newborn doing well, the doctor pointed out. treatment. a raft for the Chandan Yatra of Lord Lingaraj at Bindusagar tank in Bhubaneswar OP PHOTOS

Panel to monitor RATH YATRA AHEAD Pvt hospital in dock for black fungus cases SJTA ORDERS 5,000 FACE overcharging patients POST NEWS NETWORK Mohanty (HOD Dermatology SCB) POST NEWS NETWORK and Niranjan Mishra (Director of Govt warns pvt labs Bhubaneswar, May 14: In view Public health). MASKS FROM ITI-BHUB Bhubaneswar, May 14: Cracking over high charges of the reported rise in mu- The committee will monitor the down on private hospitals over- coromycosis (black fungus) cases incidence of black fungus in pa- charging Covid patients in City, the Bhubaneswar: Expressing concern over amongst Covid patients on cortico tients admitted to different hospi- POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation collection of exorbitant charges by steroids and other immunosup- tals in the state and formulate (BMC) Friday issued a show-cause some private labs for RT-PCR tests, the pressive drugs, the state government guidelines for early detection and Bhubaneswar, May 14: In a bid notice to the Sunshine Hospital here. state government Friday warned of Friday formed a committee to ad- management of such cases. to safeguard the Srimandir servi- A patient had alleged that stringent action against such labs. The Health and Family Welfare department dress the issue. Also, all government medical tors and employees from the novel Sunshine Hospital had charged ` has issued an advisory for the private The seven-member committee colleges in the state shall consti- coronavirus ahead of the Rath 2.08 lakh for his and two of his laboratories which are conducting is headed by Nirupama Chinai, tute one expert committee each at Yatra, the Shree Jagannath family members’ Covid treatment Covid tests. The labs have been asked Head of the Department of their institutions comprising mem- Temple Administration (SJTA), during their eight-day stay. The to display the rate chart prominently on Microbiology at SCB Medical bers from department of Medicine, Puri has ordered a consignment BMC has asked the hospital au- their premises and through promotional College and Hospital. Pulmonary Medicine, Dermatology, of 5,000 masks from ITI, thorities to reply within three days, literatures and advertisement. The gov- The other members are: Jyoti ENT, Ophthalmology and Neurology Bhubaneswar. failing which appropriate action ernment has fixed `400 for conducting Patnaik (Pulmonary Medicine for coordination of diagnosis and The world famous Rath Yatra will be taken against it. RT-PCR test, but some private labs in HOD, SCB), Jayanta Kumar Panda management of such cases. All gov- of Srimandir deities will be or- “I along with two of my family Bhubaneswar are charging between (Medicine HOD SCB), Subhabrata ernment medical colleges have been ganised July 12, 2021. members got admitted to the hos- `750 and `1,200 for the test. Parida (HOD Medicine SCB), Subrat asked to create facilities for detec- In a letter to the principal of the pital May 4. We were told that we Behera (HOD ENT SCB), Prasanjit tion and management of such cases. ITI recently, the SJTA has ap- would be charged `2,000 per day proved the samples of face masks and accordingly I had deposited tient for both kinds of beds which in- of three shades (green, black and The temple administration especially to the students of the `30,000 as advance amount. However, clude laundry, sanitizers, food, med- yellow) at a cost of `30 per mask. institute as the Puri district ad- we got discharged on May 12 and for icines, PPE kit, investigations and No vax in 10 districts today They asked the ITI to send 5,000 has approved the samples ministration has chosen the in- this period we were asked to pay consumables. The government has single color face masks of three of face masks of three stitute to provide the service. `2.08 lakh,” the complainant al- also fixed `2,000 for ICU beds at non- POST NEWS NETWORK The department has planned shades at earliest. The colours Last year, the servitors pulled leged. The complainant also stated NABH institutions and `5,000 for only 217 vaccination sessions for are based on colours of the three shades – green, black the chariots in absence of devo- that they were charged extra `3,000 beds at NABH hospitals per day. Bhubaneswar, May 14: The Health Saturday owing to shortage of chariots of the deities. and yellow tees. per bed per day as Covid charge Meanwhile, ICU beds with ventila- department Friday said that there Covishield doses. The ITI principal, Jeetamitra Apart from Rath Yatra, the face and `7,800 per bed per day as extra tors are also priced the same for would be no vaccination drive in 10 As per data shared by the gov- Satpathy, told Orissa POST that masks prepared by the ITI stu- cost towards PPE kits. NABH and non-NABH hospitals. districts Saturday. ernment, the state has now a total 10 students of ITI are preparing added. Though it was a difficult dents are being sold in many The Health department has fixed However, the consolidated charges According to details, the vacci- stock of 33,390 doses of Covishield the masks for Puri temple with all task, everybody was happy and en- places across the state said the `1,200 for general beds per day at remain `8,000 for non-NABH hos- nation drive will remained sus- obtained from the central share. dedication. thusiastic as their work was an of- principal of the institution. non-National Accreditation Board for pitals and `12,000 for NABH hos- pended in districts like Angul, The government Friday con- “Last year, the students sent fering indirectly to the Trinity’s Skilled Odisha, OCAC and oth- Hospitals and Healthcare Providers pitals. However, for ICU beds it is Balasore, Bargarh, Jagatsinghpur, ducted the vaccination drive at 321 7,500 face masks for the sevayats service, she mentioned. ers procure masks from us regu- (NABH) and `3,000 per bed per day `10,000 for non-NABH hospitals Khurda, , Malkangiri, sites where a total of 44,344 per- (servitors) for the Rath Yatra and She feels that this rare honour larly. “We sold more than 10 lakh at NABH hospitals. A hospital can and `13,000 for NABH hospitals for Nayagarh, Rayagada and Sonepur. sons were inoculated. Bahuda Yatra in Puri,” Satpathy would bring in blessings for all and masks last year,” she said. also charge `1,750 per day per pa- ICU-beds with ventilators. EID GREETINGS Covid throws spanner in bamboo craft biz

POST NEWS NETWORK SLUGGISH DEMAND Khurda, May 14: The statewide lockdown to tackle the second wave n Although the administration of Covid-19 has dealt a body blow has allowed the artisans to to the livelihood of scores of bam- sell bamboo products at boo artisans in the district head- their roadside stalls between quarters town here. 6am and 12noon during the Although the administration lockdown, poor demand has has allowed the artisans to sell played spoilsport on their bamboo products at their roadside business stalls between 6am and 12noon during the lockdown, poor demand n Artisan families that used to has played spoilsport on their busi- earn around `1,000 per day ness, sources said. by selling the household “We have been selling bamboo- products are now unable to made baskets, decorative pieces earn even `100 a day and other household goods at An artisan selling bamboo-made goods at Khurda OP PHOTO Khurda for the last several years. My family used to earn around artisans have been reeling under improve this year. However, the advising people to stay home and

`1,000 per day by selling these prod- severe financial miseries since the second wave of the pandemic has help the state government to tackle

k y m c ucts. Now, we are unable to earn outbreak of novel coronavirus in shattered our hopes,” Patra rued. the pandemic. However, they even `100 a day. The lockdown has state in March last year. “Last year, The bamboo artisans have urged should also think about our sur- taken a heavy toll on our liveli- the prolonged lockdown imposed the state government and the dis- vival. The administration should hood,” said artisan Siddharth Patra by the Centre and state govern- trict administration to provide come forward to provide some as- People greet each other on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr by maintaining social distance at a mosque in Satya Nagar area of New Bus Stand area. ment had dampened our business. them financial assistance in the try- sistance to the bamboo artisans,” of Bhubaneswar, Friday OP PHOTO Patra claimed that the bamboo We thought that the situation would ing times. “The authorities are Patra said. P4 SATURDAY | MAY 15 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR downtown 8 sustain burns as OJEE extends

LPG cylinder leaks ` dates for forms,

k y m Naveen disburses 920Cr Kalia aid to 42L farmers c POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK Centre releases `720Cr under PM-Kisan fees submission Bhubaneswar, April 14: At least Bhubaneswar, May 14: On the eve POST NEWS NETWORK eight people sustained severe burn of Akshay Tritiya, Chief Minister injuries in a major fire mishap Naveen Patnaik Friday announced New Delhi: Prime Minister As many as 25,90,315 Bhubaneswar, May 14: The Board caused due to leakage from an LPG that the state government has Narendra Modi Friday released Odisha farmers got the of Odisha Joint Entrance cylinder near Melana Padia at transferred a total of Rs 920 crore the eighth instalment of finan- Examination (OJEE) Friday ex- Patrapada under Khandagiri police to the bank accounts of around cial benefit of Rs 720.46 crore to the financial benefit under the tended the last date for submis- limits here, Friday. 42 lakh farmers in the state under beneficiary farmers of Odisha eighth instalment. The sion of online application forms for The injured were identified as Kalia scheme. under Pradhan Mantri Kisan all courses under OJEE 2021 till Pabitra Swain, Plaban Kumar Ray, The amount has been released Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Centre released `2.06 lakh June 15. Gobinda Jena, Basanti Jena, to the bank accounts of 36.98 lakh scheme via video conferencing crore to 9,50,67,601 The OJEE Board took the de- Kananbala Das, Manjulata Jena, small & marginal farmers and 4.88 mode. cision to extend the last date for Nailini Barik and Bishnupriya lakh landless agricultural labour- According to the Ministry of farmers across the country submission of online applica- Mangaraj. ers through direct benefit transfer Agriculture, as many as 25,90,315 tions in view of the ongoing lock- (DBT) mode for use in Kharif 2021 farmers in Odisha got the finan- down to contain the spread of crops. While Rs 2,000 has been re- cial benefit under the eighth in- He remarked that the govern- Covid-19. leased to each of small and marginal stalment. The Union government ment is constantly trying to provide Similarly, the last date for pay- farmers, the landless agricultural released Rs 2.06 lakh crore to new solutions and new options in ment of fees for the exams has also labourers have received an amount 9,50,67,601 beneficiary farmers farming. Promoting organic farm- been extended to June 17. of Rs 2,500 or Rs 5,000 per head. across the country. ing is also one such effort. Organic Information regarding revised Wishing the farming commu- Praising the farmers for their sac- Include farmers under Speaking on the occasion, PM farming delivers more profit and dates for downloading of admit nity on this occasion, Naveen said, rifice, the Chief Minister said, lauded the efforts of farmers who is now being practiced across the cards and the examinations will “I hope that all the small, mar- “The farmers are our pride and PM-Kisan: Pradhan have made record produce in food nation by young farmers. be notified in due course According to sources, one of the ginal and landless farmers in the glory. No one could pay the price grains and horticulture amidst He said that organic farming following assessment of Covid-19 Bhubaneswar: Union Petroleum injured, the wife of Gobinda who state will make proper use of the of the farmers’ sacrifice.” and Natural Gas Minister the difficulties during this pan- is being practised on both banks situation after June 15, the notifi- was staying on rent at Pabitra’s Kalia money in the farming ac- “At present, while there is lock- Dharmendra Pradhan has again demic. “Paddy procurement at of Ganga and within a radius of cation said. house asked his husband to repair tivities and in the development of down in the entire state, farming urged Chief Minister Naveen MSP had set new records and now about 5 kms, so that the Ganga In the notification, the OJEE some problem with the gas cylin- the livelihood.” activities have been exempted from Patnaik to include all registered wheat procurement at MSP is also remains clean. The PM also in- chairman has advised the der and burner. Gobinda failed to While calling Kalia the best the restrictions. So I urge all our farmers of Odisha under PM-Kisan setting new records. So far this formed that during this pandemic, aspirants not to be unduly wor- notice the leakage of cooking gas scheme for the upliftment of farm- farmers to continue their work by Samman Nidhi scheme. year, about 10 per cent more wheat Kisan Credit Card’s deadline has ried and to follow all the safety from the cylinder while fixing the ing community in the entire coun- adhering to all Covid regulations,” has been procured at MSP, com- been extended and instalments measures prescribed by the problem. Fire broke out as soon as try, he said, “It has been able to said Patnaik. pared to last year. So far, about Rs can now be renewed by 30 June. government. he lit the matchstick in the kitchen. bring back smiles in the faces of “I have always worked for the to do so in future,” he stated while 58,000 crore for wheat procure- He said more than 2 crore Kisan For updated information, the The fire soon spread to other farmers. It has also helped allevi- welfare of the farming commu- wishing for a bumper crop this ment has reached the farmers’ ac- Credit Cards have been issued in candidates have been asked to keep rooms and outside the house. ate the debt burden of farmers.” nity of the state and will continue year. count directly,” the PM said. recent years. visiting OJEE’s official website. Several members of the both fam- ilies sustained burn injuries. The locals present nearby rushed to spot and saved the house owner’s RUSH BEFORE SHUTDOWN son, Plaban, who was burning se- GPS trackers in ambulances soon verely. Three of the injured persons have been admitted to the ICU of POST NEWS NETWORK Presently, three AIIMS. Meanwhile, Plaban has been shifted to SCB Medical College Bhubaneswar, May 14: In a bid ambulances are and Hospital, Cuttack for advanced to monitor the movement of its deployed in each BMC treatment. Others are undergoing emergency vehicles efficiently, treatment at Bhubaneswar AIIMS. the Bhubaneswar Municipal zone. The number will Corporation (BMC) Friday initi- be increased to seven ated GPS-tracking in all its am- 2nd jab of Covishield bulances for better Covid man- in order to have 10 agement and quicker transfer of ambulances available after 12 weeks patients to Covid hospitals and Covid care centres (CCCs). in each zone POST NEWS NETWORK As per sources, the city au- thorities have a fleet of 64 ambu- available in each zone. his/her residence. These ambu- Bhubaneswar, May 14: A day lances under the Covid manage- Meanwhile, the rest ambulances lances are now enabled with on- after the Centre increased the in- ment programme. 40 of those have will be put at the disposal of the board GPS units for real time terval between two doses of already become GPS enabled. The Capital Hospital here. “When a tracking. This provides an esti- Covishield to 12-16 weeks from 6-8 rest 24 ambulances will be up- patient is referred for shifting to mated time of arrival of the am- weeks, the state Friday asked of- graded with the tracking devices a Covid hospital or Covid care bulance to the patient’s residence ficials to follow suit with effect soon. centre through tele-consultation, just like we know the location of from May 14 midnight. Presently, three ambulances are the BMC allocates an available a taxi when we book through var- Health and Family Welfare de- deployed in each BMC zones. Their bed in one of the hospitals or ious apps on our mobile phones partment said no online or on-site number will be increased to seven CCCs. An ambulance is then providing taxi rental services,” appointment for second dose of in order to have 10 ambulances alerted to pick the patient from explained a BMC official. Unit-I market in Bhubaneswar witnesses a huge rush, Friday, a day before the two-day weekend shutdown OP PHOTO Covishield will be allowed if the gap period is less than 12 weeks. The gov- ernment advised beneficiaries to reschedule their appointments for ECoR cancels two more trains second dose of Covishield. Patia crematorium to operate from May 25 POST NEWS NETWORK Visakhapatnam-Kacheguda- POST NEWS NETWORK perform the last rites without dif- NGO to run facility at Bharatpur Visakhapatnam Special Khurda allows home ficulty. Bhubaneswar, May 14: In view of (08561/08562) will remain cancelled Bhubaneswar, May 14: Taking cog- “We have discussed and decided he civic authority Friday signed an agreement with a city-based NGO to start func- poor occupancy and surge in Covid- from Visakhapatnam from May 14 delivery of liquor nizance of increasing number of to expedite the works and make Ttioning of the defunct crematorium at Bharatpur Mouza, on the outskirts of the 19 cases, the East Coast Railway to 31 and from Kacheguda from dead bodies and overburdening of the crematorium ready within the Capital City. As per the terms and conditions, the crematorium will be under operation (ECoR) has decided to cancel two May 15 to June 1. POST NEWS NETWORK Satya Nagar crematorium, the deadline to lessen the burden on round-the-clock and will be a traditional one. The crematorium will be used for burning more pairs of Express Special Earlier, ECoR had announced Bhubaneswar Municipal Satya Nagar crematorium. The both Covid and non-Covid bodies. The firewood will be arranged by the NGO and will trains. cancellation of four pairs of Special Bhubaneswar, May 14: A day after Corporation (BMC) Friday stated burden on the Satya Nagar cre- be used for performing the of the deceased on receipt of Rs 2,500 only from The trains are Bhubaneswar- Express trains--Puri-LTT-Puri the state government’s green signal, that the operations at new crema- matorium has increased due to re- the family members or relatives of the deceased. Moreover, the NGO shall be allowed Bolangir-Bhubaneswar Special weekly Express Special, the Khurda district administration torium in Patia will commence May 25. strictions on at Swargadwar, to provide materials required for last rites to public at par with market rate. and Visakhapatnam-Kacheguda- Bhubaneswar-LTT- Bhubaneswar has allowed home delivery of liquor Taking stock of the proposed Puri. This crematorium will be Visakhapatnam Special. bi-weekly Express Special, during the lockdown. crematorium at Patia, BMC solely designated for the crema- BMC’s negligence has led to delay up two new crematoriums at Patia The Bhubaneswar-Bolangir- Visakhapatnam-Cuddapah- As per an order issued by Khurda Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Singh tion of deceased Covid-19 patients of proposed crematoriums in the and Aiginia, Khandagiri. While Bhubaneswar Special Visakhapatnam daily Express Collector, India Made Foreign instructed the officials to make and suspects,” Singh said. city. October last year, the city here Patia crematorium is gas-based, (08493/08494) will remain can- Special and Visakhapatnam- Liquor (IMFL) and country-made the crematorium up and ready for It can be mentioned that Orissa saw massive spike in Covid cases. the Khandagiri one was said to celled May 15, 16, 22 and 23 from Lingampalli-Visakhapatnam daily liquor shops can sell liquor through operation by May 25 to help people Post had earlier reported how The BMC had then declared to set run on electricity. both the directions. Express Special. home delivery. The liquor can be delivered at home between 7am and 5pm from Monday to Friday. No shop is al- Man loses `1 lakh to cyber fraud lowed to conduct counter sale or serve liquor on their premises. Bhubaneswar: A government official here Friday lost around Rs 1 lakh to Covid situation grim in Puri villages As per the order, the liquor shops the cyber fraud. The victim was identified as Appa Rao. According to sources, Rao has an account at the local branch of RBL Bank. The victim will remain closed during the week- POST NEWS NETWORK n District health officer Biraja end shutdown. The shops situated Friday received a call from the miscreant who impersonated a staff of The situation in Nuagaon, Shankar Rath blamed the CoWin Phulabari, Titipi, Deopada, in containment zones cannot sell the RBL bank. The cyber fraudster informed Rao that a large sum of Puri, May 14: The Covid-19 in- app. He said it is not functioning Badajhar and Gomundia villages liquor. money has been withdrawn from his account. Upon asked, the accused fection has been on the rise in a properly and so communication said that someone has illegally bought an insurance plan using the are turning worse by the day The delivery boys have been number of villages in Puri district with people has suffered. victim’s name and other personal details by hacking his credit card. n There are symptomatic patients asked to carry an identity card is- Later, the victim requested to guide him so that he could get back the for the last few days. Locals blame Shortage of oxygen cylinders in almost all families. However, sued by the retailer and an invoice money. The cyber fraudster assured Rao that the bank would fix up the the district administration for the is another headache for the dis- fearing ostracisation, the which will act as a pass to facilitate problem. Subsequently, the fraudster sent an OTP to Rao’s phone which rise in Covid cases. trict administration. families are hiding the cases movement. he shared in turn with the accused. Few minutes later, Rao received a The district administration Krushnaprasad tehsil can be taken They will have to follow all Covid message in connection with the withdrawal of around Rs 1 lakh from his should send mobile testing vans n Officials are allegedly laying as a case in point. The tehsil has a norms like social distancing, wear- account. He has lodged a complaint with the cyber help desk of to the villages and create awareness emphasis on vaccinating people population of over one lakh. ing mask and use of sanitizers. commissionerate police. among the residents regarding the in Puri town only. Hence, in rural However, it has only 10 oxygen dangers associated with Covid-19, areas, people who received first cylinders to cater to the need of observed Jitendra Kumar Majhi, a dose of vaccine two months the people. resident of Nuagaon village under ago are still waiting for the When contacted, drugs in- OMSA demands vax for kin of healthcare workers Krushnaprasad block. second jab spector Satyabrata Giri however, According to sources, the situ- contradicted the information. He POST NEWS NETWORK members to get vaccinated earlier vaccination on priority basis, ation in Nuagaon, Phulabari, Titipi, slow pace in the district. Locals as well. Since the supply is not ad- said for exigencies, 543 oxygen citing the higher levels of risks whereas an order has been passed Deopada, Badajhar and Gomundia claimed that the officials are al- equate, the doses should be dis- cylinders have been kept ready at Bhubaneswar, May 14: The Odisha they face amidst the pandemic. by you to give special provision to villages are turning worse by the legedly laying emphasis on vacci- tributed equally, they observed. the district headquarters hospi- Medical Services Association “It is very unfortunate that doc- some other groups of profession- day. There are symptomatic pa- nating people in Puri town only. In villages of Brahmagiri, Puri tal. Similarly, the Infectious (OMSA), a body of serving doctors tors and healthcare providers, who als,” the association said in a state- tients in almost all families. Hence, in rural areas, people who Sadar, Krushnaparasad, Sakhigopal Disease Hospital (IDH), which is and healthcare workers, Friday de- are fighting Covid-19 pandemic ment to the media. However, fearing ostracisation, the received first dose of vaccine two and Delang, some villagers alleged functioning as a Covid-19 treat- manded vaccination of their fam- for more than one-and-half years, OMSA president Narayan Rout families are hiding the cases. Even months ago are still waiting for that 42 days have elapsed since ment centre, has 199 cylinders. ily members. are risking their lives every day. said that with the absence of vac- when people are dying, the real the second jab. they received their first dose. They He added that the district has 149 The association Friday wrote to Even though some of their family cination coverage to their families, cause behind the deaths is not Intellectuals have asked the ad- have been waiting for the second D-Type cylinders which can be the state Health department de- members succumbed to Covid, the whole doctors’ fraternity is dis- being disclosed. ministration to give equal impor- dose, but still have not got any mes- used for ICU patients and 394 B-

