Vaccine ‘War’ Continues

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RIGHT RESOLVE WAR-LIKE SITUATION PERSISTS POWAR REAPPOINTED Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas has raised USD The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas Ramesh Powar is reappointed as Indian 1mn to help India fight the 2nd wave of continued with both sides indulging in rocket women’s cricket team head coach in place of WV Raman the Covid-19 pandemic LEISURE | P2 attacks and airstrikes INTERNATIONAL | P10 SPORTS | P12

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 43 | www.orissapost.com BHUBANESWAR | FRIDAY, MAY 14 | 2021 12 PAGES | `4.00

IRREGULAR by MANJUL 11 GOVTS INCLUDING ODISHA FLOAT GLOBAL TENDERS TO GET JABS FROM ABROAD Vaccine ‘war’ continues

AGENCIES NOW VENTILATOR New Delhi, May 13: Due to an acute WOES SURFACE shortage of Covid-19 vaccines, India ‘RATE OF INFECTION WORRYING’ is struggling to contain the second NEW DELHI: Only the supply of By the time wave of the pandemic. Even though vaccines to the different states is my turn comes, the two main vaccine producers in not bothering the Centre alone. Well I will be 18! the country, Serum Institute of India it has another problem in hand. The Lockdown may (SII) and Bharat Biotech have assured ‘Make in India’ ventilators are the government that they are ramp- developing glitches in many states ing up productions, it seems that the thus creating another challenge for UPSC examination the Centre. The Centre has said states are not buying this. So far 11 continue in state ‘many hospitals or medical colleges states including Odisha have floated deferred to Oct 10 are not following’ the user manual global tenders to procure vaccines properly leading to the technical POST NEWS NETWORK (38.4%), Khurda (36.7%), NEW DELHI: The Union Public from abroad. It just shows that they glitches. On the other hand, a Angul (34.1%), Bargarh Service Commission (UPSC) post- are not ready to depend on the Centre number of states including Punjab Bhubaneswar, May 13: With (31.3%), Boudh (31.2%) and poned Thursday the civil services or the vaccine manufacturing units in have said the ventilators are Odisha registering around Sundergarh (30.8%). preliminary examination, scheduled India anymore. malfunctioning as proper 10,000 Covid-19 cases on a Director of Capital Hospital to be held in June, to October 10 in Both SII and Bharat Biotech have maintenance is not being done by daily basis there is a strong Laxmidhar Sahu said that if view of the alarming Covid-19 situ- submitted their production plans to the the manufacturers who are possibility that the lockdown the Covid-19 graph doesn’t ation. The commission which con- Centre from June to August as per supposed to provide ‘after sales may be extended after May 19, show a downward trend, the ducts civil services examination an- the declarations made by Union Health service’. experts said Thursday. The government will be forced to nually to select officers of IAS, IFS Minister Harsh Vardhan. He con- LIFELINE: People queue up in front of the Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Old Town total number of active cases extend lockdown. and IPS among others said the exams ducted a meeting Wednesday with Municipality Hospital in Bhubaneswar OP PHOTO of India. India, as one country, shud in Odisha went past the one- Similarly, another senior will now be held October 10. seven states/UTs which are lagging be- procure vaccines on behalf of all lakh mark Thursday morning doctor and former public hind in terms of vaccinating people Meanwhile the Centre said Thursday has however, blamed the Centre for Indian states (sic),” the Aam Aadmi for a brief while. health director JK Tripathy against Covid-19. Vardhan informed it has so far procured 35.6 crore vac- the shortage of vaccines. He has also Party (AAP) supremo said in a tweet. Out of 30 districts in opined that the government WEATHER that India’s vaccine production is cine doses for the ongoing drive so far said that the Centre is pitting the states Many states including Maharashtra, Odisha, the test positivity rate should continue with the lock- BHUB CTK likely to reach eight crore doses in and more than 17 crore persons in in a vaccine war against one another Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have tem- (TPR) has remained over 10 down as the infection rate May and nine crore in June. India have been vaccinated. It also and it is giving India a ‘bad image’ in porarily suspended vaccination of the 18- per cent in 29 for the last seven continues to remain high. MAX 32.8° 35.9° As per the plans disclosed, Bharat said that it is on the verge of procur- its fight against Covid-19. 45 years age group. They have said that days (May 6 to 12). “The daily infection rate con-

TEMP MIN 25.0° 27.9° Biotech is all set to raise the produc- ing another 16 crore doses and added “Indian states left to compete/fight unless there is a seamless supply of vac- Kalahandi district has re- tinues to remain above 10,000, Forecast tion of Covaxin to 3.32 crore doses in that the country will have two billion with each other in international mar- cines, it is impossible to carry out vac- ported the highest TPR at 46 so the government should not Humidity 84% 100% Thunder- July and 7.82 crore in August. SII on doses of vaccines between August and ket. UP fighting Maha, Maha fighting cination properly. They have also pointed per cent. Other districts that relax restrictions. Otherwise shower Rainfall 3.0mm 32.8mm the other hand has targeted production December. Orissa, Orissa fighting Delhi. Where out that crores in the 45-plus category are have a TPR of more than 30 the rate will increase,” as- very likely

of 10 crore Covishield doses in August. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is ‘India’? Portrays such a bad image yet to get the second dose. per cent are Sambalpur serted Tripathy.

k y m c P2 BEYONCE KNOWLES SLAYS MEDITATION HELPED ALICIA TO BE FRIDAY | MAY 14 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR IN ALL-BLACK ENSEMBLE A GOOD MOTHER AND PARTNER Pop star Beyonce Knowles looks like a Singer Alicia Keys said that meditation million bucks on social media, dressed in an helped her a lot after she became a mom. all-black thigh-high slit ensemble. In her “Like so many new moms I was exhausted. latest post, Beyonce poses for the camera in So, I tried meditation which helped me to be

y a long black dress with a slit completing her a good mother to my children, and a good

look with a belt, a sunglass and a choker. partner to my husband,” she said.

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FORTUNE FORECAST Patience is key ANTI-COVID DRIVE Raima always had in showbiz: ARIES MRUNAL PC raises $1mn audition phobia Today the stars advocate Mumbai: Actress Mrunal Mumbai: Actress Raima Sen strength and somehow decided that you concentrate on money matters and how Thakur says uncertainty is a recalls giving a screen test for her to do it. I first thought I was to save some, and in this purpose you will natural trait if one belongs to role in the upcoming web se- never going to get the part but remain engrossed. However, Ganesha the film industry. for India, eyes ries The Last Hour, adding it surprisingly, I got a confirmation advises you not to neglect domestic “I think the most impor- was something she has never call from him in a couple of duties lest you encounter a morose tant thing is patience. As an done before. days,” says Raima, who essays spouse. So carry on and make a dash for that movie as planned. Don't cancel it. artiste, you are always curi- “In all these years in the in- the role of Nyima. ous to perform but the big dustry, I have never done a screen “With all my work, I’ve always question is content. You have $3mn mark test. When I learnt that (direc- tried to understand the vision to choose the right script. I feel tor) Amit (Kumar) of the director and then added my TAURUS pressured (and think) should Mumbai: Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas wanted to do a individuality, which helps me You are likely to turn I choose this script? I feel in- shared that over 14,000 contributors have screen test stay focused on my character,” excessively self centred ternally that I can do better but helped raise $1 million, to help India for my char- she said. The Last Hour also today, says Ganesha. This then I feel if I let this script amid the second wave of Covid-19. acter in features Sanjay Kapoor, could cause you to be very insecure. You will have a tendency to go, will I get more films? This Priyanka shared a video on Instagram Calcutta, Shahana Goswami, control and dominate others. There is a thought keeps bothering me late Wednesday night according to India I first Karma Takapa, Robin likelihood that you may, thereby, jeopard- all the time,” said the Love time, featuring a world map and the avoided Tamang and Shaylee ize important relationships. You are Sonia actress. countries from where donations have it as I Krishen. The series re- advised to be sensitive to the needs and “If I try to hurry up, I may poured in to help India. have al- leases on Amazon feelings of all those you come across. end up taking up scripts just “Through some of the darkest days in ways had a Prime Video May 14. for sake of it. I will end up los- our history, humanity has once again phobia of au- IANS ing myself. For me, films are proven that we are better together. @nickjonas ditions. GEMINI an integral part of my life and I are so humbled by your support and by Later, I Ganesha opines that and I want to be associated the outpouring of help for India from so many gath- today you might feel a with a film that will have a parts of the world,” she wrote alongside the ered little blue and under the message and do good for so- video. my weather. You may harbour feelings of ciety in some way or the Priyanka shared that the fundraising target loneliness today. Your repressed emo- other,” she sums is now $3 million. tions and yearnings as well as your intel- lectual leanings will likely come to the up. “We can all continue to help so let’s not stop fore today, says Ganesha. IANS here. We’re raising the fundraising target to $3 Million and we know that with your help and support, we can achieve this too. Thank you all for CANCER your support and thank you @give_india for the incredible work you are doing on ground,” Your ideas today are source of your energy.A the actress concluded. IANS situation may arise, which will force you to take hard decisions later. A new business or venture may prove beneficial. Your magical touch will bestow success in every endeavour. Ganesha is with you. Radhe among Salman’s weakest films ever LEO For the record, the film is officially inspired by the 2017 Korean film ‘The Outlaws’, There are chances of conflict on the home but director Prabhudeva misses out the thriller quotient of that film front today. However you will be able to solve his is Salman's third film with that is more accustomed to content-driven these problems owing to your understand- Prabhudeva as director, after Wanted fare and that often dismisses the Radhe ing nature. However, these conflicts would (2009) and Dabangg 3 (2019). Those brand of ‘entertainment’ as ludicrous. likely not have cropped up if you would T have paid more attention to your family. two films marked epochal moments in The fact is of no help that AC Mugil and the actor’s career. Wanted was the Eid Vijay Maurya’s writing makes it seem release that would catapult him to the like the script lay in cold storage from VIRGO stature of Mumbai’s top Khan of the around the time Wanted was emerging a 2010s, a year be- blockbuster. For the record, the film is of- Keep an open mind fore the more- and give vent to your imagination. You will hyped Dabangg MOVIE REVIEW Cast: Salman Khan, Disha Patani, feel very creative would establish Randeep Hooda, Jackie Shroff today, and will pursue your innovative him in that po- Direction: Prabhudeva ideas. Luck will favour you, and some sition. Dabangg 3, a decade later, was the things on which you took some risk will warning knell that even the hardcore ficially inspired by the 2017 Korean film bear fruits. You will be very energetic and enthusiastic about all the work you do. Salman Khan fans were no longer in the The Outlaws in content and execution. But mood to blindly applaud the trademark director Prabhudeva wholly misses out Salman Khan package. on the edge and thriller quotient of that LIBRA Yet, the superstar and his chosen di- film in trying to set up a Salman Khan rector have fallen back on the same bag showcase. The aging superstar does every- Ganesha says that your of tricks in Radhe, in a bid to garner in- thing he has always done, but that’s the social status will increase now. Today is an stant ‘seeti maar’ reaction. Perhaps it big when watched on mobile and laptop problem -- he has always only done all that auspicious day for ven- would have worked if the film had a wide screens. Robbed of his primary big-screen he does in Radhe. turing in new business or changing your theatrical release. fan base, the superstar starts out at a point Radhe is among Salman Khan’s weak- profession. For those involved in the fields The trouble is Salman has ended up of disadvantage with Radhe, trying to ped- est films ever. Thankfully for his fans, of interior designing, or running beauty serving a big movie that won’t appear that dle larger-than-life masala to an audience it’s also his shortest film in a long time. parlours, now is an especially bountiful time for making progress in your business.

SCORPIO SUDOKU post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, fill in the boxes in such a A cheerful day lies ahead PEANUTS of you especially for the CROSSWORD manner that every row, column and 3x3 box contains business community. It's the digits 1 to 9, without repeating any. a clincher, as good deals not only come to your door step, but yield good business. Feel, that you are the king of the world; bring out the best in you and you are bound to succeed.

SAGITTARIUS You are in a dilemma today. You may find yourself standing at crossroads, and your decision power does not seem to help you much, says Ganesha. You are likely to become controversy's favourite child; this may add fuel to the fire. Be wise, and take guidance of experienced people. CALVIN AND HOBBES CAPRICORN God helps those who help themselves, likewise, your sincere efforts will be paid off well, SOLUTIONS today. If you're dealing with shares and stocks, it maybe your day, today. Your life partner will proved to be lucky for your success, so give him/her the credit he/she deserves, suggests Ganesha.

AQUARIUS You always see the larger picture, and desire to channelise all your ener- gies towards making BREVITY things better. Such positive approach CROSSWORD makes you an excellent team player, and enables you to bring novel ideas and effec- tive solutions to the table, says Ganesha.

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k y m This day promises to be c filled with much romance, laughter, and fine dining, says Ganesha. You will seem irresistible to the opposite sex. You might also find yourself falling for someone. A breathe of fresh air could waft into old CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU relationships, or new ones could be formed. COVID-19 TRACKER P3 OXYGEN ON BIKES FRIDAY | MAY 14 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD Federation of Blood Donor World 16,14,72,007 13,92,97,226 33,51,167 Organisations of Odisha launches two-wheeler India 2,37,03,665 1,97,34,823 2,58,317 oxygen express in Odisha 5,76,297 4,82,345 2,251

downtown Cuttack, Thursday

k y m c Collectors can take a call 2nd wave hits hotel industry hard POST NEWS NETWORK district. The hoteliers had spent huge sums to repair the damaged Puri, May 13: The Covid-19 pan- facilities at their hotels and lodg- on home delivery of liquor demic and restrictions imposed ing houses. However, the outbreak by the government to check the of novel coronavirus in March last POST NEWS NETWORK AMIDST LOCKDOWN virus spread have taken a heavy toll year and the prolonged lockdown on the hotel industry of the Holy imposed by the Union and state Bhubaneswar, May 13: The state The Collectors have The Excise city, a major tourist destination in governments broke the backbone government has empowered dis- been asked to take secretary has Odisha. of hoteliers of Puri, sources said. trict Collectors to take a call on decision on home instructed the The hotel industry of Puri has The industry got some relief in home delivery of liquor during the delivery of liquor by Collectors to suffered three back-to-back blows terms of relaxation in the lock- lockdown. shops selling IMFL follow the in last three years. As a result, down norms in the last quarter of Excise secretary Sushil Kumar and country-made guidelines around 15,000 people associated 2020. But, the devastating second Lohani has informed Excise liquor in their issued last with the industry here have been wave of the Covid-19 pandemic Commissioner Asish Singh about respective districts year pushed into financial miseries, has given a body blow to the hotel the decision of the government. after taking into regarding sources said. industry and tourism sector of the The Collectors have been asked to consideration the home delivery Puri district is home to many fa- Pilgrim city. take decision on home delivery prevailing situation of liquor mous shrines and iconic struc- “The state government has im- of liquor by shops selling India tures like Srimandir, Konark Sun posed a 14-day lockdown in Odisha The govt has allowed operation of all godowns under Odisha State Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Beverages Corporation for wholesale trade between 6am and 2pm Temple, Alarnath temple, to tackle the second wave of Covid- country-made liquor in their re- Baliharchandi and Ramchandi IN THE DOLDRUMS 19. This has put the livelihood of spective districts after taking into temple. Besides, Chilika Lake, Puri 15,000 employees of hotels in Puri consideration the prevailing Excise secretary has instructed the selling non-essential items will and Chandrabhaga beaches, The hotel industry of Puri has Just two years ago, the hotel in danger. Most of the hotels have situation. Collectors to follow the guidelines remain shut. Hence, all the liquor Buddhist structures at Kuruma suffered three back-to-back blows in industry suffered huge losses due just downed their shutters. The “After careful consideration and issued last year (during the lock- shops have remained closed dur- and heritage crafts village of last three years, pushing 15,000 to the cyclonic storm Fani that had hoteliers are spending money from in exercise of the powers con- down) regarding home delivery of ing this period. Raghurajpur attract tourists and people associated with the industry left a trail of devastation in the their savings to maintain their in- ferred b y Section 93 of Odisha liquor. A few days ago, Lohani had visitors from across the country and into financial miseries coastal district frastructure,” said hotelier Excise Act, 2008, the government The state government has al- submitted a proposal in this regard abroad. Bibhudatta Patra. has been pleased to delegate the de- lowed operation of all godowns to the Special Relief Commissioner At least 1,000 hotels and lodg- The hoteliers had spent huge sums to repair the damaged facilities at their It is learnt that the hoteliers cision of introducing home de- under Odisha State Beverages (SRC) PK Jena. ing houses have come up in Puri city hotels and lodging houses have urged the Centre to announce livery of liquor by IMFL OFF/ON Corporation for wholesale trade During the lockdown last year, and its nearby areas to cater to the some assistance for the hotel in- and country-made liquor shops between 6am and 2pm. the state government had allowed needs of tourists. Similarly, the However, the outbreak of novel coronavirus in March last year and the dustry. as well as by food aggregators dur- The government has imposed home delivery of liquor by food ag- city has several tour and travel prolonged lockdown imposed by the Union and state governments broke “The hotel association of Odisha ing the lockdown period to lockdown with effect from May 5 gregators/delivery service agencies that provide service to the backbone of hoteliers of Puri has urged the Centre to provide Collectors, who will take appro- that will continue till May 19. providers/technology platforms the visitors. Many locals usually some assistance to the hotel in- priate decisions in this regard,” During the lockdown, all non-es- as well as by liquor license earn a livelihood depending on the Just two years ago, the hotel in- the cyclonic storm Fani that had left dustry,” said Girish Chandra Nayak, Lohani said in his letter. The sential services including shops holders. flourishing tourism sector. dustry suffered huge losses due to a trail of devastation in the coastal a member of Puri Hotel Association. Centre asks MCL to POLITICKLE by MANJUL No morning walk, set up 2 Covid hosps cycling during

