Dehradun Resident Naveen Bhatt Fulfilled by the RO Also Compliment- Donning the Uniform of an Officer in Indian Ed the 70 Foreign GC and Said Army on Saturday

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-.,./. , P -0.&01%2& ++,-* Q s the farmers’ protest at Aalong the borders of Delhi ## has yet not found a breakthrough even on the seven- #! R M teenth day, farmers, mostly N! ! OM ! from Punjab and Haryana, ++,-* continued to protest on the !#$ %& borders of the national Capital erming the “events” along ! amid showers on Saturday. Tthe Line of Actual Control ! Addressing a Press confer- (LAC) very disturbing, ( )*! ence at Singhu Border, farmers External Affairs Minister S ! +!,-, on Saturday said if the Jaishankar on Saturday said , ,- Government wants to hold India was being tested in the ! talks, they are ready but the seven-month long standoffs ! ! . farmers will first discuss repeal with China in Eastern Ladakh. ,+ ! ! ! of three new farm laws. Making this observation Q0 “The farmers from here, he, however, expressed Rajasthan’s Shahjahanpur will confidence that the country cially in my childhood and in start their Delhi Chalo march will rise to the occasion and my teens,” the Minister said. on Sunday around 11 am. They meet the challenge. This asser- Jaishankar said a lot of , N O would be coming in thousands tion came two days after he had work had gone into developing ! 0 ! through Jaipur-Delhi highway,” said the relations between India the relationship on both sides. said Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, ! " and China were at their worst “I do not believe that the events ! farmers’ leader. $ % " $ & ' " ) phase in the last 30-40 years. of this year have helped at all. ! ! Pannu said farmers from In an interactive session at In fact I think the real danger other parts of the country are the Federation of Indian is that the goodwill which was ,- 1 ! also on their way to join the Chamber of Commerce and so carefully developed will dis- 2 ! protesters here and they will Industry (FICCI), Jaishankar sipate.” 3 *! P Q take the agitation to the next ! also said what has happened in “But I also would say that, ,+ M level in the coming days. eastern Ladakh was not actu- yes, we are being tested. I have !*5- )*! M “If the Government wants ++,-* ally in China’s interest as it has every confidence that we will ,- to hold talks, we are ready, but R significantly impacted public rise to the occasion; we will ,+ !! ! our main demand will remain mid mounting pressure sentiment in India. meet that national security , the scrapping of the three laws. ++,-* give farmers new markets, Afrom farmers, Haryana Calling the “events” along challenge. But beyond that, at We will move onto our other access to technology and help Deputy Chief Minister the LAC very disturbing, the this time, I would really frankly ! demands only after that,” the day after several Central bring investments in agricul- Dushyant Chautala on External Affairs Minister said keep my own counsel,” ,- farmer leader said. AMinisters alleged that ture that will benefit them,” Saturday met Union they have raised some very Jaishankar said. ! Farmer union leaders will “divisive elements” have infil- he said as protesting Agriculture Minister Narendra “basic concerns’’. His comments came in the also sit on a hunger strike trated the farmers agitation farmers persisted with their Singh Tomar, Consumers Asked whether it will be a backdrop of talks at the military 6 between 8 am and 5 pm on on the outskirts of Delhi, demand for rolling-back of Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal long haul or a breakthrough is and diplomatic level to defuse December 14 against the new Prime Minister Narendra Modi three farm laws which allow and Defence Minister Rajnath expected soon, Jaishankar said: the situation at the 1,700 km agriculture laws, he said. on Saturday strongly defend- trade and contract-farming in Singh over the farmers’ protests “I would not go into prediction long LAC in eastern Ladakh 7 Pannu alleged the ed the new agricultural laws the agriculture produce and and tried to mollify protesting zone at all whether it is going failing. The ninth round of ! Q Government tried to weaken saying farmers would benefit remove all restrictions in farmers from his State saying to be easy or not, and what will Corps Commander level talks ! the agitation, but the protesting the most from the investments hoarding by amending essen- he would ensure they get the be the timelines and so on.” between India and China are # ! , farmers did not let it happen. in the agriculture sector and tial services act. minimum support price. “I also believe that what has likely to take place soon. 6 The farmer leader vowed to will also get new markets and “In a vibrant economy, He expressed hope the happened is not actually in the Though India has all along $ 8 keep the protest peaceful. opportunities. when a sector grows, it has a final round of talks between the interest of China. Because what favoured dialogue to address ! N O Following the call given by Backing the new farm laws, direct influence on other sec- Centre and farmer unions will it has done has significantly the outstanding issues, its forces Q ! farmers to block toll plazas, Modi said all the walls between tors as well. Reforms that we’re be held in the next 24 to 48 impacted public sentiment (in are operationally ready to meet O N! O police had made the agriculture sector and asso- doing are removing all such hours and will lead to a con- India). Professionally, I have any challenge. * adequate arrangements and ciated sectors have now been needless frameworks. Our clusive result. seen the evolution of how the The Army has deployed K these include multi-layered removed to provide new economy doesn’t need hurdles “I am hopeful of the next Indian public feels about China specially trained troops in K barricading and deployment as opportunities to the farmers between sectors, but bridges to round of talks between Centre over the last many decades and mountain warfare in Ladakh , , Q! many as 3,500 police across the country. support each other,” said the and farmers in the next 24-40 I am old enough to remember besides ensuring uninterrupt- $ personnel. “Recent farm reforms will Prime Minister. hours,” Chautala said. much more difficult days, espe- ed logistical back up. ! '( ! *# ! ! ,+ ! ! * +& , &$! ! R ! ! !! $ Praveen Tripati, DIG of the West Bengal cadre have +-. / assumes significance against Presidency Range and Rajeev been called to serve in Central the backdrop tense India- O # Mishra, ADG of deputation in view of the laps- ice Chief of Indian Army, China relations due to recent )* South Bengal — were respon- es that led to the attack on VLieutenant General SK Galwan valley clash, where sible for the security of the BJP Nadda’s convoy in West Saini, has hoped that Indo ',0 both sides suffered casualties. ! ! chief JP Nadda, whose motor- Bengal,’’ an MHA official said. China relations would be nor- He also asserted that if )*! +, 1/ 2 % cade was attacked by the The decision has been malised soon asserting that 0 * / need be the armed forces $ TMC cadre. taken under the rules govern- pre April status quo is likely to of the country can go to any ! + , ++,-* The move is likely to fur- ing the all India service officers, be reinstated at the LAC in the , 3 extent to defend the sover- , * 3 ther escalate the ongoing tus- the official said. Usually, the eastern Ladakh. eignty of the country. O day after West Bengal’s sle between the Mamata State Government’s consent is Interacting with the media 2 On Nepal, the Vice Chief ! ! AChief Secretary and DGP Banerjee-led Trinamool taken before any all India ser- persons at the sidelines of the said India and Nepal have tra- !9 defied the summons, the Union Congress Government in West vice officer is called to serve in Passing out parade at the ditionally friendly relations and : !1 Home Ministry on Saturday Bengal and the BJP-led Central Central deputation. Indian Military Academy * #0 the Indian Army has warriors of *! ! directed three IPS officers of Government following the In February 2019, Kolkata (IMA) on Saturday, Lieutenant Nepali origin. He said the Chief !,+ West Bengal to report on attack on the convoy of Nadda Police Commissioner Rajeev General SK Saini while admit- of Indian Army had recently vis- : Central deputation. The three two days ago. Kumar was also in a similar ting that despite many rounds /! ited Nepal and a message that officers — Bhalanath Pandey, “Three Indian Police way repatriated to of talks the standoff between nothing can come in between Q 3 ! SP of Diamond Harbour; Service officers belonging to Central deputation. India and China continues in good relations of India and ! + , eastern Ladakh but hoped an hope for return of normalcy Nepal emanated out of this , end to hostility asserting that with maintaining of pre visit. Lt Gen Saini added cease- !! ! both military and diplomatic April status quo at the LAC in fire violations are increasing at 3 ! &R $ # parleys are going on between the Eastern Ladakh,” he told the Line of Control and the ! Q the two countries. reporters. Indian Army is giving a fitting ! “Due to regular parleys, we The Vice Chief statement reply to these misadventures. , Q ! '() # *! 3 ! ! Q , :6 Q ! Ranchi: The physician of jailed years, his end organ is damag- is taken outside for treatment. 9 ! RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Dr ing in an escalating manner. So, This is because the damage in , Umesh Prasad, on Saturday the situation is alarming for the body organs due to diabetes is ! ! said that the latter’s kidney is patient's health. The higher irreversible. There is no med- functioning at 25 per cent and authorities of Rajendra Institute icine which will make the kid- , !! the situation can deteriorate at of Medical Sciences (RIMS) ney function at 100 per cent ! ! any time in future. have been informed in writing from 25 per cent. Otherwise, - Dr Prasad has updated the about Yadav's health that emer- there will be no need for dial- Q !M M authorities of Rajendra Institute gency situation can arise at any ysis or kidney transplant," he 1 of Medical Sciences (RIMS), time," he added. said. ! ! ;<<# where Lalu is admitted, in Dr Prasad also said, in his "We have taken a decision M M writing about this situation. opinion, there is no need to that we will consult the resident . , “I have said earlier also that transfer Lalu Yadav to any nephrologist and decide on ! ! ! it is true that Yadav’s kidney is other medical facility as organ the further course of treatment , ,+ 6 functioning at 25 per cent. damage due to diabetes is irre- of Lalu Prasad Yadav," he ! ! ! ! ! , And this situation is alarming versible and no medicine can added. : ! from this logic that his kidney cure it. On Friday, the Jharkhand 9 : ! ! functioning can deteriorate "The court or the govern- High Court deferred Lalu = ! ! anytime. It is difficult to predict ment has to decide on whether Yadav's bail plea hearing in the exactly when,” he told ANI. he needs to be taken some- fodder scam case to January 22, Q > "The rate at which his dis- where else for treatment. In my 2021 after considering a request ease is getting worse and since opinion, there will not be any made by his lawyer. Q ! he has diabetes for the last 20 major impact on his health if he Agencies + ,-. /0/0

the Tamil-Telugu version... Bhumi Pednekar has failed to give have seen enough Bollywood movies Bhaagamathie directed by him. her best, she has done a great job. The that what one sees is not the truth. ! * This is a tad strange why a problem here is that there is very little Hence what happens at the climax is "! #!! $% director who gave a better version in when it comes to the scare quotient. not a surprise. Not good for a crime '' the original version would fail to Those that are there don’t manage to thriller. ()(*+, Bollywood to do a better job done by The original Dev Das was much evoke the same enthusiasm and not give you goosebumps. A haunted Still all is not lost here if one has makers from regional cinema. Or it better or should one say closer to better his fare; that is the whole point house, a witch and a folklore seeped not seen the original version. For he general premise is that could be that since there are more what was in the book by Sarat of a remake — to make the next one in history, all fall flat due to cliches. them, Durgamati... is a welcome remakes never live up to the Hindi speaking audience. But the Chandra. So Durgamati... directed by better. More so since it is the Hindi Then there is the whole how a change. But if one is watching it for Texpectations of the people. truth is that if one has already seen G Ashok, is not an exception to the version. politician can never be honest; but horror one will be disappointed. This is because one expects something, the copy is never better. case in point for those who have seen The problem here is not that here he can’t do anything wrong. We — $ $

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+-. The prestigious Sword of Honour was awarded to he Indian Military Watandeep S Sandhu. The TAcademy (IMA) yet again Gold medal for standing First lived up to its reputation of sup- in order of merit in Regular plying finest young officers to course was presented to Maji the Indian army and to the Girdhar. The Silver medal for armies of the friendly foreign standing second in overall countries on Saturday when a merit in Regular course was contingent of 325 Indian and handed over to Nidesh Singh 70 Foreign Gentlemen Cadets Yadav while Bronze medal for (FGC) passed out of its famed GC standing third in order of portals braving inclement merit from the regular course weather conditions. was presented to Shikhar These officers were part of Thapa. In the Technical 147 Regular and 130 Technical Graduate Course, J P S Sidhu Graduate courses of IMA. A was presented with a Silver marker’s call made from atop medal for standing first in % the historic Chetwode hall overall merit. Tandin Dorji of & * ) ' ) marked the commencement Bhutan was bestowed with a of the majestic parade com- Silver medal for being the best Somnath stadium for pipping + , $- $ manded by Gentleman cadet Foreign Gentlemen Cadet ceremony where proud parents , 2 $ 3! 4! Majhi Girdhar at 8.45 am. (FGC) of the POC. The Chief put epaulets of officers on the ) The parade marched in of Army Staff banner was shoulders of young officers. In perfect harmony to the tunes of handed over to the Cassino the PoP held in June this year, 0 ! “Col Bogey” and “Sare Jahan Se Company for standing first the parents were not allowed to Acha”. The synergy and enthu- among 16 companies of acad- attend the ceremony and in siasm of the cadets during the emy in the autumn term- 2020. their absence, the officers and 01! 0 0 !' parade was regularly applaud- Audience was thrilled their families did the piping ed by the audience which con- when army helicopters flew ceremony. However this time +-. In his address Lt Gen Saini, sisted of military officers and past the drill square throwing the IMA administration exhorted the passing out con- family members of the newly petals over the marching con- allowed the parents to attend he Vice Chief of Indian tingent to dedicate themselves to commissioned officers. A cer- tingent when it entered the the ceremony. TArmy, Lieutenant General the service of the nation. He said emonial guard of honour was Chetwode building for the cer- After this ceremony the S K Saini who was the review- “you are just a step away from presented by the parade to the emonial Antim Pag (last step). young officers took oath to ing officer (RO) of the passing the historic and magnificent Chief Guest and Reviewing This step marks their meta- serve the nation after which the out parade (PoP) compliment- moment of your commissioning Officer (RO), the Vice Chief of morphosis into an officer of stadium erupted in celebrations ed the GCs and their instruc- into the most elite forces. The Army Staff, Lieutenant Indian Army from a cadet of as young officers celebrated tors for an excellent parade, fundamentals of soldiering have General, S K Saini. academy. their new status as officers of immaculate turnout, crisp syn- been instilled in you here and After the parade, the RO After the POP, the contin- India Army after the end of an ergised drill movements which the onus is now on your young presented awards to the GCs. gent headed to sprawling arduous training. indicated high standards of and firm shoulders to define the training and discipline. various facets of the art of soldiering and to be men of for- 6 6 727 2$ midable bearing, courage and stature”. He thanked the parents 47 2 7 8 of the passing out course who had motivated their wards to 34 $ 477 3 choose such a noble profession to serve the nation and face all +-. threats that our country might be required to counter at present t was the dream of his late father which and in the future. IDehradun resident Naveen Bhatt fulfilled by The RO also compliment- donning the uniform of an officer in Indian ed the 70 Foreign GC and said Army on Saturday. Naveen was in eight stan- “I am sure, you as ambas- dard in 2012 when his father Ratan Mani Bhatt sadors of your country carry who worked in THDC, died. back a treasure of fond mem- A native of Magron village of Tehri, Bhatt ories of IMA and training family now lives in Nakronda in Dehradun. which you shall cherish for a After doing his class X and XII from Dehradun, lifetime. The Indian Military Navin joined National Defence Academy Academy has imparted training (NDA) and subsequently passed out from the which will form the bedrock for Indian Military Academy on Saturday. your growth, both profession- Naveen said he has fulfilled the dream of al and personal, and will defi- his father and now he would serve the nation nitely strengthen the ties as an officer of Indian Army. between our countries”.

