YK MYK PANDEMIC HAS HAD DEVASTATING IMPACT ON LEARNING OF CHILDREN OPINION Rs. 5 RANCHI FRIDAY, 13 MAY, 2022 PG-12, YEAR—12, ISSUE—4 (RNI NO: JHAENG / 2012 / 44137) AT A GLANCE 9-YEAR-OLD BOY DIES DUE TO DROWNING IN PATRATU DAM RAMGARH: A 9-year-old boy, identified as Harish Kumar, died due to drowning on late Wednesday evening near the gate of Patratu Dam located in Labaga, the police said. The incident took place in Basal police station area. Harish, a resident of Patratu Kirigadha, had come here to attend his maternal uncle's wedding organised in the Maa Panchbahini temple complex. During this time, he went to take a bath in the gate complex of the dam located near the temple, where he slipped into the deep water and died. Basal police station in-charge Rajdeep Kumar said," Due to its proximity to the dam, people coming to Maa Panchbahini temple are attracted towards the water falling from the gate, which is causing accidents. Therefore, we will take initiative in the direction of installing barricades at the said site." Not only this, the station in-charge has also instructed the temple committee in this regard. —Manoj Sinha NEET-PG 2022 UNLIKELY TO BE POSTPONED NEW DELHI: Amid demands for postponing the NEET PG 2022 examination, several states have shown less interest to pursue such a course and there are "slim chances" for such a decision, sources said on Thursday. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also not received any assurance from the Union Health Ministry after a brief discussion, the sources said. CORONA METER INDIA TOTAL CASES: 43,113,413 TOTAL DEATHS: 524,181 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 519,269,404 TOTAL DEATHS: 6,282,801 SECOND COMING: 'PUSHPA: THE RULE' TO HAVE AN ENSEMBLE CAST SCREEN & CINEMA Morning India IAS Pooja Singhal suspended from service SANJAY SAHAY RANCHI: The state government has suspended mining secretary Pooja Singhal from her post in view of her arrest in the Mnrega scam and money laundering case. The personnel, administrative reforms and state language department issued a notice on Thursday saying that after her arrest under section 19 of the PMLA Act Singhal is being suspended with immediate effect according to the rules of All India Services (Discipline and appeal) Rules 1969. The notice further stated that after the period of her suspension, which would last till she become free, she would report to the personnel, administrative reforms and state language department. She would be provided with livelihood allowance during her suspension. Meanwhile the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday carried out the interrogation of Pooja Singhal at its zonal office for several hours. Her husband Abhishek Jha also came to the office later on. During course of investigation Singhal developed high blood pressure and had to be GLOBAL COVID SUMMIT WTO rules need to be flexible, WHO must be reformed: PM Modi Retail inflation surges to 7.79 per cent in April, highest in 8 yrs NEW DELHI: India's retail inflation surged to eightyear high of 7.79 per cent in April due to a sharp jump in fuel and edible oil prices, the government data showed on Thursday. The headline inflation is the highest in eight years. Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation in April 2022 is the highest since May 2014, when it stood at 8.33 per cent. Retail inflation has risen sharply. It stood at 6.95 per cent in March 2022. April 2022 retail inflation data is almost double from 4.23 per cent recorded in April 2021. The price rise was sharper in rural India. Rural retail inflation rose to 8.38 per cent in April as compared to 7.66 per cent in the previous month and 3.75 per cent in April 2021. Urban retail inflation surged to 7.09 per cent in April as compared to 6.12 per cent in March and 4.71 per cent in April 2021, according to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. A sharp jump in fuel and food prices has led to a INVESTORS SHED RS 5 LAKH CR AS DALAL STREET WITNESSES BLOODBATH NEW DELHI: Equity investors lost over Rs 5 lakh crore on Thursday as indices took a deep plunge due to the persisting high inflation in the US, below expected corporate earnings, amid fears of high inflation in India for the fourth straight month in April. Market cap of all BSE-listed firms fell by Rs 5.25 lakh crore to Rs 241.10 lakh crore against Rs 246.31 lakh crore in the previous session. PG 9 multi-year jump in inflation. Food inflation surged to 8.38 per cent in April from 7.68 per cent in the previous month and 1.96 per cent in April 2021. CAMPBELL WILSON TO PILOT AIR INDIA AS MD AND CEO MUMBAI: Tata Sons on Thursday announced the appointment of Campbell Wilson as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Air India. Wilson is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Airlines' wholly-owned subsidiary Scoot Air. Singapore Airlines (SIA) is a joint venture partner of Tata Group in full service carrier Vistara. After taking over loss-making Air India on January 27, Tatas, in February, had named Turkish Airlines' former Chairman Lyker Ayci as the carrier's MD and CEO. However, Ayci, who was to take over on April 1, declined to join the group amid concerns expressed over his appointment in certain quarters. "The Air India