POST NEWS NETWORK RADHAN HAD SOUGHT PPERSONAL INTERVENTION OF Bhubaneswar, May 13: Union JOSHI TO SET UP HEALTHCARE lockdown: CP Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi has FACILITIES IN HIGH COVID instructed Central PSU Mahanadi BURDEN DISTRICTS LIKE Coalfields Limited (MCL) to set up SAMBALPUR, SUNDARGARH, POST NEWS NETWORK HELPLINE NUMBERS two temporary Covid care hospitals JHARSUGUDA AND ANGUL For grievances and make provision for additional Bhubaneswar, May 13: The twin 8093028100 beds in three other facilities. Joshi NION MINISTER JOSHI HAS city Commissioner of Police, BHUBANESWAR has issued the instructions on the UINSTRUCTED THE Saumendra Priyadarshi Thursday For permits request of Union Minister MANAGEMENT OF MCL TO instructed the denizens not to step 8144207100 Dharmendra Pradhan. CONSIDER PRADHAN’S REQUEST out for morning walk or cycling For grievances Pradhan, in order to ramp up FOR SETTING UP A TEMPORARY during the lockdown. Speaking on CUTTACK 8763068167 medical infrastructure in the state SUPER SPECIALTY HOSPITAL WITH Covid-related enforcement activi- For permits for combating Covid-19, had sought 150 BEDS IN SAMBALPUR AND A ties, Priayadarshi stated that ac- 6370701550 personal intervention of Joshi to set 50-BED HOSPITAL AT tivities like morning walk, evening up healthcare facilities in high BASUNDHARA IN walk and cycling have been pro- Bhubaneswar DCP Umashankar Covid burden districts like SUNDARGARH DISTRICT hibited during the lockdown as per Dash revealed that around 1,500 Sambalpur, Sundargarh, guidelines. police personnel have been deployed Jharsuguda and Angul. OSHI HAS INSTRUCTED THE He also said that denizens have at different places for enforcement JMCL TO MAKE PROVISION OF 50 been coming out of their houses dur- of the lockdown in City. OXYGENATED BEDS, ICUs AND ing lockdown for evening and morn- Dash cited the helpline numbers, VENTILATOR FACILITIES AT ing walk, brazenly violating the 8093028100 and 8144207100, issued for BRAJRAJNAGAR COVID HOSPITAL guidelines. He urged the citizens to senior citizens and persons seeking IN JHARSUGUDA DISTRICT nCoV norm violators cough stay indoors to thwart the permission for marriage and fu- virus spread. neral ceremonies respectively. He and ventilator facilities. instructed denizens to download Similarly, the MCL has also been ` the format shared as the profile asked to install 150 oxygen beds, up 2.80 crore in 15 days pictures of the dedicated WhatsApp ICU and ventilator facilities at numbers to apply for marriage and Jharsuguda Lakhanpur Covid hos- arrested during the period. funeral events. pital and Talcher Covid hospital Jethwa claimed that 8,302 vehi- Dash also spoke about plans to which is managed by the MCL itself. cles have been seized by the police issue self-generated passes for the This apart, the Union minister for violating Covid guidelines. workers engaged in IT and IT has instructed the MCL to make He urged people to follow all the Enabled Services (ITeS) sectors. provision of 50 oxygenated beds, Covid-19 restrictions so that police Denizens have been Cuttack DCP, Prateek Singh re- ICUs and ventilator facilities at would not be forced to take coercive coming out of their vealed that 18 platoons of police Brajrajnagar Covid Hospital in action. As many as 22 teams com- houses during lockdown for force have been deployed in the Jharsuguda district. prising officials of special task evening and morning city for the implementation of lock- As per Pradhan’ letter, the MCL force (STF), Crime Branch and down. He reiterated zero tolerance walk, brazenly violating has so far contributed a sum of over drugs inspectors have been set up towards persons found violating Union Coal Minister’s letter to Union the guidelines Petroleum Minister Rs 140 crore towards Covid man- to check illegal activities like hoard- Covid guidelines. agement and preparedness in Odisha. ing of Covid essential items and SAUMENDRA PRIYADARSHI | He requested citizens of Silver Union Minister Joshi has in- Joshi, in his reply, stated that it price jacking by private hospitals POLICE COMMISSIONER City to air their grievances with the structed the management of MCL is bounden duty of every individ- Police enforcing the lockdown at Kalpana Square in Bhubaneswar, Thursday during the pandemic. police through helpline number to consider Pradhan’s request for ual and institution in the country He requested people who have Similarly, the deputy commis- 8763068167. He also said that they setting up a temporary super spe- to rise to the occasion and lend POST NEWS NETWORK of Covid norms during the last 15 taken the first dose of vaccination sioners of police (DCPs) of both can call 6370701550 for marriage cialty hospital with 150 beds in their support to the Prime Minister days. ADG, Law & Order, YK Jethwa to patiently wait for the second Bhubaneswar and Cuttack revealed and funeral related permission. Sambalpur and a 50-bed hospital at of India in his efforts to contain Bhubaneswar, May 13: Odisha Thursday revealed that the state dose. People have been urged not to the steps taken in twin city for Both the DCPs have urged the Basundhara in Sundargarh dis- spread of the pandemic and miti- police has collected Rs 2.80 crore as police registered 71 cases while as crowd the vaccination centres un- proper enforcement of Covid-19 re- denizens to cooperate with police for trict with oxygenated beds, ICU gate the sufferings of the people. fines from around 1 lakh violators many as 269 violators have been necessarily. strictions during lockdown. successful enforcement of lockdown. 65 slum dwellers held in Cuttack skirmish LORD’S THRONE POST NEWS NETWORK Temporary tents, in Cuttack, May 13: As many as 65 which hundreds of slum dwellers including 16 women displaced slum were arrested Thursday morning in connection with the attack on dwellers had been Cuttack Municipal Corporation accommodated, were (CMC) staffers and local police- men at Nuapara-Balisahi slum blown away by strong area under Madhupatna police Nor'wester limits in Cuttack May 11. winds Tuesday

Jalua Sahi area of Malgodown File photo of a face-off between the slum dwellers and police area to facilitate an ongoing expansion work of Taladanda Canal Five platoons of forces have been that the temporary tents, wherein Road in Cuttack city. deployed to bring the situation hundreds of displaced slum dwellers The dwellers had attacked the under control and maintain law had been accommodated, were CMC and police personnel and

and order, keeping in mind palpa- blown away by strong Nor'wester vandalised vehicles alleging that the

k y m c ble tension that prevails in the lo- winds Tuesday afternoon. tents had injured their children. cality, a police station official said. Around 1,200 families had been Situation escalated at Nuapara- Notably, some civic body offi- evicted a few days ago from nearby Balisahi area after some children cials including a local police team slums located at Behera Sahi, were found trapped under the tents. had gone to Nuapara-Balisahi slum Sagadia Sahi of Ranihat, Das Sahi Hundreds of slum dwellers had Damaged sheds at Nuapara Balisahi area upon receiving information area near Pilgrim Road area and staged a dharna as well. A silver throne being carried to Narendra pond in Puri for the upcoming Chandan Yatra of Srimandir deities, Thursday P4 FRIDAY | MAY 14 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR downtown

19 more nCoV deaths in state; DECLARE CHEMISTS AS COVID WARRIORS

k y m Medicine shops threaten closure c POST NEWS NETWORK staff of the shops have died in the More staffers get ‘frontline worker’ tag active cases near 1-lakh mark first wave of Covid-19. Many more Bhubaneswar, May 13: The have been infected during the sec- BHUBANESWAR: Following demands from various employees’ organisations, the state government has included some additional PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Chemists and Druggists’ Association ond wave. As the situation has of Odisha threatened Thursday to worsened in the second wave, the categories of staffs as Frontline Worker (FLW) for Covid-19 vaccination. The Bhubaneswar, May 13: The sharp close down medicine shops if the Odisha Government should recog- State Steering Committee has recently approved the proposal for inclusion of the new categories of staffers--Forest officials and bankers as FLWsfor rise in daily Covid-19 cases and government did not declare chemists nise us as Covid-19 warriors and vaccination, said Additional Chief Secretary, Health, PK Mohapatra to deaths in the state continued and staff of the outlets as Covid-19 vaccinate us on priority basis. Till collectors and municipal commissioners. All forest officials, banking staff, Thursday even as the number of ac- warriors immediately. Office-bear- date we have not any assurance employees of insurance companies, staff of National Payments Corporation tive cases came closer to the 1-lakh ers of the association said that they from the government in this re- of India , payment system providers/ operators/vendors, cash logistic mark for the first time in the coastal need to be also vaccinated on a pri- gard. Unless it is done, shops will companies, cash-in-transit companies, ATM maintenance, banking state since the beginning of the ority basis. have no option, but to down shut- correspondence and costumer care points are to be treated as FLW. pandemic last year, a Health de- At a press conference here ters,” informed Pragati. Similarly, staffs of railways, DCPU, childline, 181 helpline, One Stop Centres partment official said. Thursday, Pragati Ranjan Mohanty, “We have been rendering our and child care institutions have been included in the group. The employees The Covid-19 caseload in the president of Khurda Druggists services and we are among the of oxygen plants, filling stations and call centres are also FLW now. Besides, state mounted to 5,76,297 as 10,649 and Chemists Association said that most exposed to infected people. government veterinary doctors, livestock inspectors and para-veterinarians more people tested positive for the they will give the state govern- Since more than 20,000 of us are will be treated as frontline workers. Mohapatra made it clear that present virus while 19 fresh fatalities ment 15 days time to declare them involved in this business, the priority of the state government is to ensure 2nd dose vaccination of due pushed the death toll to 2,251, as Covid-19 warriors. “The demand government should consider our beneficiaries. The above categories of staffs will only be vaccinated, once he said. is coming from all parts of Odisha,” appeal and provide us with vac- adequate vaccine supply is available in the state, he added. Odisha now has 91,648 active Mohanty pointed out. He also in- cine,” she added. cases, the official said, adding that formed that the association has Pratap Kumar Jena, secretary, “We are also making home de- Jena said. Earlier, the All Odisha 4,82,345 patients have so far re- appealed to the state government Chemists Association said medicine livery of medicines taking huge Lower Secondary Teachers covered from the infection. on this issue a number of times. shops are providing various serv- risks. So the government should Association also demanded that all Khurda district, which com- “More than 100 chemists and ices amidst the lockdown. seriously consider our demand,” tutors be declared as Covid-19 warriors. prises the state capital Bhubaneswar, accounted for 14,886 actives cases, followed by H&FW dept advises SC ON MIGRANT WORKER CRISIS Sundargarh (11,466) and Cuttack UNENDING CRISIS Jharpada jail supdt (8,274). Of the fresh cases, 5,965 were THE CORONAVIRUS hree fresh deaths were reported from Angul masking up children shunted for failing CASELOAD reported from quarantine centres Tdistrict and two each from Sundargarh and Puri IN ODISHA BHUBANESWAR: The state Health and 4,684 detected during contact ne patient each from Balasore, Bargah, Khurda, and Family Welfare (H&FW) Odisha govt gets to control inmates MOUNTED TO Bolangir, Boudh, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, tracing. 5,76,297 AS O department Thursday issued an Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Nuapadda, Rayagada According to the official, 10,649 MORE advisory for children, adolescent, POST NEWS NETWORK and Sambalpur succumbed to the infection Khurda also recorded the high- PEOPLE TESTED pregnant women and lactating est number of new cases at 1,557, POSITIVE FOR he coastal state has so far conducted over women in the wake of the second 10 days to reply Bhubaneswar, May 13: The Home followed by Cuttack (930), THE VIRUS IN LAST T1.07 crore sample tests for Covid-19, including wave of Covid-19. The advisory department of the Odisha gov- Sundargarh (774), Angul (557) 24 HOURS 51,451 Wednesday read that since it has been ernment Thursday transferred and Balasore (503). observed that many children are POST NEWS NETWORK Dhirendra Nath Barik, the super- Taking to Twitter, the Health getting affected during the second intendent of special jail at Jharpada and Family Welfare department 98-year-old woman defeats Corona wave, wearing mask is mandatory New Delhi, May 13: Expressing dis- after some viral videos revealed said, “Regret to inform the de- midst the gloom caused by the from filaria, hypertension and di- for children above two years of age satisfaction over the delay and inad- various illegal activities carried mise of nineteen Covid positive Asecond wave of Covid-19, a 98- abetes responded to the medication while stepping out of their equate response over the handling out within the prison premises. patients while under treatment in year-old woman with co-morbidities and came around within a week, homes and parents should of migrant worker crisis, the Supreme Barik was transferred to the ensure the same. hospitals.” has defeated the infection at the SUM Hospital sources here said. Court gave Thursday the last chance Bolangir district prison in the same Three fresh deaths were re- SUM Covid Hospital here, spread- “The dedicated care extended to to Odisha, Delhi and five other states position. ported from Angul district and ing cheer all around. my mother has helped her recover,” to inform it specifically about the As per the Home department two each from Sundargarh and Annapurna Biswal of Annapurna’s son Kulamani ATM robbery bid foiled steps taken by them to resolve the notification, Saroj Kumar Biswal, Puri. One patient each from Chandrasekharpur area was de- Biswal said. plight of such people. A two-judge who currently holds the post of Balasore, Bargah, Khurda, tected with Covid-19 May 5 after “We never thought she would BHUBANESWAR: Commissionerate bench comprising Justices Ashok superintendent in Puri district jail Bolangir, Boudh, Ganjam, which her family members rushed recover after she was infected by Police foiled a robbery bid at an Bhushan and MR Shah asked Odisha to inform us about the steps taken or will replace Barik. Urmila Minz, the ATM kiosk in Ghatikia under Jagatsinghpur, Kandhamal, her to the SUM Covid Hospital for Covid-19, but we are extremely government and the other states to file to be taken to ease the plight of the superintendent of Bolangir jail, Bharatpur police limits. A patrolling Malkangiri, Nuapadda, treatment. happy with the treatment given to team of Bharatpur police station their responses within 10 days. migrant workers. Also how much will join the Puri prison holding the Rayagada and Sambalpur suc- After being treated by the doctors her,” Annapurna’s granddaughter- spotted four persons moving “As a last chance, we give further time the states will require to im- same designation. cumbed to the infection, he said. and nurses, Biswal who suffered in-law Rajashree Biswal said. suspiciously inside an SBI ATM 10 days’ time to Odisha, NCT of Delhi, plement the steps,” the bench said. Fifty-three other Covid-19 pa- kiosk late Wednesday night. When Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, It should be stated here that dur- tients have so far died due to co- ment official said. The state has sample tests for Covid-19, includ- the police team rushed to the Gujarat and Maharashtra to file their ing the lockdown last year more morbidities, the H&FW depart- so far conducted over 1.07 crore ing 51,451 Wednesday. kiosk, the bike-borne miscreants specific responses on issues referred than 10 lakh migrant workers had fled the spot. Police later found the to our earlier orders dated June 9 returned to different districts of Sethi takes charge front lock of the ATM broken. and July 31 last year. The states have Odisha from other states. 4 special trains to as I&PR secretary SUMMER SHOWER

POST NEWS NETWORK A video grab of Jharpada jail inmates remain cancelled went viral leading to the transfer of Bhubaneswar, May 13: Senior prison superintendent, Thursday IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi took additional charge as Information The three video clips that went till end of May & Public Relations (I&PR) secretary, viral revealed the use of contra- Thursday. bands and smartphones by the POST NEWS NETWORK After assuming office, Sethi re- inmates. The videos showed that the viewed the Covid awareness pro- inmates were indulging in Bhubaneswar, May 13: In view gramme taken by the department merrymaking, disregarding Covid- of poor occupancy in trains and the so far. Sethi, a 1995-batch IAS offi- 19 protocols. The first clip showed recent surge in Covid-19 cases, it has cer, is currently serving as secre- some inmates sitting together, been decided to cancel four pairs tary of Revenue & Disaster singing devotional songs and smok- of special trains from both the di- Management department and holding ganja. In the second clip, some rections till May last. ing additional charge of Odia other inmates could be seen danc- The cancelled trains are: Puri- Language, Literature and Culture ing to popular song numbers. The LTT-Puri weekly Special Express, department. Meanwhile, IAS offi- third video showed a prison staff Bhubaneswar-LTT-Bhubaneswar cer G Mathivathanan has been receiving something from an un- bi-weekly Special Express, given additional charge of BMC known person and later on hand- Visakhapatnam-Cuddapah- administrator. Mathivathanan is ing it over to inmates at an Visakhapatnam daily Express and now serving as Housing & Urban isolated place in the prison. Visakhapatnam-Lingampalli- The Puri-LTT-Puri weekly Special Development secretary with ad- Authorities, however, claimed Visakhapatnam daily Special Express will be cancelled from Puri May ditional charge of Parliamentary that the videos were old ones and were Express. 18 and 25 and from LTT May 20 and 27 Affairs department. Vehicles ply on a waterlogged Laxmisagar road as rain lashes the Capital city, Thursday OP PHOTO shot before the Covid-19 pandemic. The Puri-LTT-Puri weekly Special Express will be cancelled Bhubaneswar-LTT- Bhubaneswar from Puri May 18 and 25 and from bi-weekly Special Express from LTT May 20 and 27. Similarly, Bhubaneswar will remain cancelled HEAVY RAIN LASHES CAPITAL; Bhubaneswar-LTT- Bhubaneswar May 17, 20, 24 and 27 and from LTT May Centre lauds BPIA for seamless bi-weekly Special Express from 19, 22, 26 and 29 Bhubaneswar will remain can- THUNDERSTORM TO RETURN celled May 17, 20, 24 and 27 and Cuttack-Bhadrak-Cuttack Special, from LTT May 19, 22, 26 and 29. Visakhapatnam-Raipur- delivery of medical essentials POST NEWS NETWORK Furthermore, the IMD also Visakhapatnam-Cuddapah- Visakhapatnam Special, Puri- warned of rain, thunderstorms Visakhapatnam daily Special Angul-Puri Special, Puri-Cuttack- POST NEWS NETWORK pipeline and the consignment is Bhubaneswar, May 13: The state with lightning in districts of Odisha Express will be cancelled from Puri Special and expected within a week from for- capital received heavy showers over the next two days. Orange Visakhapatnam from May 14 to Bhubaneswar-Palasa-Bhubaneswar New Delhi, May 13: Playing an ac- eign countries,” the ministry said. and thunderstorm affecting visi- warning was issued for districts of May 31 and from Cuddapah from Special. tive role in the fight against Covid- Apart from this, the Union min- bility and movement Thursday af- Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, May 15 to June 1. Similarly, Puri-Angul-Puri 19, the Biju Patnaik International istry said, Bhubaneswar airport ternoon. This is the second time in Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Visakhapatnam-Lingampalli- Special will run between Puri and Airport in Bhubaneswar has been is also following all the Covid-19 re- a week that the city has received Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Visakhapatnam daily Special Talcher and remain cancelled be- facilitating seamless transporta- lated guidelines and protocols as per heavy rains. Similar conditions Gajapati, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Express will remain cancelled from tween Talcher and Angul from tion of medical equipment and 156 empty oxygen the instructions of the Union and are expected for next 24 hours. Dhenkanal, Angul, Kandhamal Visakhapatnam from May 14 to both the directions May 13, material, the Union Civil Aviation tankers, 526 oxygen state governments to ensure a safe As per the India Meteorological and Rayagada. Also, heavy rainfalls May 31 and from Lingampalli from 17 and 22. ministry said Thursday. journey for passengers. Department (IMD), Bhubaneswar, are very likely to occur at one or two May 15 to June 1. Likewise, Bhubaneswar- To overcome the oxygen crisis in concentrators and 140 “To create awareness regarding about 32.8 mm of rainfall was places over Bhadrak, Jajpur, Earlier, the railway authorities Junagarh Road-Bhubaneswar the country, a total of 156 empty oxy- oxygen cylinders were Covid-appropriate behaviour, the recorded Thursday. Some parts of the Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack had decided to cancel nine pairs of Special will run between gen tankers, 526 oxygen concen- airport is also displaying instruc- city reported severe water logging. and Khurda, the IMD stated. local passenger/MEMU trains from Bhubaneswar and Rayagada and trators, 140 oxygen cylinders were transported by 75 IAF tions through several electronic Vaccination and testing centres also Yellow warning was also issued both the directions till May 23 to remain cancelled between Rayagada transported by 75 Indian Air Force aircraft from April 23 and permanent displays at the ter- observed reduced footfall as rains for 24 hours for the districts of check the spread of novel coron- and Junagarh Road from both the aircraft like C17, C130J, AN32 from minal. Bhubaneswar airport has lashed for more than an hour. Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, avirus. directions from May 13 to 22. April 23 to May 11. A total of 669 to May 11 also organised Covid vaccination Meanwhile, the IMD predicted Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sonepur, These trains are: Bhubaneswar- Sambalpur-Rayagada-Sambalpur boxes (20.53 MT) of Covid vaccine camp for employees of Airports rain and thunderstorm with gusts Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kendujhargarh-Bhubaneswar Special will run between Sambalpur have been transported through trators were transported through Authority of India (AAI) and other for the next 24 hours in the state cap- Kalahandi, Nawarangpur, Koraput Special, Bhubaneswar-Bhadrak- and Titlagarh and remain can- various airlines till May 9 through various airlines. Transportation stakeholders with support from ital. While maximum temperature and Malkangiri. The IMD predicted Bhubaneswar Special, Cuttack- celled between Titlagarh and the Bhubaneswar airport, the Union of 3,500 units of 10-litre seamless Government of Odisha, taking all is likely to be around 36 degree maximum temperature to fall by 3- Bhadrak-Cuttack Special, Cuttack- Rayagada from both the directions ministry informed. cylinders and 1,520 pieces of 46.7- safety measures into considera- Celsius, minimum is expected to be 5 degrees Celsius May 13 and rise

