YK MYK GOD SAVE AMERICA AS TRUMP IS SET TO SETTLE SCORES WITH BIDEN OPINION RANCHI WEDNESDAY, 6 JAN, 2021 PG-12, YEAR—10, ISSUE—242 (RNI NO: JHAENG / 2012 / 44137) MAX 26 C MIN 11 C Sky will be partly cloudy. AT A GLANCE BRITISH PM CANCELS INDIA VISIT FOR REPUBLIC DAY LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday cancelled his planned trip to India to be a chief guest on Republic Day, saying it was important for him to remain in the United Kingdom to focus on the domestic response to the virus. A Downing Street spokeswoman said that Johnson spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning and expressed his regret that he will be unable to visit India later this month as planned. "The prime minister spoke to Prime Minister Modi this morning, to express his regret that he will be unable to visit India later this month as planned," a Downing Street spokeswoman said. INDIA HAS INCREASED SPEED, SCALE AND SCOPE OF DEVP: MODI NEW DELHI: PM Modi on Tuesday said that in recent years, India has increased its speed, scale and scope of development and the country cannot develop slowly now. PG 7 CORONA METER INDIA TOTAL CASES: 1,03,64,193 TOTAL DEATH: 149,930 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 86,250,039 TOTAL DEATH: 1,863,908 SCREEN & CINEMA Morning India Rs. 5 WEATHER TODAY TOP STARS FROM SOUTH SET FOR BOLLYWOOD SOJOURN THIS YEAR Ready to roll out vaccine within 10 days: Health Ministry NEW DELHI: Days after Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) gave approval to two COVID-19 vaccines, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday said that India is prepared to roll out vaccine within 10 days of emergency use authorisation (EUA), subject to government's nod. "We are prepared to roll out vaccine within 10 days of emergency use authorisation approvals. The final call will be taken by the government," Union Health Secretary told reporters here at a press briefing. This comes after the DCGI last week announced "restricted emergency use" for two COVID-19 vaccine candidates -Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN and Serum Institute of India's CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Covishield. Talking about the vaccination process, the Health Secretary said that healthcare workers and frontline workers would not need to register themselves as a beneficiary as their data has been stored in a bulk database. "Healthcare workers and frontline workers would not need to register themselves as a beneficiary as their data in bulk database that has been populated on the CoWIN vaccine delivery management system in a bulk manner," said Rajesh Bhushan. He further said, "When we would come to the population priority group, the provision of registration or editing of data would be used. The system electronically allows session allocation. ...The process of session allocation would be digital. Whether the beneficiaries has been vaccinated, this will be captured digitally." India's active COVID-19 cases are less than 2.5 lakhs and are continuing to fall which has led to a decline in Member (Health), NITI Aayog Dr. Vinod K. Paul and Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Rajesh Bhushan at a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday. ANI the overall burden on the health delivery structure, said Health Secretary. "The active cases in the country are less than 2.5 lakhs and continue to decline. The positivity rate stood at 1.97 per cent," he added. The Health Secretary further said that 44 per cent of active cases are in hospital with moderate or severe symptoms while 56 per cent of cases are very mild or asymptomatic and are in home isolation. India has reported 16,375 new COVID19 cases, 29,091 recoveries, and 201 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 1,03,56,845, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Tuesday. The total number of active cases ATTACK ON CM’S CONVOY Several Indian states COPS ON TOES TO report bird ARREST MASTERMIND flu outbreak POLICE FAIL TO GET CLUE TO GIRL’S MURDER RAJ KUMAR New Delhi [India], January 5 (ANI): Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, India has reported the emergence of bird flu since last week. The presence of the virus is confirmed in the dead birds in Madhya Pradesh and Kerala while Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat, too, have a strong suspicion of avian influenza in dead birds. Bird flu has been confirmed in two places in Kerala, said state's Minister for Forest, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development K Raju on Monday. Even on Tuesday in Jhalawar, Rajasthan 10 birds were found dead. But the report ascertaining the cause of death is yet to come. Till date, 138 birds died in Jhalawar since January 3. The emergence of bird flu has alarmed the city of Indore and Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh as well. The presence of the virus has been confirmed in the dead crows. Around 100 crows died in Mandsaur between December 23 and January 3. As a precautionary measure, the veterinarians have started conducting investigations in poultry farms. Meanwhile, animal husbandry department officials in every district have been put on alert and asked to follow standard operating procedures to check the spread of the virus. In Himachal Pradesh, after hundreds of winter migratory birds were found dead in the Pong Dam Lake sanctuary recently, Kangra KERALA ISSUES HIGH ALERT ALAPPUZHA: Kerala government has declared bird flu as a state-specific