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DEFINING STRENGTH TACKLING NEW STRAIN BLAST IN YEMEN Actor Ileana D’Cruz says strength Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa urges Sixteen persons killed in blast, gunfire in isn’t always just a big dramatic ‘missing’ UK returnees to cooperate Yemen after plane carrying new government lands show of bravado LEISURE | P2 with government TWO STATES | P8 INTERNATIONAL | P10

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 269 | www.orissapost.com | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31 | 2020 12 PAGES | `4.00 NEW WING FOR WOMEN, CHILD SAFETY POST NEWS NETWORK tiatives, the Chief Minister said, “It is satisfying to see that the feedback Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: In the wake POOR CONVICTION RATE taken under Mo Sarkar has been very of the high profile rape and murder case DISHA (21.5%) IS FOURTH IN THE LIST OF positive. Though certain good initia- of a minor girl in Nayagarh district, OCONVICTION RATES FOR CRIMES UNDER tives under 5T in Police have Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik IPC AFTER ASSAM (6.7%), BIHAR (13.1%) AND been taken up, there is a need to in- Wednesday announced the creation WB (13.4%) crease the same.” of a special wing in the police de- Within record time, special family partment to curb rising cases of crime M NAVEEN PATNAIK ASKED SENIOR COPS pension has been sanctioned to 38 against women and children. CTO TAKE ALL POSSIBLE STEPS TO ENHANCE next of kin. Similarly, 29 next of kin The announcement was made at THE CONVICTION RATE BY FACTORING IN have received `50 Lakh ex-gratia com- MODERN TECHNOLOGY `3,000 crore Paradip the valedictory session of 62nd senior pensation and rest should be processed police officers’ conference, 2020 via E ALSO STATED THAT THERE IS A NEED TO without any delay. He also lauded the videoconferencing. HTAKE UP PREVENTIVE AND ENFORCEMENT Police DG Abhay and other senior police officers attend the 62nd senior 930 police personnel who have vol- “Crime against women and chil- untarily donated plasma for treat- port project okayed INITIATIVES TO BRING DOWN ROAD FATALITIES police officers’ conference at Odisha Police headquarters, dren remains our focus area. I hereby ment of Covid patients for their spirit announce creation of Special wing in of service. Odisha Police to look after offences the police officers to closely monitor it He congratulated the state police against women and children. I expect Crime against women and and continue to take focused efforts. He for organising an effective drive against that with these initiatives, quality children remains our focus commended the work of SPs of narcotic drugs throughout the state services will be provided to the women area. I hereby announce Malkangiri and Kandhamal in this with the STF taking the lead. A record and children,” the CM said. creation of a special wing in connection. He also appreciated the ef- quantity of narcotics has been seized. Expressing concern over low con- Odisha Police to look after forts of SP, Keonjhar and Angul for Commendable work has been done by viction rate in the state, Patnaik asked such offences the overall improvement in the in- DIG, STF and SP, Koraput. senior cops to take all possible steps dustrial atmosphere. However, special drive against or- NAVEEN PATNAIK I CM to enhance conviction rate by factor- The Chief Minister also lauded the ganized crime and extortion should be ing in modern technology into the in- overall effort of Odisha police in han- carried out with more focused efforts, POST NEWS NETWORK This includes development vestigation. with other stakeholders like Transport, ticed in the Left Wing Extremism sit- dling the pandemic with compassion he told the cops. On this occasion, the of the new Western Dock on “Road Safety is another area of con- Works department etc. to bring down uation. Two brave hearts laid down and empathy. While doing so many CM inaugurated six police stations at New Delhi, Dec 30: The BOT basis and capital dredg- cern. Road accident related fatalities such fatalities,” he said. their lives this year in the fight against police personnel have laid down their Angul Sadar in Angul district, Cabinet Committee on ing by the selected conces- are very high in the state. There is a Stating that the law and order situ- Maoists. Families of the martyrs should lives in the line of duty. He paid hom- Bharatpur in Bhubaneswar, Economic affairs headed sionaire at a cost of `2,040 need to take up preventive and en- ation in the state remained peaceful in be taken care of by the state police.” age to the departed souls and assured Jharsuguda Sadar in Jharsuguda, by Prime Minister Narendra crore and `352.13 crore re- forcement initiatives as well as public 2020, Naveen said, “A progressive and As the LWE problem is dynamic in their families of all support. Belaguntha in Ganjam, and Sabrang Modi Wednesday approved spectively. It has also been awareness campaigns in coordination sustainable improvement has been no- nature and keeps changing, he asked Speaking on 5T and Mo Sarkar ini- and Pirahat in Bhadrak district. a `3,000 crore project to turn informed that there will be Paradip Port world-class by investments to the tune of setting up a dock. `612.50 crore towards pro- IRREGULAR by MANJUL The project fo- viding Common MUSIC MAESTRO cuses on Paradip port in Supporting Cinema halls set to reopen ‘Deepening and Project Optimization of Odisha is one of Infrastructure. SHANTANU DIES, POST NEWS NETWORK Higher education institutions Inner Harbour the 12 major “On com- will continue to open for research Facilities in- ports under missioning of TRIBUTES POUR IN Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Following scholars and post-graduate students cluding the project, it a nine-month hiatus, cinema halls in science and technology stream re- Development of the control of shall cater to POST NEWS NETWORK and theatres in the state are all set quiring laboratory work. Medical col- Western Dock the require- to reopen with 50 per cent capacity leges will also remain open. on Build, the Centre ment of coal & Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Legendary Odia music from January 1. However, examinations (acade- Operate and limestone im- Director Shantanu Mohapatra died here, fam- In its unlock guidelines for the mic, competitive and entrance Transfer (BOT) basis under ports besides export of gran- ily sources said on Wednesday. He was 84. month of January, the state gov- tests), evaluation and other ad- Public-Private Partnership ulated slag and finished steel Mohapatra was suffering from old age re- ernment stated, “Cinema halls, ministrative activities will con- (PPP) mode to handle cape products,” Dharmendra lated ailments and finally succumbed to pneu- theatres will be allowed to open by them) subject to compliance of tinue in the state, as per the order. size vessels at Paradip Port.’ Pradhan said. monia and cardiac failure Tuesday night. A with up to 50 per cent of capacity safety protocols such as manda- All Anganwadi Centres will con- Addressing media on the “The Concession period It was a horrible year. large number of people paid their last respect and operate as per SOPs issued by tory wearing of face masks and tinue to remain closed till January issue, Union Petroleum and shall be 30 years from the We had to manage 3 to the music maestro at his Palaspalli residence. the Government of / State physical distancing among others. 31, 2021 and the arrangement for Natural Gas Minister date of Award of Concession. full days without a maid Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, Andhra Pradesh Government in that regard.” The School & Mass Education, supply of ration to the benefici- Dharmendra Pradhan and Paradip Port Trust Governor B B Harichandan, Odisha Chief However, reopening of open air Higher Education and Skill aries will continue. Union Minister of State for (Concessioning Authority) Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister theatres and entertainment parks Development & Technical Social/religious/sports & other Ports, Shipping and water- shall provide the Common SHORT TAKES Dharmendra Pradhan and many dignitaries along with ‘jatras’ will be permit- Education departments will de- gatherings will be allowed with a ways (I/C) Mansukh Supporting Project condoled the ted by the local authorities (dis- cide the date of re-opening of ed- ceiling of 200 persons and fu- Mandaviya informed that Infrastructure works to fa- Last date for ITR demise of trict collector, municipal commis- ucational institutions under their neral/last rites related gatherings the estimated cost of the cilitate handling of cape size filing now Jan 10 Mohapatra. sioner or any officer authorised control in a graded manner. with a ceiling of 100 persons. project is `3,004.63 crore. vessels,” the ministry said. In a condo- lence mes- New Delhi: Extending the sage, Lal said deadline for the third time, Consensus with the government on Santanu Wednesday allowed Mohapatra Police modernisation: Funds lie idle farmers on two individuals to file income tax was part of returns for 2019-20 fiscal till Odisha music POST NEWS NETWORK budget during 2018-19, while January 10. The deadline for for almost six disha Police the rest is still unspent. issues, says govt companies and individuals decades and Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Odisha Ocould only spend Similarly, Odisha police re- ` who need to get their he will be re- Police has failed to utilise 14.89 crore out of ceived `35.10 crore as mod- ` accounts audited too have membered by funds earmarked for modern- the combined 58.50 ernisation grant from the cen- been extended by 15 days till all for long. ization of the force in recent crore it received as tral government and `23.40 from February 15, the finance Patnaik de- years, as per a report by Bureau grant in 2018-19 the state government during ministry said in a statement. scribed of Police Research and imilarly, the force the financial year 2018-19. Mohapatra as an ‘Unfading Talent’. As a lyricist Development (BPRD). Sspent a meager The force could only spend Oxford vaccine and music director, he has left the shining sig- Every year, the force receives `6.8 crore out of the `14.89 crore out of the combined nature of his talent. The music directed by him grants from both the state and total `70.75 grant it `58.50 crore it received as grant Narendra Singh Tomar approved by UK will keep him immortal forever, the chief min- central government to upgrade received in 2019-20 in the period. ister said. Noting that Odisha has lost a talent, its infrastructure and capacity On similar lines, the force re- AGENCIES London: The coronavirus Patnaik announced state honour for the de- to meet emerging challenges in ceived `42.45 crore from the cen- vaccine designed by scientists ` ` at the University of Oxford and parted music director. internal security. Improved Mobility, Modern out of the total 3,559.51 crore tral government and 28.3 crore New Delhi, Dec 30: The govern- produced by AstraZeneca was Apart from Odia, Mohapatra also worked in “The focus of the scheme is on Weaponry, Computerization, earmarked for the police force from the state government as ment and farm unions reached Wednesday approved for different languages. He composed the first mod- strengthening of the police in- Communication Equipment, in the state’s annual budget for modernisation grant during some common ground Wednesday human use by the UK’s ern Odia ballad Konark Gatha with lyrics by lyri- frastructure by way of con- Modern Traffic Control the year 2018-19. However, the 2019-20 financial year. As per to resolve protesting farmers’ con- independent regulator. The cist Gurukrushna Goswami and sung by Akshay struction of secure and people Equipment, etc,” stated the report. BPRD report reveals that Odisha the report, the force police spent cerns over rise in power tariff approval by Medicines and Mohanty. He also wrote ‘Kalijae’ which was friendly Police Stations, Police As per the report, the force got Police managed to spend only a meager `6.8 crore out of the and penalties for stubble burn- Healthcare products sung by Sikandar Alam. More on P2 Outposts, Police Housing, `68.91 crore for modernisation `41.49 crore out of the total total `70.75 grant it received. ing, but the two sides remained Regulatory Agency (MHRA) deadlocked over the main con- means the vaccine is both tentious issues of the repeal of safe and effective. P10 three farm laws and a legal guar- antee for MSP. RJD seeks to fish in troubled NDA waters in Bihar After nearly five hours of the MARKET WATCH sixth round of negotiations be- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA tween three union ministers and INDEX VARIATION ALLIANCE Nitish should give up a 41-member representative group Patna, Dec 30: Defection of JD(U) the CM’s chair. He of thousands farmers protesting SENSEX 47,746.22 133.14 MLAs to the BJP in Arunachal IN TROUBLE should help Tejashwi on Delhi borders, Agriculture Pradesh and the resultant cold vibes form the new government Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

BOURSES NIFTY 13,981.95 49.35 JD claimed that as many as between the partners in the ruling and the RJD would return the said at least 50 per cent resolu- 17 JDU MLAs were willing `0.20 coalition in Bihar, seem to have R favour by backing him as PM tion has been reached with mutual DOLLAR 73.28 to defect to BJP after the kindled fresh hopes in the RJD candidate Arunachal Pradesh episode agreement on two out of four items EURO 89.90 `0.07 which has ended up heading the UDAY NARAYAN CHAUDHARY I RJD LEADER on the agenda and discussions CURRENCY opposition here despite being the sin- f the CM pulls out of NDA, would continue on the remaining GOLD `50,031 `8.0 gle largest party. Ithere will be a realignment JD(U) MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh two January 4. SILVER `68,401 `304 Shyam Rajak, a former national between the RJD and the where legislators recently switched "Discussions on the three farm BULLION general secretary of the JD(U) JD(U), the party said sides of their own accord. laws and MSP are continuing and who joined RJD shortly before However, RJD national vice-pres- will continue in the next round of the recent assembly elections, a domineering BJP. They are will- would raise the number sufficiently eastern state. ident Shivanand Tiwary has main- talks on January 4," Tomar told re- y WEATHER Wednesday sought to fish in the ing to switch sides as soon as pos- enough to cause a split, tenable K C Tyagi, the party’s outspo- tained that a common link ran porters after the meeting ended.

BHUB CTK troubled waters with the claim sible, Rajak, who was the JD(U)’s under the anti-defection law in the ken national general secretary and through the Arunachal Pradesh He said talks were held in a cor-

k y m c MAX 28.7° 28.8° that 17 MLAs of Chief Minister deputy leader in the previous as- party which has 43 MLAs. spokesman, asserted that events in defections and the rebellion by LJP. dial atmosphere and the two sides Nitish Kumar’s party were willing sembly, said here. At the JD(U) national execu- Arunachal will not cast a shadow The LJP could not have done reached an agreement on two is-

TEMP MIN 16.0° 13.5° Forecast to cross over. He claimed en masse defection of tive meeting here Sunday, the in Bihar but admitted that the JD(U) what it did in the assembly polls sues -- one relating to the proposed They are all feeling stifled in the the JD(U) MLAs has been put on party adopted a resolution con- had felt aahat (hurt). without the BJP’s tacit approval, electricity law and the other about Humidity 92% 88% Fog/mist current dispensation where the CM hold since the RJD hoped that more demning the violation of the spirit BJP leaders here have insisted Tiwary, who was formerly with an ordinance on penal provisions Rainfall Nil Nil in the morning appears to have capitulated before would like to follow suit soon which of coalition politics in the north- that the party did not poach the the JD(U), said. for stubble burning. P2 WHEN AMANDA SEYFRIED WAS BEEN GREAT PLAYING A DUMB THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR 'OBSESSED' WITH GHOST STORIES PERSON IN FRIENDS: LISA Actress Amanda Seyfried has recalled the time Actress Lisa Kudrow, who gained global fame when she became obsessed with ghost stories. “I playing Phoebe Buffay in the popular sitcom became really obsessed with ghost stories when I Friends, says it has been great playing a dumb

was young, so my first memory is how comfortable person because people talk much more freely y

leisure and safe I felt exploring those tales,” she said. when they assume you don’t understand them.

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FORTUNE FORECAST SHANTANU MOHAPATRA, AN M.TECH IN APPLIED Ileana shares GEO SCIENCE FROM IIT-KHARAGPUR, WAS A ARIES GEOLOGIST BY PROFESSION. her definition Ganesha says you are BUT HE WAS ALSO THE going to have the time of your life; that is if you FIRST MUSIC make the right plans. At work, there will of strength be the usual ups and downs. But plan DIRECTOR TO GET the evening well and you may surprise Mumbai: Actress Ileana D’Cruz yourself. Try candlelights, roses, music... THE HINDI FILM has shared what she believes is GREATS LIKE, LATA the definition of strength. “Strength isn’t always just a TAURUS MANGESHKAR, MOHD big dramatic show of bravado. It isn’t always a long monologue Ganesha predicts that RAFI, MANNA DE AND filled with inspirational words you will work extremely and hard hitting truths. hard to meet your targets USHA MANGESHKAR today. The dividends may not be what you Sometimes it’s just uncurling anticipated, but do not let that bog you TO SING IN yourself up from that ball of down. There will be no cause for anxiety tears and lost confusion, clean- or trouble today, says Ganesha. ODIA FILMS ing yourself up, and stepping out into the world again,” the actress shared on her verified GEMINI Instagram account. On the work front, Ileana is all It will be more or less a set to star in Unfair N Lovely, a hassle-free day, predicts Ganesha. Some of your Exit of a wizard comic take on India’s obsession personal belongings are very dear with fair skin. to you. But you need not be too pos- Set in the backdrop of sessive about them, especially Haryana, the film chronicles the when you have no options but to story of a dusky girl, and will fea- share them with others. ture Ileana D’Cruz opposite Song: Mayuri Go Tuma Akashe Mu Randeep Hooda. The film marks Film: Arundhati the directorial debut of screen- CANCER Singer: Mohd Rafi play writer Balwinder Singh A lot can happen over a Song: Aji Mu Shrabani Janjua. IANS cup of coffee, and today Film : Arundhati a lot will. Things will be Singer : Lata Mangeskar moving quite swiftly today; a little too swiftly to your liking. Song: Mu Ta Thili Ekutia Banra Pakhi You will get a lot of authority at the Film : Dora workplace, and you will use it to the Singer : Suresh Wadekar point of abuse. Song: Duniyare Samayara Nai Kritika on what Film : Suryamukhi Singer : Manna De Shantanu (2nd from R) with Mohd Rafi (2nd from L) during a recording session drew her to the Song: Sei nila pari deshe LEO Film : Surya mujkhi Surviving an earth- tarting from acclaimed filmmaker BORN TO SING Singers : Sikander Alam and upcoming series quake will seem easier Manmohan Mohapatra to play- Born in November 1936 at Nirmala Mishra compared to getting through this day with- Swright Bijoy Mishra, to legendary Baripada, Mayurbhanj to Soudamini Tandav out ruffling your feathers, says actors Bijoy Mohanty and Ajit Das the and Ramesh Mohapatra, Shantanu MAN OF MANY ‘FIRSTS’ Ganesha. It is not your best day, and state has lost a galaxy of stars this learnt classical and traditional vocal Shantanu has many firsts to his Mumbai: Actress Kritika Kamra says her you shall have to work really hard to year. music from Sangeet Narayan credit in the field of Odia Modern/Light upcoming web series, Tandav, is engag- meet your targets today. The latest addition to the list is leg- Banchhanidhi Panda from the age of music. He composed the first ballad, the ing because of its multi layered charac- endary music composer Shantanu five and was ready for public per- first lullaby, the first qawali, the first ters, and that was a factor that got her Mohapatra. formances at state level competi- bhangra tune, the first fusion compo- hooked to the script. VIRGO One of the greatest music directors tions when he was just nine. He went sition(Classical+Western) in Odia. He, “I received a call from the casting Sunshine time today, to have graced the soil, Shantanu won on to create a storm during the All as a music director, also has this unique company and was given two pages out says Ganesha. The nearly 100 awards/honours for his Orissa Music Competitions organised distinction of being the first to get the of the script to prepare for the audi- spotlight is on you, unique contributions to the field of by Utkala Sangeet Samaja, Cuttack Hindi film greats like, Lata Mangeshkar, tions. The read interested me, and I de- and it'll be one of music in the last 60 years. by bagging the Best Singer Trophy Mohd. Rafi, Manna Dey and Usha cided to audition for the show. those excellent days. Difference of He composed music for many block- for four consecutive years, singing Mangeshkar to sing in Odia films. And Meanwhile, I also came to know that it opinions might crop up at work, but stroll over them, says Ganesha. Late in busters like Suryamukhi, Meghamukti, Dhrupad, Khayaal, Odissi, Champu this is in the 60’s when all of them was going to be an Ali Abbas Zafar di- the day, candles and dinner will make Priyatama, Agni Parikhya, Dora, Jaga and Bhajan. were in their peak. rectorial, and I was sure that it would you feel blessed. You'll make quite an Balia, Golamgiri, Ranabhoomi and be a great experience,” Kritika said. impression today. many others and was part of a number “After two rounds of auditions, I fi- of National Award winning movies ACHIEVEMENTS AT A GLANCE nally got a chance to meet him and like Chilika Tire, Priyatama, Agni n Total Songs Tuned: More than 1,900 in Odia, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Assamese, Sanskrit . that’s when I got the complete script. LIBRA Parikhya, Megha Mukti, Sitarati and n Music directions: In over 50 Films While I started reading it, I fell in love Jibana Sangram. n 36 music cassettes/CD and 39 LP records (Discs) with Gaurav Solanki’s writing. The Having an elderly hand to guide you and back He was also the music director of n Being a mining expert, he led the massive operation on Bauxite series is very engaging owing to the you up is always a good award-winning Hindi films Shodh and (Aluminium ore) exploration jointly with Geological Survey of India. multi layered characters and by the thing. Today promises to Bagh Bahadur. Successfully explored more than 1800 million tones of Bauxite which end I knew that -- I have to be a part be very advantageous to you when it Orissa POST takes a look at the jour- led to the establishment of NALCO (National Aluminium Co.) in Odisha. of it, so I agreed for my role of comes to gaining from your seniors. It may ney of multi-talented Shantanu Sana,” she added. IANS have something to do with your exceptional n He played a key role in the establishment of NALCO (National Aluminium Co.) in Odisha skills in building rapport with people, or Mohapatra. as the nodal officer in deputation from Govt of Odisha. your ability to perform truthfully.