manding the right of their family their kin are not considered for satisfied and concerned. Vaccination is running at a very tance to vaccination in rural areas sages on their mobiles. Type cylinders.

k y m c P5 SATURDAY | MAY 15 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR state

High chromite price sparks fear of closure, lay-offs Encroachment bars

k y m residents from using c THE INDUSTRIES’ he OMC was accused of arbitrarily The OMC arbitrarily fixes the Tfixing the floor price of chromite floor price of chromite ores based BODY HAS SENT A ores based on the advice of the on the advice of the consultancy MEMORANDUM TO consultancy firm KPMG. The firm KPMG. They alleged that the boat ambulance Mahasangh alleged that the OMC has OMC has missed the opportunity THE CHIEF MINISTER missed the opportunity to liquidate the to liquidate the stockpiles of the ores stockpiles of the ores due to a wrong due to a wrong formula and price SEEKING HIS formula and price set by the KPMG. The set by the KPMG. The mining cor- IMMEDIATE mining corporation and the state poration and the state exchequer exchequer have suffered huge losses have suffered huge losses due to due to lower dispatches of chrome ore INTERVENTION lower dispatches of chrome ore. hey have urged the OMC to revise They have requested the OMC to POST NEWS NETWORK Tthe formula as suggested by the revise the formula as suggested Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC). The by the Price Waterhouse Coopers Jajpur, May 14: A sharp rise in the PWC had suggested to fix the floor (PWC). The PWC had suggested to price of chromite ores has pushed price of chrome ores at `13, 457 per fix the floor price of chrome ores the industrial firms to the verge of tonne. But the OMC fixed the floor price at `13, 457 per tonne. However, the closure in Kalinganagar of this at `16, 527 in bidding process in April OMC had fixed the floor price at `16, district and sparked fear of lay- 527 in the bidding process held in offs among workers, a report said. LAYING STRESS ON REVISION OF THE CHROME ORE PRICE FORMULA AND PROTECTION OF THE END-USERS’ INTERESTS, THE April 23, this year. Various industrial firms in MAHASANGH HAS REQUESTED THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE OMC TO DO THE NEEDFUL. ITS MEMBERS HAD EARLIER URGED It has also urged the OMC not to Kalinganagar have been closed THE OMC TO FIX THE FLOOR PRICE OF THE CHROME ORES AT `12, 214 PER TONNE. BUT, THEIR PLEAS WERE ALLEGEDLY IGNORED add additional royalty to the floor down due to rise in chromite ore price of the chrome ores. The floor POST NEWS NETWORK Batighar panchayat price. The plant owners have blamed have closed down their plants. pushed them into deeper prob- chromite ores are fixed arbitrarily. price of the chrome ore is linked to the sharp rise in raw material price The Kalinganagar Silpa lems when they were already bat- The Mahasangh members alleged ferrochrome price, said the industries’ Mahakalpara, May 14: In spite under Mahakalpara as the prime reason for the shut- Mahasangh has attributed the shut- tling the slump caused by the pan- that OMC has failed to arrive at any body. The Mahasangh has requested of the state government provid- block in Kendrapara down of their plants. A few of the down of plants to the sharp rise in demic. The ferrochrome firms solution despite repeated requests. the state government and the OMC ing a boat ambulance to the resi- plants that are still in operation chromite ore price. The Mahasangh dependent on the chromite ores The Mahasangh members, in to revise the chrome ore price formula dents of Batighar panchayat of district is surrounded are staring at closure. has forwarded a memorandum to the supplied by the Odisha Mining their memorandum to the Chief and protect the interests of the end- Mahakalpara block in Kendrapara by rivers and rivulets. The threat of closure has sparked Chief Minister seeking his imme- Corporation(OMC) have halted Minister, said OMC, while deter- users. The Mahasangh had earlier district, the service has remained fear among workers who think they diate intervention. production in their plants. mining the chrome price, over- urged the OMC to fix the floor price elusive. Batighar panchayat is sur- Hence the boat may lose their jobs. Plants like JJ The industrial firms were hit This is because these firms find looks the contemporary market of the chrome ores at `12, 214 per rounded by rivers and rivulets ambulance is provided Ispat, Rohit Ferrotech, Mesco Steel, by the Covid-19 pandemic. The it difficult in to participate in the price of the chrome products in tonne. However, their pleas have from all sides. Hence the boat am- Maithan and Nilachal Ispat Nigam sharp rise in chromite ore price has bids. The floor prices of the the international market. been ignored. bulance has been provided to cater to cater to the to the medical emergency needs medical emergency of the people. needs of people LAW AND ORDER The boat is stationed at Khola HAL to briefly shut Sunabeda unit ghat. It takes patients to the ment was expressed by the staff Kharinasi and Jambu ghats from engaged in the boat ambulance. Sunabeda of tem- where they are taken by road to the Batighar sarpanch Debabrata porarily from May 15. Paradip, Mahakalpara or Maiti said he has already informed In a letter to its employees, Kendrapara district headquarters the concerned officials about the the HAL stated that it was con- hospital (DHH). problem but till date there has not sidering the request of some However, reaching near the boat been any solution. “The contractors unions and officers’ associations ambulance has become a headache and businessmen have been asked in light of the pandemic situation. for the local residents. The ap- several times to remove materials It has been decided to close all di- proach to the boat has been com- near the ghat but they have not visions and offices from May 15 pletely obstructed due to the mis- listened to comply with the re- to May 23, 2021. deeds of some contractors who quest,” alleged Maiti. The number of infections rises have piled up sand, stone chips, When contacted, district pro- in Koraput district while over 10 per- bricks and tractors. These con- gramme manager (DPM), sons were identified as Covid pos- tractors have also moored their Kendrapara district Health de- itive in Sunabeda township where own boats at the ghat making it partment, Prakash Banerjee said HAL’s plant is located difficult for ambulance to move. they are aware of the issue and POST NEWS NETWORK The HAL has a plant at Villagers alleged that there have they have urged the local admin- Sunabeda. Essential services like been times when they have been istration to do the needful to get the Koraput/Sunabeda, May 14: healthcare, fire safety, security and forced to carry back critical pa- space free from encroachment. Even as there is no let-up in Covid- surveillance including the saniti- tients to their homes as they could Mahakalpara tehsildar 19 in Koraput district, the Hindustan sation of plant as well as the town- not approach the boat ambulance. Soubhagya Ranjan Panda said they Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has de- ship areas will continue during They said they have taken the issue will soon visit the spot to take stock cided to close all its offices and di- closure, an administrative official up with the concerned officials, of the situation and then neces- visions including the one in of HAL stated. Mobile patrolling service by policewomen launched in Umerkote area of district OP PHOTO but to no avail. A similar senti- sary steps will be taken. Drinking water project fails; Andhra returnees play havoc in Buguda POST NEWS NETWORK Although there are no ` Buguda, May 14: Amid return official records on Covid 63L goes down the drain of migrants from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the second wave casualties in the area, POST NEWS NETWORK of Covid-19 is playing spoiler in unofficial sources said 21 Buguda town and its peripheral Paralakhemundi, May 14: As areas in Ganjam district. people have died of the summer progresses, water woes Although there are no official disease. But it is not of people in many villages under records on Covid casualties, un- clear if they have died of Rayagad block of Gajapati district official sources said 21 people have are mounting with ponds and tube died of the disease. But it is not clear Covid while scores of wells fast drying up. Drinking if they have died of Covid while people in villages are water projects are dysfunctional scores of people in villages have making the life of people much been down with fever and cold. down with fever and cold worse, a report said. They are under treatment at their Though the government has set homes. Reports said, 1,729 migrants demic is spiraling. lation at the 100-bed dedicated Kaunya Bal Niketan at up a drinking water project at a cost have returned to Buguda while 34 Only critical patients are being Covid-19 health centre (DCHC) Gadramunda have contracted the of `63 lakh at Narayanpur, it has of them are Andhra returnees. sent to MKCM Medical College on the jail premises, informed a virus. Similarly, 11 students of failed to serve its purpose for some The Andhra returnees have be- and Hospital, Berhampur. prison official. Nava Prabhat Ashram School have technical issue. come a cause of concern for local Locals said the administration “We have made arrangements for tested positive for the virus. “The project has flopped despite residents as the Andhra strain of claims to have made a provision for shifting of the prisoners by am- lakhs of rupees having been spent. ply from Mahendratanaya river the virus is said to be more lethal TMCs for the migrants, but the bulances to other hospitals, in case Villagers turn to gods to Our drinking water problem has through pipes. In 2018, the proj- than others. Locals alleged that the latter bypass TMCs and stay at their health condition deteriorates. get protection from Covid been a major one in summer,” vil- ect was badly damaged by cy- problem was that there are no their homes. The administration Doctors of the DCHC and from dif- Panicked over rapid spread of lagers lamented. clone Titli. TMCs and Covid hospitals in nearby has opened antigen and RTPCR ferent other hospitals are treating the lethal virus, residents of Water level has gone down, leav- In 2019, the RWSS floated a ten- areas till now. tests at Balipadar and Manitara. the patients, the jail superinten- Bobaria village of Temara pan- ing three out of every four wells dry der for laying pipelines up to the It was learnt that 26 people But it was alleged that people with dent said. chayat under Koksara block in in the area. “The water we avail river and construction of an over- Thursday tested positive for the fever and cold don’t come out for The prisoner who first tested Kalahandi district have been wor- from a well and two solar-powered head tank (50,000 litres). `38 lakh was virus. The administration has pro- Covid test. positive is in critical condition at shiping village deities for last three tube wells is insufficient to cater allocated for pipe laying and `25 vided Covid medicine kits to 131 in- MKCG Medical College, he added. days to ward off the virus. to our daily needs. The authori- lakh for the tank construction and fected people while scores of peo- 46 inmates positive at Many of the families allegedly ties concerned have not taken any other ancillary works. ple are under treatment in hospitals. Berhampur Circle Jail 33 Ashram school students have people suffering from cough, steps to make the project func- Pipe connection work was com- The government has proposed Forty six undertrial prisoners in Covid positive cold and fever. However, most of tional despite our repeated pleas,” pleted in December 2019 while thorities were apprised of the issue, three Covid Care Centres (CCCs) (UTPs) in Berhampur Circle Jail lo- Two Ashram schools under them are not ready to undergo the locals lamented. other works of the project were but nothing is being done to re- in the block. Golia Adarsh Vidyalay, cated at Lanjipalli Square have Kharial block in Nuapada district Covid-19 tests in fear of ostraci- Narayanpur Sarpanch completed by July 2020. pair the project, she added. one of the three CCCs, is to be tested positive for Covid-19, Friday. are in the grip of Covid-19 as 33 stu- sation in their locality. To get Jamunadevi has warned of an ag- “The pipe laying work was Executive engineer of the RWSS, equipped with 100 beds including Swab samples of 84 inmates dents have reportedly tested pos- respite from the virus, people offer itation at the Collectorate May 25, botched up on a stretch of two km. Prakash Chandra Das said the de- 30 oxygen beds. were collected and sent for RT-PCR itive. Notably, Nuapada district prayers round the clock at the if no immediate step is taken to set At some places, the pipes have partment is aware of the problem. The local sarpanch has pro- testing a couple of days ago after has been categorised as Red Zone shrines of Maa Thakurani, Maa the project in motion. breakages. Iron pipes were laid “The head office has been inti- vided electricity, drinking water, a person serving a life term tested in the second wave of the pan- Lankeswari, Maa Manikeswari, According to reports, the RWSS only for only 30 metres,” the mated for fund allocation. The proj- toilets and other facilities at a positive. When reports came in, demic. The district reported 204 pos- Maa Panchmukhi Kali, Maa Kali set up the drinking water project sarpanch said. ect will be repaired only after the cost of `2 lakh, but the CCC is 46 of them were found positive. itive cases Friday. Bauri, Maa Paradeshiani, Mati with a provision of water sup- The Collector and the RWSS au- fund allocation,” he said. yet be functional when the pan- The infected prisoners are in iso- Reports said, 22 students of Maa and Baba Kaleshwar. RAYAGADA WOMEN FISHING SUCCESS POST NEWS NETWORK y taking up fishery, the SHG SHG president Gita Bibhar. Bmembers have become self- Till date, they have sold over Chandrapur, May 14: The state sufficient. They hope they will earn three quintals of fish. There are government is laying a lot of stress a few lakhs of rupees from the fish still quintals of fish in the pond on women empowerment through farming. Seven months ago, they that will be sold gradually, said the Mission Shakti. It has taken a host decided to take up fish farming in a members of the SHG. of measures to impart training on sprawling water body in the locality Members like Surmi various income-generating activities, Koushalya, Saraswati Koushalya, ` boost skills and provide bank link- e have invested 20,000 Reshma Koushalya, Madana Pani age for loans. “Wand bought 75,000 and Sureskhi Koushalya claimed The efforts seem to have proved fingerlings which were released in that fish farming is a profitable the pond. Besides, `30,000 was fruitful for hundreds of women af- business and they have become spent towards fish feeds. Fish is

filiated to Daya Sagar SHG at self-sufficient.