+-. population, Uttar Pradesh (UP) Uttarakhand is in fourth posi- clearly evident this time also as as only six GCs from here would time. These States are much big- tops the list of states with a con- tion. Incidentally Madhya only four GCs are from this be part of the passing out con- ger in area and population than he population of the tribution of 50 GCs to the pass- Pradesh which is one of the big State. Another big sSate Andhra tingent. The states of Jharkhand Uttarakhand. Tsmall Himalayan State always remained at the course at Indian Military ing out contingent. Another states could contribute only 12 Pradesh also fares poorly in list and Chhattisgarh which were The passing out contingent Uttarakhand is less than 1 per- forefront. Academy on Sayurday, 24 small state Haryana is on the GCs in the passing out contin- with only six GCs. The list also created along with Uttarakhand had good participation from cent of the population of the In the passing out contin- Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) second place in the list with 45 gent of officers. The non-incli- shows that the youths of West in the year 2000 also have less Rajasthan (18), Punjab (15), country but when it comes to gent of 147 regular and 130 belonged to the tiny state. candidates while Bihar is on nation of the people of Gujarat Bengal too are not much inter- representation with only six Delhi (13) and Himachal serve the nation the State has Technical Graduate (TG) The biggest state in terms of third position with 32 GCs. in serving in the armed forces is ested to serve the armed forces and four GC respectively this Pradesh (10). #' )*+ ! !%1' 3 001 0 <= ' 1!

+-. Negi informed that necessary *,-* .R arrangements are being onsidering Covid-19, Chief ensured for the Kumbh Mela in CMinister Trivendra Singh view of Covid-19. +, ! 9.: Rawat has directed that a spe- He also said that the cial Covid officer be posted for Kumbh Mela officer should 1!! % the Kumbh Mela to be held in prepare the outline for vacci- Haridwar during 2021. nation of personnel posted for $ He also authorised the Kumbh Mela duty. Kumbh Mela officer to grant Urban development secre- +-. financial approval of Rs 2 crore tary Shailesh Bagauli informed and the Garhwal commission- that 124 construction works he death toll from the novel er to grant financial approval of costing Rs 473 crore are being Tcoronavirus (Covid-19) in Rs 5 crore for Kumbh Mela executed by various depart- Uttarakhand mounted to 1,351 works. ments for the Kumbh Mela. in Uttarakhand on Saturday He also directed that a The Mela officer Deepak with the State health depart- committee of experienced engi- Rawat also informed about ment registering 10 deaths. neers and senior finance offi- various aspects of the works The department also cers be formed to assist the being undertaken. The police reported 728 fresh cases of the Garhwal commissioner in issu- inspector general (Kumbh disease on the day which ing approvals related to the Mela) Sanjay Gunjyal informed increased the tally of the dis- Kumbh Mela. about the arrangements being ease to 81,939. from Dehradun on Saturday. Rudraprayag is at the bottom of The CM issued these direc- made by the police. The authorities discharged Similarly, 132 cases from the table. tions while chairing a high level Arrangements are being made 435 patients from different Nainital, 72 from Haridwar, 41 meeting regarding the Kumbh complete all permanent con- stressed on measures for wide- and all important bridges will for six zones, 24 sectors, 21 hospitals on Saturday after from Almora, 37 from Mela on Saturday. struction works by January 31 spread public awareness be completed before January 31 police stations, nine police their recovery. A total 73,422 Pauri, 32 each from $,-.- Rawat directed all depart- and expedite the temporary regarding this. next year. lines, 23 police posts and 25 patients have so far recovered Pithoragarh and Udham Singh 0 ,# + mental heads to make effective construction works. He said Informing about construc- He said executing agencies check posts, he said. from the disease so far and the Nagar, 28 from Chamoli, 26 arrangements to ensure that the that SOPs should be issued for tion work on national highways have been directed to expedite Urban Development min- recovery percentage now each from Tehri and +-. Kumbh Mela is held in a secure facilities to be provided at the and bridges leading to works while adding that con- ister Madan Kaushik, chief stands at 89.61. Uttarkashi, 25 from and systematic manner. departmental level while stress- Haridwar, the PWD secretary struction works are being con- secretary Om Prakash and Three patients of Covid-19 Rudraprayag, 21 from tate Minister for Women The CM directed the ing on the need to pay attention RK Sudhanshu said that the sistently monitored. other officials were also present each were reported dead at Bageshwar and 10 from Sand Child Development departments concerned to on documentation. The CM construction of Roorkee bypass Health Secretary Amit in the meeting. GTR Base hospital Almora Champawat were reported on Rekha Arya was found positive and the Sushila Tiwari Saturday. for Covid-19 on Saturday. Government hospital Haldwani The State now has 6,207 Following the report of on Saturday. active cases of the disease. the test, the Minister has iso- !" # $% Two patients succumbed to Dehradun is maintaining its lated herself at her residence. the disease at HNB Base hos- lead at top of the table of The information was pro- pital Srinagar while one patient active cases with 1,998 cases vided by the Minister herself on +-. According to the meteorological ing these days. tures likely to be around 23 degrees each was declared dead at while with 737 active cases social media in which she said centre, the maximum temperature is Meanwhile, dry weather is likely to Celsius and eight degrees Celsius Government Doon Medical Nainital is at second spot. that her sample has been found ven as rainfall on Saturday resulted likely to remain four to six degrees prevail in the state on Sunday. However, respectively on Sunday. College (GDMC) hospital Haridwar is at third spot positive for Covid-19. Ein a marked drop in temperature in Celsius below normal with average daily dense to very dense fog is likely to occur The maximum and minimum tem- Dehradun and Himalayan hos- with 563 active cases. She however added that she different parts of the state, the next temperature of about 15 degrees Celsius in some parts of the plains especially in peratures recorded on Saturday were 21.6 pital Dehradun. Pithoragarh has 433, Pauri 420, is having no symptoms and has three-four days are likely to be colder in some parts of Haridwar, Udham Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and degrees Celsius and 12.4 degrees Celsius There seems to be no Almora 362, Chamoli 343, isolated herself under the super- than normal in the plains of four dis- Singh Nagar and plains of Pauri and plains of Pauri and Nainital districts. respectively in Dehradun, 19.3 degrees respite for the residents of Tehri 310, Udham Singh Nagar vision of doctors. The Minister tricts in the State. Nainital districts during the next three- On Sunday, Dehradun is forecast to Celsius and eight degrees Celsius in Dehradun from the contagious 263, Uttarkashi 227, Bageshwar asked all those who came into Considering this, the State meteo- four days from Sunday. experience mainly clear to partly cloudy Pantnagar, 8.5 degrees Celsius and 6.1 Covid-19. 197 and Champawat 185 active her contact to get themselves rological centre has advised Considering this, the general pub- sky. Fog/mist is also likely to occur in degrees Celsius in Mukteshwar and 7.4 The authorities reported cases of the disease. With 169 tested for the pandemic. the general public to observe necessary lic is advised to take necessary the southern part of the city with the degrees Celsius and three degrees Celsius 246 fresh cases of the disease active cases of Covid-19, precautions. precautions against cold weather dur- maximum and minimum tempera- respectively in New Tehri. + ,-. /0/0 !"# %' ' 0 ' 0 ! > ' ! 3

+-. ised in the virtual mode by the Apart from mass tree planta- Speaking on the occasion, National Mission for Clean tion on July 16 every year on the Union minister of State for hen talking about the Ganga (NMCG) and the the occasion of Harela, under Tourism, Prahlad Singh Patel WGanga, it is vital to also Centre for Ganga River Basin the river rejuvenation scheme, said that nature, tourism, cul- focus on its various tributaries Management and Studies 1.63 saplings were planted ture and energy are connected also. In addition to being the (cGanga) on Saturday. along the Kosi river in the first to the Ganga. source of rivers, the Himalaya Rawat said that research year followed by 2.65 lakh He stressed on the need for is also connected with the has shown that the water in the saplings on the second year cleaning the Ganga while also nation’s ancient culture. Ganga is clean enough to drink along with 3.50 lakh saplings focusing on its constant flow. This culture also has to be till Rishikesh and fit for bathing planted along the Rispana river. Only by ridding the Ganga of maintained and thought needs in Haridwar. He said that the He also spoke about the Song pollution will the nation succeed to be given to ensuring that it State government was com- dam being constructed in in reducing the pollution in its is not disrupted. Further, large mitted to ensuring that people Dehradun which will facilitate cultural value system. Combined scale tree plantation is the only bathe in a clean Ganga during 24 hour water supply in the efforts are necessary to keep the way to rejuvenate the Ganga the coming Kumbh Mela in region for the next 60 years Ganga clean, he added. along with other rivers and Haridwar. while also saving electricity TERI director general Ajay lakes needed across the nation. The Ganga river is also a worth Rs 100 crore. Mathur, Namami Gangey Chief Minister Trivendra carrier of economy from which Rawat said Uttarakhand is director general Rajiv Ranjan Singh Rawat said this while more than 40 per cent of the the GDP rate can be gained about the water collection and the first State to provide tap Mishra and cGanga founding speaking at the fifth India nation’s population benefits. project for sustainable devel- and culture, energy and water from Arth Ganga, he added. conservation efforts being water connections for Re one head Vinod Tare also expressed Water Impact Summit organ- By working on the Arth Ganga opment of agriculture, tourism bodies about three per cent of The CM further spoke undertaken in Uttarakhand. each in mountainous regions. their views on the occasion. O P

