CMYK TUESDAY www.thestatesman.com 25 JANUARY 2022 FIND US ONLINE Scan this with your smartphone twitter.com/TheStatesmanLtd facebook.com/thestatesman1875 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR PAK PM REQUESTED ME TO INDUCT 'OLD FRIEND' SIDHU IN CABINET DANGEROUS MOVE AGAINST SPIRIT OF COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM P4 Generally cloudy sky with Light rain. Temperature most likely to be in the range of 18- 26 degrees Celsius. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY TEMPERATURE OF THE YEAR FOR 2021 P5 P8 P12 India's Covid cases likely to decline by mid-Feb WEATHER Max. 71% AI MAY BE HANDED OVER SMRITI NAMED ICC WOMEN'S CRICKETER TO TATAS THIS WEEK Min. 89% Max: 27 °C (N) Min: 18 °C (+1) SUN RISES SUN SETS 06:18 hrs 17:10 hrs MOON RISES MOON SETS 12:18 hrs 24:35 hrs New moon on 1 February THUMBNAILS Kashmiri artists at a full dress rehearsal ahead of the Republic Day function at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar, on Monday.  SNS Delhi court slaps sedition charge against Sharjeel Imam: A Delhi Court on Monday ordered to frame charges against Sharjeel Imam under sedition in connection with alleged inflammatory speeches made by him in Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia area in ANI Delhi. State in favour of opening schools, says Bengal Education Minister: West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu said the state is in favour of opening the schools but it cannot take any kind of risk with the lives of the students so the decision will be taken by CM IANS Mamata Banerjee at the right time. 46% of girls under 15 anaemic in India: About 46 pc of girls in India under the age of 15 are anaemic, according to a report released on Monday on the National Girl Child Day, annually observed on 24 January to raise awareness to promote the rights, education, health, and IANS nutrition of the girl child across India. Punjab polls: BJP will contest 65 seats, Amarinder Singh's party 37 seats Union Health Ministry is coordinating with States and Union Territories; 74 per cent of the adult population now fully vaccinated ASIAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEW DELHI, 24 JANUARY aily Covid-19 cases in India will start to decline after February 15, said official government sources on Monday. "Covid cases in the country to decline after February 15. The cases have started reducing and stabilising in some States and metro cities," sources told ANI. Stressing that COVID-19 vaccination has reduced the impact of the third wave, the government sources further added, "Union Health Ministry is coordinating with States and Union Territories. 74 per cent of the adult population is fully vaccinated." India on Monday reported a decline in the daily COVID-19 infections as the country logged 3,06,064 new COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of over 20 per cent, said the Ministry of Health and Family Wel- D fare.As per government data, new infections were 27,469 less than that reported on Sunday. However, the daily positivity rate rose to 20.75 per cent from 17.78 per cent yesterday. The ministry has said that India's active caseload currently stands at 22,49,335. It accounts for 5.69 per cent of the total cases. The government data shows that 439 people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours. The death toll is now at 4,89,848. The case fatality rate is 1.24 per cent. With 2,43,495 people recovering from the infection in the last 24 hours, the cumulative recoveries mounted to 3,68,04,145. Meanwhile, in the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive, 162.26 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far. With the administration of more than 27 lakh vaccine doses in the last 24 Mumbai schools reopen 3,95,43,328 22,49,335 3,06,064 hours, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has reached 1,62,26,07,516 as per provisional reports till 7 am today, the ministry said. So far 81,80,165 precaution doses have been administered to eligible beneficiaries. Of these, 27,40,418 were given to healthcare workers, 26,87,668 to frontline workers and 27,52,079 to those above the age of 60 years with comorbidities. The administration of the precaution dose began on January 10. The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain an application seeking clarification on its judgement of October 7, 2020, in which the top court had said that public roads can't be blocked indefinitely. The apex court had passed the order in connection with a road blockade by protesters at Shaheen Bagh, against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M M Sundresh told the intervener's counsel that the issue is already over, and wondered what clarification is sought on the judgment. "The judgment speaks for itself", noted the bench, adding that no clarification is necessary. The counsel, representing an intervener, sought a short adjournment on the ground that the arguing counsel is not well. The bench said: "such applications are not maintainable". The top court reiterated that judgment has already been passed and it will not entertain applications in already disposed of matter. The top court judgment had come on a petition filed by advocate