YK MYK WEATHER TODAY MAX 28 C MIN 15 C HOPE GDP WILL BE POSITIVE IN NEXT QUARTER: AMIT SHAH NATION Sky will be partly cloudy. Rs. 3 KOLKATA TUESDAY, 1 DEC, 2020 PG-12, YEAR—7, ISSUE—194 (RNI NO: WBENG / 2014 / 56803) BHUMI PEDNEKAR SAYS SHE WANTS TO SINK HER TEETH INTO EVERY GENRE CINEMA & SCREEN Morning India Farm laws bring new options to farmers: Modi VARANASI (UP) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the new farm laws have brought new options and opportunities for farmers and also provides legal protection against to them. Speaking at function in Varanasi, the Prime Minister began his speech with 'Har Har Mahadev' and said that while everyone can raise questions in a democracy but there is a new trend in which some people are spreading misinformation and canards against the decisions taken by the government. "These forces have spread misinformation to such an extent that it is unbelievable. They did not even allow welfare schemes to be implemented in states where they are in power," he said He said that the old system option was still open for farmers. "These are the same peo- AT A GLANCE PM APPRECIATES SCIENTISTS' EFFORTS NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday appreciated the efforts by scientists in Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd, Biological E Ltd and Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd to come out with a vaccine solution to tackle COVID19. During his virtual meetings with 3 teamsGennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd, Pune, Biological E Ltd, Hyderabad and Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd, Hyderabad- that are working on developing and manufacturing coronavirus vaccine, the Prime Minister discussed the potential of various platforms for COVID-19 vaccine development. According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), PM Modi also suggested that the companies should take extra efforts to inform the general public in simple language about the vaccine and related matters such as its efficacy. He also asked the companies to come out with their suggestions and ideas regarding the regulatory processes and related matters. Matters relating to logistics, transport, cold chain in respect of delivering the vaccines were also discussed at the meetings. PMO said that all the vaccine candidates discussed are at different stages of trials and detailed data and results are expected early next year onwards. The Prime Minister advised all the departments concerned to engage with the manufacturers and seek to resolve matters so that the efforts by these companies bear fruit in order to serve the needs of the country. CORONA METER INDIA TOTAL CASES: 9,433,143 TOTAL DEATH: 137,185 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 63,198,706 TOTAL DEATH: 1,467,503 Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on Monday. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present. (ANI Photo) ple who have been duping farmers for decades. The MSP was always announced but never implemented. Their mega schemes never reached the beneficiaries," he said. The Prime Minister listed the various schemes announced by his government for farmers including mobile cold storage, micro irrigation and access to a global market. "Black rice from this region now has a market in Australia," he said. The Prime Minister said that his government had also implemented the pension scheme for farmers and 21 lakh farmers have even been linked to the scheme. He said that farmers could not be blamed because they have suffered for decades and have been fleeced. "We are not working with 'chhal' (deceit) but with the purity of 'Ganga jal'," he stated. He said he was confident that the 'annadata' (farmer) of the country would lead 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' one day. The Prime Minister, on Monday inaugurated the 73km stretch of the newly widened and six-laned NH19, made with a total outlay of Rs 2,447 crore in Khajuri. This is expected to reduce the travel time between Prayagraj and Varanasi by one hour. The Prime Minister said that the six-lane road would not only ease traffic but would also help in movement of pilgrims during the Kumbh Mela. He said that in the past six years, had ensured better road, rail and air connectivity for Varanasi and people. "Uttar Pradesh is now Express Pradesh and five new expressways being construction will give a new identity to the state. I congratulate chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his team for focusing on development of infrastructure which has not only acted as a catalyst for development but has also generated employment," he said. UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, while speaking on the occasion, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ensured the safety and security of the countrymen during the pandemic. He said that under the guidance of the Prime Minister, the country's health infrastructure had been upgraded to meet the challenges of the prevailing situation. Earlier, the Prime Minister was welcomed by chief minister Yogi Adityanath and other ministers at the Babatpur airport. Annapurna idol stolen a century ago on its way back to Varanasi: PM Modi A general view of lightings at Ganga Ghats as Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends an event on the occasion of Dev Deepawali in Varanasi on Monday. (ANI Photo) VARANASI (UTTAR PRADESH) [INDIA] : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the statuette of the Annapurna deity that was stolen over a century ago is on its way back to its original home in Varanasi. While addressing the public during Dev Deepawali Mahotsav in Varanasi, PM Modi said, "The statuette of the Annapurna deity which was stolen over 100 years ago is now on its way back here. It is a matter of great fortune that Mata Annapurna will come back to her original home." Prime Minister said that the statues of deities are part of "our priceless legacy." "It is true that if so much effort was made earlier, the country would have got back many such idols. But some people have different thinking. For us, heritage means the country's heritage but for some people, heritage means their name and their family's name. For us, heritage means our culture, our faith. For them, heritage means their own statues, their family photos," he added. Prime Minister also paid Type O, Rh- blood may be linked to lower Covid risks TORONTO : Having O and rhesus-negative or Rh-, blood was associated with a slightly lower risk for Covid-19 infection and severe illness or death, say researchers. For the results, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, the research team examined 225,556 people who tested their blood type from January 2007 to December 2019, and who later had a Covid-19 lab test. "Our goal was to determine whether ABO and Rh blood groups could be associated with a risk for acquiring a SARS-CoV-2 infection and developing a severe Covid-19 illness," said study authors from the University of Toronto in Canada. According to the study, out of the more than 200,000 tests that were examined, 1,328 of them were diagnosed with severe Covid-19 illness or death, with higher probabilities among AB and B blood groups, as well as those who were Rh-positive. Their findings indicate that O and Rh-negative blood groups were associated with a slightly lower risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as severe Covid-19 illness or death. "Although we saw a statistically significant association between blood group and severe disease or death, it was also assumed that we had correctly identified severe illness associated with Covid-19 ," the authors wrote. The research team now wonder whether similar differences in blood type will be seen within ongoing clinical trials studying the therapeutic efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 immunotherapy or vaccination. "At most, a small proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infection or related illness in the entire population could be prevented by some undetermined property conferred by O blood type and, perhaps, further enhanced by Rh- status," the researchers said. "Whether this information can influence Covid-19 prevention or treatment strategies remains to be determined," they noted. tributes to all those who have laid their lives for the nation. "On the occasion of Dev Deepawali, I pay my tributes to all those who have laid their lives for the nation. The nation is giving a befitting reply to the expansionist forces, those trying to infiltrate into India or be it those trying to break the country from within," he said. PM Modi said that none can change the Urja (energy), Bhakti (devotion) and Shakti (power) of Kashi. "No matter how much things have changed due to COVID19, none can change the Urja, Bhakti and Shakti of Kashi," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lit the customary first diya at the Raj Ghat in Varanasi and launched the Dev Deepawali Mahotsav. The Prime Minister was accompanied by state Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath for the ceremony. Some 15 lakh diyas lit up on the ghats of Ganga to mark the beginning of celebrations on the occasion of Kartik Purnima. Classical dancers performed during the occasion. Dev Deepawali is a function after Deepawali when a large number of lamps are lit on the banks of rivers and other places on Kartik Purnima. Prime Minister Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reached Raj Ghat for Dev Deepawali Mahotsav after offering prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. They also visited the site of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor Project. Ghats of Varanasi were decorated for Modi's visit. Post audiogate, Lalu under 3-layer security at RIMS RAJ KUMAR RANCHI: Amid controversy over the use of mobile phone by RJD chief Lalu Prasad allegedly to split the NDA in Bihar during the election of the assembly speaker, who is undergoing treatment at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in the capacity of a convicted prisoner for over two years, city police provided three-layer security to the controversial prisoner. The development took place after the prisoner in controversy was shifted to the paying ward of the state-run super specialty health centre from the bungalow of its director. A police official informed this saying the first layer of security is given at the main entrance of paying ward of the RIMS, second layer of the security has been provided at the ward where the prisoner in controversy is undergoing treatment of 16 types of diseases and the third layer of security has been provided outside the room and inside the ward where Prasad is staying. Direction has been given to pay proper attention to Prasad when he comes out of his room for a walk. For supervision of the entire security arrangement, a Dy SP rank officer has been deputed and he will be under the supervision of S.P.