Paradip-Cuttack Special, from May 13 to 23. “41 pieces of oxygen concen- litre seamless cylinders are in tion,” the ministry said. around 23 degree Celsius. May 14 by 2-4 degrees Celsius.

k y m c P5 FRIDAY | MAY 14 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR state

7 rivers drying up; 1,114 LI points defunct DDUGJY flickers

k y m c POST NEWS NETWORK Gobari, Brahmani and Kharasrota AGRI CRISIS LOOMS IN KENDRAPARA armers alleged that under the Baitarani river system in Bargarh district Kendrapara, May 13: Farming will Fconstruction of a barrage on has also declined. The canals be seriously hit in the district with the upstream of the Mahanadi emerging from these rivers have seven rivers going dry and 1114 by the Chhattisgarh government gone dry and so have the wells and has spelled disaster for the lift irrigation (LI) points becom- ponds in the district. state. The water level in Luna, courtesy ‘scam’ ing defunct, a report said. It is ap- Paika, Chitrotpala, Mahanadi Farmers claimed that the lift ir- prehended that over 25,718 hectares and Birupa rivers on the rigation points drawing water from of land might remain uncultivated downstream have declined due these rivers were helpful in irriga- due to lack of irrigation facilities. to construction of the barrage tion of farmlands. There are 82 LI This has happened even as points in Kendrapara block, 37 in ‘Akshaya Trutiya’ the festival of hey claimed that the lift Derabish, 100 in Marshaghai, 119 in agriculture, draws near. However, Tirrigation points drawing Mahakalapara, 97 in Garadapur, farm works are yet to pick up in the water from these rivers were 138 in Pattamundai, 248 in Aul, 180 district with farmers showing no helpful in irrigation of in Rajkanika and 113 in Rajnagar. enthusiasm to take up cultivation farmlands. There are 82 LI Similarly, 3,063 shallow tube due to lack of irrigation facilities. The water level in the water level in the rivers has also led points in Kendrapara block, 37 wells and 10,624 other sources draw- Their hopes hinge on rain. rivers has declined to simultaneous decline in water in Derabish, 100 in Marshaghai, ing water from these rivers helped Reports said seven rivers flow- level of tube wells, wells and ponds. 119 in Mahakalapara, 97 in in irrigating their farmlands. due to summer. Garadapur, 138 in Pattamundai, ing through the district have gone Efforts are being Farmer leaders Bidhu Bhusan However, these are lying defunct dry from the start of this summer Mohapatra, Gayadhar Dhal, Bijay 248 in Aul, 180 in Rajkanika and with the rivers going dry. made to make water 113 in Rajnagar season. As a result, farmers are available to the farmlands by Kumar Parida and farmers Left with no options, the farm- increasingly facing problems in desilting the rivers Niranjan Parida and Chittaranjan ers are now waiting for the arrival watering their land. The LI points Das said seven rivers under the Mahanadi by the Chhattisgarh of the monsoon season. POST NEWS NETWORK Matching the ground have also become defunct as there PRABODH KUMAR ROUT I EXECUTIVE Mahanadi, the Brahmani and the government has spelled disaster When contacted, Prabodh Kumar ENGINEER, IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT is not enough water in the rivers. Baitarani river systems flow through for the state. The water level in Rout, executive engineer, irriga- Attabira, May 13: Due to mas- realities with the data on The district has 152,000 hectares the district. The fishermen de- Luna, Paika, Chitrotpala, Mahanadi tion department, said the water sive irregularities in the rural elec- the info plaque, locals of farm land out of which 86132 ponds and wells. pendent on these rivers for their and Birupa rivers on the down- level in the rivers has declined due trification work under the Deen hectares are irrigated by water The dip in river water has also livelihood have been equally hit. stream have declined due to con- to summer. He said efforts are being Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti suspected massive from canal, LI points, shallow tube resulted in water scarcity for the They alleged that construction struction of the barrage. made to make water available to the Yojana (DDUGJY), a Centre-spon- irregularities committed wells and other water sources like riparian villagers. The decline in of a barrage on the upstream of the Similarly, the water level in farmlands by desilting the rivers. sored scheme, the programme has allegedly flopped in Attabira and in the name of rural Bheden blocks in Bargarh district. electrification drive in Officially, it is claimed that crores various villages Lady lecturer sacked for COOLING ACT of rupees have been spent for electrification of BPL households in two blocks in 2017, but the ground re- livestock centre.” furnishing forged PG docus ality tells a different story. The plaque revealed that the In fact, poor people in hundreds NTPC had been entrusted the elec- of houses are still living in dark. trification in the area under lecturer is Aveepsa Pattanayak, a Electricity is still a dream for them, DDUGJY. It was claimed that the native of Udala. it was learnt. work was done three years ago She started her career as an Actually, no common man had while Rs 167 crore has been spent English lecturer at Khunta Degree any idea about how the rural elec- for the electrification of scores of College in 2007. During appoint- trification is being carried out. A villages in Bargarh district. ment, she had produced forged PG few days ago, some locals of Bhedan In reality, many BPL families certificate. Following an allega- block were dismayed by an infor- included in the DDUGJY have been tion about her fraud, the higher mation plaque about the DDUGJY deprived of free electricity. education department started an put up near Deshparthala livestock Locals wondered why contractors investigation and directed inspection centre. Matching the put the information plaque three Patanayak to furnish all her doc- ground realities with the data on years after their work. uments and certificates. On veri- the plaque, the locals suspected They alleged that the rural elec- POST NEWS NETWORK fication, the department found her massive irregularities committed trification is shown in pen and PG mark sheet forged. in the name of DDUGJY. They al- paper while its fund is misappro- Udala, May 13: A lady lecturer had However, Patanayak had resigned leged that some contractors en- priated owing to an unholy nexus been allegedly serving for 14 years from her post three months ago. gaged in the rural electrification among contractors, engineers and at Khunta Degree College in The assistant director of the drive put up the board without people’s representatives. Mayurbhanj district by furnish- higher department in his letter doing the work. Locals accused the administra- ing forged a PG certificate and a (20113) May 12, 2021, has directed the Locals said, “While hurriedly tion of deliberately doing nothing mark sheet. Udala Sub-Collector and chair- laying the foundation for the to monitor the rural electrifica- The higher education depart- person of the college to remove DDUGJY information plaque near tion drive. ment came to know of her fraud and her from the job and recommended the livestock centre, the under- They have demanded a vigilance sacked her from job, a report said. criminal proceedings against ground water pipe got damaged. investigation into the rural electri- According to the report, the lady the accused. Children bathing in Mahanadi on a hot summer afternoon in Sambalpur OP PHOTO Water supply was disrupted to the fication scheme for the poor. Two jumbos die in Covid-19 spreading in Bolangir villages Similipal; probe starts 2 docs at PHC test Covid +ve POST NEWS NETWORK Bolangir Thursday Covid-19 test. Two days ago, the BARIPADA: Two elephants, POST NEWS NETWORK Padmanpur, Mundapada, village had reported six positive including a calf, have died in Brahmanipalli, Telibandh and Khaprakhol, May 13: Covid-19 sit- reported 198 new cases cases. It registered 11 positive cases Similipal sanctuary of Mayurbhanj Baunsuni, May 13: With Covid pos- Mundipadar panchayats. uation in villages under of Covid-19 and 1 fatality. Wednesday. Among them, there district in the last 72 hours. Forest itivity graph on an upward trend Locals said thousands of peo- Khaprakhol block of Bolangir dis- are three children. officials recovered the carcass of in Boudh district, two doctors have ple from these panchayats have trict is becoming serious by the The tally and toll of the A team comprising block devel- the jumbo calf in Podadiha range tested positive for Covid-19 visited the hospital and come in con- day, if official data is anything to district stood at 16,940 opment officer (BDO) Tarani Suna, inside the Similipal Tiger Project Thursday at Janhapanka primary tact with the two doctors. go by. block programme manager (BPM) Wednesday. The calf is aged about health centre, triggering panic Community spread can’t be ruled In villages, not all people are ed- and 54 respectively of health department Jugal Kishore 6 years. Forest officials and among local people. A few days ago, a doctor at out in the region, they lamented. veterinary staff visited the spot and ucated to keep themselves abreast Sahu, health worker Ranjan Meher People fear that hundreds of Janhapanka PHC was found pos- They demanded immediate step started an investigation into the of the day-to-day developments re- without getting tested for Covid-19. and some others visited the village cause of its death. “It is not clear people might have contracted the itive for Covid. Another doctor for contact tracing. Meanwhile, garding coronavirus. Those who Of them, those who are lucky win and created awareness about Covid- how the calf died. The cause of its virus while visiting the doctors. and a security guard of the same Polam village under Khuntabandh have some knowledge about coro- the battle against the virus and 19 among the villagers recently. death will be known after the post On the other hand, it was alleged hospital have tested positive panchayat was declared contain- navirus get themselves tested im- the unlucky ones lose it. Notably, according to health de- mortem report is available,” said that wedding feasts are being or- Wednesday. This has become a ment zone Thursday after several mediately after they feel they have After coming to know that peo- partment, Bolangir district Thursday Jajnadatt Pati, deputy director of ganised with large crowds while cause of concern for the people Covid cases were detected. The CZ Covid-19 symptoms and recover. ple have Covid-19 like symptoms, reported 198 new cases of Covid-19 the Similipal Tiger Project. Notably, the administration and police in Khuntabandh, Laxmiprasad, will be in force till May 18. But the ones with little access to a medical team recently visited and one fatality. With this, the tally a female elephant died in Similipal have allegedly failed to curb social healthcare services are the worst Kuthurla village under Nandupala and toll of the district stood at 16,940 Tuesday. Locals have demanded a gatherings. sufferers. According to a source, panchayat under Khaprakhol block. and 54 respectively. The district’s ac- high level investigation into the Recently, an organiser of a wed- these villagers consume medicines The symptomatic villagers took tive caseload is at 2,894. elephant deaths. ding party was fined `10,000. Mini CZs increasing in Chhatrapur sub-division

POST NEWS NETWORK Meanwhile, health officials are car- Municipality. Several other parts and rying out door-to-door health screening villages like Palik Padmanabhpur, Adua Chhatrapur, May 13: The lethal Covid- to detect cases. Sahi, Nua Sahi, Chidananda Nagar 19 is playing havoc in Chhatrapur sub- Mini CZs have been enforced at (Polsara NAC), Kubhargan, Malbelapada division in Ganjam district with the Gopabandhu Marg in ward-14, Keuta (Begunaiapada block) and administration increasing mini con- Sahi, Thana Tota Sahi, Block Colony Banadevi(Kabisuryanagar NAC) were tainment zones by the day. (Ward 6), Seventh Lane of Mohan Colony, declared CZs after detection of new The rate of Covid positivity is soar- Somepur, (Ward-7), Jagannath cases. Kitchen essentials are being sup- ing rapidly. Over 500 Covid active cases Marg(Ward-13), Master Colony and plied by the administration to people in are reported from the subdivision. Pochilima( Ward-19) under Hinjilicut the mini CZs.

SHOWING COMPASSION Five girls of Bonda tribe rescued

POST NEWS NETWORK

Kudumuluguma, May 13: At least five girls of the primitive Bonda tribe were rescued while they were being trafficked to other states to work as bonded labourers during a mask verification drive here under Khairput block in Malkangiri district, Thursday. The girls were rescued when tehsildar Bijay Mandangi was conducting a mask verification drive on Gobindpalli-Balimela main road. He noticed five girls of Bonda tribe on a pick- up van and detained them.

On being informed, a team of Childline offi-

k y m c cials reached the spot and recorded the statements of the girls who are from Kadeiguda village under Mudulipada panchayat. The girls revealed that they have been going to work in Andhra A girl is seen feeding stray cattle in Jeypore town in Koraput district during Pradesh. The girls were later handed over to the the lockdown OP PHOTO Child Welfare Committee. P6 FRIDAY | MAY 14 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR power post

FOCUS PANDEMIC There is a thirst for Love which

no human relation can quench. It

k y m is only the Divine's love that can c satisfy that thirst.

