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NOSTALGIC DEEPIKA KHALISTAN ‘A PAK PROJECT’ LEWANDOWSKI ‘THE BEST’ Five years after Bajirao Mastani’s release, actor In an eye-opening report, Canadian journalist Terry Robert Lewandowski wins FIFA Best Men’s Deepika Padukone recalls working in the Milewski has warned that the Khalistan project Player for 2020 after a 55-goal season with Bayern Munich film with great passion LEISURE | P2 is sponsored by Pakistan INTERNATIONAL | P10 SPORTS | P12

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 257 | www.orissapost.com BHUBANESWAR | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19 | 2020 12 PAGES | `4.00 IRREGULAR by MANJUL State weighs green cess on diesel AS PER THE DRAFT ELECTRIC VEHICLE POLICY, THE STATE WILL IMPOSE A CESS OF 25 PAISE/LTR OF DIESEL POST NEWS NETWORK DRAFT EV POLICY Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: In order to promote electric vehicles (EVs) in the exemption state, the government is planning to im- of road tax pose pollution cess of 25 paise per litre 100%and of diesel sold. registration fees on EVs purchased I can go up to Hathras victim was The plan has been mentioned in the within Odisha any extent to save draft Electric Vehicle Policy 2020, which my ideology! is now in the discussion stage. The interest-free government is set to offer various in- loans can be ‘gangraped, killed’ centives to EV buyers and manufac- 100%availed by SHORT TAKES turers. It will establish a dedicated state government employees for PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Hospital during treatment. fund to facilitate these incentives. purchasing EVs The victim was cremated As per the draft policy, the cess will New Delhi, Dec 18: The in the dead of the night near Train runs over later be imposed on all internal com- of capital CBI Friday filed its charge her home September 30. Her two in Rourkela bustion engine (ICE) vehicles. ENSURING investment will sheet against four accused family alleged they were On similar lines, the government is 25%be provided to in the alleged gangrape and forced by the local police to mulling an additional road tax on COMPLIANCE small and micro EV battery murder case of a 19-year- hurriedly conduct her last Rourkela: Two unidentified diesel and petrol vehicles, especially manufacturing units old Dalit woman in Hathras, rites. Local police officers, youths were killed after a train State-level Task Force headed on luxurious cars. The additional tax officials said. however, said the cre- reportedly ran over them near Aby chief secretary and Panposh railway overbridge in will be based on a sliding scale with Steering Committee led by icy while a dedicated EV Cell will be will prefer EVs for official use, the The agency in- mation was car- Rourkela Friday morning. As high price diesel vehicles paying the Transport secretary will be formed formed in the department to monitor it. draft said. Municipal authorities will voked charges of ried out as per per reports, Ahmedabad- highest additional road tax and low for effective implementation of Under the policy, the government is be asked to provide subsidised parking gangrape and the wishes of Howrah Express train mowed price two wheelers incurring a small the policy. The draft policy will be planning 100 per cent exemption of for all personal EVs in their respective murder against the family. down the duo this morning addition. finalised soon and notified, road tax and registration fees on EVs jurisdiction. Sandeep, The agency while they were walking on the Further, the government has sources said. Nearly 82 per cent of purchased within Odisha. The government has also decided to Luvkush, Ravi has looked into rail tracks near Panposh planned to levy appropriate conges- all new vehicles registered in the The government will provide 15 per incentivize new small and micro EV and Ramu and the the role of ac- overbridge. The Government tion fee on all trips originating and ter- state comprise two wheelers. It is cent subsidy — a maximum of `5,000 battery manufacturing units. All such local court in Hathras cused Sandeep, Railway Police (GRP) recovered minating from different places in the most popular segment of for two-wheeler, `12,000 for three-wheeler, units will get 25 per cent of capital in- has taken cognisance, lawyer Luvkush, Ravi and Ramu the bodies for post mortem in Odisha and also from car aggrega- vehicles which contribute a major and `one lakh for four-wheeler — on the vestment made in plant & machinery for the accused told reporters who are in judicial custody, part in air pollution. Similarly, Rourkela Government Hospital tors. This tax will be waived for e-ve- base price. subject to an upper limit of `1 crore. outside the court. The officials said. (RGH). It was some passengers three wheelers numbers hicles. The gap left after funding from constitute 3.06 per cent and cars State government employees can As charging point is necessary for Dalit woman was allegedly They were also put that first spotted the bodies the above sources will be met through avail 100 per cent interest-free loans for plying of such vehicles in the state, the raped by four upper-caste through different foren- close to the railway track. (light motor vehicles) make up budgetary allocation. 7.04 per cent of total registered purchasing EVs in the state. government decided to provide grant men in Hathras September sic tests at the Forensic The transport department will be vehicles in the state . Government departments/offices upto `5000 for set up of first 20,000 14. She died September Science Laboratory in Neighbour admits the nodal agency to implement the pol- and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) such points. 29 at Delhi’s Safdarjung Gandhinagar, they said. to killing 3-yr-old

Dhenkanal: A day after the Vaccination for mysterious death of a 3-year- Odisha Police slams Naveen attacks BJP, Cong old boy in Dhenkanal, police Covid-19 will be Friday revealed that the POST NEWS NETWORK For us, Odia is neighbour of the deceased’s more important parents is the real culprit voluntary: Govt Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: After a charges against SIT than Hindi. For us, behind the crime. The body of gap of nearly one and half years, Mahanadi is more sacred the missing 3-year-old boy from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Khankira village under than any other river POST NEWS NETWORK and Chief Minister Naveen Nihalprasad police limits was Patnaik hit out at BJP and NAVEEN PATNAIK I CM found floating in a well of his Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: Following charges Congress for showing step-moth- village December 17. After against IPS officer Arun Bothra, head of erly attitude towards the state. uniform policies which will ap- parties neither have the voice recovering body, the police started an investigation in this the Special Investigation Team (SIT) Naveen had last raised such peal to the large populous states to insist on protecting the regard and found that a woman PRESS TRUST OF INDIA probing into the Pari murder case, of of- strong voice against the two and then impose the same unique heritage of the state who was the neigbour of the fering bribe to a youth to take the blame national parties, which are across the country ignoring nor do they have the intent to deceased boy is the culprit. New Delhi, Dec 18: Getting vac- in the case, Odisha Police Friday rubbished principal opposition parties in the unique identity of certain do so in a hierarchical cen- cinated for Covid-19 will be vol- the allegation. the state, prior to the general populations,” said the Chief tralised national party struc- untary, the Union health ministry “The team has been diligently work- elections 2019. Minister. ture.” MARKET WATCH has said while underlining that ing out clues. A large number of people Addressing the executive He said national parties are “Only a regional party will the vaccine introduced in India will have been examined in the process and committee meeting of BJD’s bound to compromise on the do justice for the aspirations be as effective as any vaccine de- significant progress has been made. The youth wing here, Naveen took distinctive requirements of a of the youth of Odisha. Only Head of SIT Arun Bothra INDEX VARIATION veloped by other countries. entire village has extended cooperation a dig at the BJP-led Centre’s state for gains in the larger na- a regional party will preserve The ministry further stated that in the investigation,” said Odisha Police its work. Odisha Police is committed to move to impose Hindi language tional context. Odisha’s unique identity. SENSEX 46960.69 70.35 it was advisable to receive a com- in a press release. fair and diligent investigation. We as- on other states. For a national party or their Otherwise, the mainstream plete schedule of the anti-coron- “However, such unfounded allegation sure that no stone will be left unturned “Their strategy revolves branches in states, these do not national parties will make

BOURSES NIFTY 13760.50 19.80 avirus vaccine irrespective of past by one person has been used to cast as- to ensure justice,” it added. around uniform language — matter, he said, adding, “The you a small drop in their vast DOLLAR 73.57 `0.07 history of infection with Covid-19 persions on the investigation agency. It may A college student Saroj Sethy of Jadupur Hindi, uniform culture and state leaders of the national ocean,” he said. as this will help in developing a end up demotivating officers who are sin- village has levelled the serious allega- EURO 90.10 `0.07 strong immune response against cerely working to unearth the truth. It is

CURRENCY tion against Bothra. He was under the SIT the disease. both unfortunate and unethical,” it added. scanner in the murder case as the minor GOLD `50,280 `110 It also said that protective level “We request everyone and particu- girl had visited his residence for berries SILVER `67,755 `512 of antibodies generally develop two larly media to allow the SIT to complete a day before her abduction in July. BULLION weeks after receiving the second dose. “Vaccination for Covid-19 is vol- untary. However, it is advisable to Missing minor rescued from factory receive the complete schedule of WEATHER GAJAPATI: An eight-year-old boy who was allegedly kidnapped Thursday from the vaccine for protecting one-self BHUB CTK Kashinagar NAC was rescued from an under-construction building at Koithapadar against this disease and also to limit village in Gajapati district Friday. The rescue of the youngster, 40 hours after his MAX 28.3° 27.5° the spread of this disease to the abduction, has brought relief to the family members. The boy was identified as close contacts including family TEMP MIN 17.6° 15.8° Jammi Hardhik, son of Jammi Gopi of Kumuti Sahi locality. He was playing with his Forecast members, friends, relatives and co- friends when he was abducted. Hardhik’s uncle, Patanuru Naresh, had gone to Humidity 92% 82% Fog or mist workers,” the ministry said in re- Koithapadar village. There, he spotted his nephew inside the under-construction Rainfall Nil Nil in the sponse to a question on if it is building. He contacted the police who reached the spot and rescued Hardhik. morning mandatory to take the shot. RIL, BP find gas in Asia’s deepest offshore field AGENCIES MEETING GAS DEMANDS Mumbai, Dec 18: Reliance Industries he field is expected to reach plateau gas production of about 12.9 Limited (RIL) and BP Friday announced million standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd) in 2021 the start of production from the R T Cluster, ultra-deep-water gas field in IL and BP are developing three deepwater gas projects in KG-D6 block KG-D6 block off the east coast of India. Rwhich are expected to meet 15% of India’s gas demand by 2023 RIL and BP are developing three deepwater gas projects in KG-D6 block This is a significant milestone in India’s energy – R Cluster, Satellites Cluster and MJ – landscape, for a cleaner and greener gas-based economy which together are expected to meet MUKESH AMBANI I CHAIRMAN & MD, RELIANCE INDUSTRIES LIMITED 15% of India’s gas demand by 2023. RIL is the operator of KG-D6 block with a than 2000 meters, it is the deepest off- ditions. This is a significant milestone of the possibility of our partnership 66.67% participating interest and BP shore gas field in Asia. The field is ex- in India's energy landscape, for a cleaner with Reliance, bringing the best of holds a 33.33% participating interest. pected to reach plateau gas produc- and greener gas-based economy.” both companies to help meet India’s rap- y “R Cluster is the first of the three proj- tion of about 12.9 million standard “Through our deep-water infra- idly expanding energy needs. Growing

ects to come onstream. The field is lo- cubic meters per day (mmscmd) in structure in the Krishna Godavari India’s own production of cleaner-

k y m c cated about 60 kilometers from the ex- 2021," RIL said in an official statement. basin we expect to produce gas and meet burning gas to meet a significant por- isting KG D6 Control & Riser Platform “We are proud of our partnership the growing clean energy require- tion of its energy demand, these three (CRP) off the Kakinada coast and com- with BP that combines our expertise ments of the nation," said Mukesh new KG D6 projects will support the prises a subsea production system tied in commissioning gas projects expe- Ambani, Chairman and Managing country’s drive to shape and improve back to CRP via a subsea pipeline. ditiously, under some of the most chal- Director of Reliance Industries Limited. its future energy mix," said BP Chief Located at a water depth of greater lenging geographical and weather con- “This start-up is another example Executive Bernard Looney. P2 TINA SAYS SHE SAVED A MAN’S JENNIFER LOPEZ TO STAR IN FILM SATURDAY | DECEMBER 19 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR LIFE DURING PANDEMIC ADAPTATION OF THE CIPHER Actress Tina Fey has revealed that during the pandemic Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez will she saved a man’s life. During an appearance on The star in a film adaptation of the Tonight Show, Tina told host Jimmy Fallon that she bestselling book, The Cipher. Lopez recently helped save the life of a stranger who had been will produce and star in the film

y leisure kayaking in the Hudson and ended up floating in the based on the book written by

k y m water following an accident, reports eonline.com. Isabella Maldonado. c

FORTUNE FORECAST Kajol shares her Christmas confusion Dhanush ARIES Mumbai: Actress Kajol is already in Christmas to star in Today is reserved for mood, and is wondering if she is on naughty list your hobbies and obses- or nice. Kajol has shared her Yuletide mood on sions. Doing the things Instagram. you love will give you a The actress shared a photograph of herself high, and it will reflect in the way you treat your loved ones, says Ganesha. with a confused expression and wrote: “Me The Gray Man Your mind may not be at work, but your wondering which list am I on? The naughty or seniors may thoughtfully allow some the nice?” concessions. In the caption, she wrote: “Which list are New Delhi: Tamil actor Dhanush will star you on #NaughtyOrNice #MeWhenI (sic).” Vidyut eager to alongside Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans and Ana The post prompted many responses from her De Armas in the highly anticipated film, The TAURUS fans and followers. One user wrote: “Both”, Gray Man, helmed by the Russo brothers. It is quite likely that while one shared “Naughty mam”. meet Kolkata fan The film also stars Wagner Moura, Jessica grandparents will shower Kajol keeps on using social media to share Henwick and Julia Butters. The actor revealed love at home and seniors her sense of humour with fans. Kolkata: Action star Vidyut Jammwal Friday ex- the news on Twitter through a note. will shower favours at work, says Ganesha. You will probably col- She recently posted a picture of a Christmas pressed eagerness to meet a fan who has inked his “Elated to announce that I will be joining lect certain overdue payments in the tree on Instagram Stories. On the photo face on the chest. The fan is a youngster named the team of Netflix’s The Gray Man starring Ryan afternoon. Later in the day, a gamble you she wrote: “Covid humour — I’ve put on Krishna Sonkar from Howrah near Kolkata. Gosling and Chris Evans, directed by The Russo took in business may pay rich dividends, so much weight in this year that even Sonkar has not only tattooed the actor’s face on Brothers (Avengers, Captain America: Winter expects Ganesha. my phone doesn’t recognise me!” his chest, but also follows his fitness regime and Soldier),” he said in the note. Kajol was last seen on the big screen dreams of building a body like Vidyut. “Looking forward to being a part of this won- in this year’s historical action block- Vidyut Friday reacted to a news piece about derful action packed experience. My sincere GEMINI buster Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Sonkar on Twitter and expressed his eagerness to thanks to my dearest fans from all over the There is every possibility co-starring her husband Ajay Devgn. meet his fan. world for all the love and support you have that your emotional Her next film, Tribhanga is expected The actor tweeted: “The moment I land in Kolkata, been showing me throughout these years. Love responses to certain to release in January. The film is you’ll be the first person that I meet Krishna. Love.” you all. Spread Love,” he added. The details of issues will be intense today, foretells Ganesha. You are likely to directed by actress Renuka Shahane, The actor recently featured in the digitally-released Dhanush’s role are still under wraps. join some personality development classes. and also stars Tanvi Azmi and film, Khuda Haafiz. He will next star in the film’s The Gray Man is based on the 2009 Mark Seductive conversation may culminate into Mithila Palkar. IANS second chapter. IANS Greaney novel of the same name and is about something extraordinary with your partner. a freelance assassin and former CIA operative named Court Gentry (played by Gosling). The Deepika: movie will follow Gentry as he is hunted across CANCER the world by Lloyd Hansen (Evans), a former Your relationship with member of Gentry’s CIA team. your lover may get a lit- The film will be produced with a budget of $200 tle messy today. But it Mastani was million. Dhanush’s earlier international foray has little to do with the was Ken Scott’s 2018 comedy, The Extraordinary lack of love, and more with too much of Journey Of The Fakir. it. The two of you will get extremely emotional, and if your sweetheart has The film co-starred the same sun sign as yours, the situation fuelled by her Berenice Bejo, Erin may get ridiculously emotional. Moriarty, Ben burning Miller and embers Barkhad LEO passion seared through Abdi. IANS You will take important Mumbai: every societal con- decisions relating to The Sanjay straint, to join both her some partnership Leela Bhansali mag- and her lover’s names, for all of today. A progressive num opus Bajirao Mastani released eternity… @ranveersingh @priyanka- day at the workplace awaits. Traders five years ago on this day. Actress Deepika chopra@bhansaliproductions may face some financial constraints however. The stress of over-work may Padukone, who starred in the film as #5YearsOfMastani tie you down. So do not bite off more Mastani, recalled working in the film say- #5YearsOfBajiraoMastani than you can chew, says Ganesha. ing the character was fuelled by her pas- #BajiraoMastani” sion. The film also stars Deepika’s Deepika posted a picture in her char- husband Ranveer Singh as VIRGO acter alongside the filmmaker. Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I Ganesha foresees you “Whether in love or war, Mastani was and actress Priyanka up the ante today. You fuelled by her passion, unafraid to Chopra as Bajirao’s first will set new limits for write her own destiny, no matter how wife Kashibai. yourself and break perilous the path,” the actress wrote Deepika is awaiting the existing barriers today. The afternoon may see you being alarmed about the in the caption. release of the criket drama 83, health of your finances. Trivial matters She added: “She never bowed and is also working in direc- will spoil your spirits, but attain the next down and always stood her tor Shakun Batra’s un- level by spending the evening in spiritual ground with a fierce dig- titled next film. well-being. nity and a love so IANS strong that its LIBRA So, love finally entraps you with the help of the stars, chuckles Ganesha. There is a high probabili- ty that you will begin a long-lasting romantic relationship today. This new factor shall keep you elated throughout the day. Avoid any confrontation with those living around you. SUDOKU SCORPIO PEANUTS post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, Your beloved will pulsate CROSSWORD column and box must contain the numbers with pangs of passion, 0 to 9 and the letters A to E. and even you won't remain unaffected for long, says Ganesha. Your skills in negotiat- ing will help you save a huge chunk of money. Some quiet and prosperity at home will help you relax.

SAGITTARIUS Wield the baton and con- duct proceedings today, says Ganesha. You may enrol yourself in a per- sonality development course to hone your skills. But a small, out-of-synch, unexpected chord may spoil the sonata for you today. But remember, there is CALVIN AND HOBBES always hope.

CAPRICORN Love will top your priori- ty list once again, and will make innumerable SOLUTIONS demands that you will strive to meet, says Ganesha. If you cur- rently have any research work on hand, expect a breakthrough today.

AQUARIUS Today, you experience the joy of giving freely, as your benevolent side decides to manifest itself. You also realise that a broad-minded BREVITY CROSSWORD approach is less stressful for you. You find it spiritually uplifting to fight against injustice and discrimination.

