Email: ssdaily2013@gmail.com • www.sunvillasamachar.com • RNI No.: GUJENG/2014/59629 Editor : Kapilkumar M. Hirpara
Priyanka Chopra Jonas announces sequel of We Can Be Heroes
January _ 06, 2021, Wednesday Year : 5 I Issue : 155 Page : 4 I Price : 1/Annual Subscription : 300/www.sunvillasamachar.com Ahmedabad Edition
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ENGLISH DAILY MORNING REPUTED NEWS PAPER, AHMEDABAD EDITION
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IND vs AUS: KL Rahul ruled out of BorderGavaskar Trophy Page : 2
Kapil Sharma to make Netflix debut; makes an ‘auspicious’ announcement Page : 3
‘No connection between my Delhi visit and change in Maharashtra Congress’ leadership’: MPCC chief Balasaheb Thorat
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Dry run for Covid-19 vaccination in Maharashtra on January 8: Health minister Rajesh Tope MUMBAI:Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope on Tuesdayannounced that a dry run for the Covid-19 vaccination will be conducted inall the districts of the state on January 8.Tope said that the state government is fully geared up for the vaccinationdrive and the drive can begin once the Centre gives the vaccine stocks. “The dry run is being conducted to check whether all the preparations are in sync and if there is any need for any further fine tuning,” said Tope. He also said that he is insisting that the Centre should bear the cost of the vaccination for people from the below
poverty line. “It is good that theCentre is paying for the vaccination of the frontline workers but there are many people for whom it will be difficult to bear thecost of getting vaccinated And these are people who are also highly vulnerable to the virus and I am of the opinion that theCentre should at least cover them,” said TopeA dry was conducted in four districts of the state on January 2, it was seen man power was well coordinated but there wereissues with h the internet in some parts of the state which made it difficult to use the Central app allotted for the vaccination purpose.
British PM Boris Johnson calls off India visit, cites need to oversee response to Covid-19 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled the planned trip to India later this month, citing the need to personally oversee the pandemic response in the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Boris Johhnson on Tuesday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed his inability to visit India, where he had been invited to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade.A Downing Street spokesperson said: “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”.“In light of the national lockdown announced last night,
and the speed at which the new coronavirus variant is spreading, the Prime Minister said
that it was important for him to remain in the UK so he can focus on the domestic response to
the virus”.“The leaders underlined their shared commitment to the bilateral relationship, and to continuing to build on the close collaboration between our countries – including in response to the pandemic”.“The Prime Minister said that he hopes to be able to visit India in the first half of 2021, and ahead of the UK’s G7 Summit that Prime Minister Modi is due to attend as a guest.” The Johnson government has been grappling with continuing surge of Covid-19.
Shiv Sena targets BJP Sensitise parents on consequences of underage driving: Delhi govt to schools over Mumbai caves row
Actress Ananya Panday, sporting a cute sunflower bikini posted this picture
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Bihar prepared for Covid-19 vaccination drive, says CM Nitish Kumar Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Tuesday the state is prepared for the coronavirus vaccination and doses would be administered to healthcare, frontline workers and those above 50 years of age on a priority basis. He added that the state government would abide by the Centre’s guidelines and conduct the vaccination effectively. “We’re prepared for Covid-19 vaccination in Bihar. It will be given to the healthcare workers, frontline workers and people above 50 years on priority. We will be following the central guideline & will conduct the vaccination effectively,” Kumar said while speaking to reporters. Earlier, the chief minister asked health officials to keep up the high rate of testing. Reviewing the functioning of the state’s health department, Kumar further told officials that vaccination drive should be accomplished with all alertness in accordance with the ‘pulse polio drive’ which saw Bihar getting rid of the disease. The state cabinet on December 15 had approved the inoculation of the entire population free of cost once the vaccine becomes available. Bihar has registered nearly 254,000 coronavirus cases till now of which 1,408 people have died and 247,484 have recovered, according to the Union health ministry’s dashboard.
MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena, while targeting the state BJP, asked why those were raising questions over the Jogeshwari Mahakali caves land were not asking the Centre about “encroachment” by the Chinese army on Indian land on the Ladakh border. After the state said it wanted to develop Mahakali caves in Jogeshwari, the BJP had alleged that the Sena was trying to hand over the land to private developers. Referring to these allegations, the Sena mouthpiece Saamna in its editorial on Monday stated
that “BJP’s mind and heart is filled with developers.” “So they see developers in every other decision taken by the state. Just to blackmail and to run a campaign maligning the
26-yr-old’s body severed below waist after train hit, dies after 14-hr battle for life A 26-year-old man whose body got severed from waist downwards after a train ran over him died at a hospital here after battling for life for close to 14 hours, police said Tuesday.The man had allegedly attempted suicide by jumping before a train on the tracks behind Hathauda stadium early on Monday.“He was brought to the trauma centre on Monday. A team of doctors was pressed into service, but he died at 11.50 pm on Monday,” Government Medical College spokesperson Pooja
Tripathi said Tuesday.She said the man, a taxi driver, was administered blood regularly but he could not survive. “He died of shock,” she said.A resident of Hathorha village under Roza police station, the man had allegedly laid himself down on the tracks with the intention of killing himself, police said.Police have sent the body for post-mortem examination. Emergency medical officer Dr Mohammed Meraj had said Monday, Harshvardhan’s body was severed below the hip joint.
government’s image is not the only duty of leader of opposition,” Saamna stated. Saamna said that the BJP should clarify if China had encroached on Indian land.
The Delhi government has directed all schools in the national capital to sensitise parents against driving of vehicles by underage students and about its legal consequences. Schools have also been asked to ensure that no student who is underage be allowed to commute to and from school driving any vehicle.“Incidents of offences by juveniles while driving vehicles are on the rise. In this context, attention of all parents and heads of schools of Delhi is brought to the Section 199 A (1 and 2) and 199 B of ‘The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019’...,” the Directorate of Education (DoE) said in a letter to school principals.
The law states that if an offence has been committed by a juvenile, “the guardian of or the owner of the motor vehicle shall be deemed to be guilty of the contravention and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly”, it said.“Students and their parents should be made aware of the above
provisions of the law and penalties and consequences of their violations through classroom instructions, school assembly (whenever schools re-open), online instructional mediums used by the teachers, parent teacher meetings, school notice board,” the DoE said. Help of school management committee members can also be taken to spread awareness in this regard, it said. Schools have been directed to sensitise parents to ensure that no student who is underage and does not hold a valid driving license be permitted to drive any vehicle or commute to and from school driving any vehicle, according to the DoE letter.
Heavy snowfall in Kashmir gives tourism sector a boost The reduction in the number of Covid-19 infections in Jammu and Kashmir and a few spells of snowfall in late December and January have led to tourists arriving in the Valley in large numbers after 16 months. “From Christmas, the arrivals of tourists has increased considerably. Despite the pandemic, people are confident about travelling. And since the vaccine is coming, we expect the numbers to increase further,” said director of tourism, Kashmir, Nisar Wani. He said 20-30 tourists would arrive per day in July, 2020, and there have been over 1,000 visitors every day since December 25, 2020. The inflow of tourists, however, was disrupted after surface and air traffic was suspended from Sunday following heavy snowfall. Although we have zero arrival during these three days, we expect the fresh snowfall will give further impetus to tourism. We are hopeful of a good season this year,” Wani said.Mostly, tourists in winter rush to Gulmarg, located in the Pir Panjal mountain range in the western Himalayas, about 50km from Srinagar in north Kashmir. The place is home to one of Asia’s largest and highest cable cars. Assistant manager, Gondola Project, Fayaz Ahmad said that Gulmarg was packed on Christmas and New Year ’s Eve.“Snowfall was on time this year, and Kashmir is almost Covid-19-free. We follow proper protocol right from the airport. So domestic tourists prefer to come here than go abroad.