THE MOTHER OVERCOMING COVID-19

s special envoys on COVID- the International Health 19 for the director-general Regulations and drive a simulta- of the World Health neous upgrade in all national sys- Beware Economists AOrganization, we have tems that need it. witnessed firsthand the intensity Fifth, we must intensify inter- eoliberalism is dead. Or perhaps it remains very much alive. Pundits of the suffering caused by the pan- national cooperation to develop have been calling it both ways these days. But either way, it is hard demic, especially in poorer com- and deliver the vaccines, diag- Nto deny that something new is afoot in the world of economic policy. munities. This profound tragedy has nostics, and treatments that are nec- US President Joe Biden has called for a vast expansion of government spend- been evolving before our eyes and essary for achieving universal ing on social programmes, infrastructure, and the transition to a green still is nowhere near its end. health coverage. That means build- economy. He wants to use government procurement to rebuild domestic sup- In our experience, the first pri- ing on initiatives like the ACT-A ply chains and bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States. His ority in responding to an infec- to establish a permanent forward- Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, is pushing for a globally coordinated in- tious disease is to save lives and pro- looking mechanism for ensuring crease in corporate taxes. Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, tra- tect the health and well-being of equitable access to critical health ditionally the most hawkish arm of government on price stability, is play- current and future generations. After decades of improvement, future technologies for all who need them. ing down inflation fears and lending his support to fiscal expansion. Palitha Abeykoon, At the same time, we are increas- generations’ prospects have suddenly Lastly, and above all, there is All of these policy changes represent a sharp departure from the conventional Maha El Rabbat & ingly concerned by the tremen- an urgent need to reset the re- wisdom in Washington. Do they also augur a new economic policy paradigm? dous social and economic dam- plummeted. Some regions are experiencing a David Nabarro sponse to this crisis. Everyone Economic policies in the US and the West more broadly, have long been age that COVID-19 has wrought. reversal of gains achieved in the past 20 years. needs to recommit to supporting in need of overhaul. The ideas dominant since the 1980s – variously called With people everywhere strug- a singular and cohesive strategy the Washington Consensus, market fundamentalism, or neoliberalism – THIS LOSS OF gling to preserve their livelihoods Achievements such as higher employment, that is built on equity and fair- originally gained traction because of the perceived failures of Keynesianism under the constant threat of the expanded essential services, and better ness, driven by a single-minded and excessive government regulation. But they took on a life of their own MOMENTUM coronavirus, it has become clear focus to end the pandemic as and produced highly financialised, unequal, and unstable economies that that this pandemic is more than a education (particularly for girls) are at risk quickly as possible, and in keep- were unequipped to cope with today’s most sig- TOWARD THE health emergency. It has become ing with the WHO's mantra: soli- nificant challenges: climate change, social in- INTERNATIONAL a global whole-of-society crisis. darity, science, and solutions. clusion, and disruptive new technologies. In this context, one of our great- this point, it should go without ensuring its reliability. As special envoys for COVID-19, The needed paradigm change might usefully COMMUNITY'S est fears is that after decades of saying that no one will be safe Second, we must do more to we will continue to support coun- start with how we teach economics. Economists improvement, future generations’ until we have made these cutting- prevent pathogens from moving to tries and communities as they tend to be enamored of the power of markets SUSTAINABLE prospects have suddenly plum- edge technologies available to humans from animals and the en- confront this crisis. The task now to promote overall economic prosperity. Adam DEVELOPMENT meted. Some regions are experi- everyone. The longer we delay, the vironment. That means appreci- is to prevent and mitigate as much Smith's invisible hand – the idea that self-in- encing a reversal of gains achieved greater the risk that dangerous ating the risks of crossover trans- of the damage as we can, which will terested individuals seeking only their per- GOALS FOR 2030 in the past 20 years. Achievements new variants will emerge. mission and adopting a "One require concerted action within sonal enrichment might produce collective WILL HAVE such as higher employment, ex- SARS-CoV-2, the virus that Health" mindset that reflects aware- and across countries to imple- prosperity instead of social chaos – is one of the panded essential services, and bet- causes COVID-19, is certainly not ness of biological interdepen- ment the right public-health poli- crown jewels of the economics profession. It also FAR-REACHING ter education (particularly for girls) the last contagious pathogen that dencies and our shared obligation cies and build capacity wherever remains deeply counterintuitive, which is per- COSTS, MOST OF are at risk. So are improvements humanity will face. But it could be to protect fragile ecosystems. it is falling short. Sustaining these haps why economists devote an inordinate Dani Rodrik in infrastructure, water and san- the last one that inflicts such ex- Third, we need to ensure that all efforts will be critical, because it amount of time proselytizing about the magic WHICH WILL BE itation, disease control, political sta- orbitant costs. Whether the next countries can respond rapidly will be many months – even years of markets. The right answer to bility, and governance institutions. pandemic can be prevented is up when the alarm bells start to ring. – before vaccines against current But economics is not a paean to free mar- BORNE BY This loss of momentum toward to us all. Success will depend on There is an urgent demand for and future variants of the virus are kets. In fact, much of economics instruction any policy question THE MOST the international community's commitments from all countries more investment in local, national, accessible to everyone. focuses on how markets may produce too in economics is, “It Sustainable Development Goals to implement the International and regional health systems, par- We urge everyone to do their much inequality, and how they fail on their own VULNERABLE for 2030 will have far-reaching Health Regulations, the WHO's ticularly those that currently lack part to help prevent, prepare for, and terms of allocating resources efficiently. depends.” We need costs, most of which will be borne legal framework establishing how the capacity for prompt detection manage the next outbreak. Above Perfectly competitive markets that harmo- economic analysis by the most vulnerable. Consider they should prepare for and re- and response. all, we call on today’s leaders to niously produce stable equilibria are only the vaccine rollout. Through ex- spond to the cross-border trans- Fourth, public officials need to muster the solidarity needed to one possibility among many. The Smithian and evidence to fill traordinary global scientific co- mission of pathogens and other demonstrate enlightened leader- work together for the common good. model is not the only one. Still, the knee-jerk out the details operation, the international com- health emergencies. ship by committing to, and en- What the leaders decide to do now reaction of many economists is to treat well- of what the munity has created an Access to Beyond following through on gaging in, constructive interna- will have implications for every- functioning, competitive markets as the rele- COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT- these existing measures, world tional cooperation, without which one living today and tomorrow. vant benchmark for any proposed departure desired outcome A) to facilitate the sharing of tech- leaders should take six additional the world will always be at risk. As from laissez-faire. depends upon nology, and the COVID-19 Vaccine steps. First, we must dramati- WHO envoys, we are encouraged Palitha Abeykoon is a senior Fortunately, a new paradigm for teaching Global Access (COVAX) facility cally scale up investment in global by the call from 26 heads of state adviser at the Sri Lankan economics does exist. The CORE Project is an to deliver vaccines equitably and preparedness, so that we can spot and government, the president of Ministry of Health. Maha El online teaching tool and free, open-access textbook. Two leading econo- efficiently around the world. But the next potential pandemic as the European Council, and WHO Rabbat is a former Minister of mists, Samuel Bowles of the Santa Fe Institute and Wendy Carlin of University while hundreds of millions of vac- early as possible. There is now Director-General Tedros Adhanom Health and Population of Egypt. College London, are the visionaries behind it. But a large group of econo- cine doses have been administered ample evidence of what works Ghebreyesus for an international David Nabarro is a former mists worldwide has collaborated in its development. Already, it is in use in globally, there are deep dispari- well, and we have gained hard- treaty on pandemic preparedness. special adviser to the United a majority of university economics departments in the United Kingdom. ties. In high-income countries, vac- earned experience in getting the This effort can provide a solid Nations Secretary-General on A key advantage of the CORE approach is that it tackles issues like in- cine supplies are sufficient to pro- necessary systems to function as foundation for high-level coordi- the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable equality and climate change head-on. But the pedagogically more interest- vide for around one in four people, they should, everywhere. All coun- nation between governments. Development and Climate ing move is that it replaces the standard benchmarks of economics with al- on average; in low-income countries, tries should commit to sharing rel- Ideally, it would result in a new Change. ternative benchmarks that are more realistic and useful. For example, in contrast this figure drops to one in 500. At evant information rapidly and compact designed to complement ©PROJECT SYNDICATE to conventional economics, CORE assumes that individuals are pro-social and myopic, rather than selfish and far-sighted. Competition is imperfect, with winner-take-all characteristics, rather than perfect. Power is ever-present in the form of principal-agent relationships in labour and credit mar- SPECTRUM ROUND THE WORLD kets, instead of being treated as either diffuse or exogenous. Economic rents are ubiquitous and often required for well-functioning economies, not rare or the result of policy error. Such a new paradigm for teaching and doing economics will produce better understanding of social outcomes. But we should recognize that it will not produce a new paradigm for economic policy. And that is as it should be. QUAD should step in Afghanistan All of our previous policy paradigms – whether mercantilist, classical lib- eral, Keynesian, social-democratic, ordoliberal, or neoliberal – had impor- iolence has spiked in and about non-Sunni population. us recall that America heavily sup- found and killed in Abbottabad, tant blind spots because they were conceived as universal programmes that Afghanistan since It may have two motivations in ported Pakistan to create and nur- Pakistan. They are now leaving could be applied everywhere and at all times. Inevitably, each paradigm's blind VAmericans declared with- unleashing the violence. One, they ture Mujahedin to drive out the the country without completing spots overshadowed the innovations it brought to how we think about eco- drawing their remaining troops. are warning the Americans that un- Soviets. Many of the Mujahedin the work, vanquishing the enemy nomic governance. The result was overreach and pendular swings between They had given the deadline of less they keep the second deadline leaders went on to form Taliban ac- – that is Taliban. Will Taliban and excessive optimism and pessimism about government's role in the economy. May 1 under Donald Trump ad- they could engage the Americans tively supported by the Pakistani other terrorist groups associated The right answer to any policy question in economics is, “It depends.” We Dr D K Giri ministration; Joe Biden extended too. Second, they would continue army. Although Soviets had with- with it not bite back? Without put- need economic analysis and evidence to fill out the details of what the de- it to September 11, the 20th an- to attack until the Americans and drawn and subsequently, due to ting a viable alternative in place to sired outcome depends upon. The keywords of a truly useful economics are IT WILL BE niversary of the twin-tower attack. NATO forces have withdrawn. their own disintegration, lost in- rein in on Taliban, the exit of contingency, contextuality, and non-universality. Economics teaches us that Americans entered Afghanistan Taliban, in fact, is adamant that they terest and influence over Americans defies comprehension. there is a time for fiscal expansion and a time for fiscal retrenchment. There IMPRUDENT FOR in order to flush out Osama Bin will not enter into any more ne- Afghanistan, Pakistan continued Perhaps, Americans think they is a time when government should intervene in supply chains, and a time Laden, the mastermind of the at- gotiations until all the foreign forces to meddle in that country and can bounce back should such an when it should leave markets to their own devices. Sometimes, taxes should AMERICA TO tack in the United States. Taliban, are withdrawn from their soil. wanted a puppet government with eventuality arise threatening their be high; sometimes, they should be low. Trade should be freer in some areas, WITHDRAW however, are treating May 1 as the Whatever be the drivers for Taliban helming it. security and interests. and regulated in others. Mapping the links between real-world circum- deadline, and have stepped up the Talibanic violence, the US with- Americans interest in Understandably, the opinion on stances and the desirability of different types of interventions is what good WITHOUT AN violent assaults on Afghan gov- drawal leaves Afghanistan in the Afghanistan dwindled and American withdrawal is divided. economics is about. ALTERNATIVE ernment agencies and the civil- lurch, abandoning the country to Pakistani-backed Taliban took over In the Senate, Mitch McConnell Our societies are confronted with vital challenges that require new economic ians. Not yet engaging the American bombers of school kids and inno- the country. Islamabad used most called the plan reckless and a grave approaches and significant policy experimentation. The Biden administration FORCE TO forces, they are waiting perhaps cent civilians. The US, the reigning of its military support received mistake. He said: “it is a retreat in has launched a bold and long-overdue economic transformation. But those who for the September deadline. super power with a mighty military from the US in cross-border ter- the face of an enemy that has not are seeking a new economic paradigm should be careful what they wish for. SUPPORT THE The violence by Taliban points does help the helpless countries rorism against India. Also, it was yet been vanquished and abdication Our goal should be not to create the next ossified orthodoxy, but to learn how ELECTED to the things that are about to come. when their independence and no accident that in 1999, Pakistani of American leadership”. Some to adapt our policies and institutions to changing exigencies. The Interior Ministry Monday last human rights are threatened. But terrorists hijacked an Indian plane, fear that the US exit will lead to the GOVERNMENT said that around 11 people were it does not do so pretty strategi- Indian Airlines 814, and took it to collapse of the government in Kabul The writer is Professor of International Political Economy at OF AFGHANISTAN killed by a bomb that exploded in cally. The US often-times creates a Kandahar to negotiate with Indian and so will the gains made in social Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. a bus in southeastern Zabul monster and then decides to fight government for the release of development, health, education, ©PROJECT SYNDICATE IN THE FACE province. It was in fact followed by it. Be it Saddam Hussein in Iraq, dreaded terrorist Masood Azhar. women’s rights and so on. OF TALIBAN, WHO the carnage two days before Monday, Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, Pol Pot Americans stormed back to Government supporters say they outside a school in Kabul when a se- in Cambodia, Marcos in Philippines, Afghanistan after the terror attack will link with the Kabul government WISDOM CORNER ARE ON THE ries of bombs went off killing 50 peo- authoritarian regime in China and on the World Trade Centre in New diplomatically and extend necessary ple and wounding over 100, many Mujahedinin Afghanistan, who York City. They came to hunt down political support. INFA PROWL TO PULL of them young girls. Taliban is later became Taliban and the mil- Bin Laden who was sheltered by the Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can making it loud and clear its attitude itary dictatorship in Pakistan. Taliban. It is another matter, after The writer is a professor of CARL BARD AFGHANISTAN start from now and make a brand new ending. about women receiving education In relation to Afghanistan, let 11 years Osama Bin Laden was International Politics at JIMMC.

Some men see things as they are and say why – I dream things that never were and say why not. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW Universal free vaccination Vaccine supply Nobody ever wrote down a plan to be broke, fat, lazy, or stupid. Those things are what happen when you don’t have a plan. Sir, The announcement of the BJP-led Central government that henceforth countrymen Sir, It was expected that with the roll out of vac- LARRY WINGET below 45 years will have to pay a higher price for anti-COVID vaccine is highly shock- cination, the caseloads of COVID-19 would come etters ing. It means the poor citizens will have to die without vaccine. We all know that dur- down drastically. Over 17 crore people have been ing the first wave of COVID-19, our Prime Minister was busy in organising the reportedly administered with vaccines. Still, vac- LOL ‘Namaste Trump’ extravaganza and pushed lakhs of migrant workers to almost ru- cine supply has fallen far short of demand. Of TOL THE EDITOR ination. The same PM had earlier assured free vaccine to all and said that finance for course it is not easy to supply vaccine at twice the Readers of Orissa POST the same would not be a problem. After the first wave, the government got enough number of population of 135 crore in India. People DESCRIBING GOD are most welcome to contribute letters time to fill the gaps in the medical infrastructure in the country. But it did nothing. are fully protected only after the second dose is re- says, (200 words), articles and Now making a U-turn, how can the government pronounce such a policy in a coun- ceived. A large number of people who have got first columns (between 750-1250 white boy and a black boy were "I am words). Contributors are try like India where millions of poor and destitute are struggling to get one square dose of vaccine are not getting the second dose within Aarguing one day. what I am." requested to send their meal a day? We cannot understand how a bunch of Central ministers, including the the stipulated time of 28-42 days from the date of The white boy screams The white boy contact numbers and full Prime Minister, can waste hundreds of crores of money in air travel almost daily for first dose taken. As much vaccine as needed for

"God is white!" jumps up and says, postal address/email ID. They may also election campaign, while the common citizens, especially the working class, is in dire two dosages should have been supplied to avoid the

k y m send in their valuable comments, opinion c The black boy screams "See, I told you so!" and suggestions, preferably by email, distress in the wake of the second spell of the pandemic. Now the Prime Minister has imbalance in the first and second dosages. If the "God is black!" To which the black boy says, "How to: [email protected] shamelessly placed all the responsibilities of saving the countrymen on the people second dose is not taken within the stipulated This goes on and on for about an hour does that prove God's white?" themselves. This is highly condemnable and the people of India strongly register their time, then the first dose taken may go waste. The when all of a sudden there comes a The white boy replies "Because if God protest against this irresponsible conduct of the Central government. We once again country cannot afford to waste the vaccines at a time loud crack of lightning and the were black he would have said, "I is B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, demand universal free vaccination. when the vaccines are in short supply. heavens open up and a booming voice what I is." Bhubaneswar-751010 Asit Mohanty, JAJPUR KV Seetharamaiah, HASSAN P7 UTTAR PRADESH WEST BENGAL

FRIDAY | MAY 14 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m 2 BJP MPs who won Assembly polls in Bengal resign Amid Covid surge, old graves c

Nishit Pramanik and the situation has changed. We need the security (cover). I feel being dug up for new burials Jagannath Sarkar were our life is at risk. We have been elected by the people, but it is the among the five BJP MPs failure of the state government INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE the party fielded for the that the Centre has to provide security,” BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul Aligarh (UP), May 13: Despite Assembly polls hoping to of Asansol South said. assurances of all help by UP chief form government where “Definitely we need security minister Yogi Adityanath to the from the Centre because we cannot Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) they could play key roles. trust the Bengal government... If the in dealing with the pandemic, the elected MLAs don’t feel secure, rising death toll has cast an un- That didn't happen they can’t work,” said BJP MLA nerving shadow on the campus Subrata Thakur from Gaighata in graveyard. AGENCIES North 24 Parganas. With at least three dozen serving The Trinamool has mocked both and retired AMU employees hav- Kolkata, May 13: In Bengal, the Nishit Pramanik and Jagannath Sarkar moves – the resignations and the ing died in the past few weeks due BJP’s tally of 77 MLAs in the central security. to Covid, old graves are now being Assembly is down to 75. Two BJP ernment where they could play Sarkar have central security cover. “They have insulted the people dug up to bury the dead. MPs who contested and won have key roles. That didn’t happen. Now So does Suvendu Adhikari, BJP’s who have voted for them and sent The AMU campus has seen more 16 members of our faculty, emi- The Jawaharlal Nehru Medical submitted their resignations to the BJP clearly feels they are more Nandigram MLA and Leader of them first to Parliament and then deaths in past few weeks than in the nent teachers, including the chair- College (JNMC) is one of the biggest the Speaker Wednesday on in- useful in Parliament. Opposition in the Assembly. He to Assembly. Secondly, the Union entire year. The alarming death man of the medicine department, hospitals in Aligarh and caters to structions of the party high com- “The results in Bengal were not has Z-Plus security. government has decided to give toll has sent shock-waves leading dean of law faculty and many oth- four neighbouring districts. Doctors mand. The Trinamool has mocked as expected. If the BJP had formed The Union Home Ministry has all MLAs security cover...which is to apprehensions that a deadlier ers. As we come to terms with this at the hospital have been dealing with the move as the BJP’s bid to play government, we would have a spe- recently said it would provide cen- mis-utilisation of public funds,” ‘AMU strain’ of the virus is wreak- loss, there is a sense of fear and rest- an unprecedented situation with safe in the Lok Sabha. The cific role. Now that is not the case tral security to all BJP MLAs, based said senior party leader Sukhendu ing havoc. lessness.” the rising number of Covid cases. Trinamool has accused the Centre’s so the party has said we should on a review of their threat per- Shekhar Roy. “It has never hap- Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor A senior faculty member said, A high inflow of Covid patients decision to give Central security to remain MPs and resign as MLAs. ceptions. The ministry will also foot pened before,” he added. has written to the Indian Council “The graveyard is comparatively from surrounding areas along with all BJP MLAs in Bengal as mis- That's why we are doing it,” said the bill for it – all of Rs1.5 crore per One BJP MLA has declined cen- for Medical Research (ICMR) so small and old graves are now being the faculty from within the AMU use of taxpayers’ money. Jagannath Sarkar, BJP MP from month. tral security. Ashok Lahiri, the for- that all aspects can be studied dug up to make way for the new. campus, has strained the facility. Nishit Pramanik and Jagannath Ranaghat. He had won from the “For two years, I worked with mer economic advisor to the Centre through genome sequencing. This is not entirely unforeseen Sources said that 8 to 10 burials Sarkar were among the five BJP Santipur Assembly seat, both in the BJP without much or a prob- said that he is banking on the state AMU Proctor, Professor but it also explains the situation. are taking place on an average every MPs the party fielded for the Nadia district. lem. But ever since 2nd May...the government to do what it takes to Mohammad Waseem Ali, said, “In At AMU, we never witnessed so day. “Even the ‘namaaz’ is being of- Assembly polls hoping to form a gov- As MPs, both Pramanik and day the election results came out, keep him and the people safe. the past 20 days, we have lost almost many deaths.” fered collectively,” said a student.

Blow conch shells HELL ON EARTH to keep Covid at bay: Yoga experts There is no scientific evidence to prove that blowing conch shells helps prevent Covid-19 but they say it definitely helps one in lung exercise

confines of their homes. Since we cannot go out for morning walk, this gives us a sense of unity as well. Even the children are now taking interest and blowing the ‘shankh’,” said GP Singh, an octogenarian who lives on Stanley Road. He insisted that the blowing of conch shells also dispels all the negative energy in the surroundings. REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO A Lucknow resident, Sameer Khanna, said, “While performing INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE yoga, each and every group mem- Relatives and family members wait to cremate Covid-19 victims on the banks of River Ganga in Unnao, Thursday PTI PHOTO ber blows conch shells for at least Lucknow, May 13: Yoga experts five minutes every day. As Covid af- are now advising people to blow fects the respiratory system, blow- conch shells in order to strengthen ing conch shells is a good way to the respiratory system. strengthen the lungs and increase The age-old practice of blowing their capacity.” Probe ordered into reports of Bengal ups Ganga vigil conch shells, known as ‘shankh’, The members of the group admit after prayers, is said to help in that there is no scientific evidence fighting Covid by enhancing the to prove that blowing conch shells to block floating bodies lung power. helps prevent Covid-19 but they bodies buried on riverbank Yoga expert, Ratan Sinha of say it definitely helps one in lung Prayagraj, said, “Blowing a conch exercise. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA light, a sub-divisional magistrate leged burial of bodies on the ghat. Ganga enters West Bengal through Malda and so shell is a part of Hindu and “We started practicing blowing was sent to the spot for the probe. SDM Dayashankar Pathak, who surveillance has been increased in the district to Buddhist tradition. Our elders conch shells since April and are con- Unnao, May 13: The Unnao dis- He will submit his report,” Unnao visited the Baksar ghat of the river blew the 'shankh' regularly and tinuing our exercise to strengthen trict administration has ordered a District Magistrate Ravindra with the circle officer, said they restrict the bodies from entering the state their lungs were strong. They the lungs. We feel better and more probe after some bodies were found Kumar said. did not find any dead body out in rarely suffered from respiratory positive,” said Khanna. buried on the Ganga riverbank in He said the Baksar ghat is on the open. AGENCIES block – to inspect the Ganga from problems. Group members also train the Bighapur Patan tehsil area, of- the border of many districts in- On the exact number of bodies Friday. Police stations adjoining On Sinha’s advice, people in each other on the right method ficials said Thursday. cluding Raebareli, Fatehpur and buried on the riverbank, the Kolkata, May 13: After large num- the river bank in –Bhutni, three Lucknow neighbourhoods of blowing conch shells and share The district administration Unnao and people go there for the SDM said he was not aware of the ber of bodies were fished out of Manikchak, Mothabari and at Stanley Road, Darbhanga and its benefits. swung into action after locals spot- cremation of bodies. number. Ganga in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Baishnabnagar – have been alerted Civil Lines area have started blow- Interestingly, women are also ted bodies buried on the Baksar “We will take appropriate ac- People living near the riverbank the West Bengal government asked as also civil defence volunteers. ing conch shells on a regular basis. practicing blowing conch shells ghat of the river with some pho- tion after seeing the situation. Thursday said no dead body was al- Malda district administration to “The time of surveillance is yet “At 6.a.m every day, we start at their homes. They say that the tographs of the bodies too going Directives have been issued that lowed to be buried and all the bod- step up vigil along the river for to be finalized. We are waiting for blowing the ‘shankh’ in our houses sound of ‘shankh’ purifies the at- viral on social media, they said. such situation does not arise,” the ies being brought to the Ghat are bodies found floating downstream a nod from the DM. We are an- and everyone joins in form the mosphere at home. “After the matter came to the DM said when asked about the al- being cremated. and cremate them in keeping with nouncing for people not to panic.” protocol. “As soon such a body is spotted, Ganga enters West Bengal it would be recovered and disposed through Malda and so surveillance of accordingly,” the DM said. has been increased in the district “We are taking all measures but ‘Bengal facing pandemic, post-poll violence challenges’ to restrict the bodies from entering considering the present level and the state. current of water in the Ganga, we The Governor said the post-poll violence in the in- According to senior government think the possibility is remote of terest of the people. officials, Ganga touches the state at bodies flowing in in the next 24 he was shocked by “The country is facing the Covid Manikchawk block via Rajmahal in hours,” a senior administrative of- incidents of attack crisis, and West Bengal is facing Jharkhand and so measures have ficial at Manikchawk block said. twin challenges of the pandemic been taken to stop the floating bod- The floating bodies attracted following the and unprecedented post-poll vio- History will judge Mamata ies near Manikchawk so that it government attention after many West Bengal Assembly lence only on the ground that some Banerjee, the Chief Minister. doesn’t reach Farakka barrage. decomposed and bloated bodies elections, and decided people decided to vote as per their History will also judge “The river in Manikchawk is were found floating in the Ganga own choice,” he said while em- Jagdeep Dhankhar, wide and so we are trying to restrict over the past couple of days, trig- to visit various barking on a visit to various places the Governor, and it will it near Gadai island where the gering fears among local residents in Cooch Behar district. judge the bureaucracy and river is comparatively narrow. in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh that bod- places affected by the He said the Mamata Banerjee Gadai island is little away from ies of Covid victims were being the media post-poll violence in the government must ensure that every- Manikchawk. It will be easier for dumped in the river. one who took the law into their JAGDEEP DHANKAR I us to trace the floating bodies there,” While 71 of the bodies have been interest of the people hands must be brought to justice. WEST BENGAL GOVERNOR a senior district state government fished out in Bihar’s Buxar dis- The opposition BJP has been ac- official said. trict, at least 25 bodies were found PRESS TRUST OF INDIA cusing the Trinamool Congress of the governor and his visit to Cooch Several boats have been arranged in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh’s indulging in violence against their the requisite particulars under “I find from social media that you Behar was to share the pain and – near Gadai island of Manikchak Ghazipur district. Cooch Behar (WB), May 13: supporters, a charge which the rul- Article 167 of the Constitution. are unilaterally proceeding to Cooch agony of the people suffering from Claiming that people, who cast ing party has also brought against “I will perform my constitu- Behar district May 13, and sadly, I post-poll violence. their votes as per their choice, are the saffron camp in the state. tional duties unhindered, unde- find that to be violative of the long- Speaking to reporters at the being subjected to attacks in West “History will judge Mamata terred by any situation whatso- standing norms as evolved over Cooch Behar airport after alight- Bengal, Governor Jagdeep Banerjee, the Chief Minister. ever,” he said. several decades.” ing from a BSF helicopter by which Dhankhar Thursday said while History will also judge Jagdeep The Chief Minister and the “I, therefore, would expect you he travelled from Kolkata, the the country is facing the Covid cri- Dhankhar, the Governor, and it Governor got involved in a war of will kindly follow the well-estab- Governor claimed that the Chief sis, the state is grappling with the will judge the bureaucracy and words Wednesday after Mamata lished norms of protocol, and de- Minister, who took oath May 5, has