PISCES y

While you have cultivated a

k y m wide network of acquain- c tances, it is that core group you have nurtured over the years that will stand you in good stead now. In times of need, it is good to know that you can bank on their support. Today, you will get your chance to experience the benefits of CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU their friendship, says Ganesha. COVID-19 TRACKER P3 DUSKY HORIZON SATURDAY | DECEMBER 19 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD Sun sets over the World 7,54,92,793 5,30,27,223 16,72,379 kans grass field near Pipli bypass in Puri India 99,79,447 95,20,827 1,44,789 district, Friday

downtown Odisha 3,25,505 3,20,947 1,829

k y m c Srimandir all set to reopen Dec 23 GRAINS OF LABOUR

POST NEWS NETWORK

Puri, Dec 18: After remaining out CITY SHRINES TO of bounds for devotees for over REOPEN JAN 3 nine months, the Srimandir here will reopen December 23. This was Bhubaneswar: All religious confirmed by District Collector of institutions will reopen in temple Puri Balwant Singh here Friday. city Bhubaneswar from January 3 Temple had been closed in the with strict observance of Covid-19 wake of Covid-19 outbreak and safety protocols, said Bhubaneswar devotees were not being allowed to Municipal Corporation (BMC) have darshan of the deities. Friday. However, BMC allowed entry As per a directive of the Odisha of devotees into Lingaraj temple, government, the Puri district ad- the 11th century shrine, in a phased ministration has chalked out a stan- manner from December 27. Only dard operating procedure (SOP) the temple servitors and their for reopening of the 12th century family members will be allowed to shrine. the temple from December 27 to Initially for first two days, the December 31, informed BMC servitors and their family mem- Barricades and sheds in front of Srimandir ready for reopening of the shrine commissioner Prem Chandra bers will be allowed to have dar- December 23 OP PHOTO Chaudhary in an order. The temple shan of the three deities. Later, the would remain closed January 1 and residents in Puri town will be al- For the first two days, have to show their Aadhaar card 2, 2021. However, the daily rituals lowed to enter the shrine in a phased and other valid ID proofs before would be taking place as usual, the manner till December 31 evening, the servitors and their entering the temple. BMC commissioner said. From Singh said. family members will be Other temples and religious in- January 3 to January 5, the temple “The people of Puri city would stitutions in Puri district will also would remain open only for the be allowed to visit the shrine in allowed to have darshan reopen December 23 with strict ad- residents of Bhubaneswar. Pic: Manoranjan Mishra phases till December 31. The tem- of the deities herence to prevailing Covid-19 re- Devotees will have to produce ple would remain closed January strictions including maintenance Covid-19 negative report obtained A farmer winnows out chaff from newly-harvested paddy at Balianta on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, Friday 1 and 2. The shrine would be kept of social distancing, the district during the 'last five days' to enter open for all from January 3,” said at Jagannath Ballav mutt to issue Collector clarified. the temple. From January 6, a source in the district adminis- tokens to the residents of all 32 Keeping in mind the rush during tourists, devotees from other parts tration. Meanwhile, it was revealed wards in Puri city. The locals would New Year’s Day, visitors will not of the state and the country will be that tokens would be issued to the collect the tokens by producing be allowed inside the temple January allowed inside the temple with Gangster Raja booked under NSA locals for have darshan of the deities. their valid identity cards, said an 1 and 2. However, darshan of the strict observance of Covid-19 safety It is learnt that the administra- official of the district administra- three deities will resume January protocol, said Chaudhary. POST NEWS NETWORK Raja was arrested on tion would open special counters tion. Further, the residents would 3, 2021. Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: The charges of demanding Commissionerate Police Friday `20,000 as extortion POCSO court denies booked gangster Raja Acharya Woman, daughter under National Security Act (NSA) money from a bail to Infocity Abhay Pathak moves a few hours after he was granted bail businessman October 17 found dead in Cuttack by the SDJM court here. rape accused The Commissionerate Police in- POST NEWS NETWORK formed through its official twitter bail as the investigating cops failed SDJM court for bail handle that Raja has been detained to submit the charge-sheet against POST NEWS NETWORK Cuttack, Dec 18: The bodies of a under the NSA in order to prevent Raja before the court within the 35-year-old woman and her seven- him from indulging in any crimi- stipulated 60 days. Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: A POCSO month-old daughter were recovered nal activities. File photo of gangster Raja Acharya Meanwhile, the investigating of- court here Friday rejected the bail from the former’s house at State “Raja @ Sandeep Acharya (49) of ficials are regularly failing to sub- application of the four accused Bank Colony under Bidanasi po- BJB Nagar Bhubaneswar has been Capital police arrested Raja on mit the charge-sheets within the held in connection with the al- lice limits here, police said Friday. detained under the NSA to prevent charges of demanding `20,000 as stipulated time period. As per rules, leged rape of 13-year-old girl in Police suspect that the woman him from acting in any manner extortion money from a business- the cops have to submit the charge- Infocity area of the Capital city dur- might have killed her daughter prejudicial to public order,” twitted man here October 17. He was ar- sheets within ‘60 days from the date ing the lockdown. before ending her life. Commissionerate Police. rested under an anti-extortion drive of arrest’ when the matter is under The four accused - two staffers “We recovered the bodies of The police accused Raja of ‘ter- launched by the Commissionerate trial at lower courts and ‘90 days in of a regional television channel and Manasmita Ojha, an employee of rorising’ citizens repeatedly for ex- Police. cases which is trial by Court of two security guards - were ar- State Bank of India (SBI), and her tortion (dadabati). The SDJM court granted him Sessions’. rested by Crime Branch late seven-month-old daughter. The child’s Sunday night. mutilated body was found in a pool The victim’s mother was work- of blood, while Ojha’s body was ing as a receptionist at the office found hanging from her room’s ceil- of the television channel when the File photo of suspended IFS officer AK Pathak ing,” a Bidanashi police official said. alleged rape took place between EOW begins probe into April and May this year. The vic- PNN/AGENCIES The Commissionerate Police suspect that the tim allegedly took the names of Police has taken Abhay accused persons during the Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: Tainted IFS woman might have ` recording of her statement. officer Abhay Kant Pathak Friday Kant’s son Akash killed her daughter 1.50 crore loan fraud A police official and his two as- filed a petition in Bhubaneswar Pathak on a four-day sociates were also allegedly sex- Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate before ending her life POST NEWS NETWORK The accused branch ually abused the minor girl. (SDJM) Court seeking bail in con- remand However, the Crime Branch is yet nection with the fraud allegation The incident took place in the Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: The manager, in connivance to arrest the accused police officials. levelled against him by Sky King Akash for illegally using their evening when Ojha’s husband, an Economic Offences Wing (EOW) with others, had Earlier, the Orissa High Court, travel agency. name. The Vigilance department engineer, was out for some work. of the Crime Branch has started in- while hearing a PIL in this regard, On the other hand, the during the investigation revealed On his return, the man grew vestigations into the alleged ille- disbursed loans to the had expressed displeasure over Commissionerate Police has taken that Pathak was himself using suspicious as his desperate knocks gal sanction of loans under Mudra tune of over `2.30 crore the snail-paced investigation. Abhay’s son Akash Pathak on a high-end expensive cars such as at the door went unanswered. Scheme by a woman bank man- four-day remand, said Police Mercedes, BMW from the ill-gotten “Perturbed, the man raised an ager of Sindurapank branch of without checking Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi. wealth. alarm following which his neigh- Sambalpur. The regional office of documents Notably, the state Vigilance de- During the lockdown, the bours rushed to his help and broke Indian Overseas Bank at Bhub-Tirupati partment had arrested Pathak and Pathaks were flying across India open the door to find the lifeless Berhampur has lodged a complaint his son Akash for allegedly amass- in chartered planes and staying mother-daughter duo,” said one of with the EOW in this regard. through forgery and by accepting team found that the loans have special cancelled ing ill-gotten wealth amounting to in luxurious five-star and seven-star the neighbours who witnessed According to the complaint, the bribe. been disbursed to ghost units. The Bhubaneswar: In view of safety-related more than `20 crore. Both father and hotels. The father-son duo was the entire episode and informed accused branch manager, in con- The matter came to the fore after team also ascertained that more modernisation work in Gudur-Tirupati son are now lodged in Jharpada jail. using private security the police. nivance with others, had disbursed the bank’s vigilance department than `60,000 has been transferred Railway Section under Guntakal Railway The Vigilance during investi- guards/bouncers to flaunt their Quoting Ojha’s husband, the loans to the tune of over `2.30 crore at its central office at Chennai re- from the account of a borrower to Division of South Central Railway, it has gation found that Pathak was mak- ill-gotten wealth. police official said that Manasmita without checking documents or re- ceived a complaint under Public the account of branch manager’s been decided to cancel Bhubaneswar- ing cash deposits of his ill-gotten Earlier, the state government was under extreme stress over ceiving mortgages as security Interest Disclosure and Protection brother without his knowledge. Tirupati-Bhubaneswar Special for one wealth in his son Akash’s bank had suspended Pathak for pos- her daughter had some abnor- against the loans between 2017 and of Informer scheme recently. The The accused manager also al- day from both the directions. The accounts and further helping his sessing disproportionate assets to malities. “This could be a reason 2019. regional vigilance officer was as- legedly issued loans to many peo- Bhubaneswar-Tirupati-Bhubaneswar son in fraudulently posing as MD the tune of `9.35 crore, beyond his behind the lady taking the ex- The IOB authorities claimed that signed to investigate the case and ple without ensuring mortgages Special from Bhubaneswar December 19 of Tata Motors. known sources of income – which treme step. Probe is on. Things the bank is likely to lose around `1.50 submit a report by January 5, 2020. from borrowers or without check- and from Tirupati December 20, 2020 Meanwhile, Tata Motors au- he could not account for satisfac- will be clear soon,” the official crore as loans were doled out The special internal vigilance ing the KYC details. will remain cancelled. thorities have lodged an FIR against torily. pointed out. Uphold rights of paralytic in jail, NHRC tells Prisons DG POST NEWS NETWORK Binod Naik was New Delhi, Dec 18: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has arrested by Odisha asked the Director General of Prisons, police in 2016 for his Odisha, to take appropriate action in alleged involvement order to prevent the alleged human rights violation of Binod Naik, an under- in Maoist related trial prisoner, who has been allegedly af- activities flicted with paralysis. Naik was arrested by the Odisha Police in 2016 for his alleged involve- the human rights violation of the vic- Marangbahal village under Jujumura ment in Maoist related activities. tim and provide him free treatment in block in Sambalpur district. According to reports, he has been lodged a quality empaneled hospital of the Manoranjan claimed that his brother in Sambalpur circle jail for four years. government and also provide compen- had no links with any Maoist outfits. The NHRC has asked the DG, Prisons, sation. “However, police arrested him and some

to take immediate and appropriate ac- Naik’s brother, Manoranjan Naik, innocent and poor youths on false charges

k y m c tion over the matter. The NHRC order had earlier submitted a memorandum as the ultras had their presence in their came in a petition filed by Bijayani to the district administration address- area for a brief period,” he added. Many Mishra, a PhD scholar of Jawaharlal ing to the Chief Minister to shift his of them have been acquitted by the court Nehru University here. The petitioner brother to a private hospital or to their for want of evidence while Naik is still pleaded the commission to issue a no- home for better treatment. Manoranjan, languishing in jail due to delay in hear- tice to the jail authorities to prevent a retired teacher, is a native of ing of his bail plea, he said. P4 SATURDAY | DECEMBER 19 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR downtown

UNIQUE DEMO Anubhav appears

Four fresh fatalities take in SDJM court

k y m POST NEWS NETWORK c

Cuttack, Dec 18: Odia film actor state’s Covid toll to 1,829 and MP Anubhav Mohanty Friday appeared before the SDJM court here in connection with a case THREE DISTRICTS—BOUDH, KANDHAMAL AND MALKANGIRI— DID filed by his actress wife Varsha NOT REGISTER ANY NEW CASES DURING THE LAST 24 HOURS Priyadarshini. Mohanty submitted his reply on the case in an affidavit. The WAR NOT OVER YET court had earlier served a notice Angul recorded the highest of new on Mohanty in connection with a cases at 52 followed by domestic violence case filed by Khurda (36) and Balasore (35) Varsha. “I have full faith in the judici- One each succumbed to the ary and law. I have submitted my infection in Khurda, Puri, reply to the court. I hope that I Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara will get justice,” Mohanty told media persons outside the court. The state has tested 65.36 lakh There has been a marital discord samples for Covid-19 so far between the actor couple for last including 33,809 Thursday several months. Varsha had filed a case in the SDJM court seeking Odisha’s positivity rate stands maintenance from Mohanty. at 4.98 per cent On the other hand, Mohanty had filed a petition in the Patiala Of the total 1,829 fatalities re- House court in Delhi seeking di- Children sanitise their hands before writing Class-III scholarship exam at a ported so far in the state, Khurda Health workers beat plates as part of their ongoing demonstration at PMG Square in Bhubaneswar, Friday, demand- vorce from Varsha. ing regular employment OP PHOTO school at Hanspal in Bhubaneswar, Friday OP PHOTO district alone accounted for 312 Subsequently, Varsha had ap- deaths followed by Ganjam (246), proached the Supreme Court seek- PNN & AGENCIES Kandhamal and Malkangiri— did Sundargarh (158), Cuttack (138) ing transfer of the divorce petition not register any new cases during and Puri (112). filed by Mohanty from Patiala Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: State Friday the last 24 hours, said the official. As many as 25 other districts House court to a Family Court in reported 358 new Covid-19 cases, Angul district recorded the high- reported fatalities below 100, the of- Mural paintings provided Cuttack. pushing the tally to 3,25,505, while est cases at 52 followed by Khurda ficial pointed out. The Apex Court had asked the the death toll rose to 1,829 with (36) and Balasore (35). Apart from the 1,829 Covid deaths, couple to explore possibilities of four fresh fatalities, a senior Health Taking to Twitter, the H&FW de- 53 people who were Covid-19 posi- mutual settlement while hearing and Family Welfare (H&FW) de- partment said, “Regret to inform the tive had also died due to comor- livelihood to artists: BMC Varsha’s plea. partment official said. demise of four numbers of Covid bidities. The new cases were detected in positive patients while undergo- The state has tested 65.36 lakh POST NEWS NETWORK 27 of the coastal state’s 30 districts, ing treatment in hospitals.” samples for Covid-19 so far in- with 208 of them reported from One each succumbed to the in- cluding 33,809 Thursday. Odisha’s Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: The ‘Prepare mechanism different quarantine centres and the fection in the districts of Khurda, positivity rate stands at 4.98 per Bhubaneswar Municipal remaining 150 from local contacts. Puri, Jagatsinghpur and cent, the data released by the H&FW Corporation (BMC) has report- to mitigate Three districts—Boudh, Kendrapara, the official said. department said. edly engaged around 150 artists for wall painting and murals which migration crisis’ aimed at spreading awareness about Covid-19 and its prevention POST NEWS NETWORK Steps to boost Night temp to dip further since April this year. Initiated under state govern- Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: A webi- organic farming POST NEWS NETWORK temperature at Sundargarh was ment’s scheme of Urban Wage nar on ‘Circular Economy, 15 degrees. All other places have wit- Employment Initiative, the artists Migration, Covid-19 and beyond’ need of the hour Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: Cold wave nessed a temperature of above 15 were hired through self-help groups was organised on the International will again grip the state as the degrees Celsius. (SHGs) in order to provide livelihood Migrants Day by voluntary outfits POST NEWS NETWORK night temperature is Bhubaneswar and options to the urban poor amidst the here, Friday. likely to fall by 3-5 de- Cuttack recorded pandemic. The scheme coupled Participating in the webinar, Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: A webi- grees Celsius across 17.6 and 15.8 degrees with civic authority’s city beauti- experts and speakers said that nar on ‘Doubling farmers’ income the state during next 48 Celsius, respectively. fication goals was overseen by 16 en- the coronavirus pandemic has in Odisha by 2022 with focus on or- hours, Bhubaneswar Dry weather is likely gineers for all 67 wards. heavily impacted life and liveli- ganic farming’ was organised by Met Centre said here to prevail across the “The aim of the initiative was to hoods of millions of migrant Odisha University of Agriculture Friday. state for next four generate maximum employment workers across the country. In and Technology (OUAT) here, As per a report of days. Shallow to especially during lockdowns when spite of a slew of programmes Friday. the Centre, Daringbadi moderate fog is very livelihood of the most was lost. File photo of a mural in AG area of Bhubaneswar OP PHOTO rolled out by both the govern- In the national-level webinar, recorded a minimum temperature likely to occur at one or two places The BMC had hired artists through ments, migrants are finding it Union Minister of State for Micro, of 12.5 degrees Celsius while the in the morning in Kandhamal, SHGs who also benefitted from the and will engage local job seekers. difficult to get their livelihoods re- Small and Medium Enterprises, temperature was 13.4 degrees at Koraput, Rayagada, Kalahandi, scheme. About three SHGs were THE BMC HAD HIRED ARTISTS With a roadmap already prepared, stored because of unavailability THROUGH SHGS WHO ALSO Pratap Chandra Sarangi, called Jharsuguda, 14 degrees each at Bolangir, Boudh, Malkangiri, Angul contracted for the work in every the civic authority will involve of suitable jobs and wages. BENEFITTED FROM THE SCHEME for undertaking organic farming Koraput and Angul, and 14.5 de- and Dhenkanal districts during ward. micro activity centres in all 67 It is high time the government in indigenous way and empha- grees at Phulbani. The minimum next 24 hours. Each ward has about 5,000 sq ft THE PAINTINGS OR MURALS ARE wards which will operate as job made an institutional arrangement sised on sale of more and more or- of painting area. The initiative will BASED ON DIFFERENT hubs mainly for those living in to recognise their contributions ganic products. continue till end of this year,” said DEVELOPMENT THEMES slum areas. towards strengthening economy Ashok Dalwai CEO, National a senior BMC engineer. The BMC is said to spend `16 and enriching the growth story. RELIGIOUS THEMES HAVE BEEN Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), The official also added that the STRICTLY AVOIDED crore for the projects to be executed Cultural anthropologist and Union Ministry of Agriculture & Ambulance workers feted paintings or murals are based on as part of the urban wage em- Professor in California State Farmers’ Welfare, said that for Bhubaneswar: A number of workers of 108 and 102 ambulance services different development themes. ployment initiative. University, USA, Arnapurna the success of organic farming were Friday felicitated for their works to reach out to the people during Meanwhile, religious themes have pleted at major places including Sources also said that local Pandey, highlighted the need for in the state, the farmers need to distress. The awards were given by the Ziqitza Healthcare Limited, been strictly avoided. the boundary wall of Mothers workers will be registered by concrete plan of action and re- learn latest knowledge, techniques which manages the ambulance services in the state. A total of seven While the civic authority has Public School, overbridge near the civic body under this ini- sponding to fundamental issues in- and skills of organic farming. He cluster leaders, five maintenance executives and seven crew members claimed that 80 per cent work has Sundarpada and GGP Colony High tiative for the works and wages terwoven in rural areas like agrar- said that the researchers and farm- were felicitated for their distinguished efforts. Seven bright wards of been done, the remaining is said to School among others, said sources. for their work will be provided ian crisis, forest based livelihoods ers need to come up with alter- the employees of the ambulance services who secured good marks be completed by end of this year. So Moreover, the BMC will now be to them through Direct Benefit and exploring coastal resources native ideas of reducing the chem- in Class X were also felicitated. far, the paintings have been com- taking up a major plantation drive Transfer mode. among others. ical load from yield without disturbing the productivity. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education & Director General Indian Council of Tribal museum in City reopens with Covid curbs Agricultural Research (ICAR), said, “To encourage organic farm- POST NEWS NETWORK tour allows the visitors to explore ing, we must produce more and TREAT TO EYES the artifacts on display, learn more more organic manure used by Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: After re- about them through a combination SCSTRTI Director, AB Ota, said that Visitors need to maintain a farmers to provide food (plant nu- maining closed for last several visitors will have to follow certain space of at least 10 feet from of audio narratives, animated trients) for the crop plants. Also, months due to the Covid-19 pan- guidelines to prevent the spread of each other while visiting the folktales and stunning videos that steps should be taken from all sec- demic, the Odisha State Tribal Covid-19 museum capture the unique lives of tors for the success of organic Museum here reopened for the pub- Odisha’s tribal communities, their farming.” lic, Friday. VISITORS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH ANY SHOWCASE, TOUCH SCREEN vibrant celebrations, dance, music, Experts stressed on reducing A few people visited the museum KIOSK, VR HEAD SET AND ARTIFACTS DISPLAYED IN THE GALLERIES AND colorful attire and festivals. the use of pesticides and fertiliz- in strict adherence to Covid-19 TRIBAL HUTS “The multimedia tour is avail- ers to promote organic farming. norms on the first day of the re- able in English, Hindi and Odia,” opening, sources said. its website. People can enjoy the seum official. added the official. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled 360-degree tour of our galleries and This apart, people can down- The tribal museum, located at Tribes Research and Training outdoor display of tribal huts load the app for multimedia tour CRP Square here, was established Youth abducted, rescued Institute (SCSTRTI) Director, AB through virtual mode,” said a mu- of the Museum. The multimedia in 1953. Ota, said that visitors will have to Bhubaneswar: Some unknown follow certain guidelines to pre- miscreants abducted a youth from vent the spread of Covid-19. a busy market area at CRP square “The visitors’ body temperatures here Friday evening. The youth has will be checked by using thermal been undergoing treatment at the forehead scanners at the entrance Capital hospital till the lasted of the museum. Anybody with tem- report came in. The victim, perature above the normal body identified as Piyush Patra, 19, was temperature will not be allowed to Visitors at Odisha State Tribal Museum in Bhubaneswar, Friday PICS: BIKASH NAYAK returning from tuition when three miscreants in a car intercepted enter the museum. Visitors without him near Vivekananda Hospital masks too will be denied entry to the tifacts displayed in the galleries added. He further revealed that 10 here. They reportedly sprayed museum,” Ota said. and tribal huts. visitors are allowed to enter the some liquid on his face following According to Ota, visitors need “They are only allowed to view museum at a time. Out of them, which he fell unconscious. The to maintain a space of at least 10 feet the exhibits and read the write-ups five will be allowed to enter into miscreants then dumped him near from each other while visiting the in the display showcases. No visi- the five display halls (one to each dis- Bhubaneswar Club here. He was museum. They need to sanitise tor above 65 years of age and below play hall) and five others will be rescued by his relatives who their hands at the entry point of the age of 14 will be allowed. The mu- allowed to visit the tribal huts (one rushed him to Capital hospital. the museum. Visitors are not al- seum will remain open from 10am to each hut at a time). Police have started investigations lowed to touch any showcase, touch to 5:30pm from Monday to Friday in “People can also avail the vir-

into incident. screen kiosk, VR Headset and ar- a week till further orders,” Ota tual tour of the museum by visiting

k y m c P5 SATURDAY | DECEMBER 19 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR state 3 ITDA techies caught