k y m being sold now at good price,” said c Belamguda under Chandrapur block SHG president Gita Bibhar Given the success of the fish farm- in Rayagada district, a report said. ing, villagers of Belamguda sug- The women members of the SHG gested that the panchayat pond have scripted a success story through 75,000 fingerlings which were re- where fish farming has been taken fishery. They hope they will earn a ing. Seven months ago, they decided ing water body in the locality. leased in the pond. Besides, `30,000 up should be renovated for few lakhs of rupees from fish farm- to take up fish farming in a sprawl- “We invested `20,000 and bought was spent towards fish feeds,” said betterment of the farming. P6 SATURDAY | MAY 15 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR power post

FOCUS INOCULATION Watch the too indignantly righteous. Before long you will find

them committing or condoning the

k y m very offence which they have so c fiercely censured. SRI AUROBINDO FORGET VAX PATENT WAIVER

he surge of Covid-19 worldwide immunity. Providing cases and deaths in India this support, either through ad- shows that the pandemic ditional funding for the COVAX Covid deals a body T is far from over. While AMC facility or by sending surplus most developing countries in Asia vaccines to developing countries and Africa managed to keep their as soon as possible, should not be death tolls low over the past year, too difficult or costly for high-in- blow to the steel frame it is only a matter of time before come countries to manage. the new, more contagious vari- Second, the World Bank needs to s India’s fabled ‘steel frame’ only creaking or is it screaming? The coro- ants that have emerged in India and relax its conditions for extending navirus pandemic surge has devastated big cities including the Capital elsewhere spread to countries that loans for vaccine pre-purchases. Iand brought the healthcare system to its knees. India has now been seemed to have their infections Currently, such loans can be used recording the highest number of new coronavirus cases in the world and the under control. Absent, a miracle only for vaccines approved by three death toll is mounting. – such as a mutation that renders stringent regulatory authorities The second wave of the pandemic has spared no one, not even the elite the virus less lethal – only uni- (SRAs) in three different regions. administrative services that are charged with oiling the wheels that run versal vaccination can end this Among these are Japan and cer- the nation. According to sources, more than 100 senior officials, including cycle of misery. tain Western countries, which nat- IAS, IPS, IRS and others, have lost their lives to Covid. The news of the deaths With that goal in mind, a global Efforts to increase capacity by relaxing patent urally prioritise approval of vaccines of senior babus including Bihar Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Singh and Pinelopi Koujianou movement has emerged to demand protections would do nothing to accelerate intended for their own populations. three of his 1985 batchmates – former CBI director Ranjit Sinha, former Goldberg a World Trade Organization waiver They have little incentive to grant secretary Department of Land Resources R Buhril and serving Director of patent protections for Covid-19 vaccinations in lower-income countries. A far emergency-use authorisation to al- of the Panchayati Raj Department in Bihar and many others has got the vaccines. But patent protections more promising strategy is to help lower- ternative vaccines that have shown babus rattled. are not the primary cause of the vac- high efficacy in Phase 3 clinical Further, the president of the UP IAS Association Deepak Trivedi and A GLOBAL cine-supply bottleneck. If anything, income countries purchase vaccines, while trials, such as Bharat Biotech’s Additional Secretary of Health in Bihar RS Chowdhury too died, both MOVEMENT HAS a waiver might divert scarce ma- channeling surplus doses from richer countries Covaxin (India), Gamaleya’s Sputnik within a week. In recent weeks, nearly two dozen top babus across Central terials from vaccine production to wherever they are needed most V (Russia), and Sinovac Biotech’s government ministries and departments, including the Health Ministry, EMERGED TO facilities that are already up and run- CoronaVac (China). Extending the have tested positive for the coronavirus. ning, not to mention discourage list of national regulators classi- The severity of the epidemic has hit home. When even the powerful in the DEMAND A investments in pharmaceuticals fied as SRAs would go a long way land are not safe and anxious WORLD TRADE to ward off future pandemics. The problem is that the underly- up with a surplus, whereas lower- toward increasing lending for vac- about their health and that of Intellectual-property protection ing issues have changed funda- income countries are far behind cine purchases. their families, they are pushing BABUDOM ORGANIZATION for pharmaceuticals has a long, mentally. As a recent World Bank in pre-purchasing vaccines. Finally, existing vaccine man- the panic button. The “System”, WAIVER OF uncomfortable history, especially working paper by Ruchir Agarwal Under these circumstances, ef- ufacturers will be unable to meet normally a bulwark against the BYTES in developing countries. When the and Tristan Reed finds, “produc- forts to increase capacity by re- their production targets if vac- vicissitudes of fate that often visit Dilip Cherian PATENT WTO Agreement on Trade-Related tion capacity for vaccines does laxing patent protections would do cine nationalism gives rise to ex- upon the citizenry, has collapsed Aspects of Intellectual Property not appear to be the binding con- nothing to accelerate vaccinations port restrictions on critical in- this time. It must be a novel ex- PROTECTIONS Rights (TRIPS) was signed in 1995, straint” in global procurement. in lower-income countries. A far puts and raw materials. We saw perience for the nation’s elite administrators. Clearly, the old trusted “net- FOR COVID-19 an overwhelming majority of econ- After all, there are now at least more promising strategy is to help such behavior early in the pan- works” and reliable connections have failed. omists – including those strongly ten Covid-19 vaccines with a demon- lower-income countries purchase demic with respect to personal Naturally, none of them can say this openly but India’s once-fabled “steel VACCINES. BUT in favor of free trade – condemned strated efficacy above 50%. Though vaccines, while channeling sur- protective equipment, but the re- frame” has bent and buckled in the face of the pandemic headwinds. The PATENT it. They objected to an agreement efficacy varies across vaccines plus doses from richer countries sulting export restrictions proved creaking is audible, even if it actually feels like screaming. that obliges all WTO member states and variants tested, all of the vac- to wherever they are needed most. short-lived. One hopes the same will PROTECTIONS to recognise and enforce patents in cines being administered provide To a large extent, this strategy is be true for vaccines. International MAMATA REINSTATES COPS TRANSFERRED BY EC ARE NOT THE all fields of technology, including significant protection against hos- already being implemented, thanks cooperation and coordination will After her hard-fought victory in the recently concluded state Assembly pharmaceuticals. While the case pitalisation and death. Moreover, to the efforts of the COVAX Advanced be crucial in the coming months. elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is busy setting PRIMARY CAUSE for general patent protection has the ten companies producing them Market Commitment facility, to- There are many ways for ad- her house in order. This has primarily meant that she is bringing back a a strong foundation in economic have production targets for 2021 gether with concessional loans by vanced economies to assist poorer large number of senior IPS officers who had been transferred by the OF THE principles, there is no rationale that would be sufficient to vacci- multilateral institutions such as the countries in vaccinating their pop- Election Commission during the campaigning. Sources say that within hours VACCINE for harmonising patent protection nate 93% of the world population. World Bank, and regional initia- ulations as soon as possible. But of taking oath for the third consecutive time, Didi brought back senior IPS across rich and poor countries. What’s the issue, then? tives such as the one being led by the relaxing patent protections – how- officer Virendra as Director General of Police. Virendra will be retiring SUPPLY As I argued in 2010, the phar- According to Agarwal and Reed, African Union. Remarkably, Agarwal ever appealing the idea may be in this month. Similarly, Vivek Sahay has been reinstated as Director of BOTTLENECK maceutical industry at the time it is that companies are reluctant and Reed show that the COVAX other contexts – is not one of them. Security. was losing only a tiny sliver of its to activate their existing produc- AMC facility and the AU initiative The focus should be on providing Sources say that the state government has decided to clean up the mess profits from patent infringements tion capacity without pre-pur- already have ensured that most additional funding and less re- in police administration and issued transfer orders to a large number of IPS in developing countries. And worse, chase commitments. There is cur- African countries have ordered strictive lending for pre-ordering officers whose role during the election period has been seen as not only doubt- IP enforcement could result in lost rently a large gap between the enough vaccines to cover at least vaccines, and on funneling sur- ful but in violation of norms. or delayed access to life-saving med- number of doses that could be 50% of their populations. pluses from high-income coun- However, the return to ‘normalcy’ may take longer. After reports about icines in countries that would no produced and the number that Still, three critical challenges re- tries to the rest of the world. the violence that erupted in certain parts of Bengal after the elections, the longer be able to produce or import have been pre-ordered. And, as main. First, closing the pre-pur- Ministry of Home Affairs has deputed a team of top Home Ministry officials generic versions of patented drugs. one would expect, this gap is un- chase gap of 350 million vaccines The writer is Professor of led by an additional secretary-level officer to undertake a fact-finding exercise Against this historical back- evenly distributed. High-income will requires an additional $4 bil- Economics at Yale University. in the state to assess the “ground situation”. This again is likely to set off a drop, the demand for a Covid-19 countries have ordered more doses lion – a trivial cost relative to the fresh round of friction between Didi and the Centre. patent waiver is understandable. than they need and thus will end potential benefit of achieving ©PROJECT SYNDICATE

EC SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE The Election Commission (EC) is split down the middle over its response to the censure by the Madras High Court on its role in conducting elections SPECTRUM PANDEMIC during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The EC has approached the Supreme Court against the censure, but its petition was swiftly rejected. One of the panel’s counsel has resigned stating that his “values are not in consonance with the EC’s”. After Sunil Arora’s retirement as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on April 12, the three-member Commission has Sushil Chandra as CEC and Rajiv Of Covid and an insensitive govt Kumar as Election Commissioner. The position of the third EC is vacant. Many remember what happened the last time when there was a schism bout 18 months back when rect negotiation with the manu- on the ground. When the country would increase their prices fur- within the Election Commission. In the 2019 general elections, the then coronavirus engulfed the en- facturers. To make matters worse, was yelling for more medical fa- ther. How much more insensitive Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa had opposed the clean chit given Atire world, we were cele- there is differential pricing of vac- cilities, the Central government can this government be? to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former BJP president Amit Shah brating ‘Namaste Trump’ and when cine procurement. This was done was doing ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ On the one hand, the Central on charges of violating the election model code of conduct. We all know the world was awash with the sec- clearly to shift the blame on the propaganda. As a result, procuring government urged the WTO to how that went. ond wave of Covid-19 we were cel- state government in case of any dif- medical equipment and essentials relax IPR during the pandemic Share a babu experience! Follow [email protected]. ebrating the ‘Dance of Democracy’ ficulty in procuring vaccines. The from abroad have become a her- which the US considered sympa- Let’s multiply the effect. and Kumbh Mela. When the Union Central government has compelled culean task for the importers. Now thetically. But while applying the Health Minister told the nation in the state governments to fend for India is literally begging the world same, the Government of India is February this year that ‘India is now themselves by shifting the re- to get Covid-related medicines, doing just the opposite. In an affi- at the endgame of Covid’ it was sponsibility and abdicating its own equipment and vaccines. davit in response to the question as WISDOM CORNER Aditya Pratap Swain clear that the Central government responsibility. To make matters worse, a section to why the two vaccine manufac- was not serious in pandemic man- The vaccination programme is of the media too played a dirty role tures cannot be asked to part with Every truth passes through three stages before it is recognized. In agement. In January, we had al- in a mess now. As a result there is in covering up the actual situation their IPR to manufacture the vac- the first, it is ridiculed. In the second, it is opposed. In the third, it is OBSESSED WITH THE ready an idea regarding the more a mad rush for the second dose on the ground. The mainstream cine, it told the Supreme Court regarded as self evident. infectious Brazilian and UK strains and the states have gone dry of media was too busy in working as that “exercise of statutory powers ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER DESIRE TO BUILD A but the government kept on saying vaccine supply. Left to fend for it- BJP’s PR agents during the re- would be counter-productive at The difference between a successful person and others is not lack of ‘KING-SIZE IMAGE’ that they are aware of it and keep- self, the Government of Odisha as cently concluded Assembly elec- this stage”. strength not a lack of knowledge but rather a lack of will. OF THE PRIME ing a close watch on the develop- well as many other states have de- tions. They were doing ‘Duo- We are fighting a virus, a deadly VINCE LOMBARDI ment. But in reality, nothing was cided to float global tenders for Worship’ instead of fighting virus. There will be casualties I don't believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe MINISTER, THE done for which we are paying a vaccines as the Central govern- Covid-19. They never put the facts which is understandable. But how you have to be better than you ever thought you could be. heavy price today. ment has almost abdicated its duty before the people. Instead of ask- can you allow someone to die just KEN VENTURI GOVERNMENT Obsessed with the desire to build in supplying the required vaccines ing hard questions to the govern- because you cannot give them basic ALLOWED MORE a ‘king-size Image’ of the Prime to the states. On the other hand, the ment, they kept on asking ques- the ingredient of life – ‘oxygen’? How Minister, the government allowed governments in the West have cen- tions to the Opposition. can you allow the State to get away THAN 60 MILLION more than 60 million doses of our tralised the procurement to make The Central government is com- with the fact that it couldn’t and still WORDSWORTH DOSES OF OUR vaccines to be exported, ignoring vaccination a smooth process. pletely insensitive. It still charges now cannot provide lifesaving drugs the demand back home. The only The situation is grim now. GST on essential medicines, med- or medical beds? How can a gov- VACCINES TO BE protection available now is vacci- Limited ICU and ventilator beds ical equipment and even oxygen. ernment allow its citizens to die on Butler EXPORTED, nation. But for reasons best known have been filled completely. As of Many state governments, including the roads? If this is not misman- to the government, it decentralised today India has more than 37 lakh Odisha, have urged for waiver of agement, then what is it? here has been some tut-tutting, head-shaking and general adverse IGNORING the vaccine procurement policy active Covid cases. But the cur- GST on Covid medicines and vac- Tcomment in the more intellectual British newspapers this past week by diverting the burden to procure rent health infrastructure is not ca- cines. Only recently, the Union The writer is an following the news that the former butler of the newspaper magnate THE DEMAND vaccines for 18-44 age groups to pable of handling even 25 lakh ac- Finance Minister clarified that advocate practicing in Rupert Murdoch is about to publish his reminiscences of life with the boss. BACK HOME the state governments through di- tive cases, which is being reflected withdrawing GST from these items the Supreme Court. Mixed with a certain quiet schadenfreude over the king of the tabloid exposure being hoist by his own petard, so to speak, the consensus has been that such things are not done, or at least should not be done, and that buttling has sadly come down in the world since the grand days described Need for academic change Focus on rural India by P G Wodehouse. It’s always Reginald Jeeves that’s mentioned in these articles, usually coupled with the name of Bertram Wilberforce Wooster, Sir, The article “Beware Economists” by Dani Rodrik rightly points out Sir, Apropos, “Probe ordered into reports of bodies buried on despite the indubitable fact that Jeeves was not a butler, but a the need for a complete overhaul in the discipline of economics to create river bank”, Orissa POST, May 14. When Covid-19 first hit manservant, gentleman’s gentleman or valet. Those genuinely holding the etters economists in particular and aware the public in general on the unexpected India, the biggest fear among both policymakers and public job of butler in the Wodehouse canon, such as Silversmith, Bulstrode, and unprecedented inequality that has come up in the society. It also experts was that the pandemic would travel to India’s Hindi Beech, Keggs (and several dozen others) are rotund and magnificently point out the models of development that were developed and adopted in heartland – primarily across the rural belt of Uttar Pradesh dignified, often with a magisterial presence that was much statelier than TOL THE EDITOR the past have failed to address the widening gap and further deepening and Bihar. Given the size of the two states, the density of pop- their masters’. The butler in the medieval household was nothing like so Readers of Orissa POST the lines of division between the different classes. Ensuring equality and ulation, the abysmal health care infrastructure, and the man- exalted. He was the yeoman servant in charge of the beer cellar and of the are most welcome to contribute letters adopting comprehensive development models have been the new catch- ner in which the virus could quickly transmit in these re- buttery, from where he served out the beer. Since then, he has both literally (200 words), articles and phrase at the current times. Rodrik aptly points out for the need for a change gions, this fear was legitimate. There was never any scientific columns (between 750-1250 and figuratively come up in the world. His name derives from the old French words). Contributors are in the discipline of economics at the academic level; where economists and cogent explanation for why this was the case, but this did bouteillier, the cup-bearer or the one in charge of the bottles. Our bottle requested to send their are groomed for designing holistic models of development. Rodrik holds not deter speculative, and clearly misplaced, theories about the and the French equivalent both come from the medieval Latin butticula, a contact numbers and full economists responsible for the failure in the past models of growth and innate immunity of those in rural India to resist the virus. And

diminutive of buttis, a cask, which is also the origin of our word butt for a postal address/email ID. They may also in ensuring equality in all realms of life. Integrating the ecological, so- now, the tragic sight of bodies floating in the Ganga confirms

k y m send in their valuable comments, opinion c large wooden container for liquid; the beer cellar in medieval times and suggestions, preferably by email, cial and cultural dynamics have the new concerns of the economists that the numbers of reported Covid and fatality are much higher would have contained wooden casks, not glass bottles. So the buttery, to: [email protected] while developing a model for growth. The US has been the economic su- than the official figures. Away from urban hubs, India’s Covid- therefore, had originally nothing to do with butter, but was the perpower in the last several decades and the entire global economics 19 trajectory will be decided by what happens in rural India place of the butts; only later was the word extended to mean heavily relay on the growth models adopted by it. Hope the Biden regime particularly in Bihar and UP. The state governments, with help somewhere that provisions in general were stored, perhaps because B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, will bring in a complete renovation to ensure equity. from the Centre, must step up. people did mistakenly make that association. Bhubaneswar-751010 Sanjib Kumar Sahu, BHUBANESWAR N Sadhasiva Reddy, BANGALORE P7 KERALA MAHARASHTRA