SCORPIO SUDOKU Get your family together post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, today and spend most of PEANUTS CROSSWORD the time with them, says column and box must contain the numbers Ganesha. If being practi- 0 to 9 and the letters A to E. cal is important, then have your close friends over at your place too.

SAGITTARIUS Self-righteousness, and a sense of duty set the mood for the day today. You'll be a miserly scrooge in the afternoon. But later in the day, expect dinner with your sweetheart to be extravagant and blissful.

CAPRICORN CALVIN AND HOBBES You may have craved for a mini vacation to some place quaint and peace- ful for long, and would have given up the idea every time because of the burgeoning work pres- sure. But it's time to get impulsive. Give your imagination a free reign today, and SOLUTIONS go where it takes you, for travel is on the cards, and that too with your sweet- heart, says Ganesha.

AQUARIUS You will be on the cloud nine today! With efforts getting recognised and rewarded, you are moti- vated to beat your on standards and raise BREVITY the bar. Not that you have not worked hard, CROSSWORD but at work, you may have to put in more efforts as your bosses expect you to be

more efficient and productive. y

PISCES

k y m c You will need to enlist the cooperation of your col- leagues while chalking out strategies at the work- place today, if you desire to make substan-

tial progress, says Ganesha. The good news CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU is that your efforts are likely to fructify. COVID-19 TRACKER P3 HERITAGE STRUCTURE THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD Atharanala bridge in Puri World 8,25,46,018 5,85,54,774 18,01,724 decorated with ornamental plants as part of a India 1,02,44,852 98,34,141 1,48,439 beautification drive, downtown Odisha 3,29,306 3,25,103 1,871

Wednesday

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305 new Covid cases push Weekend holiday for govt staff to continue 12 UK returnees state tally to 3, 29, 306 PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ESSENTIAL OFFICES been provided with VPN will con- NO COMPLACENCY tinue to work from home, when still untraceable Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Odisha’s AND SERVICES LIKE not assigned roster duty. They Covid-19 tally mounted to 3, 29, ffices in Bhubaneswar and SRC & OSDMA, POLICE, must be available to attend to POST NEWS NETWORK 306 Wednesday as 305 more people OCuttack will function with 75 any office work of urgent nature, tested positive for the infection, per cent strength of employees FIRE, HEALTH AND at short notice and be available Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Amidst while three fresh fatalities pushed during January MUNICIPAL SERVICES on telephone at all times, read concern over spread of a new vari- the state's coronavirus death toll ll government offices and the order. Meanwhile, the gov- ant of Covid-19, about 12 returnees to 1,871, a Health and Family WILL FUNCTION Aemployees have been ernment has put restrictions on from the United Kingdom (UK) are Welfare (H&FW) department of- instructed to strictly follow all congregation and celebration of still untraceable as civic authori- ficial said. IN FULL STRENGTH precautionary measures New Year’s Day in government of- ties have failed to establish any As many as 174 new cases were he government has put fices. The employees have been contacts with them. reported in quarantine centres, POST NEWS NETWORK Trestrictions on congregation asked to use virtual means for As per information provided by while 131 infections were detected and celebration of New Year’s conveying New Year greetings to the Bhubaneswar Municipal It’s worth mentioning here that during contact tracing, he said. Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: All gov- Day in government offices colleagues and seniors. Corporation (BMC), about 62 pas- Director of Public Health, Dr Sundargarh and Sambalpur ernment offices across the state sengers had arrived here from the Niranjan Mishra, had stated that districts registered the highest will continue to remain closed services like Special Relief UK. Out of these, 50 have been con- 181 passengers had returned to number of new cases at 28 each, Saturdays in January in view of Commissioner (SRC) & Odisha tacted, but others are still out of Odisha from the UK between followed by Angul (26), the offi- the Covid-19 pandemic, as per a no- State Disaster Management No Zero Night, NYD bash in state reach. Meanwhile, out of the 50 November 30 and December 21. cial said. The fresh fatalities were tification issued by General Authority (OSDMA), police, fire, Bhubaneswar: In view of Covid-19, state government has prohibited contacted, tests have been con- These returnees are said to have dis- reported in Bhadrak, Bolangir Administration and Public health & municipal services among celebration of Zero Night and New Year Day parties in public places. ducted on 15 persons. persed to 18 districts of Odisha. and Puri districts, he said. Grievances department, Wednesday. others will function in full strength. “Congregation in public places including hotels, restaurants, clubs, parks, “We have formed six special Out of them, a majority were from Fifty-three coronavirus patients Offices in Bhubaneswar and All government offices and em- convention halls, kalyan mandaps, etc. for Zero Night celebration/ welcome search teams to find the where- the Capital city followed by Ganjam. have died due to comorbidities, Cuttack will function with 75 per ployees have been instructed to to New Year/similar other function on December 31, 2020 and January 1, abouts of the people. Earlier, we had “Though at least 92 of them had the official said. Khurda district, cent strength of employees (all strictly follow all precautionary 2021 will remain prohibited throughout the state,” read an order issued by received a list of 20 travellers who given only their phone numbers under which Bhubaneswar falls, staffers including Group A offi- measures issued by the depart- Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy, Wednesday. Usually, a large number of people had returned from the UK. We con- and vague addresses, we could has reported the highest number cers) during January. The depart- ment, it said. congregate in hotels, restaurants, clubs, parks and other public places for tacted all of them and only three reach out to around 65 of them of fatalities at 322, followed by ments/head of offices in In case of detection of any Zero Night celebration on the eve of New Year. Since such congregations travellers tested positive for Covid- through persistent efforts. There is Ganjam (246), Sundargarh (166) Bhubaneswar and Cuttack have Covid case among the office em- have large potential of spreading Covid-19 infection, the state government 19. Their swab samples have been nothing for these returnees to and Cuttack (138), he said. been given power to decide the man- ployees, the office concerned will has imposed the order in public interest. Any person found violating this sent to National Institute of Virology worry about. We will study their The state now has 2, 607 active ner of selection of employees who follow the protocol issued order will be punished under the provisions of the Disaster Management (NIV), Pune for genome sequenc- genome sequence and are follow- coronavirus cases, while 3, 24, 775 will attend office. earlier. Act, 2005 and other relevant laws, warned the government. ing to verify if they carry the new ing the SOP issued by the Centre,” people have been cured of the dis- However, essential offices and The officers/staffers, who have Covid strain.” the Director had mentioned. ease so far, the official said. 6 tainted officials SYNTHETIC PANEER Promotion for 35 shown the door senior IAS officers POST NEWS NETWORK Two Excise officials were POST NEWS NETWORK Sanjeev Chopra, a Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Taking asked to take retirement Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Ahead of 1990-batch IAS officer, stern action against corrupt offi- over allegations of the New Year’s Day celebrations, the has been promoted to cials, the state government state government has given pro- Wednesday gave compulsory re- misbehaviour, dereliction motions to 35 senior IAS officers. Additional Chief tirement to six tainted officials of duty and inefficiency Sanjeev Chopra, a 1990-batch Secretary rank with immediate effect. Of the six IAS officer, has been promoted to officials, four are engineers and tant engineer, R&B division-II, the Additional Chief Secretary 2008 batch have been promoted to two from Excise department. Bhubaneswar), Jayadeep Patnaik rank while three 1996-batch IAS Selection Grade. The officers are: By the order of Chief Minister (deputy superintendent of excise) officers—Saswata Mishra, Vir Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Yamini Naveen Patnaik, compulsory re- and Rihaz Ahmed Beg (Excise Vikram Yadav and Vishal Kumar Sarangi, M Muthukumar, B tirement has been given to the cor- Inspector, Sundargarh). They were Dev – have been promoted to Parameswaran, Guha Poonam rupt and inefficient officials. The asked to take retirement for al- Principal Secretary rank. Tapas Kumar, Maguni Charan officials are: Ajit Kumar Debata leged corruptions and indiscipline Similarly, eight 2005-batch officers Patra, Brundaban Behera, (deputy executive engineer of rural activities. were promoted to Super Time Scale. Dhananjaya Hembram, Gangadhar works division, Keonjhar), Jitendra Action against the engineering The officers are: R Vineel Krishna, Patra, Pabitra Mandal, Sunil Kumar Kumar Dalai (assistant engineer, staffers has been taken for cor- Ratnakar Rout, Dasarathi Satpathy, Nayak and Batakrishna Dehury. quality control department of R&B ruption charges. Two Excise de- Prafulla Chandra Pradhan, Anjan Seven 2012-batch IAS officers division, Cuttack), Bijay Parida partment officials have been asked Kumar Manik, Benudhar Behera, and four 2017-batch officers have (assistant engineer, rural works to take retirement on the basis of Suresh Chandra Dalai and been promoted to Junior section-1, Karanjia, Mayurbhanj allegations of misbehaviour, dere- Food safety officials examine synthetic paneer seized from a bus at OMP Square in Cuttack, Wednesday. Around Debendra Kumar Jena. Administrative Grade and Senior district), Ganeswar Sethi (assis- liction of duty and inefficiency. a quintal of synthetic paneer was being brought to the Silver city from OP PHOTO As many as 12 IAS officers of Time Scale. Rail museum in State ready for nCoV Violators pay for littering City City on the cards Plea in HC for polygraph vaccine dry run POST NEWS NETWORK THE BMC IS REPORTED POST NEWS NETWORK test of Babuli Nayak POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Intensifying TO HAVE COLLECTED Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: East Coast Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: The state its drive against littering in public Railway (ECoR) General Manager POST NEWS NETWORK government Wednesday expressed and open spaces, the Bhubaneswar RS 1,61,650 FINE FROM Vidya Bhushan Wednesday laid the its readiness to conduct dry run Municipal Corporation (BMC) col- 1,970 SHOPS AND foundation stone for construction Cuttack, Dec 30: A miscellaneous of Covid-19 vaccines. lected penalties over Rs 1.61 lakh of a Rail Heritage Museum at case with regard to the alleged State Director of Medical from different shops and estab- COMMERCIAL Chandrasekharpur here in the murder of a minor girl at Jadupur Education and Training (DMET) lishments in two days. ESTABLISHMENTS presence of Additional General in Nayagarh was filed in Orissa CBK Mohanty Wednesday said Carrying out enforcement drives Manager, Sudhir Kumar, and other High Court, Wednesday. that the vaccine dry run is like a in the three zones, the civic au- FOR LITTERING THE principal heads of ECoR depts. Surendra Panigrahi MINOR GIRL mock drill where the coordinated thority is reported to have collected The objective to establish the rail of Bharatiya Vikash MURDER HC to order for a CBI probe efforts undertaken by the gov- Rs 1,61,650 as fine from 1,970 shops PUBLIC PLACES IN CITY museum at Bhubaneswar is to Parishad filed the mis- into the incident. In his pe- ernment are analysed under the and commercial establishments SINCE MONDAY preserve the old railway equip- cellaneous case and urged the HC tition, Panigrahi informed the programme. for littering the public places since ment, showcase the rich history of to take steps to conduct polygraph court that the State Forensic Science “This will see how the vacci- Monday. Two shops were also sealed Railways in this region, enlighten test of Babuli Nayak of Nayagarh. Laboratory, Bhubaneswar, has failed nation can reach from the manu- during the drive. said a senior officer of the en- thereby not contributing in clean- the public about railways and its In their FIR with police, the vic- to determine the semen stain found facturer to the beneficiaries. This “As per an earlier order issued forcement squad. liness of the city. achievements and boost tourism. tim’s parents had alleged the in- from the victim’s frock. will reflect the need of the chain by BMC for penalising those Launched under ‘Mu Speaking on the fines imposed, Old equipment, instruments, volvement of Nayak in the inci- Panigrahi had earlier filed a mis- and the bottlenecks. The dry run found dumping garbage in open Safaiwala’ campaign, the civic BMC Commissioner Prem Chandra technology devices and models dent. However, a Special cellaneous case in the HC and sought directions are given by the Union and not using dustbins we carried authority in November had Chaudhary said, “Initially, we had will also be preserved in the Investigation Team (SIT), formed polygraph test on SIT chief Arun government, which directed four the enforcement drive. On the passed an official order banning conduced awareness drives and in- Heritage Museum through an im- by the state government, has ar- Bothra. He had also pleaded for a states to conduct the same. Odisha first day of enforcement, we had any sort of littering in public formed shopkeepers to strictly use pressive display of artifacts, mod- rested Saroj Sethy of Jadupur in CBI investigation into the case. was not in the list. Odisha has al- inspected 620 shops and imposed spaces. However, it was found dustbins. Our objective is not to els and photographs. In the in- connection with the murder. The A division bench of Justice BR ready been doing vaccination pro- Rs 41,750 penalty. Meanwhile, on that shops and other entities are make profits out of penalties but to door section, various documents, SIT claimed that Sethy raped the Sarangi and Justice Pramath grammes and when needed, we second day a total of Rs 1.19 lakh not following the thumb rule of enforce efficient hygiene and clean old manuals, railway maps, equip- minor girl after killing her. Patnaik would take up Panigrahi’s can conduct the same. We are were imposed on 1,350 shops,” keeping dustbins in their units, environment for the city.” ment and others will be placed. The petitioner also urged the petitions January 12. ready for the same,” he said. APARAJITA FOR CONSENSUS ON SIMULTANEOUS POLLS BJP slams govt for ‘mileage’ over pucca houses POST NEWS NETWORK tional spokesperson POST NEWS NETWORK Harichandan said that the party and national party leader Vinay We are going to protest wanted that the government must Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: BJP Sahsrabuddhe took part in the elec- Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: The state against the proposed plan clarify as to which houses were leader and Bhubaneswar MP tions,” she said unit of Bharatiya of the government to have joint posters built under which scheme and that Wednesday The Lok Sabha MP said that the (BJP) Wednesday objected the of the Centre and the state on the works the new plan of revised posters is sought a consensus among the EC has been entrusted with the Odisha government’s plan to take done under Central schemes likely to add more financial bur- political parties and the people of task of conducting elections, enu- credit for pucca houses built in the den on the government. “It has al- the state on simultaneous elec- meration of voters and other works state under Central schemes. PRITHVIRAJ HARICHANDAN I BJP LEADER ready spent funds on the older tions in the country. but multiple elections often lead BJP leader Prithviraj posters. Earlier, the government “The Union government is going to burden on state resources and ad- Harichandan Wednesday objected Harichandan's statement is a reflection has already spent upto Rs 10 crore to take a historic decision and the ministration. “Rs 450 crore was to the new plan of the state gov- of the fear and anger within Odisha BJP on the works,” he said. provides for the housing pro- Odisha BJP is going to support the spent on EVM machines alone dur- ernment to paste posters on pucca relating to the success of the pro-poor, The BLP leader said that Prime grammes in Odisha. The success of same. On November 26, 2020, Prime ing the last elections,” she said. houses built under schemes of the pro-people housing development Minister has having built 20 lakh houses in only Minister Narendra Modi had briefed “Earlier, state elections and the Centre. He said, “The state gov- programmes in Odisha under vowed to provide pucca houses 5 years by the BJD government has election officials of Gujarat and Lok Sabha elections used to take ernment had started setting wrong leadership of CM Naveen Patnaik to all and actions are now being unnerved the BJP in Odisha.” talked about ‘One Nation One place simultaneously. However, the precedence by pasting the posters LENIN MOHANTY I BJD SPOKESPERSON taken on the same accordingly. He also added, “Harichandan's

Election’ and termed the same as earlier governments dissolved sev- of their own on the houses con- He requested the state to help in statement is a reflection of the

k y m c national need,” she said. eral state assemblies and imposed structed under central scheme. protest against the proposed plan Minister has planned to mislead achieving the target. fear and anger within Odisha Sarangi said that under his vi- President’s Rule in the states in People are now fumed with the mal- of the government to have joint the people on the issue. The gov- The BJD, however, countered the BJP relating to the success of sion, different activities have started 1968-69. Later, the Parliament was practices. Many villagers are ask- posters of the Centre and the state ernment now plans to send letters allegations. BJD spokesperson Lenin the pro-poor, pro-people housing across the state. “In Odisha, we or- also dissolved and due to these ac- ing such people in the government on the works done under Central to the beneficiaries from the CM. Mohanty said, “Odisha provides development programmes in ganised a webinar and tried to in- tivities, the two elections started tak- to go back.” schemes. We will continue our We want such misleading letters almost the same amount of finan- Odisha under leadership of CM teract with the people. Our na- ing place differently,” she said. He also said, “We are going to fight against this. The Chief be taken back.” cial resources/funds that the Centre Naveen Patnaik.” P4 THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR power post

FOCUS POST-PANDEMIC WORLD Take Truth for your force;

take Truth for your refuge.