board approved the appointment of Wilson subject to requisite regulatory approvals, the company," Tata Sons said in a statement on Thursday. Wilson has expertise across both full service and low-cost airlines, it added. Ranil Wickremesinghe in new SL PM COLOMBO: United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Thursday sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka amid the worst economic crisis faced by the country that has seen violent anti-government protests. Wickremesinghe, who has served as Prime Minister five times, was administered the oath of office by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe accepted the post of Prime Minister after securing the support of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs, the Daily Mirror reported. Earlier today, Sri Lanka's Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said that his party will "devise a strategy" if United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickramasinghe is made the prime minister of the country. SW Monsoon to reach South Andaman Sea on May 15, may touch Kerala four days ahead too NEW DELHI: The Southwest Monsoon is likely to advance into South Andaman Sea and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal around May 15, almost four days earlier than its normal expected date, the India Meteorology Department (IMD) announced on Thursday. Kerala, too, may witness monsoon arrival four days early on May 26, as indicated by the IMD's extended range forecast. However, the official announcement regarding the exact date would be examined by a doctor. The doctor said that initially Singhal’s blood pressure was around 190 but after calming her down it reached 150/100. Meanwhile the ED also carried out searches in the house of Sarawgi brothers in Kanke road on Thursday. The builders were involved on the construction of the Pulse Hospital in Kanke. In another development the court has extended of the remand of chartered accountant Suman Kumar by four days . The ED had produced Suman before the court and pleaded for extension of custody by nine days. PG 3 made around May 15 when the IMD issues its second stage South-West Monsoon forecast. "Fairly widespread to widespread light/moderate rainfall is very likely over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the next five days. Isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over the region between May 14-16 even as squally weather with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, is also likely over south Andaman Sea on May 15 & 16," the IMD statement said. Southwest Monsoon - considered the real Finance Minister of India - has a wide ranging impact on India's economy with agriculture, economy, trade, travel, almost everything decided by the rainfall quantum and timing. NEW DELHI: Underlining the need for a coordinated response to combat future health emergencies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday the world must build a resilient global supply chain in the world order with a more flexible World Trade Organization (WTO). Delivering an address at the 2nd Global Covid Summit on the theme 'Preventing Pandemic Fatigue and P r i o r i t i z i n g Preparedness', PM Modi stressed on reformed World Health Organization (WHO) to build a resilient global health security architecture. During his speech, PM Modi called for streamlining WHO's approval process for vaccines and therapeutics, to keep the supply chain stable and predictable. "As a responsible member of the global community, India is ready to play a key role in these efforts." "A coordinated response is required to combat future health emergencies. We must build a resilient global supply chain and enable equitable access to vaccines and medicines. WTO rules need to be more flexible. WHO must be reformed and strengthened to build a more resilient global health security architecture," said PM Modi. PM Modi participated in the second Global COVID Virtual Summit at the invitation of US President Joe Biden. Rajiv Kumar named new CEC NEW DELHI: Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has been appointed the new Chief Election Commissioner of India with effect from May 15, an official statement said on Wednesday. According to the statement issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, he will take over on May 15 as incumbent Sushil Chandra's term ends on May 14. Rajiv Kumar is the senior most Election Commissioner in the three-member poll panel after Sushil Chandra. "The President is pleased to appoint Rajiv Kumar, the senior most Election Commissioner, as the Chief Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India. Rajiv Kumar will assume the charge of the office of the Chief Election Commissioner of India with effect from May 15, 2022 vice Shri Sushil Chandra consequent upon his demitting Office of the Chief Election Commissioner on May 14, 2022," it read. Rajiv Kumar, a 1984 batch IAS officer, was appointed as an Election Commissioner in September 2020. He retired as Finance Secretary in February 2020. During his over threedecade tenure in the government, he worked with various ministries at the Centre and in his state cadre of Bihar and Jharkhand. He joined as Election Commissioner in place of Ashok Lavasa. MORE ON PG 5