twin challenges of the pandemic the media,” he said. Banerjee wrote to him claiming sist from abrupt decisions with re- full power to control the situation.

k y m c and the post-poll violence. Claiming that he did not get any that his planned visit to the post- gards to field visits,” Banerjee said He claimed that those who did not The Governor said he was response from the state govern- poll violence- affected Cooch Behar in a letter to the Governor. give political support to the rul- shocked by incidents of attack ment despite efforts being made to district violates norms, while Soon after receiving the letter, ing party were subjected to attacks following the West Bengal get information about the post-poll Dhankhar hit back saying he was Dhankhar wrote back saying that and atrocities, and women and Assembly elections, and decided violence, Dhankhar said the state discharging duties mandated by he has been following the children of their families were to visit various places affected by government must provide him with the Constitution. Constitution since taking oath as also not spared. When will the GENEROUS GESTURE P8 government FRIDAY | MAY 14 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR realise that Covid cannot Responding to the state government's be fought with lies but with appeal, over 400 unemployed doctors, more testing, avaibility of nursing students, laboratory technicians medical services and door and pharmacists in Mizoram have to door vaccines voluntarily agreed to assist the y PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA | government in Covid management,

CONGRESS GEN SECY

k y m national health officials said Wednesday c

of the day uote Actively considering live telecast of SC proceedings: CJI PNB SCAM Throughout last PRESS TRUST OF INDIA which should not be unnecessar- Show cause year, when our ily magnified. I request everyone scientists, New Delhi, May 13: Chief Justice to be patient, to be encouraging doctors and notice served innovators were N V Ramana Thursday said he and supportive to the technical racing against time was “actively” considering the pro- Unfortunately, when team to ensure that the applica- to find a vaccine, posal to live telecast the proceed- COVID-19 struck, the tion works without any problems. to Nirav Modi Congress party leaders left no ings of the Supreme Court. systems which were earlier I hope that everyone gives the sys- opportunity to mock these efforts The CJI, however, said before in place could no longer be tem the requisite time to evolve initiating concrete steps in this re- and expand.” J P NADDA | BJP PRESIDENT relied upon. The judicial gard, he would seek general con- “Additionally, I would like to also system has had to adapt sensus among his colleagues in highlight another feature we are in- the top court. quickly, in order to ensure troducing today on the official web- It does not that justice dispensation require rocket Ramana was speaking at the site and mobile application of the science to launch of application for grant- does not stop in the country Supreme Court. This new feature, figure out that if ing access of virtual proceedings N V RAMANA I CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA called ‘Indicative Notes’ is aimed at different Indian of the Supreme Court to media providing concise summaries of States compete for persons. did not have car or bikes. We used low all Covid protocols, the CJI landmark judgments in an easy- vaccines in Recalling his days as a journal- to cover court proceedings. Thus to travel on bus as we were directed said, “Technology, particularly one to-understand format. This will international market ist, the CJI said media faces great there was request to create a mech- not to avail conveyance of organ- that is newly developed, is sensitive serve as a useful resource for media manufacturers/suppliers will go challenges in reporting and came anism so that press could attend the isers of the event,” he said. and might be subject to some flaws persons and the general public who laughing to the bank to know that journalists were de- hearings, he said. “I was a jour- Urging the media to use the rein the early days of its use.” wish to be better informed about the PRESS TRUST OF INDIA MANISH TEWARI | CONGRESS LEADER pending on advocates to get links nalist for a brief time. That time we sources (app) responsibly and fol- “Small issues are bound to arise, rulings of the Court,” he said. Mumbai, May 13: A special court here has issued a public notice to Out of extreme fugitive diamond merchant Nirav miseries dead Modi, wanted in India for alleged bodies were fraud and money laundering in thrown into the AMIT SHAH IS Gap increased between the PNB scam case, asking why Ganges. Dogs are his properties should not be con- eating corpses. fiscated under the Fugitive Hindus are being Economic Offenders (FEO) Act. buried. Where are you taking this MISSING: NSUI Special Judge V C Barde has country and humanity? doses of Covishield vax also asked Modi to appear before LALU PRASAD YADAV | FORMER BIHAR CM However, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has the court June 11. The court said if the accused suggested no change for the dosage interval for Covaxin failed to appear, it will proceed SHORT TAKES with action against him under the FEO Act. Sputnik V to be The special court had in Punjab to join December 2019 declared Nirav Modi COVAX alliance available in market a fugitive economic offender, on a plea of the Enforcement Directorate Chandigarh: Facing an anti- next week: Govt (ED), which is conducting a probe Covid vaccine “shortage”, the into the case. Punjab government Thursday NEW DELHI: The Union Health “I, V C Barde, Special Judge, decided to join the global Ministry Thursday announced that PMLA, 2002 and Fugitive Economic Russia’s Sputnik V, the vaccine COVAX alliance for sourcing Offenders Act, 2018, issue NOTICE the immunisation shots at the against the Covid-19 pandemic, will be available in markets across the to you to show cause as to why the best price. By doing so, Punjab AGENCIES pletely after the BJP came to power properties mentioned in the ap- will become the first state in country early next week. The announcement comes 12 days in 2014.” plication (ED’s plea), in which you the country to take the New Delhi, May 13: Delhi Police “Now, the second most powerful have pecuniary interest and/or initiative of addressing the after the first consignment of Wednesday visited the National and responsible person in com- otherwise, should not be confis- vaccine shortage amid the 150,000 doses of the Sputnik V vac- Students’ Union of India office on deadly second wave of the cine landed in Hyderabad from mand is missing amid the pan- cated under the said Act," the re- pandemic, a state government Russia. Sputnik V is developed by a complaint filed by NSUI national demic.” Meanwhile, Nagesh cent notice said. statement said here. Russia’s Gamaleya National general secretary Nagesh Kariyappa Kariyappa, asked: “Amit Shah is the A similar notice was also issued Abbreviated as COVAX, the PRESS TRUST OF INDIA doses of Covishield vaccine. No Center. It will be the third vaccine that ‘Union Home Minister Amit home minister of the country or of to Nirav Modi’s wife Ami, sister COVID-19 Vaccines Global change in interval of Covaxin vac- to be cleared for use in India at a Shah is missing’. The student leader only the BJP?” Kariyappa alleged Purvi and brother-in-law Maiank Access is a worldwide initiative New Delhi, May 13: The Centre cine doses was recommended,” the time when the country is in the grip Wednesday filed the report at the current government has failed Mehta. aimed at providing equitable Thursday approved extending the ministry said. The present gap be- of an intense second wave and Parliament Street police station and so, the NSUI filed a ‘missing The notice said the family mem- access to anti-Covid vaccines. gap between the two doses of the tween two doses of Covishield, demand for vaccines has shot up. alleging that the minister has “dis- complaint’. “We are waiting for bers have been enumerated as “in- Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks manufactured by the Serum appeared amid the pandemic and the government to present us with terested person” in the applica- following a recommendation from Institute of India, is 6-8 weeks. While Maharashtra decided on the citizens are in a crisis”. the answers,” he said. tion. 4 killed in boiler a government panel, and said it is The Hyderabad-based Bharat Wednesday to suspend its drive to Kariyappa said that politicians When asked about the police The investigating agency has a “science-based decision” taken Biotech’s indigenously developed vaccinate people in the age group were supposed to serve the nation team’s visit, the NSUI said they alleged that Nirav Modi and his blast at factory with confidence that there will be Covaxin and Oxford-AstraZeneca’s of 18 to 44 years in view of vaccine and not run away from a crisis sit- came to enquire about Chugh and uncle Mehul Choksi, in connivance no extra risk. Covishield, being manufactured shortage, Delhi also temporarily uation. “When the country is suf- Kariyappa about the complaint. with certain bank officials, al- Chennai: Four workers, However, the National Technical by the Pune-based SII, are cur- shut Covaxin-administering centres fering from a deadly pandemic and However, the Delhi Police said the legedly cheated the Punjab National including a woman, were killed Advisory Group on Immunisation rently being used in India’s inoc- for this age group as it has run out the citizens are in a crisis, it is the NSUI leaders had themselves called Bank (PNB) to the tune of `14,000 and 10 others injured in an ammonia boiler blast at (NTAGI) has suggested no change ulation drive against coronavirus. of stock. duty of the politicians to be ac- the police. “They had called the crore through issuance of fraud- Crimsun Organics in Tamil for the dosage interval for Covaxin, The Central government’s move Several states and UTs including countable for the whole country,” Police Control Room that the min- ulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs). Nadu’s Cuddalore district the Union health ministry said. comes amid reports from several Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka said the complaint. Party’s na- ister is missing. The police then The LoUs were allegedly issued Thursday morning, officials “Based on the available real-life states about shortage of COVID-19 and Telangana have also decided tional secretary and in-charge of went to the NSUI office to look into in a fraudulent manner by a said. The company’s plant in evidences, particularly from the vaccines. Some states and UTs have to opt for global tenders for pro- media and communications Lokesh the matter,” said a senior police Mumbai branch of the PNB to a SIPCOT Industrial Estate in UK, the COVID-19 Working Group also reported that they had to sus- curement of anti-coronavirus shots Chugh said: “Until 2013, politicians officer. “This is a mischievous act group of companies belonging to Cuddalore manufactures agreed for increasing the dosing in- pend its vaccination drive for 18-44 with the domestic supply falling were responsible towards the cit- and the police will not act on such Nirav Modi since March 2011, till pesticides. Chief Minister M K terval to 12-16 weeks between two years in view of the scarcity. short to meet the rising demand. izens, but things changed com- a complaint,” said another officer. the case came to light. Stalin announced a solatium of `3 lakh to the families of the dead and `1 lakh for the injured. IMD issues cyclonic storm warning Centre challenges SC 2 Naxals killed PRESS TRUST OF INDIA wards Gujarat and adjoining on 102nd Amendment in encounter Pakistan coasts, it said. Mumbai: Two Naxals were Mumbai, May 13: The IMD It is likely to reach near Gujarat INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE powers to identify socially and ed- killed in an encounter with Thursday issued a warning and coast around May 18 evening, the ucationally backward classes security forces in said that a low pressure area formed IMD added. New Delhi, May 13: The Centre has (SEBC). The top court had upheld Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli over the Arabian Sea is likely to in- Due to this, south Konkan and filed a review petition in the Supreme the 102nd Constitutional district Thursday morning, a tensify into a cyclonic storm by Goa region would receive light to Court in connection with its judg- Amendment while denuding the senior police official said. The May 16, which may bring heavy moderate rainfall at many places ment conferring the President with power of states in this regard. “By gun-battle took place at a rainfall at some places in Goa and on Saturday and its intensity would the sole power for identification of introduction of Articles 366 (26C) and forest in Morchul village under south Konkan region. increase further and it would receive a community as backward and its 342A through the 102nd Amendment, Dhanora taluka around 6 am, The India Meteorological heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few eligibility for reservation benefits. the President alone is empowered when a team comprising C-60 Department (IMD) said, A low pres- places Sunday and Monday, it said. The Centre has challenged the top to identify SEBCs and include them commandos, a specialised sure area has formed over the According to the department, court’s interpretation of 102nd in a list to be published under Article combat unit of the Gadchiroli southeast Arabian Sea and ad- 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm rainfall in 24 Constitutional Amendment in the 342A (1), which shall be deemed to police, and other security joining Lakshadweep area today. It It will concentrate into a de- sequent 24 hours, it said in the hours is considered as heavy, while Maratha reservation judgment de- include SEBCs in relation to each personnel was patrolling in is very likely to become well marked pression over the same region by warning report. precipitation between 115.6 mm to livered May 5. The Centre’s peti- state and union territory for the the area, he said. The police over Lakshadweep area by Friday Saturday morning and intensify It is very likely to intensify fur- 204.4 mm in 24 hours is termed as tion has contended that state gov- purposes of the Constitution,” the had specific information that morning. into a cyclonic storm during the sub- ther and move north-northwest- very heavy rainfall. ernments cannot be stripped their top court had held. a group of more than 25 ultras had gathered in the forest at Morchul, located around 900 km from here, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Ankit Goyal said. BRICS discusses framework on Social Security Agreement SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT WOULD HELP THE INTERNATIONAL WORKERS TO PORT THEIR BENEFIT TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES THEREBY Covid +ve Maoist PREVENTING LOSS OF THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY, SAID THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT couple seeks aid INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Group (EWG) meeting in which tries resolved to promote partici- Raipur: An ailing Maoist couple the member nations resolved to pation of women in remunerative, who approached the security New Delhi, May 13: Brazil, Russia, enter into dialogue and discussion productive and decent work and to forces seeking medical help in India, China and South Africa with each other and take the issue extend social security cover to the Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district (BRICS) nations have converged forward towards signing of the women workers engaged in infor- have tested positive for on devising a multilateral frame- agreements. The two-day virtual mal sector. Impact of Covid-19 on coronavirus, police said work on the issue of Social Security meeting concluded Wednesday The two-day virtual EWG participation of women in labour Thursday. Officials had earlier Agreement (SSA). with India assuming BRICS force was also discussed. claimed that there has been an meeting concluded Social Security Agreement would Presidency this year. On the issue of Gig and plat- outbreak of coronavirus Wednesday with India infection in Naxal camps. help the international workers to The prime agenda for the dis- form workers and their role in “Arjun Tatti and his wife Laxmi port their benefit to their home cussions were promoting Social assuming BRICS labour market, the member na- Padda, who were active in the countries thereby preventing loss Security Agreements amongst tions discussed how the prolifer- y presidency this year Medki Local Organisation of their hard-earned money, said BRICS nations, formalisation of ation of Digital Labour Platforms

the Ministry of Labour and labour markets, participation of is transforming the labour

k y m Squad of Maoists, contacted c security personnel at Employment. women in labour force and Gig discussed various initiatives taken processes in the world of work. Kamdeta BSF camp Further they will be exempted and platform workers --role in Security Agency (ISSA), who also vide technical support in facili- by them towards formalisation of Challenges faced by them and var- Wednesday saying they were from contributing both in home labour market. took part in the meeting, made tating conclusion of such agree- jobs and how Covid-19 has en- ious measures being taken by ill and need help,” Inspector as well as host countries. The representatives of valuable interventions and sug- ments. hanced informalisation risk. member nations including ex- General of Police (Bastar The decisions were taken in the International Labour Organization gestions on the agenda issues. They On the issue of formalisation On participation of women in the tension of social protection system range) Sundarraj P said. first BRICS Employment Working (ILO) and International Social also expressed willingness to pro- of labour market, member nations labour force, the member coun- were also discussed. The Prime Minister is P9 also missing, along INDIA, PAK ARMIES FRIDAY | MAY 14 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR with vaccines, oxygen and EXCHANGE SWEETS medicines. All that remain are The armies of India and Pakistan the Central Vista Project, GST Thursday exchanged sweets at the (goods and services tax) on Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara and medicines and the Prime Uri sectors of Jammu and Kashmir on y Minister's photos here and there the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, a defence