(city) Saurabh Kumar. "Except doctors, no one is allowed to meet Prasad throughout the week except Saturday, when a person will be allowed after due permission of the jail authority in accordance with the jail manual," the police official said. Officer-in-charge of Bariatu police station, Sapan Kumar Mahatha, confirmed the development saying 'it was the same old security cover which was provided to Prasad when he was shifted to RIMS. "We have provided security but till a jail staff is not deputed outside the room where Lalu has been lodged it cannot be said proper as it is the final responsibility of the jail staff to properly frisk the person meeting a prisoner undergoing treatment outside the jail," Mahatha said. Notably, the Jail Superintendent, a couple of days back, held district police responsible for Prasad's reach to the mobile phone, which was used to give a call to NDA MLA to lure him to abstain during the election of the speaker in Bihar assembly. BIDEN ANNOUNCES 'CRISIS TESTED' ECONOMIC TEAM NEW YORK : US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced key members of his "crisis tested" economic team including Janet Yellen as Secretary of the Treasury, Neera Tanden as Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Wally Adeyemo as Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. Cecilia Rouse, will be the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers; and Jared Bernstein and Heather Boushey, members of the Council of Economic Advisers. The official statement from the Biden-Harris transition team features a couple of thick paragraphs on each member. Below is the extract on Neera Tanden, the first ever Indian-American tipped to lead the Office of Management and Budget: "Neera Tanden currently serves as President & CEO of the Center for American Progress, an organization dedicated to advancing policies that increase opportunity for every American. A veteran of multiple presidential administrations, Tanden has been a leading architect and advocate of policies designed to support working families, foster broad-based economic growth, and curb inequality throughout her career. Her experience as a child relying on food stamps and Section 8 housing -- a social safety net that offered her single mother the foundation she needed to land a good job and punch her family's ticket to the middle class -instilled in her the true necessity of an economy that serves the dignity and humanity of all people. If confirmed, Tanden would be the first woman of color and the first South Asian American to lead the OMB. First-of-its-kind museum to conserve sacred trees of Sikhism CHANDIGARH : Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator V.P. Singh Badnore on Monday virtually inaugurated the first-of-itskind Museum of Trees -- a unique environmental project here for conservation of sacred trees of Sikhism after which many Sikh gurudwaras are named. Extending Gurpurab greetings on the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the Governor said this was the most appropriate day and most appropriate manner of remembering Guru Nanak whose hymns are replete with references to nature, environment, trees, plants and animal life. The Governor warned that climate change is an immediate crisis for humanity and to meet this challenge people will have to come forward with ini- tiatives like the Museum of Trees to mobilise public opinion. He complimented former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) D.S. Jaspal for patiently working for 10 years to clone 12 sacred trees and hoped work on the remaining trees will also be completed soon. Tarlochan Singh, former member of Parliament and Minorities Commission of India Chairman, thanked the Governor for supporting the cause of conservation of sacred trees of Sikhism. He pointed out that Guru Nanak was the most widely travelled religious preacher of the world. The Guru interacted with common people in the open under the shadow of trees which is why most of the sacred trees are associated with Guru Nanak. He praised the government of India for supporting this project for conservation of sacred trees, since in many gurudwaras the sacred trees have been cut or have died due to improper care. Creator and curator of the Museum of Trees, D.S. Jaspal, thanked the Governor for supporting the project, which he said will be a source of attraction not only for Sikhs but for all nature lovers. Jaspal pointed out that many of the sacred trees also have botanical significance. For example, the Beri tree of Gurudwara Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodi is unique because it has very few spines. Similarly, the leaves of the peepal tree in Gurdwara Pipli Sahib have a unique yellow pigmentation. Jaspal said the trees are protected by entirely in-house organic spray of garlic, chillies and heeng mixed with water, which is why the trees are healthy and bearing rich fruit. Over a period of 10 years, the museum has been successful in reproducing genetically true replicas of 12 sacred trees, including Dukh Bhanjani ber tree of Golden Temple; Ber tree of Gurudwara Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi; Ber tree of Gurudwara Babe-di-Ber, Sialkot, Pakistan; and Peepal tree of Gurudwara Pipli Sahib, Amritsar.