k y m THE MOTHER ‘ASIAN CENTURY’ c

n the early stages of the is circumscribed by the fact that COVID-19 pandemic, it was so many other Asian countries common to divide countries have been equally successful with- Children of one God Iand their responses accord- out Chinese assistance. ing to their political systems, with The post-war comparison also n the book/film ‘Sophie’s Choice’, the protagonist is forced to choose be- many attributing China’s success may be premature for economic tween the lives of her two children. How would you decide? Many meat in controlling the virus to its au- reasons. Asian countries’ eco- Ieaters try to justify killing animals by claiming they can neither feel nor thoritarianism. As of late 2020, nomic performance in 2020 did think. They place intelligence as the primary criterion that warrants con- however, it is clear that the real di- not match the success of their tinuation on the planet. Here is proof that all creatures great and small are viding line is not political but ge- pandemic response. While both wise and wonderful. ographical. Regardless of whether Vietnam, China, and Taiwan have Let’s start small. Look how social insects, like bumblebees, can solve a country is democratic or au- beaten the rest of the world in complex non-natural tasks. A research team trained bumblebees to pull on thoritarian, an island or conti- terms of GDP growth, the United a string in order to access a sugar water treat. The bees that acquired the nental, Confucian or Buddhist, States has not fared too badly, de- string-pulling skill were labelled ‘innovators’. Twenty-five untrained bees communitarian or individualis- spite its failure to manage the watched the innovator bees solve the puzzle. About 60 per cent of these tic, if it is East Asian, Southeast virus. With forecasts pointing to ‘naïve’ bees learned just by watching trained bees. The team then introduced Asian, or Australasian, it has man- a 3.6 per cent contraction for the a single innovator bee to three separate colonies of untrained bees. The skill aged COVID-19 better than any year, the US is in better shape than spread quickly and half of the untrained bees gained the ability by learn- European or North American every European economy, as well ing from the innovator bee. Even after the original innovator bee died, the Bill Emmott country. as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, skill continued to be passed on to future generations. So, apart from the enor- While this line is not exactly Thailand, the Philippines, and mous intelligence required to design and operate intricate hives and social hemispheric, it is close enough to If future historians want a precise date for others in Asia. The difference is systems, bees have the ‘smarts’ to learn, teach, internalise and pass be suggestive. Even Asia’s worst when the ‘Asian Century’ began, they may be largely a function of intercon- on new skills. IT MAY BE TOO performers (in public-health terms) nectedness: compared to the US, Cambridge University tested western scrub jays to see what they re- SOON TO – such as the Philippines and tempted to choose 2020, just as the US many Asian economies are more membered about foods they had salted away. The birds were given different Indonesia – controlled the pan- publisher Henry Luce dated the ‘American exposed to trade and travel bans, items to hide, some perishable (worms), others durable (peanuts). Four ANNOUNCE A demic more effectively than did which cut deeply into the tourism hours later, the jays looked for the worms—their favourite food—before Europe’s biggest and wealthiest Century’ from the onset of World War II industry. they looked for the nuts, but five days later their response was reversed. They NEW countries. Notwithstanding rea- Although China’s public-health didn’t bother to look for worms, which by then would have rotted, but they HISTORICAL sonable doubts about the quality of 2014, Japan had 48,452 public- have the information we need to pre- and economic outcomes have been still remembered the peanut locations. So, not only were the birds clever enough and accuracy of the reported mor- health nurses (PHNs), 7,266 of pare for future threats. better than the West’s in 2020, it has to remember their hiding places, but also to judge what should be eaten now EPOCH; BUT IT tality data in the case of the whom were employed in public- Many are also wondering what neither found nor really sought and what saved for later. IS NOT TOO Philippines (and India), the fact re- health centres where they could be Asia’s relative success this year will a political or diplomatic advan- Never be mean to a crow. Studies show how these birds can accurately iden- mains that you were much likelier mobilised quickly to assist with mean for public policymaking tage from the crisis. If anything, tify tormentors. Like us, crows seldom forget or forgive and take revenge when- EARLY TO START to die of COVID-19 in 2020 if you COVID-19 contact tracing. Although and geopolitics after the pandemic. China has become more aggressive ever their target is least expecting it. Plus, they call in reinforcements, in were European or American than occupational definitions vary, one If future historians want a precise toward nearby neighbours and the form of their mates, who happily join in the surprise attack. The intel- ABSORBING THE if you were Asian. can compare these figures with date for when the ‘Asian Century’ countries like Australia. This sug- ligence at work here seems comparable to our military strategists execut- LESSONS OF Comprehensive, interdiscipli- those for England, where just 350- began, they may be tempted to gests that Chinese leaders are not ing surgical strikes. nary research is urgently needed 750 PHNs served 11,000 patients in choose 2020, just as the US pub- even trying to build an Asian net- Chickens have a sense of numbers and can actually count. In one study, ASIA’S to explain these performance dif- 2014. (England’s population is lisher Henry Luce dated the work of friends and supporters. young chicks were able to track the changes of PUBLIC-HEALTH ferentials. Because much of our cur- roughly half the size of Japan’s.) ‘American Century’ from the onset How China approaches the issue two quantities of objects hidden behind screens. rent understanding is anecdotal We also will need a better un- of World War II. of international debt restructur- They could consistently point out where the SUCCESSES and insufficiently pan-regional, it derstanding of the effect of specific But this particular comparison ings – especially those connected larger quantity was hidden, even when the puz- is vulnerable to political exploitation policies, such as rapidly closing bor- suggests that any such judgement with its Belt and Road Initiative – zle required addition or subtraction. and distortion. To help all countries ders and suspending international may be premature. After all, Luce’s will be a key test in 2021. But, of But when it comes to maths, elephants may prepare for future biological threats, travel. Likewise, some countries America was an individual su- course, the US and the rest of the just be one of the cleverest creatures. A 2018 several specific questions need to did a much better job than others perpower. Emerging victorious West also will be tested, and on a study shows how Asian elephants are able to be explored. First is the extent to at protecting care homes and other from the war, it would go on to wide range of issues, from inter- process numbers in a more complex manner, which the experience of SARS, facilities for the elderly – espe- claim and define its era (in com- national finance to sociopolitical similar to humans. Researchers trained a 14- Maneka Gandhi MERS, Avian flu, and other dis- cially in countries (notably Japan petition with another superpower, stability. year-old Asian elephant, named Authai, to use ease outbreaks in many Asian and South Korea) with a high pro- the Soviet Union). The Asian It may be too soon to announce a computer touch screen panel. She had to in- If we cannot see how countries left a legacy of health-sys- portion of people over 65. Century, by contrast, will feature a new historical epoch; but it is not dicate with the tip of her trunk, which one of tem preparedness and public re- Moreover, the effectiveness of an entire continent comprising a too early to start absorbing the two figures, shown to her at a time, contained amazingly bright ceptiveness to anti-transmission public-health communications wide range of countries. lessons of Asia’s public-health more items. These ranged from 0 to 10 items. animals are, it is our messaging. clearly varied across countries, In other words, it is not simply successes. Authai was rewarded whenever she chose the Clearly, some Asian countries and it is possible that genetic dif- about China. To be sure, the rising The writer, a former figures featuring the larger number of items. This own lack of have benefited from existing struc- ferences and past programs of anti- new superpower has been notably editor-in-chief of The she did correctly 181 out of 271 times -- a success intelligence, tures designed to prevent out- tuberculosis vaccination may have successful in coping with the pan- Economist, is co-director of rate of 66.8 per cent. Not just a pretty good score not theirs. And if you breaks of tuberculosis, cholera, helped limit the spread of the coro- demic after its initial failures and the Global Commission for but evidence that non-human animals have cog- typhoid, HIV/AIDS, and other in- navirus in some areas. Only with lack of transparency. But its scope Post-Pandemic Policy. nitive characteristics, partially identical to can still bring fectious diseases. For example, as rigorous empirical research will we for asserting systemic superiority ©PROJECT SYNDICATE human counting. yourself to eat an Rats are so small that the terror they evoke seems like an overreaction. Rats display a re- animal, you are markable ability to reason. The fact that they avoid clearly not using your certain toxic foods, even if they don’t become nau- seated until hours later, cannot be explained head. Or your heart by simple association. It seems they are able to SPECTRUM CLIMATE CRISIS think back to previous food encounters to determine which one was likely to have made them sick. This kind of memory, known as episodic memory, is different from associative learning, as, when a dog learns he will earn a cookie by responding to the command ‘sit’. Episodic memory is the capac- ity to think back to a specific event, sometimes long ago— something that A Marshall Plan for the planet rats are able to do just like humans. Fish are often mistaken to have no intelligence, no memory, and no abil- n a year dominated by COVID- UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Business for Nature – a diverse closures, and eliminating defor- ity to feel pain. Completely false. A new, well researched, book shows how 19, it’s perhaps understandable ten-point plan for a Green Industrial group of more than 600 firms and estation from supply chains. fish have many abilities not that different from our own. Archerfish and dam- Ithat we’ve neglected the most Revolution also points the way 50 partner organisations – is ad- The We Mean Business coali- selfish are able to recognise human faces, even when the faces are profound, existential crisis we face: ahead. Energy efficiency and di- vocating more ambitious govern- tion is a great example of joint pri- partly obscured. runaway climate change. But we versification, sustainable infra- ment and corporate action to pro- vate-sector action. Companies with Of course we know that dogs can tell humans apart, but they can also iden- must quickly make up for lost time, structure and housing, renewable vide nature with the safety net it a combined market capitalisation tify human expressions. Studies show how dogs are able to consistently before it’s too late. power generation, green tech- needs to flourish. of over $24 trillion are working to- recognise the difference between happy and angry human faces. Even bet- Fortunately, the prospects for ef- nologies, carbon capture and stor- Next year’s UN Food Systems gether to drive more ambitious cli- ter, dogs can manifest emotional expressions on their own faces to evoke a fective international climate action age, and nature-based solutions all and Nutrition for Growth summits mate policies and accelerate the desired human response. In a 2017 study, psychologists concluded that dogs in 2021 already look much better provide a clear pathway to a net-zero will also be important opportuni- transition to a zero-carbon economy. display certain facial expressions in order to win human sympathy and at- than they did a few months ago. For future. This is the “Marshall Plan ties to raise collective ambition. Similarly, the Task Force on Climate- tention. These particular facial expressions are not a reaction to food or any Paul Polman starters, as soon as President-elect for the Planet” we urgently need, But perhaps the most critical in- related Financial Disclosures is other stimuli, and nor are they something that dogs do when they interact Joe Biden takes office in January, and we must now double down on ternational meeting in 2021 will helping firms better calculate the with each other. In other words, dogs make these ‘faces’ only in the presence the United States will rejoin the achieving a true green recovery. be November’s UN climate con- risks and opportunities of climate of humans to get their attention! 2021 PROMISES TO 2015 Paris climate agreement – the It is encouraging to see the in- ference (COP26) in Glasgow. change, thereby making it easier for Goats are as clever as dogs. They too read emotions and can tell the dif- BE A SUPER-YEAR historic protocol that aims to limit ternational community mobilis- Governments must boost their car- investors to support sustainable ference between happy and sad humans. They gaze at humans in the same global warming to well below 2°C, ing. Next year, China will play a piv- bon-cutting measures in a race to businesses. This is creating a way as dogs do when asking for a treat that is out of reach. They are, in fact, FOR CLIMATE and preferably to 1.5°C, relative to otal role in helping to protect and the top that helps the world achieve domino effect that is helping to just as capable of building emotional relationships with humans as any dog pre-industrial levels. restore nature as the host of the net-zero emissions by 2050 – at the move financial markets in a greener or cat. Sheep too are good with faces. They can distinguish between differ- ACTION, WITH THE This will send an unmistakable United Nations Biodiversity latest. Crucially, COP26 must also direction. ent expressions in humans, as well as detect changes in the faces of anxious STARS ALIGNING signal that the world’s biggest econ- Conference (COP15). The meeting uphold rich countries’ commit- The pandemic has led to a tem- sheep. Researchers found that sheep recognise the faces of at least 50 other omy is again serious about accel- comes at a critical time: one million ment to provide poorer economies porary decrease in greenhouse- sheep and can remember 50 different images. FOR A CLEANER erating its transition to net-zero species are threatened with ex- with the climate finance they need gas emissions and a resurgence of Perhaps the greatest sign of intelligence, even in humans, is knowing what AND MORE carbon-dioxide emissions, and will tinction, and the destruction of to manage extreme weather hazards nature. But a brief reprieve for you previously do not know. In one study, a dolphin named Natua was asked build on China’s recent commit- our oceans, forests, peatlands, and – storms, droughts, and wildfires the planet is no substitute for a co- to identify a high tone and a low tone. He swam at different speeds toward SUSTAINABLE ment to become carbon neutral be- mangroves – which all act as es- – which are increasing in prevalence herent global climate strategy. All the response, depending on how easy or hard the answer was. When the tones fore 2060. These two superpowers sential carbon sinks – has regret- and holding back their develop- told, 2021 promises to be a super-year were quite distinct, Natua swam confidently at full speed. If the tones were FUTURE will define the twenty-first cen- tably become routine business. ment and growth. for climate action, with the stars sort of similar, though, Natua slowed down, waggled his head, and wavered. tury, so the prospect of their en- Valued at $125 trillion a year, Decisive climate action cannot aligning for a cleaner and more Instead of touching one of the paddles to make his choice, he selected the hanced climate collaboration pro- our natural capital and biodiversity be the responsibility of govern- sustainable future. We must seize opt-out paddle (asking for a new trial), which meant he knew that he’d prob- vides real cause for optimism. are the real source of our wealth. ments alone. Business must also the opportunity while we still can. ably flunk the task. So clever. Likewise, the European Union is Or, as the economist Herman Daly play its part by setting science- No surprises at how bright are our closest animal relatives, chimps. When pressing ahead with its ambitious argues, “the economy is a wholly based emission-reduction targets, The writer is Chair of the heading out to a specific fig tree, where they have recently eaten, they can European Green Deal and aims to owned subsidiary of the environ- improving energy efficiency, en- Food and Land Use Coalition. figure out how much sooner they would need to set out for trees far away be climate neutral by 2050. And ment, not the reverse.” That’s why hancing climate reporting and dis- ©PROJECT SYNDICATE from their nest, as for those nearby, to arrive at about the same early hour at both, in order to beat the rush by other animals. This suggests calcula- tion of travel time based on distance, as well as the ability to plan ahead based upon past experience. Equally impressive is their power of inferential rea- Effort for equality Clean governance soning. In a test, apes were presented with two covered cups after they had learned that only one would contain grapes. Both cups were covered and shaken. Sir, A State Cabinet meeting held on 28 December 2020, decided to re- Sir, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik is committed to administer clean gov- As expected, the apes preferred the cup in which they could hear the grapes. serve seats in Engineering and Medical courses for students passing ernance in the state. Realising that corruption is an impediment on When mice are in pain, they grimace. Just like us. When chimps are tick- etters out of government schools in an effort to bring down the disparity be- the road to development and making administration people-friendly led, they laugh. If we cannot see how amazingly bright animals are, it is our tween rural and urban students in higher education. Undoubtedly, is the need of the hour, he has made it mandatory for all government own lack of intelligence, not theirs. And if you can still bring yourself to this would inspire more rural talents to take part in the competitive servants at all levels and politicians including the Chief Minister to eat an animal, you are clearly not using your head. Or your heart. TOL THE EDITOR ring. Generally, students of rural areas and particularly those from gov- declare their property every year. In a span of one year, ninety-one Readers of Orissa POST ernment schools are not getting basic facilities and therefore the gov- government officials have been shown the door and cases are con- To join the animal welfare movement contact [email protected], are most welcome to contribute letters ernment’s step may be welcomed. But if we analyse the decision from templated against many. The latest case being investigated into is that www.peopleforanimalsindia.org (200 words), articles and the point of view of genuine hardworking students who are cracking of a tainted IFS officer charged with amassing wealth dispropor- columns (between 750-1250 words). Contributors are engineering and medical entrances without getting any coaching due tionate to his known sources of income. The cleansing drive includes requested to send their to economic disadvantage, the decision might be agonising. Therefore, bringing names of corrupt officials in public domain. This would contact numbers and full it would rather be good if the government ensures supply of sufficient act as a deterrent for erring public servants. The cases pertaining

postal address/email ID. They may also study material, employ professionals, develop advanced infrastruc- to politicians and top bureaucrats would be referred to the Lokayukta.

k y m WISDOM CORNER send in their valuable comments, opinion c and suggestions, preferably by email, ture in every block as a hub for coaching, assess individual aspirants Patnaik has called upon his party MPs to voluntarily declare prop- to: [email protected] after due coaching, and develop crash courses ahead of entrance ex- erty that would set an example in national arena. The CM’s dras- WASHINGTON IRVING Great minds have purposes; others have wishes. aminations. Though the decision will be beneficial to students from rural tic measures may see noticeable results in 2021 as he is a leader and It’s kind of fun to do the impossible. WALT DISNEY background and government schools, a meticulous effort to pick up the administrator who believes in action, not in mere words. Let’s hope B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, most eligible is needed to ensure equality. everything augurs well for him and for the state as the New Year Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today. MARK TWAIN Bhubaneswar-751010 Santosh Kumar Satapathy, PARALAKHEMUNDI is about to arrive. Sanjib Das, CUTTACK P5 THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR state

DIVINE BLESSINGS

k y m Land losers oppose Bharatmala project c The road project connecting Vishakhapatnam and Raipur will pass though Koraput and Nabarangpur

