RNI NO.: DELENG/2005/15351 MILLENNIUMPOST.IN REGD. NO.: DL(S)-01/3420/2018-20 PUBLISHED FROM DELHI | KOLKATA VOL.16, ISSUE 210 | Friday, 30 July, 2021 | New Delhi | Pages 12 | Rs 3.00 No Half Truths City: Pg 3 Nation: Pg 6 Film: Pg 12 ‘Pained by changes to GNCTD Modi: New NEP major factor in Jennifer Garner inks overall Act, silence of opp MLAs on it’ ‘mahayagna’ of nation building film deal with Netflix 43,509 NEW INFECTIONS REPORTED; 37% OF COUNTRY’S ACTIVE CASES IN KERALA Mamata meets Gadkari, discusses road, infrastructure projects India’s active Covid cases show Banerjee brings up pending road & transport projects, including Tajpur deep-sea port, in her discussions with the Union minister increase for 2nd straight day SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE NEW DELHI: In a bid to invite OUR CORRESPONDENT global investment to the state, Highlights Bengal Chief Minister Mamata NEW DELHI: India logged Banerjee met Nitin Gadkari, 43,509 new Coronavirus infec- » The active cases have the Union Minister of Road and tions taking the total tally to increased to 4,03,840 Transport, on Thursday after- 3,15,28,114, while the active and comprise 1.28 per noon at his residence in Delhi cases registered an increase cent of the total infec- » The Bengal government and discussed several infra- for the second consecutive tions, while the national structure projects. day, according to the Union on Thursday extended On the fourth day of her visit Health ministry data updated COVID-19 recovery rate the Covid-19 restrictions to the national Capital, Banerjee was recorded at 97.38 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee meets Union minister on Thursday. in the state till August 15 pushed for better manufacturing Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Thursday per cent, the data up- MPOST The number of people who » The government on infrastructure and road connec- have recuperated from the dis- dated at 8 am showed tivity in West Bengal. Thursday said travel Takeaways ease surged to 3,07,01,612, » An increase of 4,404 cases “We discussed issues related while the case fatality rate restrictions are be- to road and infrastructure proj- has been recorded in the » “We discussed issues related to road stands at 1.34 per cent, the ing eased for Indian ects, including transport, road and infrastructure projects, including data stated. The death toll A health worker collects swab sample for Covid test, at Mumbai’s active COVID-19 caseload students by several connectivity and manufactur- Dadar railway station, on Thursday PTI transport, road connectivity and manu- climbed to 4,22,662 with 640 in a span of 24 hours countries including the ing units with electric buses. facturing units with electric buses. We fresh fatalities. » The Union Health ministry US, Canada, the UK, We have also asked to build have also asked to build some flyovers The active cases have were conducted on Wednes- is sending six-member team some flyovers in Kolkata,” in Kolkata,” Banerjee told media increased to 4,03,840 and com- day taking the total cumula- to Kerala headed by NCDC will depute a six-member and Germany and that Banerjee told media persons prise 1.28 per cent of the total tive tests conducted so far for Director. As a large number team to Kerala for effec- more nations are ex- after the meeting. persons after the meeting. infections, while the national detection of COVID-19 in the of COVID cases are still being tive Covid management pected to do the same The Bengal Chief Min- » The sea port, located nearly 200 km COVID-19 recovery rate was country to 46,26,29,773. reported in Kerala, the team as the state reports a when the pandemic ister also submitted a report from Kolkata, is expected to draw an recorded at 97.38 per cent, the The Union Health ministry will aid state’s ongoing efforts spike in daily cases situation improves and brought up pending road investment of Rs 15,000 crore and data updated at 8 am showed. will depute a six-member team in COVID-19 management.” and transport projects, includ- generate 25,000 jobs in the state The daily positivity rate to Kerala for effective Covid The ministry’s statement ing the deep-sea port at Taj- » “The meeting was very fruitful and our was recorded at 2.52 per cent, management as the state said the team will work closely reported in the state are above some relaxation in the exist- pur with the Union minister. state administrative officials will meet the ministry said, adding the reports a spike in daily cases. with state health authorities, 17,443. The state has also ing norms, including organis- The sea port, located nearly 200 weekly positivity rate was The team headed by take a stock of the ground reported a high case positiv- ing government programmes km from Kolkata, is expected the officials of Gadkariji to prepare recorded at 2.38 per cent. National Centre for Disease situation and recommend ity of 12.93 per cent cumu- indoors with 50 per cent of the to draw an investment of Rs Mamata Banerjee meets a report on how and when to start An increase of 4,404 cases Control (NCDC) Director S necessary public health inter- latively and 11.97 per cent total seating capacity. 