RAHUL GANDHI CONGRESS LEADER spokesman said

k y m national | c

of the day uote Lightning kills herd of 18 wild elephants in Assam Peak will come, Why the Centre virus can again has so much PRESS TRUST OF INDIA be known only after post-mortem, rarely in India. If we consider contempt which will be done Friday, Sahay emerge: Govt against Karnataka Eastern India, then one such in- and Kannadigas? Is it Guwahati/ Nagaon, May 13: said. “Two Divisional Forest Officers cident took place at Jaldapara in due to the fact that Eighteen elephants died in (DFOs) and one Conservator of West Bengal around 12-15 years PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Karnataka has lightning strikes at a forest in Forest have conducted the pre- ago, but the number of deaths was elected the highest MPs for the BJP or Nagaon district of Assam, a sen- liminary investigation. On Friday not so high,” he said. Though of- New Delhi, May 13: As the is it an effort to project Yediyurappa ior Forest Department official morning, another team with vet- ficials are attributing the reasons country battles the second wave (Karnataka CM) as a villain? said Thursday. The incident hap- erinary doctors will reach the spot to lightning from preliminary in- of Covid-19, the government pened Wednesday night at a hill and conduct the post-mortem,” he vestigation, it is too early to ar- Thursday said the virus may H D KUMARASWAMY | JD(S) LEADER in the Kundoli proposed reserve dded. When asked how could such rive at a conclusion before the post- emerge again and so forest in the Kathiatoli range, a huge number of elephants die to- mortem as the number of elephants preparations have to be made at We should not Principal Chief Conservator of gether, Sahay said usually ele- dying is “simply too high”, said the national level in collabora- get into global Forest (Wildlife) Amit Sahay said. phants stay in huddles in case of Lahkar, the head of elephant con- tion with states, infrastructure tendering for “The area is very remote, near storms or rain. “Probably, at that their departmental investigation of quire into the matter. servation at NGO Aaranyak. needs to be ramped up while vaccination. Why the Nagaon-Karbi Anglong bor- very moment, lightning struck and the case at the spot,” he added. Suklabaidya mourned the deaths “If they really died due to light- curbs and appropriate behav- should states do der, and our team could reach there the entire group got killed. I have iour must be followed. separate tenders? It Villagers living near the hill claimed and said he would visit the site ning, then these are signals of cli- will bring a bad name Thursday afternoon. It was found asked the concerned DFO to pro- that the herd of the wild elephants with Sahay and other officials mate change. Our climate has be- Dismissing allegations that for the country that carcasses were lying in two vide more information like how was screaming unnaturally Friday morning to take stock of come erratic, thunderstorm, rain the government was unaware of groups. Fourteen were lying atop many males or females were there. throughout the night and the cries the situation. Elephant expert -- everything has become erratic. If the intensity of the second wave, SATYENDAR JAIN | DELHI HEALTH MINISTER the hill and four were found at the It will take some more time,” he said. faded gradually as the day broke. Bibhuti Lahkar termed the incident we really want to arrest this, we NITI Aayog member (health) bottom of the hill,” he said. Nagaon DFO Binod Dulu Bora Chief Minister Himanta Biswa shocking and said such cases are need to save our nature,” said the Dr V K Paul said, “We kept warn- Conditions in The preliminary investigation said the Forest Department with the Sarma expressed concern over the very rare and unheard of in the winner of the ‘Heritage Heroes ing again and again from this the rural areas found that the jumbos were killed help of the Veterinary Department incident and asked Environment Northeast. “In open areas of some Award 2016’ of the International platform that the second wave are appalling due to electrocution caused by will conduct the post-mortem. and Forest Minister Parimal places like the African grassland Union for Conservation of Nature of Covid-19 will come.” “It was due to coronavirus lightning, but the exact reason will “Now, forest officials have started Suklabaidya to visit the spot to in- such accidents have taken place, but (IUCN). said that the sero-positivity is 20 infections. The per cent, 80 per cent of the pop- government should ulation is still vulnerable and take immediate that virus has not gone any- cognisance of the matter and where and other countries were conduct a thorough investigation and NHRC issues notices also witnessing a resurge.” At should increase the health services a press conference, Paul said, and resources in rural areas on a war “The Prime Minister had con- footing Doubts surround veyed the country about the KAMAL NATH MP CONGRESS PRESIDENT to Centre, UP & Bihar | emerging second wave March 17 without creating panic and had AGENCIES to eyewitnesses, the majority of said that we have to fight it.” the dead bodies are partially burnt. SHORT TAKES Patna, May 13: The National India has been badly hit by the official Covid toll Human Rights Commission second wave of coronavirus (NHRC) has issued notices to the infections and cremation grounds Low-key Eid Experts say the official quarter-million death count is hugely underreported. Union Jal Shakti Ministry, Uttar and burial grounds across the Pradesh and Bihar, after country have been overburdened. celebrations Harrowing images from overwhelmed crematoriums, graveyards, and even receiving complaints about sev- The NHRC’s statement said, Srinagar: Eid-ul-Fitr makeshift funeral pyres have highlighted the scale of the crisis eral bodies found floating in the “The practice of disposal of dead celebrations in Kashmir were Ganga river in the two states. bodies in our sacred river a low-key affair Thursday as “It (NHRC) has issued notices to Ganga is clearly in violation of the faithful marked the the chief secretaries of both the guidelines of the National Mission “Was such a peak expected,” he culmination of the fasting states and the secretary, Union for Clean Ganga project of the said, “well, no modelling can month of Ramzan by offering Ministry of Jal Ministry of Jal predict the size of a peak as the the thanksgiving prayers in Shakti, today CORPSES IN GANGA Shakti.” unexpected behaviour virus is small congregations at local calling for action It said it well known.” “So peak will come, mosques by observing social taken report within four weeks," received a complaint dated May the virus can again emerge, we distancing in view of the its statement noted. 11, 2021, based on several media know. So preparations have to be COVID-19 pandemic. According to residents in Ballia reports, wherein apprehensions made at country level in collab- district of Uttar Pradesh, at least were expressed that these bodies oration with states, infrastructure 52 bodies were seen floating at the floating in the Ganga were of has to be ramped up, contain- nCoV- hit families to Ujiyar, Kulhadia and Bharauli Covid-19 victims. ment measures have to be im- ghats in the Narahi area. Similar The complaint noted that the plemented and Covid appropri- get pension in MP reports of bodies floating in the disposal bodies in such a manner ate behaviour has to be followed.” Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Ganga have come from Bihar. may seriously affect all those per- “We had not created panic. government has announced In its statement, the NHRC sons who are dependent on the Other countries have faced mul- `5,000 pension per month to said that it seems the public au- Ganga for their day-to-day activ- tiple peaks after all it's a pan- families hit by the pandemic thorities have failed to take con- ities, the NHRC mentioned. demic,” he said. He said it is where poor and destitute centric efforts in educating the “It (complaint) further stated the nature of the disease that it children have lost their masses and checking the immersion that even if these dead bodies will ultimately go to villages. parents or guardian to of half-burnt or unburnt bodies were not of Covid victims, then This epidemiology is well coronavirus. Chief Minister into the Ganga. After Bihar’s Buxar, such practice/incidents are known, Paul said as he urged Shivraj Singh Chouhan, several decomposed dead bodies shameful to the society as a whole people to follow Covid referring to the deepening were now found floating in the as that amounts to violation of appropriate behaviour and crisis due to the pandemic, Ganga near Patna’s Gulabi Ghat human rights of even deceased embrace vaccination. said, "The corona epidemic Thursday, officials said. According persons,” the NHRC added. has broken many families. There are families where AGENCIES own health officials put it at 723. “Today, 45 bodies of Covid vic- Covid has snatched the earning members and aged And in Bharuch, the official tims have been buried here,” he people have been left alone as New Delhi, May 13: India added count for the same period was just said in a statement. VIRUS SCARE there is no one to take care of 3,62,727 new coronavirus infec- 23 but there were 600 funerals. “We've increased the number of them. There are some families tions in a day taking the COVID-19 Gujarat's Chief minister Vijay gravediggers but that's also not where innocent children were tally of cases to 2,37,03,665, while Rupani insisted that the state was enough as these men are getting orphaned as their parents the death toll rose to 2,58,317 with following guidelines from the Indian tired and falling sick.” The official have died due to Covid. Hence 4,120 daily fatalities, according to Council of Medical Research. figures for deaths in some other we have decided to provide a the Union Health Ministry data Those say only deaths directly states including Uttar Pradesh and pension of `5,000 per month updated Thursday. caused by Covid-19 can be recorded Haryana also do not align with the so that they can survive Across the vast nation, the dev- as such, but not fatalities triggered number of funerals. without anyone's support." astating Covid-19 wave has over- by co-morbidities -- when a patient Media reports have also suggested whelmed hospitals with patients had heart problems and dies of that the official numbers for the cap- and crematoriums with bodies, and cardiac arrest, for instance. ital New Delhi also fall well short of Delhi court junks many coronavirus deaths are not Even before the pandemic, just the reality. Health economist and re- being properly recorded as such. 22 percent of the nearly 10 million search Rijo M. John described the sit- Kalra’s bail plea “Even three to four times would annual deaths in India were med- uation as a "battle for data, data shar- New Delhi: A Delhi court be an underestimate,” Anant Bhan, ically certified, and experts say ing and transparency". Thursday dismissed the an independent health policy and the spike in funerals points to the But a spokesperson for India's rul- anticipatory bail application of bioethics researcher said. same happening with Covid-19 fa- ing Bharatiya Janata Party denied Navneet Kalra in connection Bodies of suspected Covid-19 talities. allegations of undercounting or with allegedly black victims have also been seen float- ‘MASSIVE UNDERREPORTING’ political motivations behind the marketing oxygen ing down the holy Ganga River. The surge has pushed the mismatch in fatality numbers. concentrators, saying that The discrepancies appear par- Aishbagh Burial Ground in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar allegations against him are ticularly stark in Prime Minister Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh Pradesh are among 10 states that serious and his custodial Narendra Modi’s home state of state, to the brink. Hafiz Abdul account for 72.42 per cent of the interrogation is required to Gujarat. In Rajkot in the west of the Mateen from the graveyard said 3,62,727 new cases in the country “unearth the entire conspiracy”. state, the official death toll between it handled four to five burials a in a span of 24 hours, the Union April 1-23 was 154, yet the city’s day before the pandemic. Health Ministry said Thursday. Telugu Talli flyover wears a deserted look during COVID-induced lockdown, in Hyderabad PTI PHOTO Jawan shoots self Jaisalmer (Rajasthan): A jawan of the Border Security Force (BSF) has shot himself Vaccination race exposes India’s digital divide dead using his service rifle, police said Thursday. The AGENCIES just their first shot. particularly in the villages where ease as I work for three house- incident took place in HACKATHON internet is scarce. So the only way holds. I wish I could get myself Shahgarh Balj area here Wednesday, they said. The New Delhi, May 13: For anyone Techies have developed is... for people who have access to vaccinated.” Experts say that the jawan, identified as Prem aged between 18 and 44, getting a workarounds to help users in some internet to help those who don't." government should allow walk- Singh Yadav, had returned to slot in the expanded vaccination cities where slots have been open- Local media say some families ins at vaccination centres -- a duty April 30 after a one- drive -- already plagued by short- ing up at random times of day and have even travelled long distances measure already introduced for month vacation in Madhya ages and political squabbles -- has are filled within one or two minutes. to secure slots for their younger people above 45 years old. Pradesh's Bhind. been like buying tickets for a rock Berty Thomas, 35, a Chennai- members. Authorities should also consider concert where popular bands sell based hobbyist programmer and NO INTERNET, NO VACCINATION "taking vaccines to the people out in minutes. business analyst, created a tool But for Seema, a house-help rather than having people com- Maskara, like millions of that alerts users via the Telegram working in Lucknow -- which has ing to the vaccines", Ashoka Lockdown extended younger Indians terrified by the cur- messaging app when slots in their been ravaged by the virus -- getting University physics and biology Mumbai: The Maharashtra rent surge in infections, is rushing district open. It's already gotten vaccinated seems unlikely. “I don’t professor Gautam Menon said. y government Thursday to get vaccinated against the coro- more than 400,000 subscribers. have access to the internet. A few He suggested steps like mobile

extended the lockdown-like navirus after the country this "My focus right now is to ex- boys in my neighbourhood do have vaccination clinics in remote

k y m c restrictions in the state till month opened up its inoculation larly in poor and rural areas, who people in the 18-44 cohort now el- pand these alerts to multiple small smartphones but they don't know areas. “There needs to be a sys- June 1 to break the chain of drive to all adults. But the expan- don't have smartphones or internet igible for jabs. So far, only three towns and villages across the coun- how to use it for this (registra- tem for door-to-door vaccination. COVID-19. Chief Secretary sion came with restrictions, in- access. Numerous states are also percent of the country's 1.3 billion try," Thomas told AFP, adding that tion),” the 40-year-old said. “(The Those who don't have a smart- Sitaram Kunte in an order said cluding only online registrations struggling with vaccine shortages, people -- or 39.5 million -- are fully some users wanted to book for rel- government) should think about phone -- what will they do?,” the the curbs will remain in force for the 18-44-year-olds, locking out meaning there are limited slots vaccinated with both doses. An ad- atives in regional and rural areas. people like us. Every day I run the 26-year-old told AFP at a milk till 7 am June 1. up to half of population, particu- available for the up to 600 million ditional 10.6 percent have received "(Getting slots) has been an issue, risk of exposing myself to the dis- store in Delhi where he works. We must finally guarantee NEW ROYAL MAIL STAMPS P10 healthcare to everyone as a FRIDAY | MAY 14 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR human right, regardless of immigration FEATURE PRINCE PHILIP status, income, employment, or The UK’s Royal Mail Thursday anything else. That’s why I’m proud to announced that it has issued be introducing the HEAL Act, a first step four new stamps in the memory towards removing barriers to health of Duke of Ediburgh, Prince care for immigrants Philip, who died at the age of 99

PRAMILA JAYAPAL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, US last month