POST NEWS NETWORK strongly oppose the Bharatmala Yojana if they are not paid rea- Koraput, Dec 30: The central gov- sonable compensation for their ernment has drawn up an action land. They said that many house will plan for a major road project to be affected by the project at shorten distance between Rangamati village in Mahadeiput Vishakhapatnam and Raipur. The panchayat. road project to be developed under In the current situation, the dis- Bharatmala Yojana will pass tance between Vishakhapatnam through Koraput. But as soon as and Raipur is 514 km. After com- the groundwork for the project is FILE PHOTO pletion of this road project, the dis- going to start, people in some parts tance between their two cities will of the district have opposed it, a People who are going to lose their land for the ambitious road project in be reduced to 464 km. report said. Mahadeipur and Mastipur panchayats under Sadar block have accused the A 124.881-km stretch of this proj- According to the report, people government of paying meagre amounts of compensation for their land ect will be laid in Chhattisgarh who are going to lose their land for while 114.989 km will pass through the ambitious road project in he report said, the current market eypore MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati Nabarangpur and Koraput districts. price of an acre of land in the two observed that the government should Mahadeipur and Mastipur pan- T J The road will be laid through panchayat is Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per provide right amount of damages to the chayats under sadar block have ac- acre while the government has fixed land losers and provide land in equal Borigumma, Dasamanthpur, cused the government of paying the price at Rs 30,000 per acre measure elsewhere Koraput, Semiliguda and Pottangi meagre amounts of compensation blocks before touching for their land. THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IS PREPARING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO BE Vishakhapatnam. They have expressed their dis- HELD JANUARY 21 ABOUT LAND ACQUISITION On the other hand, scores of peo- pleasure over the fact that the com- ple who were affected by water After nine months, temples were open to public in Koraput with relaxation of Covid norms. A devotee is scanned ther- pensation the government is of- price at Rs 30,000 per acre. equal measure elsewhere. reservoir and mines in Koraput mally at the entry point of a temple in Jeypore Wednesday OP PHOTO fering them is much less than the The land losers have come to- The district administration is have not yet got their compensa- right value of their land. gether over the issue and recently preparing for a public hearing to be tion. They have been staging agi- They are unlikely to spare their held a meeting at Litiguda. held January 21 about land acqui- tations in the past over their issue. land for the project. The report Jeypore MLA Taraprasad sition. The land losers have decided That another project is going to Village youth said, the current market price of an Bahinipati observed that the gov- to take up the issue with the District take away their land has left them Jadupur villagers acre of land in the two panchayat ernment should provide right Collector well before the public worried. Many Congress leaders becomes ISRO is Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per acre amount of compensation to the hearing. and people’s representatives have while the government has fixed the land losers and provide land in They warned that they will supported the land losers. research scientist prepare to migrate Bajashala dance POST NEWS NETWORK Bargarh, Dec 30: Nihar Ranjan SIT INTENSIFIES PROBE INTO PARI troupe to perform Paddy from other districts Pradhan of Jharpali village under Ambabhona block in Bargarh dis- MURDER MYSTERY at R-Day in Delhi trict has been selected to join the Indian Space Research POST NEWS NETWORK lands in Sonepur, Sambalpur Organisation (ISRO) in Bangalore as a research scientist. Nihar said Bhawanipatna, Dec 30: Bringing POST NEWS NETWORK he got the intimation recently pride to Odisha, a folk dance group from ISRO and he will join the or- from Bhawanipatna town in Sonepur/Sambalpur, Dec 30: ganisation in January Kalahandi district has been se- Even as farmers in different parts Nihar is the youngest son of fa- lected to per- of western Odisha have been crib- ther Rajkumar Pradhan and form at 2021 bing about delayed tokens and other Pankajini. The family ekes out FILE PHOTO Republic Day procurement issues, some traders their living from farming. Locals parade at are brining paddy from other dis- said that Nihar from his child- Rajpath in tricts to Sonepur. Some millers are hood had expressed keen inter- POST NEWS NETWORK questioning said, in condition of New Delhi. allegedly buying outside paddy at est towards science. He frequently anonymity. According under rates, a report said. used to make models of various sci- Nayagarh, Dec 30: After a brief Meanwhile, regular visits by the to sources, According to the report, traders entific products. lull, the Special Investigation Team SIT team to Jadupur village and the Bhawanipatna's Bajashala dance are buying paddy at low rates in After completing his primary (SIT) has intensified its probe in the time to time interrogation of the troupe will be the only group which other districts like Bhadrak, Boudh mess in the paddy procurement in tricts is landing at market yards schooling from the village, Nihar minor girl murder case in Jadupur residents during the probe had its will represent eastern India at and Nayagarh. the district. in the district. studied at Kedarnath Adivasi High village in this district, Tuesday. impact on the villagers. A villager Rajpath January 26, 2020. The group Following such allegations, the On the other hand, the govern- Such allegations made by farm- School at Ambabhona in this dis- However, the SIT stayed away from claimed that this has led to loss of will take part in the parade through civil supplies department has been ment has laid stress on smooth ers in different areas had come out trict. He cracked the JEE Main visiting Jadupur village and in- livelihood for many. As result, peo- Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre on its toes. It has started raids in var- paddy procurement so that farmers in media earlier. About 70 per cent and Advanced and took admis- stead called selected persons from ple are preparing to migrate to (EZCC), Kolkata under the Ministry ious areas. do not face any problem in their re- of the paddy has been procured, sion at the Indian Institute of the village and interrogated them other states in search of livelihood. of Culture. As many as 80 members A team of officials led by dis- spective areas. Despite all this, but the administration has now Space Science and Technology in this connection. When contacted, the village com- of Bajashala dance troupe has been trict civil supplies officer Bishnu paddy being brought from other woken up to this problem. (IIST) at Trivandrum. He did his This has left the residents un- mittee president Jaykrushna Parida selected to perform at the parade. Prasad Supakar raided Patabhadi districts has added to the problems A special squad recently formed B.Tech course in aerospace engi- nerved as they chose to keep their and nine others are preparing to Two gurus (dance masters) Chintu and Kalapathar Tuesday. They of the farmers in Sonepur where to check supply of paddy from other neering. mouth shut and refused to speak leave for Kerala in search of liveli- Prasad Naik and Debesh Singh seized two trucks laden with paddy most of them fail to dispose of their districts seized a truck carrying “I got selected as a research sci- anything when questioned by the hood after January 12. He said he will manage the troupe. late Monday night. paddy in mandis, it was alleged. 541 sacks of paddy at Jujumara entist in ISRO for my excellent media or some other persons. When along with other villagers has fully After arrival at New Delhi, the It was learnt that one of the The civil supplies department has late Tuesday night. performance in IIST absorption questioned, they said to have only cooperated with the SIT in their in- group will start rehearsal for the trucks was carrying paddy from registered a case in this regard. The seized paddy sacks have drive. I came out successful in my received a call to appear in person vestigation and expect it to complete Republic Day. Ministry of Defense Nayagarh to Bargarh. Another was Meanwhile, a report from been unloaded at a rice mill at career, owing to the stress-free before the SIT but are yet to be in- its probe soon. However, he re- will do all the preparation for the carrying paddy from Kantamal Sambalpur said, even as paddy pro- Batemura. An official said there study atmosphere and career op- terrogated in this connection. They quested not to implicate innocent final performance of all dance area of Boudh district to a rice mill curement is under way in was no valid document for the tions provided by my family,” the waited there for long and were re- persons in the case and arrest only troupes. in Sonepur. This has revealed the Sambalpur, paddy from other dis- paddy loaded in the truck. young scientist said. turning home, a person called for those involved in the crime. Malkangiri inmate’s death is murder: Kin Cop under Vig scanner Undertrial dies at DHH in Dhenkanal POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK After his death, the jail author- POST NEWS NETWORK ceased prisoner was identified In a similar incident, an under- ities had said he had slit his throat Jagatsinghpur, Dec 30: Separate as Brahmananda Dehuri of trial prisoner who was lodged in Chitrakonda, Dec 30: The death with a knife Saturday. He was ad- teams of Vigilance sleuths simulta- Dhenkanal, Dec 30: In a bizarre de- Haripur village in the district. district sub-jail in Malkangiri of a Malkangiri sub-jail inmate mitted to a hospital in Malkangiri. neously raided the houses of police velopment early Wednesday morn- He suddenly fell sick Tuesday died under mysterious circum- took a twist Tuesday when the de- He succumbed Sunday. ASI Rabindra Nath Senapati Wednesday ing, an under-trial prisoner (UT) night and was rushed to the DHH. stances while undergoing treat- ceased’s family members brought The family members alleged that morning over charge of amassing as- died while undergoing treatment at The doctors treating the man pro- ment at Malkangiri DHH up allegations that he was brutally they were told that Danu had fallen sets disproportionate to his known the district headquarters hospital nounced him dead in the morn- December 27. The prisoner iden- murdered in the jail. sick. It was when they reached at sources of income. The searches were (DHH) in Dhenkanal. He was ad- ing. Dehuri was earlier arrested tified as Danu Golori was a resi- The inmate, Danu Goleri, died the sub-jail to enquire about his conducted in his parental house at mitted to the hospital after he com- in 2013 in connection with a mur- dent of Khajuriguda of while undergoing treatment at a condition, the jail authorities asked Panchapalli area under Ersama block, plained of severe stomach ache. der case and was lodged in the dis- Swabhiman Anchal in the dis- hospital in Malkangiri Sunday. them to take his body. a residential house at Mukundapur, According to sources, the de- trict jail here. trict. Danu was suspected to be a Demanding a high-level inquiry, his office room in Jagatsinghpur dis- Maoist and was thus arrested the aggrieved family members were trict and his flat at Hanspal area in three months ago. The family not performing the last rites of the Bhubaneswar. members met him at the sub-jail deceased. Only when the villagers The ASI is presently working at more than once and, they claimed, and relatives intervened, they Tirtol court. Over 10 bank passbooks, he never complained of any kind budged and the last rites of Danu huge gold ornaments, 3 houses worth of sufferings. were performed. over Rs 1.5 crore were traced. PEOPLE DRINK WATER FROM STREAMS SOLAR PROJECTS IN MANY HILLY AND REMOTE AREAS OF JHUMPURA BLOCK HAVE GONE KAPUT

Goduatopa, Hatimara, Sanakalimati, Bagarampada Sahi, Jampada Sahi, Kutugan and Chipinda alleged that nobody from the OREDA or RWSS comes to repair once solar systems go out of order. Unless five to six projects go defunct in the area, the OREDA officials will not come for re- pair, they alleged. At Kutugan, tow solar projects have been lying defunct for the last two months. The villagers apprised the Jhumpura-based RWSS division of their miseries that have cropped up over shortage of water, but no steps have been taken to set these projects right. POST NEWS NETWORK When asked about the problem, a Malda, Nayagad, Basantpur, Kutugan step was taken to set it right, locals al- junior engineer who is in charge of Jhumpura, Dec 30: As a solar-pow- and Nischintapur. leged. The company is bound by an these projects at the RWSS office, said ered drinking water project and tube Over 200 tube wells have been set agreement to repair the projects when- he is on leave for the last two months. well are lying defunct, people in hilly up in these areas too while nearly Rs ever necessary till five years since Another engineer Subhamsita and remote areas under Jhumpura 10 lakh from the DMF fund has been their installation. Khamari said that she has intimated

block of Keonjhar district are forced spent for these projects. As water is not available from the the problem to the district office.

k y m c to drink water from streams and pits, The state-owned OREDA had been project, people have to drink water Dayanidhi Sahu, executive engi- a report said. awarded a contract to set up solar from a nearby stream, said a villager neer of the Keonjhar RWSS office According to the report, the gov- panels to run drinking water proj- of Kutugan. The villagers accused said that technical staff f the OREDA ernment has made provisions of solar- ects. A project was set up in Malda pan- the OREDA of being apathetic to their has been intimated about the defunct powered drinking water projects in chayat, but it has been left half-way problem. solar projects. These projects will be hilly and remote panchayats like done. Two years have passed, but no Villagers of Andharkhamani, repaired, Sahu added.

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k y m c 6 &7 THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