India has increased in speed, scale and scope of development : PM The PMO said in a statement the 450km long pipeline built by GAIL marks an important milestone towards the creation of ‘One nation, One Grid’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (January 5) inaugurated the natural gas pipeline from Kerala’s Kochi to Mangaluru in Karnataka via video conferencing and said the project will have a ‘positive impact’ on the economic growth in the two southern states.“This is an important day for India, especially for the people of Kerala and Karnataka. These two states are being connected by a natural gas pipeline,”
PM Narendra Modi said. He added that the pipeline will facilitate the ease of living for lakhs of people in both the states and also give a boost to the tourism sector. PM Modi said he didn’t wish to talk about the reasons behind the rate of India’s progress in previous decades, adding, the country cannot develop slowly now. “In recent years, the country has increased its speed, scale, and scope of development,” he said.
Central Vista project case of ‘misplaced priorities’, says Congress after Supreme Court nod
The Congress party on Tuesday called the government’s Central Vista project a case of ‘misplaced priorities’ of a ‘whimsical autocrat’ hours after the Supreme cleared the redevelopment plan which includes construction of a new Parliament Building and a common Central Secretariat. “The 13,450 CR Central Vista Project is not a legalistic issue but a case of ‘misplaced priorities’ of a ‘whimsical autocrat’ seeking to etch his
name in the annals of history with cement & mortar,” the grand old party’s national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala wrote on Twitter. He also took a swipe at the Centre over the purchase of “aircraft for the Prime Minister” and deduction of allowances for soldiers and central government employees. “Ironical that In times of Corona pandemic & economic recession, Delhi has 14,000 CR for Central Vista & 8,000 CR
for buying aircrafts for PM. But the same BJP Govt imposes cuts of 37,530 CR in allowances of 113 Lakh Armed Forces & Central Govt Employees & Pensioners,” he wrote in another post on the microblogging site. Surjewala went on to accuse the government of having no time to provide ‘heated tents and equipment’ to army men braving the cold in Ladakh. “PM must not forget that he has imposed cuts of 11,000 CR on 15 lakh Soldiers &
26 lakh Military Pensioners. And the same BJP Govt at Centre has no time to provide ‘heated tents and equipment’ to our soldiers braving brazen Chinese incursions in Ladakh,” he tweeted. Earlier in the day, the apex court gave a go-ahead to the Central Vista project by a 2:1 majority. The three-judge bench, however, insisted that the clearance of the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) will be mandatory and the same should be obtained
by the project consultant before proceeding with the development work.The redevelopment plan includes a new Parliament building, and a common secretariat for Central government offices along with the Prime Minister office and residence, Special Protection Group building and Vice-President Enclave. Apart from a new Parliament building, the Central Vista project involves constructing a common Central Secretariat along with residences of
Prime Minister and vicepresident, and a revamp of the 3-km-long Rajpath, from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate. The new triangular complex, often described as the centre-piece of the Central Vista project, will be big enough to house 1,224 MPs lawmakers — 888 in the Lok Sabha and 384 in the Upper House. It is targeted to be built by 2024. The 64,500 sq m new building will replace the 93-year-old existing Parliament house.