2 3 ++,-* articulates, feeling assured that There are many like Mahak his loyalty will be acknowl- from non-farming communi- y fight is an expression of edged. ties bogged down in the morass Mmy loyalty to the ‘zamin- However, he quickly cor- of popular antipathy to the dars’ (farm owners), on whose rects himself on the word farm reform laws. well-being our lives hinge on,” “zamindars”. “They are all In fact, Haryana and Punjab explains Mahak Bhatia, 25, farmers but they employ farm are predominantly agrarian soci- who is part of the sit-in by a workers as there are various ety and almost all the elite of the huge crowd of farmers protest- other jobs to do in the farms. non-farming communities, ing against the three farm laws, We live in the same village and whether artists or other profes- at Delhi’s Singhu Border, “I we have cordial and fair rela- sionals, come from farming have to support their cause as tions. All are equal in the vil- backgrounds, or have close sym- the new farm laws will not only lage. You can witness the cohe- biotic relations with the landed affect their income, but will also sion here. All of us who have farming community — the farm destabilise the socio-econom- gathered here come from dif- workers are mostly from Bihar ic system that has worked well ferent backgrounds, castes and and Uttar Pradesh and some till now. And this is the com- regions. But everything here is from the grim underbelly of pulsive urge that has brought for everyone,” Mahak clarifies, Punjab-Haryana’s rural areas me and thousand others here.” but hesitates to let the camera- which are remnants of a caste- The resident of a village of ! ) $ 1 " man snap a photo of his puff- ridden feudal system. Tohana in Fatehabad, Haryana, & ' " ) ing on the community hookah. A farm transporter, one of and the only son of his moth- His comrades-in-arms on the the elderly among the protest- er, Mahak recently lost his job the Central Government over farmer nor I have any farm carpet, however, encourage ers, claims the new farm laws with Cafe Coffee Day in the farm laws. land, but the landed farmers him to smoke the pipe for a will affect the ecosystem in Chandigarh during Covid-trig- “I am unemployed and always take care of us. Now it’s group photo. Haryana and Punjab whose gered economic slowdown and completely broke. I don’t have my turn to reciprocate their “Even non-farming com- agriculture survives on State is seeking a “non-farming” any means of sustenance of my immense help by raising my munities have thrown their subsidies in the form of high employment in Delhi-NCR. own, but I am grateful to my voice against the maleficent weight behind the groundswell MSP (minimum support price) However, his primary occupa- zamindars for ensuring my laws that will diminish the of support for the farmers. I will and well-established tion at present is to actively mother and I have no scarcity riches of the ‘zamindars’ and in soldier on till the farmers feel Agricultural Produce Market support the movement against of food. I have never been a turn affect our lives,” Mahak safe,” says Mahak. Committees (APMC) mandis. ) $ $ )2 P# "#3 #>< '' =1 ! 3- 6 11=' 2 # blankets of snow. Sharma on Saturday evening +9< 1! == B On the other hand, two said in the sixth phase a total civilians were injured in a of 31 DDC constituencies will head of the sixth phase of grenade attack on a police post go to polls including 14 seats 3 ! !! ! $1 ADistrict Development in Sopore area of Baramulla from Kashmir division and 17 Council elections, parts of district. from Jammu division. Srinagar:Union Minister kanal (17,000 hectares) of land Kashmir valley witnessed fresh This is the third grenade Giving further details, the Kolkata:Senior Trinamool saw how Nadda’s convoy was al structure,” Banerjee added. Anurag Thakur on Saturday will be returned to state of spells of snowfall in plain areas attack in Kashmir valley in the SEC said that against the 14 Congress lawmaker Kalyan attacked by alleged TMC work- He said that in respect of expressed confidence that J&K Jammu and Kashmir. There of Srinagar and higher reach- last 48 hours,official sources DDC constituencies of Banerjee wrote to Union Home ers on December 10 and law and order, the state gov- will get back 17,000 hectares of will be action against who were es of tourist resorts of Gulmarg, said. Kashmir division going to poll Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Banerjee’s letter to Bhalla has ernment is accountable to the land that was grabbed through involved in the corrupt practice, Pahalgam and North Kashmir In Jammu region, Pakistan tomorrow, there are 124 can- Saturday, saying that West “little merit”. “We want to legislative assembly “but not to the Roshni Scheme, and action “ he added. districts of Baramulla and army violated ceasefire agree- didates in fray including 47 Bengal’s chief secretary and inform you that law and order you or to your home minister”. will be taken against corrupts. The Jammu and Kashmir Kupwara. ment by resorting to mortar females. In Jammu division, director-general of police were is within the domain of the The TMC leader also “Roshni Act has been government has filed a review In Jammu region, famous shelling in Balakote sector of there are 121 candidates in fray summoned to Delhi over the state under 7th Schedule of the claimed that a person, who is a struck down by High Court and petition in the high court seek- tourist resorts of Patnitop, Poonch.According to a Jammu for the 17 DDC constituencies attack on BJP chief JP Nadda’s State list.... How in respect of convict in a case and named in (it) termed the Act illegal and ing to distinguish between land- Bhaderwah,Bani, Trikuta hills based Defence Spokesman, Lt- in this phase, including 53 convoy with “political motive”, the law and order situation you 59 other criminal cases, was in unconstitutional. It clearly less cultivators and wealthy where the cave shrine of Mata Col Devender Anand around females. asserting that law and order is can call both the officers for any the convoy of Nadda on defined why this Act had been land grabbers who had benefit- Vaishno Devi is located also 6.00 p.m Pakistan army resort- 748301 electors (390432 a state subject. sorts of discussion?” the TMC December 10 and “made brought in...Just to help a few big ted from the law which has been witnessed fresh snowfall. Due ed to unprovoked ceasefire male and 357869 female voters) Banerjee, the chief whip of MP said in the letter. provocative gestures” to the names, “ Thakur, who is the struck down. The petition will to inclement weather condi- violation by using small arms are going to elect their repre- the TMC in the Lok Sabha, “It appears that with a TMC supporters standing on the BJP’s election in-charge for come up for hearing on tions movement of smooth firing and mortar shelling in sentatives in all 31 DDC con- alleged that the Centre was political motive and at the roadside. “Laws have been Jammu and Kashmir, told December 16. Commenting on traffic was also halted on the the Balakote sector of Poonch. stituencies, he said and added resorting to coercive means to instance of your minister, who thrown out in river by your reporters here. Thakur said he the ongoing District 300 km long Jammu Srinagar In response the Indian army that a total of 2071 polling sta- intimidate the state adminis- is a political person belonging action at the instance of Shri was glad that the court had Development Council elections National Highway. retaliated strongly, spokesman tions have been designated tration, and the top officials to Bharatiya Janata Party, you Amit Shah, BJP leader and taken an initiative and there has in J&K, Thakur said the people Several interior roads in added. with 1208 in Kashmir were summoned at the instance have issued the said letter. You Union Home Minister,” the law- been a fair inquiry into it. will decide which part wins or snowbound areas also Meanwhile, State Election division and 863 in Jammu of the Union Home Minister. are trying to coerce the officers maker said, adding that indirect “I am sure that 3.42 lakh loses. PTI remained covered with thick Commissioner (SEC), KK division. BJP national general sec- of West Bengal with political attempts were being made to retary Kailash Vijayvargiya, vindictiveness. It appears you impose emergency in West however, said that everyone are interfering with the feder- Bengal. PTI $ !! & R#' $ ' 3 3 $# 44 Chennai residence to get her when she ws at the peak of her +, . C-. the victims have used for cook- /0/1 ( 0-+*A390-* date. But she had dispute with career. .+-D ing for investigation. The sam- one of the Malayalam film pro- Memories of Smitha still ples include vegetables, rice, !/,222 he alleged suicide of popular ducers, a power person those haunt her fans in Tamil, eafy vegetable vendors in fish, meat and soil, among TTV and film actress VJ days, who in one of his films, had Malayalam, Telugu Kannada LEluru, the headquarters of others. Chitra on Wednesday in shot her nude,” reminiscences and even Hindi films. She was West Godavari district in Mohan, the -*. 2 - . sent for testing. Chennai has given rise to a Srinivasan. the reigning queen and star Andhra Pradesh, have been Superintendent of West In all 32 recent deaths have question about the safety and Sreelatha Namboodiri, a col- even if the film boasted of stars witnessing a dip in their busi- Godavari district hospital, said erala recorded 5,949 New been confirmed due to covid, security of female artists in league of Vijayasree, had told in like Kalam Haassan or ness due to the outbreak of the that people in Eluru have been KCOVID-19 cases and 32 taking the toll to 2,594, the Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and a TV interview later that the Rajinikanth. “There were reports recent mystery illness. advised to wash the vegetables deaths on Saturday, taking the Chief Minister said. Malayalam films. The death of artist was not the kind who about the physical assault suf- “Since 4-5 days, leafy veg- thoroughly before use. The tally to 6.64 lakh and the toll to Of the latest positive cases, Chitra , who was staying in a resorts to extreme step. “She had fered by Smitha from her living etables are not moving. People doctors too adviced washing 2,594, Chief Minister Pinarayi as many as 47 were health hotel in Chennai’s Poonamallee a love affair those days and she -in partner who is believed to are not coming to buy vegeta- vegetables with salt water to be Vijayan said. workers, 83 had come from Road shocked her friends and was planning everything in have walked away with the entire bles. We are just sitting with safe. As many as 14 expert The day also saw 5,268 outside the state, 5,173 infect- associates alike as they claim that advance. I still do not believe savings of the artist. But for rea- them, without any business,” agencies have asked for more people getting cured as the total ed through contact and the there was no reason for the artist Vijayasree committed suicide,” sons known to the powers that said a vendor. time to properly investigate recoveries rose to 6, 01,861 source of infection of 646 peo- to resort to the extreme step. said Sreelatha. There were many be in Tamil Nadu, no proper Following the illness out- the samples. while the active cases stood at ple was not known. The list of young actresses like Vijayasree and Chitra who investigation was held and break, which is yet to be con- Symptoms of the mysteri- 60,029, he told reporters in A total of 3,15,167 peo- who were found dead under made it big in film industry only Smitha’s death too was written off clusively identified, many peo- ous illness include three to five Kannur. ple were under observation in mysterious situations is long to end their lives by themselves. as suicide,” said Mankombu ple are exercising caution. minutes of epileptic fits with- The total COVID-19 cases various districts with 13,334 of and a matter of concern, accord- Shobha, who won the Gopalakrishnan, move maker Experts from several reputed out repetition, forgetfulness, in the state touched them in hospitals. ing to veteran film journalist P National award for the best and poet. The list is continuing organisations have already anxiety, vomiting, headache 6,64,632. Vijayan urged peo- Malappuram recorded the K Srinivasan who has been asso- actress in the 1978 film Pasi (The by the years. “It is time a serious taken samples of items which and back pain. ple to exercise extreme caution highest number of cases at ciated with South India’s dream Hunger) was hardly 18 when she study was held on this disturb- against the spread of the dis- 765, followed by Kozhikode factories for the last four decades. was found dead in the house ing phenomenon. What is tor- ease, saying otherwise the sit- 763 and Ernakulam 732. “Ill not rule out the possi- where she was staying with Balu menting me is the fact that only uation in the state would wors- Kasaragod accounted for bilities of foul play but it is for the Benjamin Mahendra, the Sri female artists fall victim to these en further. the lowest number of 60 cases investigators to prove that. This Lanka born movie director, who suicides. Most of them seem to A total of 59,690 samples on Saturday. There are 437 was an unfortunate incident and was 24 years older than her. have relations with people who were tested in the last 24 hours hotspots in the state with the further proves that all is not gold Jayalakshi Reddy, shot into are not approved by their par- and the test positivity addition of Manarkkad in that glitters,” said Srinivasan, national fame with the Tamil ents. In the case of Chitra, I rate was 9.97 per cent. So far, Palakkad and removal of four author of well known book movie Aval Oru Thudarkathai understand that she was having 69,21,597 samples have been localities. Kodambakkam Diary. directed by the legendary K a discord with Hemanth, whom Film buffs still remember Balachander. Why Jayalakshmi she had married just a fornight the mysterious death of opted for a suicide is still ago without the approval of her Vijayasree in 1974 when she was unknown though people close to parents. This has to be probed hardly 21. Popularly known as her say the death lest we not lose any more the Marilyn Monroe of south of her father took a heavy toll on actresses,” said Rajini Suresh, India, the actress took her life her. The list does not end with writer and activist based in when she was the reigning diva Jayalakshmi. Silk Smitha, who Kozhikode. There are at least six of Malayalam and Tamil films. entered the Tamil film industry more actresses who had resort- ‘She was the highest paid artist as a item girl and shot up to one ed to the extreme steps in addi- those days and producers were of the leading artists in the tion to those who have been sanding in queue outside her country too was found dead mentioned here. 4 % $ )2 + ,-. /0/0 !"$ $ ' !! 0 11!R! !0 3 45 ++,-* official liquidator, officials * 0E* matter in the Madras high belonging to six Banks and ! 0, / court, the agency’s lawyer sub- ( , , hile the CBI has set up an independent witnesses inspect- 0E. /0 mitted that “an internal inquiry W“internal inquiry” after ed from February 27, 2020, to $ is being conducted by the CBI 103 kg gold worth Rs 43 crore, February 29, 2020, to hand over 6==$6F1 ! in this regard”. ++,-* cial resources for this noble seized and sealed by it eight the gold to the lender banks of 1 “When this Court cause,” he said. years ago, went missing, it Surana Corporation, it said. / expressed its opinion, as to why ndia on Friday pledged a The recent WHO data from clarified on Saturday that the “The seals affixed on the no FIR was registered for theft, Icommitment of USD 2 bil- 105 countries shows that 90 per missing gold in Tamil Nadu vaults were found intact. / the learned Special Public lion at the World Health cent of countries have experi- was not kept in its “malkhana” However, gold weighed only 0E* Prosecutor submitted that an Organisation’s “Lives in the enced disruptions to health ser- (vault) and was inventoried 296.66 kgs. As the discrepan- - internal enquiry is being con- Balance” summit to provide vices, with low-and middle- and kept in the safe of accused cy between the quantity men- 0/ ducted by the CBI in this essential services to women, income countries reporting the firm Surana Corporation. tioned in search memo and as ' / regard. He requested this Court newborns, young children and greatest difficulties. “It is clarified that CBI per the weight came to notice, !E1 to give a direction to the CBI adolescents across the world. According to early esti- searched the building of Surana CBI promptly ordered an inter- ;!

9 " )P " $ ( 1 # 6" ++,-* gathering dust in his depart- Human Rights Commission ! ment for the last two years. (NHRC), which has registered ' (6 ! $ t a time when Prime In another instance of the his case for further action. * AMinister Narendra Modi civic body’s stark insensitivity Talking about his disabili- ! / ++,-* has been emphasising on towards the needs of the per- ty, Dr Anand said, his was a nities for PwDs. !# empowering the divyangs and sons with disabilities, the young case of medical negligence Saurabh Chandra, Trustee showing sensitivity towards officer has also not been pro- when treatment for an enlarged indsets, attitudinal barri- NCPEDP said, “The Rights of / their needs, the BJP-run civic vided with a disabled-friendly lymph node led to the gradual Mers, and lack of awareness Persons with Disabilities /M body, North Municipal chair to help him carry out his paralysis of a nerve leading to are still a deterrent for provid- (RPwDs Act) is one of the E Corporation of Delhi (North day-to-day official activities. his right shoulder when he was ing jobs to Persons with strongest disability legislations 0 0+9 MCD), has chosen to turn a Dr Anand, however, has doing his MD. He had to give Disabilities (PwDs), experts in the world, however problem C* D " $ blind eye to ensuring even the not let this indifference hinder up his dreams of doing spe- here lamented at an event held lies in its implementation / basic rights of Dr Sumit Anand, his performance. During the // cialisation and joined the North recently. because of lack of under- 00+ a Medical Officer with loco- lockdown period due to Covid- MCD in the medical cadre. “One area that all compa- standing, awareness, or maybe $ ! motor disability. 19, Dr Anand reported daily for 1 “It is very disappointing nies should look at is to find because of a belief that pro- Not only has he been duty, for which he was recog- that bright people like Anand, ways in which the abilities of viding jobs to PwDs comes at 1 0 #5G/ ! denied his due salary incre- nised with Corona Warrior / who cleared MBBS and then persons with disabilities can get a high cost. This mindset needs ment for the last four years certificates, first by the then 0 UPSC in the first attempt have utilized. If we use persons with to be changed.” since he joined the medical Deputy Commissioner, Central / ! to go through such discrimi- disabilities as wallflowers, it Som Mittal, industry doyen cadre, the young doctor, at an Delhi Arav Gopi Krishna and 0/0 nation only because they are becomes a lose-lose situation, and Chairman NCPEDP, Director, NCPEDP said by others, Ajay Minocha, the first urban health centre at Karol then Balram Meena, SDM, 3 E physically disabled. for the company and the talked about the myriad of felicitating Helen Keller visually impaired person from Bagh, has also not been paid his Karol Bagh. / /3E “Instead of honouring their employee,” said Arundhati challenges-the consequences Awards, we celebrate the lead- India to receive CFA Charter salary since June, this year. “When I complained about commitment and boosting Bhattacharya Chairperson and of the Covid-19 pandemic-on ership of people with disabili- from CFA Institute, USA, and As if this unlawful denial is non-payment of salary to the drained out. their morale, the North MCD CEO Salesforce (India). PwDs like access to finance, ties and equal opportunity Kartik Sawhney, the first-ever not enough. His application for department, the officials are Having failed to get justice is finding new ways to harass He was speaking at a dis- pension, healthcare facilities, employers. They are showing visually impaired student to disability rights and privileges, pressurising me to sign a faulty from the civic body, the such Corona warriors. This cussion at the NCPEDP- transport and livelihood. everyone the way by including study science in India who enshrined under the guide- salary pay-bill without incre- Lieutenant Governor, New must stop and he should be Mindtree Helen Keller Awards He said, leaving no one disability into businesses and made news when he was lines issued by the Department ment and disability-related Delhi, the Union Health delivered his dues immediate- 2020 event where 11 behind is the key to a resilient beyond their call of duty. In this refused admission to IIT on of Empowerment of Persons benefits,” he said adding the Ministry, the State ly to send a positive message persons were felicitated virtu- and sustainable society. Thus, new normal, it’s all about diver- account of his disability but with Disabilities (DPwD), apathy has left him and his old Commissioner for Persons with among the community,” said ally as a recognition of their actions must be prioritised as sity and of the winners and is excelled at Stanford University Union Ministry of Social parents, who are dependent on Disabilities, Dr Anand is now Dr Satendra Singh, an activist exemplary work towards fur- per the most marginalised”. no longer limited to big cities”. and today works as an AI Justice and Empowerment, is him, mentally and financially pinning hopes on the National for people with disabilities. thering employment opportu- Arman Ali, Executive Awardees included, among Scientist at Microsoft. &"') + ,-. /0/0