SATURDAY | MAY 15 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m c 1.2MN WORKERS RETURN Black fungus claims 52 lives in Maha PRESS TRUST OF INDIA a list of deaths caused by black The symptoms of of deaths have taken place in the fungus,” said the official who spoke current calendar year, he said. Kerala hit hard by Mumbai, May 14: As many as 52 on condition of anonymity. Mucormycosis, also As per health experts, people have died due to On Wednesday, Maharashtra known as black fungus, Mucormycosis is mostly found Mucormycosis, a rare but dan- health minister Rajesh Tope had among COVID-19 patients who have gerous fungal infection, in said there were 1,500 cases of black include headache, diabetes, fluctuation in sugar level Maharashtra since the COVID-19 fungus in the state, which is in the fever, pain under the or increased iron level in the blood. outbreak last year, a senior health throes of a severe second wave of Tope has said patients with sup- drop in remittances department official said Friday. COVID-19. eyes, nasal or sinus pressed immune system and co- Mucormycosis, also known as Rising Mucormycosis cases, congestion and partial morbidities are vulnerable to con- The exodus of foreign workers from the seven member countries of the black fungus, became a much talked whose treatment requires a mul- tract the disease. about subject after some recover- tidisciplinary approach, is expected loss of vision As part of a contingency plan Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) last year hit Kerala hard ing and recovered coronavirus pa- to put a further burden on the to treat Mucormycosis patients, the tients were found infected with state's healthcare infrastructure cases were not mapped and a data- state government has decided to the disease, whose symptoms in- which is already under a strain. base was not prepared, the official set up separate wards for them clude headache, fever, pain under The state will float a tender to pro- said. With the rise in COVID-19 at hospitals attached to 18 medical the eyes, nasal or sinus congestion cure one lakh Amphotericin-B anti- cases and preliminary reports of colleges. and partial loss of vision. fungal injections to treat growing infection of black fungus, The treatment requires multi- As many as 52 people in Mucormycosis patients, Tope had the state started creating a database. disciplinary expertise because the Maharashtra have died due to the said a couple of days back. This exercise revealed that so far fungal infection spreads through Mucormycosis disease since the Mucormycosis has a very high 52 people have died due to the black the nose, eyes and can reach the COVID-19 outbreak last year. All of fatality rate and this has increased fungus infection, the official said. brain, Tope has said. them were COVID-19 survivors, the woes of the health department All the 52 patients died after the The Maharashtra government but succumbed to the black fungus which has deployed all its resources coronavirus infection spread in has already admitted that at least infection, the official told PTI. to combat COVID-19. the country. However, very few eight patients in the state have lost “For the first time, the state Mucormycosis was not a notified deaths took place in 2020 in vision in one eye due to Health Department has compiled disease like malaria and hence its Maharashtra. A sizeable number Mucormycosis.

TRIBUTE TO YESTERYEAR STARS MARATHA QUOTA BJP wants Maha govt INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE tic product (GDP). Sri Lanka, according to the brief. Remittances make up a far more Like India, Nepal also experi- to move SC, package United Nations, May 14: Kerala important share of the GDP for enced a small drop in remittances, has been hit hard by the drop in re- smaller countries like Tonga and it added. for community mittances from the Gulf countries Lebanon. The exodus of foreign For next year, the bank projected from where about 1.2 million work- workers from the seven member the remittances to the region to PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ers returned to the state due to the countries of the Gulf Cooperation dip slightly to 3.5 per cent "due to Covid-driven layoffs, according to Council (GCC) last year hit Kerala a moderation of growth in high-in- Nagpur, May 14: Accusing the the World Bank. hard, according to the brief. come economies and a further ex- Maharashtra government of pass- Overall, though, the total re- The Bank said that in “Kerala, pected drop in migration to the ing the buck on the Maratha mittances from Indian workers an estimated 1.2 million migrant GCC countries". quota issue to the Centre, the abroad was $8.3 billion in 2020, a workers, out of more than 4 million The main factor in the level of re- BJP Friday demanded that the drop of only 0.2 per cent from the who worked in the GCC countries mittances holding up was family state also file a review petition in previous year, the Bank’s Migration and contributed 30 per cent of the loyalties and the stimulus pay- the Supreme Court, and provide and Development Brief released state’s income, returned in 2020 ments in some countries where a `3,000 crore package to the com- Wednesday revealed. after the global pandemic left them the workers were located. munity. India’s remittances from the jobless. Low-skilled workers were The author of the report, Dilip Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, United Arab Emirates (UAE) the hardest hit”. Ratha said: “The willingness to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis recorded a steep decline of 17 per In that state the monthly re- help family members was enabled said the Union government has cent, but it was offset by resilient mittances to families receiving by fiscal measures in almost all filed a review petition in the flows from the US and other host them fell on average by $267, the host countries that resulted in bet- Supreme Court which May 5 struck countries, it said. brief said. The brief listed the US ter-than-expected economic per- down the quota for the Marathas India remains the world's top as the largest source of remit- formance.” in education and government jobs. recipient of remittances in total tances, followed by the UAE, Saudi “A second enabling factor was “But the state is yet to file a re- value, a status it reached in 2008, Arabia, and Russia. that businesses in many host coun- view petition seeking to increase according to the brief. For the South Asian region, re- tries were better prepared for re- the 50 per cent cap on reservation,” However, remittances to India are mittances rose by about 5 per cent mote work and remote provision of the former Chief Minister said. nowhere near the top when it comes because of increased flows to services which also supported em- Ranjit Dahiya of Bollywood Art Project makes graffiti as a tribute to Hindi film actresses Asha Parekh and Helen at The BJP-led Union government to their share of the gross domes- Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan and ployment.” Bandra in Mumbai, Friday PTI PHOTO had made it clear in Parliament that the 102nd Constitutional amendment does not affect states’ rights to grant reservation, he said. Woman forced to lick spit for second marriage “The state government is only Left consolidates passing the buck on the Maratha quota issue,” he alleged. A 35-year-old woman, who married for a second time On Thursday, the Centre moved post-divorce, was ordered by a ‘caste panchayat’ of her the apex court seeking review of the May 5 majority verdict which said position in Kerala community to lick spit as punishment the 102nd amendment took away states' power to declare any com- ARM-TWISTING TACTICS OF KERALA CONG PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Prohibition and Redressal) Act, munity as `Socially and 2016, has been registered against ten Educationally Backward'. (M) WON’T WORK WITH LEFT Mumbai, May 14: A 35-year-old members of the caste panchayat, Speaking to reporters in INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE arrival of Jose into the Left fold, as woman, who married for a second the official said. Kolhapur, state BJP chief they had to forego two seats in time post-divorce, was ordered by The FIR was registered Thursday Chandrakant Patil demanded a Thiruvananthapuram, May 14: Kottayam district. When Jose's de- a ‘caste panchayat’ of her com- evening at Jalgaon's Chopda city po- `3,000 crore package for the Gone are the days when Kerala mand surfaced, Kanam Rajendran, munity to lick spit as punishment lice station, under whose juris- divorce from her first husband in After fulfilling these demands by Maratha community. He too de- Congress (M), as the third biggest ally the secretary of the CPI has said in Maharashtra’s Akola district, diction the woman resides, and 2015, the official said. the panchayat, the victim was told manded that the Uddhav in the Congress-led UDF, could be a under no circumstances will they an official said Friday. later the case was transferred for Her first marriage took place she can "return" to her commu- Thackeray- led Maharashtra gov- bother with their arm-twisting tac- let go of ‘revenue’ portfolio. The caste panchayat also or- investigation to the Pinjar police in 2011, he said. nity, the official said, quoting from ernment move the SC for a re- tics for in the present ruling CPI-M The CPI-M is now planning to dered the woman to pay `1 lakh to station in Akola where the inci- At the caste panchayat meeting, the complaint. view, accusing it of shirking its re- led Left such designs will not work. give the Power portfolio and along it for her act, he said. dent took place, he said. members discussed the woman's The decision of the caste pan- sponsibility. For a long time, KM Mani used with it there are talks of giving Showing courage, the woman According to the complaint, the second marriage and called her chayat was conveyed to the victim Reacting strongly, state minister to take things up with the UDF – the the Public Works Department too. defied both the diktats and lodged incident took place April 9 at sister and other relatives, and de- by her relatives. Ashok Chavan said the BJP was way he wished, on account of his Incidentally both these portfolios a police complaint. Wadgaon village in Akola, where livered their "verdict" on the issue Shocked by the decision, the vic- frustrated over the loss of power stature and for being one of the were handled by two different CPI- The shocking incident took place the caste panchayat was called to (the victim was not present at the tim approached the Chopda city in the state and the so-called `fool- founders of the UDF in the eighties. M ministers in the outgoing Vijayan last month, but came to light when take a decision on the second mar- meet), the official said. According police station and lodged the com- proof' Maratha quota law passed by Following his death in 2019 and Cabinet. A media critic on condi- a case was registered against the riage of the victim, he said. to the verdict, members of the plaint against members of the pan- the Fadnavis government getting the party splitting with the fac- tion of anonymity said by now unofficial village council, he said. The victim belongs to the ‘Nath caste panchayat were to spit on chayat, said Pravin Munde, exposed in the apex court. tion led by his son Jose K Mani Jose would have realised that the On a complaint of the victim, Jogi’ community, whose caste pan- banana leaves and the victim was Superintendent of Police, Jalgaon. It has affected Patil's “mental last year crossing over to the rul- Left is not like the UDF, especially who stays in Jalgaon district, an FIR chayat did not accept her second to lick it as a punishment, the of- As the incident took place in health” and he needs “treatment”, ing LDF, many thought, when they with Vijayan at the helm of affairs. under Sections 5 and 6 of the marriage, the official said. ficial said. Besides, the caste pan- Akola, the case has been trans- the Congress leader who heads the were given 13 seats to contest the “Looking back, Mani was a mas- Maharashtra Protection of People The victim got married for the chayat sought a payment of `1 lakh ferred there for further investiga- state Cabinet's sub-committee on April 6 Assembly polls, they will get ter of taking away more than what from Social Boycott (Prevention, second time in 2019 after taking from the victim, he said. tion, he said. the quota issue said. key position as well. he actually deserved. Whenever However, with the shock defeat of he was able to flex his muscles, he Jose K Mani from Pala in Kottayam, did it and he got Rajya Sabha seats, his father's citadel from 1967 till he when his party actually never de- died, despite five of KC (M) win- served it. Heavy rains and sea incursion: Kerala on high vigil ning the elections, their first de- “In 2001 when the UDF won with mand of two Cabinet minister's was 99 seats, the Congress did not give Several people, living on the banks of these rivers and low-lying areas were shifted to safer places and relief camps as a precautionary measure shot down by the all prevailing Chief the finance portfolio, but in 2011, the Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. UDF had a margin of just two seats PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Alappuzha and Ernakulam dis- many places people seemed re- At the end of talks with them, in the 140 Assembly and then he ex- tricts since Thursday night. luctant to move to relief camps in Vijayan has more or less agreed to tracted his pound of flesh and got Thiruvananthapuram, May 14: Chellanam, a coastal village in the wake of the COVID-19 situation. give them the Chief Whip post, the finance portfolio. So it would be In view of heavy rainfall warn- Ernakulam, was one of the sev- However, Disaster Management which comes with cabinet status. really doubtful, if Jose will get all ing, Kerala was put on high alert eral places which suffered the officials here said the camps were Jose though is now trying to bar- what he desires,” said the critic. Friday with the government open- wrath of rough sea since Thursday. arranged in adherence to pandemic gain for a prime portfolio and wished Jose won the 2009 and 2014 Lok ing relief camps and shifting peo- Several houses were damaged protocols. to get the ‘revenue’ portfolio which Sabha polls from Kottayam and in ple living in low-lying areas to safer as sea water seeped in due to high Those who are tested positive was held by his father. This appears 2018 he quit the Lok Sabha after his places as rains were lashing several tidal waves, local people complained. for the virus, those under quar- unlikely as with the Left in power, party was offered a Rajya Sabha parts of the state since Thursday Sea erosion was reported at antine and others would be ac- it's normally handled by the CPI – seat as part of a patch up with KM night. Velinakode in Ponnani in commodated separately and so the second biggest ally of the Left. Mani to return to the Congress-led The shutters of the Aruvikkara Malappuram district and Kasaba there was no need to be panic to The CPI is already upset with the UDF in 2018. dam here were opened Thursday in Kozhikode. move to relief camps, they added. night due to heavy inflow and con- According to Rekha Nambiar, Though the India Meteorological tinuous downpour resulted in the Commandant, National Disaster Department (IMD) had Thursday Karamana and Killi rivers in the Response Force (NDRF), as a pre- sounded a Red Alert in state capital to overflow. cautionary measure, nine teams of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Several people, living on the NDRF have been sent to Kerala. Pathanamthitta indicating the pos- banks of these rivers, and low- “In Wayanad and Idukki dis- People pull a boat ashore, which sailed away amid strong winds, after a red sibility of extremely heavy rains lying areas were shifted to safer tricts, which are prone to land- alert in view of a cyclonic formation in the Arabian Sea, in Thiruvananthapuram, under the influence of a low pres- places and relief camps as a pre- slides, we have sent equipment Friday PTI PHOTO sure area over the Arabian Sea, it cautionary measure, authorities which would be required in case of was withdrawn Friday morning.

here said. landslides,” she said. cue operations, they will be tak- Idukki and Ernakulam districts As per the latest IMD forecast,

k y m c Overnight rains led to water- She also said they were taking ing all precautions,” Nambiar told so far. A total of 3,071 buildings a yellow alert was issued in logging and uprooting of trees in all precautions in view of COVID- a TV channel. The Land Revenue have been identified to be con- Thiruvananthapuram while an or- many parts of southern Kollam 19. “The personnel have been Commissionerate here said a total verted as relief camps. It can ac- ange alert in Alappuzha, Kottayam, district. High waves and sea in- scanned and we have ensured that 87 people have been shifted to four commodate at least 4,23,080 peo- Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, cursion damaged several houses in they do not have any comorbidity relief camps opened in ple at a time, sources added. Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode coastal hamlets of Kollam, symptoms. While engaging in res- Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Authorities, however, said in andWayanad districts. P8 CENTRE TO SUPPLY 192L SATURDAY | MAY 15 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR There was bloodshed in the state. I VAX DOSES TO STATES/UTs should not say much as the matter The Centre Friday announced to is under investigation but the Chief supply nearly 192 lakh Covid-19 Minister's silence is a matter of vaccines ‘free of cost to the states concern and worry for me and the Union Territories (UTs) in