SUNVILLA SAMACHAR wEDNESDAY, 06, january, 2021
Communication strategies are critical for shaping perceptions around coronavirus vaccines Following the approval of two vaccines by the drug regulator, the prime minister has reiterated that India is on the threshold of the largest vaccination programme in the world. In that context, an editorial in this newspaper (‘Turning Point’, IE, January 4) rightly pointed to the need “to follow the science and for public communication messages to be framed accordingly”. Similar sentiments were expressed by the PM and the Union health minister recently. Contrarian views to both vaccine approval and the programme have included debates around institutional processes, pure politics, anti-vaccine sentiments and, of course, conspiracy theories.Recently released data from a survey in India of approximately 11,000 respondents revealed that 53 per cent were unsure about taking the COVID-19 vaccine. A citizen-survey platform in Delhi found that about 69 per cent of respondents saw no urgent need to get immunised and noted that key reasons for hesitancy included limited information about side-effects, efficacy levels and perceived high immunity levels. This resonates with a global survey (in collaboration with the World Economic Forum) conducted in October 2020 of more than 18,000 adults from 15 countries that reported confidence being down by 4 points compared to the previous round in August 2020. Vaccination intent declined in 10 of the 15 countries, most of all in China, Australia, Spain and Brazil. Globally, 10 per cent reported they were against vaccines in general, including 14 per cent in India and South Africa. Other key reasons included perceptions that the vaccine will not be effective (up to a sixth of the respondents in Germany) and that the risk of their getting COVID-19 is low (up to a fifth of all respondents in China and Australia).The WHO’s SAGE (Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation) Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy defines hesitancy as a behavioural phenomenon that is vaccine and context specific and measured against an expectation of reaching a specific vaccination coverage goal, given that immunisation services are available. They also recognise that demand and hesitancy are not completely congruent, and that an individual or a community may fully accept vaccination without hesitancy but may not demand a specific vaccine. The WHO EURO Vaccine Communications Working Group proposed the 3Cs model to unravel layered challenges: Complacency, confidence and convenience. Vaccine confidence encompasses trust in the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine; the system that delivers, including the reliability and competence of the health services and professionals and the perceived motivations of policy-makers making decisions on the vaccine. Vaccination complacency exists where perceived risks of the disease in question are low and vaccination is not deemed a necessary preventive action. Vaccination convenience is a significant factor that entails physical availability, affordability and willingnessto-pay (for those who would not be eligible for, or would not like to avail of, the government programme).Communication strategies are critical for tracking, negotiating and shaping perceptions around the vaccines and the programme. Since it is a new disease against which several candidate vaccines are being developed and licensed in a fast-tracked manner, communication strategies and responses need to be shaped around four key themes: Product development, prioritisation strategies, programme rollout activities, and AEFI (Adverse Effects Following Immunisation) and AESI (Adverse Effects of Special Interest). There are reasonable questions and concerns in popular discourse and will shape perceptions around the vaccine, including demand and hesitancy. These require not just clear proactive sharing of information to build trust and confidence but also real-time responses as vaccination progresses. With the programme rollout around the corner, both vaccine optimism and vaccine scepticism co-exist. Indeed, each one of us is a believer and a nonbeliever in parts, not quite unlike deciding on whether or not to vote for a new party in a critical election. Communication challenges around the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy are unique and it would be of limited relevance to fall back on the conventional wisdom of anti-vaccine lobbies and vaccine hesitancy where the point of reference is with childhood vaccines and eradication/elimination campaigns such as polio - Kapilkumar M. Hirpara or measlesrubella. Editor
NYSE scraps plan to delist China Telcos in ‘bizarre’ U-turn
The New York Stock Exchange said it will no longer delist China’s three biggest state-owned telecommunications companies, backtracking on a plan that had threatened to escalate tensions between the world’s largest economies. NYSE’s U-turn came with scant explanation just four days after the exchange said it would remove the shares to comply with a U.S. executive order barring investments in businesses owned or controlled by the Chinese military. Citing “consultation with relevant regulatory authorities” for the reversal in a brief statement late Monday, NYSE declined to elaborate further.“This
is the most bizarre series of events we have witnessed in the U.S. during this analyst’s career,” said Edison Lee, the head of telecom research at Jefferies in Hong Kong.While the impact on China Mobile and its two peers was always likely to be minimal given the bulk of their shares trade in Hong Kong, the delisting plan had heightened concerns about tit-for-tat sanctions between China and the U.S. as tensions between the superpowers simmer. Chinese businesses without military links are also potentially vulnerable to delisting after Trump signed legislation with bipartisan support last month that could kick Chinese firms off U.S.