1 1! ! 7 8&R O67 +,9:+ ; P

1 !! 5: ++,-* that is a significant achieve- there were about 100 ment,” he said. economies that were growing at ++,-* difficult financial environment organ Stanley Chief Sharma also noted that it 7 per cent or more in 2007. " +"&&! ' this now. reforms in sectors ranging this year due to the shortfall in MGlobal Strategist Ruchir is no longer feasible in the “That has never happened "&!!&& “Even the economic indi- from manufacturing to MSME; he Finance Ministry on tax revenue arising from the Sharma on Saturday said if the world of deglobalisation to in the history of the global cators are encouraging,” he agriculture to infrastructure; TSaturday said it has COVID 19 pandemic. Indian economy grows at 5 per grow at 7 per cent as exports economy. In the last decade, ,"' +' " added.Various measures taken from tech industry to taxation approved 9,879.61 crore “Capital Expenditure has cent in the era of deglobalisa- cannot grow at 20 per cent or only 10 economies in the world by the government in the last and from real estate to regula- worth capital expenditure pro- a higher multiplier effect, tion, then it will be a significant 30 per cent in a year, which have grown 7 per cent or more -"". six years has instilled confi- tory easing. posals of 27 states. enhancing the future produc- achievement. was good in an era of global- in any year,” he said. !'. &' /0 dence among global investors, Talking about various Of this, 4,939.81 crore tive capacity of the economy, Addressing the FICCI isation. Sharma also argued that he said. reforms undertaken by the has been released as the first and results in a higher rate of Annual Convention, Sharma “So, for an economy like if the population growth of a As a result, he said, “India government in the last six instalment. economy growth. further said India hastily India’s, growth rate of 5 per cent country is slowing, then that ++,-* has seen record Foreign Direct years, he said changes have In a statement, the min- Therefore, despite the passed agriculture and labour will be pretty credible even in country can’t grow at the same Investment (FDI) and Foreign been brought in manufactur- istry said all states, except adverse financial position of the reforms during the Covid-19 this era where I think emerg- pace as it did in the past. conomic indicators have Portfolio Investment inflows ing, MSMEs, agriculture, infra- Tamil Nadu, have availed ben- Central Government, it was pandemic. ing economies in general will According to the RBI, Eshown encouraging signs of during the pandemic.” structure and regulatory eas- efits of the newly announced decided to extend a special “Our expectations have to make some sort of a come- Indian economy is likely to recovery of the Indian econo- Addressing the FICCI ing. scheme for ‘Special Assistance assistance to the state govern- be realistic...If we can grow at back,” he added. contract by 7.5 per cent, in my post-pandemic, Prime Annual Convention, he said, a As a result of taxation to States for Capital ments in respect of capital more than 5 per cent in a year, Sharma pointed out that 2020-21. Minister Narendra Modi said decisive government always reform, he said, India has got Expenditure’, which was expenditure, in financial year on Saturday as he vowed to strives to remove obstacles for competitive advantage in cor- announced on October 12 as 2020-21,” it added. keep government controls to a others and always tries to con- porate tax rate and initiated part of AatmaNirbhar Bharat The capital expenditure 5 bare minimum and encourage tribute towards the society and faceless assessment and faceless package. projects have been approved in E* # private capital. the nation. appeal leaving behind the scar “So far capital expendi- diverse sectors like, health, In this time of pandem- Recalling the time when of tax terrorism and Inspector ture proposals of 9,879.61 rural development, water sup- ic, he said, the government has government was in all the sec- Raj. crore of 27 states have been ply, irrigation, power, trans- accorded highest priority to tors, he said, a visionary and Pointing out that the old approved by the Ministry of port, education, urban devel- saving lives of Indians and the decisive government, on the polices protected inefficien- Finance. opment. 8 way India has handled the cri- other hand, encourages all the cies while ‘Aatmanirbhar An amount of 4,939.81 As part of the +(0 sis through concerted effort has stakeholders to realise their Bharat Abhiyan’ is guided to crore has already been released AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package, ++,-* surprised the world. potential. promote efficiency in all the to the states as the first instal- the government had ++,-* biggest fintechs who have the Compared to February Modi pointed out that in sectors, he said the government ment under the scheme,” it said. announced that the Centre s a deadlock continues ability to process the structured when the pandemic started, the last six years, the govern- has introduced Production The ministry said the will offer Rs 12,000 crore spe- Abetween the central gov- tate Bank of India (SBI) and unstructured (financial) things have changed in ment has encouraged stake- Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme scheme is aimed at boosting cial interest-free 50-year loan to ernment and protesting farmers Swill prefer the co-origina- data to have a better sense in December, he said, adding, holders in all sectors and this to promote sunrise sectors and capital expenditure by the state states, exclusively for capital on three new farm laws, tion model to cater to the terms of assessment of risk,” there is a road map to deal with is reflected in the all-round technology based industries. governments who are facing expenditure. Haryana Deputy Chief Minister financing needs of MSMEs Khara said. Dushyant Chautala on Saturday and collaboration with fin- Based on that assessment, said he is hopeful the next techs is a good idea as it helps he said, bankers feel very com- <!; ( round of talks between the in assessing the risk profile of fortable in lending to the 9 Centre and the unions will take the borrower in a better man- MSMEs. place in the next 24-40 hours. ner, its chairman Dinesh He was speaking at a ! !%% After meeting Union Kumar Khara said on Saturday. webinar on financing the unfi- 2 ' Agriculture Minister Narendra Pointing out that the nanced organised by the Global '!= 0 0!!' 0' Singh Tomar here, Chautala Micro, Small and Medium Alliance for Mass ;.0*09 Austin, Texas. We believe these said the crop procurement at the Enterprises (MSMEs) are con- Entrepreneurship (GAME). moves best position Oracle for !1 %! government-decided MSP strained today in terms of cash There could also be anoth- loud major Oracle has growth and provide our per- ++,-* digital track is going to create (minimum support price) flows, time gap in realising er option of financing based on Cannounced to move its sonnel with more flexibility resilience and transformation.” London:Britain said Friday would be ensured for each receivables, among others and the cash flow and not on the California-based headquarters about where and how they icrosoft’s Chief Executive Asserting further on the that it is ending state support farmer till the time he was part also the level of lenders’ confi- basis of balance sheet because to Austin, Texas and cited flex- work,” a company spokesper- MOfficer Satya Nadella on future during a fireside chat for fossil fuel industry exports, of the state government. dence in funding them, Khara very often it is observed that ibility of employee work as the son told CNBC on Friday. “In Saturday said that despite the with Ficci President Sangita and shifting government assis- Chautala, who also met Defence said collaborating is a better the balance sheet and the key reason behind the decision. addition, we will continue to constraint caused by the pan- Reddy, Nadella said that broad tance to low-carbon and Minister Rajnath Singh and model than lending directly to financial statement are not The decision came a day support major hubs for Oracle demic, digital technology is paradigms are re-shaping the renewable energy projects Food, Railways and Commerce MSMEs. available in a form which is after the company posted rev- around the world, including being adopted to scale core expectations especially the abroad. Minister Piyush Goyal earlier in “The fact of the matter is expected by any banker, he enues of $9.8 billion in its fis- those in the United States such resilience, not only for future exponential changes and the The announcement by Prime the day, also said the Haryana that today not many NBFCs added. cal second quarter, a growth of as Redwood City, Austin, Santa transformation but for business exponential change is tech- Minister Boris Johnson comes government is stable as of now have come in this space. And Also, there is a broad two per cent (on-year) and Monica, Seattle, Denver, continuity. nology.”The innovation in a day before he co-hosts a vir- and his party has a strong posi- of late, when it comes to find- spectrum of MSMEs in the Cloud services and licence Orlando and Burlington, Addressing the ‘AI and the India around digital infra- tual summit with more than 70 tion on the MSP issue. Chautala, ing solutions, we feel that apart country which work in a host support revenues were up four among others, and we expect to New Digital World Ahead’ ses- structure in every field, from world leaders to mark the fifth who has been facing pressure from lending directly to the of areas and often the kind of per cent to $7.1 billion.”Oracle add other locations over time,” sion at industry body Ficci’s financial services, healthcare to anniversary of the Paris climate from the opposition and some MSMEs, there is a way forward financial information coming is implementing a more flexi- Oracle said.Founded in Santa 93rd Annual General Meeting retail is tremendous due to the accord. Britain already declared Haryana farmers to withdraw in terms of collaborating with from them is not very organ- ble employee work location Clara in 1977, the Larry (AGM), Nadella said: “The ubiquity of computing fabric earlier this month that it plans from the BJP-led government in these NBFCs along with the ised, Khara explained. policy and has changed its Ellison-led Oracle is one of ability to use the digital tools that is available through every to cut its greenhouse gas emis- the state, had earlier said he will Corporate Headquarters from Silicon Valley’s older success and our built-in infrastruc- Indian business and every sions by at least 68% by 2030. resign if the MSP system is Redwood City, California to stories. ture and capability around the Indian citizen,” he said. AP threatened. " 1 J "' , New Delhi:”Digitalisation is redefin- ++,-* -* . ing the manufacturing industry and the NASSCOM CoE is strongly sserting that India was importing “a ujarat Chief Minister Vijay focused on driving thought leadership Alot of things” from China, Union GRupani on Saturday said and co-innovation with startups to Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday urged the government will soon carry help manufacturing companies inno- the domestic industry to come up with out a survey on the damage to vate in the new normal. The over- Swadeshi alternatives to the imports from crops in the state due to the whelming interest in the various nations without compromising unseasonal rain in the last `Manufacturing Innovation with their quality and cost. Addressing the couple of days. Challenge’ brings to the fore the inno- annual meeting of Ficci virtually, the Rupani said, “We will carry vative capabilities of the start-up MSME and road transport minister high- out a survey wherever unsea- ecosystem and the opportunity for the lighted the need to reduce imports and sonal rains and crop damage country to build a vibrant and digi- increase exports. He said this can help are reported and will disburse tally-led manufacturing industry. enhance economic growth and boost the compensation to the affected NASSCOM CoE is committed to contribution of domestic manufacturing farmers accordingly. But that accelerate these opportunities through to the GDP to up to 30 per cent. Citing the will be after a couple of days, showcasing industry-specific use example of magnets used in electric vehi- as there is still rainy weather cases and coupling them with start- cles, he asked industry experts to study continuing in the state.” up capabilities,” said Ms Debjani which parts are being imported by India. A spell of untimely rain in Ghosh, President, NASSCOM, while “Now the magnet, there are a lot of things various parts of Gujarat has speaking at the second edition of we are importing from China. I am not a caused major damage to the Fusion 4.0’s Manufacturing businessman or a business expert but I am standing crops. Groundnuts, Innovation Challenge 2020 seeing a huge potential for electric cars, e- cumin and cotton have been (MIC2020) organized by NASSCOM bikes, electric autorickshaws and even elec- significantly affected, according Centre of Excellence IoT& AI. tric trucks,” said the Minister. to sources. (0 Kolkata: Dr Anand Singh for the candidates applied ++,-* Khati, Director General (HR) against the Notification No. in charge of recruitment in CEN 03/2019 (Isolated and he Centre on Saturday said that all states Railways has announced Ministerial categories) from Texcept Tamil Nadu have availed benefits of through a virtual press briefing 15th to 18th December, 2020. “Special Assistance to States for Capital today i.e. on 11.12.2020 that RRBs will conduct the first Expenditure”. Indian Railways is going to fill stage Computer Based Test for The scheme is aimed at boosting capital up 1.4 lakh vacancies of posts the candidates applied against expenditure by the state governments, who are of Stenographers, Teachers, the Notification No. facing a difficult financial environment this year Translators, Station Masters, 0CEN 01/2019 from 28th due to the shortfall in tax revenue arising from Guards, Office Clerks, December, 2020 to mid March, the Covid-19 pandemic. Commercial Clerks, Track 2021. The Computer Based According to the Ministry of Finance, cap- Maintainers, Pointsman and Test for the candidates applied ital expenditure has a higher multiplier effect, various Level-I employees against the Notification No. enhancing the future productive capacity of the through Railway Recruitment RRC-01/2019 (Level -1 cate- economy, and results in a higher rate of econo- Boards. Total 2.44 crores can- gory) will be conducted tenta- my growth. didates have applied for these tively from April, 2021. “Therefore, despite the adverse financial posi- posts For this , three following Candidates who have applied tion of the central government, it was decided employment notifications have for the posts of Isolated and to extend a special assistance to the state gov- been issued: Ministerial Categories against ernments in respect of capital expenditure, in · CEN 01/2019(NTPC notification No: CEN 03/2019 financial year 2020-21,” categories) can download their e-call let- “The scheme has got very warm response · CEN 03/2019 ters from RRB website from from the state governments. So far capital (Isolated and Ministerial cate- 16.00 hrs today. expenditure proposals of Rs 9,879.61 crore of 27 gories) In West Bengal, 7747 can- States have been approved by the Ministry of · RRC -01/2019( Level- didates have applied for differ- Finance.” 1 categories) ent posts of Isolated and As per the statement, an amount of Rs Railway Recruitment Ministerial categories 4,939.81 crore has already been released to the Boards (RRB) are going to (Notification No: CEN states as the first instalment under the scheme. conduct Computer Based Test 03/2019). + ,-. /0/0 " 23

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Washington: The US Supreme response to the lawsuit, alleged that such abuse must never be Washington: New York Gov. been reached and no runners in the search process. Court has rejected a lawsuit that Texas wanted the justices replicated,” said the response Andrew Cuomo is one of sev- announcement was expected Spokespeople for Cuomo seeking to overturn the results to disregard the Constitution, filed by the State of eral contenders under consid- imminently. did not immediately return of the presidential election in not interpret it. It said Texas’ fil- Pennsylvania. eration by President-elect Joe The person was not autho- emails seeking comment on several key battleground states ings attempted to construct a Reacting to the develop- Biden for the role of attorney rized to discuss the search Friday. won by Joe Biden, effectively surreal alternate reality. ment, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of general, a person with knowl- process by name and spoke on It was not clear to what ending President Donald “Texas’ effort to get this the House of Representatives, edge of the search process said condition of anonymity to The extent the disclosure this week Trump’s bid to challenge the Court to pick the next President said, “The Court has rightly dis- on Friday. Associated Press. that federal prosecutors were outcome of the November 3 has no basis in law or fact. The missed out of hand the extreme, The other three contenders The Associated Press investigating the finances of polls. Court should not abide this unlawful and undemocratic at the moment include former reported earlier in the week Biden’s son, Hunter, might The Supreme Court on seditious abuse of the judicial GOP lawsuit to overturn the Alabama Sen. Doug Jones, fed- that Jones, who lost his Senate have scrambled the attorney Friday rejected a bid from process, and should send a will of millions of American eral appeals court judge seat last month, and Garland, general search process given Texas’ attorney general and clear and unmistakable signal voters.” PTI Merrick Garland and former who was spurned by that the person who has picked backed by President Trump to Deputy Attorney General Sally Republicans four years ago for would inherit the probe assum- block the ballots of millions of Yates, said the person, who cau- a spot on the Supreme Court, ing it remains active next voters in battleground states of 2 tioned that no decision had had emerged as the two front- month. AP Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that went in favour of a Democrat. stantiated allegations of massive 4 President-elect Biden. Biden not only bagged the voter fraud and electoral mal- Supreme Court Justices most popular votes in the pres- practice in the election. State -* 9 before the Electoral College Samuel Alito and Clarence idential electoral history of the election officials and main- meets to formally elect Thomas said they believed the United States, his tally in the stream media say they have not upporters of President Democrat Joe Biden as the next court was required to hear the electoral college was 306, more found any such evidence. SDonald Trump are return- president. Trump refuses to case but expressed no position than the 270 votes required for Texas Attorney General ing to Washington for a pair of concede the election, citing on Texas’ claim. As many as 126 winning the race to the White Ken Paxton in his lawsuit rallies to back his desperate baseless claims of fraud. Republican Congressmen had House. Trump received 232 alleged that four battleground efforts to subvert the election The Supreme Court on also backed the lawsuit. electoral votes. The election states -- Georgia, Michigan, that he lost. Friday rejected a lawsuit to “Texas has not demon- results are scheduled to be for- Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - The rallies Saturday come overturn Biden’s election vic- strated a judicially cognisable mally certified next week by the - had violated their own state a month after a pro-Trump tory, ending an attempt to get interest in the manner in which 538-member Electoral College. laws, and thus the US demonstration that drew at legal issues rejected by state and another State conducts its elec- Reacting to the verdict, an Constitution. The lawsuit urged least 10,000 people to the cap- federal judges before the tions. All other pending angry Trump tweeted, “The the court to bar these four states ital. That day began with Trump nation’s highest court. motions are dismissed as moot,” Supreme Court really let us from casting their electoral thrilling supporters when his Trump planned to leave the the Supreme Court said in a down. No Wisdom, No votes for Biden and as such shift motorcade passed by and ended White House around midday brief unsigned order on Courage!” the selection of electors to the with scattered clashes between to attend the Army-Navy foot- Thursday, delivering a devas- He also said the verdict was states’ legislatures. his loyalists and local activists ball game in West Point, New tating blow to the efforts of the a “legal disgrace” and “an Trump had said he expect- near Black Lives Matter Plaza York. One of the rallies will be Republican president to chal- embarrassment to the USA.” ed to prevail in the Supreme near the White House. at Freedom Plaza downtown lenge and overturn the election Trump and his campaign Court. Saturday’s rallies are meant and the other nearby on the results decisively won by Biden, team have been making unsub- Pennsylvania, in its as a show of force just two days National Mall.