y JAGDEEP DHANKAR | WEST BENGAL GOVERNOR the next fortnight from May 16 to 31

k y m national c

of the day uote Monsoon to make early Dr Reddy’s launches Sputnik V in India We are hoping that the Centre arrival over Kerala: IMD AGENCIES initially be looking tentativelyat will supply a sufficient stock of 35 cities where cold chain facilities vaccines at the PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Hyderabad, May 14: Dr Reddy's are available for launching the earliest. We all are Laboratories Friday soft-launched product and span out based on the aware of the fact that New Delhi, May 14: The south- imported COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik infrastructure. Delhi has been one of the most west monsoon is likely to arrive V, with DeepakSapra, a senior ex- Sputnik V needs to be stored at severely affected states and is still over Kerala May 31, a day earlier ecutive of the drug-maker, taking -18 degrees centigrade, Sapra said. grappling with the virus. A sigh of than its normal onset date, the the first shot here. On another vaccine Sputnik Light relief is that the second wave is India Meteorological Department The vaccine is priced at Rs 948, from RDIF, Sapra said the Russian witnessing a declining trend. (IMD) said Friday. with five per cent GST per dose organisation has submitted to Dr However, an impending third wave The normal onset date of mon- (retail price of Rs 995.40). The first Reddy's the interim results of the can be stopped only through mass soon over Kerala is June 1. "This consignment of imported doses of single dose vaccine's trials which vaccination year, the onset of the southwest and deepen over the Bay of Bengal the Sputnik V vaccine from Russian are being studied. ATISHI MARLENA | AAP MLA monsoon over Kerala is likely to be from May 20 and a sustained rain- Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) As soon as the vaccine completes May 31st with a model error of fall activity is likely over the south landed in India May 1, and received the 42-day trial, Dr Reddy's would plus or minus 4 days," the IMD Bay of Bengal and Andaman regulatory clearance from the approach the Indian regulators for Let the doctor said. In the Indian monsoon re- Nicobar Islands from May 21. Central Drugs Laboratory, M V necessary approvals. On 2-deoxy- decide the gion, initial monsoon rains are ex- Hence, the monsoon advance Ramana, CEO of Branded Markets course of D-glucose (2-DG),an anti-COVID treatment, don't get perienced over south Andaman over Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India and emerging Markets), Dr Justifying the price, the official respectively to private hospitals. By oral drug, developed by DRDO for into diagnosis and Sea and the monsoon winds then is very likely around May 21. Reddy's, told a press conference. said it was done based on its land- mid-June, Dr Reddy's expects stocks emergency use as adjunct therapy medication yourself advance north-westwards across the In the last five years, monsoon "The current prices are based ing price and other expenses in- for commercial sales from RDIF in moderate to severe coronavirus Bay of Bengal. arrived early in 2017 (May 30) and on the imported price that we had volved in bringing it to people. He and the company is in discussions patients, he said it is expected to be AMARINDER SINGH | PUNJAB CHIEF MINISTER According to the new normal 2018 (May 29). In 2016 and 2019, from RDIF and we are in discussions said the price may come down once with a couple of State governments launched in mid-June. dates of monsoon onset or progress, monsoon made an arrival over with various State governments, local manufacturing starts. and the Centre for supply of the vac- The drug, which was approved the southwest monsoon advances Kerala on June 8, seven days after though quantities have not been RDIF has tie-ups with six Indian cine, he added. by the Drugs Controller General of I have provided over the Andaman Sea around May its normal onset date. The south- fixed. We are in discussions with drug firms to manufacture the vac- "Local manufacturing is expected India, has been developed by all the details 22. As a cyclone is expected to form west monsoon, which brings nearly RDIF and we have a commitment cine. The two vaccines- Covaxin to give us the vaccine for com- Institute of Nuclear Medicine and in writing to over the Arabian Sea, the cross- of, over the couple of months, 36 mil- the Delhi Police like 75 per cent of rainfall to the coun- by Bharat Biotech and Serum mercial usage from July time- Allied Sciences (INMAS), a leading from where stocks of equatorial south westerlies have try, is expected to be normal this lion doses that we are expecting to Institute's Covishield-- which are frame.. After that it will steadily laboratory of Defence Research medicines or oxygen temporarily strengthened over the year, the IMD said in the first Long get from RDIF. I don'thave a very currently used in the vaccination ramp up over the next few months," and Development Organisation cylinders or Arabian Sea. The cross-equatorial Range Forecast for the southwest clear monthwise plan to share," programme across the country - are he said. On launching the prod- (DRDO), in collaboration with Dr concentrators were purchased. We flow is very likely to strengthen monsoon 2021 last month. Ramana told reporters. priced at Rs 1,200 and Rs 600 per dose uct, Sapra said the company would Reddy's Laboratories in Hyderabad. also shared details about the distribution process we adopted like cross checking prescriptions with our own medical experts OPEN INVITATION TO CORONA CRISIS AT HOSPITAL GAUTAM GAMBHIR | LOK SABHA MEMBER FROM EAST DELHI 75 killed in 4 days due to lack of O2

SHORT TAKES AGENCIES 13 dying in the early hours of Goa currently Friday. Leader of Opposition Panaji, May 14: Thirteen Covid has 32,387 active Digambar Kamat Friday de- Two killed in patients died at Goa's apex gov- cases, which manded that the state govern- grenade attack ernment hospital, the Goa ment should Medical College, in the early amounts to more compensate the relatives of the de- Tinsukia (Assam): Two hours of Friday owing to oxygen ceased Covid patients, saying persons were killed and mismanagement, even as the than 2% of the deaths occurred due to another one was injured in a death toll of patients who died the state’s entire government blunder. The Bombay grenade blast by suspected between 2 am and 6 am at the High Court has also expressed ULFA(Independent) insurgents premier facility in the last four population of unhappiness over the shoddy oxy- in a market area in Assam's days reached 75. approximately gen management practices at the Tinsukia district on Friday, Amid the spate of deaths, hospital and has recommended police said. The grenade was Goa Governor Bhagat Singh 15 lakh a slew of measures to streamline hurled in front of a hardware Koshyari Friday conducted a the oxygen delivery systems at shop at Tingrai market under review of the Covid-19 situation well as uploading emotive snap- the medical college. the jurisdiction of Digboi in a virtual conference shots of helplessness and lack of Earlier Friday, a team of Youth police station. Terming the with Chief Minister Pramod hygiene in the health facility. Congress officials, who have been incident as "an act of Sawant and Health Minister desperation", Chief Minister Opposition MLA of the Goa assisting the patients with Himanta Biswa Sarma asked Vishwajit Rane. Forward Party, Vijai Sardesai, refilling of oxygen cylinders, also Director General of Police “Governor Bhagat Singh has called the four hours between visited the Covid ward of the med- Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta to Koshyari today reviewed the Covid- 2 am and 6 am -- when most of ical college. arrest the culprits and deal 19 situation in Goa during his the deaths occurred -- as the "dark Meanwhile, the state Health with the situation sternly. meeting with Chief Minister hour" of death. Ministry told the Bombay High Pramod Sawant and Health While 26 persons died May 10 Court in Goa, that eight ‘trained People violating Covid-19 protocols in a marriage procession near Ghaziabad PTI PHOTO Minister Vishwajeet Rane held during the four hours, May 11, 21 and experienced’ tractor online,” according the Governor's persons died due to lack of oxy- drivers had been hired from 5 kids, rescuer official Twitter handle. gen. Despite a grilling of gov- Maharashtra for transportation drown in pond In all, 61 Covid patients died ernment agencies by the Bombay of oxygen trolleys to health HORROR IN HOSPITAL in Goa's hospitals Friday, taking High Court, which is hearing a facilities. Chandigarh: Five children the total death toll due to Covid- bunch of public interest litiga- The status report also said that drowned in a pond in a village related complications to 1,998. tions related to poor Covid man- a liquid medical oxygen tank was in Punjab's Ludhiana Friday, as Videos of chaos at the numerous agement and shoddy oxygen man- also in the process of being in- well as a migrant who trying wards of the Medical College have agement at the premier hospital, stalled at the medical college, to save them, police said. The Covid patient raped, dies incident happened in Mangarh gone viral, with patients and rel- the spate of deaths did not stop, along with installation of dura village, where the five INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE The Bhopal Group for atives pleading for assistance as with 15 persons dying May 12 and cylinders. children, aged between seven Information and Action, an NGO and 10 years, accidentally Bhopal, May 14: A 43-year-old working with the survivors of the drowned to death. The 22- Covid victim was raped by a ward 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, had also year-old migrant who jumped boy at Bhopal Memorial Hospital written to the officials on Assam jumbo deaths remain ‘mysterious’ into the pond in a futile attempt and Research Centre last month, fol- Wednesday about this shameful to rescue them also lost his life. lowing which she died the incident, and sought an investi- next day. gation. They further said that this INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE tainous Kandali Proposed Reserve visuals I have seen there are some However, soon after the incident matter should also be brought to the Forest (PRF). "Before getting the doubts about the nature of the death Woman the accused was arrested. notice of the High Court. Guwahati, May 14: Even as the reports of the official team, I am un- of the elephants," Choudhary said. Sources said that even after a Former Chief Minister Kamal authorities are saying that the 18 able to give all the details of the 18 "Only the post-mortems of the gangraped month, the family members of the Nath tweeted, "Rape and molesta- wild elephants were killed after dead elephants," Padmanabhan bodies of the dead elephants would victim were not informed about tion of the Covid victim who was being struck by a massive 'lightning' said. Various organisations and reveal the cause of the deaths," he Chandigarh: A 23-year-old the incident that has brought the hospitalised in Bhopal, is extremely bolt in central Assam's Nagaon wildlife experts have demanded in- added. Green Guard Nature woman was gang-raped in Haryana's Palwal after one of police under the lens. The woman After that her health worsened shameful! It is very disgraceful district, the wildlife experts are depth inquiry by independent agen- Organisation (GGNO) Secretary the accused allegedly lured her was admitted to the facility after she and she was then put on a ventilator that the victim had died and in- saying the tragic incident is very cies to know the exact reasons for General Rituraj Phukan said that to a secluded area in the had tested Covid positive. She was but she died the next day. stead of taking action, the hospi- "mysterious" and demanded a thor- the death of so many wild elephants there is no telltale evidence visible district, police said Friday. In raped by the ward boy on April 6 The matter came light when the tal management and the police ough probe. at one time. in the images and videos circulat- her complaint given to the following which her health dete- organisations fighting for the rights kept the whole matter discreet." Nagaon district Deputy Wildlife expert and former top ing on social media. Palwal police May 12, the victim riorated and she died the next day. of Bhopal gas tragedy victims, The Bhopal police are in touch Commissioner Kavitha official of the Assam government "The GGNO, which has been has named 20 to 22 people as Sources said that accused flagged the "pathetic condition of with the victims' kin and the case Padmanabhan said that a team Annarwaruddin Choudhary de- working in the area since two accused who were involved in Santosh entered into the woman's Covid wards" in the hospital. will now be presented in the court comprising wildlife, forest and vet- manding a thorough probe termed decades, requested the govern- the incident. A police official ward at 4 am April 6 and asked They had written to Justice for justice. erinary department officials went the incident as very mysterious. ment to conduct a thorough and said the woman's family, that her to undergo a medical check (Retd) VK Agarwal, Chairman of "No attempt has been made by to the forest areas to ascertain the "If the elephants died due to the independent inquiry to assuage belongs to Dehradun in up. He first molested the Covid vic- a committee for medical rehabili- the Bhopal police to suppress and exact cause of the deaths of 18 ele- thunderbolt, there might be some the concerns of conservation- Uttarakhand, were presently tim, took her to the bathroom in the tation of Bhopal gas tragedy vic- hide the case, " a senior police of- phants including calves on burn injuries and other effects of the ists and wildlife lovers all over settled in Uttar Pradesh. name of the check up and raped her. tims, about the incident. ficial added. Wednesday night in the moun- lightning at the spot. But whatever the world," said Phukan.

Arunachal woman scales Mt Everest PM releases 8th instalment of `19K cr for PM-KISAN scheme Itanagar: Thirty-seven-year- old Tashi Yangjom, a resident AGENCIES crore to over 9.5 crore beneficiary and marginal farmers. In these operations, he said the centre has of West Kameng district in farmer families. difficult times, this money is help- purchased 10 per cent more wheat Arunachal Pradesh, has New Delhi, May 14: Prime Modi also interacted with farmer ing these farmers a lot. So far under so far this year at MSP and added conquered Mount Everest, Minister Narendra Modi Friday beneficiaries during the event and the scheme, about 11 crore farmers that around Rs 58,000 crore pay- joining the ranks of a handful released the eighth instalment of said that around Rs 1.35 lakh crore have got Rs 1.35 lakh crore in their ment has been made to of women mountaineers who financial benefits worth Rs 19,000 has been transferred to the bank ac- bank accounts. There are no mid- farmers directly. have achieved the feat, crore under the Pradhan Mantri counts of farmers under the PM- dlemen," Modi said. He also mentioned that farm- official sources said Friday. Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) KISAN and Rs 60,000 crore during The government is continuously ers of Punjab and Haryana are Yangjom, an instructor at scheme to benefit more than 9.5 the Covid-19 pandemic. making efforts to ensure benefits sharing their experiences on so- Dirang-based National crore farmers that includes first- So far this year, the Prime to farmers reach directly at a faster cial media about how they feel to Institute of Mountaineering time beneficiaries in West Bengal. Minister said that "about 10 per pace, the Prime Minister added. see money in their bank accounts. and Allied Sports (NIMAS), The Prime Minister released cent more wheat has been pur- "Despite COVID-19 challenges, Modi said the government is con- y scaled the world's highest the instalment through video con- chased at Minimum Support Price record foodgrains and horticul- tinuously working to provide new peak May 11 at 6 am,

ferencing, saying "farmers in West (MSP) as compared to last year". ture products have been grown. solutions in agriculture.

k y m they said. "She is the c Bengal for the first time benefitted ninth instructor from NIMAS "So far, about 58,000 crore of The government has also procured Last year, the Centre provided to have successfully climbed with the Central scheme and that wheat procurement has reached record rice and wheat at minimum free rations for eights months under the worlds highest peak in a more farmers will get the support the farmers' account directly". support price from farmers. New the food law to over 80 crore people. span of three years," as soon as the Centre receives it". Under the PM-KISAN scheme, record procurements are being set, It is again providing free rations for Institute's Director Colonel The instalment will enable the a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per beneficiary farmer families, instalments of Rs 2,000 each. first rice and now wheat," Modi May and June, costing Rs 26,000 Sarfraz Singh said. transfer of more than Rs 19,000 year is provided to the eligible payable in three equal 4-monthly "PM-KISAN is benefitting small said. Talking about procurement crore to the exchequer. Eid Mubarak to all fellow P9 citizens! This festival is an MALERKOTLA TO BE SATURDAY | MAY 15 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR occasion to strengthen the PUNJAB’S 23RD DISTRICT spirit of fraternity and rededicate ourselves to the service of humanity. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Let us resolve to deal with Covid-19 Friday announced the creation of a new by following the guidelines and to district of Malerkotla, carving the state's only work for the well-being of the Muslim-majority town from Sangrur district.

y society and the country Adjoining Amargarh and Ahmedgarh will

k y m national RAM NATH KOVIND | PRESIDENT also form part of Punjab's 23rd district c