k y m international | c of the day uote Biden signs order to With the Zero Fighting soars amid truce efforts Pollution Action Plan, we will beef up cyber defences create a healthy living GAZA’S HEALTH MINISTRY SAID THE DEATH TOLL HAS CLIMBED TO 83 PALESTINIANS, INCLUDING environment for 17 CHILDREN AND 7 WOMEN, WITH MORE THAN 480 PEOPLE WOUNDED Europeans, INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE contribute to a resilient recovery and boost transition PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Washington, May 13: Alarmed to a clean, circular and climate HAMAS-ISRAEL CONFLICT No ceasefire till at repeated cyber-attacks on the neutral economy Gaza City, May 13: Hamas sent a country especially after at a key heavy barrage of rockets deep into Israel stops: Hamas fuel pipeline last week, US VIRGINIJUS SINKEVICIUS | Israel in a matter of minutes President Joe Biden has signed an EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR ENVIRONMENT The Islamic Hamas movemnet, Thursday and Israel pounded Gaza which controls the Gaza Strip, has executive order, implementing with more airstrikes. said that it will not accept any new policies to improve national The events of The relentless escalation of hos- ceasefire with Israel until the cyber security. Ballymurphy tilities came even as Egyptian ne- Jewish state “completely stops “Protecting our nation from ma- should never gotiators held in-person talks with violations against Al-Aqsa licious cyber actors requires the have happened, the the two sides, intensifying efforts Mosque and the neighbourhood Federal Government to partner families of those who at mediation. of Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem.” In with the private sector. The pri- were killed should Previous fighting between Israel an interview with the local media, vate sector must adapt to the con- never have had to and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, includ- Hamas spokesman in Gaza Fawzi tinuously changing threat envi- experience the grief and trauma of ing a devastating 2014 war, was Barhoum also denied reports that ronment, ensure its products are that loss. They should have not had largely confined to the impover- a high-ranking Egyptian security built and operate securely, and Reducing barriers to information to wait nearly five decades for the ished and blockaded Palestinian ter- delegation was expected to arrive partner with the Federal sharing between the government judgment this week ritory and Israeli communities on in Gaza as part of the efforts to Government to foster a more secure and the private sector BRANDON LEWIS | the frontier. But this round seems edged 13 of its militants killed, in- seemed determined to press ahead. reach a ceasefire between Israel cyberspace,” he wrote in the ex- SECRETARY OF STATE, NORTHERN IRELAND to be rippling farther and wider than cluding a senior commander. Even as word came of the mediators’ and the militant groups in the ecutive order. Mandating the Establishing at any time since the 2000 Israel says the number of mili- presence, Gaza militants fired a coastal enclave. In response, The executive order was passed deployment of a cyber Palestinian intifada, or uprising, tants dead is much higher. volley of some 100 rockets nearly si- Israeli fighter jets have also after the Colonial Pipeline Company, multi-factor security authentication in the Sanctions are a and is tearing apart the country at Seven people have been killed in multaneously, raising air raid sirens intensified bombing on militants’ which is the largest refined-prod- Safety federal government swindle on the its seams. Israel. Among them were a soldier around southern and central Israel. posts and facilities in Gaza. ucts pipeline in the country, was Review Board people, direct While some rocket attacks have killed by an anti-tank missile and forced to shut down due to a cyber Standardised playbook for oppression on the reached the Tel Aviv area, Arab a 6-year-old child hit in a rocket security attack May 7. responding to ‘cyber incidents’ poorest in society, an and Jewish mobs have rampaged attack. A visit by Egyptian secu- Massive reinforcement The company temporarily abuse of the rights through the streets, savagely beat- rity officials was a significant de- halted all pipeline operations Government needs to make bold on the sick who lack ing people and torching cars. Flights velopment in international medi- Israeli troops massed at Gaza’s border Thursday and Palestinian after the cyber security attack changes and significant invest- militants pounded Israel with rockets in intense hostilities that have medicines, and an act of cruelty on have been cancelled or diverted ation efforts, which have been key involving ransomware was de- ments in order to defend the vital caused international concern and touched off clashes between Jews the underprivileged who are forced away from the country’s main air- to ending past rounds of fighting. tected. It has now partially re- institutions that underpin the to buy bread at a high price and Arabs in Israel. Israel’s defense minister has approved the port. The officials met first with Hamas mobilization of 9,000 more reservist troops amid fighting with Hamas, stored the pipeline. American way of life. The scope HASSAN ROUHANI | PRESIDENT, IRAN Gaza’s Health Ministry said the leaders in Gaza before holding and Israel’s military spokesman says forces are massing on the The Colonial Pipeline transports of protection and security must death toll has climbed to 83 talks with the Israelis in Tel Aviv, border with the Gaza Strip. The Defense Ministry said Thursday that more than 100 million gallons of fuel include systems that process data Palestinians, including 17 children two Egyptian intelligence officials the latest mobilisation approved by Defense Minister Benny Gantz daily on the East Coast. (information technology (IT)) and seven women, with more than said. They spoke on condition of was an “exceptional call-up.” It comes after days of heavy fighting in Biden said that incremental im- and those that run the vital ma- SHORT TAKES 480 people wounded. Islamic Jihad anonymity because they were not which Hamas has fired hundreds of rockets deep into Israel. The provements would not give the chinery that ensures our safety confirmed the deaths of seven mil- authorised to talk to the press. military has responded with punishing airstrikes. country the security it needs. (operational technology (OT)," itants, while Hamas has acknowl- Still, both Israel and Hamas “Instead, the Federal he emphasised. Relief package for mouse plague Sydney: The Australian state CUTE CUBS of New South Wales Thursday Oli to be reappointed as PM announced a relief package for farmers dealing with a PRESS TRUST OF INDIA catastrophic mouse plague Covid spirals that has destroyed crops and Kathmandu, May 13: K P Sharma caused havoc in communities. Oli set to be reappointed as Nepal out of control State Agriculture Minister Prime Minister as the Opposition Amid an ongoing second wave of the Adam Marshall told the media alliance of Nepali Congress and pandemic, Nepal is heading towards that A$50 million in funding the Communist Party of Nepal an India-like Covid disaster as at will go to farmers dealing with (Maoist Centre) Thursday failed least 14 infected patients died in hos- the emergency. “We haven’t to muster majority support to form pitals due to lack in oxygen supply. seen a plague on this scale the next government. resignation, which they had been The second wave in Nepal has led to really since the early 80’s, and President Bidya Devi Bhandari claiming to do for long as a bar- serious oxygen shortages, as well as everyone was hoping that the had asked the Opposition parties gaining chip with embattled former an unabated spike in the number of cool conditions in winter to come up with the support of ma- prime minister Oli. daily Covid cases. The mortality rate would actually see their jority lawmakers to form a new is also high like in India. “The numbers dented. Nothing so Nepali Congress president Sher government by 9 PM Thursday Bahadur Deuba and CPN-Maoist required oxygen supply is running far has worked,” out, we tried to sustain it yesterday Marshall said. after Oli lost a crucial trust vote in Centre chairman Pushpakamal the House of Representatives Dahal “Prachanda” held a meeting but we are now helpless, we do not have more stock now,” Santosh Monday. Thursday at the former’s residence Poudel, Director at Bir Hospital However, as the deadline which at Budhanilkantha in the outskirts Trauma Center wrote on Facebook. Ex-UK PM grilled ended at 9:00 pm Thursday, the NC- of Kathmandu to discuss the for- over finance firm Maoist Centre alliance has its hopes mation of the new government. crashing down as disgruntled Similarly, Prime Minister and chair- Madhav Kumar Nepal held a meet- PTI PHOTO London: Former British PM Nepal-Khanal faction of the ruling man of ruling CPN-UML Oli and ing in an attempt to make the last David Cameron said Thursday CPN-UML did not forward their dissident leader of the party effort to patch up their differences. Three Siberian tiger cubs is shown by a keeper in the Kecskemet Zoo in Kecskemet, Hungary, Thursday, May 13, 2021 he never suspected that a financial services company he lobbied for would go under, threatening thousands of jobs 28 cases of blood clot linked to J&J: US CDC at a steel firm it helped US hits China for repressing religious freedom finance. Cameron was summoned to answer INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE lawmakers’ questions about PRESS TRUST OF INDIA China broadly criminalises They want to sabotage Washington, May 13: The US his efforts to win government religious expression and Xinjiang’s harmony and funds for Greensill Capital. His Washington, May 13: The Biden Centers for Disease Control and administration Thursday took aim continues to commit crimes stability, contain China’s Prevention have confirmed 28 cases, involvement with the firm has against humanity and genocide rise and alienate spurred inquiries into political at China for repressing religious of a rare blood clotting disorder in lobbying in Britain. Greensill freedom as it forges ahead with its against Muslim Uyghurs and relations between China adults who have received the was one of the company’s key aim of restoring human rights as members of other religious and and Islamic countries Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vac- deputy director of the immunisa- financial backers. a primary focus of American for- ethnic minority groups ABDUREQIP TOMURNIYAZ | HEAD OF cine, the media reported Thursday. tion safety office at CDC, was quoted eign policy. ANTONY BLINKEN | US SECRETARY OF STATE ISLAMIC STUDIES IN XINJIANG The number of cases has in- as saying. Shimabukuro presented The condemnation was similar to creased from 15 last month, all of the new cases Wednesday at a meet- Hefazat militant that lodged by the Trump admin- baste China for severe restrictions on Uyghurs and members of other re- which were in women, the New ing of a panel of advisers to the istration, which had been criticised its citizens’ ability to worship freely. ligious and ethnic minority groups,” York Times reported. Although CDC, the report said. Among the pleads guilty for prioritising religious freedom He also announced a travel ban on Blinken told reporters as he unveiled the latest report has identified a 28 confirmed cases, 12 people who over other rights, and reflected con- in the administration’s broader a former senior Chinese official the the report for the calendar year 2020. handful of cases in men, women - developed the disorder had obe- Dhaka: A top Hefazat-e-Islam militant has pleaded guilty to tinuity in the US position that China’s human rights strategy. US accuses of persecuting members The report itself said Christians, - especially those between the ages sity, 7 had high blood pressure, 3 had his involvement in the violent crackdown on Muslims and other Much as his predecessor did, of the Falun Gong religious sect. Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists and of 30 and 49 -- remain at high risk. diabetes, and 3 were taking estro- riots that erupted across religious minorities in western Secretary of State Antony Blinken “China broadly criminalises re- Falun Gong practitioners in China “The trend is that the reporting gen, though it is not yet clear Bangladesh during Indian PM Xinjiang constitutes “genocide.” used the release of the State ligious expression and continues to all suffer from “severe societal dis- rates are higher in females com- whether any of those factors might Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka Yet, a senior official said reli- Department’s annual International commit crimes against humanity crimination in employment, hous- pared to males in all age cate- substantially increase the risk of in March. Mufti Harun Izhar, gious freedom is just one element Religious Freedom Report to lam- and genocide against Muslim ing, and business opportunities.” gories,” Tom Shimabukuro, the the disorder, the report said. education and culture secretary of the Hefazat’s now-defunct central committee, made the confession at a court Wednesday after two days of Virus, Mideast turmoil stifle Eid al-Fitr celebrations remand in police custody. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA but mosques in areas where there province prevented people from was more risk of the virus spread- Worshippers wearing holding large public prayers. Burmese beauty Jakarta, May 13: Muslims cele- ing closed their doors, including masks joined Instead, most hunkered down in brated Eid al-Fitr in a subdued Jakarta’s Istiqlal Grand Mosque, their homes, while in Maguindanao queen turns rebel mood for a second year Thursday the largest in Southeast Asia. communal prayers in province, many families displaced Nay Pyi Taw: Burmese beauty as the Covid-19 pandemic again Indonesians and Malaysians the streets of Indonesia’s by recent fighting marked the hol- queen Htar Htet Htet has forced mosque closings and family were banned for a second year capital, Jakarta. The iday in evacuation camps. turned rebel, promising to separations on the holiday mark- from travelling to visit relatives In Malaysia, Prime Minister bring down the brutal military ing the end of Ramadan. in the traditional Eid homecoming. world’s most populous Muhyiddin Yassin unexpectedly junta in Myanmar or die In the embattled Gaza Strip, In Bangladesh, however, tens of Muslim-majority nation announced another nationwide fighting it. Htet Htet the call to prayer echoed over pul- thousands of people were leaving lockdown from Wednesday until represented Myanmar in the verized buildings and heaps of the capital, Dhaka, to join their allowed mosque prayers June 7 to curb a spike in cases. first Miss Grand International rubble as Israeli warplanes con- families back in their villages for in low-risk areas Inter-state travel and all social ac- beauty pageant in Thailand in tinued to pound the territory in Eid celebrations despite a nation- tivities are banned, which means 2013. Hundreds of ethnic the worst outbreak of violence wide lockdown and road check- that like in Indonesia, Muslims

Bamars or Burmese, angered since the 2014 war. points. Experts fear a surge in or fishing boats and officers at cannot visit each other or family

k y m c by death of protesting Worshippers wearing masks cases in a country grappling with roadblocks being overwhelmed by graves. comrades in military police joined communal prayers in the a shortage of vaccines and fear of desperate motorists. Malaysia reported 4,765 cases firings, have joined the newly- streets of Indonesia’s capital, spreading coronavirus. the holiday period to shut. tion were suspended, anxiety lingers In the southern Philippines, Wednesday, pushing its tally to formed urban rebel groups Jakarta. The world’s most populous The Jakarta governor also or- While police set up highway that people will defy the prohibition. coronavirus outbreaks and new 453,222, nearly fourfold from the like the Federal Army and Muslim-majority nation allowed United Defence Force. dered malls, restaurants and leisure checkpoints and domestic flights Television reports showed city fighting between government forces start of the year. Deaths also mosque prayers in low-risk areas, destinations usually packed during and other modes of transporta- dwellers hiding on disguised trucks and Muslim insurgents in one rose to 1,761. Foaps would AIRTEL LAUNCHES ‘DIGIGOLD’ P11 facilitate better FRIDAY | MAY 14 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR efficiency in the operation Airtel Payments Bank launched DigiGold in of the existing food- partnership with SafeGold, the leading provider of delivery apps by enabling digital gold. With DigiGold, Airtel Payments Bank’s restaurants quickly savings account customers can invest in 24K gold disperse packets without using the Airtel Thanks app. They can also gift any error DigiGold to their family and friends, who have a

ABDUL SALAH | CO-FOUNDER, LASPER savings account with Airtel Payments Bank

k y m business c of the day uote Oil prices fall as Auto dealers seek fiscal support to tide over 2nd wave India’s Covid crisis Our objective is PRESS TRUST OF INDIA cal, the sources said. to deliver free FADA, which represents puts brakes on rally If actions are not taken promptly, of cost Covid New Delhi, May 13: Automotive care kits to 25L over 15,000 dealers there would be an adverse financial dealers have sought fiscal support, households having around 25,000 impact on the auto retail segment. benefiting 50 lakh including an extension of GST pay- Many of the dealerships, being adults at their ment for the next three months, to dealerships across the family-run enterprises, may not homes. Our service went live today survive the second wave of Covid- country, has sought a be able to survive by the time the and mass supplies will begin from 19. As per industry sources, the au- second wave comes to an end, the today. To help avoid tomotive dealers’ body FADA has three-month extension body noted. The second wave is duplication/wastage, we will charge written to Finance Minister Nirmala for the delay in filing not only impacting the urban cen- `25 from each household as delivery Sitharaman and RBI Governor tres like last year but there is a REUTERS charges Shaktikanta Das, apprising them of returns of GST payment massive impact on rural demand NIKHIL CHARI | the difficulties being faced by the as well this time around, FADA Mumbai, May 13: Oil prices fell PRESIDENT, DHANI HEALTHCARE sector while seeking immediate re- They also sought a moratorium said in the letter, as per the sources. more than 2% Thursday as India’s lief measures. extension on EMI payments for As per FADA, total vehicle reg- coronavirus crisis deepened and a Federation of Automobile sources said. of instalments of term loans, short people who have bought vehicles. istrations in India fell by 28% to key US pipeline resumed opera- Over the years, Dealers Associations (FADA), which Besides, the industry body has term loans, corporate loans, in- The automotive dealers have 11,85,374 units in April versus tions, halting a rally that had lifted we have represents over 15,000 dealers hav- urged the RBI to provide guide- ventory funding, scrutinised loans, also asked the government to allow 16,49,678 units in March. Similarly, crude to an eight-week high after the created a niche ing around 25,000 dealerships across lines to banks and NBFCs to give and cash credit lines, among others. employer's contribution to PF and as per SIAM vehicle wholesales IEA and OPEC forecast a rebound positioning for the country, has sought a three- a moratorium equivalent to the The body has also suggested the ESI to be reduced proportionately, last month have declined by 30% to in global demand later in the year. ourselves in the rural month extension for the delay in fil- number of days of lockdown each RBI to reduce interest rates on all the way it was done during the 12,70,458 units compared to 18,19,682 Brent crude was down $1.75, or and semi-urban ing returns of GST payment, the state has declared for the payment loans by 400 basis points for 90 days. first wave of the Covid-19 last fis- units in March this year. 2.5%, at $67.57 a barrel by 1315 markets with deep GMT, after rising 1% on Wednesday. distribution across north, west and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) central India, on-ground sales and CAIT TARGETS eCOMM COS was down $1.80, or 2.7%, to $64.28 collection infrastructure to cater to a barrel, having risen 1.2% in the the underserved customer segment, previous session. strong underwriting and focus on SWAMIH Fund for stalled housing If those losses are sustained, asset quality both contracts would mark their RAJENDRA SETIA | PROMOTER ‘Stop delivery of biggest daily drops in percentage terms since early April. In a bearish signal for oil de- After successes projects to benefit 1.16L buyers mand, a variant of the coronavirus in the non-essential items’ structured PRESS TRUST OF INDIA drances. has swept through the country- trade and supply "All this is happening in the AGENCIES side in India, the world's third- chain, our efforts are New Delhi, May 13: Finance pandemic. What more happiness biggest importer of crude. read now focused on Minister Nirmala Sitharaman can be given to families which New Delhi, May 13: The more Medical professionals have streamlining through Thursday said the Special Window have been waiting for years to get Confederation of All India Traders not been able to say when new in- digital platforms that can address all for Affordable and Mid-Income their homes during this time of (CAIT) in a communication sent to fections will plateau and other concerns related to the commodities Housing (SWAMIH) Fund will ben- lockdown," she said. Union Commerce Minister Piyush countries are alarmed over the ecosystem efit 1.16 lakh home loan borrowers As many as 72 projects with Goyal has said that going one step transmissibility of the variant that

SUNOOR KAUL | whose housing projects were stalled 44,115 dwelling units have got further, various e-commerce enti- is now spreading worldwide. ` CO-FOUNDER, ORIGO COMMODITIES due to last mile funding issues. funding of 6,995 crore under ties even in the ongoing Covid-19 "Concerns are growing that the Many real estate projects across SWAMIH Fund I and induced national emergency are de- untamed spread of the coronavirus SWAMIH the country were stalled due to 132 preliminary livering non-essential goods in bla- have banned the sale and delivery in India and in Southeast Asia will SHORT TAKES fund crunch. To address this issue, Fund I, under approvals tant contravention of lockdown of non-essential goods and services. dent oil demand," PVM analysts said the government, in November 2019, which 640 people are have been guidelines imposed by various The business community across in a note. announced a `25,000 crore-SWAMIH rowers, she said at a getting homes today, will given for state governments. the country has implemented these "Its impact, however, is expected Alibaba records fund to help complete over 1,500 virtual event to mark benefit 1.16L Indian families. 132 proj- The CAIT has also sent similar orders in letter and spirit even to be relatively brief and the sec- st stalled housing projects compris- handing over of keys All of them will get houses ects with communications to Chief Ministers though it has caused severe eco- ond half of the year will see the 1 quarterly loss ing 4.58 lakh housing units. to more than 600 home which got stuck because of so 72,457 of all states urging them to take im- nomic hardship to the traders. healthy revival of oil demand Hong Kong: Alibaba had its Recalling that 2019 was a very test- buyers of Rivali Park many different reasons and units with mediate cognisance of this viola- It is a matter of great aston- growth." first quarterly operating loss ing time for the real estate sector, of Mumbai. hindrances. an invest- tion by e-commerce portals. ishment that some multinational Meanwhile, fuel shortages wors- since it went public in 2014 the minister said the industry was This is the first stalled NIRMALA SITHARAMAN I ment of The CAIT said that the sole pur- behemoths, in blatant violation of ened in the southeastern United after Beijing slapped a cash-strapped and banks, because project completed with FINANCE MINISTER `11,581 crore. pose of the lockdown is to limit Government instructions/orders, States, six days after the shutdown record $2.8 billion fine on of the very inherent stress, would funding by SWAMIH Fund, The total human-to-human interaction and are selling non-essential goods of the Colonial Pipeline, the largest the nation’s largest e- not lend money to them. which is managed by SBICap cost of these reduce exposure of the general under the garb of essential goods US fuel pipeline network, following commerce company for So, Sitharaman said many of Ventures Ltd. The Department of stalled projects stands at `54,520 population to the Covid-19 virus and are putting at risk, the lives a ransomware attack. abusing its market position. the projects that were near com- Economic Affairs under the crore. and thereby break the chain of the of a large number of people en- The loss tied to the anti- pletion or two-thirds completed Ministry of Finance administers The finance minister said spread of Covid-19. Therefore, all gaged in selling, warehousing, monopoly fine was 7.66 were stalled because of last mile the scheme. the Government of India had non-essential activities, including transportation, last mile delivery South Korea woos billion yuan ($1,170 million) funding, she said. "SWAMIH Fund I, under which stepped in to provide funding the sale and delivery of non-es- and of customers to whom deliv- for the quarter that ended in Departments of the government 640 people are getting homes today, to the stressed affordable and sential items, are prohibited dur- eries are being made. chipmakers to invest March, though revenue and SBICap despite Covid-19 worked will benefit 1.16 lakh Indian fam- mid-income housing projects, ing the lockdown by ordering the Such e-commerce sale and de- growth was 64%, reaching relentlessly in getting the stalled ilies. All of them will get houses thereby giving relief to the shops to close in all such states. livery defeats the very purpose 187.4 billion yuan ($28.6 $453bn by 2030 home buyers who had invested million). projects completed and handing which got stuck because of so It said that as a part of “break of the lockdown and increases over possession to home loan bor- many different reasons and hin- their hard-earned savings. the chain”, the state governments exposure to the virus multifold.