" $ # ( ; # 8 ! 5 - $ ) ( # '=>5 . $ Tehran: Authorities say Iran messaging app Telegram had ? !$ ! '*+ has executed a once-exiled spread the timings of the : journalist over his online work protests and embarrassing United Nations: The global that one of the 19 outstanding that helped inspire nationwide information about officials that ! chemical weapons watchdog issues is a chemical weapons economic protests in 2017. directly challenged Iran’s Shiite criticised Syria for failing to production facility that Iranian state television and theocracy. declare a chemical weapons President Bashar Assad’s gov- the state-run IRNA news Those demonstrations, Hong Kong: Relatives of a production facility and respond ernment said was never used to agency said that Ruhollah Zam which began at the end of ( dozen Hong Kong residents to 18 other issues, while Russia produce weapons, but where was hanged early Saturday 2017, represented the biggest who have been detained in accused the watchdog of con- the OPCW gathered material morning. in cases involving espionage or challenge to Iran since the mainland China for more than ducting a “political crusade” and samples indicating “that In June, a court sentenced attempts to overthrow Iran’s 2009 Green Movement protests Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai, the 73- charge sheet listed several for- 3 1/2 months made a plea against its close ally, the Syrian production and/or weaponisa- Zam to death, saying he had government. and set the stage for similar year-old Hong Kong media eign politicians who followed Saturday to be informed of the Government. tion of chemical warfare nerve been convicted of “corruption Zam’s website and a chan- mass unrest in November of tycoon and advocate for Lai on Twitter and cited com- timing of any trials and The clash on Friday came agents took place.” on Earth,” a charge often used nel he created on the popular last year. AP democracy, was denied bail on mentaries he wrote and inter- whether they can attend. at the UN Security Council’s Arias said the OPCW had Saturday after being charged views he did with foreign The request underscored monthly meeting on Syria’s requested Syria to declare the the previous day under the media. the sharp contrast between chemical weapons, where the exact types and quantities of semi-autonomous Chinese ter- Lai, who was already being the relatively open legal director-general of the chemical agents at the site, but ritory’s new national security held on other fraud charges system in Hong Kong, a Organisation for the got no response. law. after police raided his media semi-autonomous Chinese Prohibition of Chemical Britain’s new UN ambas- Lai faces a charge of collu- company, could be seen hand- territory, and that of the main- Weapons, Fernando Arias, sador, Barbara Woodward, said sion with foreign elements to cuffed to a chain around his land, where often little infor- briefed members for the first another unresolved issue in endanger national security, waist as guards led him to a van mation is divulged until a trial time since May and was pum- Syria’s declaration is the thou- apparently for tweets he made to go from prison to court. He is over. meled with questions from sands of munitions and hun- and interviews or commen- wore a navy blazer and an “I miss my son so much,” Russia’s UN Ambassador dreds of tons of chemical agents taries he did with foreign open-neck shirt. the mother of Wong Wai-yin, Vassily Nebenzia. that Syria has not accounted media. Beijing imposed the one of the detainees, said, Arias said seven years after for. The Apple Daily, a feisty national security law on Hong choking up. “I want to visit him Syria joined the Chemical A joint UN-OPCW inves- pro-democracy tabloid owned Kong earlier this year after so badly. I haven’t seen my son Weapons Convention in 2013, tigative mechanism accused by Lai, said he is accused of ask- stormy protests in 2019 that in a very long time — it’s its initial chemical declaration Syria of using chlorine and the ing a foreign country, organi- started over an extradition bill almost four months. Please has unresolved “gaps, incon- nerve agent sarin during its zation or individual to impose and expanded to include tell me (about the trial). I’m just sistencies, and discrepancies” civil war, while the Islamic sanctions or engage in other demands for greater democ- an ordinary mother.” The 12 and “still cannot be considered State group was accused of hostile activities against Hong racy in the former British were arrested at sea in August accurate and complete.” using mustard gas twice in Kong or China. colony. while they were apparently He told the virtual meeting 2015 and 2016. AP His case was adjourned to The new law outlaws seces- making a bid to flee to Taiwan April 16 at the request of pros- sion, subversion, terrorism and after a tough national security ecutors, who said police need- collusion with foreign forces to law took effect in Hong Kong ed time to review more than intervene in Hong Kong’s earlier this year. 1,000 tweets and comments affairs. It has constricted free They were picked up after made on his Twitter account, speech in the city, and democ- entering mainland waters for the Apple Daily reported. racy activists see it as a way to crossing the maritime border - $ ) The newspaper said his suppress dissent. AP without permission. AP 3$ (!3 - ## ; 9>? &$ Q R Umm Rakouba (Sudan): The here, much remains unclear, regional troops. * E , only thing the survivors can including who killed whom. It’s possible that civilians 09,9 E9 and the victims’ relatives. agree on is that hundreds of Witnesses in Mai-Kadra from both ethnicities were tar- “What was a protest had urkey on Saturday sum- people were slaughtered in a told the Ethiopian Human geted in Mai-Kadra, Amnesty Sri Lankan probe panel later developed into a major Tmoned the Iranian ambas- single Ethiopian town. Rights Commission and now says. Ainvestigating the last riot,” the committee said, sador to Ankara over Iran’s Witnesses say security Amnesty International that eth- “Anyone they found, they month’s prison riot in which 11 adding that the divisions “aggressive” reaction to the forces and their allies attacked nic Tigrayan forces and allies would kill,” Tesfaalem Germay, inmates were killed has con- among inmates had also aggra- Turkish president’s recitation of civilians in Mai-Kadra with attacked Amhara — one of an ethnic Tigrayan who fled to cluded that the prisoners staged vated the clash due to deep a poem on a visit to Azerbaijan, machetes and knives or stran- Ethiopia’s largest ethnic groups Sudan with his family, said of the protest in fear of contract- running personal hatred as which Tehran deemed to sup- gled them with ropes. The but a minority in Tigray. In Ethiopian and Amhara forces. ing the deadly coronavirus, an they belonged to different port a secession of Azeri eth- stench of bodies lingered for Sudan, where nearly 50,000 He said he saw hundreds of official said on Saturday. cliques and criminal gangs. nic parts of Iran. days during the early chaos of people have fled, one ethnic bodies, making a slicing gesture The five-member probe The committee observed The diplomatic spat the Ethiopian government’s Amhara refugee gave The at his neck and head as he committee’s interim report said that the inmates had violently between neighbors Iran and offensive in the defiant Tigray Associated Press a similar remembered the gashes. that the riot at the Mahara involved in fisticuffs among Turkey began earlier this week region last month. Several mass account. But another refugee, prison on November 29 and 30 them by using knives, clubs and when Turkish President Recep graves have been reported. But more than a dozen Abebete Refe, told the AP that was caused by the protest swords found from within the Tayyip Erdogan, who strongly What happened beginning Tigrayan refugees told the AP many ethnic Amhara like him staged to receive a quick solu- prison premises. But none of backs Azerbaijan, read parts of November 9 in the agricultur- it was the other way around: In who stayed behind were mas- tion to the COVID-19 issue. the inmates had access to any a poem during a parade in the al town near the Sudanese bor- strikingly similar stories, they sacred by Tigrayan forces. Eleven inmates were killed fire arms. Caucasian country’s capital of der has become the most visi- said they and others were tar- “Even the government doesn’t in the protest. The government Only the prison officials Baku. ble atrocity in a war largely con- geted by Ethiopian federal think we’re alive, they thought appointed the probe panel after had guns and they used them, The verses that Erdogan ducted in the shadows. But even forces and allied Amhara we all died,” he said. AP pressure from the Opposition the probe committee said. read included lines about how a border tore apart ancient Azeri, or Azerbaijani, lands “by force.” In a statement Saturday, Turkey’s communications director Fahrettin Altun said Iranians had distorted the meaning of the poem “to fuel senseless tensions.” Altun said the Iranian ambassador to Ankara was summoned late Friday to the foreign ministry to convey “our strong reaction to the baseless accusations of Iranian officials.” .4" 5 + ,-. /0/0