of the day uote Cyclone Tauktae

I know many to lash Guj, Maha, children who ‘Fight against nCoV on war footing’ have lost both Kerala in 96 hrs their parents. I want to tell them that I am still there. Do not AGENCIES cases crossed 2.4 crore. With 4,000 consider yourself an fresh deaths, the toll now stands at orphan. The government will take New Delhi, May 14: Prime 2,62,317, since the pandemic first care of their studies and upbringing Minister Narendra Modi Friday struck India more than a year ago. said the coronavirus pandemic is A bulk of new infections is said to ARVIND KEJRIWAL | DELHI CHIEF MINISTER rapidly spreading in rural areas, as be coming from rural areas. he urged citizens to take precau- On its part, the Prime Minister The Goa tions, wear masks and maintain so- said, the government is working on government cial distance to check spread dis- will launch our a "war footing" to control the sec- Covid vaccination ease that has claimed at least 2.6 ond wave of the COVID-19 pan- drive for the 18-45 lakh lives. demic. Modi expressed confidence INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE age group from May The government, he said, is that the country will win the bat- 15. The vaccines will working on “war footing” to con- tle against coronovirus, which he Mumbai, May 14: With a low be administered free of cost across trol the second wave of infections described as an "invisible enemy" pressure area developing rapidly Goa through 35 government centres. and is setting up new hospitals and "multi-coloured" in nature. over the Lakshadweep Isles and Citizens are urged to register and oxygen generating plants while "After 100 years, such a terrible the Arabian Sea, a powerful cy- themselves on CoWIN portal. Let's augmenting supplies of medicines pandemic is testing the world at clonic storm is expected to mani- work together to defeat the menace and vaccines. every step. In front of us, we have fest by Sunday and is likely to hit of coronavirus in the State He asked states to crack down on an invisible enemy, which is in the coasts of Gujarat, Maharashtra PRAMOD SAWANT | GOA CHIEF MINISTER black marketing of medicines and multiform. We have lost close ones and Kerala in the next four days, other essential items. "I want to the nation. We hope this time too, He asked people to wear masks, vaccination too, to this enemy, the coronavirus," the India Meteorological warn you about corona. This pan- to protect yourself and family from maintain social distancing and un- people should not forget to follow Modi said. Department (IMD) said Friday. GOI's vaccine demic is spreading fast in rural COVID, all necessary precautions dergo testing if there are any symp- the Covid appropriate behaviour, Highlighting steps taken to boost The IMD has already put policy is villages. Every government is tak- are taken. Wearing mask properly toms. he added. Facing the world’s worst essential medicines and oxygen sup- Mumbai and Thane under a Yellow compounding ing efforts to stop this. Awareness and regularly is important," Modi The PM asked farmers not to health crisis, India reported more plies across the country, the Prime Alert, signifying isolated heavy the problem. Vaccine about this among rural people and said. take COVID symptoms like cold than 3 lakh daily infections for 22 Minister said that COVID hospitals rains accompanied by strong winds, purchase should be cooperation of the panchayat in- Modi urged farmers to be aware and oxygen plants using the latest while Orange and Red Alerts have centralised and and fever lightly. “Get the consecutive days. distribution stitutes are equally important of this invisible enemy and take pre- test done, isolate yourself and With 3,43,144 new infections over technology are being set up in dif- been issued for several districts decentralised. India cannot afford "You have never disappointed cautions and timely medication. start the medication on time.” After the last 24 hours, the tally of total ferent parts of the country. in Gujarat and Kerala. this The Cyclone Tauktae, currently developing over Lakshadweep Isles RAHUL GANDHI | CONGRESS LEADER and the Arabian Sea, is likely to in- tensify into a full-fledged cyclonic NSUI files missing storm on Sunday, causing heavy FESTIVE rains accompanied by gusty winds SHORT TAKES in southern and western coastal FERVOUR parts of the country. "It is very plaint against PM likely to intensify into a deep de- Three prisoners pression during the next 12 hours and into a cyclonic storm during killed in clash The move by the student wing of the Congress came just the subsequent 12 hours. It is very likely to intensify further. Initially, Chitrakoot (UP): Three two days after a similar complaint was filed against prisoners were shot dead in a it will possibly move north-north- clash at Ragauli district jail Amit Shah over the ‘disappearance of the country’s eastwards till today evening. It here Friday, police said. One of Home Minister at the time of the pandemic’ would then move north-north- them died in an exchange of westwards and reach near Gujarat fire with jail officials after he INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE time when the second wave of the coast by May 18 morning," the IMD shot dead the other two pandemic is raging across the coun- said in its latest bulletin.. prisoners, jailor S P Tripathi New Delhi, May 14: The National try, Modi and his Cabinet ministers In Kerala, heavy to very heavy said. The deceased inmates Students Union of India (NSUI) have turned a blind eye to the suf- rains are likely Saturday and heavy have been identified as Anshu has filed a ‘missing person' report ferings of the people.The NSUI to very heavy rainfall at isolated Dixit, Merazuddin alias Meraj with the Delhi Police against Prime leder said that as politicians, they places Sunday and Monday, ac- Ali and Mukeem Kala, officials Minister Narendra Modi and sev- have to be accountable to the whole cording to the IMD. said in Lucknow. eral of his Cabinet ministers, ac- country, but even in the the dark- The cyclone would trigger heavy cusing them of running away amid est time of the pandemic, the Prime rains in Mumbai, southern Konkan the Covid-19 crisis. Minister and his ministers are region's Raigad, Ratnagiri and 96-year-old The move by the student wing of running away from the crisis sit- Sindhudurg districts of the Congress came just two days uation. Maharashtra, parts of Goa and beats Covid after a similar complaint was filed Kariyappa also questioned the Muslim devotees greet each other on the occassion of Eid-ul-Fitr, near Jama Masjid in Nagpur PTI PHOTO Gujarat over the next three days till New Delhi: Pushpa Sharma is against Union minister Amit Shah BJP about its achievement in the it reaches the Gujarat coast Tuesday. the new talk of the town in over the ‘disappearance of the last seven years and said that it Delhi's Shahdara area where country's Home Minister at the has been able to sustain only by her neighbours are amazed by time of the pandemic'. crafting 'jumlas' and making fake the grit of the woman, who The latest missing person re- promises. KERALA EXTENDS has recovered from Covid-19 port was filed by NSUI General Stating that lakhs of people are BSF RECOVERS ARMS at the age of 96 years. Her Secretary Nagesh Kariyappa suffering across the country be- LOCKDOWN family members, who too against Modi, Union ministers cause of lack of medical resources, were down with the deadly Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Kariyappa said, "People are even PRESS TRUST OF INDIA virus, credit her "willpower" Smriti Irani, S. Jaishankar, Ravi struggling to get a place to cre- DROPPED BY PAK DRONE and the "positive Shankar Prasad, Dharmendra mate the dead. Where are the so Thiruvananthapuram, May 14: atmosphere" at their home for Pradhan, Narendra Singh Tomar, called leaders who had assured to The Kerala government Friday an- INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE based elements for quite some now. her recovery at a time when Prakash Javadekar, Harsh Vardhan make India a global leader, but nounced that the total lockdown Security forces September 22 the second wave of the Covid- and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at have instead made people suffer being enforced in the state from Jammu/New Delhi, May 14 : In last year also recovered a cache of 19 pandemic has hit the the Parliament Street police sta- like this?" May 8 to May 16 will be extended another attempted aerial drop of arms and ammunition dropped by country hard. Sharma, who tion here. In his complaint, Meanwhile, NSUI chief Neeraj till May 23 to contain the massive arms in India from across the a Pakistani drone across the LoC lives with her son Arun Kumar Kariyappa alleged that all these Kundan said that when the peo- spread of COVID-19. border, a drone was observed in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu (67) and daughter-in-law Meena (64) in Naveen BJP leaders were last seen during ple are in dire need, the Prime The decision to extend the lock- dropping its consignment in the division. The BSF then shot down Shahdara, tested positive for the Assembly elections in West Minister and his Cabinet colleagues down was taken in view of high test Samba sector of the Line of the drone. the infection April 18, but was Bengal. Kariyappa said that at a are missing in action. positivity rates in districts, Chief Control (LoC) in Jammu and On September 19 last year, a under treatment at home, and Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. Kashmir Friday morning, secu- Pakistani drone had dropped arms doctors confirmed her recovery The state is currently under a 9-day rity officials said. and ammunition in Jammu's May 9 following tests, her complete shutdown as part of its Border Security Force (BSF) per- Rajouri district for three Lashkar- grandson Kunal (35) said. efforts to bring down the daily sonnel on patrolling duty recov- e-Taiba (LeT) militants. caseload of infected persons. ered the arms, while the drone The LeT militants had come Addressing a press conference flew back into Pakistani territory from Pulwama in the Kashmir val- Car plunges into here, Vijayan also announced 'triple before it could be targetted. ley via the Mughal road and had lockdown' in four districts-- “Alert troops of Border Security picked up the consignment before canal, four killed Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Force Friday recovered the cache security forces arrested them. Thrissur and Malappuram--from of arms and ammunition dropped J&K Director General of Lakhimpur Kheri (UP): Four May 16 to bring down the rising by a Pakistani drone in Samba Police, Dilbag Singh, has said people, including a man and number of cases. Such strong area early this morning. The con- though detecting weapons being his three-year-old son, drowned after their car measures will help contain the signment was wrapped in poly- was seized by the BSF, which is dropped via drones in hilly areas plunged into a canal here, massive spread of virus in these dis- ethylene packet,” the BSF said. deployed to guard the 3,323 km- was a challenging task, security police said Friday, adding tricts, he said. Vijayan said it will An AK 47 rifle, a 9mm pistol, a long India-Pakistan border. forces were taking counter meas- two others managed to take some more days to know about pistol magazine, 15 rounds of pis- Using drones to drop arms, am- ures to thwart the nefarious de- escape. The incident took the positive impact of the lock- tol ammunition, and wooden frame munition, drugs and money into signs of Pakistan-based sub- place Thursday in the Sharda down measures. used to support payload in drone India has been used by Pakistan- versive elements. barrage in the Phoolbehar area, nearly 15 km away from Lakhimpur. The victims, Ajay (25), his son Priyanshu (3) and their relatives – Deepak (25) and Lalit Verma Shallow graves, bodies in river: Covid hits villages (30), were returning home to their village, Ramuapur AGENCIES as they are. It has become common Sikatiha, after attending a practice here," he added. "Some are Tilak ceremony in the Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, May 14: just burying their dead in shallow CORONAVIRUS IN LAKES district's Dhaurahra area. Coronavirus is raging in India’s graves and not even waiting to HYDERABAD: Apart from confirming that Hyderabad's iconic Hussain Sagar hinterland, where in some places see if crows or dogs feed on them." Lake is teeming with the dreadful coronavirus, researchers have found that bodies are being buried in shallow In the past month no medical the dynamic of viral load in the water serves as an early warning signal of Naxal killed graves or given up to rivers and team has visited the village. The impending pandemic waves. In addition to the Hussain Sagar, the group of the sick have little hope other sick are staying at home taking Dantewada: A Naxal was researchers, has identified some more lakes in the city vicinity, the waters of than herbal remedies and ama- "herbal concoctions", Mr Ahmad killed in an encounter with which, contain the virus. These include the Nacharam lake and the Nizam security forces in teur doctors. said. Clinics, if people can travel Talab. Fortunately, so far, there are no documented studies to prove that Chhattisgarhs Dantewada Kidwai Ahmad, from Uttar to them, are low on beds, medicines Covid-19 can be spread through water unlike the polio virus. The district Friday, a police Pradesh's Sadullahpur village and oxygen. "People have been researchers, comprising of scientists from the Indian Institute of Chemical official said. The gunfight said the situation is "disastrous" left to die," he added. "This is the Technology (IICT), the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) took place at around 7:30 am with people dying all around his India which is hidden from every- here, and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) in y near Mustalnaar village neighbourhood. "There is so much one." Ghaziabad, conducted the study, with support of the Council of Scientific

poverty all around that people 'Shambles' and Industrial Research (CSIR). The study, spread over seven months, rough-

k y m under Geedam police station c limits when a team of the can't even afford decent crema- More than 100 corpses that have ly coincided with the first and second pandemic waves in the country. District Reserve Guard (DRG) tions. They often tie big stones to washed up on the banks of the was out on an anti- Naxal the bodies and throw them in the river Ganges in recent days sug- enough wood for funeral pyres Pradesh government also insists operation, Dantewada river," he told AFP by phone. gest the situation is equally dire been buried in shallow sandy patch patrols to the riverside to meaning they are forced to leave it has a "relentless and aggres- Superintendent of Police "Others don't even bother with elsewhere in the country. In Unnao graves by the river. Authorities stop people disposing of their bodies in the river, but officials dis- sive campaign to trace, test and Abhishek Pallava said. that and just throw the bodies in district dozens of people have announced Friday they would dis- dead. Locals say there is not pute there is a shortage. The Uttar treat Covid patients". Give birth to the PICASSO’S PAINTING SELLS P10 child and hand it SATURDAY | MAY 15 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR over to us, the Church, and FOR $103 MILLION IN NY we will do everything we can Pablo Picasso’s “Woman Sitting to raise it and get it on its Near a Window (Marie-Therese)” feet. We are a big country sold Thursday for $103.4 million at and we need to become more Christie’s in New York. Christie’s PATRIARCH KIRILL | HEAD OF THE RUSSIAN had estimated the painting would

ORTHODOX CHURCH

k y m international sell for $55 million c of the day uote PANDEMIC MILESTONE Raw materials import Coercive diplomacy is a specialty of the leads to price hike: China United States, which has provided the world with classic US lifts mask for vaccinated people ANTI-COVID MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO INDIA textbooks and cases of coercive diplomacy through its ALMOST 60 PERCENT OF US ADULTS NOW HAVE ONE OR MORE DOSES, WHILE CASES ARE FALLING policies and actions FAST, DOWN TO A SEVEN-DAY-AVERAGE OF 38,000 OR 11 PER 100,000 PRESS TRUST OF INDIA HUA CHUNYING | Beijing, May 14: China Friday FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, CHINA AGENCE--PRESSE said the prices of some of the Covid- ‘AMERICANS CAN 19 medical supplies like oxygen Defense Washington, May 14: The top US concentrators being procured by Logistics health agency Thursday said it SMILE AGAIN’ Indian companies from Chinese Agency is was lifting mask-wearing guid- manufacturers have gone up, as preparing 159 oxygen ance for people who are fully vac- President Joe Biden told they had to import raw materials to concentrators at cinated against Covid-19, a water- Americans Thursday that the meet the excess demand from India. The Indian side has also Travis Air Force Base. shed moment in the long pandemic lifting of the rule on indoor Responding to a question from raised their demand They are scheduled fight. mask wearing was “a great day” the official media here on India’s to ship via commercial air for a The announcement by the in the fight against Covid-19 and Consul General in Hong Kong through different Monday, that’s the 17th of May, Centers for Disease Control and that they could now “smile Priyanka Chauhan’s recent re- channels, which has delivery to India Prevention (CDC) marked an abrupt again.” In often-emotional marks calling on China to stop turnaround after more than a year remarks, Biden declared a major surging prices of medical supplies led to excessive JOHN KIRBY | PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY, US victory in the more than year- of urging people to cover their to India, Chinese Foreign Ministry long battle which has seen more demand in the market faces to stem the spread. spokesperson Hua Chunying told than half a million Americans and driven up prices There is a “Anyone who is fully vaccinated die. Biden implored those yet to a media briefing that China has significant can participate in indoor and out- be completely vaccinated to been encouraging its companies ransomware door activities, large or small, with- thorized vaccines, not just to pre- masks may still be required on keep wearing masks for now. to meet India’s procurement to mand from India. attack on the HSE IT out wearing a mask or physical vent symptomatic Covid-19 but planes, buses, trains, and other “Please protect yourself until we meet the country’s surge in coro- “Just taking oxygen concentra- systems. We have distancing,” CDC director Rochelle also asymptomatic infection and on- forms of public transportation get to the finish line. Because as navirus cases. tors as an example, the demand in taken the precaution Walensky said during a briefing. ward transmission. traveling into, within, or out of great as this announcement is, Soaring prices of medical sup- India has soared by several times of shutting down all “If you are fully vaccinated, you Almost 60 percent of US adults the United States, and in US trans- we don’t want to let up. We all plies like oxygen concentrators in just a short period of time and our IT systems in order to protect can start doing the things that you now have one or more doses, while portation hubs such as airports know how tough this virus us. and disruption of cargo flights to the raw materials are also in short- them from this attack and to allow had stopped doing because of the cases are falling fast, down to a and stations. The safest thing for the country, India are slowing arrivals of med- age,” Hua said. us to fully assess the situation with pandemic.” seven-day-average of 38,000 or 11 per Fully vaccinated international is for everyone to get ical goods, Chauhan said this week. The Indian side has also raised our own security partners The move sparked joyful reac- 100,000. travelers arriving in the United vaccinated,” he said. On price increases, especially their demand through different PAUL REID | tions in some, but others experi- And Thursday, the campaign to States still need to be tested within of the oxygen concentrators, the channels, which has led to exces- HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE, IRELAND enced whiplash and said they would vaccinate adolescents aged 12-to-15 three days of their flight, or show Chinese foreign ministry spokesper- sive demand in the market and continue to wear their masks out began in earnest following the au- documentation of recovery from their doctor before giving up their son said that the feedback from driven up prices because the of caution. thorization of the Pfizer vaccine in Covid-19 in the past three months. mask. Finally, she added, the guid- the Chinese manufacturers sug- Chinese manufacturers have to SHORT TAKES Accumulating data shows the this age group. Walensky said people who are im- ance was subject to change if the gests that they had to import raw import some of the raw materials extremely high efficacy of au- According to the CDC’s website, mune compromised should talk to situation worsens. materials to meet the excess de- from other countries, she said. Lawmakers nod to abortion ban Diplomats, donors concerned FAITH COVID SCARE Austin: Texas would ban abortions after as early as six B1.617.2 variant spreads weeks — before many women about sex abuse reports at WHO even know they are pregnant rapidly in parts of UK — and allow private citizens to PRESS TRUST OF INDIA enforce the rule through civil A notarized contract lawsuits against doctors and obtained by the AP London, May 14: The case num- others under a measure given final approval by state showed that two WHO bers related to the B1.617.2 vari- lawmakers. This would bring staffers signed off on an ant of Covid-19, first identified in Texas in line with about a India, have more than doubled dozen other GOP-led states agreement between within a week in the UK, resulting that have passed so-called in further surge testing and en- “heartbeat bills” that federal WHO’s Dr Jean-Paul hanced vaccine measures to be de- courts have mostly blocked. Ngandu and a young ployed in parts of the country The bill would ban abortions where the strain is beginning to after the first detection of an woman he allegedly spread “increasingly rapidly”. embryonic “heartbeat.” impregnated in Congo Public Health said that its latest analysis shows the num- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA “We are speaking with WHO ber of cases of the highly trans- Mosque blast and other major donors as a mat- missible variant first detected in London, May 14: British, ter of urgency to establish the Maharashtra has risen from 520 during prayers European and American diplo- facts.” last week to 1,313 cases this week. Kabul: At least 12 people were mats and donors have voiced se- WHO has declined to comment Most cases are in the northwest killed in an explosion inside a rious concerns about how the on the specific allegations reported of England and additional measures mosque in the Afghan capital World Health Organisation handled by the AP and said it is waiting for Indonesian Muslims attend a mass prayer session at Gunung Labu field as Mount Kerinci Volcano is seen in the back- are being put in place to “rapidly Kabul during Friday prayers as sex abuse allegations involving the results of a panel created last ground during Eid al-Fitr AGENCIES break chains of transmission.” worshippers gathered for the its own staff during an outbreak October to investigate sexual abuse second day of the Eid al-Fitr of Ebola in Congo, as reported during the Congo outbreak in- holiday, officials said. Ferdous this week by The . volving WHO staffers. Faramarz, spokesman for the Tuesday, the AP published an in- The Bill and Melinda Gates ISRAEL-PALESTINE VIOLENCE Kabul police, said the vestigation documenting that sen- Foundation, the agency’s third- mosque’s Imam was among ior WHO management was in- largest funder, said it expects UN the 12 dead and at least 15 formed of multiple sex abuse agencies to conduct thorough in- other people were wounded. allegations involving at least two vestigations into sexual abuse as Tanks pound Gaza ahead of possible incursion He did not identify the of its doctors during the epidemic quickly as possible. mosque where the blast took in 2018. “Our role as a funder is to hold PRESS TRUST OF INDIA The stepped-up fighting place. There was no A notarized contract obtained by organizations that receive grants immediate claim of the AP showed that two WHO from the foundation to the highest Gaza City, May 14: Israeli ar- came as communal responsibility for the attack. staffers signed off on an agree- standards of transparency and ac- tillery pounded northern Gaza violence in Israel erupted ment between WHO’s Dr Jean- countability, and to insist that they early Friday in an attempt to destroy Paul Ngandu and a young woman take steps to prevent misconduct a vast network of militant tunnels for a fourth night, with Minister resigns he allegedly impregnated in Congo. in the future,” the foundation said. inside the territory, the military said, Jewish and Arab mobs In it, Ngandu promised to pay the Lawrence Gostin, director of bringing the front lines closer to amid clashes young woman money, cover her the WHO Collaborating Center dense civilian areas and paving clashing in the flashpoint Bogota: Colombian Foreign pregnancy costs and buy her a on Global Health Law at the way for a potential ground in- town of Lod Minister Claudia Blum has plot of land. Georgetown University, said the ul- vasion. stepped down amid the The contract was made “to pro- timate responsibility for WHO’s Israel has massed troops along eration that also involved airstrikes ongoing violent anti- tect the integrity and reputation Ebola response lies with director- the border and called up 9,000 re- and was aimed at destroying tun- government protests in the of the organization,” Ngandu said. general Tedros Adhanom servists following days of fighting The stepped-up fighting came Masses of red flames illumi- nels beneath Gaza City used by country. Blum did not give a “The UK has a zero tolerance ap- Ghebreyesus. with the Islamic militant group as communal violence in Israel nated the skies as the deafening militants to evade surveillance reason for her resignation in a proach when it comes to sexual The AP found that one of the doc- Hamas, which controls Gaza. erupted for a fourth night, with blasts from the outskirts of Gaza and airstrikes, which the military Thursday video message, but exploitation and harassment — tors accused of sexual harass- Palestinians militants have fired Jewish and Arab mobs clashing City jolted people awake. refers to as “the Metro.” media reports cited criticism and that extends to all interna- ment, Boubacar Diallo, bragged some 1,800 rockets and the mili- in the flashpoint town of Lod. The Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a “As always, the aim is to strike of her crisis management. tional organizations that we fund,” about his relationship to Tedros, tary has launched more than 600 fighting took place despite a bol- military spokesman, said tanks military targets and to minimize Deputy Minister Adriana Mejia said Simon Manley, the UK’s am- who mentioned Diallo during a airstrikes, toppling at least three stered police presence ordered by stationed near the border fired 50 collateral damage and civilian ca- will be her successor, according to the reports. bassador to the UN in Geneva. speech in January 2019. apartment blocks. the nation's leaders. rounds. It was part of a large op- sualties,” he said. Colombia has witnessed violent protests for the past two weeks, including some that turned into riots. At least 42 people have died and 168 73 mn year old ‘talkative’ dinosaur species found in Mexico others are missing. was discovered first, in the ancient reptile has already been pub- THE ANIMAL We know that they had General Cepeda area of the north- lished in the scientific journal US pulls out of IS CALLED ears with the capacity of ern state of Coahuila in 2013. Cretaceous Research, according As excavations continued, sci- to INAH. Kandahar base ‘TLATOLOPHUS hearing low-frequency entists eventually discovered 80 “It is an exceptional case in sounds, so they must per cent of its skull, its 1.32-meter Mexican paleontology,” the INAH Kandahar: The United States GALORUM’. IT’S TAIL crest and bones such as its femur said. “Highly favorable events had has completed its withdrawal have been peaceful but and shoulder, which allowed re- to occur millions of years ago, from Kandahar Airfield in WAS DISCOVERED searchers to finally realize this southern Afghanistan, once talkative dinosaurs, the when Coahuila was a tropical re- FIRST, IN THE year that they had a new species of the second largest military INAH said gion, for it to be conserved in the base in the country for US GENERAL CEPEDA dinosaur on their hands, the INAH conditions it was found in.” forces, officials said Friday. said. “We know that they had ears The name Tlatolophus is derived Kandahar province was the AREA OF THE “About 72 or 73 million years with the capacity of hearing low- from the indigenous Nahuatl lan- birthplace of the Taliban and NORTHERN STATE OF ago, a huge herbivore dinosaur frequency sounds, so they must guage word tlahtolli -- which means has in recent months seen died in what must have been a have been peaceful but talkative word or statement -- and the Greek

