YK MYK EXPORT WILL FUEL INDIA AS FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY IN THE WORLD OPINION Rs. 5 RANCHI FRIDAY, 14 JAN, 2022 PG-12, YEAR—11, ISSUE—247 (RNI NO: JHAENG / 2012 / 44137) AT A GLANCE ANOTHER MLA QUITS BJP IN UP; 7 RESIGNATIONS IN 3 DAYS FIROZABAD: In a fresh jolt to the BJP, Dr Mukesh Verma, MLA from Shikohabad Assembly constituency here, on Thursday resigned from the primary membership of the party alleging 'lack of respect' by the government towards backward classes and Dalits. Verma is the seventh legislator, including two ministers, to have resigned from the BJP over the last three days. Since the voices of the backward classes, Dalits, unemployed youth, traders of medium and small scale industries and shopkeepers among others are being ignored, I am resigning from the primary membership of the party, Verma stated in a letter to BJP state president Swatantra Dev Singh. THREE KILLED, MANY INJURED IN BENGAL TRAIN ACCIDENT KOLKATA: Three people were killed and several injured after four bogies of the Bikaner Express derailed in North Bengal on Thursday evening. The railway authorities have announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of those killed and Rs 1 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for the injured. "Deeply concerned to hear about the tragic accident of the BikanerGuwahati Express in Maynaguri. Senior officers of the State Government, DM/SP/IG North Bengal are supervising rescue and relief operations. Those injured will receive medical attention, as early as possible," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. According to the railway authorities, the derailment of the passenger train happened in the Alipurduar Division of North Frontier Railway between New Domohani and New Maynaguri stations in Alipurduar district. Train No. 15633 Up Exp left New Domohani station at 4.53 p.m. CORONA METER INDIA TOTAL CASES: 36,317,927 TOTAL DEATHS: 485,035 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 317,869,042 TOTAL DEATHS: 5,533,092 INDIA OPEN: SINDHU ADVANCES AFTER SRIKANTH TESTS COVID POSITIVE SPORTS Morning India Focus on local containment of COVID-19, maintain momentum of economy: PM to States, UTs NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked States and Union Territories to maintain the momentum of the economy and focus on local containment while making strategies to check the spread of COVID-19. "While making any strategy, it is very important to keep in mind that there should be minimum damage to the livelihood of the common people, economic activities, and momentum of the economy should be maintained. So it would be better to focus more on local containment," the Prime Minister said while addressing Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors of States and UTs. The Prime Minister chaired a comprehensive high-level meeting with Chief Ministers and Lt Governors/Administrators of States and UTs to review public health preparedness to COVID-19 and national COVID-19 vaccination progress. During the meeting the Prime Minister stressed that we should be in the position to provide maximum treatment in home isolation situations and for that home isolation guidelines should keep on improving and they should be strictly followed. He said that use of tele-medicine facilities in treating will help a great deal. Union Ministers Amit Shah, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar were among those present. Officials briefed the meeting about the latest updates on the pandemic situation. Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister noted that India's battle with the biggest pandemic of 100 years has now entered its third year. "Hard work is our only path and victory is our only option. We, 130 crore people of India, will surely emerge victorious against Corona with our efforts", he said. MORE ON PG 5 Several girls rescued from bonded labour MI NEWS SERVICE Devotees ignore social distancing norms and carry their belongings to leave for Ganga Sagar Mela from Babughat transit camp, in Kolkata on Thursday. People must follow Covid norms: CM SANJAY SAHAY RANCHI: Chief Minister (CM) Hemant Soren on Thursday said a section of people having both the dozes of vaccine feel that they would not be infected and are moving at public places without precaution adding the centre and the state should frame a joint strategy to stop such behavior. The CM was speaking in the virtual meeting held by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the CMs of states on Covid situation. Soren said, “The people violating the Covid norms get infected and also infect the others.” He informed that schools, colleges, gymnasiums, parks and other public places have been closed in India improves global passport rank; Japan, Singapore top list NEW DELHI: The Indian passport now ranks at 83rd position on the Henley Passport Index, climbing seven places from the 90th rank last year, the Londonbased global citizenship and residence advisory firm, said. It released the rankings for the year 2022, based on exclusive data provided by the International Air Transport Association. As per the report, Japan and Singapore top the list of being the most powerful passports in the world for the year 2022. The visa-free score of both countries is at 192. Afghanistan (rank 111) and Iraq (rank 110) continue to be in the 'worst passports to hold' category having a visa-free score of 26 and 28 respectively. Pakistan's passport is fourth among the worst or least powerful passports. The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different destinations. Updated quarterly, the Henley Passport Index is considered the standard reference tool for the global citizen and sovereign states for assessing passport rank on the global mobility spectrum. The Pakistani passport has been ranked as the fourth worst passport for international travel for the third con- secutive year, local media reported citing the report by the Henley Passport Index 2022 on Thursday. According to the report, Pakistani passport holders have visa-free or visa-onarrival access to 31 destinations around the world. The Henley Passport