disaster and issued a high alert after the outbreak of bird flu was confirmed in certain parts of Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. Director of Animal Husbandry KM Dileep said that the presence of the H5N8 subtype of the Influenza A virus was reported in ducks in Karthikappally and Kuttanad taluks in Alappuzha and Neendoor in Kottayam. "The Animal Husbandry Department has taken all steps to contain the spread of infection. The culling of ducks in the area where bird flu was reported will be started and will be completed soon," he said. District Magistrate on Monday issued an order completely prohibiting the sale, purchase and export of any poultry products in Fatehpur, Dehra, Jawali and Indora areas of the district. The officials have a strong suspicion of Avian influenza in dead birds. However, the medical investigation of the cause is under process. RANCHI: Unhappy with an attack on the chief minister's convoy at Kishoreganj Chowk on Harmu Bypass Road on Monday by a mob protesting against police failure in getting a clue to a girl's murder, Director General of Police (DGP) M.V.Rao today said that those taking law into their hand will be handled with an iron hand and no one can save them. Terming the attack a conspiracy, Rao said, "We will not allow such kind of hooliganism. There is a conspiracy hatched behind the attack. Stern action will be taken against those involved in the incident." "Kanoon Ko Khilauna Samajhne wale ko aisa sabak Sikhayenga Ki Hamesha Yaad Rakhega, Iron Hand Se Kuchlenge, Koi Takat Nahi Rok Payega, Moorkh Log nahi Janta hai Kanoon Ki Takat Ko," DGP Rao roared with commitment before a section of media at well-fortified JAP ground, where he had turned up as a chief guest on the occasion of foundation day of JAP-1 battalion. His commitment also reflected in action of the police, who identified Bhairav Singh as the mastermind of the attack, kept on conducting raids at his various locations and adopted all tactics to ensure his arrest. The tactics included the detention of his close relatives, Ram Singh, and other family members to mount pressure and deputation of a huge number of police officers to find his whereabouts. However, till the filing of the report, Bhairav Singh could not be arrested. Like Bhairav, police also did not get any clue to the head of the girl, whose body was recovered on Sunday from a place near Sai University at Kucchu under GOVT FORMS TWO-MEMBER PANEL TO PROBE INCIDENT RANCHI: The State government today constituted a two-member high-level committee to probe the attack on the chief minister's convoy on Monday by a protesting mob at Kishoreganj Chowk on Harmu Bypass Road under Sukhdeonagar police station area in the heart of the state capital. The two members of the committee comprise a senior IAS and a senior IPS officer. The committee is expected to submit its report expeditiously after a proper probe in various aspects. At the time of taking decision for the constitution of the committee, the decision for issuance of show-cause notices to Ranchi deputy commissioner Chhavi Ranjan and Senior Superintendent of Police S.K.Jha was also taken. A mob that attacked the convoy while protesting against the recovery of the headless body of a woman. A police official sus- Ormanjhi police station area. Following the failure in the recovery of the head, the police increased the reward amount from Rs 25000 to Rs 50,000 to give any clue to the head. Apart from this, IG Akhilesh Jha visited the spot of crime himself to get any clue. A special investigation team (SIT) was also constituted and three telephone numbers were circulated among the public to give any clue. The numbers included 9431706136 (SSP), 7250514449 (SP, rural), 7764066357 (Dy SP, Silli) and 9431706183 (officer-incharge, Ormanjhi). Other than this, help from the police of neighbour- CM meeting people at his residence on Tuesday. tained injuries in the attack. The incident compelled police officials to divert the movement of the convoy to ensure safe movement of the chief minister who was returning to his official residence at Kanke Road from his office at Project Bhawan. ing districts is being taken. "A team of police personnel comprising three Dy.SPs, one inspector, two dozen women constables besides others kept on searching the head of the girl in the forest, drains, crop fields, rivulets but no clue was found today," a police official said. Contacted S.P(city) Saurabh Kumar for his comments in the matter of Monday's attack on CM's convoy, he said, "some arresting has taken place" but did not officially share the number and name. S.P (rural) Naushad admitted failure saying 'despite daylong effort no head could be recovered." INSIDE COVID-19: INDIA RECORDS LOWEST DAILY CASES IN OVER SIX MONTHS PAGE 5 stands at 2,31,036 while the total recoveries have reached 99,75,958. The death toll due to coronavirus has mounted to 1,49,850. DAYS BEFORE APPROVAL, BHARAT BIOTECH WAS ASKED FOR EFFICACY ANALYSIS PAGE 5 SC nod to Central Vista project, including new Parliament building NEW DELHI: In a major relief for the Modi government, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court cleared the redevelopment plan for Central Vista with a 2:1 majority on Tuesday, although with riders. The bench held that there were "no infirmities in clearances given, change in land use and the environmental clearances". However, it imposed some riders like clearance from heritage conservation committee. A bench comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna said the heritage conservation committee's approval is needed before consruction begins and directed that the project proponents to get that approval. The project envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with a seating capacity of up to 1,200 MPs. The project is estimated to be constructed by August 2022, when the country will celebrate its 75th Independence Day. On December 7, the top court had expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Centre for reportedly initiating construction process with announcement of ground breaking ceremony for the new parliament building in the Central Vista project, even as the issues connected with the redevelopment plan was under its consideration. On December 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the new Parliament building. The construction is expected to cost around Rs 971 crore and the common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024. XI WRESTS GREATER CONTROL OVER CHINA’S MILITARY ASKS PLA TO SCALE UP COMBAT READINESS TO ‘ACT AT ANY SECOND’ HONG KONG: On December 26, 2020, the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress rubber-stamped a revised National Defense Law, and it passed into legislation on the first day of this year. The casual observer might consider this yet another piece of meaningless legalese, but this law ushers in important changes first mooted two years ago. Three of the existing law's articles were entirely removed, six were added, and 54 articles were amended. The new law now comprises 73 articles arranged in twelve chapters. A Central Military Commission (CMC) official said the revised National Defense Law "reflects that China's national defense adapts to the times, serves righteous purposes and involves and serves the whole people". Official Chinese commentary listed seven significant changes in the law. First off, it listed that "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is established as the guiding thought over China's national defense activities". Mentioning it first can be construed as political correctness, something essential in an ideological system such as communism. The commentary's second point is that the defense duties of state organs are "adjusted", and "contents regarding the system wherein the CMC chairman shall assume overall responsibility are added". However, this description conveniently glosses over critical alterations in authority and process. The result is that the CMC, led by none other than Chairman Xi, now has full power to mobilize military and civilian assets to defend national interests both within China and abroad. Chinese acolytes applauded the move as strengthening the country's military under Xi's leadership. Outsiders see it as a dangerous move that gives Xi even greater powers to send the PLA into combat under far more spurious circumstances. It significantly weakens the role of the State Council - essentially China's cabinet - and allots far more power to the CMC, which is under Xi's control. This continues a trend that Xi instigated some time ago, of amassing far greater control and power directly beneath his mantle. Now the CMC has stronger decision-making powers, bypassing the 35-member State Council altogether. This council also has a reduced part to play in formulating national defense policy, and the right to mobilize troops. In other words, this law allows Xi to do an end run around the State Council, which now has a mere supporting role. Instead of the PLA being under civilian authority, as occurs in most Western countries through their ministries or departments of defense, China's military is now fully under Xi and the entirely military-dominated CMC. This raises the stakes, permitting greater Chinese adventurism without civilian oversight or intervention from China's state apparatus. Some members of the PLA have already been expressing hawkish sentiments and a desire to test its mettle against opponents like the USA. They will now have a greater ability to do so, and the threat of a disproportionate PLA response to a slight from a foreign power grows dangerously. If some elements are itching for a fight, they now have a greater ability to do so. The third major alteration in the law, as expressed by Chinese officialdom, is elaboration of the tasks and goals of constructing the armed forces. However, the fourth point of "defense policy for major security domains is specified in view of activities and interest-defending needs in newtype security domains" is another very important one. This is reflected in revised wording in the National Defense Law. For example, "disruption" and protecting "national interests" are added as reasons for mobilizing active-duty and reserve People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops. These terms are deliberately vague, giving the CMC enormous latitude in deciding what disruption and national interests may actually refer to. Thus, Collin Koh, Research Fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies in the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, commented that "development interests" are a term as "vaguely defined as it gets". The inclusion of "development interests" obviously includes Chinese investments and supplies of raw materials such as oil, upon which the Chinese economy is reliant. It will also incorporate Chinese citizens living abroad. Should any of these come under threat, Xi and his CMC companions could quickly declare a mobilization and launch offensive actions by the PLA.