The year 2020 has been one of anguish, fear and uncertainty, but if nothing else, it’s taught us to remain YEAR OF UNLEARNING, RELEARNING steadfast in commitment to helping one another. It forced us to look at our humanity in US ELECTIONS relation to others on this How the pandemic changed the world he US elections became the talking point T across the world during the second-half of hen the world celebrated the dawn the population. At least 50 million succumbed to Buenos Aires, streets fell eerily silent, the 2020. On December 14 the Electoral College planet, Orissa POST of a new decade with a blaze of to Spanish Influenza in 1918-19. Thirty-three all too frequent wail of ambulance sirens, confirmed Democratic candidate Joe Biden as firework parties and revelry million people died of AIDS. a reminder that death loomed close. America’s next President, W ratifying his November brings back glimpses January 1, few could have imagined The scale of the global disaster was Scientists had warned for decades of a victory in an authoritative what 2020 had in store. scarcely imaginable when December 31, global pandemic, but few listened. Some of state-by-state denial by In the last 12 months, the novel Chinese authorities announced 27 cases of the richest countries in the world, let alone President Donald Trump’s of the year coronavirus has paralysed "viral pneumonia of unknown origin" that the poorest floundered in the face of an in- refusal to concede his economies, devastated commu- was baffling doctors in the city of Wuhan. visible enemy. In a globalised economy, sup- defeat. The presidential nities and confined The next day, authorities quietly shut the ply chains ground to a halt. Supermarket electors gave the 78- year-old Biden a nearly four billion Wuhan animal market initially linked to shelves were stripped bare by panic buyers. solid majority of NEWS MAKERS people to their the outbreak. On January 7, Chinese officials Chronic underinvestment in healthcare 306 electoral homes. It has been announced they had identified the new was brutally exposed, as hospitals strug- votes as a year that changed virus, calling it 2019-nCoV. On January 11, gled to cope and intensive care units were compared to the world like no China announced the first death in Wuhan. rapidly overwhelmed. Underpaid and over- Trump’s 232. This KAMALA HARRIS other for at least a Within days, cases flared across Asia, in worked medics battled without personal is the same margin that amala Harris who has Indian roots made generation, possi- France and the United States. protective equipment. Trump bragged Khistory as the first woman, the first Asian bly since World By the end of the month, countries were Businesses closed. Schools and colleges was a landslide American and the first Black American to War II. More than airlifting foreigners out of China. Borders shut. Live sport was cancelled. Commercial when he won the become Vice President of America November 4. 1.8 million people around the world started to close and more airline travel saw its most violent contrac- White House in 2016. The Biden-Harris ticket received the most votes died. At least 82 than 50 million people living in Wuhan's tion in history. Shops, clubs, bars and restau- ever – more than 74 million – in the history of America’s elections. million people are province of Hubei were in quarantine. rants closed. Spain's lockdown was so severe known to have con- As the horror went global, the race for a that children couldn't leave home. People were tracted the virus, vaccine had already begun. A small German suddenly trapped, cheek by jowl in tiny though the actual biotech company called BioNTech quietly apartments for weeks on end. BIZZARE NEWS MUKESH AMBANI number is likely put their cancer work aside and launched Those who could, worked from home. much higher. Children be- another project. Its name? "Speed of Light". Zoom calls replaced meetings, business fter the Reliance Jio-Facebook deal was Cannabis mistaken for methi A announced April 22, Mukesh Ambani’s came orphans, grandpar- On February 11, the World Health travel and parties. Those whose jobs were wealth surged to make him Asia’s richest man ents were lost and part- Organization named the new disease as not transferrable were often sacked or forced surpassing Jack Ma. Ambani’s fortune rose by ners bereaved as loved Covid-19. First Italy, then Spain, France and to risk their health and work regardless. $4.69 billion to $49.2 billion after Reliance ones died alone in hospi- Britain went into lockdown. WHO declared Social inequities, which for years had Industries gained 10 per cent, according to the tal, bedside visits consid- Covid-19 a pandemic. US borders, already been growing, were exposed like never Bloomberg Billionaires’ Index April 25. The ered too dangerous to risk. closed to China, shut to much of Europe. For before. Hugs, handshakes and kisses fell ranking that changes after the close of every trading day in the US puts Ambani $3.2 billion by the wayside. Human interaction took Still Covid-19 is far from the dead- the first time in peacetime, the summer HEARTBREAKING ahead of Jack Ma’s $46 billion. liest pandemic in history. Bubonic plague Olympics was delayed. From Paris to New place behind plexiglass, face masks and An exhausted migrant kid clinging onto suitcase wheeled by mother in the 14th Century wiped out a quarter of York, from Delhi to Lagos, and from London hand sanitizer. A family in Uttar Pradesh had to be hospitalised after cooking a dish with cannabis leaves. They RATAN TATA thought the leaf was fenugreek or methi. eteran industrialist Ratan Tata was conferred V the title of “Global Visionary of Sustainable AK-47 rifle as wedding gift Business and Peace” by the Federation of Indo-Israel ROUND THE GLOBE Chambers of Commerce (FIICC) for epitomising Covid-19 and the plight of migrants “unity, peace and sustainability”, December 22. He received the honour for his commitment to put India FARMERS’ PROTESTS INDIA-CHINA CLASH AI PLANE CRASH o contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus, nificantly reduced work opportunities (the very rea- on the global map with dignity and respect has been noted by each and everyone. t least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese forces in a n Air India Express plane with the Indian government initiated the largest na- son for them to migrate) and trying to come to terms Adisputed Himalayan border area, June 15. The incident follows rising A 190 people on board has crashed T tional lockdown in the world March 2020. with the labelling of ‘virus carrier’ stigma has caused tensions, and is the first deadly clash in the border area in at least 45 at an airport in Kerala, killing at least Initially announced to last until April 14, the lockdown a great deal of anxiety and associated violence has been MS DHONI years. The Indian Army initially said three of its soldiers had been killed, 18 people August 6, officials say. The severely affected the movement of people, disrupting reported. Migrants thought that going back to their adding that both sides suffered casualties. But later officials said a num- Boeing 737, en route from Dubai, skid- utting an end to 16-year-old career, former ber of critically injured soldiers had died of their wounds. India's external affairs ministry accused China of breaking ded off the runway in rain and broke A groom in Pakistan got a bizarre wedding gift from daily life and access to healthcare facilities. hometown; they could return to farming or take up P Indian cricket captain and veteran wicket- an agreement struck the previous week to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. in two after landing at Calicut airport, a guest: an automatic rifle. A video of the woman One of the consequences of lockdown measures in employment in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni August aviation officials said. The flight was greeting the newlyweds and asking someone to the country has led to an unprecedented migration Employment Guarantee Act scheme, but only a for- 15 announced his retirement from international repatriating Indians stranded by the hand over what looked like an AK-47 rifle got plenty of workers and families from large urban centers to tunate few could avail the benefit. cricket. Posting a video on Instagram, Dhoni – of comments on social media. coronavirus crisis. The rescue opera- rural India. For decades, millions of workers have mi- With chronic underfunding in the rural health- who last donned the blue jersey against New TINSEL TOWN DRUGS CASE BREXIT tion at the crash site has now been Zealand in the 2019 ICC World Cup 2019 semi- Snake as mask grated from their rural homes and villages to urban care and economy, the pandemic has highlighted the final -- thanked his fans “for their love and or over three weeks, kilometers ushant ritain and completed and survivors have been cities, looking for opportunities and livelihoods. The failings of rural infrastructure. support” while announcing his retirement. F after kilometers of trucks and Singh taken to hospitals in Calicut and S B the sudden enforcement of lockdown following a 14-hour The extraordinary migrant crisis due to Covid-19 tractor-trailers have been piled up was found European Malappuram, according to Kerala just north of New Delhi. The farm- Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. ‘Janata curfew’ March 22 immediately disadvantaged is unparalleled since Indo-Pakistan partition of 1948. hanging at Union (EU) ARCHANA SORENG ers who drove to New Delhi border his Bandra finally will Dozens of people were injured, 156of already vulnerable populations as it restricted people Similar to the fallout from the partition, this current are protesting agricultural laws them seriously, officials say. Air India home June look forward stepping out from their homes. All transport—road- crisis will leave a lasting legacy on future of India. It rchana Soreng, climate activist from Odisha, was been named by United they worry will hurt their earnings Express said the two pilots were 14, sparking to begin a new chapter in their relationship; the ways, airways and railways—were suspended, in- To alleviate the workers’ plight, the state govern- perately tried to return home, homecoming has been appears the Covid-19 pandemic has forced India to fi- Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres July 28 to his new advisory and benefit tycoons. And there is no among the dead. Flight IX 1134 was A off a huge negotiations to which began in 2017. UK Prime group comprising young leaders. Archana joined six other young climate sign of a retreat. Trucks hand out carrying 184 passengers, including 10 cluding hospitality industries, educational institu- ments started arranging buses to take them back to bittersweet. They stare at another crisis. With sig- nally acknowledge the migrant. political con- Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce leaders from around the world who have been named by Guterres to his new oranges, and stalls distribute hot infants, and six crew members. tions, and industrial units. As the factories and their villages for free. But these were heavily over- troversy, an upheaval in the Hindi film world the contours of the trade deal at Downing Street Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. tea and pudding to passersby. besides multiple probes by the Mumbai Police, soon. Johnson and European Commission workplaces closed down, millions of migrant work- subscribed with migrants hanging on footboards and Temporary salons have sprung up. Patna Police, Central Bureau of Investigation, ED President Ursula von der Leyen have been in close A man in England was spotted using a snake as a face cov- ers had to deal with loss of income, food shortages and climbing on rooftops to find a place. Some group of mi- For now, these roads and trailers and the NCB. On September 4, the brother of contact over the past few days as the December ering prompting a range of reactions from across the an uncertain future. grants tried to hire people carriers, however returning are their home, despite the cold. Sushant’s ex-girlfriend Rhea- Showik 31 transition period cut-off loomed over the nego- world. A video showed the man with the snake wrapped With no money, no job, unsure when the lockdown migrants faced other danger. “More farmers are joining us next DIEGO MARADONA Chakraborty – was arrested by the Narcotics tiations, which have missed repeated deadlines around his neck and mouth even as he sat calmly in a bus. will finally end, the migrant workers had no other op- On May 1, 2020, the government PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNA week,” says farmer Ram Singh, who Control Bureau (NCB) in a drugs related case as as the two sides failed to agree on key areas of traveled 140 miles to join. “Most of tion than to return to their villages. Their massive mi- introduced special ‘Shramik World soccer great Diego Armando Maradona died part of the investigations into the death of fishing rights in each other’s waters that would Harmonica stuck in mouth November 25 less than a month after his 60th birthday. He riyanca Radhakrishna became New Zealand’s our wives and children are back Sushant Singh Rajput. He was granted bail apply to the UK as a non-member of the 27-mem- gration from working states has formed a humanitarian Special’ trains from many first-ever Indian-origin minister after Prime home for now, but they’ll join us, was worshipped like a god for his genius with the ball, but P December 2, three months after his arrest. ber economic bloc. and health security challenge and an exceptional lo- districts in the country for his demons almost destroyed him. Minister Jacinda Ardern inducted her as too, if needed.” As Prime Minister gistical nightmare. migrants. Since then, Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Narendra Modi’s administration This instigated the next problem for them. How to Indian Railways have Communities November 2. Radhakrishnan is one veers right, fellow Hindu national- reach home? With road and rail transport links still ferried over 5 mil- of the 5 members of freshly-re-elected Labour ists have often dismissed critics as BLACK LIVES MATTER Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s ‘incredibly suspended, walking back was the only option and lion migrant work- “anti-national.” But agriculture HOSNI MUBARAK diverse cabinet’. employs half of India’s workforce, eorge Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 25, this year they initially took to the road. ers by more than making the farmers’ protests one G while being arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. During the arrest Derek Chauvin, a People have undertaken hazardous journeys, some- 3,000 Shramik QASEM SOLEIMANI Former Egyptian President Hosni white police officer from the Minneapolis Police Department, knelt on Floyd’s neck for about 9 and Mubarak, who held power for 30 years of the most serious challenges yet In an attempt to entertain her cousin, a high school stu- special trains. half minutes after Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down. Two police officers, J. Alexander Kueng times walking up to 1,000 km with no money to spend Iran's most powerful military com- until he was ousted in 2011 in a pop- to his populist image. And the dent from Ontario stuffed a harmonica in her mouth. GENERAL BIPIN RAWAT and Thomas Lane, assisted Chauvin in restraining Floyd, while another officer, Tou Thao, prevented and often without food for days together. Many were For many mander, Gen Qasem Soleimani, has ular uprising against corruption demonstrations have come to However, the musical instrument got stuck, making it bystanders from interfering with the arrest and intervening as events unfolded. The barbaric killing of arrested by law enforcement officials for violating the migrant been killed by a US air strike in Iraq and autocratic rule, died symbolise a wider kind of discon- difficult for O’Brien to breathe. The harmonica was later eneral Bipin Rawat took over as India's first Floyd was captured by a man on his mobile, and the video went viral, following which widespread January 2. The 62-year-old spearhead- February 25 at the age of 91. tent, about democratic ideals and removed by a dentist. lockdown, many died due to exhaustion or accidents workers GChief of Defence Staff (CDS) January 1. He is room for dissent. protests began not only in the US but across the world by the slogan, “Black Lives Matter”. on the roads. who des- ed Iranian military operations in the Mubarak presided over an entrusted with coordinating with the three Middle East as head of Iran’s elite era of stagnation and oppres- Services and reporting to the Prime Minister. Quds sion at home and was an early The tri-service agencies, organisations and victim of the "Arab Spring" rev- commands relating to cyber and space will come olutions that swept the region. under the command of the CDS, who will also PRICE FOR ‘FLYING HIGH’ FAITH PREVAILED OVER FEAR NAYAGARH HORROR GOOD NEWS FOR GOVT SCHOOL PUPILS function as the Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority. he year midst the n a major move to T exposed an IFS A intense war he alleged murder of a minor girl of Nayagarh continued to hog the I promote students PIERRE CARDIN officer, who had against novel Tlimelight throughout the second half of the year. The allegation of passing out of gov- Fashion designer Pierre Cardin died amassed ill-gotten coronavirus, faith organ trading by the minor girls’ parents and the Opposition parties put ernment-run high December 29 aged 98. The French cou- SONU SOOD wealth and was finally prevailed the state government in a tight spot. Parents of the deceased minor schools, the Odisha ture legend worked for Dior in his leading a plush over fear as this alleged that their kid was murdered for organ smuggling and accused Cabinet December onu Sood hit the headlines for his relief AHMED PATEL twenties, before founding his own Sefforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, as he lifestyle. The year’s Rath Yatra Minister Arun Sahoo of being involved in the act. The BJP and Congress 28 passed a resolu- RUTH BADER GINSBURG ladies boutique in 1954. Vigilance sleuths was organised took out rallies and staged demonstrations demanding CBI probe into tion to reserve some Ahmed Patel was a Congress leader, has been hailed as a real-life hero for migrant December 27 without congrega- the incident. Buckling under pressure from the Opposition parties, the seats in medical and Ruth Bader Ginsburg became a heroine MP and political secretary to Congress workers and those who lost jobs. Sood has been arrested Odisha tion of devotees government had to form an SIT to probe the matter. It was headed by engineering col- to the American Left after overcoming president Sonia Gandhi. He passed involved in charitable work through his trust, cadre IFS officer, on the Grand Road OSRTC CMD Arun Bothra. The minor girl was playing near her house July leges for these stu- entrenched sexism in the legal profes- away November 25 at the age of Professor Saroj Sood Trust, named after his Abhay Kant Pathak, for possessing assets disproportionate to his known in Puri, adding a 13. Her skeletal remains stacked in a gunny bag were found in the back- dents. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha said, after intro- sion to ascend to the US Supreme 71. He died due to multiple mother. sources of income and his son Akash Pathak for duping job seekers. new chapter to the side of her house July 23. The incident came to the fore after girl’s par- duction of centralised exams like NEET and JEE for medical and engineering Court, where she championed organ failure stemming Akash had identified himself as the MD of Tata Motors. The state govern- Srimandir’s history. Srimandir, the abode of Lord Jagannath, was shut for ents attempted self-immolation in front of the Assembly in Bhubaneswar courses, it is observed that the number of meritorious students from govern- gender equality and other from Covid-19. CAPTAIN TANIA SHERGILL ment placed the senior officer under suspension immediately after the devotees since March end due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus. The November 24 as the district police failed to crack the case several ment-run high schools and colleges in Odisha, qualifying for admissions in liberal causes during 27 arrest. The Vigilance department said that Pathak’s total properties are Supreme Court ordered for cancellation of Car Festival due to Covid-19 months after the incident. The SIT picked up Saroj Sethi, a college stu- these institutions, has been reducing over the years. This is not due to lack of years on the bench. SEAN CONNERY aptain Tania Shergill is the first woman army around 435 per cent of his known sources of income. Pathak had paid `3 spread while hearing a petition June 18. The order created a lot of dent and neighour of the girl, from Jadupur village in the district. meritorious students but a deeper divide in access to coaching classes which is Ginsburg died PRANAB MUKHERJEE C officer to become parade adjutant for crore towards booking chartered planes for travelling to cities like resentment among the devotees and servitors. The state government missing in rural areas, he said. The government realized that thousands of meri- September 18 at the Scottish movie legend Sean Republic Day. She also leads the all-men Mumbai, Patna and Delhi during the lockdown. The Vigilance officials filed an affidavit in the SC and supported Rath Yatra with restrictions in torious students from government schools are at a disadvantage and fare lower age of 87. Connery, who shot to interna- Pranab Mukherjee, who served as contingent on Army Day. Commissioned in March,

` tional stardom as the suave, 2017, from the Officer Training Academy, Chennai,

k y k y also seized gold ornaments weighing around 800 grams worth 23 lakh, place. Finally, on June 22 a three-member bench of the SC allowed con- than their potential in the entrance exams. To correct the imbalance and pro- the 13th President of India, died `60 lakh cash from his house and also found three luxury cars like duct of Car Festival in Puri. With just a few hours in hand for the mega vide confidence to meritorious students of government schools, to help them sexy and sophisticated British August 31 at the age of 84. Pranab Shergill is electronics and communications

graduate. Shergill, a fourth generation woman Army

m c m c Mercedes, BMW and Tata Harier in is possession along with three festival, the state government pulled out all the stops to hold the festival fulfill their dreams to become doctors and engineers, the state government agent James Bond and went on Mukherjee had tested positive for Yamaha FZs registered in his son’s name. Gopalpur MLA Pradeep June 23. In another development, the temple, which remained out of decided to provide reservation to eligible government school and college stu- RIP to grace the silver screen for COVID-19 prior to a surgery to officer will break a glass ceiling on Wednesday Maharathy was also arrested and expelled from the BJD for his alleged bounds for devotees for nine-long months, reopened for servitors and dents of Odisha for admission into medical and engineering colleges in the four decades, died October 31 remove a blood clot in his brain. when she becomes the first female to lead an all- complicity with the Pathaks. their family members December 23 and for Puri residents December 26. state. The decision will come into effect from the next academic year. at the age of 90. men contingent at the Army Day Parade. BACK HOME BACK P8

KARNATAKA THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m c Will Goa legalise cannabis cultivation MUTATED COVID STRAIN MINISTERS IN THE STATE ARE DIVIDED IN THEIR VIEWS Yedi appeals for cooperation The Karnataka CM urges ‘missing’ UK returnees to cooperate with govt AGENCIES Goa, a tourism-dependent state that is already infamous as a Panaji, Dec 30: Ministers in Goa narco-tourism destination. AGENCIES As the Chief Minister of appear to be a divided lot on regu- While Chief Minister Pramod the state, I urge all lated cannabis cultivation in the Sawant has maintained that a final Bangalore, Dec 30: Karnataka those who have returned coastal state for medicinal pur- decision on the matter is yet to be Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa from the UK to come forward poses, a day after Law Minister taken and that the proposal needed Wednesday appealed to all “miss- and get their health check up Nilesh Cabral made a strong pitch Cabinet approval, Law Minister ing” UK returnees to get tested for done. See to it that you don’t for such endeavour. Nilesh Cabral has said that 'bhang', the new strain of coronavirus, for create trouble for others Speaking to reporters in Panaji a derivative of the cannabis plant, their own safety and also to curb the BS YEDIYURAPPA | CHIEF MINISTER, Wednesday, Art and Culture is already legally sold in seven spread of the infection. KARNATAKA Minister Govind Gaude said that Indian states. "As the Chief Minister of the that while the move could help gen- "In seven states in India, a form state, I urge all those who have re- erate employment, it could also of this (cannabis) plant, known as turned from the UK to come forward the necessary precautionary meas- home department's help to locate lead to adverse social impact. Earlier 'bhang', is already available. Bhang and get their health check up done. ures, and cooperate." The CM's ap- them. The CM ruled out any change in the day, he said he did not even we must also spare a thought for the of the decision. is sold across the counter in some See to it that you don't create trou- peal comes in the wake of seven in the Covid safety guidelines for know what cannabis was. families which may be destroyed on "It should be studied. This is a mat- states in licensed stores like liquor ble for others," Yediyurappa said be- people, who returned to the state now as the danger of coronavirus "I don't even know what cannabis account of such a decision," Gaude ter which deals with people's health," vends elsewhere," Cabral said fore reporters. from the UK recently, testing posi- has not subsided. "There is no is. Whether it is used for 'ganja' or said. Ajgaonkar said. The Cabinet on Tuesday. Yediyurappa tweeted: "Dear cit- tive for the new strain of the virus change in guidelines at this point for medicinal purposes, I cannot According to Tourism Minister Minister also said that experts The Goa Forward party has op- izens, the danger of corona has still and who are undergoing treatment in time. If there is any instructions comment on it. I will study it first," Manohar Ajgaonkar, the proposal needed to be consulted before al- posed the move, saying it may lead not subsided. As we enter into the at designated hospitals in the city. from Delhi (Union government), Gaude told reporters. mooted by the Health Department lowing legal cultivation of cannabis the youth in Goa to ruin. New Year even a slightest ignorance A total of 2,500 people have come let's see then," he said in response "If we are looking at it from the needed a thorough vetting by ex- in Goa. "How will this benefit the youth regarding the pandemic is not done. to the state from the UK between to a query. employment point of view, perts, to under the long-term impact "It should be studied and a re- of Goa? Is this needed for their fu- Follow the government's guidelines November 25 and December 22 on The Chief Minister said that the port needs to be compiled before ture?" Goa Forward President and and rules and stay safe by taking all two flights -- Air India and Union Health Ministry is moni- I don’t even know It should be studied and a report taking such a decision... if experts former Deputy Chief Minister Vijai British Airways. toring the spread of the new UK vari- what cannabis is. needs to be compiled before give us good inputs, the govern- Sardesai had asked. Till Tuesday evening, the ant of coronavirus in India, there- Whether it is used for taking such a decision... if experts ment can go ahead with it, but only The Shiv Sena in Goa had also op- Karnataka health department had fore Karnataka cannot decide ‘ganja’ or for medicinal give us good inputs, the after a proper study is conducted," posed the move and its state conducted tests on 1,903 UK pas- on its own. "We will wait for fresh purposes, I can’t government can go ahead with it, Ajgaonkar said. President Jitesh Kamat said sar- sengers. Out of them 29 have tested guideline from them only then the comment on it. I will but only after a proper study is The opposition is up in arms castically: "Now that farmers in positive and 1,599 negative, while the state will think of changing pres- study it first conducted over the proposal -- which has al- Goa will be allowed to farm results of 275 are awaited. ent Covid safety protocols," he said, ready been vetted by the Law cannabis, the government should In view of some UK returnees adding that until then all will have GOVIND GAUDE I ART AND CULTURE MANOHAR AJGAONKAR I TOURISM MINISTER MINISTER Department -- claiming that the im- now consider issuing them going off the radar, Karnataka's to remain alert and test those who plications would be disastrous for Krishi cards". health department has sought the have come from outside. 7 UK returnees test +ve for Will Mollem park survive rail, road expansion new Covid strain in Karna MOLLEM NATIONAL PARK HAS LONG BEEN THE EMERALD IN GOA’S CROWN

AGENCIES tivist with the Goa Foundation who artist Svabhu Kohli, who began the has taken up litigation against all My Mollem campaign, which Panaji, Dec 30: The verdant jun- three projects in the Bombay high brought together artists, lawyers, gle which covers this steep area of court and before a committee of researchers, biologists and local India’s Western Ghats mountain the Supreme Court. communities to raise awareness range is home to leopards, Bengal Indian law bans construction in through art and action of the impact tigers, pangolins, black panthers wildlife sanctuaries but the gov- the projects could have on Mollem. and hundreds of endemic species ernment has approved them in the “They say they are doing this to of flora and fauna found nowhere name of public interest and Goa’s benefit the people of Goa. But every- else on the planet. The muscular future development. However, many one in Goa knows Mollem has a state animal of Goa – the gaur, or believe these three projects are part special magic, so how can cutting Indian bison – is often seen trudg- of a masterplan to turn India’s down irreplaceable forests be ben- ing through the forests, and the smallest state into a corridor for a eficial? And if it’s for us, why were park’s Dudhsagar waterfall is among fivefold increase in coal imports we never consulted?” the highest in the country. by some of India’s biggest indus- For the past three years, Goa’s Yet Mollem and the adjoining trialists, known for their close ties main port, Mormugao Port Trust Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, cov- to the ruling in the north of the state, has been ering a protected area of 240 sq km, (BJP). on an expansion drive to become a is set to be splintered and partially Cumulatively it will involve di- hub for imported coal. Since 2018, deforested by three invasive projects; verting 378 hectares (934 acres) of two of India’s biggest coal importers, OF THE SEVEN CASES, THE APARTMENT OF THE THREE POSITIVE the doubling of a railway line, road forest in Goa, felling 40,000 pro- Adani and JSW, have set up multi- THREE ARE IN PATIENTS FROM ONE FAMILY IN expansion and an electric power tected trees and shifting more than sparked a grassroots opposition ects be halted, alleging environ- ple terminals at the port. BANGALORE AND FOUR IN BANGALORE HAS BEEN SEALED BY THE transmission line. 1.8m tonnes of mud and earth from movement unlike anything seen in mental laws have been broken or ig- In 2020, the environment min- SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT BBMP FOR 14 DAYS “This is an area declared by inside the sanctuary. Goa for decades, with thousands nored. More than 8,000 people took istry granted clearance for a third 3 PRIMARY CONTACTS OF THE SHIVAMOGGA CASES HAVE ALSO TESTED Unesco to be one of the world’s Activists and citizens claim these taking to the streets in protest. part in a recent demonstration and coal terminal and deep-water dredg- POSITIVE eight biodiversity hotspots and projects have been foisted on Goa Students, artists, biologists, tourism dozens have been booked by police ing to accommodate large coal ves- which includes a proposed tiger re- by the central government with- bodies and 150 scientists have writ- or arrested. sels. Currently the port handles AGENCIES Palike (BBMP) for 14 days. serve. This project will undo so out any public consultation or trans- ten to India’s environment minis- “We are not just saving Mollem 12m tonnes of coal, but importers The civic body claimed the ac- much that can never be recovered parency. They are now subject to ter Prakash Javadekar and the forests for their beauty but for the hope to increase that to 51m tonnes Bangalore, Dec 30: Karnataka tion was taken as a precaution- again,” said Claude Alvares, an ac- multiple legal challenges and have Supreme Court requesting the proj- very survival of life in Goa,” said by 2035. Health Minister K Sudhakar ary measure and all residents had Wednesday confirmed that seven been advised to stay at home for 14 cases of the new coronavirus strain days. have been reported in the state. In the wake of the new strain of Karna prepares for schools reopening "All seven Covid cases had re- the coronavirus, Chief Minister Undertrial escapes turned from Britain and landed in Yediyurappa appealed to all the AGENCIES regular classes for Class X and PU- Karnataka during December. Of UK returnees in the past two II year (class 12) students from the seven cases, three are in months to get themselves tested. Bangalore, Dec 30: With schools January 1. Bangalore and four in Shivamogga "A few returnees are still un- Goa police custody set to reopen from January 1 in It has also planned to hold reg- district, which is also the home dis- traceable and the health depart- Karnataka, Primary and Secondary ular classes for PU-I year from trict of Chief Minister B.S. ment has asked the home depart- Education Minister S Suresh Kumar January 15 and to start Vidyagama Yediyurappa," the Minister told ment to help in tracing the UK Two accomplices sprayed pepper and fired Wednesday visited a few institu- programme for students of classes the media. returnees," Sudhakar said. tions here and reviewed their pre- six to nine in government schools, According to Sudhakar, three The swab samples of 26 persons warning shots to stop the police escort from paredness to conduct classes ad- taking education to their doorsteps. primary contacts of the who tested positive for Covid-19 foiling their attempt to flee hering to COVID-19 guidelines. Under this programme a teacher Shivamogga cases have also tested were sent to the National Institute The Minister inspected arrange- nificance of passing the SSLC and will teach a small batch of students positive. "Their samples have been of Mental Health and Neuro ments in classrooms and spoke to secondary PU classes with high at a place convenient for them to as- sent for testing for the new coro- Sciences (Nimhans) to ascertain the headmasters, principals, lec- marks, they said. semble and study by abiding by navirus strain. All seven Covid whether it is the new strain and turers and teachers, instructing The state is gearing for reopen of the COVID-19 guidelines. positive patients have been put seven of them were found to have them to take precautions to pre- schools and pre- university (higher The government's decision to re- under home quarantine," he said. contracted the UK variant, the vent spread of the virus once the secondary) colleges, which have open schools has been opposed by The apartment of the three pos- Health Minister added. classes resume, official sources remained shut since March due to some quarters, including ruling itive patients from one family in He claimed that the 26 persons said. He also advised the staff to sen- COVID-19, after the government BJP MLC AH Vishwanath, a former Bangalore has been sealed by the were among the 1,614 UK returnees sitise the students about the sig- on December 19 decided to resume education minister. Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara who were subjected to the tests. Tourism in Goa yet to recover from Covid-dent ONLY 1,400 OF 4,000 HOTELS IN GOA ARE OPERATIONAL, SAYS A TOURISM OFFICIAL