06.01.2021, Wednesday
VVS Laxman expects century from Rohit Sharma on return
The Australian wickets suit Rohit Sharma’s batting style and if he can see off the pacers with the new ball, the Indian vice-captain can conjure a big century in the Sydney Test, reckons former India batsman VVS Laxman.An injury during the IPL forced Rohit to miss a major part of the Australia tour, where India lost the ODI series, won the T20 assignment and the Test series is locked at 1-1.Laxman feels struggling opener Mayank Agarwal, who has scores of 17, 9, 0, 5 in the first two matches, will make way for Rohit in the Sydney Test, starting Thursday.“The Indian cricket team will be very pleased to have Rohit
Sharma back, especially when Virat is not there. You want more experience in the Indian dressing room, because now is the perfect opportunity for us to go 2-1 in Sydney and then probably win 3-1,” Laxman said on Star Sports’ show ‘Cricket Connected’.“Rohit Sharma himself would like to showcase his talent, because I always feel that his style of batting and talent is very
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EDITORIAL
suited for the Australian wicket.“So, if he gets his eye in, if he sees through the new ball, I’m sure that a big hundred is on the cards as far as Rohit’s batting is concerned,” he adde.Rohit has featured in only 32 Tests since making his debut in 2013.Laxman also said that Indian team fought back in splendid fashion after the Adelaide Test debacle.“See, a lot can be talked off the field but I think the reply, and a very a fitting reply has been given by the Indian team.“It’s obvious that once you’re bowled out for 36, various cricket experts will think that Virat Kohli leaving the series and (Mohammed) Shami being ruled out.
SPORTS ROUNDUP
How Steph Curry turned around a poor start to drop a career-high 62 points
After suffering a slow start to the season and hordes of criticism on whether he could carry the Golden State Warriors this season,
IND vs AUS: KL Rahul ruled out of Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Indian batsman KL Rahul has been ruled out of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a wrist injury he sustained while batting in the nets on Saturday.“KL Rahul sprained his left wrist while batting in the nets at the MCG during Team India’s practice session on Saturday. The wicketkeeperbatsman will not be available for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he will need about three weeks time to recover completely and regain full strength,” BCCI said in a statement issued on Tuesday. It also stated that Rahul will now return to India and head to the National Cricket
Academy in Bengaluru for further rehabilitation of his injury.The stylish batsman’s absence from the squad will add more woes to the side as the visitors have already lost Mohammed Shami and Umesh Sharma due to
injury. While Team India are without Virat Kohli in these three Tests and Ishant Sharma could also not be a part of the squad. Though Rohit Sharma is all set to play in the third Test in Sydney starting from
Business
January 7, KL Rahul’s injury has come as a major blow to the Ajinkya Rahane-led side. Rahul was expected to make a comeback in Test XI for India, following a string of low scores from Hanuma Vihari. Vihari has scored 45 runs in last three innings. The injury also puts Rahul in doubt for the four-match home Test series against England, which begins February 5.The four-match Test series is currently level at 1-1 after India’s heroic win in the Boxing Day Test. Skipper Rahane led the side from the front with a 112run knock in the first innings which helped India register an 8-wicket win.
MS Dhoni’s new ‘avatar’ from Captain Cool to vegetable exporter first time that Chennai Super Kings failed to qualify for the playoffs of the Indian Premier League. Following the end of the IPL, MS Dhoni was seen holidaying in Dubai with his wife Sakshi where he met Yuzvendra Chaha and his wife Dhanashree Verma. Now, MS Dhoni has assumed a new avatar following the end of his international cricket stint.In a report in Times of India, MS Dhoni is indulging in a new hobby and that is vegetable farming. The Agricultural department in Ranchi has decided to take on the mantle of sending fresh vegetables to UAE and other nations in the Gulf. Farm Fresh Agen-
Oil extends losses after OPEC+ talks suspended without decision
emergency for the Tokyo area. Several Asian refiners won’t be getting into long-term supply contracts for fuel sales this year, a sign the region’s energy consumption recovery is far from certain, although a cold snap in the northern hemisphere is aiding demand for heating fuels.Crude had risen to near $50 a barrel earlier on Monday, aided by a weak dollar. The early stages of Covid-19 vaccine rollouts have stoked optimism that
Owners of small businesses have demanded imposition of a special tax of 5% on online retailers and lowering of income tax rate to 22% on partnership and LLP firms in the next Union budget to help them survive, a traders’ body said on Tuesday.Traders and retailers, who have been going through a tough time in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, contribute about 22% to the country’s GDP and provides employment to lakhs of people, Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal (FAIVM) claimed in its budget proposal to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.“The traders’ community of India has been in a miserable condition after the demonetisation and the complex GST system were implemented. The growing e-commerce business has further raised the question of survival of nation’s brick and mortar trade. So it is very important to impose a special tax of five per cent on the total business of online retailers,” FAIVM general secretary VK
demand will rebound with the global economy, and oil has emerged as a trade to hedge inflation. But with so many mobility curbs still on the horizon, the demand outlook for gasoline and diesel will get worse before it gets better, according to Amrita Sen, co-founder consultant Energy of Aspects Ltd.“OPEC+ is not jumping the gun despite the distribution of vaccines because global demand is still heavily impacted by the virus resurgence,” said Will Sungchil Yun, a senior commodities analyst at VI Investment Corp. in Seoul. “The group is likely to reach a compromise in its extended talks that will keep prices in the current range in the short term.”