Long term murram leases by Vig; `3 lakh seized Canal water is used for road

k y m c POST NEWS NETWORK construction; farmers fume will destroy Asia hill range Nabarangpur, Dec 18: Vigilance sleuths detained three engineers of the Integrated Tribal POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK Development Agency (ITDA) in Nabarangpur district on charge of Umerkote, Dec 18: Farmers from Chandikhole, Dec 18: Long term carrying unaccounted cash in Dargaguda area in Nabarangpur dis- leases of murram quarries at dif- their office vehicle (bearing reg- trict have expressed unhappiness ferent places under Darpan tehsil istration number OD-24 A-3328) over a contractor drawing water of Jajpur are feared to cause large- Thursday night. The vehicle was from an irrigation canal for road scale destruction of jungles in these on its way to Umerkote area. construction works. areas, a report said. Those detained are additional Since usage of water from irri- According to the report, the tehsil executive engineer Sarat Kumar gation canal in non-irrigation pur- administration has floated tenders Majhi and assistant engineers poses is unlawful, the farmers have to give away murram quarries on Baikunthanath Behera and demanded action against the long term basis at Manduka, Asia Pramod Kumar Pradhan. contractor. and Achyutabasant areas. Local res- Acting on a tip-off, the team led idents and environmentalists ap- by Nabarangpur Vigilance DSP The works dept is farmers are drawing water from farmers. When asked, Umerkote prehended that if quarries were in-charge Kalabati Bagh inter- currently the canal to irrigate their farm- Works Department SDO Santosh given to lease holders for long periods, cepted the vehicle near Deer Park lands. At present, the works de- Patra said the contractor should Darpan tehsil floated tenders Local environmentalists apprehended constructing the Asia hill rage in the area will see to give away murram quarries that if quarries were given to lease in Papadahandi and seized Rs partment is constructing Umerkote- never use canal water in road con- clearing of thousands of trees. on long term basis at holders for long periods, the Asia hill 3,09,400 kept in a handbag. Umerkote-Raighar road. Raighar road. The farmers have struction work. He will be asked Besides, many species of wild ani- Manduka, Asia and rage in the area will see clearing of The handbag belonged to Farmers accused the alleged that the contractor engaged to refrain from such practice. mals residing in the hill range will Achyutabasant areas thousands of trees Pradhan. During the interroga- in the road construction work takes Meanwhile, Bhaskel Irrigation do a vanishing act, they observed. tion by officials, he, however, could contractor of siphoning water from the canal in tankers to Department SDO Niranjan Sahu There are 2,600 acres of forest land 2,600 acres of forest land are part of the Asia hill range. Lands not give satisfactory reason as to his construction site. said he was not aware of the con- in the Asia hill range. Lands be- belonging to the revenue department are near the hill range. The where and why he was carrying off canal water for the “In the past, the dam authori- tractor using the canal water in longing to the revenue department area was once under the scanner of the Crime Branch as murram such a large amount of moeny. road work ties would seize farmers’ motors road construction work. "If he is are near the jungle land. The area mafia used to loot minor minerals at their will whenever they were found being doing so, the matter will be taken was once under the scanner of the For agricultural activities in used for pumping water to farm- up with Umerkote tehsildar. Crime Branch as murram mafia The forest department has al- mals life hyena, sambar, barking Two mutilated Dargaguda area, water from Bhaskel lands. But now they are not tak- Besides stringent action will be used to loot minor minerals at their ready taken up massive plantation deer, spotted deer, boars and other dam was released into the canal ing any action against the said con- taken against the contractor and will. Since then, no part of the hill on these lands. “Murram can’t be reptiles. Due to illegal murram bodies recovered December 11. The canal is still get- tractor for his daylight water all his equipment will be seized," range had been leased out for mur- extracted without clearing the trees. mining, their population has been ting water from the reservoir and pilferage,” rued the distraught Sahu added. ram mining, Thousands of tress will be chopped fast declining in the area, it was POST NEWS NETWORK However, the tehsil administra- off for this purpose,” local envi- alleged. tion has come out with a notifica- ronmentalists lamented. On one hand, the forest depart- Rourkela, Dec 18: Two mutilated tion (vide letter3605, dated November In the notification, it was stated ment has spent crores of rupees bodies were recovered from a rail- Murder over witchcraft solved; 2 minors surrender 25, 2020) for leasing the land for that 14807 cusec/metre of murram for regeneration of forests while on way track near Panposh Railway murram extraction. will be extracted annually in Asia the other, the revenue department Station in Sundargarh district POST NEWS NETWORK The police had recovered the last eight months. She suspected that Here are details of the land to be area while the volume of murram leases out the land for murram ex- Friday. body of Kuni Munda (65) inside Kuni had hexed her mother. leased out. Five acres of land linked extraction in Acgyutabasant area traction. Whenever these areas had The GRP seized the bodies and Keonjhar, Dec 18: Two minors, her house at Bholbeda village under Similarly, the parents of the minor to Khata no-737(plot-491) in Asia is 30227 cusec/metre. In Mandua been leased out earlier, lease hold- sent them to Rourkela Government including a girl, surrendered be- Ghatagaon police limits Thursday boy had died a few days ago. He mouza are of pahad kisam (hill mouza, the lease holder will have ers had allegedly resorted to ex- Hospital (RGH) for post mortem. fore police at Dhenkikote outpost morning. As an investigation was also blamed Kuni for their death. category). Besides, 9.75 acres of to extract 33721 cusec/metre an- cessive murram mining, thus caus- Some passengers spotted the bod- under Ghatagaon police limits in on, the two turned up at Dhenkikote As the two nurtured a grudge land liked to khata-471(plot no-1061) nually. The revenue department ing loss of revenue as well as forests. ies lying close to the railway track Keonjhar district Thursday evening. outpost to surrender. They were against Kuni, they planned to elim- in Achyutabasat mouza is of Parbat will get Rs 35 as royalty per a Locals had reportedly protested - at about 5am. Efforts are under- They confessed to have hacked an produced at a juvenile court Friday inate her. As Kuni stayed alone, kisam land (hill category). The cusec/metre of murram extrac- against it in the past. way to ascertain the identities of elderly woman to death suspect- and later sent to a correction home. they managed to barge into her tehsil also plans to lease out 12 tion while additional charges Though the Darpan tehsildar the deceased while an investiga- ing her to be practicing sorcery A girl’s mother was suffering house Wednesday night and hacked acres (khata-1349, plot-3611) be- amount to Rs 45. was contacted over phone by our re- tion into the incident is on. Wednesday night. from an unknown illness for the her to death with an axe. longing to parbat kisam in Manduka Locals say Asia-Charinagal re- porter, he did not respond to mouza. serve forest is home to wild ani- the call. Bolangir admin Keonjhar: Closure of rescues 21 labourers REMOVAL OF LAND on way to Andhra HURDLES SOUGHT tourist spots extended

POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK Waterfalls. Visitors also flock to JEYORE-NABARANGPUR RAILWAY LINE the Kanjhari, Hadagarh dams and Bolangir, Dec 18: Twenty one Keonjhar, Dec 18: With the fear of Kanjipani Ghat. People throng to migrant labourers who were al- a second wave of COVID-19 loom- Baldevjew Ghatagaon Maa Tarini legedly being trafficked from ing large, the district administra- and Deogaon Kushaleswar temples. Bolangir district to Andhra tion has decided not to open the They also visit Gonasika - the place Pradesh were rescued from the gates of popular tourist spots in of Baitarani’s origin, Murga Kantabanji railway station in the Keonjhar district to visitors and Mahadev and Chakrateerth. wee hours of Friday. They were picnickers. Usually at this time of the year, waiting for a train when police The tourism department has all these places are very crowded. rescued them. Among the labour- identified 15 tourist spots in However, this time around they are ers, four were women. Keonjhar district. Besides those, wearing a deserted look due to the The efforts of Bolangir police there are also some other locations COVID-19 pandemic. and Kantabanji block adminis- that offer postcard-perfect scenes. When contacted, District Collector tration paid off and the labourers POST NEWS NETWORK land acquisition, he added. However, they do not feature on Ashish Thakre said the tourist were saved in the nick of time. As per information, the Jeyore- the tourism department’s list. spots will remain closed for the Acting on a tip-off, the team reached Nabarangpur, Dec 18: Land hur- Nabarangpur railway line will be Most of these tourist spots wit- time being. “We have taken this de- the railway station to rescue the dles have hampered the progress of laid for 45. 35 km while a stretch of ness footfalls throughout the year. cision as there is a likelihood of a workers. The agent who was tak- the long awaited Jeyore- 11 km will be constructed through It increases during winter months second wave of COVID-19 during ing them to an unknown destina- Nabarangpur railway line under Nabarangpur. It was learnt that from November to February. A few winter. This apart, our objective is tion in Andhra Pradesh has been East Coast Railway. Now, the ad- 149.927 acres of private land and places, especially those with reli- to make Keonjhar a coronavirus-free detained by the police. A majority ministration has laid stress on ex- 5.418 acres of government land gious importance, witness more district,” Thakre said. The dis- of the villagers belonged to Siluana peditious land acquisitions, a will be acquired in Nabarangpur than 1,00,000 persons on certain oc- trict administration’s decision has village of Kantabanji block. report said. sadar area, Daibhatta, Gadabaguda casions. Among the tourist spots hit a section of people who depend The labourers said they were in According to reports, a review and Padalguda. are Sana Ghagara, Bada Ghagara, on these spots directly or indirectly need of jobs and hence they were meeting on the project was held A map for the land acquisition Khandadhar and Handibhanga for earning livelihood. travelling to the neighbouring at the Mission Shakti conference has been drawn up. The railway state. “The state government had hall here recently under the chair- project entails construction of nine promised us jobs when we re- manship of Nabarangpur MP big bridges, 51 small bridges and two turned home due to the pandemic. Ramesh Chandra Majhi. stations. Jeypore sub-collector rep- DSP detained for blackmailing lady cop Since that did not happen we are The state government is com- resenting the Koraput district ad- being forced to look for work else- mitted to providing free land to ministration presented detailed POST NEWS NETWORK detained officer was accused the officer of where to sustain ourselves,” some the project. But the land required data about the size of land to be ac- identified as Malkangiri torturing her mentally. of the workers said. “With no for the project has not been ac- quired in Koraput. Kalahandi, Dec 18: A Sadar DSP Akshay Nayak was the SDPO in source of income here, we are quired till date. Next review meeting will be held senior police officer Nayak. Personnel from Kesinga from 2009 to struggling to make both ends meet. At the meeting, Collector Ajit in the last week of February in was detained Friday the Kesinga police sta- 2012 when he had an So we are forced to move to other Kumar Mishra assured that staff Koraput. Officials of the Malkangiri for betraying a woman tion, where the woman affair with the female states in search of work,” said a would be engaged for land acqui- district administration will be pres- constable. The officer is posted, detained him. cop. Later they got mar- migrant worker. November 14, 56 sition, which will be carried out ent. Notably, this project has been had allegedly married In her complaint ried at a temple, but migrant labourers were rescued within 45 days. Public hearings approved by the Central govern- her at a temple in lodged at Kesinga police the SDPO started from Kantabanji station. will be held over the project and the ment in 2016-17. Kalahandi district. The station, the constable ignoring the lady cop. Admin farms pulses to save endangered blackbucks

lage has the highest concentration of their crops. We stepped up efforts Located around 190 To deal with such a the these animals in India. Though to meet their expectations and solved km from Bhubaneswar situation, the forest locals do not harm these animals, both the issues.” and 50 km from department took upon the blackbucks, in search of food, Berhampur, Bhetanai themselves to enter into human habitats. is famous for safeguard the To deal with such a situation, the blackbucks. It is said blackbucks and forest department took upon them- the crops that the village has the selves to safeguard the blackbucks and highest concentration simultaneously by the crops simultaneously by reserving of these animals in reserving a large patch India. Locals do not of grassland for a large patch of grassland for grow- harm these animals growing pulses like ing pulses like green gram, Bengal whenever they enter green gram, Bengal gram and ragi among others. The human habitats in gram and ragi among step will give the blackbucks ample search of food others spaces for grazing which in turn will effectively solve the issues of Prasanna Kumar Sahu, Ranger of Aska Forest farm crop loss. Range, said: The public demand is to save the Sources said there are approxi- blackbucks and also ensure protection of their mately 1,600 blackbucks who rule crops. We stepped up efforts to meet their the grasslands on the foothills of the expectations and solved both the issues Eastern Ghats. The blackbucks are A FILE PHOTO considered the second fastest ani- mal on earth after the cheetah. They

POST NEWS NETWORK agriculture in the peripheral areas get enough food in the forest range are scheduled under endangered

k y m c of Aska Forest Range near Bhetanai and will not venture into the vil- species and are protected under the Berhampur, Dec 18: In a bid to in- village in the district. lages or human habitats. Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. crease the population and conser- The district administration has Located around 190 km from Prasanna Kumar Sahu, Ranger vation of blackbucks in Ganjam, the started cultivation of a variety of Bhubaneswar and 50 km from of Aska Forest Range, said “The district administration has adopted pulses to feed the endangered animal. Berhampur, Bhetanai is famous for public demand is to save the black- a smart and sustainable method of The initiative will help blackbucks blackbucks. It is said that the vil- bucks and also ensure protection of P6 SATURDAY | DECEMBER 19 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR power post

FOCUS DIGITAL ECONOMY Let us offer our work to the Divine;

this is the sure means of

k y m progressing. Go and prepare c yourself and the best preparation is to be useful to the Divine’s work. THE MOTHER THE BRUSSELS EFFECT