AGENCIES tered hotels which have opened up bubble arrangement from Russia AGENCIES morning after Gautam complained during the pandemic and the com- which could help," Shah added. that he was suffering from a painful Panaji, Dec 30: Despite the rush paratively low pricing of the Over the last decade and a half, Panaji, Dec 30: An undertrial ac- stomach ailment and was feeling of domestic holidaymakers in Goa, existing hotels. Russian tourists have topped the cused of robbery and lodged in uneasy. only 1,400 of the 4,000 hotels reg- "Many hotels have not opened number of foreign tourists visiting the Colvale central jail in North Goa, While Gautam was returning istered in the coastal state have yet in Goa. At present, of 4,100 reg- the state, followed by travellers escaped from police custody from a government hospital in opened for business. The emer- istered hotels, only 1,300 to 1,400 from the United Kingdom. Wednesday while returning from Mapusa town, his accomplices gence of the new mutated strain of are open," Shah added. He said that once the vaccination a medical check-up at a nearby sprayed pepper spray at the po- Covid-19 has also had a detrimen- While charter tourism, which programme rolls out globally, the government hospital. Two accom- lice escort and fired shots in the air tal effect on the state’s tourism used to facilitate the arrival of tourism industry across the world plices sprayed pepper and fired to deter the policemen from fol- prospects, a top tourism official nearly half a million foreign tourists could possibly be salvaged by a warning shots to stop the police lowing them. said Wednesday. every year, has gone for a toss, the travel document regime like the escort from foiling their attempt "We have intensified our search According to Nilesh Shah, volume of domestic tourists has one made for travelling to Africa. to flee. to nab the three accused. It was President of the Travel and Tourism made up for the loss, he said. "If you are flying to Africa, you Deputy Superintendent of Police clearly a pre-planned move and Association of Goa, hotel rates in The Travel and Tourism need to be immunised for certain Gajanan Prabhudessai said the at- points to the use of mobile phones the state during the festive season Association of Goa is one of the old- illnesses and travellers need to

tempt was pre-planned and that within the jail. We have recovered were nearly 20 to 30 per cent less est tourism bodies in the state, carry official certificates. The same

k y m c the police were now on the lookout the used cartridges from the scene than the comparative period emergence of the second strain of Wednesday. While Goa has wit- comprising members from the protocol may kick in vis-a-vis Covid- for the accused Vivek Kumar and have begun interrogating key last year. coronavirus has caused some neg- nessed a surge in domestic tourist travel and hospitality industry. 19, after the vaccination programme Gautam, who originally hails from persons, including the ambulance "The situation is still evolving. ativity, as a result of which the arrivals during the week from "The tourism season in 2021 looks rolls out. This means if one wishes Uttarakhand. driver who went missing at the Vaccination will play a major role tourism trade which we thought December 25 onwards, Shah said the challenging. We are not expecting to cross international boundaries, According to the police official, time of discharge," in determining how the tourism was opening up, has now gone into shortfall in expectations could be any charter bookings till October. a Covid-19 immunisation shot may the incident occurred Wednesday Prabhudessai said. prospects for 2021 pan out. The reverse gear," Shah told IANS gauged from the number of regis- We have been lobbying for a flight become compulsory," Shah added. PRAVASI RISHTA PORTAL APP P9 Dupe and THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR deceive the Anndata is The External Affairs Ministry the ‘new normal’ in India Wednesday launched the Global as complicit BJP Pravasi Rishta portal and app to governments look connect with the nearly 3.12- sideways

crore strong Indian diaspora y

national RAHUL GANDHI | CONGRESS LEADER across the world

k y m c

of the day uote Panel to consider SII’s request for vaccine use BJP plays hardball The Digital India initiative AGENCIES of the 20 people found government should with AIADMK continue to strive New Delhi, Dec 30: Experts at with new UK variant India’s drug regulator were meet- FILE PHOTO towards reducing ndia Wednesday recorded 14 ing on Wednesday to consider ap- the digital divide cases of a mutant strain of proving an AstraZeneca/Oxford I RAM NATH KOVIND | PRESIDENT coronavirus, which is 70% more coronavirus vaccine for emergency transmissible, and has prompted a use after Britain became the first wave of panic and border closures country to do so, two sources with It has been a around the world. With 14 more knowledge of the matter said. cases in India, the authorities said year now A representative of India’s (since the today morning that 20 patients have Central Drugs Standard Control Thackeray-led MVA been infected with the mutant government Organization (CDSCO) declined to strain, which was first reported in assumed office). reveal the agenda of the meeting but news,” Chief Executive Adar 300 million people in the next six to the United Kingdom in September, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Palaniswami as its Chief Ministerial They (BJP) were to said its minutes would be uploaded Poonawalla said in a statement. eight months and the affordable so far. The fresh 20 cases include candidate in the election. bring down the government in two on its website within hours. “We will wait for the final approval Oxford vaccine is its biggest hope. six persons reported earlier (three Chennai, Dec 30: The BJP Earlier, former Indian team leg months, then they were to do so in Sources earlier told Reuters the from Indian regulators.” Though the Indian government in NIMHANS, Bengaluru, two in Wednesday said it may seek the spinner and cricket commentator, six months, then in eight months. CDSCO was likely to approve the India wants to start administer- has not yet signed a purchase agree- CCMB, Hyderabad and one in NIV, support of superstar Rajinikanth Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and But, nothing will happen vaccine this week after its local ing the shots starting next month ment with SII, the company says it Pune). Around 107 samples were for the 2021 assembly elections in several elected representatives at manufacturer, Serum Institute of and is also considering emergency will focus on its home market first, tested in the 10 labs as indicated in Tamil Nadu, a day after the star said the level of local bodies joined the SHARAD PAWAR | NCP SUPREMO India (SII), submitted additional use authorisation applications for and then exports, mainly to South the table below. he has abandoned his plan to make BJP. On Rajinikanth's an- trial data. vaccines made by Pfizer Inc with Asian countries and Africa. a political foray. nouncement that he would not The BJP-led SII, the world’s biggest producer Germany’s BioNTech and by India’s India's COVID-19 caseload rose to recovery rate to 95.99 per cent, ac- Asserting that its alliance with launch a political party, Ravi praised government of vaccines, has already stockpiled Bharat Biotech. 1,02,44,852 with 20,549 new infec- cording to the Union Health the AIADMK was strong, BJP na- the actor, saying he had always must shed its about 50 million doses, enough for India, which has the world’s sec- tions being reported in a day, while Ministry data updated on tional general secretary C T Ravi, protected the national and Tamil out of sight and out 25 million people. ond highest number of COVID-19 the number of people who have re- Wednesday. The death toll increased however, said the NDA was led by Nadu's interests. "He is a great of mind approach It welcomed the UK approval. infections in the world after the cuperated from the disease surged to 1,48,439 with 286 new fatalities, his party and 'Prime Minister leader." Asked if his party would and take concrete “This is great and encouraging United States, plans to inoculate to 98.34 lakh pushing the national the data updated at 8 am showed . Narendra Modi' in the state as well, seek his support, he said, "I hope, steps to bring our apparently indicating that it was not we will ask him." To a similar ques- sailors back home; the families of steered by the ruling party, the sen- tion, Ravi said everyone knows, sailors are tensed up India targets ior partner. "how close Modi Ji and Rajinikanth JAIVEER SHERGILL | CONGRESS LEADER ROYAL WALK In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK was are." AIADMK has also expressed the largest partner in the National the view that Rajinikanth would global arms sales Democratic Alliance (NDA) and support the party-led alliance in SHORT TAKES naturally, the Chief Minister will view of his decision not to float INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE be from that party, Ravi, BJP's state his outfit. Opposition parties have incharge, told reporters here, an- said Rajinikanth's decision not to Congress leader, New Delhi, Dec 30: In a big boost swering a volley of questions on ties join politics would hurt the BJP, nephew shot dead to India's indigenous defence ca- between the two parties. maintaining that it was hoping to pabilities, the government ap- A formal decision would be made join hands with him and become a Chitrakoot (UP): A local proved Wednesday the sale of on the Chief Ministerial candidate force in the state. Rajinikanth, who Congress leader and his Akash missile system to foreign na- of the NDA once the Election earlier said he would launch his nephew were shot dead tions, Defence Minister Rajnath Commission issues the notifica- party next month, had on Tuesday allegedly by their neighbour Singh said. tion for the assembly elections, ex- announced he would not foray into in Prasiddhpur village here, A surface-to-air missile with a pected in April- May, he said, adding politics in view of his health sta- police. Pahadi police station range of 25 km with over 96 per the strategy was part of the ongo- tus, having undergone a kidney SHO Shravan Kumar Singh cent indigenisation, Akash, de- ing exercise to strengthen the BJP transplant four years ago, and con- has been suspended on veloped by the DRDO, is India's first in the state. The AIADMK has al- sidering the coronavirus pandemic charges of laxity following indigenously designed missile sys- ready announced incumbent K situation. the double murder. Former tem and can target fighter jets, district unit vice-president of Congress Ashok Patel (55) cruise missiles, drones and other had an old rivalry with his aerial assets. It was inducted into neighbour Kamlesh Kumar, the Indian Air Force in 2014 and who arrived at his house in the Indian Army in 2015. Tuesday night and opened fire , in a series of Rlys to link India with his rifle, Superintendent tweets, said that the Cabinet, of Police Ankit Mittal said. chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the ex- port of Akash Missile System and with B’desh, Nepal 3 militants killed a Committee for faster approvals A Royal Bengal Tiger walks inside an enclosure of Alipore Zoological Garden, in Kolkata PTI PHOTO has been created. INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Jayanta Kumar Sarma said Srinagar: Police Wednesday Noting that till now Indian de- that with an estimated cost of claimed to have killed three fence exports included parts or Guwahati/Agartala, Dec 30: Rs 967.5 crore, the Agartala- militants in an overnight components for defence equip- Haryana civic polls: Setback for BJP-JJP The Northeast Frontier Akhaura railway project would encounter in the city's ment, he said: "The export of big Railways (NFR), which oper- be completed by September Parimpora area but families platforms was minimal. This de- INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE by defeating Congress' Upinder In the Uklana municipal com- ates trains and executes proj- next year while the Jogbani- of the slain youths said they cision by the Cabinet would help Kaur Ahluwalia by a margin of mittee election, independent can- ects partially in Bihar and West Nepal project, with an esti- had no connection with the country to improve its defence Chandigarh, Dec 30: In another 2,057 votes. Goyal got 49,860 votes, didate Sushil Sahu defeated BJP's Bengal besides the northeast- mated cost of Rs 374 crore, militancy and that two of products and make them globally humiliating defeat to Haryana's while Ahluwalia polled 47,803 votes. ally Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) ern states, will link India with would be finalised by July 2021. them were students. The competitive." The Defence Ministry, ruling BJP-JJP combine, it lost In Ambala, Haryana Jan Chetna candidate Mahender Soni for the Bangladesh and Nepal via rail "The first phase of the two in- families from south in a statement, said: "After its in- mayoral polls in two municipal Party's Shakti Rani Sharma de- President's post. in the next nine months. ternational railway projects is Kashmir's Pulwama and Shopian districts also staged duction in the Services, interest corporations but won in one civic feated BJP's Vandana Sharma by a In Sampla, independent candidate According to railway offi- either completed or just about a protest outside the police was shown in Akash missile by body Wednesday. margin of over 7,000 votes. Pooja, who was backed by former cials, the NFR is now executing to complete. Work on both the control room here and many friendly countries during The opposition Congress won Congress' Nikhil Madaan de- Chief Minister and Congress leader two international railway proj- railway projects is going on in claimed that of those killed, International Exhibitions/Defence the post of Mayor for the Sonepat feated BJP's candidate Lalit Batra Bhupinder Singh Hooda, defeated ects -- the 12.03-km long new full swing. Once the two proj- one was a Class 11 student, Expo/Aero India. The Cabinet ap- Municipal Corporation, while the by a margin of 13,818 votes in the BJP nominee for the President's broad gauge railway line from ects are completed, railway one a university student and proval will facilitate Indian man- BJP won the post in Panchkula Sonepat for the mayor seat. post. Agartala (Tripura) to Akhaura connectivity would bring great the other a carpenter. ufactures to participate in RFI/RFP Municipal Corporation. However in the Rewari Municipal In the Dharuhera Municipal in Bangladesh and the 18.6-km change in the land locked north- issued by various countries." In the Ambala Municipal Council, the BJP won the post of Committee election in Rewari dis- long railway line from Jogbani eastern states and in eastern The export version of Akash Corporation, Congress rebel Venod Chairperson. BJP's Poonam Yadav trict, independent nominee Kanwar (Bihar) to Biratnagar in Nepal. India with its neighbours - CLASSIFIED will be different from the system Sharma's Haryana Jan Chetna defeated Independent Upma Yadav Singh became the President by de- NFR's spokesman Bangladesh and Nepal," Sarma currently deployed with Indian Party won. BJP's Kulbhushan Goyal by 2,087 votes. The Congress was feating nearest rival and BJP can- (Construction Organisation) said in a statement. LOST armed forces. won the Panchkula mayor election third on this seat. didate Sandeep Bohra by 632 votes. Fight against nCoV kept health ministry on its toes in 2020

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA operating procedures for opening up viral disease, Indian scientists too which is being developed by SII in of religious places, shopping malls, plunged into action and developed collaboration with Novavax and its New Delhi, Dec 30: The Union restaurants, hotel and offices and at least three vaccine candidates, one phase-3 clinical trial is under con- health ministry was in the thick most recently for educational in- of which now is under active con- sideration with the drug regulator. of action throughout 2020 in India's stitutions to prevent the spread of sideration for approval. At pres- An eighth vaccine is being de- fight against coronavirus, ramp- the virus. ent, six COVID-19 vaccines are un- veloped by Bharat Biotech ing up testing facilities as well as The Centre March 30 also dergoing clinical trials in India. International Ltd in collaboration health infrastructure while simul- launched Rs 50-lakh insurance cover They are: Covaxin, developed by with Thomas Jefferson University, taneously issuing COVID-19 treat- for health workers fighting COVID- Bharat Biotech in collaboration US and it is at the pre-clinical stages. ment and management guidelines 19. It also constituted 11 empow- with ICMR; Oxford vaccine manu- Another vaccine, which is in the from time and time. ered groups on different aspects of factured by SII under licence from initial stage, is being developed by At the same time, it put on track COVID-19 management in the coun- AstraZeneca; ZyCOV-D being de- Aurbindo Pharma. the development of a vaccine which try to take informed decisions on var- veloped by Cadila Healthcare Ltd in Meanwhile, Bharat Biotech, is likely to be available early ious issues. Ahmedabad in collaboration with Serum Institute of India and Pfizer next year. The number of daily coronavirus the Centre's Department of have applied to the Drugs The first case of coronavirus in- cases peaked in September with Biotechnology; Sputnik V vaccine Controller General of India seek- fection in the country was recorded 97,894 infections being reported on followed by Brazil while it is in the ing facilities boosting indigenous manufactured by Dr Reddy's Lab, ing emergency use authorisation January 30 in Kerala and the first the17th day of the month, after third spot in terms of fatalities production of such items thereby Hyderabad, in collaboration with for their COVID-19 vaccines. While death on March 10 in Karnataka. By which India began witnessing a de- globally after the US and Brazil, reducing dependency on foreign Russia's Gamaleya National Centre; Pfizer is yet to make a presentation, September, India became the second cline in cases even though several according to the Johns Hopkins countries. one manufactured by Biological E the applications of Bharat Biotech worst-hit nation, after the US, in other countries saw a surge in in- University, which has been com- India has so far tested over 17 Ltd, Hyderabad, in collaboration and Serum Institute are being ex- terms of COVID-19 cases. fections. piling global COVID-19 data. crore samples for COVID-19 in its with MIT, US and the sixth developed amined, the Centre recently said As the country eased the lock- Recoveries have crossed 98 lakh While battling the pandemic, over 1,200 government and 1,080 by Pune-based Gennova asserting that DCGI's requirement down norms through a graded and putting the country in the number India ramped up the production of private laboratories. Biopharmaceuticals Ltd in collab- for more data from the companies pre-emptive approach, the health one position in terms of the num- COVID-19 protective gears like PPE As several countries raced to de- oration with HDT, US. will not impact the vaccine-roll

ministry started issuing standard ber of recovered coronavirus cases, and N-95 masks while scaling up test- velop a vaccine against the deadly Besides, there is NVX-CoV2373, out timeline.