cy, a new initiative of MS Dhoni, will grow plenty of fruits and vegetables in his farmhouse at Ring Road in Sembo village of Jharkhand. The report stated that MS Dhoni’s farm, which is about 10 hectares in size, will include strawberries, cabbage, tomatoes, broccoli, peas, hock and papaya. One hopes that just in his cricket career, MS Dhoni achieves success in this new endeavor of his.
Traders’ body urges govt to lower income tax on partnership firms
Traders and retailers, who have been going through a tough time in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, contribute about 22% to the country’s GDP and provides employment to lakhs of people, Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal (FAIVM) claimed in its budget proposal to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Oil extended losses in Asia after dropping the most in almost two weeks as OPEC+ talks were unexpectedly suspended due to a disagreement over whether to raise output in February.Futures in New York fell toward $47 a barrel after slumping 1.9% on Monday. Discussions will resume Tuesday after a majority of members, including Saudi Arabia, opposed Russia’s proposal for another supply hike. The rift between Riyadh and Moscow brings back memories of last year’s crippling price war.The talks are happening against a shaky short-term demand backdrop. England was ordered into a third lockdown until mid-February and Japan is considering another state of
Steph Curry exploded against the Portland Trail Blazers, dropping a career-high 62 points in a mere 36 minutes of play. He was 18-31 from the field and 8-16 from threepoint range — 18 of his 62 points came from the free throw line where he went 18-19.With his historic shooting numbers down and the Warriors losing three of their first five games, including a loss to former teammate Kevin Durant’s Brooklyn Nets, questions were asked about Curry and whether he was capable of regaining his special touch.
Bansal said.The traders’ body also claimed that the online retailers have experienced a surge in their revenue and reported sales of $4.1 billion in a week of October 2020 during the festive season.“An income tax on partnership firms and limited liability partnership entities should be levied at 22%, instead of 30% at present. This will bring it at par with income tax applicable to corporate,” he said.The FAIVM has also requested the government to offer an interest subvention scheme for loans being provided to traders so that they can continue their businesses under the present circumstances. Service sector retail businesses should also be given all benefits which are being extended to MSMEs, including the issuance of Udhyog Adhaar.