he European Commission sidering that the idea already has has just unveiled land- support from leading US compa- mark regulations for the nies such as Microsoft, Facebook, Stool pigeons Tdigital economy, setting and Apple. yet another global standard. The A more robust privacy law would Digital Services Act (DSA) and help the US reinstate data flows with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the EU, which were halted by the in a skirmish designed to curtail the power of Big European Court of Justice, owing Tech, will have a far-reaching im- to the lack of privacy protections he battle for the West Bengal assembly elections looms ahead but skir- pact on the business practices of in the US. It would also allow the mishes have already started. After the attack on BJP president JP Nadda’s Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, US to address its concerns about T convoy in the state, the Centre retaliated against the TMC government and other primarily US-based gi- Chinese government surveillance by recalling three IPS officers from the state on Central deputation. Further, ants. The European Union is ex- The European Commission has just unveiled of American citizens. The Trump to perhaps underline the “message”, the Ministry of Home Affairs summoned pected to designate these compa- landmark regulations for the digital economy, administration's haphazard effort state Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay and Director General of Police nies as the “gatekeepers” of the to ban the Chinese-owned social- Virendra to Delhi to explain the law and order situation in Bengal. Internet, justifying a targeted reg- setting yet another global standard. The Digital media platform TikTok from the A defiant Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused to comply with the sum- ulatory push to rein in their out- Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act US market is not a substitute for mons. Also, she declined the Centre’s demand to send the three IPS officers size market power. regulations to protect Americans' – Bholanath Pandey, Rajeev Mishra and Praveen Kumar Tripathi – on dep- The new regulations will com- (DMA), designed to curtail the power of Big Tech, personal data. utation saying there was a dearth of good officers in the state, and the state Anu Bradford plement the EU’s antitrust au- will have a far-reaching impact on the business The case for renewed US regu- could not spare the three officers. thority, which has repeatedly been latory leadership is even more There is a precedent here. The then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J used to extract billions of dollars practices of Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, compelling in view of China’s in- Jayalalitha had similarly denied the Centre in 1991 when the state police had THE NEW in fines from US tech giants and and other primarily US-based tech giants creasing global influence over conducted a raid on the house of for- REGULATIONS to mandate changes to their busi- tech-governance standards. mer state Chief Minister and DMK ness practices. Under the DMA, for Chinese companies, all with vary- leader M Karunanidhi, her arch BABUDOM WILL example, practices such as self- lation are pushing back, accus- inadvertently, trading globalisa- ing ties to the ruling Communist rival. The Centre had asked the COMPLEMENT preferencing will be “blacklisted” ing the EU of regulatory over- tion for Europeanisation. Party, have supplied critical tech- Tamil Nadu government to relieve BYTES – presumed illegal without the reach and protectionist motives. But the winds in the US may nological infrastructure to coun- the three officers involved for Central Dilip Cherian THE EU’S need for the EU to bring an an- But the EU is not unfairly in- finally be changing. Legislators tries around the world. China has deputation. Like Mamata now, she ANTITRUST titrust challenge to demonstrate fringing on successful US tech and enforcement agencies are also supplied artificial intelligence- had refused to spare those officers. harm to competition. companies' commercial freedom, starting to wake up to Big Tech's driven surveillance technology to Apparently, there is little the Centre can do against civil service officers AUTHORITY, The DSA, for its part, will impose nor is it undermining US regula- excesses. Earlier this year, the numerous governments that are who are posted under the state government. For any action to be taken on more onerous obligations on Big tors' autonomy. Even if EU regu- House Judiciary Committee's re- eager to pursue illiberal ends. an officer, the state and the Centre both need to agree. WHICH HAS Tech companies to disclose their lations do prove costly for big US port on competition in digital mar- Given China's authoritarian vi- REPEATEDLY algorithms or remove illegal or companies, many smaller US firms kets issued a powerful call to ac- sion of the Internet, the US would REBELS FOR A CAUSE? harmful online content, includ- will benefit from them. For years, tion and outlined a new vision for gain much from working closely Outliers are far and few in between in the civil service, which runs on obe- BEEN USED TO ing hate speech and disinformation. these smaller US players have had revitalizing US antitrust laws. with the EU on regulating Big dience than resistance. But sometimes momentous events reveal “rebels” EXTRACT Together, these measures will as- to rely on the EU – rather than on Moreover, the US Department Tech and the digital economy. with a cause. Punjab DIG (Prisons) Lakhminder Singh Jakhar has resigned sert significant new regulatory their own government – to chal- of Justice is now challenging Their disagreements when it comes from service in support of farmers who are in Delhi protesting against the BILLIONS OF control over the digital economy lenge the giants in their industry. Google's monopolistic practices to antitrust, privacy, and taxation, three new farm laws. There are politicians, sports people, even ex-Defence both in Europe and beyond. Likewise, thanks to their global (after tolerating them for the past are manageable, and should be ad- forces officers who have renounced their awards and medals in protest, but DOLLARS IN The stakes for the Big Tech gi- reach, EU regulations have brought decade), and the Federal Trade dressed as part of a broader effort an IPS officer resigning from service for the farmers’ cause is a first in the FINES FROM US ants are particularly high because significant benefits to American Commission – along with 46 of to reset transatlantic relations. state. EU regulations often have a global Internet users, many of whom the 50 states, Washington, DC, Instead of fighting the EU’s le- Of course, IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan resigned from the service to TECH GIANTS impact – a phenomenon known welcome enhanced privacy pro- and Guam – is suing Facebook gitimate attempts to defend its vi- protest against the restrictions imposed in Jammu & Kashmir following the as the “Brussels effect.” Because tections and less rampant online as an illegal monopoly. It is unclear sion of the digital economy, abrogation of Article 370. Similarly, Shah Faesal, the young IAS officer the EU is one of the world’s largest hate speech. whether these steps mark the be- President-elect Joe Biden’s ad- from J&K resigned from the service in 2019 to start a political party. And just consumer markets, most multi- The United States' own inaction ginning of a progressive antitrust ministration should explore how a few months ago, the DGP of Bihar Gupteshwar Pandey opting for VRS in national corporations accept its has paved the way for the EU’s revolution in the US, or whether it can work with the EU to ad- a bid to contest the state Assembly poll (his position his still vacant), but that terms of business as the price of rise as a regulatory superpower. they will stall in a divided vance a shared vision. After all, cit- was not for a public cause. admission. To avoid the cost of Embracing deregulation and Congress or before conservative- izens on both sides of the Atlantic Meanwhile, Jakhar who had served the army joined the IPS as a 1994-batch complying with multiple regula- techno-libertarianism as its ap- leaning courts that are accus- want a human-centric Internet officer and was slated to superannuate in August 2022. Interestingly, he had tory regimes around the world, proach to governing the digital tomed to a more limited role for that is grounded in the values of been suspended in May earlier this year on alleged corruption charges but these companies often extend EU economy, the US has long watched antitrust law. liberal democracy and individ- was reinstated within a month. Clearly, outliers defy easy definition! rules to their operations globally. from the sidelines as the EU sets In any case, the US would do ual autonomy. That is why so many large non-EU regulations for the global mar- well to abandon its hands-off ap- TN RELUCTANT TO LET GO OF CHIEF SECRETARY companies follow the EU’s General ketplace. By abandoning interna- proach to technology companies. Anu Bradford is a By seeking the extension of the tenure of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) tional engagement and regulatory It needs to stop being a rule-taker Professor of Law and Shanmugam, the state government has stirred a hornets’ nest in the upper across all of their operations. cooperation, the Trump adminis- and start shoring up its own reg- International Organization at echelons of the administration. An extension of tenure for Shanmugam could Unsurprisingly, Big Tech lead- tration reinforced this regulatory ulations. A federal privacy law Columbia Law School. mean that several senior Tamil Nadu cadre officers eligible to succeed him ers and other critics of EU regu- isolationism – effectively, albeit would be an ideal place to start, con- ©PROJECT SYNDICATE may find their chances fading. According to sources, Shanmugam, a 1985-batch IAS officer, has already received two extensions. Meanwhile, there 30 IAS officers in the state in the Additional Chief Secretary rank, including four who are Secretaries to the Central government. For them, the third extension for Shanmugam seems SPECTRUM AGRICULTURE to indicate that the state government doubts their abilities to handle the top job. Interestingly, when Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami first sought an extension of tenure for Shanmugam, it was for one year, but the Centre granted approval only for three months. The second extension was for an- Agricultural markets in Odisha other three months. Now the state government has requested a six-month extension for the babu who reportedly is playing a “critical role in Covid man- he raging controversy re- by the consumers” and to regulate collected from check-gates. levied on users who use market fa- agement in the state”. Will the Centre oblige again? garding the new farm laws unfair trade practices. Similar laws The International Finance cilities. The Act was designed to T and the country-wide protest were enacted in other states. But re- Corporation (IFC) sponsored a attract private investment in a big Share a babu experience! Follow [email protected]. of farmers have once again brought grettably, the stated objectives of the project in 2016 to study and frame way to augment government re- Let’s multiply the effect. to focus the crucial role played by legislations remain unfulfilled. a new law for agricultural mar- sources in setting up of agricultural agricultural markets in economic Sporadic attempts have been made keting in Odisha. Our company, infrastructure and reduce post- development. States like Punjab, to introduce the much-needed re- Global AgriSystem, was appointed harvest losses. Private markets Haryana and Maharashtra have forms in the agriculture sector. as the consultant. We conducted ex- would be licensed by the state gov- WISDOM CORNER well developed marketing systems The Central government circu- tensive survey of the existing mar- ernment provided they had or which have contributed to their lated a new Act in 2003. Model kets in the state, held in-depth dis- agreed to build the necessary in- prosperity. Other states have lagged APMC Rules were also framed in cussions with the State Marketing frastructure like warehouses or Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticised anyway ELEANOR ROOSEVELT and continued with the traditional 2007 and states were asked to adopt Board and other stakeholders and electronic trading platform. Gokul Patnaik systems. Reforms have taken a them. Reportedly 11 states adopted proposed a new law. If the state government had Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own back seat. them fully and seven states par- This was discussed and approved adopted these proposals in 2016, actions. DALAI LAMA XIV Agriculture market reform in tially. But there has been no sig- at a high-level meeting of the state Odisha would have been the first Smart people learn from everything and everyone, average people THE RAGING India has historically been a vex- nificant improvement at ground government in the presence of the state in the country to adopt a pro- from their experiences, stupid people already have all the answers. CONTROVERSY atious issue. The Royal Commission level and in most cases, it remains concerned minister and secretary. gressive modern agricultural mar- SOCRATES on Agriculture in 1928 noted the business as usual. The proposed act was designed to keting act and it would have saved OVER THE NEW need to regulate agricultural mar- Odisha has 66 Regulated Market pave the way for new age mar- the farmers from suffering the pain FARM LAWS AND kets. The Madras Commercial Committees (RMCs) with 180 sub- keting concepts such as e-mar- points of the new Central farm WORDSWORTH Crops Act 1933 (which was then yards. A number of markets re- kets, commodity exchanges, fa- laws. In view of the persistent THE COUNTRY- applicable to areas of present day main under the control of local cilitation of buying by bulk buyers doubts about the constitutional va- Odisha) laid down certain restric- bodies. The state has 76 municipal (retail chains, processors, ex- lidity of the Central laws on agri- Between versus among WIDE PROTESTS OF tions. The Constitution of India markets and approximately 2000 porters, warehousing, and trad- culture, which is a State subject, FARMERS HAVE (1950) prescribed that “Agriculture”, gram panchayat markets (out of ing companies). It was proposed many states including Punjab, “markets and fairs” and “trade which about 250 are managed by that the entire state shall be con- Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have illiam Safire commented in the New York Times in 1999 that three ONCE AGAIN and commerce within the state” RMCs). The Government of Odisha sidered as one market and check- passed new laws on the subject in Wstyle guides — those of his own newspaper, the Associated Press and BROUGHT TO are all State subjects (Entry 14, 26, also tried some piecemeal reforms. gates will be abolished. Producers their state Assemblies. Odisha The Wall Street Journal — all “stand foursquare for the between/among 28, List II, Seventh Schedule). In an attempt at disintermediation, will be allowed to sell anywhere in should consider what is in its best rule” that you cite. He commented that the AP guide included the maxim FOCUS THE Agricultural markets have there- it set up 43 Krushak Bazaars where the state. It was suggested to have interest. (Concluded) that “between introduces two items and among more than two”, arguing fore been the responsibility of the farmers can sell their produce di- a single point registration for all that as a result it was correct to write “between you and me” but “among CRUCIAL ROLE states. In fact, Odisha was one of the rectly to buyers. It has also set up traders and wholesale buyers and The writer is a retired IAS the three of us’”. This is still a matter that’s capable of arousing PLAYED BY first states to notify Orissa 14 Special Commodity Markets. issue unified registration num- officer and former Chairman, controversy in the US. John McIntyre, an editor with the Baltimore Sun, was Agricultural Produce Markets Act Yet, the markets have poor infra- ber (URN), which will permit them Agricultural & Processed criticised for saying in a radio broadcast on National Grammar Day in AGRICULTURAL 1956. Its main objective was to as- structure and most of the trans- to buy anywhere in the state. Food Products Export March 2008 that between could be used for more than two. Most US style MARKETS sure the agricultural producer “of actions take place outside the mar- Market fee would be abolished Development Authority guides agree with McIntyre that between can be used for more than two. his legitimate share of the price paid ket yards. Bulk of the market fee is and only service charges will be (APEDA). British guides say the same, following the statement by James Murray in the Oxford English Dictionary more than a century ago: “Between has been, from its earliest appearance, extended to more than two”, with his earliest example being from the year 971. Noah Webster made the same Unproductive expenditure Power of one vote point in his dictionary in 1828; Sir Ernest Gowers called the rule a superstition in the Second Edition of Fowler in 1965. Sir, Since a long India has been facing massive unemployment problem. Innumerable Sir, Many people say, “My vote doesn’t mat- educated youths roaming here and there in search of jobs, thousands of factories ter, it is a waste of time”. I also heard peo- etters have been closed and hundreds of public sector companies sold to private owners. ple saying, “I feel like my voice doesn’t mat- Due to lack of health facilities thousands of people are dying, GDP is continuously ter. People who suck are still in office, so it going downward. In this grim situation the present government has laid the foun- won’t make a difference”. Well I read news TOL THE EDITOR dation stone of new Parliament building whose estimated cost is `971 crore and where one vote determines the outcome of LOL Readers of Orissa POST it is expected to be finished by 2022. Even now the government is unable to provide an election. Congress mayoral candidate N are most welcome to contribute letters clean and safe water to the people, for clean water people have to buy Bisleri water. Venugopal lost election by one vote in the (200 words), articles and Recent Covid-19 pandemic has shown the real face of our healthcare system. It is state’s local body elections. A vote is a power Tired of blonde jokes columns (between 750-1250 He is words). Contributors are a question of concern that how a government can take such steps without solv- in our fingertips to choose a leader of our na- ired of constant blonde jokes, a stunned requested to send their ing the basic problems faced by people. If we look at the history of parliaments of tion. One vote can make a difference. You not Tblonde dyes her hair brown. but keeps his contact numbers and full different countries, our Parliament is much younger. The Parliament of Holland only decide your fate, but also that of the na-

She then goes for a drive in the word and allows postal address/email ID. They may also built was in 13th century, Italy in 16th century, France in 1645 and Britain in 1870 tion’s fate. One person can make a differ-

k y m send in their valuable comments, opinion c country and sees a shepherd herding her to pick a sheep. and suggestions, preferably by email, but in India the Parliament was built in just 1927. It is being said that the new Parliament ence and everyone should try. Your vote is not his sheep across the road. "I'll take this one," she says proudly. to: [email protected] would be a gift to the Indian people on the occasion of 75th anniversary of India’s a small or big thing, but it affects the future "Hey, shepherd, if I guess how many "It's the cutest!" Independence. The government should remember that without solving the basic of your nation greatly. Every single vote sheep are here, can I keep one?" "Hey lady," says the shepherd, "if I needs of the people a country can never become developed. Statues, temples and cast, impact the overall result of the elections The shepherd is puzzled but agrees. guess your real hair color, can I have B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, parliaments are not the criteria to become a developed country. as every vote counts. She blurts out "352!" my dog back?" Bhubaneswar-751010 Asit Mohanty, JAJPUR Yashi Bairagi, UJJAIN UTTAR PRADESH DELHI P7 SATURDAY | DECEMBER 19 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

PM’S VARANASI

k y m 6 UP farmers get `50L OFFICE LISTED c ON OLX FOR ‘SALE’ notice over protests INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Varanasi (UP), Dec 18: Four people have been arrested for allegedly posting an online FARMERS HAVE BEEN ORGANISING PROTESTS IN THE DISTRICT OVER advertisement listing Prime Minister THE THREE CONTENTIOUS FARM LEGISLATIONS Narendra Modi's Varanasi office for "sale", police said Friday. The accused had taken a picture of the AGENCIES persons are inciting farmers and "Jansampark Kaaryalay (public relations there can be breach of peace, and office)" of Modi, who represents Varanasi in Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh), Dec they should be asked to fill the Lok Sabha, and put it "up for sale" on OLX 18: Six farmer leaders in Sambhal personal bonds," the Sub-Divisional website, they said. district have been issued notices, ask- Magistrate Deependra Yadav had The office is located in the Jawahar Nagar ing them to furnish personal bonds earlier told the reporters. locality of the city, and it falls under the of `50 lakh in view of the The notices have been issued apprehension that their actions under Section 111 (magistrate order may lead to breach of peace. against any person who is likely to The six farmers, who were served commit breach of peace) of the notices, include Bharatiya Kisan Code of Criminal Procedure on Union (asli) district president Rajpal the basis of a report submitted by Singh Yadav and farmer leaders police, the official said. Jaiveer Singh, Brahmachari Yadav, Representative image Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Satyendra, Rohdas and Veer Singh. Akhilesh Yadav Friday attacked However, two days after the no- farmers with false information, the Uttar Pradesh government for tices were served , Circle Officer which can lead to the breakdown sending notices to farmers ask- Arun Kumar Singh, said that the of peace in the region. ing them to submit personal bonds Bhelupur police station limits, Varanasi amount was a 'clerical error' and will "We are satisfied with the report assuring there will be no breach of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amit be reduced. of the local police station in this re- peace during protests against farm Pathak said. "Yesterday, it came to our no- "The SDM is currently on leave gard. It is hereby directed to furnish laws in Sambhal. "Even though tice that the prime minister's office here and once he comes back we will a reason as to why the farmers the Supreme Court has given legal has been put up on sale on OLX website. correct the error and make it a should not be providing a guaran- acknowledgement to peaceful An FIR was immediately lodged at the bond of `50,000 since the earlier tee of worth `50 lakh and a bail protests by farmers, the BJP gov- Bhelupur police station, and the matter is one was a clerical error," he said amount of the same money to main- ernment in UP is lodging FIRs to re- being investigated," Pathak said. "Four peo- The notice issued by Sambhal tain peace for one year." Farmers alise `50 lakh from them. There ple involved in the case have been taken in SDM Deependra Yadav stated, "In have been organising protests in the has never been an anti-people gov- custody," the SSP said, adding that the per- the context of what is happening district over the three contentious ernment like the BJP," the SP leader son who took the picture and put it on the in Delhi and other farmer agita- farm legislations. said in tweet in Hindi with the website is among them. The accused are tions, six persons are going from "We have got a report from the hashtag "#Nahi_Chahiye_Bhajapa being questioned, and further legal pro- village to village and inciting the Hayatnagar police station that some (No more BJP)". ceedings are being carried out, he said. Delhi Assembly passes resolution for CBI probe

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA started. MCD SCAM Speaker Ram Niwas Goel had ad- New Delhi, Dec 18: The Delhi journed the house for 15 minutes as Assembly passed a resolution by voice the party MLAs continued to wave vote on Friday, demanding a CBI in- placards and raise slogans despite quiry into the alleged `2,500 crore his attempt to bring order and continue scam in the BJP-ruled municipal cor- the proceedings. Delhi Chief Minister porations. Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the al- AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj ini- leged scam of `2,500 crore in the BJP- tiated a discussion on the issue fol- ruled municipal corporations was lowing which the resolution was even bigger than the Commonwealth passed. "Scams come up regularly in Games scam. BJP-ruled corporations. The new Addressing a special session of councilors have broken the record of the Delhi Assembly, he claimed that their predecessors in corruption," he The AAP MLA alleged that the priation of funds worth `2,500 crore scams of `5,000-10,000 crore happen claimed. scam runs into thousands of crores of "baseless". BJP MLA OP Sharma boy- every year in municipal corpora- "The MCD is like a daughter of rupees. "The building department of cotted the House when he was not al- tions while giving required per- Delhi which was given to the BJP corporations is known for corruption lowed to speak in the debate. missions for buildings. "It's a very that has acted as a mother-in-law. and demanding bribes. A BJP coun- Party legislators displayed plac- painful day as we are discussing the The BJP is acting the same by de- cillor was caught red-handed by the ards at their seats, demanding the re- biggest scam in MCD. `2,500 crore manding `13,000 crore from the AAP. CBI for taking `10 lakh for construc- lease of financial dues of `13000 crore scam is bigger than the Commonwealth In the 2017 municipal polls, the BJP tion of a building," he added. to the civic bodies. Earlier in the day, Games scam. Even people on the street changed all its sitting councilors be- However, Leader of Opposition in AAP MLAs trooped into the well of the say there is corruption in MCD and cause people were unhappy with the assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri House raising slogans against the the same people say the Delhi gov- them," Bhardwaj said. termed the allegations of misappro- BJP-ruled MCDs as soon as the session ernment is honest," he said. Not afraid: Youths ink protest Icy winds, cloudy tattoos at Singhu border