y

k y m c This KILLINGS SPIKE IN P10 transformative THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR hospital price transparency NYC AMID PANDEMIC rule has been fought at New York City has every step by the swamp recorded 447 killings, a and defenders of the 41 per cent increase over status quo last year and the largest KAYLEIGH MCENANY | number since 2011

international PRESS SECRETARY, WHITE HOUSE

k y m c of the day uote 16 killed in Yemen blast Baloch leaders UK nod to Astra/Oxford vax are being AGENCIES MHRA decision, said that the vac- assassinated The A govt by Pakistani military cine’s effectiveness had risen when London, Dec 30: Britain Wednesday AstraZeneca/ official said the doses were given three months death squads. We Oxford shot became the first country in the that the apart. can’t rule out a will start world to approve a coronavirus vac- vaccine’s “Effectiveness was high, up to targeted being effectiveness cine developed by Oxford University 80%, when there was a three- month assassination as the cause of her administered had risen and AstraZeneca, hoping that rapid sudden death Monday, when the interval between first and second action would help it stem a surge of doses, which is the reason for our NABI BAKSH BALOCH | BALOCH ACTIVIST beginning doses were infections driven by a highly con- with those given three recommendation,” Munir tagious variant of the virus. most at risk months apart Pirmohamed, Chair of the Boris Johnson’s government, Commission on Human medicines It looks like which has already ordered 100 mil- expert Working Group on COVID- Putin is in Effectiveness was high, up to 80 pc, lion doses of the vaccine, has jumped 19 vaccines, told reporters. hysterics. when there was a three- month interval ahead of other Western countries They are trying to between first and second doses Hancock said hundreds of thou- put me behind bars with its vaccination programme. sands of doses would be available for failing to die and It was the first to approve a shot beginning with those most at risk Uncertainty has swirled over the to administer next week in Britain. continuing to hunt developed by Pfizer of the United from COVID-19. most effective dosing pattern for the “The NHS (National Health for my killers and for proving that States and Germany’s BioNTech, While the approval by the UK AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine since Service) will be able to deliver these Putin was behind it with the result that hundreds of Medicines and Healthcare prod- it released data last month showing shots into people’s arms at the speed thousands of people were vacci- ucts Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is a 90% success rate for a half-dose at which it can be manufactured,” ALEXEI NAVALNY | OPPOSITION nated in Britain before European a vindication for a shot seen as es- followed by a full dose, but only 62% Health Secretary Matt Hancock AGENCIES LEADER, RUSSIA Union countries and the United sential for mass immunisations in - still usually more than enough for told Sky News. Blast, gunfire in Yemen States even began administering the developing world as well as in regulators - for two full doses. “I am also now, with this ap- Aden, Dec 30: At least 16 people after plane carrying new it this month. Britain, it does not eliminate ques- The MHRA said that the results proval this morning, highly confi- were killed and dozens more What we government lands sought wasn’t The AstraZeneca/Oxford shot, tions about trial data that make it for the half-dose regimen had not dent that we can get enough vul- wounded in an attack on Aden air- a rupture but unlikely to be approved for some unlikely to be approved so rapidly been borne out by analysis. Instead, nerable people vaccinated by the port, shortly after a plane carrying a resolution, a time by EU or U.S. regulators, will in the European Union or the United it approved the regimen of two full spring that we can now see our a newly formed government for Images shared on social media resolution of the old start being administered Monday, States. doses. An official involved in the route out of this pandemic.” Yemen arrived from Saudi Arabia from the scene showed rubble and and vexed question Wednesday, a local security source broken glass strewn about near of Britain’s political told Reuters. the airport building and at least relations with Europe, which Loud blasts and gunfire were two lifeless bodies, one of them bedevilled our post-War history UK MPs approve A PAW-FECT WINTER heard at the airport shortly after charred, lying on the ground.

BORIS JOHNSON | PRIME MINISTER, UK the plane arrived, witnesses said. In another image, a man was Brexit trade deal The cabinet members including trying to help another man whose Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik, clothes were torn to get up from the AGENCIES as well as Saudi Ambassador to ground. SHORT TAKES Yemen Mohammed Said al-Jaber, The ministers were returning London, Dec 30: Members of the were transferred safely to the city's to Aden after being sworn in last UK Parliament Wednesday voted presidential palace, the witnesses week as part of a reshuffle follow- Landslide in in favour of the Brexit trade deal and Saudi media said. ing a deal with rival southern sep- 521 votes to 73. A local security source said three aratists. Yemens internationally Norway, 10 hurt UK Prime Minister Boris mortar shells landed on the air- recognized government has worked Helsinki: A landslide smashed Johnson had recalled Parliament port's hall. mostly from self-imposed exile in into a residential area near from its Christmas break to get the Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen the Saudi capital of Riyadh during the Norwegian capital Brexit free trade agreement (FTA) Abdulmalik Saeed and the others the country's years-long civil war. Wednesday, injuring at least struck with the European Union were quickly whisked away from Yemens embattled President 10 people, leaving 21 (EU) cleared through all parlia- the airport to the Mashiq Palace in Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, in exile unaccounted for and mentary stages for the EU (Future the city. in Saudi Arabia, announced a destroying several homes, Relationship) Bill to become law “It would have been a disaster if Cabinet reshuffle earlier this month. authorities said. Some 700 in time for January 1, 2021. the plane was bombed,” he said, in- The reshuffle was seen as a major people were evacuated amid The 80-page Bill, which follows sisting the plane was the target of step toward closing a dangerous fears of further landslides. a last-minute deal agreed with the the attack as it was supposed to rift between Hadi's government Norwegian police were EU last week, just days before the land earlier. and southern separatists backed by alerted at 4 AM. The landslide December 31 deadline of the end Mohammed al-Roubid, deputy the United Arab Emirates. cut across a road through Ask, of the Brexit transition period, head of Adens health office, told the The Saudi-backed government is leaving a deep ravine that cars could not pass. Video was debated by MPs in the House AP that at least 16 people were at war with with Iran-allied Houthi footage showed dramatic of Commons followed by the House killed in the explosion. He said rebels, who control most of north- scenes including one house of Lords. dozens were wounded but did not ern Yemen as well as the country's falling into the ravine. Johnson had urged MPs to back A pack of huskies pulls a rig during a training session in Chelford, Britain REUTERS elaborate. capital, Sanaa. the "historic" Bill, which he says is not "a rupture but a resolution" of the UK's relationship with its Sharif’s passport European neighbours. will be cancelled Congress inching closer NEPAL IS SEEKING INDIA’S Islamabad: The Pakistan government Wednesday said to Trump veto override it will cancel the passport of ‘HELP’ TO PROCURE COVAX former prime minister Nawaz AGENCIES Sharif February 16. Sharif, 70, AGENCIES the Pakistan Muslim League Washington, Dec 30: The US Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, has been living in London since Senate was due Wednesday to hold Kathmandu, Dec 30: Nepal has November last year after the a procedural vote that could pave sought India's help to procure Lahore High Court granted the way for Congress to override COVID-19 vaccines for around 20 per him permission to go abroad Once both Houses pass the Bill, President Donald Trump’s veto of cent of its population. The for four weeks for treatment. it will go to the Queen for her a key defense bill, as tension be- Himalayan nation is ramping up its The three-time former prime Royal Assent to make it law. tween the outgoing Republican efforts to contain the deadly virus minister has been convicted "What we sought was not a rup- president and party leaders grows. that has killed more than 1,800 peo- in two corruption cases. ture but a resolution, a resolution Trump Tuesday ramped-up pres- gressional rebuke of Trump. ple and infected over 260,000 others, of the old and vexed question of sure on his fellow Republicans to The House of Representatives a media report said Wednesday. Britain's political relations with support his decision to veto the overturned his veto on Monday, The Nepal government has writ- Oli is ‘tired of Europe, which bedevilled our post- bill because it does not repeal cer- and the Senate is expected to hold ten to the Indian government, re- War history," says Johnson, as tain legal protections for tech giants, a procedural vote on Wednesday questing for procurement of COVID- making deals’ part of his opening speech in the and to back $2,000 one-time stimulus evening. Final passage of the over- 19 vaccines to inoculate around 20 Commons. checks for struggling Americans. ride could come later in the week per cent of the Nepali population, Kathmandu: Embattled Prime "First we stood aloof, then we be- The president attacked or over the weekend. the Kathmandu Post reported. Minister KP Sharma Oli said Wednesday that he is "tired came a half-hearted, sometimes Republican leaders on Twitter as Late on Tuesday, McConnell in- Nepal will pay for the vaccines Ministry official. Last month, the government sent of making deals" with the obstructive member of the EU. “pathetic,” and warned that the troduced a bill that combined the it sources through India, the paper Nepal is also pursuing vaccines diplomatic notes to India, China, rival faction leader Pushpa Now, with this bill, we shall be a party had a “death wish” if it did $2,000 checks with a provision scrap- added. At least two vaccine candi- made in other countries. Russia, the UK and the US, countries Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and friendly neighbour -- the best friend not back the bigger payments. He ping the social media company pro- dates including Oxford's “Around 15 vaccine candidates of whose vaccines against the coron- accused him of breaching and ally the EU could have -- work- also called again for scrapping so- tections and another to study elec- AstraZeneca and domestically de- different countries and companies avirus have either completed the various agreements ing hand-in-glove whenever our val- cial media company legal protec- tion security, a major issue for veloped candidate Bharat Biotech's are in third phase trials. The gov- third phase trials or are near their reached between them on ues and interests coincide while tions. Trump who has claimed without ev- vaccine are in the final stages of a ernment has written letters to most completion, for early availability in several occasions to keep the fulfilling the sovereign wish of Senate Majority Leader Mitch idence that fraud robbed him of third phase trial in India. of the countries for help and to the Nepal, the report said. ruling Nepal Communist the British people to live under McConnell, however, blocked a victory in the November election. "To get the vaccines at the ear- individual companies to procure Last month, India assured the Party's unity intact. Oli's their own laws, made by their own quick vote on the checks, and urged Since most Democrats do not liest, the government has requested the vaccines,” said Dr Shyam Raj people of Nepal that once it rolls out remarks came hours after a elected Parliament. That is the lawmakers to override Trump’s support the second two measures, the Indian government to buy vac- Upreti, coordinator of Nepal's a vaccine against COVID-19, meet- four-member Chinese historic resolution delivered by veto. If successful, the veto over- the maneuver looks set to kill off cines for 20 per cent Nepalis,” the COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory ing their requirement will be a pri- delegation led by Vice this Bill," he said. ride would be the first such con- all three. paper said, quoting a Health Committee. ority for New Delhi. Minister of the International Department of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) Guo Yezhou returned home without much success ARGENTINA PASSES LANDMARK BILL TO LEGALISE ABORTION in its mission to patch up differences between Nepal's feuding leaders. THE BILL WAS ALREADY APPROVED BY ARGENTINA’S CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES AND HAS THE SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT ALBERTO FERNANDEZ, MEANING THE SENATE VOTE WAS ITS FINAL HURDLE

Hindu temple AGENCIES began late Tuesday. Protests outside parliament largely illegal across the region. vandalised It was already approved by Argentina is the largest Latin Outside the Senate, pro- and anti- Buenos Aires, Dec 30: Argentina’s Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies American country to legalise abor- abortion rights activists gathered, Peshawar: A Hindu temple Senate has passed a law legalising and has the support of President tion and the vote was being closely with the bill’s supporters wearing was vandalised by an angry abortion in Pope Francis’ home- Alberto Fernández, meaning the watched. the color green that represents their mob in northwest Pakistan land after a marathon 12-hour ses- Senate vote was its final hurdle. Abortion is extremely rare in a abortion rights movement. Backers Wednesday, police said. The sion, a victory for the women’s "This has been a struggle for region where the waved green flags as Vice President incident took place in Terri movement that has been fighting for many years, many women died. This Church has held Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, village in Khyber the right for decades. Never again will there be a woman cultural and who presided over the debate, an- Pakhtunkhwa's Karak has been a The vote means that abortion killed in a clandestine abortion," said political sway nounced the result, shouting “legal district, District Police Officer struggle for many will be legalised up to the 14th week Vilma Ibarra, the author of the law Irfan Marwat told reporters. years, many women for cen- abortion in the hospital” as the According to Marwat, of pregnancy, and also will be legal and legal and technical secretary for died. Never again will turies. With measure was passed. protesting the expansion after that time in cases of rape or the presidency, who wept as she there be a woman killed the excep- Argentina until now has penalised

danger to the mother’s life. It will spoke to reporters after the result. tions of women and those who help them

k y m work of the temple, the mob in a clandestine abortion c demolished the newly have repercussions across a conti- "We did it sisters. We made his- Uruguay, abort. The only exceptions were nent where the procedure is largely tory. We did it together. There are VILMA IBARRA | TECHNICAL Cuba, Mexico cases involving rape or a risk to constructed work alongside SECRETARY FOR THE the old structure. No case illegal. no words for this moment, it passes center-left ruling coalition. it had been an election pledge. PRESIDENCY City, Mexico's the health of the mother, and ac- has been registered and The measure was passed with through the body and the soul," “Safe, legal and free abortion is “Today, we are a better society Oaxaca tivists complain even these excep- neither any arrest made so 38 votes in favour, 29 against and one tweeted Monica Macha, a lawmaker now the law,” Fernández himself that expands women's rights and state, the Antilles and tions are not respected in some far in the incident. abstention, after a session that with President Alberto Fernandez' tweeted after the vote, noting that guarantees public health,” he added. French Guiana, abortion remains provinces. P11 After witnessing POWER DEMAND TOUCHES ALL-TIME HIGH THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR significant participation from banking and All-India power demand Wednesday morning touched financial services players, GIFT a record high of 182.89 GW, said Power Secretary SN (Gujarat International Finance Sahai. “The all-India demand for power touched Tec) City will also become a 1,82,888 MW, which is an all-time high crossing key platform for the bullion previous high of 1,82,610 at 1458 hours on May 30,