GoAir rebrands BIZ BUZZ as ‘Go First’ JOB SCENARIO WORSENS Mumbai: After being in the World Nursing Day observed at OPTCL skies for 15 years, Wadia INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Group-owned GoAir has Bhubaneswar: World Nursing Day was observed UNEMPLOYMENT RATE rebranded itself as 'Go First' at Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Seoul, May 13: South Korea said on as the airline focuses on ultra- Limited (OPTCL) recently at its corporate office. Thursday it plans to provide massive low-cost business model amid On the eve of this occasion, a felicitation tax incentives and state subsidies the aviation industry ceremony was held adhering to the SHOOTS UP TO 8% IN APRIL to chipmakers to encourage them to grappling with pandemic government’s Covid guidelines where OPTCL spend a combined $453 billion by headwinds. The felicitated the nurses of Power Hospital for their outstanding selfless INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE The labour force shrank by 1.1 2030, in line with its vision to be- announcement on Thursday efforts towards healthcare during this crucial juncture when the entire million in April 2021 to 424.6 mil- come a global powerhouse in both also comes amid reports that world is grappling with Covid. Senior GM (HRD) Chandra Sekhar Pradhan the airline was preparing for said, “We really appreciate the dedication and the contributions of our New Delhi, May 13: As the severe lion compared to 425.8 million in memory and non-memory chips. an initial share sale to raise sister nurses towards the healthcare of our employees. This felicitation is second wave of Covid-19 and the March. In spite of this smaller Under the plan dubbed the K- funds for its ambitious just a token of recognition of their selfless efforts and we hope this will resultant lockdowns bring eco- labour force looking for employ- semiconductor blueprint, the gov- expansion plans. The Go certainly motivate them to work with great vigour.” nomic activities to a halt, India's ment, a greater proportion failed ernment will also draw up a 1.5 First as ULCC (ultra-low-cost job scenario worsened in April to find employment. trillion-won budget to support the carrier) would operate 2021. As per data published by the The employment rate fell from development of next-generation single aircraft type across its Senco Gold encourages online purchase of gold Centre for Monitoring Indian 37.6% in March to 36.8% in April. power semiconductors and AI chips, fleet, it said. Economy (CMIE), India's unem- Vyas noted that the lockdowns according to the Ministry of Trade, Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of Akshay ployment rate rose 8% in April, could have denied people from Industry and Energy. Tritiya, Senco Gold and Diamonds is against 6.5% in March. seeking employment and caused a Another batch of 1 trillion won Ola adds new EV encouraging customers to mark these "April 2021 turned out to be worse fall in labour participation, but, worth of low-interest loans will auspicious occasions by buying jewellery than expectations. We had expected stringent nation-wide lockdown. the economy also could not probe provided to support facility in- from the safety of their homes. Suvankar category in UK labour participation rate to sta- The LPR in April 2021 is therefore vide adequate jobs to those who vestment by local chipmakers, in- Sen, CEO, Senco Gold and Diamonds said, bilise at its March 2021 level. The the worst since the national lock- sought jobs. cluding 8-inch wafer foundry lines. New Delhi: Ride-hailing major “We are giving `200 off per gram of gold on Ola Thursday said it is advance booking and up to 100% off on the LPR had dropped sharply in March down, the CMIE said. "So, the strain in the labour mar- South Korea is home to leading launching a new 'electric making charges of diamond jewellery. We already after a modest fall in It attributed this fall is the result kets was not entirely because of global players including Samsung vehicle' category on its ensure to provide lowest rate for gold on the day of buying for advance February. But, the LPR fell for a of the local lockdowns in several the partial lockdowns. It was largely Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. platform in London that will booking. One can also buy gold coins, bars and jewellery through our third consecutive month in April," states. In Maharashtra, a state that because the economy simply could The 510 trillion-won ($453 bil- allow users to specifically website sencogoldanddiamonds.com.” The company is also offering CMIE's CEO Mahesh Vyas said. imposed partial lockdowns, saw not provide employment to large lion) investment plan includes 41.8 book rides in a fully electric shopping through video calling facility, browsing through e-catalogues, It fell to 39.98%, the lowest LPR its LPR fall sharply from 44.2% in numbers who sought work," trillion won in investment esti- vehicle. The category, called virtual trial rooms and home delivery. since May 2020, the month of a March to 40.6% in April. he added. mated for 2021. Ola EV, is a global first for Ola and will be available across London from Thursday, a statement said. Over time, this will be rolled out to other Demand for luxury homes remains sluggish since April cities around the world where Ola is operational, it added. AGENCIES ity larger units from reputed de- Residential Business, Embassy velopers, he said. SECOND WAVE’S IMPACT Group, noted that real estate has New Delhi, May 13: The demand "We expect that with a hybrid evolved as a preferred investment IFFCO warns for luxury homes has slowed down work model here to stay, these rices of luxury residential class in 2020, with growing in- during the last one-and-a-half trends will continue. Going for- Pproperties are likely to remain terest towards the luxury housing against fake firm months due to the second wave of ward we remain optimistic that stable and may even rise slightly segment not just from Indians due to limited supply New Delhi: Leading fertiliser Covid-19 but real estate develop- the uptick in demand will continue but also from NRIs. cooperative IFFCO Thursday ers and consultants are hopeful once the second wave settles down," ousing sales across 7-8 major "Luxury residential prices warned public against fake that sales will pick up once situa- Diwan said. Hcities fell by 40-50% during the across key markets have remained firm ‘Fertilizer Frenchies’ tion normalises as it happened last Amit Goyal, CEO, India Sotheby’s 2020 even as the demand revived stable, witnessing a steady re- offering dealership or year. International Realty, said the de- significantly during H2 on pent up covery path. There have been no franchise in the name of the Prices of luxury residential prop- mand for luxury and spacious and festive demand new launches in the `3 crore plus cooperative and collecting erties are likely to remain stable and homes went up significantly across category in the last couple of huge amount. IFFCO said it may even rise slightly due to lim- the country post the first phase of Given the limited supply in years, contributing to the stabil-

has come to its notice that ited supply, they said. Covid-19. this segment, he said property ity in prices through sustained

k y m some unscrupulous elements c Amit Diwan, MD and Country Goyal said the January-March prices rose in some pockets, if demand," she said. are actively operating in various parts of the country in Head, Hines India, said, “All our res- 2021 quarter at India Sotheby's not all, last year. Goyal does Sebastian said luxury home the name and style of idential projects have seen strong International Realty, one of the not expect sharp rise in prices buyers today prefer projects by ‘Fertilizers Frenchie’ on velocity and price performance leading brokerage firms in luxury "With the current lockdown, yes make a big comeback, just as it but some firming up in price branded developers and ready-to- internet and other social during January-March 2021.” segment, was the strongest both in there's a short pause, but we believe did last year when the Covid situ- could be seen. move-in properties where qual- media platform. Residential buyers want good-qual- demand and transaction closures. that the buying momentum will ation normalised," he said. Reeza Sebastian, President - ity can be assessed first hand. P12 FRIDAY | MAY 14 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR sports

y Gunners breach

k k y y m m c Atletico move closer to title Chelsea fortress c ASSOCIATED PRESS while Atletico has the edge in case SMITH ROWE POUNCES ON JORGINHO HOWLER TO HELP of a tie with Barcelona. ARSENAL STUN THE HOSTS 1-0 AT STAMFORD BRIDGE Madrid, May 13: With the Spanish The match against fifth-place league title in sight, Atletico Madrid Sociedad was perhaps Atletico’s made sure it didn’t falter. Gritty and most difficult challenge in the last determined, Diego Simeone’s team few rounds. After hosting Osasuna, moved closer to ending its title they will finish campaign at rele- drought in Spain with a 2-1 home gation-threatened Valladolid. win against Real Sociedad Atletico has been in the lead for Wednesday, taking a major step to- most of the season. It got off to a ward securing their first league fast start and was on pace for a trophy since 2014. 100-point campaign before faltering Simeone punched the air as he toward the end and allowing raced from the bench to the tunnel Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla to after the final whistle, and some of move closer. the hundreds of fans who sup- Atletico came out attacking from ported the team from outside the the start at the Metropolitano, giv- Wanda Metropolitano Stadium set ing little space for Sociedad. Luis off fireworks to celebrate the cru- Suarez and Marcos Llorente both THE OPPORTUNIST: Emile Smith Rowe (R) is delighted after capitalising a cial win. missed clear chances early before Chelsea error to help Arsenal score at Stamford Bridge, Wednesday “We could hear them,” said Carrasco opened the scoring with Atletico captain Koke Resurrección, a 16th-minute shot from inside the ASSOCIATED PRESS hoping to overtake the final who played his 500th match for the area that went between the legs of Champions League spot. club. “There are two games left Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro. London, May 13: Emile Smith Chelsea dominated possession on but that’s a lot. Everyone is losing Suarez, who has been key for Rowe took advantage of a defensive the second half and Christian points in this league. We have two Atletico after being let go by howler to score the winner as Pulisic saw a second-half equaliser finals ahead of us.” Barcelona last season, set up Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford chalked off for offside after a video Yannick Carrasco and Angel Correa’s 28th-minute goal from in- Bridge to stop the hosts from mov- assistant referee review. Kurt Zouma Correa scored a goal each in the first side the area with a nice through ing third in the Premier League. and Olivier Giroud then struck half and Atletico held on after con- ball past defenders. Italy midfielder Jorginho’s at- the crossbar within mere seconds ceding late to open a four-point Sociedad, still fighting for a tempted back pass Wednesday left of each other in the 90th minute as lead over Barcelona with two rounds Europa League spot, pulled closer out-of-position goalkeeper Kepa Chelsea wasted a host of chances to go. The Catalan club had stum- through Igor Zubeldia from close Arrizabalaga scrambling to prevent in a dominant but disjointed per- bled again Tuesday, being held to range after a corner in the 83rd an own goal, diving to palm the ball formance. a 3-3 draw at Levante to see its title and pressed for an equalizer until away just before it crossed the line. Tuchel made seven changes to chances dwindle. the end. The Basque Country club But Arsenal striker Pierre- keep his players fresh, with Atletico are five points ahead of had already hit the post twice. Emerick Aubameyang was on hand Saturday’s FA Cup final against Real Madrid, who can get back to collect the ball and square it for Leicester clearly in mind. within two points if it wins at OTHER RESULTS Smith Rowe, who slotted home just Kai Havertz missed a great Granada Thursday. If Madrid draw Celta Vigo defeated Getafe 1-0 inside the post. It was Arsenal's chance to put Chelsea ahead when or lose, a home victory Sunday to stay in eighth place and main- third straight Premier League vic- he dispossessed Pablo Mari just against 11th-place Osasuna will tain a shot at qualifying for the tory and a much-needed morale inside his own half, raced in on be enough to give Atletico the Europa League next season. Getafe booster after its loss in the Europa goal and came one-on-one with league title after a seven-year wait. remained in danger of demotion, League semifinals left the Gunners Bernd Leno — only to blaze his ef- Atletico supporters will have to HIGH IN CONFIDENCE: Atletico Madrid players celebrate after Yannick Carrasco’s (L) goal against Real Sociedad, Wednesday sitting three points from the rele- without a chance of qualifying for fort over the bar. remain outside the Metropolitano gation zone. the Champions League. Shortly afterward, Arsenal were for the possible title-clincher Sunday earlier Wednesday. “I know it’s dif- dropped from title contention de- have the edge in the head-to-head Huesca, meanwhile, moved out Chelsea’s loss means Thomas ahead after Jorginho didn’t realise as only some regions in Spain will ficult for everyone, but football spite a 1-0 win against Valencia at tie-breaker. of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win Tuchel’s side remained fourth and that Kepa had moved off to the be allowed to have limited crowds needs the fans,” Simeone said. home earlier Wednesday. They Madrid have the tie-breaker ad- over Athletic Bilbao, staying two gave renewed hope to chasing teams side and gifted the visitors their only in stadiums, the government said Fourth-place Sevilla were were six points from Atletico, who vantage over both of their rivals, points clear of danger. West Ham and Liverpool, who are real scoring chance of the game. Powar back as Indian PSG reach French Cup final REBIC TREBLE HELPS women’s team coach Mbappe scores brace, but Parisians needed penalties to beat Montpellier MILAN ROUT TORINO ASSOCIATED PRESS PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ASSOCIATED PRESS Paris, May 13: Paris Saint-Germain New Delhi, May 13: Former spin- led twice through goals by Kylian Milan, May 13: Ante Rebic netted ner Ramesh Powar Thursday re- Mbappe but needed penalty kicks a 12-minute hat-trick in the sec- placed WV Raman as the Indian to beat Montpellier and reach the ond half to help AC Milan rout women’s cricket team’s head coach, French Cup final. Torino 7-0 in Serie A and strengthen regaining the position more than Although PSG’s league title de- their chances to qualify for the two years after he was sacked owing fense is hanging by a thread, it re- Champions League. to a bitter fallout with ODI cap- mains on course for a record-ex- Theo Hernandez also scored tain Mithali Raj. tending 14th cup win. PSG plays the twice Wednesday as Milan re- The 42-year-old was recom- winner of Thursday’s match be- mained level on points with second- mended by the Madan Lal-led this agency. tween high-flying Monaco and place Atalanta, which beat Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) It remains to be seen how Powar fourth-tier Rumilly-Vallieres. Benevento 2-0. after interviewing eight candi- works alongside Mithali, who had Mbappe put PSG ahead in the The two are two points above dates, including Raman. accused him of bias after the 10th minute Wednesday, but the Napoli and three above fifth-place “The Board of Control for Cricket Harmanpreet Kaur-led T20 team visitors were punished for wasting Juventus, which won 3-1 at Sassuolo. in India (BCCI) announces the ap- dropped the veteran batter for the chances when striker Gaetan There are two rounds remaining in pointment of Mr Ramesh Powar as all-important World Cup semifi- Laborde equalised on the stroke Serie A and the top four qualify the Head Coach of Team India nal against England. of halftime with a superb shot into for next season’s Champions (Senior Women). The BCCI had Mithali, in a letter to the BCCI the top right corner. League. advertised for the post and received after the event, had alleged that Five minutes after the break, Milan was without star striker over 35 applications,” a BCCI state- Powar ‘was out to destroy and hu- Mbappe was given far too much Zlatan Ibrahimovic but Hernandez ment read. miliate’ her. Powar had hit back as- space on the left to cut inside for his gave it the lead in the 19th minute The others in fray were former serting that Mithali ‘threw a lot 39th goal of another prolific season. and Samu Castillejo hit the wood- India wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra and of tantrums and created chaos in Poor defending cost PSG again, work before Franck Kessie con- NIGHT TO REMEMBER: Ante Rebic four female candidates including the team’. just like last Sunday against Rennes, verted a penalty in the 26th. (No.12) is all smiles along with his former chief selector Hemlata After being removed from his and Montpellier sliced through IN FINE TOUCH: Kylian Mbappe about to score one of his goals as Montpellier It took until early in the second teammates after scoring one of his Kala. “Looking forward to take position in the women’s team, midfield on a swift counterattack players look on haplessly, Wednesday half before Milan extended its ad- three goals against Torino, Wednesday India women’s cricket ahead. Powar proved himself as a coach that concluded with lively striker vantage through Brahim Diaz and Thanks a lot CAC & BCCI for this and earlier this year, led Mumbai Andy Delort turning in Laborde’s the third minute of stoppage time, to its seventh straight final. the floodgates then opened. from Domenico Berardi before opportunity,” Powar tweeted after to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after the cross at the back post. and to goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud Part-timers Rumilly-Vallieres Hernandez doubled his tally in the goals from Adrien Rabiot, Cristiano his appointment. domestic giants failed miserably in Montpellier coach Michel Der for a save seconds later. face eight-time French champions 62nd and Rebic netted his first five Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala secured The CAC chose Powar for his the T20 competition. He has also Zakarian was angry his side was The first five Montpellier penalty and five-time Cup winners Monaco minutes later. the win for Juventus. clear vision for the team, said Lal. worked at the National Cricket not awarded a penalty near the takers all scored, leaving Neymar at the ramshackle Stade des BUFFON TO THE RESCUE Lazio also still has a chance of “He has been coaching for a while. Academy as a bowling coach. end for an apparent push in the to keep PSG in the competition. Grangettes, which only has one World Cup-winning goalkeeper qualifying for the Champions His vision for the team impressed Asked whether his acrimonious back on a corner. “If that’s PSG, then He did so with a typically confi- stand and where attendance nor- Gianluigi Buffon announced League after Ciro Immobile scored us the most. He has a clear cut exit from the team and relation- it’s a penalty,” he shouted. “It’s dent and casual effort. mally costs five euros (USD 6). Tuesday that he will leave Juventus in stoppage time to help it to a 1-0 plan for the team, what he wants ship with Mithali was discussed dur- scandalous.” After Montpellier midfielder But fans are still not allowed to at the end of the season. Until then, win against already-relegated do with it to take it to the next ing Powar’s interview, Lal said: Yet he was indebted to center Junior Sambia blazed over and attend amid coronavirus restric- the 43-year-old Buffon is still res- Parma. Lazio is five points behind level. He also has full clarity on “We did ask him about it and he said half Vitorino Hilton for clearing Neymar goaded Montpellier’s play- tions. Monaco last won the cup in cuing his side. fourth-place Napoli but has a match all aspects of the game. Now he he wasn’t at fault. He is okay work- Mauro Icardi’s shot off the line in ers, striker Moise Kean sent PSG 1991 and lost the 2010 final to PSG. Buffon saved an early penalty in hand. needs to deliver on that,” Lal told ing with all the players.” NEWS IN BRIEF Djokovic cruises into quarters Olympic-bound race walker Irfan tests +ve AGENCIES champion in Rome — with his last finalist, 7-6(8-6), 6-4. NEW DELHI: Olympic-bound race walker KT Irfan is among five elite track- title coming in September when Opelka served 18 aces and won and-field athletes who have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Sports Rome, May 13: The fans were the tournament was moved amid 52 of 69 points on his serve to record Authority of India’s (SAI) Centre of Excellence in Bangalore. The tests were back at the Foro Italico, the sun the pandemic — Djokovic is look- his third consecutive straight-set conducted last Friday and those who returned positive have been kept was out, and Novak Djokovic’s ENJOYING HIS GAME: ing to boost his clay-court game win this week — after entering under quarantine. A source said another male race walker also tested game was clicking. The top-ranked Novak Djokovic plays a before the French Open starts at the Rome on a six-match losing streak positive but his name could not be confirmed. “Four male players and one Serb seemed to enjoy every mo- backhand during his end of the month. that included dealing with a bout female player and four support staff tested positive for COVID-19,” a SAI ment of his 6-2, 6-1 win over Spanish match at Italian Open It’s been a rough start to the clay of COVID-19. source stated. It is learnt that none of the female race walkers are among qualifier Alejandro Davidovich season for Djokovic with a third- In the women’s tournament, top- those who returned positive. The 31-year-old Irfan had qualified for the Fokina that put him in the Italian round loss to Daniel Evans at the ranked Ash Barty beat Veronika Tokyo Olympics way back in early 2019 after finishing fourth in the 20 km Open quarterfinals. Monte Carlo Masters followed by event of the Asian Race Walking Championships in Nomi, Japan. The SAI Kudermetova 6-3, 6-3 and will next source said the whole hockey team training at the Centre other than one After spectators were banned a defeat to Aslan Karatsev in the face American teenager Coco Gauff, player has tested negative. from the opening rounds of the semifinals of his home tourna- who defeated Aryna Sabalenka 7- Rome tournament because of the ment, the Belgrade Open. 5, 6-3. coronavirus pandemic, capacity Djokovic will next face either Sabalenka, who overcame Barty India retain top spot in Test Team rankings was at 25 per cent Thursday as Monte Carlo champion Stefanos in the Madrid Open final Saturday, part of the Italian government’s re- Tsitsipas or Madrid Open finalist committed more than twice as DUBAI: India remained the No.1 Test side after the annual update of the ICC opening plan. Matteo Berrettini — both top 10 many unforced errors as Gauff —

y team rankings, released Thursday. India head the table after gaining one rating point for an aggregate of 121, having accumulated 2914 points from 24 “It was not good, it was great,” players. “It’s going to be a battle,” 36 to 17. It’s the fourth time this sea-

Djokovic said. “I missed the crowd rience the crowd more and more. Spain. Perhaps that familiarity Djokovic said. “Both of these guys son that the 17-year-old Gauff has

k k y y m m c matches. They are closely followed by their World Test Championship final c opponents, New Zealand (120). The Kiwis have garnered 2166 points from 18 as much as anybody else — one of They definitely gave me great sen- helped Davidovich Fokina break the are in great form.” reached the quarterfinals. Tests. England (109 rating) have climbed a place to third at the expense of the biggest reasons why I keep on sations today on the court and I top-ranked Djokovic in the opening Also reaching the quarterfinals Jessica Pegula, another Australia (108 rating), down to fourth now. Pakistan (94) remained at fifth playing. So it was nice to see them enjoyed it.” game. was 6-foot-11 (2.11-meter) American American, followed up her victory spot, while West Indies (84) have jumped to sixth. South Africa (80) and Sri back and hopefully I can stay in this Djokovic often trains with But Djokovic broke right back Reilly Opelka, who eliminated over Naomi Osaka by eliminating Lanka (78) have dropped a rung each to seventh and eighth positions tournament an extra day to expe- Davidovich Fokina in Marbella, and quickly took control. A five-time Karatsev, an Australian Open semi- Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2, 6-4. respectively, followed by Bangladesh (46) and Zimbabwe (35).

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