Amit Sahni, where it held that public roads and spaces can't be occupied in an indefinite manner for protests, causing inconvenience to the people. The top court had observed that demonstrations expressing dissent must be organised at designated places only. ‘MyCGHS’ app to benefit over 40 lakh beneficiaries: Health Minister STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 JANUARY NEW DELHI, 24 JANUARY Bharatiya Janata Party will contest 65 seats, Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress 37 seats and Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) 15 seats in the upcoming Punjab assembly polls, said BJP national president JP Nadda. Earlier on Sunday, Amarinder Singh announced his decision to fight from his home constituency of Patiala Urban. His party released the first list of 22 candidates for polls. Meanwhile, BJP has also announced its first list of 34 candidates for the Punjab assembly polls. Punjab will go to the polls on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. ANI Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday launched an Initiative linking revamped Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) website with mobile app 'MyCGHS' to provide easy access to healthcare services to more than 40 lakh beneficiaries, He said the new CGHS website and its extension as a Mobile Application called 'MyCGHS' with various beneficiary friendly features, have been designed for ease of service delivery for the beneficiaries within the safe confines of his home especially during Covid-19 pandemic. The website has bilingual features of Hindi and English with provision to make it multi-lingual in future. "The website has several updated features which shall hugely benefit more than 40 lakhs beneficiaries both in-service and retired personnel with real-time information from the convenience of their homes, the minister said. Such a facility, he said, will enable healthcare services being delivered without ven- turing out, and is a timely innovative step during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. It is an important and timely step powered by India's increasing digital penetration, he added. On January 10, Mandaviya has interacted with health ministers of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu. The granular status and analysis of COVID in these states and UTs were made by Health Ministry officials covering the trajectory of total and news cases, active cases, daily and weekly positivity, weekly tests conducted with the proportion of RAT and RT-PCR testing. deaths, Tests per Millon (TPM), Cases per Million (CPM) and omicron case status. UAE shoots down 2 ballistic missiles fired by Houthis ASSOCIATED PRESS DUBAI, 24 JANUARY The United Arab Emirates intercepted two ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels over the skies of Abu Dhabi early Monday, authorities said, the second attack in a week that targeted the Emirati capital. The missile fire further escalates tensions across the Persian Gulf, which previously had seen a series of assaults near — but never indisputably on — Emirati soil. It comes during Yemen’s yearslong war and the collapse of Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers. American troops at Al-Dhafra Air Base in the capital took shelter in bunkers during the attack. The attacks threaten the business-friendly, tourismfocused efforts of the Emirates, In the vaccination drive for children aged between 15-18 years, 4,19,32,411 vaccine doses have been administered. Their vaccination drive commenced on January 3 this year. India logs 3,06,064 new Covid cases: India on Monday reported a decline in the daily Covid-19 infections as the country logged 3,06,064 new Covid-19 cases with a positivity rate of over 20 per cent, said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. As per government data, 2,43,495 4,89,848 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. MONDAY 24 JANUARY 2022 new infections were 27,469 less than that reported on Sunday. However, the daily positivity rate rose to 20.75 per cent from 17.78 per cent yesterday. SC dismisses plea for clarification on its order on Shaheen Bagh protests STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 JANUARY a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula also home to Dubai. For years, the country has marketed itself as a safe corner of an otherwise-dangerous neighborhood. Videos on social media showed the sky over Abu Dhabi light up before dawn Monday, with what appeared to be interceptor missiles racing into the clouds to target the incoming fire. Two explosions later thundered through the city. The videos corresponded to known features of Abu Dhabi. The state-run WAM news agency said that missile fragments fell harmlessly over Abu Dhabi. The Emirates is “ready to deal with any threats and ... it takes all necessary measures to protect the state from all attacks,” WAM quoted the UAE Defense Ministry as saying. The missile fire disrupted traffic into Abu Dhabi International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Etihad, for about an hour after the attack. Houthi military spokesman Yehia Sarei claimed the attack in a televised statement, saying the rebels targeted several sites