Qantas reopens ticket sales for international flights from July
Qantas Airways Ltd. has started taking bookings for international flights from July 1 in a perhaps optimistic view that by then, vaccinations will have begun to curb the spread of the coronavirus and travel demand will pick up.Ticket sales for Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, which had been set to start in March, have been pushed back to July, while other destinations like London have been brought forward from October, Australia’s national carrier said Tuesday. New Zealand is the only overseas destination to which Qantas is currently flying.“Recently we have aligned the selling of our international services to reflect our expectation that international travel will begin to restart from July 2021,” Qantas said. “We continue to review and update our international schedule in response to the developing Covid-19 situation.”Although countries including Singapore, China, Israel, the U.S. and the U.K. have started vaccinating their populations, Australia is yet to authorize a Covid jab and doesn’t plan to offer a shot until March. The country canceled a local vaccine development last month after trials showed it could interfere with HIV
diagnoses. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has said that a vaccine will be necessary for quarantine-free travel to resume to the
U.S. and the U.K., where infections are surging. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a third national lockdown
in England starting from Monday night until mid-February on fears the National Health Service will be overwhelmed.A hankering for travel among Australians has meant Qantas has been busy on the home front. In December, Qantas said it expects to fly the vast majority of its normal domestic schedule in the first quarter after major state borders reopen. By June, the airline should be generating enough cash to begin repairing its balance sheet.Authorities do at least appear to be top of controlling virus clusters in Australia’s two-most populous states, with New South Wales on Tuesday recording four new locally acquired cases from the day before, while Victoria had three.Still, New South Wales officials are concerned after an 18-year-old Sydney man tested positive after traveling to outback areas including Broken Hill for a camping trip. Testing clinics are being set up in the remote towns he visited. To date, the Australian government has banned citizens from leaving the country unless they receive an exemption, which can include travel for business, as part of the coronavirus fight or on compassionate grounds.
SUNVILLA SAMACHAR
06.01.2021, Wednesday
BOLLYWOOD-HOLLYWOOD
Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar begin shooting for Badhaai Do
Badhaai Do, a comedy drama starring Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar, went on floors on Tuesday. The film is a sequel
to the National Award winning hit, Badhaai Ho!.Pednekar took to Instagram and shared an image from the first day of the shoot in
Dehradun, Uttarakhand.“Poori team ko #BadhaaiDo (Congratulate the entire team). To new beginnings!” the 31-year-old actor wrote.Badhaai Do is directed by Harshvardhan Kulkarni, who helmed the Gulshan Devaiahstarrer comedy Hunterrr (2015).The upcoming film is written by Suman Adhikary and Akshat Ghildial, who had co-written Badhaai Ho!.Badhaai Do marks the first collaboration between Rao and Pednekar, who reportedly play a cop and a PT teacher, respectively.Badhaai Ho!, the original movie, chronicled the story of a middle age couple, played by Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao, facing unexpected pregnancy. The 2018 film, also featuring Ayushmann Khurrana, Surekha Sikri, and Sanya Malhotra, was directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma. It won two National Awards: best popular film providing wholesome entertainment and best supporting actress for Sikri for her role as the cantankerous matriarch who has a change of heart.
Kapil Sharma to make Netflix debut; makes an ‘auspicious’ announcement
Kapil Sharma is all set to make his digital debut! The comedian-actor on Monday had tweeted a hint about the same. He wrote, Shubh samachaar ko English me kya kehte hai ? Kripya bataye’n.” Kapil went on to tweet, “Tomorrow I will share a matlab ek “auspicious” news.” Yes, the auspicious news is that Kapil Sharma is coming to Netflix soon. A video announcement was released by Netflix India in which Kapil is introducing himself and trying hard to pronounce ‘auspicious’. He then talks about being a part of the streaming platform based in India, thus making Hindi as his primary language.
You will always be an inspiration: Alia wishes Deepika on birthday
Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone, who has turned 35 today, is receiving a lot of lovely wishes from fans and friends on social media.One of the first actors to wish Deepika was Alia Bhatt. Alia, who recently spent some quality time with Deepika during their vacation in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, shared an adorable wish on Instagram. The actor called Deepika “an inspiration of beauty and strength.”Sharing a photo on Instagram, Alia Bhatt wrote, “Happy birthday DP! You are and will always be an inspiration of beauty and strength inside out! And here’s to many more random adventures together… Love you!”Katrina Kaif also wished Deepika Padukone on her birthday. Sharing a picture of the Chhapaak actor, Katrina wrote, “Happy happy happiest birthday to you Deepika Padukone. Wishing you all the peace, love and joy life has to offer.”
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Actress Ananya Panday, daughter of Chunky Pandey, recently started her acting career and shows promise as one of the upcoming stars in Bollywood. She made her debut with the film ‘Student of the Year 2’ and was last seen in ‘Khaali Peeli’ starring with rumoured boyfriend Ishaan Khatter.