body of water full of sediment, so dinosaurs,” the statement said. word lophus, meaning crest.

k y m intense clashes between the COAHUILA IN 2013 c resurgent terrorists and that its body was quickly covered Paleontologists also believe that The animals crest’s shape looks Afghan forces. US airstrikes AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE by the earth and could be preserved the dinosaurs “emitted strong like what the INAH said is “a sym- were launched from the base men from about 73 million years ago said Thursday. through the ages,” the institute sounds to scare away predators or bol used by Mesoamerican people just last week to help Afghan Mexico City, May 14: was found in northern Mexico, the The scientists said the condi- said in a statement. for reproductive purposes.” in ancient manuscripts to represent forces push back a major Paleontologists identified a new country’s National Institute of tions in which the dino was found The animal is called The discovery is still under in- the action of communication and Taliban offensive. species of dinosaur after a speci- Anthropology and History (INAH) explain its preservation. Tlatolophus galorum. It’s tail vestigation, but research about the knowledge itself.” The bank has set ‘SUPPORT HOUSEHOLD SECTOR’ P11 aside $3.8 million for SATURDAY | MAY 15 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR the care of its over 35,000 India To mitigate the impact of much ferocious employees, and an additional second wave, Centre should support the $10 million is being earmarked household sector directly, Motilal Oswal in phases to support the Financial Services said in a study which needy in their pandemic suggested that the Centre should provide recovery phase direct income support to casual workers in

FILIPPO GORI | CEO, JP MORGAN (ASIA PACIFIC) the construction and MSME sectors

k y m business c of the day uote States urged to prioritise jabs for Nalco extends ADB commits record Setting up the support in fight Covid treatment against Covid $3.92bn loan to India centre at our premises and supply banks, insurance cos’ employees AGENCIES of free oxygen are part of our New Delhi, May 14: The Asian commitment to core purpose, States should consider a Development Bank (ADB) Friday energising lives of the nation. special dispensation for said it has committed a record $3.92 billion in sovereign loans for 13 Upgrading our oxygen production vaccination of staff of projects to India in 2020, includ- facility was a challenge but we could banks, insurance companies, complete the entire activity within ing $1.8 billion in Covid-19 related five days business correspondents, projects to support the govern- payment systems and other SANJAY KHANNA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ment's pandemic response. ADB stands ready to | financial services providers (KOCHI REFINERY), BPCL POST NEWS NETWORK As part of the pandemic sup- provide additional on priority port to India, the Manila-head- resources to address India’s DEBASISH PANDA I SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT Bhubaneswar, May 14: quartered multilateral agency said Covid-19 related challenges, OF FINANCIAL SERVICES We have National Aluminium Company it has provided emergency assis- including funds to expedite always Limited (Nalco) is supporting tance to contain the disease and es- the ongoing vaccination considered our their hours of needs, disburse- the 70-bedded Covid Centre at tablish social protection measures programme and build the partners and their ment of DBT payments, extension Saheed Laxman Naik Medical for relief to the poor and other vul- employees as our of credit to mitigate disruption to College at Koraput to make it nerable groups. health system’s resilience against future shocks, extended family and PRESS TRUST OF INDIA succumbed to Covid-19. business, etc which should other- fully operational. ADB also approved financing to given the utmost "All state/UT governments are wise be uninterrupted and seam- Similarly, Nalco is sup- help the government improve eq- with supplementary importance to their health, well New Delhi, May 14: The fi- requested to instruct local au- less, it said. porting a 66-bedded Covid uitable access to comprehensive support to protect being, and safety, given the current nance ministry Friday asked thorities to provide them neces- Panda also asked the chief sec- healthcare facility at ESI primary health care in urban areas. small businesses conditions, we would like to extend state governments to accord pri- sary help and support in ensur- retaries to instruct district ad- Hospital, Banarpal, Angul, by This is ADB's highest-ever annual TAKEO KONISHI I support in whatever we can, to ority to employees of banks and ing delivery of banking and bearing the cost of the total op- lending commitment to India since COUNTRY DIRECTOR, ADB (INDIA) ensure we rise against Covid ministration and local authori- insurance companies for Covid- financial services. Vaccinating ties to cooperate with bank and eration and maintenance of the start of its lending operations ANAND MAHINDRA | CHAIRMAN, M&M 19 vaccination, saying they are them on priority will mitigate their financial services employees, pro- the facility. in 1986, it said, adding it has also port, urban development, and exposed to high risks during high exposure to risk in delivery vide adequate security to them The company has developed committed $356.1 million through public sector management these difficult times. of public service," he said. and not impede their function- a full-fledged infrastructure its non-sovereign operations to in India. I am excited Department of Financial Raising the issues of some in- ing or movement. Welcoming the in the 200-bedded Covid India, including three Covid-19 As per the ADB's release, among about the Services Secretary Debasish Panda, stances of manhandling by state law move, All India Bank Employees Hospital in Nabarangpur, apart support projects. the new projects committed in journey ahead. in a letter addressed to chief sec- enforcement authorities during Association general secretary CH from running two exclusive “Going forward, ADB stands 2020 include $500 million to build As an iconic brand, retaries of states and union terri- Covid Centres at Nalco’s hos- ready to provide additional re- Bata has become an local lockdowns, the letter also Vekatachlam said priority a high-speed 82-kilometre Delhi- integral part of the tories, said states should consider asked state administration to en- Vaccination is very important. pitals in Angul & Damanjodi. sources to address India's many Meerut Regional Rapid Transit Indian fabric a special dispensation for vacci- sure easy movement of officials Vekatachlam demanded that Nalco CMD Sridhar Patra said, Covid related challenges, in- system corridor; energy sector nation of staff of banks, insur- for discharge of duty. the Department of Financial “Nalco collectively has always cluding funds to expedite the loans to strengthen distribution GUNJAN SHAH | BATA INDIA CEO-DESIGNATE ance companies, business corre- "Likewise, offices of banks and Services can also give some min- stood with the people of Odisha country's ongoing vaccination network in Maharashtra, spondents, payment systems and branches have occasionally been imum uniform guidelines on work- in difficult times and now we are programme and build the Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and other financial services providers ordered to shut down by state law ing of banks. reaffirming our commitment in health system's resilience Meghalaya and to build a 120- SHORT TAKES on priority. enforcement authorities even dur- It is to be noted that the mitigating the disaster caused by against future shocks, with megawatt hydroelectric power Tagging the letter, Panda in a ing permitted banking hours, ac- Parliamentary Standing Committee the pandemic in whatever way it supplementary support to pro- plant in Assam. tweet said, "Kudos to our Bankers, companied by threats. While bank on Home Affairs on Management is possible.” tect small businesses, and un- In the urban sector, ADB ap- PGIL raises `2,736 cr Insurers, Payment Service employees are already braving risks of Covid-19 pandemic and related In order to strengthen the vac- derpin education and social proved loans for sustainable urban through InvIT OFS Providers, Bank Mitras for en- to their health and need to be assured issues, in its 229th report, appre- cination drive in the state, Nalco protection,” said Takeo development in secondary and suring uninterrupted delivery of about their safety, these incidents ciated the efforts and pain taken has provided a refrigerated truck Konishi, Country Director for smaller towns in Rajasthan and New Delhi: State-run Power banking and financial services to end up demoralising them...And by the banking sector for provid- having a capacity of 25, 70,000 ADB in India. Madhya Pradesh. ADB also Grid Corporation of India Ltd people in need during these chal- disruption in services," it said. ing uninterrupted service during vaccines (doses) to state immu- It further said throughout granted funds to support the (PGCIL) Friday said it has lenging times." He also mentioned This becomes impediment to ac- the Covid-19 outbreak and conse- nisation cell for safe transporta- 2020, ADB continued its regu- West Bengal government's fis- received `2,736.02 crore that many of these employees have count holders access to funds in quent lockdown. tion of vaccines across Odisha. lar assistance to energy, trans- cal consolidation programme. through sale of 27.41 crore units in the PowerGrid Infrastructure Investment Trust (PGInvIT) offer for sale. Country’s April Earlier in the day, the units Krishan Kumar joins Akshaya Tritiya begins on somber issued by PGInvIT were listed on NSE and BSE. PGCIL has exports rise created the PGInvIT to monetise its assets. The initial as new Idco CMD note; jewellers expect 10-15% sales to over $30bn portfolio of assets in the InvIT comprises five special AGENCIES INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE purpose vehicles (SPVs). Mumbai, May 14: Akshaya Tritiya, New Delhi, May 14: The low base a highly auspicious day to pur- effect powered India's merchan- chase gold, has started on a som- dise exports to grow by over 195% Alembic Pharma bre note and jewellers are expect- on y-o-y basis last month. In April gets USFDA nod ing only 10-15% sales as the onset 2021, exports grew to $30.63 billion, of the Covid-19 second wave, local higher by 195.72% over the $10.36 New Delhi: Drug firm Alembic restrictions and partial lockdowns billion reported in April 2020. Pharmaceuticals Friday said it have affected consumer sentiment. "As compared to April 2019, ex- has received final approval "As most of the states are under ports in April 2021 exhibited a pos- from the US health regulator lockdown to curb the infections itive growth of 17.62% in dollar for Lurasidone Hydrochloride tablets, used to treat bipolar there is almost no business activ- terms and 26.17% in rupee terms," depression. The approved ity. The day of Akshaya Tritiya an official statement on foreign product is therapeutically has begun on a slow note and what- trade said. equivalent to the reference ever booking or enquiries are hap- “Non-petroleum and non-gems listed drug product Latuda POST NEWS NETWORK land allotment and post-allotment pening it is only through tele or dig- and jewellery exports in April 2021 tablets of Sunovion services process in IDCO through ital medium," All-India Gems & were $23.62 billion, as compared to Pharmaceuticals Inc. The Bhubaneswar, May 14: A senior IT and to address the various prob- Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) $9.08 billion in April 2020, regis- company has received official of the Indian Administrative lems of the industrialists at the chairman Ashish Pethe said. tering a positive growth of 160.24%.” approval from the US Food Service Krishan Kumar Friday earliest. He said, jewellers are expecting As compared to April 2019, the non- and Drug Administration took over as the Chairman and He is also keen to improve var- only 10-15% sales this Akshaya petroleum and non-gems and jew- (USFDA) for its abbreviated Managing Director (CMD) of the ious industrial parks set up by Tritiya in places where the lock- lockdown-like restrictions as a des- this year will be better, that is 10- ellery exports in April 2021 registered new drug application Odisha Industrial Infrastructure IDCO like Sea Food Park in Deras, down is not imposed or there are perate measure to restrict the 15% more than 2020. However, sales a positive growth of 20.47%. Lurasidone Hydrochloride Development Corporation (IDCO). Plastic Park in Paradip, Aluminum partial shutdowns. spread of the virus. are not likely to reach even 1 tonne. Similarly, India’s merchandise tablets in the strengths of 20 He reviewed various programmes Park in Angul, Textile Park in The second wave of the pan- PNG Jewellers Chairman and Usually on a normal Akshaya imports grew in April 2021, rising mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg, and and activities of Idco after joining Bhadrak, Info-valley Food Park demic is turning out to be much MD Saurabh Gadgil said the day has Tritiya 25-30 tonne gold is sold to $45.72 billion, with an increase of 120 mg, Alembic as CMD. and many more. worse than last year with huge begun with enquiries and book- across the country,” he noted. 167.05% over $17.12 billion in April Pharmaceuticals said. Kumar first focused on the state Similarly, he also directed that loss of life across the country caus- ings, however, as delivery is not Retail stores are closed in several 2020. "Imports in April 2021 regis- government's '5T' action plan. a building plan (check list) issued ing an overall negative consumer possible due to lockdowns the sales major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, tered a positive growth of 7.87% in Kumar asked departmental offi- by IDCO to various industrial es- sentiment, Pethe said. during this Akshaya Tritiya is , and in gold consuming states dollar terms and 15.71% in rupee CavinKare to cials to take immediate steps to tablishments, be approved and ex- India's Covid-19 tally of cases likely to be tamed and muted. like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and terms in comparison to April 2019." set up 10 MSME parks and IDCO pedited within 3 to 4 days in order climbed to 2,40,46,809, while the Usually, 30-40 tonne gold is sold Maharashtra. "Oil imports in April 2021 were provide vax cover towers in different districts of the to strengthen the approval process. death toll rose to 2,62,317 with 4,000 on the auspicious occasion of Kalyan Jewellers Executive $10.87 billion which was 133.24% Chennai: FMCG major state. He also discussed the estab- In addition, Kumar introduced fresh fatalities, according to the Akshaya Tritiya. However, this Director Ramesh Kalyanaraman higher in dollar terms compared CavinKare would provide lishment of an MSME park near the the One-Day Governance system Union Health Ministry data up- time sales are not likely to reach said Akshaya Tritiya 2021 is going to $4.66 billion in April 2020. As Covid-19 vaccination cover to Biju Expressway Corridor in west- and provided immediate approval dated Friday. even 1 tonne. to be different from last year as compared to April 2019, oil imports all its 1,700 employees and ern Odisha. and resolution of various issues, During the ongoing second wave “We are urging customers to 20% of our showrooms are func- in April 2021 were 5.98% lower in dependent family members, Idco CMD also directed the au- problems and all development pro- of the Covid-19 infections, many place orders for later delivery. As tioning but with regionalised tim- dollar terms and 0.85% higher in besides offering education thorities to implement the existing grammes at IDCO. states have imposed lockdowns or last year the base was very low, ing restrictions. rupee terms." support to children of employees in case of any unfortunate event, the company said Friday. CavinKare would cover 1,700 COVID CRISIS IN INDIA PUSHES UP THE ‘COST OF LIVING’ employees across India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka under the vaccination drive REUTERS said. “I couldn't sleep or eat prop- mother off at the hospital for The second wave has not ` for all its employees. erly. I wanted to end this as early 5,000 charged even more to take Mumbai, May 14: Ashok as possible and didn't mind paying only created shortages her body to the crematorium. Khondare, a 39-year-old vegetable an irrational amount.” of oxygen, medicines "We had to beg him not to over- seller in the western Indian city India's second wave of the coro- charge us further," Chaudhary IEX clocks record of Pune, had already borrowed navirus has not only created short- and hospital beds, but said. Firewood for the cremation trade volume money to pay for his sister’s treat- ages of oxygen, medicines and hos- also of wood for funeral cost double the normal rate, while ment when she died in a private pital beds, but also of wood for the priest who performed the last New Delhi: The Indian Energy hospital two weeks after contact- funeral pyres, hearses and cre- pyres and crematorium rites charged the family `5,000 -- Exchange (IEX) recorded the ing Covid-19. While trying to over- matorium slots, forcing people like slots, forcing people to two to five times the usual amount. highest power trade volume come the tragedy, he also had to Khondare to pay exorbitant Rohit Jangam, a Hindu priest or sales of 22.42 billion units deal with money problems that amounts to perform the last rites pay exorbitant amounts in Satara, said many priests there (BU) in the March quarter increased with his sister's death. of loved ones. India is reporting by to perform the last rites were refusing to enter crematori- with y-o-y growth of 62.1%. The only available hearse driver far the highest number of new ums out of fear, and those who The power trade volume was charged `5,000 ($68) for a 6-km jour- daily cases globally, and over 4,000 of loved ones were willing were charging higher 13.83 BU in the January- ney to the nearest crematorium – deaths per day – figures that are al- prices. March quarter last year, IEX five times the going rate. When most certainly under-reported, ac- wood used for funeral pyres at cre- shortage of people to cut trees and said a second firewood seller in "It is too risky to perform the said in a statement.