in the UAE with both Zulfiqar ballistic missiles and ASIAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL MUMBAI, 24 JANUARY drones, including Al-Dhafra Air Base. He warned the UAE would continue to be a target “as long as attacks on the Yemeni people continue.” “We warn foreign companies and investors to leave the Emirates!” Sarei shouted from a podium. “This has become an unsafe country!” The Dubai Financial Market closed down nearly 2% after the attack, with nearly every company trading down. The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange also fell slightly. At Al-Dhafra, which hosts both American and British forces, U.S. troops took shelter in bunkers during the attack, the U.S. Air Force’s Mideast command said. AlDhafra is home to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing and has seen armed drones and F-35 stealth fighters stationed there. FCRA registration: SC to hear plea against Centre's decision today ASIAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEW DELHI, 24 JANUARY The Supreme Court on Monday posted for hearing on January 25 on a plea challenging the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs by which it had cancelled or refused to renew the registration of around 6,000 nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) under the Foreign Contribution PM Modi interacts with young achievers NEW DELHI, 24 JANUARY Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with the recipients of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2022 and 2021 awardees via video conference. The digital certificates were conferred on PMRBP awardees for the years using Blockchain Technology, used for the first time for giving certificates to awardees. Union Women and Child Development Minister Smt Smriti Zubin Irani and Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Minister of State were among those present on the occasion. Interacting with Master Avi Sharma of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, the Prime Minister enquired about the secret of his prolific output with regard to various aspects of Ramayana. Master Avi Sharma said that he got the inspiration from the government’s decision of broadcasting the serial Ramayana during the lockdown. Prime Minister Modi narrated an incident when he went and heard Uma Bharti as a child, she showed immense spiritual depth and knowledge in a programme. He asked about the state of mind while saving his younger brother and how he feels now after becoming famous. He said there is something in the soil of Madhya Pradesh that gives rise to such precious talent. He told Avi that he is an inspiration and an example of the adage that you are never too young to do big things. SNS CMYK (Regulation) Act, 2010. A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar said it will the case tomorrow. "Today we are in two-judge bench composition, let it be heard tomorrow by a threejudge bench. It will be there in the list," Justice Khanwilkar said. The petition also sought direction to strike down the public notice, issued on Dec 13, 2021. Schools in Mumbai on Monday welcomed students of all classes as they reopened with stringent adherence to Covid-19 protocols. Students were welcomed by teachers at Sadhana Vidyalaya High School, Sion area with enthusiasm. Principal of the school, Swaroop Sawant told ANI, "We have welcomed students in our school today. We are strictly following the Covid-19 protocols. Social distancing is being maintained and the hands of students are being sanitised." "Classes via virtual mode will also continue," the principal said. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Aditya Thackeray has said that parents are free to make their own decisions in this regard and should send their children to school. Thackeray on Sunday told reporters, "Even though we are re-opening schools from tomorrow, it is not compulsory for students to come to school. Parents are free to make their own decisions in this regard and should send their children to school only if they feel it is safe." The schools in Mumbai have been closed since January 4. Maharashtra on Sunday reported 40,805 new Covid19 cases thereby taking the total tally of infections to 75,07,225. As many as 44 fatalities from this virus were logged in the last 24 hours, the state health department said. SP’s candidates list out for UP polls, Akhilesh to contest from Karhal LUCKNOW, 24 JANUARY Samajwadi Party on Monday released a list of 159 candidates for upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections that are scheduled to take place in seven phases beginning February 10. SP chief AkhileshYadav will contest from Mainpuri's Karhal constituency. Akhilesh Yadav had earlier said he will contest assembly elections after taking permission from Azamgarh residents. He is Lok Sabha MP from Azamgarh. Former Uttar Pradesh Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav will contest from Jaswantnagar. Shivpal Singh Yadav's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party is part of the alliance led by Akhilesh.UP will go to the polls for its 403-member assembly in seven phases on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7. The counting will take ANI place on March 10.