business trading ecosystem 2019. The entire demand was met," Sahai tweeted

k y m TAPAN RAY | MD AND GROUP CEO, GIFT CITY c of the day uote BEATING COVID BLUES Current account surplus moderates ‘RCom group owes UK’s approval to $15.5bn in Q2: RBI of Oxford- `26,000cr to banks, AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is Revenue collection great and encouraging news. financial institutions’ We will wait for the final approval from Indian regulators up 4% by Nov end ADAR POONAWALLA | CEO, SERUM INSTITUTE OF INDIA POST NEWS NETWORK AGENCIES Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Beating It is the immense the pandemic in different sectors Mumbai, Dec 30: India’s current passion of our of economy, Odisha has maintained account surplus moderated to bankers and the an upward trend in revenue gen- $15.5 billion or 2.4 per cent of the customer eration because of the govern- GDP in the July-September quar- confidence invested ment’s dynamic financial man- ter of the current fiscal. The same PRESS TRUST OF INDIA in us that has agement strategies. By the end of was at $19.2 billion or 3.8 per cent The Indians banks, allowed us to open new branches November during the current fis- of the GDP in the preceding three New Delhi, Dec 30: Debt-ridden vendors and other even during the pandemic. All our cal, the total revenue collection has months on account of a rise in telecom firm Reliance new branches across Maharashtra grown by 4% over the corresponding the merchandise trade deficit, the Communications Wednesday said creditors have made have digitised environment with period of 2020. Chief Secretary RBI said Wednesday. the group owes around Rs 26,000 best in class offerings Asit Tripathy briefed about this A current account deficit of $7.6 crore to Indian banks and financial claims of around AJAY KANWAL | MD & CEO, JANA SMALL today at the all secretaries meeting billion or 1.1 per cent of the GDP institutions. `86,000 crore on the FINANCE BANK held under his chairmanship at was recorded in the second quar- The Indians banks, vendors and the Convention center located at Chief Secretary Asit Keonjhar, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, ter of 2019-20. other creditors have made claims company which is the Lokseva Bhawan. Rayagada, and Sundargarh. These of around Rs 86,000 crore on the currently going The The total revenue generation Tripathy has directed projects would cater to many basic India recorded a current company which is currently going coronavirus from both the sources by end of to expedite expenditure needs of the people.” account surplus of 3.1% through insolvency proceedings. through insolvency pandemic has November, 2019 was Rs 28,402 crore Further, Tripathy asked the de- "As per figures certified by the proceedings changed the way which increased to Rs 29,411.29 without parking partments of water resources, rural of the GDP in the first Resolution Professional appointed business is done, crore during the current financial the funds development, works, housing and half of the fiscal as by the lenders, the RCOM group necessitating a year. The total non-tax revenue dur- urban development to “prioritise owed around Rs 26,000 crore to lenders are at various stages of ap- change in the entire ing the period grew by 23.29 per identified strategic projects and against a deficit of 1.6% Indian banks and financial insti- proval before the NCLT, and upon skilling landscape, and the present cent during the current fiscal as to focus on faster implementation complete those within the scheduled in the corresponding tutions as on the date of filing be- implementation thereof, the lenders workforce in the auto industry compared to the last fiscal. The of the projects by utilising the bud- time”. On the other hand, Meena as- fore the NCLT," Reliance are likely to recover at least 70 per needs upskilling total revenue generated from non- geted money without parking the sured the departments that there period of 2019-20 Communications (RCom) said in a cent of their dues, with potential NIKUNJ SANGHI | CHAIRMAN, AUTOMOTIVE tax sources up to November, 2019 was funds anywhere. He also directed would be “no dearth of funds proj- statement. subsequent upside. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Rs 8,485 crore which increased to the departments to ensure expedi- ect implementation”. The creditors have submitted "The financial stress in the tele- Rs 10,462 crore during the corre- tious execution of the infrastruc- Development Commissioner India recorded a current ac- claims of around Rs 49,000 crore on com sector, owing inter alia to the sponding period of the current ture laying and livelihood generating Mohapatra, Additional Chief count surplus of 3.1 per cent of the RCom, Rs 24,000 crore on Reliance entry of a new player in 2016 with year. projects. Secretary and Agriculture GDP in the first half of the fiscal Telecom and Rs 12,600 crore on unlimited free offerings, was not SHORT TAKES On face of shutdowns and lock- Development Commissioner Production Commissioner Raj as against a deficit of 1.6 per cent Reliance Infratel before the National unique to Rcom, but decimated the downs, the total budget utilisation Suresh Chandra Mohapatra di- Kumar Sharma, Additional Chief in the corresponding period of Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). entire industry, and led to the shut- by end of November, 2020 reached rected the departments to take reg- Secretary (Rural Development and 2019-20. This was mainly on ac- "The alleged 'fraud' classifica- down of services by Aircel, Sistema, 100-MW project around Rs.60,000 crore in different ular review and monitoring of the SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena, count of a sharp contraction in the tion by certain banks is entirely un- Videocon, Tata Docomo and several commissioned infrastructure, social, agriculture OMBADC (Odisha Mineral Bearing Additional Chief Secretary (Health trade deficit. justified and unwarranted, and other players, and also severely and allied sectors. Areas Development Corporation) and Family Welfare) Pradipta The narrowing of the current the Hon'ble Delhi High Court by an impacted the financials of global New Delhi: Adani Green Reviewing fiscal performances and DMF (District Mineral Kumar Mohapatra, Additional Chief account surplus in the second interim order has directed the same giants like Vodafone in its Indian Energy Ltd (AGEL) of various departments up to Foundation) projects. Mohapatra Secretary (Forest & Environment) quarter of 2020-21 was due to a to be kept in abeyance for the time operations," RCom said. Wednesday said it has November 2020 presented by added, “The projects of Rs 20,000 Mona Sharma, along with Principal rise in the merchandise trade being, and the matter is now sub ju- The company said that Vodafone commissioned a 100 megawatt (MW) solar power Principal Secretary (Finance) Ashok crore are being implemented in Secretaries, Secretaries and Special deficit to $14.8 billion from $10.8 bil- dice," RCom said. Idea has reported losses aggre- project at Khirsara in Gujarat. Kumar Meena, Chief Secretary major mineral bearing districts of Secretaries of all departments par- lion in the preceding quarter, the It further said that the Resolution gating Rs 1 lakh crore in the last 15 “Adani Solar Energy Kutchh Tripathy directed the departments Angul, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, ticipated in the discussion. central bank said. Plans unanimously agreed by the months. Two Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Green Energy Limited Digital India delivered (AGEL), has commissioned a International flight ban 100 MW solar power project Hy’bad-based co booked outcomes effectively at Khirsara, Gujarat, ahead of its scheduled commercial operation date (COD) as per extended till January end amid pandemic: Prasad its 25-year power purchase ` agreement (PPA) with the for 4,837cr bank fraud PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam India (GUVNL)," AGEL said in New Delhi, Dec 30: The efficacy a statement. CBI has booked IVRCL and its directors on a complaint from the and strength of `Digital India' State Bank of India, a spokesperson from CBI said were proven during the pandemic as the programme delivered the Colgate extends PRESS TRUST OF INDIA outcomes "effectively and sub- stantially", IT Minister Ravi naturals portfolio New Delhi, Dec 30: The CBI Shankar Prasad said Wednesday. New Delhi: Leading oral care Wednesday carried out searches Prasad said the programme's products maker Colgate- at the premises of infrastructure role in bridging the digital divide Palmolive (India) Wednesday firm IVRCL, its Managing Director and bringing in inclusion was "so announced the launch of E Sudhir Reddy and Joint Managing evidently" in play during the chal- ayurveda-based oil pulling, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA been operating under the Vande Director R Balarami Reddy who lenging times of pandemic. extending its portfolio in the Bharat Mission since May and have been booked by the agency "Digital India is a transforma- naturals segment. Oil pulling New Delhi, Dec 30: The coron- under bilateral "air bubble" for an alleged fraud worth over Rs tive programme, launched in is a simple method of avirus-induced suspension of arrangements with selected coun- 4,800 crore against a consortium 2015...Five-and-a-half years down swishing oil in the mouth for scheduled international passen- tries since July. of banks, officials said. the line, the pandemic was a big a few minutes after waking ger flights has been extended till India has formed air bubble The agency has booked the opportunity to test the efficacy of up. Colgate Vedshakti Oil January 31, aviation regulator pacts with 24 countries includ- Hyderabad-based company and its Digital India. Pulling is based on centuries- DGCA said Wednesday. ing the US, the UK, the UAE, directors on a complaint from the old practice in ayurveda "However, international sched- Kenya, Bhutan and France. State Bank of India, CBI combined with the company's oral care uled flights may be allowed on Under an air bubble pact be- Spokesperson RC Joshi said. 'It was Rs 4,837 crore to the banks,' he said. purchase transactions in the books expertise, it said in a selected routes by the competent tween two countries, special in- alleged that the accused in con- The CBI has alleged that the com- and routed the funds to the account statement. authority on a case-to-case basis," ternational flights can be oper- nivance with unknown public ser- pany had availed credit facilities of the company and thereby mis- the Directorate General of Civil ated by their airlines between vants and others defrauded the from consortium members and appropriated the bank funds,' Joshi Aviation added. their territories. consortium of public sector banks, cheated them by not repaying the said. Scheduled international pas- The DGCA circular also said consisting of State Bank of India, loan amount. 'It was also alleged that He said searches were conducted Union Bank gets senger services have been sus- that the suspension does not affect IDBI Bank, Canara Bank, Andhra as per the forensic audit report, Wednesday at the residential and shareholders nod pended in India since March 23 due the operation of international Bank, Corporation Bank, EXIM the company made payments to re- official premises of the accused at to the coronavirus pandemic. But all-cargo operations and flights Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Union lated parties through letters of Hyderabad which led to recovery of New Delhi: Shareholders of special international flights have specifically approved by it. Bank of India and caused a loss of credit (LCs), without recording any several incriminating documents. Union Bank of India Wednesday approved the bank’s proposal for raising up "I would never say that every- to Rs 6,800 crore equity thing was completely extraordi- capital to fund business nary but the Digital India ecosys- growth. During the ‘Ahmedabad most affordable housing market, Mumbai costliest’ tem delivered very effectively and Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), the substantially," Prasad said speak- shareholders passed the AGENCIES markets or across the income spec- ing at Digital India Awards' virtual special resolution with the AFFORDABILITY INDEX 2020 trum, it added. ceremony. requisite majority for raising New Delhi, Dec 30: Ahmedabad has Ahmedabad was the most affordable In NCR, the affordability ratio He said it is a mark of accom- capital through FPO (Follow- become the most affordable hous- housing market in India with an has improved to 38 per cent from 53 plishment that Digital India on Public Offering) /Rights or ing market in the country while affordability ratio of 24%, followed by per cent in 2010, while in Bangalore, Awards 2020 are being conferred QIP (Qualified Institutional Mumbai remains the costliest, ac- Pune and Chennai at 26% each in 2020 the ratio has become better at 48 per digitally this time. Placement) or preferential cording to property consultant The affordability index, which tracks cent from 28 per cent a decade ago. Lauding the communications allotment, the bank said in a Knight Frank India. the EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) As per the report, the ratio im- and IT sector for its role in en- regulatory filing. The consultant released its to income ratio for an average proved to 26 per cent in Pune and abling business continuity dur- Affordability Index 2020, which household, has shown meaningful Chennai both from 39 per cent and ing the pandemic, Prasad said the showed that Ahmedabad was the improvement in affordability over the 51 per cent in 2010. Centre, states, various govern- Housing sales most affordable housing market in last decade In Hyderabad, the ratio has be- ment agencies, and district ad- India with an affordability ratio of come better at 31 per cent from 47 ministration all ensured digital recover in Q3 24 per cent, followed by Pune and In NCR, the affordability ratio has per cent, while in Kolkata it im- delivery of services. Chennai at 26 per cent each in 2020. improved to 38% from 53% in 2010, proved to 30 per cent from 45 per cent. Total 22 digital governance ini- New Delhi: India's residential while in Bangalore, the ratio has A ratio over 50 per cent makes it The consultant said that afford- tiatives/ products by government real estate market seems to become better at 48% from 28% a have bottomed out in 2020 difficult to secure home loans from decade ago ability ratio improved in entities under six categories re- and sales momentum that banks and housing finance com- Ahmedabad to 24 per cent from 46 ceived Digital India Awards 2020 picked up during October- panies, making it unaffordable to per cent. for designing and implementing December is likely to purchase a house, Knight Frank The consultant said that decline Ahmedabad, Chennai and Pune in key constituents like property Shishir Baijal, chairman and innovative citizen-centric solu-

India said. in housing prices and multi-decade are relatively more affordable," prices, home loan interest rate and managing director, Knight Frank tions and improving the ease of liv-

k y m continue through the next c year to reach pre-COVID level The affordability index, which low home loan interest rates have Knight Frank said. household income that determine India said, "The affordability ratio ing for citizens. or even surpass it provided tracks the EMI (Equated Monthly helped improve housing afford- Even for Mumbai, the afford- the buyer's ability to purchase a across top eight cities has improved President Ram Nath Kovind there are no further Installment) to income ratio for an ability in 2020. ability ratio has improved from a house. tremendously over this decade due conferred the Digital India Awards unforeseen negative events, average household, has shown mean- "While Mumbai is the most ex- high of 93 per cent in 2010 to 61 per City-wide average affordability to an increase in income level, lower via video conferencing. Awards according to top property ingful improvement in affordabil- pensive market, with affordability cent in 2020. statistics cannot highlight dispar- interest rate and subsequently lower under Jury Choice were given to developers and consultants. ity over the last decade. ratio of (61 per cent), other cities like The index captures movement ities in housing costs within sub- property prices." Arogya Setu and eOffice.

Printed and published by Tathagata Satpathy on behalf of Navajat Printers and Media Pvt. Ltd. and printed at Navajat Printers, B-15 Industrial Estate, Rasulgarh, Bhubaneswar -751010, Odisha;Phone:7894447142(Marketing). Editor: Tathagata Satpathy, RNI No. ORIENG/2011/37159 THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR P12

ICC WOMEN’S WORLD T20: Australian eves decimat-

ed India to claim their fifth world title. They entered

k y m the semifinals, losing first game and narrowly sur- END OF c viving the second. They were lucky enough to enter the final, courtesy rain. However, they brought out their ‘A’ game in the summit clash to overwhelm an unbeaten Indian side to clinch the title. AN ERA FIRST INT’L CRICKET POST PANDEMIC: West Indies S Dhoni hung up his gloves announcing visited England for a three-Test series in July. The Mhis international retirement, August Caribbean side drew the first blood winning the first 15. He last played for India in the 2019 match in Southampton. However they lost the series World Cup semifinal against New losing the next two Tests in Manchester. Zealand. Since then, he was out of the team showing personal reasons for HOUR OF EMBARRASSMENT more than a year. Interestingly, he he historic low came in the first Test – a had begun his international career TDay/Night affair at Adelaide. Virat Kohli’s in an ODI, being dismissed via run- men were in complete control of the match, out and he ended his career also before an embarrassing hour of play in their in an ODI via run-out. However, INDIAN DESERT STORM: The Indian Premier League (IPL) was shifted from India to UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah) second innings pulled them into the history he played in the IPL later in the due to pandemic and lockdowns. However, it didn’t bother the organisers considering the rise in digital viewership. books. They were bundled out for 36, lowest year, captaining CSK. Dhoni is Mumbai Indians secured their fifth title beating Delhi Capitals in the final. KL Rahul (670 runs) and Kagiso Rabada (30 than their previous worst of 42. They lost the the only skipper in the world wickets) won the Orange and Purple caps respectively. It was also a heartbreaking season for Chennai Super Kings match comprehensively. However, they won the to have won all three major fans as the MS Dhoni-led side couldn’t make it into the play-offs for the first time in IPL history. Boxing Day Test to level the series at 1-1. The ICC trophies – 2007 World T20, Men in Blue made a sloppy start to the tour 2011 World Cup and 2013 WOMEN’S T20 CHALLENGE: Smriti Mandhana-led Trailblazers won the tournament beating Supernovas in the losing the ODI series 1-2, before making a Champions Trophy. He has also final and denying the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side their third successive title in the tournament history. comeback in T20Is, winning it 2-1. held the ICC Test mace for leading India to the top of ICC Test rankings. Major Sports events cancelled/postponed

OLYMPICS Tokyo Summer Games (postponed to 2021) MORE AGONY CRICKET ICC Men’s World T20 (postponed to 2022) FOOTBALL UEFA Euro 2020 (postponed to 2021) TENNIS Wimbledon, Indian Wells Masters (cancelled) THAN ECSTASY BADMINTON The world witnessed one of the most wicked years since the end of Swiss Open, India Open, Orleans Masters, Malaysia Open, World War II. The novel coronavirus pandemic, which put the world in a JOY OF THREE Singapore Open, German Open ATK FC became the and the China Masters (cancelled); tragic state, stole more than half-a-year from everyone’s life. The impact was first team in Indian Thomas & Uber Cup (postponed) year also saw the Super League (ISL) merge of ATK FC and FORMULA 1 heartbreaking. As far as sports are concerned, it’s like a sportsperson grew Mohun Bagan for theThe ISL history to win the as the Kolkata franchise is Australian GP, Monaco GP, by age, but not by on-field experience. However, the final third of the year now known as ATK Mohun title thrice after French GP (cancelled) Bagan. East Bengal too overcoming ATHLETICS Chennaiyin FC 3-1 in saw some magical moments in various fields, adding the glorious scenes entered the ISL. World Athletics Indoor the final of the Championships (postponed) at the beginning of the year. It was like ecstasy in a year of agony. 2019-20 season LEAVING A MARK DIEGO MARADONA BALBIR SINGH SR PK BANERJEE Before heading to ISL, Mohun Sport: Football Sport: Hockey Sport: Football Bagan won the I-League title with 39 points, 16 ahead of the Age: 60 Age: 96 Age: 83 second-placed and their arch Football Death: November 25 Death: May 25 Death: March 20 rivals East Bengal (23 points). turns Cause: Heart attack Cause: Multiple health Cause: Prolonged illness issues silent! The pandemic showed the world a new normal when KOBE BRYANT CHUNI GOSWAMI SOME MADRID A football returned OTHER NOTABLE to the field Sport: Basketball Sport: Football MENTIONS REAL DEAL without fans eal Madrid, who were two Age: 41 Age: 81 Former India cricketer Chetan Rpoints down from top-placed Death: January 26 Death: April 30 Chauhan, Australian cricket great Dean Barcelona, won all the 10 matches Jones, One of the founders of post pandemic break to claim their Cause: Helicopter crash Cause: Prolonged illness 34th Spanish League (La Liga) title.

REST IN PEACE Duckworth-Lewis method Tony Lewis Their arch rivals, Barcelona, were never looked in shape and dropped points dramatically. ODISHA SPORTS RAFA’S 20th IN 2020 OCA Men’s Inter- Indian women’s World No.2 Rafa Nadal equalled Roger Federer’s 20 Grand Slam titles record Arjuna Award for DUTEE DOMINATING BAYERN District T20 hockey star CHAND, who won gold at his favourite venue. The Spaniard overwhelmed World No.1 Novak League became Namita Toppo Djokovic in the French Open final to reach the t was a completely new and probably a medals in 100m & one-time version of the tournament when the first state level was honoured 200m at Khelo milestone. The title at Roland Garros was I Nadal’s 13th in the clay-court Grand Slam event. all the knockout round matches played with sporting event with Eklabya India University single leg at one venue (Lisbon). Bayern Munich, who by then already claimed the post pandemic. Puraskar Games German League (Bundesliga) title, defeated first-time finalists and French League (Ligue 1) EVES’ SUCCESS AT A GLANCE champions PSG in the final. NATIONAL SPORTS AWARDS SOFIA KENIN soared to her first NAOMI OSAKA won her second or the first time, there were five Khel Ratna award winners – Rohit Sharma Grand Slam title, rallying from a US Open title and third overall F (Cricket), T Mariyappan (Para-Olympian), Manika Batra (Table Tennis), Vinesh set down to defeat former including 2019 Australian Open Phogat (Wrestling) and Rani Rampal (Hockey). World No.1 Garbine Muguruza title, rallying to beat Victoria to win the Australian Open. She Azarenka. Osaka is the first total of 27 athletes won Arjuna awards. The Dronacharya Awards were won by also became the youngest player since 1994 (Arantxa A eight coaches in lifetime achievement category while five won in the regular American since Serena Sanchez Vicario) to come from category. A total of 15 sportspersons won Dhyan Chand Award. Punjab University, Williams in 2002 to capture a a set down to win the women’s Chandigarh won the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy. major crown. final at the US Open.

LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS Teenager IGA SWIATEK became the first Polish player to win a Grand Slam singles title when she beat Kenin Sportsman of the Year: Lewis Hamilton (F1) & Lionel Messi in the French Open final. The unseeded 19-year-old is (Football) the youngest winner since Monica Seles lifted the Sportswoman of the Year: Simone Biles (Gymnastics) OTHER MEN’S ACHIEVEMENTS Suzanne Lenglen Cup in 1992. Team of the Year: South Africa Rugby Union team WORLD NO.1 NOVAK DJOKOVIC won ATP Cup Breakthrough of the Year: Eagan Bernal (Cycling) title with Serbia before claiming Australian REDS IN Comeback of the Year: Sophia Florsch (Motor Racing) Open and Cincinnati Masters titles. Sportsperson with Disability: Oksana Masters DOMINIC THIEM pulled off his biggest achieve- THE ZONE (Cross Country Skiing) ment of his playing career when he claimed his fter claiming the Champions League in 2019, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool maiden Grand Slam title beating his close Action Sportsperson of the Year: Chloe Kim were on a rampage before the pandemic halted their progress. At friend Alexander Zverev in the US Open final. A (Snowboarding) some point, it was rumoured that the Premier League would be Sporting Moment (2000-20): Sachin Tendulkar cancelled. Had it happened, it would have raised many questions (Cricket) considering the Mersyside giants were 25 points ahead of second-placed Sports for Good: South Bronx United (Football) Manchester City. However, the play resumed post pandemic and the ON 7th HEAVEN Reds finished their campaign one shy of 100-point mark and 18 ahead of Man City. With seven matches still to play, Liverpool beat the record for Sir Garfield Sobers Award for Male Men’s T20I Cricketer of the winning a title with five matches to spare, which was jointly held by Cricketer of the Decade: VIRAT KOHLI Decade: RASHID KHAN espite being hit hard, F1 man- Manchester United (2000-01) and Man City (2017-18). Liverpool, who Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for Female Women’s T20I Cricketer of the D aged to complete the cur- ended a 30-year wait to be England’s top-flight champions for the 19th Cricketer of the Decade: ELLYSE PERRY Decade: ELLYSE PERRY tailed season. And the star of the time, became the seventh club to lift the EPL trophy, after Man Utd, Men’s Test Cricketer of the Decade: Men’s Associate Cricketer of the run was Lewis Hamilton. The Brit Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Leicester City. STEVE SMITH Decade: KYLE COETZER broke a couple of records of the great Michael Schumacher. First Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade: Women's Associate Cricketer of he broke the record of 91 Grand VIRAT KOHLI the Decade: KATHRYN BRYCE Prix wins sealing Portuguese GP

ICC AWARDS Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade: Spirit of Cricket Award of the for his 92nd Grand Prix title. ELLYSE PERRY Decade: MS DHONI Then he equalled Schumacher’s seven World Championship FIFA ‘THE BEST’ AWARDS crowns after winning MEN’S PLAYER: ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI the Turkish GP. (POLAND; BAYERN MUNICH)

Women’s player: Lucy Bronze (England; Manchester City)

k y m c Men’s coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) Women’s coach: Sarina Wiegman (The Netherlands’ women’s team) Best Women’s Goalkeeper: Sarah Bouhaddi (France) Best Men’s Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Germany) Fair Play Award: Mattia Agnese FIFA Puskas Award: Son Heung-min (Spurs)