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA machines, needles and stencils. It takes 30 minutes to com- Saturday, fog ahead New Delhi, Dec 18: The plete a tattoo, the artists say, whizzing of machines is al- aiming to complete around most inconspicuous amid the 200 such body arts for free in COLD WAVE IN DELHI cacophony of slogans, three days. speeches, claps and chatter, "The purpose is to send out but the crowd at the stall at- a message: the common man tracts eyeballs. is with the farmers," says Chetan Sood is busy giv- Sood, who runs 'Tattoo Club' ing a final touch to a tattoo on in Punjab's Ludhiana district. the arm of a Sikh youth, who The theme for the tattoos is has come from Hoshiarpur, agriculture. It depicts farmers Punjab, to the Singhu border harvesting crops, holding farm to protest against the Centre's equipment, tractor, among three contentious farm laws. others. Sood and his five assistants There are tattoos with slo- wanted to contribute gans too, such as 'kar har whichever way possible. maidan fateh' (win every bat- Therefore, the group decided tle), 'nishchay kar apni INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE letin. The city will witness 4-5 degree Celsius in maxi- to do what they know best. jeet karo' (emerge victorious partly cloudy sky Saturday mum temperatures during The six men reached the Delhi- with firm resolve) and New Delhi, Dec 18: The and shallow fog for the three subsequent three days till Haryana border on Friday 'nirbhau, nirvair' (not afraid, MET Friday sounded an or- subsequent days. December 24. morning carrying ink, tattoo no enemies). ange alert for the national According to the head of "Cold day to severe dold capital for two days till the India Meteorological day conditions very likely Sunday after icy winds blow- Department's regional fore- in some pockets over Punjab, ing from the snow-clad casting centre, Kuldeep Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi Himalayas brought down the Srivastava, the icy winds are and West Uttar Pradesh. city's mercury to nearly 3 blowing towards the national "Cold day conditions in iso- degrees Celsius. It will be a capital region from Jammu lated pockets over Jammu cloudy Saturday with fog and Kashmir and Himachal, division, Himachal Pradesh, causing trouble for traffic which had witnessed heavy Uttarakhand, east Uttar till Monday. snowfall on December 12. Pradesh, Rajasthan and west The IMD has four colour- Besides this, the whole Madhya Pradesh during next coded warnings as per the in- northern plains is in the grip 24 hours (till Saturday) and tensity of any weather sys- of a severe cold wave. decrease thereafter," IMD tem -- green, yellow, orange Navdeep Dahiya, founder of stated. and red. Orange alert is given Live Weather of India stated The IMD also issued alert to authorities to be prepared. that Halwara in Punjab for the ground frost over The Safdarjung recorded the lowest temper- Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Observatory, which provides ature at minus 0.6 degree Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, representative data, recorded Celsius, followed by Churu in Muzaffarabad, Himachal a minimum temperature of Rajasthan recoding minus Pradesh, Uttarakhand, 4.4 degrees Celsius, while 0.3 degree Celsius and Punjab, Haryana, Ayanagar and Lodhi Road Amritsar at 0.4 degree Chandigarh, west Uttar weather stations registered Celsius. Pradesh and Rajasthan dur- 3.5 and 3.8 degrees Celsius. According to the weather ing the next two days till The city is likely to record an- department, there will be no Sunday. Ground frost refers

other "severe" cold day Friday. significant change in mini- to the various coverings of

k y m c "Cold day to severe cold mum and maximum tem- ice produced by the direct day at a few places and cold peratures over parts of north- deposition of water vapour wave to severe cold wave con- west India for the next two to on objects and trees, whose ditions at many places. three days till Monday and surfaces have a tempera- Ground frost at isolated rise by 2-3 degree Celsius in ture below the freezing point places," stated IMD in its bul- minimum temperatures and of water. P8 GOA REVIVES ROPEWAY PROJECT SATURDAY | DECEMBER 19 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR The Central government The Goa Tourism Development must focus on resolving Corporation has revived a ropeway its standoff with farmers project over the Mandovi river, over three farm laws and stretching from the banks of the state keep other issues on hold capital Panaji to the picturesque village y ASHOK GEHLOT | RAJASTHAN CM

national of Reis Magos across the river

k y m c

of the day uote LADAKH STANDOFF Dissident MLA SC issues notice Tiwari makes U-turn Prime Minister Narendra INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Modi's government has India, China resume talks Kolkata, Dec 18: Within 24-hours discussed the to Kamra, Taneja agricultural reforms of his resignation, dissident with all the The talks were held under the framework of Working Mechanism for PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Trinamool Congress lawmaker stakeholders from the beginning. Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs Jitendra Tiwari made a U-turn Model laws were sent to the states New Delhi, Dec 18: The Supreme Friday night saying that he is not and discussions were held with the Court Friday issued notice in the going anywhere from the party. Chief Ministers PRESS TRUST OF INDIA criminal contempt of court cases Tiwari held a closed-door meet- against stand-up comedian Kunal ing with senior Trinamool leader PIYUSH GOYAL | RAILWAY MINISTER New Delhi, Dec 18: Resuming Kamra and cartoonist Rachita Arup Biswas and political strate- diplomatic talks on their military Taneja for posting scandalous gist Prashant Kishor at south standoff, India and China Friday tweets and cartoons against the Kolkata's Suruchi Sangha club. "It The agreed to continue working to- top court. was my mistake. There were some government is wards ensuring complete disen- Earlier, Attorney General K.K. misunderstandings. Whatever I hopeful of gagement of troops in all friction Venugopal had given his consent for said it was absolutely wrong on my resolving farmers' agitation against points along the Line of Actual filing contempt pleas against Kamra part. I am told that Didi was hurt three new farm laws Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh at and Taneja. A bench headed by at my gesture. I cannot do any- before the New Year the earliest. Justice Ashok Bhushan and com- thing that hurts Didi," Tiwari told and is continuing its informal At the virtual talks, the two sides prising Justices R. Subhash Reddy media after the meeting. dialogue with various groups to agreed that the next round of mil- and M.R. Shah said the AG in his Tiwari resigned from the post diffuse the crisis itary dialogue should be held at an letter dated November 12, 2020 had of chairman of the administrative early date so that they can work granted consent on the request of Earlier, Attorney board of the Asansol Municipal NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR | AGRICULTURE towards an early and complete dis- the applicant to proceed by way of Corporation on Thursday. He rep- MINISTER General K.K. Venugopal engagement of troops in accor- in this regard and that these dis- ness in various mountainous lo- initiating contempt proceedings resented Pandabeswar in the state dance with the existing bilateral cussions had also contributed to cations in eastern Ladakh in sub- against Kunal Kamra. had given his consent for Legislative Assembly. agreements and protocols, the ensuring stability on the ground," zero conditions as multiple rounds "Issue notice returnable within filing contempt "Jitendra Tiwari was, is and Himachal Ministry of External Affairs the MEA said. of talks between the two sides have six weeks. The respondent-con- will be with the Trinamool Pradesh will (MEA) said. It said both sides agreed to main- not yielded concrete outcome to temnor not to appear in person," pleas against Kamra Congress. He will fight against the celebrate 50 The talks were held under the tain close consultations at the diplo- resolve the standoff. China has also said the top court, which issued a BJP as a loyal soldier of Mamata years of achieving and Taneja framework of Working Mechanism matic and military level."They deployed an equal number of troops, similar direction in Taneja's case. Banerjee," said Arup Biswas, adding statehood on for Consultation and Coordination However, the top court dispensed that such small things may happen January 25, 2021 via agreed that the next round of sen- according to officials. virtual mode (WMCC) on India-China border af- ior commanders meeting should MEA spokesperson Anurag them from personal appearance. and brazenly condemn the Supreme in a big family. fairs. The MEA said the two sides be held at an early date so that both Srivastava on Thursday said the The plea against Kamra was Court of India and its judges by ex- Tiwari had resigned from the JAI RAM THAKUR | HIMACHAL CM reviewed the developments along sides can work towards early and two sides continue to maintain filed by law students Shrirang ercising what they believe is their post of Trinamool Congress' dis- the LAC since the last round of the complete disengagement of troops communication through diplomatic Katneshwarkar and Nitika Duhan, freedom of speech. trict president in West Burdwan. WMCC talks held on September along the LAC in accordance with and military channels and these and advocates Amey Abhay Sirsikar, "But under the Constitution, the He sent his resignation to SHORT TAKES 30. The military standoff erupted the existing bilateral agreements discussions have helped both sides Abhishek Sharan Raskar and freedom of speech is subject to the Trinamool Congress state president in early May. and protocols, and fully restore to enhance understanding of each Sattyendra Vinayak Muley. "The law of contempt and I believe that Subrata Bakshi. "The two sides agreed that based peace and tranquility," it said. other's positions. alleged contemnor (Kamra) has it is time that people understand that "Given the current situation, it Music teacher on the guidance provided by senior The talks came a day after India "It is our expectation that the the following of 1.7 million peo- attacking the Supreme Court of is difficult to work and I am step- leaders and the agreements reached hoped that further discussions be- further discussions will help both ple. The scandalous tweets of the India unjustifiedly and brazenly ping down from the post of chair- arrested between the two Foreign Ministers tween the two countries will help sides to achieve an agreement on alleged contemnor were seen by will attract punishment under the man of the administrative board of New Delhi: A music teacher and Special Representatives, they to achieve an agreement on a mu- a mutually acceptable solution for his followers and many of them Contempt of Courts Act, 1972," the Asansol Municipal Corporation. has been arrested for would continue to work towards tually acceptable solution for en- ensuring complete disengagement retweeted the same," read the plea. top court cited AG's response. We have been deprived of the smart allegedly harassing and ensuring complete disengagement suring complete disengagement in in all friction points along the LAC Citing Section 2 (c) (i) of In case of Taneja, the AG had said city. We have also been deprived of molesting his 23-year-old in all friction points along the LAC all friction points along the LAC in in the Western sector and full Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, the that he is satisfied that each one of the solid waste management sys- student, police said Friday. in the Western sector at the earli- eastern Ladakh. restoration of peace and tranquil- petitioners argued that this sec- the tweets with the cartoons at- tem," he wrote in his resignation let- The arrest was made after est," it said in a statement. India and China have held sev- ity as early as possible," he said. The tion is explicit and the tweets pub- tached to them is in contempt of the ter. Tiwari had alleged that Asansol the victim, who was doing "The two sides noted that the eral rounds of diplomatic and mil- eighth and last round of military lished by Kamra clearly showed Supreme Court. "Hence I give my has been deprived of many devel- her Diploma Honour in seventh and eighth rounds of sen- itary talks in the last few months talks had taken place on November he allegedly committed gross con- consent to initiate proceedings opment works. "I will personally Kathak at a centre in ior commanders meetings held on to resolve the standoff. Nearly 50,000 6 during which both sides broadly tempt of the apex court. Granting under the Contempt of Courts Act, meet Mamata didi and seek her Chanakyapuri, accused the October 12 and November 6 re- Indian Army troops are deployed discussed disengagement of troops consent, the AG had said that today 1971 with regard to each one of the apology. I will continue to work for 52-year-old teacher of spectively had in-depth discussions in a high state of combat readi- from specific friction points. people believe that they can boldly tweets," the AG had said. the Trinamool Congress," he added. harassing her, they said. According to the complainant, the accused -- a 'pakhawaj (rhythm WB Speaker rejects instrument) teacher at the FROZEN BEAUTY centre -- molested the victim COVID has spread Suvendu’s resignation of touching her inappropriately and also INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE harassed her by sending obscene messages on like wild fire: SC Kolkata, Dec 18: West Bengal WhatsApp. The matter came Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee to light on December 14 when while noting that right to health Friday said that he has not ac- the girl along with her is a fundamental right and it in- cepted the resignation tendered by mother approached officials cludes affordable treatment, said TMC MLA Suvendu Adhikari as of the Chanakyapuri police treatment has become costlier and it does not conform to the provi- station to register a is not affordable to common sions of the Constitution and the complaint him, police said. people at all. rules of the House. “Even if one survives from Banerjee noted that Adhikari did COVID-19, many times financially not hand over the resignation let- Woman buried and economically he is finished. ter to him personally, and main- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Therefore, either more and more tained that he wasn't aware if his alive in Jharkhand provisions are to be made by the move was "voluntary and gen- Dhanbad: A 35-year-old New Delhi, Dec 18: It is a “world state government and the local ad- uine". woman was buried alive after war” against COVID-19 and the un- ministration or there shall be cap The Speaker further said that being sucked into a crater precedented pandemic has spread on the fees charged by the private the legislator has been asked to ap- following land subsidence in like a “wild fire” due to lack of im- hospitals, which can be in exer- pear before him personally in his a colliery area of the Bharat plementation of guidelines and cise of the powers under the chamber on December 21 to make Coking Coal Limited in standard operating procedure (SoPs) Disaster Management Act,” said the a submission in the matter."Unless Jharkhand on Friday, police issued by authorities to contain it, bench, also comprising Justices R and until I am satisfied that the res- said. Sindri Deputy the Supreme Court said on Friday S Reddy and M R Shah, which was ignation is voluntary and gen- Superintendent of Police Ajit while expressing concern that the dealing the matter suo motu. uine, it is not possible for me to ac- A child looks at icicles hanging from trees as temperature dropped below zero, on the outskirts of Shopian in South Kumar said that the charred treatment for coronavirus was not “Due to unprecedented pan- cept the same in the light of the Kashmir, Friday PTI PHOTO body of the woman was affordable to the common people. demic, everybody in the world is suf- provisions of the Constitution of brought out from the fire The apex court, which suggested fering, one way or the other. It is a India and the rules of procedure hole, under Bastakola either more and more provisions world war against COVID-19. and conduct of business in West Industry Colliery, after a five- are to be made by the state govern- Therefore, there shall be government Bengal Legislative Assembly," he hour rescue operation. Guj man beats COVID after 113 days in hosp Underground fires have been ments and the local administrations public partnership to avoid world said. burning under the country's or there shall be cap on the fees war against COVID-19,” it said. Adhikari, who had earlier quit largest coalfield for over a charged by the private hospitals, The bench said fatigue of front- the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Ravindra Parmar tested posi- condition. Out of the 113 days century. The incident observed that states must act vigi- line health care workers, includ- submitted his resignation as MLA tive for coronavirus on August here, he was in ICU for 90 days."At occurred at 7.30 am after the lantly and work harmoniously with ing doctors and nurses, is also an at the Assembly secretariat on Ahmedabad, Dec 18: A 59-year- 26 and was admitted in a private one point of time, he had to be woman, a mother of three the Centre as safety and health of cit- issue as they are “already ex- December 16. The Speaker was old man was Friday discharged hospital in the Dholka area of given 75 litres of oxygen per minute children, was defecating in izens must be the first priority rather hausted physically and mentally not present in the House at that after a stay of 113 days in a city Ahmedabad. However, he had to for survival," Patel, who was pres- the open, police said. than any other considerations. due to tireless work for eight time. He quit the Trinamool hospital for COVID-19 treatment be shifted to the state-run Sola ent when Parmar was discharged, It said “strict and stern action” months” and some mechanism Congress (TMC) Thursday amid with Gujarat deputy chief minister civil hospital on August 28 after said. "This is the longest hospital should be taken against those who may be required to give them in- speculation that he is set to join the Nitin Patel claiming this is to be his condition deteriorated. stay for any COVID-19 patient in Shops gutted are violating guidelines and SoPs termittent rest. Advocating that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). possibly the longest spell of hos- "Ravindra Parmar's is a rare Gujarat, and, perhaps, even in the as they cannot be permitted to play states must work harmoniously The Speaker clarified that pitalisation for a coronavirus pa- case of recovery as he was brought country. Doctors have given him Jalpaiguri (WB): A major fire with the lives of others. A bench with the Centre, it said, “It is the Adhikari was still a TMC member tient in India. to Sola civil hospital in critical the finest treatment," said Patel. broke out at a market in West headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan time to rise to the occasion”. in the West Bengal Assembly. Bengal's Jalpaiguri district in the early hours of Friday, gutting at least 150 shops, officials said. The flames were spotted around 3 am at the Dhupguri market by a Covid vaccination: Can India deliver that shot to all? shopkeeper, they said. Six fire tenders were rushed to the spot but the firefighting INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE still a distant dream owing to fac- vaccinate 30 crore people – health- However, due to scarce data on the cine candidates as part of the man- operations could not be tors not in the control of the man- care workers, frontline workers Covid-19 vaccination and its mass- ufacturing agreements," according started for some time as New Delhi, Dec 18: As the wealthy ufacturers or the government. such as military professionals, po- level efficacy globally, nothing can to Duke University's 'Launch and there were no water bodies nations like the US and the UK Sanjay Rai, who is the principal lice force, disaster management be predicted at this crucial moment. Scale Speedometer'. nearby, officials said. begin vaccinating their public, the investigator (PI) of Covaxin trial, workers and people with existing dis- An analysis by Duke University's Dr Neha Gupta who is infectious road ahead for India does not look said Friday that the rollout of eases aged more than 60 years," 'Launch and Scale Speedometer', diseases specialist at Medanta very rosy as both Pfizer-BioNTech Covaxin may get delayed as the All Salve said. which is updated every two weeks, Hospital in Gurugram said that the and Moderna vaccines currently India Institute of Medical Sciences India has the world's largest im- shows India has made deals for 1.6 potency of vaccines depends upon Man dies making headlines are yet to reach (AIIMS), where its Phase-III human munization programme in the world billion doses of three global vac- the temperature at the storage level. Aurangabad: One person the country owing to a host of fac- clinical trial is underway, is strug- with beneficiary of more than 60 mil- cine candidates upon them being "Cold chain needs to be properly was killed Friday after a can tors including scarce supply, tricky gling to find takers of the trial shots. lion annually. According to Salve, ready and certified for use. maintained. The government needs y containing a chemical transport and an absence of proper However, Dr Harshal R Salve, India has also demonstrated out- Globally, 10.1 billion doses were to keep a designated staff for the

cold chain. Associate Professor at Centre for reach and decentralised delivery reserved even before any candidate mass vaccination of healthcare

k y m exploded while being c carried to a godown in Beed, For over 130 crore Indians, two Community Medicine at AIIMS of public services during general was approved for market, showed workers, elderly population and pa- some 125 kilometres from promising vaccines -- Astrazeneca told IANS on Friday that hopefully, elections. tion of individual-level vaccination. the data. "Countries with manu- tients with common comorbidities here, a police official said. and Oxford university developed we will see approval for an appro- "These experiences will help India However, administration of vac- facturing capacity, such as India like hypertension, COPD (chronic The incident took place and Serum Institute of India (SII)- priate vaccine in a month or so by roll out the Covid-19 vaccination at cine should be kept as a voluntary and Brazil, have been successful obstructive pulmonary disease), around 11:15 am in Masarat manufactured Covishield, and a competent regulatory authority. the mass level. The use of IT is cru- exercise and should not be made in negotiating large advance mar- diabetes and cardio-cerebrovascu- Nagar, he added. Covaxin by Bharat Biotech Ltd – are "In Phase 1, India is planning to cial in tracking and implementa- mandatory," Salve stressed. ket commitments with leading vac- lar disease," she said. There is need to ensure P9 "sanity" in the use of UTTARAKHAND CM SATURDAY | DECEMBER 19 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR the rapidly expanding COVID POSITIVE social media platforms, given Uttarakhand Chief the implications for social Minister Trivendra harmony, common good, peace Singh Rawat and national security tested positive for y M VENKAIAH NAIDU | Covid-19 Friday