his forte. However, the 21-year-old got out in an unfortunate manner to leg-spinner Michell Swepson. 9 Swepson bowled a faster one and Gill, shaping up to flick +,*+ ramped it up and bowled very it, missed, prompting the well. For us, we know who we bowler to appeal for an lbw ustralia batsman Marnus are coming up against. even as the ball headed towards ALabuschagne on Saturday “So, it’s just making sure the first slip where a diving said there has not been any we are really focussed and Sean Abbott held on to it. talk about him opening the understand what bowlers are % TV replays were inconclu- batting in the first Test against doing. We know which sive and the absence of DRS India but he is ready to bat at bowlers we are playing and Snickometer in the prac- that slot if the team manage- (against) and we make sure +/ - tice game, a disappointed Gill ment asks him to do so. that we prepare accordingly,” had no option but to walk With both David Warner he said. 1* back to the dressing room as and Will Pucovski ruled out of The right-handed bats- umpire’s decision could not be the first Test, and Joe Burns man said facing the likes of ! # challenged. short of runs, Labuschagne is Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins That ended a 104-run an opening option for the and Josh Hazlewood in the ! partnership for the second home side in the day/night nets makes the Australians wicket between Gill and match starting at Adelaide better batsmen. :+: Agarwal, who was joined in by Oval on December 17. “One thing that makes !$ Vihari for another half-centu- “No, there has not been our batters that good is that ishabh Pant and ,$./00 ry stand. (any talk on batting position) we’re facing the best bowling Hanuma Vihari put $46 $ A 6 "4< Thereafter, the duo of ... Currently I think number attack in and out during train- Rthemselves in the reck- Vihari and skipper Ajinkya three. But I am just preparing ing. The likes of Cummins, oning for next week’s first Test were strongly placed at 386 for Rahane was involved in a to bat, if that’s No 1 or No 3, Hazlewood, Starc and (James) with contrasting hundreds as four for an overall lead by 472 partnership of 78 runs for the it doesn’t matter. I am ready to Pattinson, they are unbeliev- India thoroughly dominated runs, having bundled out the fourth wicket as the face the ball, no matter what able bowlers. Facing them Australia A in the pink ball home team out for a paltry Australian bowlers toiled hard the circumstances are,” he said every training session ensures warm-up match here at 108 in their first innings on for wickets. during a virtual press confer- we prepare as good as we Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. There was a brief rain ence. possibly can be at Test level.” Saturday. In their first innings, India interruption after Pant walked “Look, I finished last sum- Labuschagne, who can Needing 19 runs to reach were all out for 194, which in at the fall of Rahane’s wick- mer at three, so hopefully at also bowl leg-spin, is also his century when Jack would have been far less if not et. But he straightaway played three. But my job is to face the ready to bowl if the team Wildermuth commenced the for pace spearhead Jasprit his shots to further unsettle ball that is coming down to me needs him. second evening’s final over, Bumrah’s maiden first-class the Australian bowlers. wherever I am batting,” said “I have been the fifth Pant clobbered him for 4, 4, 6, fifty, but the visitors staged a Even as Vihari showed the 26-year-old, who has bowling option for the last five 4, 4, to remain unbeaten on a strong comeback with both great composure and patience played 14 Tests so far. series, so it is no different than blistering 103 off only 73 bat and ball. in collecting his runs, Pant He said he is ready to do any other Test match that I balls. Overall, he hit nine While Gill may have was quite at ease while clear- whatever is the best for the team. have played. I am making fours and six sixes. booked himself one of the ing the fence, reaching his fifty “If the team needs me to sure that I am always ready to At the other end, Vihari opening slots with his dazzling with a cracking square cut in open, that’s what I will do. It’s bowl and I like the opportuni- laboured his way to a fine 104- strokes, Hanuma’s effort might just 43 balls. a team sport, it’s about win- ty when I do get to bowl,” he run knock off 194 balls. force the Indian team to play Pant continued in same ning games. We’ll have to added. Also staking a claim for an additional batsman in the vein till the end of the day’s wait and see how things He also said that there selection is young Shubman series opener. play and hurtled towards his pan out with a few other has been no change in the Gill, with an elegant 65 off 78 Coming out to bat again century with a flurry of big moving parts currently.” perspective of Australian balls and 10 sweetly-timed in the beginning of the day’s hits. While Vihari, in all, Labuschagne said players as far as the prepa- boundaries. play, India lost Prithvi Shaw in & ) 1:2 struck 13 boundaries. he’s prepared to face the rations for the day-night In the final session of the second over as the young Indian attack under match is concerned. play, Pant’s aggressive right-hander drove the ball at # ! 5 lights and since the “We are just approach paid dividends as he cover-point without any great players know who trying to hit a lot smashed the Australia A foot movement. It was a bit of < 8A @ they are up of balls, get used bowlers to all corners of the a soft dismissal. =B## against, it’s just to conditions SCG, the southpaw making a If Shaw missed out on an team. a statement. ment said. about being and trying to strong case for himself for the opportunity to make a big ++,-* “He has been given a Rohit on Friday cleared an The BCCI said the NCA focussed. make sure (to wicketkeeper’s job in Adelaide score in good batting condi- detailed programme to follow eagerly-watched fitness test at medical team is satisfied with “We’re be) ready ahead of Test specialist tions, his contemporary Gill he BCCI on Saturday for the duration of the two the National Cricket Academy Rohit’s fitness but added that he obviously pre- come Wriddhiman Saha. grabbed it with both hands on Tdeclared senior batsman weeks he will be quarantined in Bengaluru and will leave for will need to work on his pared. We Thursday,” To cite an example of his the way to reaching his half- Rohit Sharma “clinically fit” to for. He will be reassessed by the Australia on December 14, endurance. “The NCA medical played he power-hitting, Pant swept one century off 49 balls. join the Indian team in Team India medical team post three days before the start of Team was satisfied with the (Jasprit) quipped. over the cow corner for a six, During his stay in the Australia but said a call on his his quarantine to establish his the marquee Test series. physical fitness of Mr Sharma Bumrah in leaving Nic Maddinson to middle, Gill played some ele- participation in the last two fitness status and a call on his “... Rohit Sharma has com- after assessing him on different one-dayers search for the ball among the gant drives and looked matches of the Test series there participation in the Border- pleted his rehabilitation process metrics, however, he will be and in the rows of chairs at the SCG. assured while going on to the will be taken after a reassess- Gavaskar Trophy will be taken at the NCA in Bengaluru and required to continue work on last ODI he At the close of play, India backfoot, which seems to be ment by the squad’s medical accordingly,” the BCCI said in is now clinically fit,” the state- his endurance,” the BCCI said. really - 1$$ ! 2&# ! :+: 3 4 $ ( ,$5/50 ictoria’s Marcus Harris was 7634 Von Saturday added to an injury-plagued Australia squad = for next week’s first Test against +,,* 9 India after Will Pucovski was :+: “I obviously wasn’t in the ruled out of the series opener Test side last summer so I did- yle Jamieson bagged five alongside David Warner. dded to an injury-plagued n’t have that distraction coming Kwickets in a masterclass of The four-match series AAustralia squad for the into this summer and I’ve just swing bowling as New Zealand begins with the day-night Test first Test against India, batsman been focused on what I need to struck hard and fast to have the at Adelaide from December 17. Marcus Harris says he is “pret- do, so that’s been good,” he said. West Indies on the ropes on day Harris was drafted into the ty ready” to take on the visitors’ “Now I’ve found myself two of the second Test in squad for the seasoned Warner, quality pacers, having faced where I am, and I feel pretty Wellington on Saturday. who suffered a groin injury dur- them in both the tour games. ready to go and I’m looking for- The tourists ended the day ing the second one-day interna- “There’s obviously been a ward to it.” on the brink of another follow tional against India, while bit of stuff going on with every- Harris played nine Tests for on as they struggled to 124/8, Pucovski sustained a concussion 5 4 ) $ $ ) thing in the last couple of Australia and was a member of still 336 behind New Zealand’s while batting for Australia A in weeks, so it’s been good to have the squad which retained the 460. a tour match against the visitors cricket.com.au. Will since he sustained the a hit against the Indian boys Ashes in England last year. Only Jermaine Blackwood at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney. “Marcus has been in out- concussion and hope he and and another hit today,” Harris With Warner and Pucovski provided any serious resistance Cricket Australia said both standing form for Victoria this David will be back to full health told Fox Cricket. rued out, Harris appears set to but he fell late in the day for 69 batsmen will target a return season and has had the benefit ahead of the Boxing Day Test.” “It feels like I’m in the play his 10th Test and first since as Jamieson and Tim Southee ahead of the Boxing Day Test, of facing India’s bowlers in both Harris played nine Tests for right place at the right time, but the final Test of the 2019 Ashes. wreaked havoc. scheduled to be held in three-day tour matches at Australia and was a member of it feels like I’ve been playing The opener averages Jamieson, the rising star in Melbourne from December 26- Drummoyne and under lights the squad which retained the really well as well. It’s been good, 25.06 with two half-centuries the Black Caps, got 5/34 for his 30. at the SCG.” Ashes in England last year. not to be the one that’s spoken since debuting against India second five-wicket haul in only “Given the spate of injuries He added, “At the same He has smashed 355 runs at about too much.” at the Adelaide Oval two his fourth Test. in recent weeks, we’re fortunate time, we are disappointed for a fantastic average of 118.33 in “I knew coming here that summers ago. The Basin Reserve strip to be able to bring a player of David and Will that they will two Sheffield Shield domestic if I went okay I’d put myself in Against the touring continued to provide all the - - ; ; 2 4 ) Marcus’ calibre into the Test not be available for the first first-class matches for Victoria a position to maybe play, the Indians this summer, Harris ingredients on a fast bowler’s squad,” Australia’s national Vodafone Test. this season, with a knock of 239 way that things have been has put together scores of 35, wish list — pace, bounce and selector Trevor Hohns was “We have taken a conserv- against South Australia being going,” said the 28-year-old 25no and 26 in three innings movement — and New Zealand < ! <52 quoted as saying by ative approach in managing the highlight. right-handed batsman. for Australia A. exploited this perfectly. “The way the ball’s moving 03, of the series along with Tim we knew if we got it in good Southee, Kyle Jamieson and 7$*(% ,$ enough areas then things would eteran batsman Ross Taylor Daryl Mitchell. Q! = =0R <'%% happen,” said the 2.08 metre Vwas on Saturday dropped Seamer Blair Tickner, bats- ,!$ !! Jamieson. from an 18-man New Zealand man Mark Chapman and all- ,*2+.99, against us, it’s in general. A few things are “It was just a matter of doing squad named for the T20I series rounder Doug Bracewell will not like they were before and they were it for long enough and if you do against Pakistan while Kane only be part of the first T20I. ,$ $Q iverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said better before. If you change something that you tend to get rewarded.” Williamson will return from his According to selector Gavin 24 < Former India all-rounder Lhe has changed his mind over the need there should be just Unlike the West Indies bats- paternity leave to lead the side Larsen, Taylor, who made 38 Yuvraj Singh on Saturday turned 39 for VAR in football and believes the ( $% improvement and men, Nicholls and Neil Wagner in the second and third match- and nine against the West Indies but instead of celebrating his birth- change to using technology to determine ,$60/00% that is for sure not were able to plunder runs when es. in his last T20Is, missed out day this year, the 2011 World Cup the finest of margins has made the game $ $4$ $ 2 3 + the case and that’s it.” the New Zealand innings Besides the 36-year-old because of the “quality and hero hoped for a “swift resolution” to less enjoyable. resumed on Saturday morning. Taylor’s absence, fast bowler form” of the rest of the squad. the ongoing farmers’ issues through The Reds were involved in three MOURINHO WARNS SPURS Both scored personal bests, Lockie Ferguson, who suffered Taylor has scored 1909 runs dialogue. “Birthdays are an opportu- lengthy stoppages during a 1-1 draw away Jose Mourinho has warned his untroubled whether the West a bone stress injury in his back, from 102 matches at an average nity to fulfil a wish or desire and this to Midtjylland in the Champions League Tottenham players they face a searching Indies bowled full or short, as was also left out from the squad of 26.15. birthday rather than celebrating I on Wednesday for VAR to check a penal- test of their Premier League title creden- Nicholls advanced from his for the three-match series start- Mitchell Santner will once only wish and pray for a swift reso- ty awarded to the Danish champions and tials over the gruelling Christmas period. overnight 117 to 174 while ing next Friday in Auckland. again lead the T20I side in the lution of the ongoing talks between rule out a goal for either side. Spurs, top of the table on goal differ- Wagner finished unbeaten on Trent Boult, who was rest- series opener at Eden Park, our farmers and our government,” “We stop celebrating goals, we wait ence, are about to embark on a run of 66. ed for the T20Is against the West having done so in the rain-hit Yuvraj said in a Twitter post. constantly, we have less than millimetre seven fixtures in 21 days, which could The New Zealand pace Indies, will also be available only third T20I against West Indies “Undoubtedly, farmers are the offside decisions. A lot of things are not have a huge say in whether they will quartet — Southee, Trent Boult, for the second and third games in Williamson’s absence. lifeblood of the nation and I truly like they were before, that’s the truth,” said remain as contenders. Neil Wagner and Jamieson — believe that there is no problem Klopp in his pre-match press conference They start at Crystal Palace on immediately extracted life from Blackwood whose century in the fifth wicket before falling in which cannot be resolved through ahead of Sunday’s trip to Fulham. Sunday before games against Liverpool, the wicket. second innings of the first Test quick succession. peaceful dialogue,” he added. “I said when the idea of VAR first Leicester, Wolves, Fulham and Leeds, with They moved the ball in and started with Windies at 27/4. Brooks faced 92 deliveries The 2011 World Cup-winning came up I was in favour of it because I a League Cup quarter-final at Stoke away and it took the tourists four He survived Jamieson’s hat- for a stubborn 14 before he star also distanced himself from his thought the right decisions would be nice, sandwiched in between. overs to get their first runs on the trick ball, and the one after, shouldered arms to a good father Yograj Singh’s unsavoury com- if we could have rights decisions. Mourinho has been used to juggling board, by which stage Southee which both slammed into the length Jamieson ball that jagged ments made earlier this week during “I’m not sure we all thought it his squad as they have been in Europa had already dismissed Kraigg pads but vociferous appeals back into the stumps. a protest rally. through properly and how long will it take League action and will do so again, but Brathwaite caught at first slip by were turned down and replays Southee then accounted for “As a proud Indian, I am indeed to get the right decision, how much will - ) says his star men such as Harry Kane and Ross Taylor. showed the deliveries swinging Blackwood with a sharply rising saddened and upset by the state- it take away from a game we all loved Son Heung-min will have to play most of After Southee caught and away down the leg side. delivery that was fended to ments made by Mr Yograj Singh. I before.” age to the talismanic Dutch defender. the matches. bowled Darren Bravo for seven, Southee tied up Shamarh Latham in the slips. Jamieson wish to clarify that his remarks have Liverpool have been involved in Jordan Henderson had a late winner “It is impossible for a player to play Jamieson stepped up with the Brooks at the other end and the closed the day with the wickets been made in an individual capaci- plenty of VAR controversy already this ruled out in the same game for a millimet- all these matches in a short period of time,” back-to-back wickets of John West Indies faced 27 dot balls of Jason Holder for nine and ty and my ideologies are not the same season as Everton goalkeeper Jordan ric offside call, while Andy Robertson con- he said. “Of course we need to do it Campbell 14 and Roston Chase before Blackwood broke the Alzarri Joseph without scoring. in any manner,” Yuvraj said and Pickford escaped without seeing a red card ceded a late penalty after a review in a 1- (rotate) and we have to do it but at the to have the West Indies at 29/4. drought with a single. Along with Jamieson’s five, ended the post with Jai Jawan! Jai for a horrendous challenge on Virgil van 1 draw at Brighton two weeks ago. same time there are players that are real- It was familiar territory for The pair put on 68 for the Southee has taken 3/29. Kisan! Jai Hind! PNS Dijk, which caused knee ligament dam- “It’s nothing to do with tight decisions ly, really unique. # " $65&00

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he recent episodes of destructive these systems lay with the local municipal beginning to be overwhelmed resulting in meet the growing needs of the community can flooding in cities such as Hyderabad bodies. monsoon floods through the 1920s and 1930s. be financed without much difficulty from and Bengaluru have once again The precise engineering arrangements for For instance, a national newspaper report from municipal funds, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), it turned the spotlight on the drainage draining the cities varied from case to case and August 1923 complained about Kolkata (then is quite impossible for obvious reasons. The problems facing urban India. was shaped largely by local conditions. Design Calcutta) that ‘Floods are of daily occurrence, drainage question alone is of such decisive TAccording to a recent report by the New Delhi choice in this period revolved around two and it is doubtful if this will ever be a thing of importance and so great in extent that the cost based Centre for Science and Environment modes of drainage — the ‘combined’ and the the past’, while a report on flooding in Mumbai of remedial measures may be quite beyond the titled Why Urban India Floods, flooding is one ‘separate’ system of drainage. The ‘combined’ in 1937 noted that ‘Flooded Bombay (now means of the corporation.’ of the most predominant hazards facing urban system transported both stormwater (surface Mumbai) streets, are a common sight...’ during If this was the case in Kolkata, one of the India at present. Experts and commentators run-off of rainwater) and sewage in a single monsoons. In both these cases, the inadequate then richest municipal bodies in the country, who have studied this issue have identified a underground sewer, while the ‘separate’ system capacity of its drainage infrastructure to then it would certainly not be difficult to number of vital causal dimensions to this collected and disposed storm water and sewage respond to the rainfall patterns in the city were fathom what the state of drainage systems in problem ranging from unplanned urban separately via separate pipes. While Kolkata identified as the most important cause, thus other poorer yet populous cities such as development, which has led to the opted for a ‘combined’ system due to its providing us interesting parallels from the past Lucknow and Banaras might have been. Indeed, encroachment of the natural drainage channels topography, Mumbai and Chennai city opted on monsoon flooding in urban India. as of 1937 only 3% of the 517 municipalities of urban water bodies, to shortcomings in for the ‘separate’ system guided by the annual across the five provinces of Bengal, Mumbai, drainage infrastructures which have led to the rainfall patterns in the city. Since rainfall in the Chennai, UP and Punjab had modern sewage intensification of the problem. latter two cities were restricted only to a few The city governments of that era were disposal systems installed even though the Missing in much of these discussions, months in a year, it was felt that stormwater can certainly not silent spectators as these problems engineering practices behind them had become however, are the historical dimensions of this be separately managed more efficiently. On a started unraveling from of them. They were, as fairly well rooted in India. Thus, it was not for issue. A perusal of these dimensions indicates similar note, while Kolkata opted to drain its -*,+* **;;*0 , a matter of fact, quite alive to the need to want of engineering solutions that drainage two things: firstly, urban flooding and the stormwater into a nearby tidal creek by the 909 + * - upgrade their respective drainage systems. For systems remained inadequate; it was mainly the inability of Indian cities to upgrade drainage name Bidhyadhari, Chennai and Mumbai opted instance, Mumbai city’s corporation had dire economic conditions that these local infrastructures were, in a similar vein to to drain their stormwater into the sea via open 0,+..+0*+9-9 planned for a project costing nearly 1.36 crore bodies found themselves in that prevented the contemporary times, features of urban life even drains and channels. 9* .92+ .E to give a comprehensive overhaul of the city’s emergence of a functional and satisfactory in the British period; secondly, Indian cities’ storm water drainage system in 1924, while system of urban drainage in India. inability in solving these problems in this ,*2* 09* *9* Kolkata had finalised a scheme to shift its It’s now nearly 90 years since the period had economic rather than engineering Following their introduction, these drainage **9 -+,+ outfall works from Bidyadhari river to the river aforementioned incidents took shape. While roots. Even when comprehensive engineering systems certainly did not have a smooth career Kulti by 1930. But financial stringency facing there are important qualitative differences solutions to these problems were available, at and began to develop a number of problems not 9 -+E*9; the local governments in this period meant between the challenges that contemporary that time they were only haltingly implemented so different from the drainage problems -* 9.*0,9.3/ these schemes were either delayed or suspended urban India faces and what its colonial due to the inability of local municipal afflicting contemporary Indian cities. The or only partially implemented. predecessor did, this article has alluded to some governments to finance such elaborate schemes nature of the problems in each case was 9+ . * 9* While the implementation of Calcutta’s important enduring elements. Chief among this on their own. Given that this weakness and strongly conditioned by its design choices. For 0+. *,:09 ,E+ (now Kolkata) scheme could eventually is the economic inability of India’s local bodies institutional structure continues to largely instance, the cities that adopted the ‘separate’ + .* .+ +. commence only in 1935, Bombay’s (now to build robust public infrastructure for endure in Indian cities, there is a need to system developed practical difficulties in Mumbai) scheme for stormwater drainage was delivering vital services — be it water, provide secure financial backing to local keeping sewage from entering storm water * +.2+ *99; not implemented even by 1933. Under the tight sanitation or drainage. governments for building robust urban drains and vice versa. This manifested in 0+ ., + financial constraints, the municipal bodies A recent report of the research organisation infrastructure in the future. Mumbai in 1901 when parts of the city’s storm could not go beyond tinkering with the existing ICRIER titled Finances of Municipal water drains had become a public health hazard 92+. + * system to prevent flooding. In Mumbai, the Corporation in Metropolitan India alerts us that when a slower uptake of household sewer .92** +0 .+ municipal corporation began to allow storm the dire financial position of these bodies connections led to the dumping of sewage into water to drain off through sewage pipes during continues to remain a major stumbling block Modern drainage systems were introduced these drains. In Chennai city, in the late 1920s, ;*0*,E03* periods of monsoon in a bid to reduce flooding for upgrading urban infrastructure. While it is in the major cities of the world from around the reverse was the problem as storm water ;9. -++,90, of city streets in the 1930s. difficult to come up with a clear recipe on how 1850 onward as a response to emergent found its way into sewage pipes thereby This position of financial weakness of to improve urban living conditions in India not epidemic diseases such as Cholera. Indian cities stretching the sewage disposal arrangements of E9*+ 9E *,2* , municipal bodies is succinctly captured by the the least on the basis of historical work, one were no exceptions to this trend as Calcutta, the system. E,*0+.2*0+* following quote from O.J.Wilkinson, who starting point certainly could be ensuring Bombay and Madras city (now Kolkata, While Kolkata’s ‘combined’ system could served as the drainage engineer of Kolkata in greater intervention of central and state Mumbai and Chennai) — the three biggest steer clear of the aforementioned difficulties, it 9 .0* *+ the mid 1920. He noted that: ‘In Calcutta (now governments in providing secure financial cities in British India — were among the first to still had to search for new disposal Kolkata) we have ... terrific rainstorms to backing for these local bodies to build vital introduce these systems there. Kolkata (then arrangements for its storm water due to the contend with, a drainage problem of public services in our cities. Calcutta) introduced its system in 1858, while silting up and rise in the bed level of the unparalleled complexity, a vast conservancy The author is an engineer turned PhD stu- Mumbai (then Bombay) and Chennai (then Bidyadhari river by the mid-1910s thereby question..Yet the income per head of the dent with the Centre for the History of Science, Madras) introduced their systems in the late causing stagnation within the drains. population is but a fraction of London or other Technology and Medicine (CHoSTM) at King’s 1870s with the key responsibilities for Furthermore, the carrying capacity of the great European cities. Whereas in London, the College, London, researching the history of sani- financing, building, operating and maintaining stormwater drains in all of these cities were rateable value is such that enormous schemes to tary infrastructures in late colonial Madras city + 3+ -+; .+ *E,+-++*2+ * -+99./9 -++ ** 9 -+*. ;;+.* 8tdiauxrd KE*,, + # " $65&00