15,000 crore and generate actor and social activist the developmental plans which were has been recorded in the active K Singh will reach Kerala on ventions to contain the spread weekly. Six districts are report- The new set of relaxations 25,000 jobs in the state. Shabana Azmi in New Delhi discussed,” Banerjee mentioned COVID-19 caseload in a span Friday and visit some districts of the virus. ing more than 10 per cent will become applicable from Senior officials from differ- of 24 hours. reporting a high case positiv- With an active caseload weekly positivity, the state- July 31. However, the restric- ent departments of the ministry administrative officials will She confirmed that Chief Sec- Cumulative vaccine doses ity rate, the ministry said in a of 1.54 lakh as of the latest ment mentioned. tions on outdoor activities and the Resident Commis- meet the officials of Gadkariji retary H K Dwivedi will also be administered so far has statement. update, Kerala accounts for The Bengal government on apart from essential and emer- sioner of West Bengal in Delhi to prepare a report on how meeting the Union minister at reached 45.07 crore under the In a tweet, Union Health 37.1 per cent of the total active Thursday extended the Covid- gency services will continue were also present in the hour- and when to start the develop- his convenience and will sub- nationwide vaccination drive. minister Mansukh Mandaviya cases in the country. 19 restrictions in the state till from 9 pm to 5 am every day. long meeting. “The meeting mental plans which were dis- mit a detailed report. As many as 17,28,795 tests said: “The Central government Average daily cases being August 15. It also announced Continued on P4 was very fruitful and our state cussed,” Banerjee mentioned. Continued on P4 PROJECT PEGASUS Photojournalist Danish Lok Sabha proceedings Siddiqui was executed adjourned for the day Israel govt raids NSO offices by Taliban: Report Speaker says ‘very hurt’ over unruly NEW DELHI: Israeli govern- sentatives from the Israeli The numbers of Union ment authorities have raided Ministry of Defence had vis- minister Prahlad Singh Patel conduct of some Oppn MPs the offices of NSO Group fol- ited their offices”. and Railways & IT minister lowing revelations by a consor- “The company is work- Ashwini Vaishnaw also fea- tium of media organisations ing in full transparency with tured in the list. Amid massive OUR CORRESPONDENT that the surveillance software the Israeli authorities. We are uproar over the issue by Oppo- vendor’s Pegasus spyware was confident that this inspec- sition parties, the government NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Thurs- used by multiple governments tion will prove the facts are has denied allegations that the day passed two Bills before the pro- around the world to snoop on as declared repeatedly by the sus spyware targeted over 300 Pegasus spyware was being ceedings were adjourned for the day public figures and Opposition company against the false mobile phone numbers in used to snoop on politicians, amid continuous protests by Opposi- leaders among others. allegations made against us India, including that of min- journalists and constitutional tion members over the Pegasus spying The raids took place on in the recent media attacks,” isters in the Narendra Modi authority. It has also called row and farmers’ issue. Wednesday. the spokesperson added. government, various Opposi- the report “sensational”, and The Airports Economic Regula- BJP MP Rajendra Agrawal conducts An NSO spokesperson Recently, a global collab- tion leaders, a constitutional an attempt “to malign Indian WASHINGTON: Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian tory Authority of India (Amendment) proceedings in the Lok Sabha during the confirmed to Israeli news web- orative investigative project authority, and several journal- democracy and its well-estab- photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was not simply Bill 2021 and The Inland Vessels Bill, Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New site ‘The Record’ that “repre- has revealed that the Pega- ists and business persons. lished institutions”. AGENCIES killed in a crossfire in Afghanistan, nor was he 2021 were passed without debate. Delhi, on Thursday PTI simply collateral damage, but was “brutally mur- When the House met at 2 pm, dered” by the Taliban after verifying his identity, Kirit Premjibhai Solanki, who was On Wednesday, when papers were according to a report published in a US-based chairing the proceedings, took up being laid in the House, Congress Govt announces 27% reservation for OBCs, magazine on Thursday.