national VICE PRESIDENT

k y m c

of the day uote SC GRANTS RELIEF TO BJP LEADERS Today the PM defends farm PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Roy, Vijayvargiya and Singh, two Party (BJP) leaving Trinmool range of a other BJP leaders Sourav Singh Congress party. mobile has New Delhi, Dec 18: The Supreme and Pawan Kumar Singh have crossed even the “I am an MP and these cases reach of a missile Court Friday granted interim pro- moved the apex court for protec- have been filed after I left TMC,” tection to five BJP leaders, includ- tion in cases lodged against them Rohatgi said, adding, “The first RAJNATH SINGH | laws, blasts Oppn ing Mukul Roy and MPs Kailash in the state. case against Arjun Singh was reg- DEFENCE MINISTER Vijayvargiya and Arjun Singh, in While granting protection to istered on March 24, 2019 after he PRESS TRUST OF INDIA criminal cases lodged against them these five leaders, the bench di- left the TMC”. in West Bengal and directed the rected the Ministry of Home The Vijayvargiya's counsel told the government Bhopal, Dec 18: Prime Minister state police not to take any coer- Affairs to submit in a sealed cover bench that the BJP leader is an MP moved Narendra Modi Friday stoutly de- cive action. a report regarding alleged scuf- from Madhya Pradesh and false forward to resolve fended the new farm laws, saying A bench headed by Justice Sanjay fle between TMC workers and se- cases have been lodged against him the issue through they were in the works for decades Kishan Kaul sought response from curity staff of West Bengal BJP in West Bengal. “I am an MP from talks. When farmers and those who are opposing these the West Bengal government on leader Kabir Shankar Bose, who Madhya Pradesh and just because were also satisfied laws now for gaining lost political five separate pleas filed by BJP lead- has filed a separate plea in the I am going to West Bengal due to that what the government was ground were once votaries of the ers alleging foisting of criminal apex court. some party works, false cases have saying was logical and genuine, same reforms. cases to deter them from political ac- During the hearing, senior ad- been filed against me,” those people who were indulging in The opposition parties were tivities and said interim protection Mukul Roy vocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing Vijayvargiya's counsel said. criminal conspiracy thought their against the new laws as they were from coercive action will continue for petitioner Arjun Singh said The BJP leaders have also sought game was going awry and they upset that he would get the credit, till the next date of hearing. Hrishikesh Roy posted the batch that 64 criminal cases have been filed investigation by an independent started misleading people Modi said, adding that he did not The bench also comprising of pleas for further hearing in the against the BJP leader in 2019 after agency into the cases registered MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI | UNION MINISTER seek any credit but nobody should Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and second week of January. Besides he had joined Bharatiya Janta against them in West Bengal. mislead farmers. Accusations such as the new laws will lead to the The West scrapping of Minimum Support plemented them,” Modi said. ICMR chief Bengal Price (MSP) for crops were blatant They dithered because "it was LIVING WITH COVID government's lies, the prime minister said, ad- not their priority", the prime min- move of opposing dressing farmers of Madhya ister alleged." I feel that they are COVID positive the transfer of three Pradesh through virtual mode. in pain because what they could IPS officers in the The government was willing to not do, Modi has done. They do not INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE state on central hold talks with farmers, the prime want Modi to get credit for it. deputation is not a good tradition, minister said, as the agitation Give credit to your manifesto and New Delhi, Dec 18: Indian and clashes between the Centre against the new farm laws at not to me. I just want the progress Council of Medical Research and states weaken the democracy Delhi's borders entered its 23rd day. of farmers, but stop misleading (ICMR) Director General PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL | UNION MINISTER "Even after all these government's them on the issue," he said. Balram Bhargava has been ad- efforts if anyone has any doubt "We are asking them again mitted to the All India Institute over the farm laws, we, with folded and again to point out problems of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) SHORT TAKES hands and heads bowed, are ready in the new farm laws, but they after he tested positive for for talks," he said. don't have any answer. Those Covid-19. Tea garden "The new agriculture laws have who have lost their political space The 59-year-old ICMR chief not been drafted overnight but in the country are misleading was admitted to AIIMS's official held political parties, agriculture ex- farmers that they will lose their Trauma Centre, a dedicated Siliguri: A tea garden official perts and progressive farmers lands," he said. Covid-19 facility, on December was arrested in West have demanded it for a long time," “When these parties were in 16, a hospital source said on Bengal's Jalpaiguri district Modi said. Farming in India power, they sat on the condition of anonymity. while a hunt is on for his should get modernized in the Swaminathan committee's re- Bhargava heads the apex colleague after an elephant changed global situation, he added, port on the farm sector as they medical body which is respon- was killed on coming in defending the contentious laws. did not want to give farmers sible for formulation, coordi- contact with a live wire "In the last 20-22 years, the higher MSP (which the report nation and promotion of bio- allegedly put up by them, Centre and the state govern- had recommended), Modi said,” medical research in India. It officials said Friday. Uday ments have deliberated on these targeting the Congress. is at the forefront of the Covid- Newar, the assistant agriculture reforms in detail. "In the changed global scenario, 19 outbreak management in the manager of the tea garden in Farmer bodies, agriculture sci- this should not be accepted. The country. the Banarhat area, was entists and farmers too were things (reform) which should Bhargava is on a three-year arrested in a raid by the Gorumara Wildlife Division continuously demanding them," have taken place 25 to 30 years ago deputation as the Director- and police on Thursday, Chief he said. have been done now. We have al- General of ICMR. Wildlife Warden VK Yadav “Farmers should ask the parties ready been late," he added. He is also the Secretary of said. The elephant was which are opposing the new laws He also accused the Congress the Department of Health electrocuted to death on why they advocated and prom- of not fulfilling its promise of Research, a division under the December 4, he said. ised similar measures in their loan waiver for farmers in A man dressed as Santa Claus sprays disinfectant inside a church ahead of Christmas, amid coronavirus pandemic, Union Ministry of Health and election manifestos but never im- Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. in Ahmedabad, Friday PTI PHOTO Family Welfare. Five killed Ambala (Haryana): Five Gold goes people were killed and one India to produce 300mn sustained serious injuries in a ‘missing’ from Centre, Bengal hold talks head-on collision between a three-wheeler and a truck Customs custody The meeting was first scheduled for December 14, days after an attack on BJP president doses of Sputnik V vaccine here Friday, police said. The J P Nadda's convoy in West Bengal, but had to be cancelled after state Chief Secretary injured person, whose PRESS TRUST OF INDIA INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE condition was critical, was Alapan Bandyopadhyay and DGP Virendra refused to travel to the national capital taken to PGIMER, Chandigarh, Jamnagar, Dec 18: Gold worth New Delhi/Moscow, Dec 18: police said. All the deceased `1.10 crore has gone "missing" PRESS TRUST OF INDIA plain the law-and-order situation in visit to the state. India will produce about 300 mil- belonged to nearby villages of from the custody of the Customs West Bengal which they did, a home The Centre and the West Bengal lion doses of the Russian Sputnik Naraingarh. department's office here in Gujarat, New Delhi, Dec 18: Union Home ministry official said. government have been at logger- V coronavirus vaccine in 2021, police said Friday. Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla dis- The home secretary is also be- heads since the attack that took the head of the Russian Direct The Jamnagar police have lodged cussed the law-and-order situation lieved to have asked the two offi- place in the Lok Sabha constituency Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Earlier Dmitriev said that pro- Man arrested an FIR against unidentified staffers in West Bengal with two top civil cers about the political violence of Chief Minister Mamata Dmitriev said in an interview duction of Sputnik V began in New Delhi: A 31-year-old man of the Customs department, which and police officers of the state in the state and the steps taken to Banerjee's nephew Abhishek with a TV channel. other countries, in particular in was arrested for allegedly first conducted an internal probe, through a video-conference on check it. Banerjee. "In India, we have agreements India, Korea, Brazil, and China. misappropriating funds to the that lasted for four years. The FIR Friday, after their refusal to come The attack on Nadda's convoy After the attack, the home min- with four large manufacturers. Registered by Russia on August tune of `300 crore availed as was lodged under the IPC section to New Delhi despite two repeated and the state government's refusal istry summoned three IPS officers ...India will produce about 300 11, Sputnik V became the world's loans and credit facilities 309, which deals with criminal summonses, officials said. to relieve three IPS officers sum- -- Bholanath Pandey (SP, Diamond million doses or more of the vac- first coronavirus vaccine. from various banks and breach of trust by public servant, The meeting was first scheduled moned for central deputation were Harbour), Praveen Tripathi (DIG, cine for us next year," he was The vaccine was developed by financial institutions, police at the Jamnagar 'B' division po- for December 14, days after an at- also understood to have figured in Presidency Range) and Rajeev quoted as saying to Rossiya 24 the Gamaleya National Research said Friday. Vaibhav Sharma, lice station on Thursday evening, tack on BJP president J P Nadda's the meeting, another official said. Mishra (ADG, South Bengal) -- for TV channel by TASS news agency Center of Epidemiology and Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of said police inspector, Kunal Gadhe. convoy in West Bengal, but had to The chief secretary and the DGP deputations at the Centre. The three on Thursday. RDIF is Russia's Microbiology. Its post-registra- a Gurgaon-based company "The gold (in form of articles) be- be cancelled after state Chief were called by the home ministry were responsible for Nadda's se- sovereign wealth fund. tion trials began in Moscow on engaged in car dealership, longed to the Bhuj Customs division Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay on December 14 after receiving a re- curity during his visit to the state. Dmitriev noted that out of 110 September 7, with volunteers re- was arrested on Thursday in and was kept at the Jamnagar of- and Director General of Police port on December 11 from West However, the state government production sites that negotiated ceiving the first vaccine on connection with a 2018 case fice after the 2001 earthquake. "After (DGP) Virendra refused to travel to Bengal Governor Jagdeep refused to relieve them citing a production of Sputnik V, RDIF September 9. A total of 40,000 peo- registered against him and taking back the custody in 2016, the national capital. Dhankhar on the law-and-order sit- shortage of senior police officers. chose 10 that meet its require- ple are involved in the programme. the other directors of the firm the Bhuj office learned that 2,156.722 The two officers were again called uation in the state. On Thursday, the home ministry ments. "The Russian Sputnik V will RDIF supports the development of for misappropriation of bank gram of gold worth `1.10 crore was on Thursday for a meeting on Friday. Dhankhar was asked to submit sent a fresh missive to the West be actively produced in the world Russia's Covid-19 vaccine by the money, they said. missing. "Following an inquiry, the They again refused to come but of- a report after Nadda's convoy was Bengal government, asking it to and we see that this is built on a Gamaleya Center and is invest- Customs department has lodged fered to attend the meeting through attacked with stones and bricks in immediately relieve the three IPS safe platform based on the human ing in mass production of the vac- an FIR against unidentified staffers," a video-conference. They were asked West Bengal's Diamond Harbour on officers, saying they were already adenovirus," Dmitriev said. cine by RDIF portfolio companies. Man shot dead said Gadhe. by the Union home secretary to ex- December 10 during his two-day given new assignments. Mau (UP): The husband of a village head in Mau district of Uttar Pradesh was shot dead by some people Friday apparently over an old Over 4.5 cr people will be forced to migrate from homes by 2050 enmity, police said. The incident took place in PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Network South Asia. Quoting fig- The report released of household chores, agricultural Baduagodam village in the ures, the report claimed that 4.5 NEW REPORT activities, look after children and Sarai Lakhansi area here, New Delhi, Dec 18: Over 4.5 crore crore from India will be forced to mi- Friday, estimates that elderly and manage livestock. Women they said."Shailendra Yadav people will be forced to migrate grate from their homes by 2050 due climate migration will who migrate to urban settlements are was shot by Banti Singh, from their homes in India by 2050 to climate disasters. often then forced to take up work in Satyam Singh and Shiva in due to climate disasters including "Political failure to limit global treble in South Asia precarious settings where workers' the village. He was rushed to floods, droughts and cyclones, three warming to below 2 degrees Celsius alone, a region badly rights violations are rife," it said. the hospital in serious times more than the present fig- as per the Paris agreement goal is Sanjay Vashist, Director, Climate condition and was declared ures, according to a new report. already driving 18 million climate affected by climate Action Network South Asia said, brought dead there," In 2020, the number of people migrants from their homes in 2020," disasters, including "South Asia is geographically vul- Superintendent of Police displaced in India is 1.4 crore, the report said. nerable to climate disasters and is Sushil Dhule said. it said. The report released on Friday, floods, droughts, regularly lashed with floods and The report 'Costs of climate in- estimates that climate migration typhoons and cyclones cyclones, but poverty and envi- action: displacement and distress mi- will treble in South Asia alone, a re- ronmental injustice are also de- Two detained gration' assessed climate-fuelled gion badly affected by climate dis- termining factors in this climate displacement and migration across asters, including floods, droughts, greater responsibility to reduce their migration crisis. Pratapgarh (UP): A 14-year-old five South Asian countries -- typhoons and cyclones. The re- to adapt to climate change and re- said, "We are facing melting gla- emissions and support South Asian "South Asian leaders must join

y girl was allegedly raped by two teenagers in Uttar Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan search was undertaken by Bryan cover from climate disasters. ciers in Nepal, rising seas in India countries in cutting emissions and forces and prepare plans for the

and Sri Lanka -- and calculates a dev- Jones, one of the authors of the in- It recommended a holistic ap- and Bangladesh, cyclones and in- dealing with climate impacts. The protection of displaced people. They

k y m Pradesh's Pratapgarh district, c police said Friday. The incident astating likelihood of over 6 crore augural Groundswell Report on in- proach that places the onus on rich hospitable temperatures. human cost of inaction is too high," must step up and invest in univer- took place in Lalganj area on people being homeless and dis- ternal climate migration in 2018. countries to provide support and Climate change is increasingly he said. The research reveals that in sal and effective social protection the night of December 15 and placed by 2050 in South Asia alone. The report called for strong lead- urges developing countries to scale forcing people to flee their homes all five countries, women are left measures, resilience plans and green the boys, aged 15 and 16, were It is based on a study conducted ership and ambition from devel- up efforts to protect people from in search of safety and new means dealing with the negative fallout infrastructure to respond to the cli- detained on Thursday, SP by International agencies ActionAid oped countries to cut emissions climate impacts. Harjeet Singh, to provide for their families. from climate migration. mate crisis and help those who have Anurag Arya said. International and Climate Action and support for developing countries Global Climate Lead at ActionAid, "Rich countries need to take "They are left behind to take care been forced to move," he said. SL ENDORSED AS VICE-CHAIR OF P10 As for the origin SATURDAY | DECEMBER 19 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR (of coronavirus), INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION there are a lot of rumours. Sri Lanka has been endorsed as the Vice- I would not like to talk Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association about them all while (IORA) Council of Ministers from 2021 to addressing the country 2023 and will take over the position from and the whole world 2023 to 2025, e Foreign Ministry in international VLADIMIR PUTIN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT