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he year 2021 will be the year are looped in to distribute the vaccines, of the Covid-19 vaccine. It will there might be cases where they instead be the topic of our greatest sell off the vaccines at high prices. In the relief and utmost anxiety. case of the latter, the government can not Which vaccine? How to avail entirely check the corruption and the pri- it?T Will it work? What are the side effects? vate sector might be silenced by the fear We will not know the answers to all these of losing the supply chain for their own questions at once, not even at the time products. regulatory approval is given for each vac- What are ways in which we can pre- cine. empt this corruption? Communication Choosing the vaccine to use in might be key here. An intensive anti-cor- India’s vaccination programme will there- ruption campaign for vaccine distribu- fore certainly not be easy as they will each tion can be planned in order to remind be based on very different technologies, the public of being ethical during the with differing degrees of efficacy and side worst global pandemic in history that has effects that will likely be revealed with ravaged the lives of millions. The public time. Many millions will be vaccinated involved in vaccine distribution can be every week, and perhaps an effective encouraged and named as ‘heroes’ , tracking system could help us identify much as the frontline warriors were problems with particular vaccines which referred to as ‘Covid Warriors’. The were not caught in the pre-approval tests. communication on vaccines must cover Procuring the vaccine would indeed factual information about the various be initially difficult but I don’t anticipate vaccines, removing rumours and baseless it to be our greatest challenge in the long fears. The vaccine cannot be made run either. India has a large vaccine pro- mandatory, which makes the dispersion duction capacity. The Serum Institute of of effective and accurate communication India is the largest vaccine manufactur- all the more important. er in the world and it is producing the In India, since the past three months AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine and will or so the private sector has already also produce the Novavax vaccine. It is stepped in to assist the government in expanding capacity to 1.2 billion doses articulating and dispersing the message per year, and half of this could be avail- around Covid precautions. At times the able for India. There are other Indian government pays companies for spread- manufacturers engaged in clinical trials ing the message while in some cases com- to produce a vaccine, such as Zydus panies and even some advertising agen- Cadila, Bharat BioTech, Dr Reddy’s cies have stepped up to do so on a pro- Laboratories and Biological E. There will bono basis. This trend can be further undoubtedly be difficulties in this strengthened towards an anti-corruption unprecedented situation. I believe, the private sector must step in being mobilised by the government for setting up 11 Covid hospitals and recov- campaign for vaccine distribution. However, funding the programme to help. distributing Covid testing kits and masks ery facilities over six months, we lever- We can not afford to lose the battle will be a major challenge and a heavily First, how will we distribute the vac- could be tapped upon. They are the gov- +09 ;;9. aged public private partnerships to set up to Covid, especially once an effective bas- debated one too. Should the vaccine be cine to the last mile? Our existing systems ernment of India’s best last mile connect. these hospitals and facilities in urban ket of vaccines arrive. The distribution free for all beneficiaries or only for some? for distributing medicines to the angan- This network has been leveraged by the 9,9+ -+E ,+ pockets that lacked healthcare facilities, of anything to the last mile in India is a Will the government pay for vaccines for wadis and rural medical centres are government already and so it can be 9092*/++0*,,: bringing in government healthcare work- challenge. This is at least once when the all? India has a vast spectrum of social fraught with pilferage. Already we see a leveraged for vaccine distribution as ers to operate them. A similar PPP country needs to step up its game and and economic inequalities. We have black market for vaccines preparing to well, to be then picked up by the govern- 90++;;+0 *2+ model can be put in place for vaccine dis- ensure that the choice and the correct some of the world’s richest and the suck out the vaccines from the system to ment healthcare workers in villages, tribution and vaccine administration in information for the Covid vaccine reach- world’s poorest, with health care distri- offer it to those with greater buying slums, small towns. Large companies E3+ 9;200*+ rural India. es the most disadvantaged end of income bution that also mirrors this enormous power who might want the vaccine at the could include their supply chain and dis- Second, how do we overcome India’s groups in India. They can not be left to gap. Without free vaccines provided by soonest. How can we then ensure that the tributors within that network for vaccine ..*2+$ -+ biggest malaise — corruption — in this gain ‘herd immunity’ while the top 1% the government at least to some extent, vaccine is offered to all individuals in an delivery. The supply chain of large com- regard? The black market is picking up get their choice of vaccines. This is the we can not ensure that the last mile in equitable manner? Some have suggested panies such as Hindustan Unilever Ltd. * .*E *99; already, making ‘bandobast’ to get the challenge that the government, private rural India are offered the vaccine. We a lottery system for offering vaccines, but and others will thus bolster this exist- : -* 9 -+ vaccines out to people with resources as sector, me and you need to win in 2021. can not ensure that the population left even then how can the lottery winners ing network further — if a Lifebuoy can soon as possible. There are even travel The writer is CEO of Sustain Labs out in vaccinating 70% of India and hop- belonging to economically weaker seg- be delivered to the furthest hut in a vil- , *,+**** companies such as Gem Tours offering and Adjunct Professor at SciencesPo ing for herd immunity for the rest, are not ments be sure of receiving their vaccine? lage so can the Covid vaccine. Indeed Mumbai-New York-Mumbai tickets, 3 Paris. She is also a columnist and the poorest. Here, the network of the local kirana thereafter, the government healthcare 0-,,+ + night/4 day packages with breakfast and author of the 2019 bestseller Indian We can anticipate two other major stores and freelance entrepreneurs in workers would be best suited for door- one vaccine dose. Further, even if the Instincts — essays on freedom and hurdles in vaccinating India for which, small towns and villages who are already to-door vaccinating. In our experience of kirana stores in villages and slum zones equality in India

methods can be rolled out by any country independently, especially economically strong ones. %1 1' This would certainly cause an imbalance of power in global politics, as such a country would potentially have control over the global thermostat, with negative repercussions in certain parts of the world. We first have to understand exactly what the effects of various geoengineering ((, )' measures would be on a regional ! (*0-@#( ( basis, and ensure that the needs of all nations are met when and ,( "D&B@,?8B@ if they are executed. This is an issue with global ramifications, E83687F.@@ and cannot be treated locally. It is therefore absolutely vital that there is a cohesive strategy that limate change, or more Before we continue, we would cant uncertainty on what the is transnational in nature, with aptly, climate chaos, is like to point out that we are nei- actual impacts may be, including defining principles for gover- Carguably one of the major ther advocates nor opponents of predicting the change in rainfall nance, research, development challenges of the 21st century, geoengineering. We believe it is patterns and growth of plant life. and possible implementation of and is often considered an exis- important to have a broader pub- CDR on the other hand, these novel technologies. We tential threat to humanity. It lic discussion on a wider spec- involves removing carbon diox- urge India and other developing leaves no aspect of life trum of possible climate options, ide and other greenhouse gases nations to take the lead to ensure untouched, including the econo- and our goal in this article is to from the atmosphere by various justice, and ascertain that any my, environment, health and shed some light on one oft- means, ranging from reforesta- and all measures need to consid- livelihoods, regardless of which neglected outside scientific circles, tion/afforestation, restoration of er the wishes of all stakeholders part of the world you reside. The and lay out the unknowns, oppor- wetlands, burning biomass to within these vulnerable regions. global community has awoken to tunities and obstacles involved, capture carbon and permanently As it stands, climate geoengi- the risks involved, and there has especially from a South Asian storing it, fertilizing oceans to neering could prove to be a com- been a ramp-up of efforts to mit- perspective. That being said, let’s absorb more CO2 or even direct plement to other climate solu- igate the release of greenhouse start with a few definitions. capture of CO2 from ambient tions and not a silver bullet. If it gases, including the main culprit Under climate geoengineering, air. Generally, CDR techniques works well, it might be able to carbon dioxide, through a there are two major groups of pro- are comparatively slow-acting protect climate-vulnerable plethora of initiatives such as posed approaches; Solar Radiation and expensive to implement, but regions by keeping temperatures focusing on renewable energy, Management (SRM) and Carbon are less contentious and have below 1.5°C while the world is creating a circular economy, and Dioxide Removal (CDR). SRM been included in many models decarbonising. But the uncer- even re-inventing what would proposals aim to limit or reverse for achieving effective climate tainty and unpredictability drive future growth, with ‘green’ the temperature rise produced by change mitigation. around these techniques may deals being considered by vari- higher greenhouse gas concentra- What we find worrying is have counterproductive implica- ous influential governments tions, by reflecting inbound sun- that climate geoengineering tions worldwide, especially in worldwide. light back into space. The research as a whole has predomi- the Global South. The global However, recent research approach that has received most nantly been conducted by nature of these methods man- suggests that no matter how research attention would involve Western academia, and in reality, date a strong need for trans- ambitious our efforts are, current spraying tiny reflective particles countries in the Global South are parency within all the dimen- emission trends indicate that it is into the upper atmosphere to often poorly represented in sions of these techniques, safe- unlikely we will be able to limit reflect away some sunlight. The debates about these approaches, guarding equity as the central the temperature rise to 1.5°C effects of SRM would be experi- even though in many of the theme. However, it is absolutely above pre-industrial levels. This enced rapidly, in the order of cases, those are the same coun- clear that climate geoengineering is the warming limit that is sup- months after implementation, and tries that would be the most is not a substitute for reducing ported by the world’s most cli- this is why it is being researched – impacted. carbon emissions and our focus mate-vulnerable countries, with it’s the only known way to quickly This question of moral hazard must continue to be on weaning warming above this point leaving stop or reverse the rise in global surrounding geoengineering has our economies off carbon, advo- us open to more extreme weath- temperatures. been intensely argued, though cating sustainable behavioural er events, biodiversity loss on a However, it is important to again mostly in developed practices and building strong scale previously unimaginable, note that these effects would last economies. A range of people, resilience to climate change. By agricultural depletion and only as long as the programme is from policy makers to activists, Encouraging SRM or CDR may Energy and Carbon Capture and brunt if it goes wrong. It may in prioritising these pathways, we unprecedented forced migration. maintained. SRM does not have expressed concerns that significantly reduce allocation of Storage (BECCS) methods, which fact not be in the best interests of will hopefully never be pressed The Global South, including the reduce the concentrations of CDR and SRM might be seen as resources to inclusive and reliable is a CDR technique. These pro- northern, developed countries to use climate geoengineering to Indian subcontinent, will be par- greenhouse gases in the atmos- “get out of jail” free cards that climate change mitigation and jects may require large land areas, like Norway or Canada too, who protect our planet. ticularly hard hit. Climate geo- phere and there is the potential reduce the incentives for coun- adaptation strategies, or even lead thereby competing with agricul- may prefer increased tempera- Vinayak Nambiar is Anant engineering is increasingly tout- for disastrously abrupt warming tries to move towards a net-zero to total near-term disregard for tural lands. Additionally, as previ- tures for agricultural productivity Fellow for Climate Action; Sijo ed as a promising solution for of the global climate with sud- carbon pathway. This becomes all them, leaving developing coun- ously stated, research has shown and other land uses. Abraham is Anant Fellow for this, a blanket term that contains den and permanent cessation of the more serious when coupled tries to suffer the consequences. that SRM would involve tinkering Another cause for apprehen- Climate Action; and Mohammed quite a few radical, often contro- a high level of SRM cooling. As with what is essentially limited For example, Global South coun- with a complex system and it sion is the lack of an internation- Mofizur Rahman is Instructor, versial and potentially challeng- it is largely based on computer research about the benefits and tries have expressed their concern might have nasty side effects, with al agreement overseeing climate Anant Fellowship for Climate ing to implement proposals. simulations, there is also signifi- drawbacks of these methods. regarding the uncertainty of Bio- countries like India bearing the geoengineering. Currently these Action ! uvitiut 8?#;<;< .! R ! A