Index, which is a ranking of all the world's passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa, placed Pakistan on the 108th position. Henley & Partners firm's "Henley Passport Index" has been regularly monitoring the world's most travel-friendly passports since 2006, The News International reported. "The increasing travel barriers that have been introduced over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in the widest global mobility gap in the index's 16-year history," said the WORLD report. Jharkhand, He said necessary instructions have been issued to officials to prevent gathering of people adding awareness drive on compliance of Covid prevention norms are also being carried out. The CM stated efforts were on in Jharkhand to strengthen health infrastructure and their management in order to fight Covid’s third wave. He added that due to steps taken by state government chaos and mismanagement is not prevailing in Jharkhand. The CM mentioned that vaccination drive is challenging task in state due to its backwardness and difficult terrain. He stated that with better strategy, state have been able to administer first doze to 80 percent of eligible population and second UK LAUNCHES FTA NEGOTIATIONS WITH INDIA LONDON: The UK government on Thursday announced the launch of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India, describing it as a "golden opportunity" to put British businesses at the "front of the queue" of the Indian economy. British PM Boris Johnson said an FTA would take the country's historic partnership with India to the next level, and highlighted Scotch whisky, financial services and cutting-edge renewable technology among some of the key sectors set to benefit. The first round of negotiations is expected to start next week, which the British government said would make it the UK's quickest start of formal talks between negotiating teams following a launch. "A trade deal with India's booming economy offers huge benefits for British businesses, workers and consumers. As we take our historic partnership with India to the next level, the UK's independent trade policy is creating jobs, increasing wages and driving innovation across the country," Johnson said. Forest cover in India increased by 24 pc since 2019, says report NEW DELHI: The forest and tree cover in India is now 8,09,537 sq kms, which is 24.62 per cent of the country's geographical area and 1,540 sq kms more compared to the 2019 assessment, said the India State of Forest Report 2021, released by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav at a virtual ceremony on Thursday. The total forest cover is 7,13,789 sq kms, which is 21.71 per cent of the geographical area of the country while tree cover is 95,748 sq kms (2.91 per cent of GA). This is an increase of 2,261 sq kms (0.28 per cent) in total forest and tree cover in the country compared to the 2019 assessment. The area under Very Dense Forest, Moderately Dense Forest and Open Forest is 99,779 sq kms, which is 3.04 per cent of the geographical area (GA), 3,06,890 sq kms (9.33 per cent of GA) and 3,07,120 sq kms (9.34 per cent of GA) ANI respectively. The top five states in terms of increase in forest cover are Andhra Pradesh (647 sq kms, Telangana (632 sq kms), Odisha (537 sq kms), Karnataka (155 sq kms) and Jharkhand (110 sq kms). The country's tree cover (small patches outside forests) which is on the rise, is estimated to be 95,748 sq km, or 2.91 per cent of GA. There is an increase of 721 sq kms in the vegetative cover as compared to the 2019 data, the report said. An important aspect highlighted in the report is the mangrove cover for the vast 7,500 kms coastline spread over 12 states and Union Territories. The latest report mentions that the mangrove cover is 4,992 sq kms, which is 0.15 per cent of the GA. There has been a net increase of 17 sq kms in the mangrove cover compared to 2019. Odisha (8 sq kms) and Maharashtra (4 sq kms) have shown improvement. doze to 50 percent. He said that 22 percent of the population between 15 to 18 years group have received their first doze while 30,000 people have been administered the booster doze. The CM said that 150 mobile vaccination vans are functional to cover the people living in the remote areas. He said that testing drive has also been speeded up while mentioning that earlier 30 to 35 thousands samples were tested in the state adding now 80,000 samples are being examined per day. He stated that the modern RT-PCR and the Cobas machine are being used in the exercise. He said that people living in isolation are being regularly monitored and provided medical kits. RANCHI: Around half a dozen girls who were forced to work as bonded labouerer in Bengaluru were rescued on the initiative of the Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Among them was Anjali Paan of Musabani of East Singhbhum district. She was on her way back to Jharkhand on Thursday. She said that after getting training at skill development centre they went to Bengaluru to work in a cloth industry. She said the employers, however, did not provide the facilities promised to them adding all of them were also ill-treated. The living condition and food were not adequate she said adding the warden threatened to beat them when they complained about the situation. When the girls expressed desire to return back they were forced to work. The girls appealed to the skill development centre at Dimna and also the CM and the local MLA to help them return home. The CM asked the labour department and the east Singhbhum deputy commissioner to ensure the return of the girls as soon as possible. All of them have thanked the state administration for the step taken to ensure their return. POLICE SEIZE 6 ARMS FROM AMBAGAN RANCHI: Police have recovered six pistols and around 80 cartridges in a raid carried out in the Ambagan area. Police said that the raid was conducted in connection with supply of arms and ammunition to the extremist organisation People Liberation Front of India. It added that eight persons and a woman have been arrested in connection with the case so far. The police are verifying the antecedent of the woman.