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k y m Colombo said in a statement Friday c of the day uote For years, the Pentagon sits on racial discrimination data If no REUTERS asked in a video played at a Pentagon is diverse in lower ranks but largely withheld for so long. Information Act request, the agreement (on town hall September 24. white and male at the top. Maryland Rep. Anthony Brown, Department of Defense said the Brexit trade Washington, Dec 18: Army On the other end of the question Apparently unbeknownst to deal) could be a retired Army Reserve colonel and survey data constituted “informa- reached, the UK and Sergeant Major Das’Chara Champ were some of the most senior lead- Colon-Lopez, who responded only the only member of the tion of a pre-decisional, deliberative the EU would part as couldn’t have known that the answer ers in the US military: Then- indirectly to Champ, the Defense Congressional Black Caucus on the nature.” friends, with the UK to her question about racial dis- Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Department not only carries out House Armed Services Committee, If released, the Pentagon asserted trading with the EU on Australian- crimination survey data was sit- Army General Mark Milley, the granular surveys about discrimi- said the failure to release the data it could “reasonably be expected style terms ting in an office somewhere in the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of nation but has been legally-required was troubling. to interfere with the government’s vast Defense Department Staff, and Milley’s senior enlisted to do so since the 1990s. The last “It concerns me tremendously,” deliberative process.” BORIS JOHNSON | UK PRIME MINISTER bureaucracy. advisor, Ramon Colon-Lopez. Virtual survey of the active duty force, con- Brown said, adding Congress had Still, the data is already so old that Few people do. town halls like this have been a ducted every four years, was for data, including through a Freedom established a clear reporting re- the Pentagon is now in the awk- “Has there been any kind of sur- way for the Pentagon’s top brass fiscal year 2017. of Information Act request. It has quirement and the public had a ward position of having to start You (migrant vey done on the perceived level of to address concerns in 2020 about However, the Defence Department also not released a separate report right to know. planning for another survey in the workers) are racism or racial discrimination in racial discrimination in a military denied repeated requests from about the 2017 survey data or clearly In its final response to Reuters this ongoing 2021 fiscal year, which ends welcomed the Army,” Champ, who is Black, - America’s largest employer - which members of our Reuters to release the 2017 survey explained why the data has been month, rejecting the Freedom of September 30. society. If you fall ill, we will make sure you get medical TRANSITION TROUBLES care LEE HSIEN LOONG | SINGAPORE PRIME Khalistan is Pak project: Canadian report MINISTER Biden’s bond with INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE the Pakistan Army since 1947. Highlighting the logical fallacy We are willing Ottawa, Dec 18: In an eye-opening of the Khalistan project, Milewski to discuss any report, Terry Milewski, one of reveals how separatist Sikhs com- issue (with the Canada’s veteran journalists, has Capitol Hill tested US), what we are plain loudly and properly about not willing to warned that the Khalistan project the massacre of several thousand negotiate and what is sponsored by Pakistan and it is Sikhs by Hindus in 1984, but do not ASSOCIATED PRESS But taken together, the slights and we will not give in detrimental to the national security hold rallies to demand justice for at slip-ups of Biden’s interactions on is the revolution, socialism and of not only India but Canada as least a quarter-million Sikhs mas- Washington, 18: President-elect Joe with Congress leave the impres- our sovereignty well. sacred by Muslims in 1947 in the Biden brings more Capitol Hill ex- sion his team is misreading the An award winning journalist, name of Islam during the Partition perience than any President in Capitol Hill audience he’ll be relying MIGUEL DIAZ-CANEL | CUBAN PRESIDENT Milewski reported from 52 coun- of India. decades, but his transition has on for legislative outcomes. tries during four decades as a cor- The Milewski report claims that stumbled in ways large and small, And it calls into question one of respondent for Canada's most the western democracies with large exposing the challenges of navi- the incoming president's most prized SHORT TAKES watched CBC TV News. Sikh communities like Canada, the gating a Congress that is a differ- attributes – his presumed ability to He was CBC’s first Middle East UK and the US are aware of this ab- ent place than when he last work with an often unruly Congress. bureau chief and also covered at surdity and therefore, skeptical of served in 2009. Biden last walked the marbled halls Five killed in US least three former US administra- the Khalistan referendum, planned He rolled out an almost all-white as a senator more than a decade tions of Ronald Reagan, George Terry Milewski, one of Canada’s The Milewski report published by for November 2020. national security team when al- ago. Only one-third of the senators winter storm H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. veteran journalists, has warned Macdonald Laurier Canada’s government has al- lies were expecting diversity. He with whom he served remain in Washington: At least five In 1985, he covered the Air India that the Khalistan project is Institutereveals how Pakistan ready said it won’t recognise it. filled top posts with familiar office, forcing the president-elect people died after a massive bombing in which 329 people were sponsored by Pakistan and it is launched the Khalistan Questioning the Khalistan ref- Washington hands rather than to create new relationships. winter storm hit the US killed aboard from Montreal to detrimental to the national insurgency using Indian Sikhs in erendum, the veteran journalist in newcomers. His team clumsily “A strong belief that my dad Northeast this week, the Heathrow. He has chased that story security of not only India but Indian Punjab to avenge its defeat his report has asked why the sep- floated some names and retracted drilled into my head: First im- Weather Channel reported. In for the last 35 years, covering the en- Canada as well in the Indo-Pak 1971 war aratist Sikhs seek India’s “occu- others for the Cabinet. pressions are lasting, and you don't New York state, two deaths tire investigation and inquiry into pation” of Indian Punjab, but never None of the setbacks has been po- get a second chance to make a first connected to the storm were the case. Ottawa, reveals how Pakistan Army and consequently helped it asked Pakistan to end its occupation litically devastating. In fact, key impression,” Rep. James Clyburn, reported, Xinhua news Milewski retired as CBC’s senior launched the Khalistan insurgency to liberate from West Pakistan. of Pakistani Punjab. Republicans are reaching out for the highest-ranking Black law- agency quoted Governor correspondent in 2016, returning oc- using Indian Sikhs in Indian Punjab Interestingly, the report points out Majority of Sikhs, the report personal calls with Biden, and maker in Congress and a top Biden Andrew Cuomo as saying casionally as a guest host on the net- to avenge its own defeat in the how Pakistan viewed the Khalistan points out, are happy with India Democrats are excited about the ally, said in an interview Thursday. Thursday. Shocking photos work's Power and Politics. Indo-Pak 1971 war. project as a strategic buffer and and those who live in Indian Punjab skilled and savvy professionals Clyburn said people were “rais- showed at least 66 vehicles, The Milewski report published India had intervened in East how a independent Khalistan would even cheer for their regional gov- poised to join the administration ing hell” over what he called the including 11 passenger ones, by Macdonald Laurier Institute, Pakistan (Bangladesh) to stop the end India's land access to Kashmir ernment headed by Captain as it battles the Covid-19 crisis and “herky-jerky” rollout of the ini- were involved in a pileup on a reputed think tank based in genocide perpetrated by Pakistani to north, another key interest of Amarinder Singh. withering economy. tial, predominantly white Cabinet. Interstate 80 in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, Wednesday. One person was killed and several others FOR A CAUSE US to revise Covid were injured in the pileup. Iran builds new nuclear vax guidance after Abducted boys facility amid US tensions allergic reactions released AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Katsina (Nigeria): Over 300 ASSOCIATED PRESS Nigerian schoolboys were Washington, Dec 18: The US released Thursday after Dubai, Dec 18: Iran has begun Food and Drug Administration being kidnapped in an attack construction on a site at its un- (FDA) has said it was working claimed by Boko Haram, derground nuclear facility at Fordo with Pfizer to revise a fact sheet officials said, although it was amid tensions with the US over its for recipients of the Pfizer- unclear if any more remained with their captors. The atomic programme, satellite pho- BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine after assault last Friday on a rural tos obtained Friday by The two people had allergic reactions. school in Kankara, Katsina Associated Press show. The two people, both health state in northwest Nigeria, Iran has not publicly acknowl- workers, were vaccinated in Alaska was initially blamed on edged any new construction at for Nonproliferation Studies at the and one of them had a serious or criminals, known as bandits, Fordo, whose discovery by the West Middlebury Institute of International “anaphylactic” reaction resulting who have terrorised the in 2009 came in an earlier round of Studies who studies Iran. in hospitalization. region for years. But Tuesday brinkmanship before world powers Iran’s mission to the United Doran Fink, deputy director of Boko Haram, the brutal struck the 2015 nuclear deal with Nations did not immediately re- the FDA's division of vaccines jihadist group behind the Aquarist Felipe Luna dressed in a Santa Claus costume swims inside a tank at the AquaRio aquarium in Rio de Janeiro, Tehran. spond to a request for comment. The said: “All of these individuals were abduction of 276 schoolgirls Brazil, Saturday to raise awareness of the importance of protecting marine life, staff dressed as Santa Claus will dive While the purpose of the build- International Atomic Energy treated with appropriate medical in Chibok in 2014, claimed daily to feed the sharks until Christmas Day PTI PHOTO ing remains unclear, any work at Agency, whose inspectors are in intervention and thankfully, all responsibility for the raid. Fordo likely will trigger new con- Iran as part of the nuclear deal, also are recovered or recovering.” cern in the waning days of the did not immediately respond to a Trump administration before the request for comment. The IAEA UNHCR rescues Airstrikes kill 30 militants in Afghan inauguration of President-elect as of yet has not publicly disclosed Joe Biden. Already, Iran is building if Iran informed it of any con- 126 immigrants INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Qarabagh district to storm security No security personnel or civilians at its Natanz nuclear facility after struction at Fordo. Tripoli: The UN Refugee Agency checkpoints but the security forces' were harmed in the attack, a mysterious explosion in July Construction on the Fordo site (UNHCR) said that 126 illegal Kabul, Dec 18: At least 30 militants planes attacked the gathering in the Jumazada said. there that Tehran described as a sab- began in late September. Satellite immigrants were rescued off were killed in an airstrike target- wee hours of Friday, killing 30 on There have so far been no com- otage attack. images obtained from Maxar the coast of Libya. Up to “126 ing a gathering of Taliban fighters the spot,” provincial government ments made by the Taliban mili- “Any changes at this site will be Technologies by the AP show the “We anticipate that there may persons among them eight Afghanistan’s Ghazni province spokesman Wahidullah Jumazada tants who are active in parts of carefully watched as a sign of where construction taking place at a north- be additional reports, which we will women and 28 children were Friday, a government official said. told Xinhua. the Ghazni province with the Iran's nuclear programme is west corner of the site, near the holy rapidly investigate.” returned to Libya this morning “A group of Taliban insurgents Ten more insurgents were in- Ghazni city as its capital, 125 km headed,” said Jeffrey Lewis, an ex- Shiite city of Qom some 90 kilo- He added that US authorities, in- after their boat was rescued/ had gathered in Qarsi area of jured in the raid, the official added. south of Kabul. pert at the James Martin Center meters southwest of Tehran. cluding the Centers for Disease intercepted at sea”, the UNHCR Control and Prevention, were in- said in a Twitter post . vestigating the two cases and work- Several hundred immigrants, ing with Britain to better under- mostly Africans, chose to cross ONE NIGHT IN WUHAN stand two similar cases that the Mediterranean from Libya occurred there. “While the total- towards Europe, due to the ity of data at this time continues state of insecurity and to support vaccinations under the chaos in the North African Covid-19’s original epicentre re-learns how to party Pfizer EUA (emergency use au- nation following the fall of former leader Muammar thorisation), without new re- Gaddafi in 2011. strictions, these cases underscore NIGHTLIFE IN WUHAN IS BACK IN FULL SWING ALMOST SEVEN MONTHS AFTER THE CITY LIFTED ITS STRINGENT LOCKDOWN the need to remain vigilant during the early phase of the vaccina- REUTERS night out crowd-surfed, ate street of China’s 4,634 recorded Covid-19 tion campaign,” Fink said. Rickshaw bomb food and packed the city’s night- deaths occurred in the industrial city. To this end, he said, “FDA is kills 15 kids Wuhan, Dec 18: In a crowded clubs as they looked to make up Students, musicians, artists and working with Pfizer to further re- Wuhan beer hall, Zhang Qiong for lost time. young workers - the backbone of vise the fact sheets and prescrib- Kabul: A bomb rigged to a wipes birthday cake from her face The revival of the city’s hard- the city's nightlife scene - told sto- ing information for their vaccines rickshaw killed at least 15 after a food fight with her friends. hit nightlife economy offers a ries of being stuck in their homes to draw attention to CDC guidelines children and wounded 20 “After experiencing the first wave glimpse into a post-pandemic for months, many using the op- for post vaccination monitoring others in a Taliban-controlled of epidemic in Wuhan and then lifestyle that many hope will be- portunity to prepare for a time and management of immediate area in eastern Afghanistan the liberation, I feel like I’m living come a reality in 2021, after the when the city would recover. allergic reactions.” Friday, a provincial official a second life,” says Zhang, 29, who global rollout of Covid-19 vaccines. “Some of my new music will def- The revision will include the said, as violence in the war- works in a textiles shop in the cen- weary country continued to Wuhan hasn’t reported a new lo- initely be about the pandemic time,” current warning for people who surge. The bomb went off tral Chinese city that was the orig- cally transmitted case of the disease said Wang Xinghao, frontman of have a history of allergic reac- after a man driving a inal epicentre of Covid-19. since May 10, after undergoing one Wuhan pop rock band Mad Rat, tions to the vaccine’s ingredients

Outside, maskless partygoers of the strictest lockdowns worldwide. which drew a crowd of over 100 to avoid getting the shot for now.

k y m motorized rickshaw entered c a village in the Gilan district spill onto the streets, smoking and The revival of the city’s hard-hit nightlife offers a glimpse into a post-pandemic The city of 11 million was shut off people to a local venue on a recent It will also include the warn- to sell goods and was soon playing street games with toy ma- lifestyle from the rest of China in a surprise Wednesday night. ing that facilities where vaccines surrounded by kids, chine guns and balloons. Nightlife overnight lockdown beginning He said one of the new songs are being administered should according to Wahidullah in Wuhan is back in full swing al- the city's young partygoers are em- the world reeling under a resur- January 23, with road blocks erected was inspired by the three months ensure that medical treatment for Jumazada, spokesman for the most seven months after the city bracing the catharsis. In scenes gence of the pandemic, young and planes, trains and buses barred he spent living in close quarters managing serious allergic reac- Ghazni provincial governor. lifted its stringent lockdown and unimaginable in many cities around Wuhan residents during a recent from entering the city. Almost 3,900 with his mother. tions is immediately available. We are going TATA TO BE HONOURED P11 through one of the SATURDAY | DECEMBER 19 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR biggest digital Veteran industrialist Ratan Tata transformations in the history will be honoured by the Indo- of fintech and the adoption Israel Chambers of Commerce has been accelerated further for promoting innovation that amid the pandemic supports sustainability and HARSHIL MATHUR | peace in the region, including business CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, RAZORPAY

with the Palestinians

k y m c of the day uote ‘India Inc’s foreign investments stand at $12.25bn’ US to blacklist dozens Given the fact that lot of PRESS TRUST OF INDIA followed by manufacturing at $3.45 of Chinese cos: Report people lost their jobs, some had billion, agriculture and mining to take salary cuts, Mumbai, Dec 18: Corporate India ($1.90 billion) and wholesale, retail The move is seen as the latest in President Donald has invested $12.25 billion overseas some industries trade and hotels ($ 1.73 billion). Trump’s effort to cement his tough-on-China legacy were badly affected during the first eight months of Destination-wise, the US topped that will have some impact on the current fiscal, most of which has the list by attracting $2.36 billion, delinquency and portfolio gone into the firms’ wholly-owned followed by Singapore ($2.07 bil- collections. But these numbers are subsidiaries in the US, Singapore lion), the Netherlands ($1.50 bil- much lower than what we had or the Netherlands, according to lion), British Virgin Islands ($1.37 anticipated data collated by Care Ratings. billion) and Mauritius ($1.30 bil-

SUMIT BALI | In the whole of FY20, total foreign lion). These five countries ac- HEAD OF RETAIL LENDING, AXIS BANK direct investment (FDI) by domes- counted for nearly 70 per cent of tic companies was $13 billion, while total FDI outflows from the country. FDI inflows had hit a record $76 As much as 76% or $9.25 billion Addressing billion, according to the ratings of the total $12.25 billion was pumped climate agency. into wholly-owned subsidiaries and change is an Of the total $12.25 billion out- the balance $3 billion into joint ven- urgent global ward FDI during April-November tures. priority and one that this fiscal, the actual outflow was In the whole of FY20, at $76 billion, which after adjusting Leading the companies’ chart we think we can do $6.35 billion, of which $2.97 billion for repatriation of around $18 bil- was ONGC Videsh, which invested a better job of was through equities and $3.38 bil- total FDI by domestic lion, meant $56 billion of FDI, which $1.85 billion in various oil fields. accelerating progress on—starting lion in loan commitments and the companies was $13 was the highest achieved on record. The second was JSW Steel which REUTERS ties to the Chinese military, in- now—not decades from now balance $5.90 billion was in the billion, while FDI In FY20, around $13 billion was invested $865 million, followed by cluding some helping it construct SCOTT STRAZIK | CEO, GE GAS POWER form of guarantees, the agency invested outside, which was the Haldia Petrochemicals ($599 mil- Washington, Dec 18: The United and militarize artificial islands in said quoting RBI data. inflows had hit a second successive year of double- lion), HCL Technologies ($587 mil- States (US) is set to add dozens of the South China Sea, as well as As against this, during the first digit overseas investment since lion), Mahindra & Mahindra ($551 Chinese companies, including the some involved in alleged human The real five months of the current fiscal, record $76 billion FY13. But the peak was $19 billion million), Adani Properties ($391 country’s top chipmaker SMIC, to rights violations, the sources said. estate sector total FDI inflows rose to $35.73 bil- in FY09 and $18 billion in FY08. million), Lupin ($382 million), a trade blacklist Friday, two people The Trump administration has has been lion, the highest-ever for the pe- driven by the string of deals that From a sectoral point of view, Piramal Enterprises ($312 million), familiar with the matter told Reuters often used the entity list - which now working on wafer riod, and 13% higher than same Reliance Industries clinched for its 90% of the money invested overseas Cadila Healthcare ($222 million), Thursday. includes more than 275 China- thin margins and is period in FY20 when it stood at telecom and retail arms. was in financials, insurance and Infosys ($221 million) and Tata Steel The move, which has not pre- based firms and affiliates - to hit key battling unsold $31.60 billion. This was primarily For the full FY20, inflows stood business services ($3.89 billion), at $200 million. viously been reported, is seen as Chinese industries. inventory on one the latest in President Donald These include telecoms equip- hand and unfinished projects due to Trump’s effort to cement his tough- ment giants Huawei Technologies lack of funds on the other. With a SELF-RELIANT INDIA on-China legacy. It comes just Co and 150 affiliates, and ZTE stagnant demand, developers have weeks before Democratic Corp over sanction violations, as not increased the prices and are UK, US among top 5 employers for President-elect Joe Biden is set well as surveillance camera maker selling projects at affordable rates ‘MSME sector can to take office January 20. Hikvision over suppression of JAXAY SHAH | CHAIRMAN, CREDAI play crucial role in The Commerce Department is China’s Uighur minority. Indian tech contractors: Survey expected to add around 80 addi- FRAYING TIES realising the vision’ tional companies and affiliates Shares in SMIC, formally the SHORT TAKES AGENCIES attracting and retaining a highly- to the so-called entity list, nearly Semiconductor Manufacturing skilled Indian workforce in the con- all of them Chinese. International Corp, fell 5.2% in Mumbai, Dec 18: The United tracting market place. China’s foreign ministry said Hong Kong Friday, while its Bank credit Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Further, it said since March this that if true, the blacklisting would Shanghai-listed shares declined grows by 5.73% the United States and South Africa year there was a staggering 610% be evidence of US oppression of 1.8%. The benchmark indices in are among the top countries at- growth in job postings for IT con- Chinese companies and that the two markets were down less Mumbai: Bank credit grew by tracting and retaining high-skilled tractors across the Philippines, Beijing would continue to take than 1%. SMIC has already been 5.73% to `105.04 lakh crore Indian workers in the contracting Netherlands, Nigeria, Canada, “necessary measures” to protect in Washington’s crosshairs. while deposits increased by market place, says a survey. Kenya and Brazil. their rights. In September, the Commerce 11.34% to `145.92 lakh crore The survey titled 'Global Demand ketplace in India. IT sector tops the charts with “We urge the US to cease its Department mandated that sup- in the fortnight ended for Indian IT Contractors' has been Due to the pandemic, many busi- 48% hiring of the contractual work- mistaken behaviour of unwar- pliers of certain equipment to the December 4, the RBI data done by contractor hiring platform nesses are going online to offer force. It is followed by insurance ranted oppression of foreign com- company apply for export licenses showed. In the fortnight PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Techfynder that a majority of com- their products and services, which (18%), banking and finance (16%), panies,” ministry spokesman after concluding there was an “un- ended December 6, 2019, panies from these regions on the has further increased the demand telecommunications (12%) and Wang Wenbin told a regular news acceptable risk” that equipment bank credit had stood at New Delhi, Dec 18: Union platform have shown an interest for IT contractors in roles such as pharmaceuticals (6%), the survey conference in Beijing Friday. supplied to it could be used for `99.35 lakh crore and deposits at `131.06 lakh Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi in hiring for core domains that in- software engineers, senior java de- said. "The IT contractual job mar- SMIC and the Commerce military purposes. crore. In the previous Friday said the micro, small and clude cloud, cyber and digitisation. velopers, cyber security engineers, ket has always seen good traction. Department did not immediately Last month, the Defense fortnight ended November medium enterprises (MSMEs) sec- The findings are based on the data scientists, web developers, and However, the growth for contrac- respond to requests for comment. Department added the company 20, credit grew by 5.82% to tor can play a crucial role in re- survey of 52,000 contractors from UI/UX designers, it noted. tors in India has only been exem- The designations by the to a blacklist of alleged Chinese `104.34 lakh crore and alising the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar across the country between January As per the survey, the UK, Ireland, plified during the pandemic, which Commerce Department are ex- military companies, effectively deposits by 10.89% to `to Bharat' or self-reliant India. and December 2020, to find out the Netherlands, the US, and South massively impacted the global pected to name some Chinese com- banning US investors from buying `143.70 lakh crore. The MoS for MSMEs said the trends in the contractual job mar- Africa are the top five countries job market. panies that Washington says have its shares starting late next year. government fully understands the importance and contribution of MSMEs for the nation, and is fully Retail inflation for IT stocks gain committed to support the growth up to 3% of the sector to reach its full po- FICCI suggests rationalising of GST slabs agri labourers eases tential. New Delhi: IT stocks were in Emphasising that the strength INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE mended the government to abolish demand Friday rising up to to 6% in November of Indian supply chains should the anti-profiteering provision in 3% amid better-than- FY22 BUDGET be utilised to full capacity, Sarangi New Delhi, Dec 18: As the Finance expected results from the GST law. Accenture Plc. Shares of said the MSME sector can play a Ministry prepares for the upcom- "Given that the tenure of National Infosys gained 2.64%, Wipro "crucial role" in realising the vi- ing Union Budget for the FY21-22, Anti-Profiteering Authority was jumped 1.89%, MindTree sion of a "self-reliant India". it has been speaking to several initially prescribed for a two-year 1.58%, HCL Technologies Addressing a virtual confer- stakeholders; industry body FICCI period and with GST law largely 1.32% and TCS 0.87% on the ence organised by Assocham, the has come up with a number of sug- been settled, it is recommended BSE. Following gain in these minister said, "The MSME sector gestions, including support for in- that the determination of prices counters, the BSE plays a pivotal role in the growth frastructure projects and ratio- should be left to the market forces Information Technology of the nation. Corona, because of nalisation of GST slabs. and the provision of anti-profi- index gained 1.70% to close which lockdown had to be en- The industry body has asked teering in the GST law should be dis- at 23,226.73. forced, gave a massive blow to the government to incentivise invest- continued with prospective effect." industry including MSMEs, and ments in infrastructure. A stimu- The lack of guidelines on the to deal with this PM Narendra lus to investments in infrastruc- subject is just adding to ambiguity Renault to hike Modi announced a package of `20 ture can provide a major fillip to the in implementation of anti-profi- AGENCIES lakh crore." growth engine, creation of jobs and A benefit similar to section 10(23G) rate slabs for services. In addi- teering provision by the industry, vehicle prices "The Indian government re- spur in demand, it said. of the Act to incentivise invest- tion, compensation cess applies it added. New Delhi, Dec 18: Retail infla- New Delhi: Automaker vised the definition of MSMEs, "Erstwhile Section 10(23G) of the ments in infrastructure may be on select goods. Urging the government to take tion for farm labour and rural Renault India Friday said it bringing it in line with global stan- Income Tax Act exempted income provided in the upcoming budget, "Government should consider growth-oriented measures, it said workers eased to 6% and 5.86%, re- will increase price of its dards, a move that will help MSMEs by way of dividend, interest and it added. It noted that measures to converging the existing band of that the economy is recovering at spectively, in November, mainly due entire model range by up to to scale up and generate more em- long-term capital gains arising out revive the growth cycle, creation GST rates to three in line with in- a quick pace and this momentum to lower prices of food items. `28,000 from next month. The ployment," he added. of investments made in an enter- of jobs are of paramount impor- ternational standards. This will needs to be sustained. "Point-to-point rate of inflation company, which sells models He observed that with the gov- prise engaged in the business of tance in the current scenario. help resolve interpretation issues, It noted that next year's budget based on the CPI-AL (Consumer like Kwid, Duster and Triber, ernment increasing opportunities developing, maintaining and op- On rationalisation of GST slabs, reduce complexity and probabil- must prioritise growth-oriented Price Index-Agricultural said the price hike from for local MSMEs, the Indian MSMEs erating an infrastructure facility," it said that currently there are ity of disputes," it said. measures and fiscal considerations Labourers) and CPI-RL (Rural January would vary across will be able to scale up operations. said a statement by FICCI. seven rate slabs for goods and five The FICCI has also recom- should be secondary. Labourers) decreased to 6% and variants and products. "The 5.86% in November, 2020, from price increase is a result of 6.59% and 6.45%, respectively, in the steadily increasing input October 2020," the labour ministry costs across the spectrum, said in a statement. including input costs for ‘Media industry has potential to grow to $100bn in 10 yrs’ The retail inflation for farm steel, aluminium, plastics workers and rural labourers were and other affiliated cost AGENCIES Entertainment. at 9.41% and 9.23%, respectively, increases during the The industry has the He added that the number of in November last year. pandemic," Renault India New Delhi, Dec 18: The media potential to grow from screens has gone up dramatically Inflation based on food index said in a statement. and entertainment industry has $24 billion to $100 billion by from 200 million to 600 million of CPI-AL and CPI-RL stood at "humongous" potential in India 2030, which is what our screens, and is growing. 6.88% and 7.06%, respectively, in and can grow up to four times to $100 vision is and our target While talking about the film in- November, compared with 12.03% Flipkart sees 35% billion in the next 10 years, said should be. The potential of dustry, Madhavan said it is pass- and 11.85% in the corresponding rise in sellers Star & Disney India Managing the media industry is ing through a "critical" phase. month of the previous year. Director K Madhavan. untapped and humongous It has suffered in theatrical rev- The all-India CPI-AL and CPI- New Delhi: Walmart-owned The audience demand for enter- K MADHAVAN I MD, STAR & DISNEY INDIA enue in 2020 but they grew in digi- RL indices increased 8 points each Flipkart Friday said it has tainment is only going up and the tal and non-linear space, which is to stand at 1,060 and 1,065, re- registered close to 35% mode of distribution has changed said Madhavan. potential, Madhavan said televi- expected to grow at 30% CAGR spectively, in November 2020. increase in sellers for the industry, he said in his vale- However, he also added that sion penetration in India is only (compound annual growth rate) in Labour Minister Santosh onboarded in 2020 as dictory address in the 'Big Picture the industry needs 'light-touch 70% and has huge space to grow. the coming two years. Gangwar said, "The inflation based compared to last year, and Summit' organised by industry regulation' and need to be able to "We have 300 million households "The film industry has to take on CPI-AL and RL have dipped to has seen strong adoption of body CII. experiment with content and and even today barely 200 million full advantage of new forms of dis- 6 per cent and 5.86 per cent, re- its platform by sellers as Currently, the media and enter- technology. households are connected to TV. tribution, to expand to new markets," spectively, which will have a pos- well as customers from tier tainment industry stands at $24 bil- "The regulatory framework has That is another positive thing for he added. itive impact on the income of II regions and beyond. With the need for social lion and is about one per cent of to be supportive to grow the sec- the industry, one-third of the mar- However, he also added that the labourers working in rural area." distancing and prioritising the country's gross domestic prod- tor. We hope that through continued ket is still away from the televi- content must be created with a Labour Bureau Director General