oday the Rohingya she has almost forgotten the TMuslims are nowhere. very core of the basic freedoms More than one million of them for which she once bravely left their homeland of Rakhine fought. It’s painful and sad. This Province, Myanmar, in 2017 time her party National League after their ethnic cleansing at for Democracy won more seats the hands of Myanmar Army. than what they had won in the Most of them descended in elections of 2015. But even if :- 0 the neighbouring Bangladesh she could have condemned and stayed in makeshift camps the actions of the Tatmadaw, it ,8;- in the Cox Bazar, a coastal town would not have gone to this , ,0 ;,8 , located near the Bangladesh- extent. -:- , 0 Myanmar border area of the The world knows very well country all these years. what Suu Kyi said in the ,8 Many of them have crossed International Court of Justice $,9-2 the turbulent sea to get into at the Hague in December -99 other South East Asian nations 2019. She bravely defended such as Indonesia, Malaysia her country’s military against -9-@2 and Thailand. the allegations of genocide. -:,8 Their future hangs on These all have rightly signalled international intervention from that she is a true politician and :-- , nations concerned and human no more a votary of democra- %,8 - rights agencies. Despite an tic rights. -08,, urgent urge from the UN and The recently concluded the case being heard in the parliamentary election has ,0,,- International Court of Justice once again excluded the ,@9 (ICJ) at The Hague Rohingyas from the much %,8 (Netherlands), they continue to awaited political process in the languish in the ill-managed country. Further, because of the ;;: refugee camps in Bangladesh. fighting between the Tatmadaw -: , 0 But recently Dhaka took a and the Arakan Army, the - ;,8 decision to shift a large num- November Parliamentary ber of the Rohingya refugees to Election had to be cancelled in ,8, .,8 an island named Bhasan Char, the Rakhine Province. 0 --0- in a phased manner. However, The saddest part of the the spread of the news in the Rohingya crisis is that no one 9, -;! beginning of this month is focusing on the repatriation 9, among the distraught of the Rohingyas to Myanmar. ;. $,9- Rohingyas evoked mixed feel- Why the whole world is mum ings — many of them are quite over this matter? Why are we -: excited to go to their new all putting pressure on abode, thinking this could be Bangladesh to resettle these a better place, while others are refugees in an unsafe and vul- worried about their permanent nerable island? It seems dislocation from the current Bangladesh has accepted the camps. & 1 * - < 1 % =6 ;>=? ):! responsibility of relocating the To unearth the root cause Rohingyas and looking for of the Rohingya exodus in their future settlement. 2017 from Rakhine to clashes used to break out in Arakan known as the ous newspapers in the regions Tatmadaw must be ready to list of the country’s 135 ethnic Precisely, they all must be sent Bangladesh, we need to focus between the majority Burmans Rakhine Province. emphasise more on the terror face such an onslaught from groups. For years, Myanmar back to Myanmar i.e. Rakhine on the recent political hap- and the local Rohingyas. But in Interestingly, earlier, they were attacks and the plight of the these global monsters and has pursued institutionalised Province, as early as possible. penings in Myanmar. The UN that year, the ARSA killed given the right to vote. But with others who had to flee the area accordingly should keep a close discrimination policies like The UN, the UNHRC and says the Myanmar Army nearly 20 police officers and the coming of the Tatmadaw to because of the clash between watch on the activities of the these and cornered the poor various other global humani- demonstrated “genocidal security forces of the Myanmar power, gradually the basic the Army and the Rohingyas. ARSA in the region. and minority Muslim tarian agencies must build up intent” while conducting oper- Army. And on August 25, the political rights and freedoms of It is very clear that the The root of the plight Rohingyas to a point of no enough pressure on Naypyidaw -5% $$- ations against the Arakan ARSA, previously known as the the Rohingyas were curtailed. majority Burmans have a long- behind the current Rohingya return to the mainstream of to take back all the Rohingyas. Rohingya Salvation Army Harakah al-Yakin, immediate- Thus, the Rohingya anger has held prejudice against the crisis lies in Myanmar itself. It country. Now a new Joe Biden admin- (ARSA) in 2017. ly provoked a counter-insur- grown against the Myanmarese Rohingya Muslims, who are can well be regarded as a sys- The role of Nobel laureate istration must devise a strate- According to the authori- gency operation from the fed- State fully controlled by the not regarded as the citizens of tematic and forced migration of and the present State gy to convince the Tatmadaw ties, this operation targeted to eral Army of Myanmar in majority Burmans. the country. These Rohingyas these people from their home Counsellor of Myanmar is for the same. Else, the Generals flush out the Islamists and to Rakhine Province. The Many security experts are called as “Bengalis”. And province. And it is the highly questionable on the back home in Myanmar will bring back law and order in the Government says the ARSA is opine that the ARSA may have most of the nationalist groups Tatmadaw i.e. the Myanmar question of the repatriation of take it for granted that such Rakhine Province. But the cen- a terrorist organisation. Its received backing from jihadists view them as a threat to their Army that has led a vicious and the Rohingyas. The suffering of heinous crimes could tral issue is that Myanmar does leader Ata Ullah was born in who have fought in battle- country. This is the back- brutal campaign against the the Rohingya itself is a tragedy. easily avoid international not want to recognise the Pakistan and raised mostly in grounds of Afghanistan, Syria, ground of the harrowing con- hapless Rohingyas over the But the way it was carried out attention. Though Rohingyas as citizens and it Saudi Arabia. The group also Iraq, etc. The main purpose of ditions of the Rohingyas that years. It all started in 1978 by the Tatmadaw had crossed Bangladesh is assuring the sees them as illegal migrants released a report in 2016 the ARSA is to defend, salvage has sparked a bitter debate when then Burmese Army car- all civilisational limits. Suu Kyi repatriation of the Rohingyas from Bangladesh. That is why according to which it is led by and protect the Rohingyas between Bangladesh and ried out an operation called does not control the military in the Bhasan Char, the inter- the Burmans, the major ethnic Rohingyas living in Saudi from the State repression in the Myanmar, but without any “Operation Ngamin” to drive and even if she wants she can’t national community must be group of the country, consist- Arabia. line with the principle of self- credible outcome. out the Rohingyas from do so. Also the military does aware that it is a very vulnera- ing of the Army, the rest of However, the concern is defence. But the official view And anytime in future, the Rakhine. not trust her at all. ble area to shift millions of administrative ranks and the that striking at the ARSA is not from Naypyidaw is that the global jehadi groups such as the Again, in 1982, a new law It’s very simple because all these refugees in the days to leadership, simply do not want going to solve the core issue i.e. Army operation in the province Islamic State and al-Qaeda was passed by Myanmar to her life she has fought against come. the Rohingyas to stay in the denying citizenship to the was against the terrorists, and might plant their agents to deny citizenship right to the the repressive military and country. Rohingyas. For decades, the to restore law and order in that sponsor full-time Islamic terror Rohingya Muslims. And final- demanded to restore basic free- (The writer is an expert on Much before 2017, the Rohingyas have been residing area. Even the locals and vari- movements in Myanmar. The ly, they were excluded from the doms in the country. But today international affairs) 00% (

mid the Covid-19 pan- Whereas for some it is a capabilities but also letting Ademic the education sys- welcome sign that we would new generation know what is tem in India has been witness- draw a framework for key ethically and morally correct. ing challenges with significant demands of the higher educa- When it comes to ethics it impact on higher education. tion while maintaining a syn- means going beyond the set To deal with the situation, ergy between various actors clichés and moving from par- % , experts have talked about what and stakeholders, there has adigm to paradigm shift. We - ,, should be the course of direc- been a section which strongly ought to try our level best to tion with regard to the pattern feels that the idea of online kindle the flame by ensuring ;,8;,9.: of completion of course work, teaching can never replace the the sensitisation of students and 0 - 0 methodology of teaching and existing system of classrooms faculty members in this direc- ;- 9;,8! examination. teaching. For many others, it is tion. It is difficult to change the The Higher Education not clear that segregation of the direction of the wind, but we 9A -;,8 Information System’s recent practical and theory papers, can do our bit in adjusting eth- : attempt to ensure high level of particularly for MBA courses, ical sail towards the path of 9;,9 partnership among institutions can be a feasible option if the development of ethos. through equity and access to all future trends compel us to fol- The major challenge will -; 9 shows the level of insight in low the undesirable. be its dealing with profession- -89- 0 empowering and motivating Ensuring proper monitor- al institutes. How to -8 , . students and faculty members. ing of education sector on day develop mechanism to sensitise Besides, the pursuit of the to day basis as done by the the stakeholders of these insti- 00;; , National Education Policy authorities can ensure growth tutes to overcome the (NEP) to cover school, adult, in changing circumstances. rigmarole of regulations, and higher education and efforts In the midst of argumen- take decision. towards promotion of Indian tation and generation of dis- It is daunting task to deal languages and online education course it is imperative to look with the emerging challenges exhibit tremendous effort at the process from neutral due to mushrooming of a num- towards enhancement of over- stand. But at times different ber of private educational insti- all educational scenario. point of views creates insights tutes. There is a strong need to Indian universities are about the way in which the identify new ways to judge the being encouraged to improve ideas and emotions get trans- high time we realised the grav- al greed leads to the problem of The University Grants nals to be considered the only qualitative competence of can- their performances by making lated into effective decision- ity of challenges encountered manipulation and taking Commission (UGC) has shown valid publication category. didates by laying a lot of impor- a push towards a more merit making process. by the higher education. recourse in shortcuts. The serious concern over the As a result of the long quest tance on improving analytical based peer reviewed research The Union Ministry of The importance of educa- Right to Freedom of Expression increasing number of predato- for excellence the UGC estab- and observatory qualities of the and the chimera of fulfilling the Education has opened up con- tion for the physical, intellectu- in democratic societies has ry, cloned and substandard lished Consortium for candidates through cognitive $<"5& 55%"4% aim of 6 per cent of GDP ceptual and scholastic discus- al and moral will always be on been debated many times. publications and emergence of Academic Research and Ethics discourse and seeking multiple expenditure on education. sions which may result in the high pedestal because education Recent developments in acad- a number of web opinion sites (CARE) to ensure and promote options and viewpoints in order A few experts are of the creation of exquisite thoughts frees a person from the clutch- emic world have posed new coupled with arrangement of pious academic integrity and to help in forming an integrat- views that we have at least got and a new vision for the growth es of darkness and bigotry. challenges about the changing predatory conferences. In a quality research and teaching. ed texts and questionnaire. an opportunity to analyse and of a stupendous education sys- But many a times the ques- nature of problem and the highly proactive step, the UGC This would help in broad- address the multidimensional tem even during the crisis of tions and desires of competi- huge competition quagmire has issued strict directions and ening the ethical horizon and (The author is a professor issues in the education sector. unprecedented magnitude. It is tion, comparison and person- that still lurks. created high quality list of jour- enhancing the decision making and expert on strategic affairs) ;* -* -+E*. - ;++, -+,* - -+ -+ * *,,.3 axu ! K.E*. - 9.+ # " $65&00

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wonder, he came under similar spell Intelligence signifying Mercury is ill- abits die hard. You may strive to sent astrological directions, as of now twice in between. disposed of to Mars, which makes him get over them, but you won’t be your job is secure.” I observed. “Agreed Let us now look at his astrological restless, irritable and bad tempered. He, Hable to hold it for long unless you sir. But how could you pinpoint my pointers. He is born in Aquarius lagna, a thus, given an adverse situation, loses his make corrections at the base level. problem with such clarity?” He asked. fixed sign, which makes him a stubborn sense of alert, vital to mindful living. Remember, the root of inherent habit “A horoscope speaks of the basic fab- character. The lagna lord Saturn con- Mercury placed adverse to Jupiter tendencies lie in the thought seeds that ric of one’s making that throws light on junct the Sun brings in a sense of fear accounts for his insensible reasoning and are firmly embedded in the inner realms your virtues and attributes; as well as and insecurity having a hardened atti- judgment. What further compounds his of the mind. As and when they get a con- habits and attitudes. Coming as they may tude. Moon placed adverse to Saturn problem is his inflated ego, coming as it genial ground, they spring into action. as Karmic carryover from the past, they brings in a negative mind-set. Given an may with Mars placed adverse to Jupiter. Something like a wheat seed, which if are imprinted in the inner realms of your adverse situation, he may become self- That binds him to his self-defined beliefs kept on a table, remains inert. If it some- mind as thought-seeds. Given a conge- pitying. The Sun placed adverse to mis- and perceptions, not open to look how reaches the earth mass, it will sprout nial trigger, they come into play.” I chievous Neptune makes him habitually beyond for a reality check. He is averse to into a plant when it has access to water. replied. Assured of his job security, he an escapist, who remains stuck to his listening or counsel. He can’t digest any- Someone holding a coveted position asked: “Suggest me some remedial mea- self-delusionary perceptions. He may thing that is not in line with his percep- in an international organisation fearing sures — stone or a puja — that may help not acknowledge truth on its first tion. If all that would not be enough loss of job came asking three years back: me avoid such situations in future.” appearance and will rather prefer pursu- Moon posited in Sagittarius sign and also “My performance at works is commend- He was given a process, which ing his own self-beliefs till pushed to the averse to Saturn implies that he will not able, and is duly acknowledged by my involved self-reflecting on his thought wall. be able to keep up the promises he superiors. Yet, why do I come under such patterns so as to resolve them through Moon is ill-disposed off to Venus makes. threat? relevant educative inputs that may help identified with sensuous pleasure, which With exalted Jupiter and Moon over “Will I be able to retain my posi- get over the past hangups. Also, to train is conjunct Rahu. Venus is also involved the head, the positives in him are strong tion?” Well, the reason lies in your self- the mind living mindfully in the present. in exchange with Mars, a planet identi- enough to make him a good professional. undoing acts. You are primarily an “Why put me under such process? I fied with animalistic instincts. This com- But his overpowering negatives would escapist. Whenever you come under neg- promise you to overcome my self-indul- bination, in the first place, brings in self- not allow him a free run, unless he ative bind for whatever reasons, your gences. I am strong enough to hold on to indulgent tendencies. Second, he remains resolves them from the root level. The inherent sense of fear and insecurity my promise,” he then said. “Well, that vulnerable to unpredictable mood result is there to see. overtakes your thought plane. To forget will not suffice. You need to resolve them swings. Third, he is too much touchy and 2 that, your get into self-indulgences, from the root level, otherwise, it will sensitive, whereby he gets over-exercised @ which you take to extremes. You, thus, erupt in future also.” I observed. He did even on trivial issues, over which he 2 8 AA====AAB=B>C?;?C:AB?=>C?;?; invite your own problem. But given pre- not pay attention to my counsel. No keeps mulling for long. D 8 E @

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