Khondare reached there, there was cording to experts. matoria, but supplies are not suf- those workers who are available are the same city. last rites of those died because of

k y m According to the statement, c a long queue of dead bodies and India's Hindu majority cremates ficient," said Rohit Pardeshi, a fire- asking for higher wages. In the north Indian state of coronavirus," he said. the Q4FY'21 ended March 31, waits of more than a day. He agreed its dead, and the huge numbers of wood merchant in Satara, a city in "This has created a shortage of Uttar Pradesh, 24-year-old Mukul "If someone asks, I do, but I 2021, saw the highest-ever ` quarterly electricity volume to pay another 7,000 to jump the deaths are creating backlogs at the western Indian state of firewood and lifted prices," Pardeshi Chaudhary faced similar prob- charge more since I am tak- at 22.4 BU and also highest- queue. cremation grounds and shortages Maharashtra. said. Retail prices for firewood are lems after his mother died in the ing the risk." He declined to ever Y-o-Y growth of 62.1%. “I had been experiencing a ter- of manpower and raw materials. Due to a local lockdown designed up by at least 30 percent, and have state capital Lucknow. The am- disclose how much more he rible situation for a fortnight," he "There is huge demand for fire- to curb the pandemic, there is a more than doubled in some areas, bulance driver who dropped his was charging. P12

SATURDAY | MAY 15 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR sports

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k k y y m m c Reds leave Red Devils red-faced c

summer. Never mind the finances, think of the mood lift. Three more wins should do it – West Brom Sunday, Burnley Wednesday, Crystal Palace after that. Nine points from nine should do the business, with Chelsea and Leicester due to meet at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday. If Liverpool get their flawless finish, they’ll have earned their spot at Europe’s STILL DETERMINED: Karim Benzema (2nd from L) is all smiles after top table. scoring against Granada as he talks to Real Madrid manager Zinedine This, it should be said, was as well Zidane on the sidelines, Thursday as they have played in weeks, months maybe. Determined and deadly, dangerous and dogged, they found their teeth when it mattered. La Liga: Real keep Their big players stepped up to the plate. None more so than Firmino. The Brazilian has had a tough sea- son, but all will be forgiven if he can pace with Atletico fire his team in this most crucial of periods. He headed Liverpool ahead right ASSOCIATED PRESS through Jorge Molina off the re- on half-time, helping himself to a bound of a Thibaut Courtois save trademark delivery from the brilliant Madrid, May 14: Real Madrid did- in the 71st, but Madrid quickly Trent Alexander-Arnold, and then n’t let Atletico Madrid pull away added to the lead to seal the vic- repeated the trick after the interval, in the Spanish league, winning 4- tory with goals by Odriozola in the the Brazilian was on the spot after 1 at Granada to stay within range 75th and Benzema in the 76th, Alexander-Arnold’s shot had been of the leader entering the final two the latter a long-range strike into fumbled by Dean Henderson. rounds. the open net after Granada goal- Liverpool were flying at that Luka Modric and Rodrigo keeper Rui Silva was caught away point. They had recovered from scored in the first half Thursday from his area. their nightmare start, levelled and Alvaro Odriozola and Karim Real got the win despite play- when Jota brilliantly diverted Nat Benzema added goals in the sec- ing without several regular start- Phillips’ scuffed shot past ond to leave the defending cham- ing defenders. Coach Zinedine Henderson, and they had taken pions two points behind Atletico, Zidane had to start the match KEEPING HEAD HIGH: Roberto Firmino heads in Liverpool’s second and his first goal in the night against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Thursday full control. They played the op- which won 2-1 at Real Sociedad with a few ‘B’ team players, in- ponent and not the occasion, and Wednesday to close in on their cluding Gutierrez and Marvin. AGENCIES After anti-ownership protesters Having trailed early to Bruno recently-deposed champions. they were the better side. first league title since 2014. Toni Kroos stayed on the bench, got into the ground and onto the Fernandes’ heavily-deflected strike, Suddenly, from nowhere, it is But they gave their fans palpi- Third-place Barcelona was still while Marco Asensio and Eden Manchester, May 14: The hunt is pitch 11 days ago, further demon- Liverpool hit back strongly through the Reds who occupy the box seat tations, missing chances to move in contention despite falling four Hazard came on during the sec- on and Liverpool have the smell of strations could not stop Thursday's Diogo Jota’s impudent flick and in the race for the top four. They were further ahead through Jota and points off the lead after being ond half. blood in their nostrils. After their Premier League fixture going ahead. two goals in three minutes either dead and buried a couple of weeks Alexander-Arnold, and then wob- held 3-3 at Levante Tuesday after OTHER RESULTS winter hibernation, the Reds have They’ve certainly run into form side of the break from Roberto ago, when tossing away points at bling when Rashford ran through squandering 2-0 and 3-2 leads. Villarreal kept alive its hopes suddenly sprung into life. – results-wise, at least - at just the Firmino. Leeds and at home to Newcastle, but to make it 3-2. Had Phillips, Fabinho Modric opened the scoring for of securing a Europa League spot Champions League football is in right time. They have the longest They later survived a rocky spell back-to-back wins and the strug- and young Rhys Williams not been Madrid in the 17th minute with by winning 2-0 at Valladolid with their sights, the door is open and unbeaten run in the Premier League after Marcus Rashford pulled one gles of both Leicester and Chelsea alert in their own six-yard box, a shot that went through the goal- second-half goals by Gerard Jurgen Klopp’s men look ready to at the moment, and they extended back for the home side. And then, have let them back in. United would have been level. keeper’s leg after a nice lob pass Moreno and Etienne Capoue. barge their way through it. it to seven games on Thursday in the final minute, Mohamed Salah They simply cannot afford to Salah would have the last word by youngster Miguel Gutierrez, The result left Valladolid in- Klopp won at Old Trafford for the night courtesy of their first win ran clear to calm the nerves and pass up this opportunity. After a sea- though, racing clear as the clock and Rodrygo added to the lead side the relegation zone. Villarreal first time as Liverpool breathed away at Manchester United in more start the celebrations. son of intense struggle, downright ticked to 90 and slotting past a flat- with a low shot from inside the were in the seventh place. Sixth- new life into their top four push with than seven years. Not always pretty, but oh so im- misery for large parts, to sneak footed Henderson. The Egyptian’s area in first-half injury time. place Real Betis later drew 1-1 a 4-2 win in the rearranged fixture It was tense, it was nervy, it was portant. A big result and a big per- into the Champions League would 200th Liverpool appearance marked The hosts pulled one closer with at last-place Eibar. against Manchester United. chaotic at times but it was vital. formance in a big game, from the be a huge boost heading into the in style, with goal number 124. Rafa rallies past Shapovalov Dortmund claim German Cup title ASSOCIATED PRESS ASSOCIATED PRESS Rome, May 14: When it comes to long, grueling clay-court battles, no- Berlin, May 14: Erling Haaland body is better than Rafa Nadal. and Jadon Sancho both scored Nearing his 35th birthday, the twice as Borussia Dortmund with- Spanish great showed he’s still got stood a second-half fightback in the stamina to withstand much teeming rain to beat Leipzig 4-1 in younger challengers in a 3-6, 6-4, 7- the German Cup final. 6(7-3) comeback win over 22-year- Captain Marco Reus was in- old Denis Shapovalov Thursday volved in all four goals on Thursday that secured him a spot in the as Dortmund won the cup for the Italian Open quarterfinals. fifth time and denied bitter rival Nadal roared back from 0-3 down Leipzig a first title. in the second set and then saved two Haaland was back after almost match points on his serve at 6-5 in three weeks out with a muscle in- the third. It seems — and it’s been jury, but it was Sancho who fired this way since Nadal started dom- Dortmund into a fifth-minute lead inating back in 2005 — that the with a strike inside the far post Spaniard gets tougher and tougher after Reus won the ball from Kevin to beat the longer matches wear on. Kampl in midfield. Nadal, who will be aiming for a the tiebreaker and the Spaniard opening plan. Haaland barreled past Dayot record-extending 14th French Open quickly closed it out after 3 hours, Also reaching the quarterfinals Upamecano for Dortmund’s sec- title next month, was also pushed 27 minutes. was 6-foot-11 (2.11-meter) American ond goal in the 28th, and Reus and ON CLOUD NINE: Borussia Dortmund players celebrate on the podium with the winners’ trophy, Thursday at times in a straight-set win over Nadal, a nine-time champion in Reilly Opelka, who eliminated Sancho combined to make it 3-0 19-year-old Jannik Sinner that Rome, will next face Alexander Karatsev, an Australian Open semi- before the break. able to deal with Dortmund's com- is due to name his squad for the The cup final has tradition- ended late Wednesday. Zverev, the 2017 Rome champion finalist, 7-6(8-6), 6-4. Opelka next Leipzig emerged with intent for mitted first-half performance. European Championship next ally been the most important Then there was his long three- and the winner of last week’s Madrid faces Argentine qualifier Federico the second half, striking the cross- Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann Wednesday. date in the German football sea- set victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas Open. Zverev also won in a comeback, Delbonis, who beat Felix Auger- bar and twice testing Roman Burki had been hoping to sign off with a A small number of Dortmund son, a showpiece between two of — another 22-year-old — in the beating Kei Nishikori 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Aliassime 7-6(7-3), 6-1. in the Dortmund goal. trophy before he leaves for Bayern fans gathered outside to drink beer the country’s best teams, but this Barcelona Open final last month. Earlier, top-ranked Novak Another quarterfinal will fea- Leipzig hit the post before Dani Munich next season. and sing songs under the watchful year’s was switched from its usual Nadal struggled to hold serve Djokovic cruised past Spanish qual- ture Andrey Rublev against local Olmo rewarded his side’s pressure Last year’s cup final was eye of police before kickoff. The fans Saturday night prime time slot to at the start, while Shapovalov was ifier Alejandro Davidovich Fokina hope Lorenzo Sonego. Rublev dis- with a fine strike from outside the Germany’s first to be played with- were scattered, evidently still mind- the less glamorous late Thursday blasting aces and winners with 6-2, 6-1. Djokovic will next face patched Roberto Bautista Agut 6- penalty area in the 71st. Sancho out fans present, and they were ful of social distancing measures. kickoff. his one-handed backhand. Nadal Tsitsipas, who eliminated Matteo 4, 6-4 and Sonego overcame Dominic missed a good chance in a one-on- excluded again Thursday due to The atmosphere wasn’t helped Despite the lack of fans, dug in, though, and started to win Berrettini 7-6(7-3), 6-2 in a matchup Thiem 6-4, 6-7(5-7), 7-6(7-5). one with Leipzig goalkeeper Peter ongoing precautions against the by a persistent grey drizzle that Dortmund players celebrated with the longer rallies. of top 10 players. In the women’s tournament, top- Gulacsi, before Haaland finally coronavirus. Anyone working at the had taken over from an earlier the trophy in front of where their Shapovalov missed a backhand After spectators were banned ranked Ash Barty beat Veronika sealed Dortmund’s win in the 87th. stadium had to produce a nega- thunder storm. Usually the streets supporters would have been. They to conclude a long rally on his first from the opening rounds because Kudermetova 6-3, 6-3 and will next Dortmund previously won the tive test result for COVID-19 from around the stadium would be teem- hoisted defender Lukasz Piszczek match point then shanked a fore- of the coronavirus pandemic, ca- face American teenager Coco Gauff, title in 1965, 1989, 2012 and 2017. a pop-up testing center nearby. ing with enthusiastic fans before into the air as he covered his tears. hand on his second. A costly dou- pacity was at 25 per cent as part who defeated Madrid champion Leipzig, which was formed in 2009, Germany coach Joachim Low kickoff, their excitement fueled by The 35-year-old is retiring at the end ble-fault handed Nadal a 3-1 lead in of the Italian government’s re- Aryna Sabalenka 7-5, 6-3. was going for its first, but was un- was among the few attending. He beer and sausages. of the season. Prima donna culture needs to end: Raman Odisha FC rope in Sahil, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA said that he has always ‘believed in the source added. Sebastian on 2-yr deals team being placed above every- Raman, it is learnt, is dismayed New Delhi, May 14: Ousted Indian body else, and insisted that no in- by allegations that he is not proac- transfer fee, 21-year-old Sahil has women’s cricket team coach WV dividual can really be a prima tive as a coach. He has recalled signed a two-year deal with an op- Raman has written to BCCI pres- donna’,” a source privy to Raman’s how he oversaw three training ses- tion to extend for a third year. The ident Sourav Ganguly, alleging that mail told this agency. sions (for Trailblazers, Velocity move shall officially be completed there is a ‘prima donna culture’ The stylish former left-hander’s and Supernovas) between 1 pm to once the Indian transfer window in the national team and it needs crisp letter to the two former cap- 9 pm in humid UAE conditions opens this summer. to change. tains is sure to ruffle a few feath- during the last T20 challenge. After making his professional In the mail that has also been ers given that it has always been the “In case the president and sec- debut for FC Pune City in the fourth marked to National Cricket coaches who have either stepped retary want to hear his opinion on edition of the ISL, the Dehradun- Academy (NCA) head Rahul Dravid, aside or sacked following fallouts allegations about his work ethic, he born left-back played for Pune City Raman has also offered to present with players, most notably ODI can explain.” The letter has been and Hyderabad FC in 37 matches. a roadmap for women’s cricket in captain Mithali Raj. copied to Dravid because Raman sin- He has represented the country in the country, if asked. While Raman’s letter didn’t name cerely believes that he can con- various age-group tournaments In a surprising move, the for- anyone, it is understood that he tribute towards building a roadmap and also captained Team India in mer India Test player was not re- has spoken extensively about the for Indian women’s cricket. POST NEWS NETWORK the 2017 SAFF (South Asian Football tained as the head coach of the star culture that prevails in the “When it comes to building a Federation) U-18 Championship. y senior women’s team by the Cricket team, which he said is probably coaching manual or a training pro- Bhubaneswar, May 14: Odisha FC The 22-year-old right-back from

Advisory Committee (CAC) which doing more harm than good. gram for cricketers, it is the NCA announced Friday the signing of de- Manipur, Sebastian, who recently

k k y y m m c c picked Ramesh Powar for the top While repeated calls to Raman which takes charge. So if Raman fenders Sahil Panwar and Sebastian won the I-League title with Gokulam job. Raman’s major achievements went unanswered, a source in the has any inputs with regards to Thangmuansang ahead of the up- Kerala FC, has also signed a two- included a runners-up finish for the know of things did admit that a mail who need to place the team above self. by this culture, then he (Ganguly) training modules for upcoming coming eighth edition of the Indian year contract with the club. He side at the women’s T20 World Cup to both Ganguly and Dravid has “Raman has asked Dada as a former India captain, should women cricketers, the best person Super League (ISL). had also represented NEROCA and last year. gone out. It is learnt that Raman (Ganguly) that if a past accom- take a call on this matter, whether certainly is NCA head Rahul Coming on board from Chennai City FC in the I-League “As far as I know, Raman has has written about certain individuals plished performer feels constrained the coach is asking for too much,” Dravid,” the source said. Hyderabad FC for an undisclosed after his youth career at Pune.

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