uct (GDP), he added. discussion and collaboration with sion," he said. global appeal for global audiences DS Negi said, "The inflation based

k y m safety, the pandemic has led c to millions of people turning "The industry has the potential the policymakers, we will be able to Moreover, television and stream- which is 600 million. Mobile phones and distributed around the world. on CPI-AL and RL eased during to e-commerce this past to grow from $24 billion to $100 bil- fully implement the principles of the ing platforms' average revenue per act today as personal screens and "For example, Hollywood has November 2020, owing to a decline year, not only in metros but lion by 2030, which is what our vi- 'ease of doing business'," he said user in India remains much lower play a major role in content con- been earning almost 50 per cent of in the prices of wheat-atta, chill- also in tier III regions and sion is and our target should be. adding that the industry needs to be compared to developed markets. sumption," said Madhavan, who is its theatrical revenues from out- ies-green, ginger, poultry, gur, beyond, Flipkart said in The potential of the media indus- able to invest in growth. "Out of 1.2 billion mobile phones, also chairman of the CII National side the United States. Whereas In bajra, fresh fish, kerosene oil and a statement. try is untapped and humongous," While talking about the industry only half of them are smartphones, Committee on Media and India, it is just 10-12%," he said. vegetables." P12 SATURDAY | DECEMBER 19 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR sports

AFTER BATSMEN’S DISMAL SHOW, BOWLERS TAKE CHARGE TO HELP INDIA TAKE CONTROL OF D/N TEST

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k k y y m m c Ashwin spins web around Oz c

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Mohammed Shami (0/41) was also immaculate with his length Adelaide, Dec 18: but he was let down by the fielders Senior off-spinner as the only glitch in their second Day 2 play’s reactions Ravichandran Ashwin pro- day’s performance was a poor catch- duced one of his most mem- ing effort. Ravichandran Ashwin orable overseas perform- But Virat Kohli wouldn’t mind ances as Indian bowlers even four dropped chances as his About comparisons: Sometimes comparisons and the way we look at collectively terrorised bowlers forced the Australian bats- things are very skewed. Do we ask batsmen to go and watch Steve Australia into submission, man to go into a defensive shell Smith bat and replicate that all the time when we tour Australia? Nobody does that to Alastair Cook or Joe Root. I think we are all aware bowling them out for 191 in their 72.1 overs on second that everybody skins cat differently. Obviously, you can learn. There is on the second day of the open- day. no stoppage or anything. You can always learn from people as to how ing Day/Night Test here Friday. It was one of the most they go about their business. Courtesy Ashwin’s 18-3-55-4, India ‘Un-Australian’ bat- successfully managed to neutralise ting by a team that Jobs in hand: I have always maintained especially when you play a sub-par first innings score of 244. prides itself on abroad, passages of play needs to go your way because you are doing Rival skipper Tim Paine (73) was the intent. Save a twin job, and doing it against conditions. As far as I am concerned, I only home batsman to show stom- for see if I can learn and put in earnest effort is all that I can do. How ach for a fight. people perceive it is for them to do. With a handy first innings lead Enjoy the game: Things can be blown out of context and I have put of 53 runs, India found their opener Labuschagne those things in the shelf in the backyard. I really want to enjoy my Prithvi Shaw’s defence being (47 off 119 trade and want to have all the fun I possibly can. For me, I don’t want breached again before ending the balls), who to sit back and think whether it’s my best performance or not as there day at 9/1 – with an overall lead of couldn’t capi- is still an innings to go and looking forward to entire Test series. 62 runs. talise on three reprieves, Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and skipper Paine, no TIM PAINE (2/52) played the night watchman’s other batsman seemed Facing pink ball: Definitely the quality of the fast bowling is role after Shaw’s dismissal, giving to know how to bat on exceptional. Pink ball that is probably another factor. It takes time to company to Mayank Agarwal (5 a surface, which picked adjust and it is not as easy to pick up and I will tell you, it is harder for batting) when stumps were drawn. pace on the second day. LEADING FROM FRONT: Australia skipper Tim Paine cuts one through the point the player. Indian magnificent bowling effort After Bumrah re- region during his innings against India Team’s show: Yes, (it is) certainly not our best performance but credit during the day could be segregated moved the two openers to them. They (India) bowled really well, put us under pressure, we into three phases. In the early af- in the first session, left-hander got a flighted one that Shaw at square leg and that was just could not get any momentum or any partnerships together, we ternoon, Bumrah bowled the fuller Ashwin did the star turn took the leading edge of his bat, also a mistimed pull-shot. Umesh couldn’t quite do that today, but our top order has done a good job for length to make the first inroads. in the second session. which ended in a chest-high return was fantastic in the twilight as he a fair while now. Ashwin then took charge of late Ashwin set up Smith with catch for the bowler. trapped Labuschagne with a de- afternoon with his perfect length and a few that were flighted with Debutant Cameron Green (11) livery that kept low and then a short Hopeful of a comeback: At the end of the day, we have got to chase, made use of the additional bounce the angle and then bowled would curse himself as his was a ball saw Cummins awkwardly fend- we know it is going to be a challenge, the quality of bowling is to blow away the middle-order. one that straightened and long hop asking to be pulled but ing it to gully. A run-out and the exceptional, anything can happen tomorrow. We know our fast- And then under lights, Umesh bounced a touch more. Smith, the extra bounce got the top edge and fourth wicket by Ashwin saw Paine bowling attack and Lyon. We have got the ability to take quick Yadav (3/40) was brilliant with the expecting turn, squared captain Virat Kohli pulled off a fab- waging a low battle to reduce first wickets, and obviously we will try and do that tomorrow, keep the old pink kookaburra as he bowled up and Ajinkya Rahane at ulous catch at mid-wicket, diving full- innings lead. scoreboard under control and hopefully one of our great bowlers has bit of run-on and somewhat momentum and I think and hopefully back of the length to get rid of the first slip made no mistake. stretch to his right. At the start of the day, India’s keep that score as low as possible. dangerous Marnus Labuschagne Travis Head (7) wasn’t This was after, Bumrah bowled tail-enders contributed precious and Pat Cummins. reading Ashwin well and the a brilliant opening spell to send little and the visitors’ first innings RICKY PONTING back the Australian opening pair of folded in just 93.1 overs. Joe Burns (8) and Matthew Wade (8) Mitchell Starc (4/53) and Pat Approach against Ashwin: (Australian) batsmen have looked to be quite aggressive against Ashwin. I think they’ve just underestimated for identical scores. The two were Cummins (3/48) dismissed the last Ashwin and how good he is. They’ve looked to score their runs from ready to stay put and wait but four batsmen for an addition of him, and it’s been their undoing. Bumrah angled a fuller one into only 11 runs to the overnight score. Wade, which rapped him on the pads while he was trying to whip it SCORECARD to mid-wicket. Burns, the man going through a INDIA 1ST INNINGS Cummins 21.1-7-48-3, Cameron FALL: 1/16 (Wade), 2/29 (Burns), bad patch, had changed his stance (OVERNIGHT 233/6) Green 9-2-15-0, Nathan Lyon 21-2- 3/45 (Smith), 4/65 (Head), 5/79 to a more open-chested one. He also Wriddhiman Saha c Paine b Starc 68-1, Marnus Labuschagne 1-0-3-0. (Green), 6/111 (Labuschagne), did all the hard work but he was sus- 7/111 (Cummins), 8/139 (Starc), 9, Ravichandran Ashwin c Paine b AUSTRALIA 1ST INNINGS ceptible to being leg before. Bumrah Cummins 15, Umesh Yadav c 9/167 (Lyon), 10/191 (Hazlewood). fired one fast and full into the block- Wade b Starc 6, Jasprit Bumrah Matthew Wade lbw b Bumrah 8, BOWLING: Umesh Yadav 16.1-5-40- hole and got the decision in his not out 4, Mohammed Shami c Joe Burns lbw b Bumrah 8, Marnus 3, Jasprit Bumrah 21-7-52-2, favour as ‘Umpire’s Call’ in the DRS Head b Cummins 0; Labuschagne lbw b Yadav, Steve Mohammed Shami 17-4-41-0, went India’s way. Extras: 18 (b-2, lb-8, nb-7, w-1); Smith c Rahane b Ashwin 1, Travis Ravichandran Ashwin 18-3-55-4. Labuschagne was insanely lucky Total: 244 all out (93.1 overs). Head c & b Ashwin 7, Cameron Green c Kohli b Ashwin 11, Tim INDIA 2ND INNINGS when Bumrah dropped a dolly at fine FALL: 1/0 (Shaw), 2/32 (Agarwal), leg after the batsman had mistimed Paine not out 73, Pat Cummins c Prithvi Shaw b Cummins 4, Mayank 3/100 (Pujara), 4/188 (Kohli), Rahane b Yadav 0, Mitchell Starc a pull shot off Shami. Before that 5/196 (Rahane), 6/206 (Vihari), Agarwal batting 5, Jasprit Bumrah run out 15, Nathan Lyon c Kohli b batting 0; Total: 9/1 (6 overs). it was a diving Wriddhiman Saha, 7/233 (Ashwin), 8/235 (Saha), Ashwin 10, Josh Hazlewood c who missed a tough but gettable 9/240 (Yadav), 10/244 (Shami). Pujara b Yadav 8; FALL: 1/7 (Shaw). edge off Bumrah’s bowling. BOWLING: Mitchell Starc 21-5-53-4, Extras: 3 (lb-3); BOWLING: Mitchell Starc 3-1-3-0, After the dinner break, Josh Hazlewood 20-6-47-1, Pat Total: 191 all out (72.1 overs). Pat Cummins 3-2-6-1. POOR START: Prithvi Shaw is castled by Pat Cummins (not in pic) in the second innings, Friday PICS: ESPNCRICINFO Labuschagne on 21, was dropped by Rashford brace seals BOXING WC: KLOPP, BRONZE AMONG FIFA AWARD WINNERS SIMRANJEET Lewandowski ‘The Best’ among men Man United victory ENTERS FINALS ASSOCIATED PRESS OTHER AWARDS ASSOCIATED PRESS David McGoldrick to score from PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Geneva, Dec 18: Robert close range after five minutes. Lewandowski won his biggest per- Best Women’s Goalkeeper: Sarah Sheffield, Dec 18: Hours after being But Rashford raced onto a su- New Delhi, Dec 18: World sonal prize, showing that a forward Bouhaddi (France, Lyon) honored for his impact off the field, perb ball by Victor Lindelof from Championship bronze-medallist not named Messi or Ronaldo can be Best Men’s Goalkeeper: Manuel Marcus Rashford also delivered in his own half and took a sublime Simranjeet Kaur (60kg) stormed voted the world’s best football player. Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich) front of goal. The striker scored touch before slotting in the equaliser into the finals of boxing’s Cologne The Poland captain was named Fair Play Award: Mattia Agnese twice to lead Manchester United’s in the 26th minute. World Cup in Germany, defeating the FIFA Best Men’s Player for 2020 FIFA Puskas Award: Son Heung- recovery to beat Sheffield United 3- It was a gut punch followed by a Ukraine’s Marianna Basanets after his 55-goal season lifted Bayern min (Spurs) 2 in the Premier League Thursday. 33rd-minute uppercut. Paul Pogba Friday. The Asian silver-winner Munich to a sweep of international FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World-XI: The evening began with Rashford found Anthony Martial with a prevailed 4-1 to assure herself of and domestic trophies. Christiane Endler, Lucy Bronze, — in a pre-recorded segment at clipped ball into the box and goal- a place in the summit bouts to be Lewandowski topped a three- Wendie Renard, Millie Bright, the FIFA Best awards — receiving keeper Aaron Ramsdale failed to held Saturday. player shortlist that included Lionel Delphine Cascarino, Barbara the fair play accolade from world deal with the forward’s initial effort, Earlier, Sonia Lather (57kg) set Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Voting Bonansea, Veronica Boquete, football’s governing body for his allowing him to convert the re- up a clash against compatriot was by a global jury of national Megan Rapinoe, Pernille Harder, campaign to combat child poverty bound in front of the empty stand. Manisha in the semifinals by beat- team captains and coaches, plus Vivianne Miedema, Tobin Heath. and pressure the British govern- Rashford was on target again ing Ukraine’s Snizhana selected journalists and fans. ner with Lyon, she has since joined award in 1991. The club twice saw FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World-XI: ment into providing free meals. six minutes into the second half. Kholodkova 3-2. Manisha got a Though FIFA hosted the virtual Manchester City. its stars relegated to third place by Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander- His goals at Bramall Lane lifted Pogba cut out a misplaced throw- bye into the last-four stage. ceremony in Zurich, its president Bronze won the vote ahead of Messi and Ronaldo: Franck Ribery Arnold, Sergio Ramos, Virgil van United to sixth in the league, five in, turned smartly and produced a Satish Kumar (+91kg) kicked Gianni Infantino went to Munich her former Lyon teammate Wendi in 2013, and Manuel Neuer in 2014. Dijk, Alphonso Davies, Kevin de points behind leader and cham- smooth pirouette to start a break off his campaign with an impres- to present the trophy in person. Renard and Pernille Harder, who Jurgen Klopp denied Bayern a Bruyne, Thiago Alcantara, Joshua pion Liverpool with a game in hand. from deep in the United half. sive 5-0 win over Moldova’s Zavantin Lewandowski joined Luka Modric, helped Wolfsburg to the Champions sweep of the FIFA men’s awards Kimmich, Lionel Messi, Robert For the sixth successive away Referee Michael Oliver allowed Alexel to make the last-four stage the Croatia and Real Madrid mid- League final. by being voted the best coach for a Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo. game in the league, Man United fell play to continue when Mason and be assured of at least a bronze. fielder who won in 2018, as the only Lewandowski is also the first second straight year. behind before winning. But it started Greenwood was fouled in the mid- Mohammed Hussamuddin (57kg) players in the past 13 years to deny men’s winner from a club outside Klopp, who guided Liverpool to pion Leeds was third. badly for Dean Henderson in the dle of a fine team move that ended defeated Germany’s Umar Bajwa both Messi and Ronaldo the victory. Spain since Ronaldo won the 2008 become champion of England for Sarina Wiegman, who led the United goal at the club where was with Rashford all too easily beating 5-0 to also enter the semifinals. In Lucy Bronze was voted the best award as a Manchester United the first time in 30 years, won more Netherlands to the 2019 World Cup previously on loan. Ramsdale. two other 57kg bouts, Gaurav women’s player to give England its player. votes than Hansi Flick, who took final, was voted the best coach in There was no sign of danger Sheffield United found find a Solanki got the better of another first individual victory at the FIFA A Bayern player had not won over at Bayern mid-season. Marcelo women’s football. She will take over when United captain Harry way past their former goalkeeper local hope in Murat Yildirim. awards. A Champions League win- since FIFA created a world player Bielsa of English second-tier cham- the England team next year. Maguire played a return pass to again in the 87th minute as John Henderson but he dawdled enough Fleck swung in a corner and for Oliver Burke to close him down Lindelof ’s header ricocheted back and flick the ball into the path of off McGoldrick into the goal. Jamshedpur hand NEUFC season’s first defeat

POST NEWS NETWORK streak against NorthEast intact. then swung in a cross for an un- Both sides were unable to break marked Jadhav, who found the Goa, Dec 18: NorthEast United the deadlock in the first half as back of the net with ease. FC (NEUFC) slumped to their first they managed to cancel out each But despite conceding first, defeat in their Indian Super League other's threat. As a result, no shots the Highlanders too had their (ISL) campaign as they went down on target were registered. chance to make amends soon 0-1 to Jamshedpur FC at the Tilak NorthEast started the second after the hour mark through a y Maidan Stadium here, Friday. half with great intensity in penalty. The referee pointed to

Aniket Jadhav’s strike (53rd pursuit of the opening goal. the spot when Eze brought down

k k y y m m c c minute) was the difference be- But a quick counter-attack Benjamin Lambot in the box. tween the two sides in what was from Jamshedpur saw them con- Sylla stepped up to take the spot- the 500th game of the ISL. TP cede first. kick but Rehnesh dived the right Rehnesh also pulled off a terrific Isaac Vanmalsanwma and way and produced a fine save to Aniket Jadhav celebrates Marcus Rashford wheels away in celebration penalty save in the second-half Jackichand Singh linked up well ensure his side remained in the his goal with a teammate after scoring against Sheffield United, Thursday to keep Jamshedpur’s unbeaten in the opposition box. The latter driver’s seat. PIC: ISL

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