Kollywood heaves a sigh of relief as TN govt permits 100 per cent occupancy in theatres
Bigg Boss 13 contestant Asim Riaz is fit as a fiddle, and the photos on his Instagram handle are proof.
The Tamil Nadu government’s decision to allow theatres across the state to fill up seats without any restrictions has brought joy to Kollywood. On Monday, the government issued an order removing the 50 per cent cap on occupancy in theatres. And it is being viewed as a shot in the arm that the Tamil film industry needed so greatly.“We welcome the order wholeheartedly as that’s the need of the hour. If 100% occupancy is not there, big films will not release. If big theatrical films do not release, the audience will not come. It’s a chicken and egg situation. To revive the
industry, there’s no option other than big films releasing with full occupancy,” said producer G Dhananjayan. The government in its order noted that taking into account the declining number of COVID cases in the state,
it has decided to grant the request of the film industry on the occupancy matter. The order has also directed theatres to screen COVID precautionary measures to create awareness among the audience.
Ali Abbas Zafar ties the knot with Alicia
Director Ali Abbas Zafar on Tuesday took to social media to introduce his wife Alicia Zafar. Ali, who announced his marriage on Instagram on Sunday, shared another beautiful photo from his wedding.Sharing the picture, he wrote, “1400 years ago Imam Ali said to Fatimah Al- Zahra’s, all my worries and sadness disappears when I look at your face , I feel the same Alicia Zafar. Mine for life.”As soon as he posted the photo, his friends and fans congratulated the couple.Yash Raj Films’ casting director Shanoo Sharma commented, “Ali! So so so happy for you both! God bless this union!”Anup Soni posted, “Kya baat hai… hazaron mubaarakein.”
he wrote, “1400 years ago Imam Ali said to Fatimah Al- Zahra’s, all my worries and sadness disappears when I look at your face , I feel the same Alicia Zafar. Mine for life.
Earlier, Angad Bedi, Katina Kaif, Sunil Grover, Ranveer Singh,
Arjun Kapoor, Huma Qureshi and others congratulated the director on his wedding. On the work front, Ali Abbas Zafar is looking forward to the release of his debut digital project Tandav, which will stream on Amazon Prime Video from January 15 onwards. The political drama stars Saif Ali Khan, Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub, Dimple Kapadia, Kritika Kamra, Gauahar Khan, Sarah Jane Dias, Sunil Grover, Dino Morea, Anuup Sonii, Kumud Mishra and Sandhya Mridul.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas announces sequel of We Can Be Heroes
Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Tuesday announced the sequel of her recently released superhero film We Can Be Heroes. Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, the film is a spin-off of his The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D and the Spy Kids franchise. It released on Netflix on Christmas Day 2020 in the US.The streamer said 44 million households viewed We Can be Heroes in the movie’s first 28 days on the service.Chopra Jonas said a follow-up to the movie is in development at Netflix, with Rodriguez set to return.Heroics Headquarters projection: 44 MILLION FAMILIES will have suited up for WE CAN BE HEROES in its first 4 weeks!! And… BREAKING NEWS: The Heroics are coming back for round two. Sequel is in developmentAccording to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix counts viewership based on just two minutes of viewing time by a subscriber. The 2020 Christmas week — running from December 25 to December 31 — was the service’s biggest on record for the same week, yearover-year, as measured by both total view hours and average view hours per subscriber across each period. Billed as an action-adventure, We Can Be Heroes features Chopra Jonas as a nemesis to a group of children who team up to save the planet and their superhero parents who are kidnapped by the aliens.Rodriguez, also known for directing films like Mexico trilogy — El Mariachi, Desparado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico — and Alita: Battle Angel, has produced the film as well.
Nehha Pendse replaces Saumya Tandon in ‘Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!’ After five years of being a part of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, Saumya Tandon bid adieu to her character Anita Bhabhi. The actor quit the hit comedy show back in August 2020. Since then there have been several reports making the rounds about Saumya’s replacement on the show. We have got a confirmed report that after many speculations, Nehha Pendse has been finalised to play the leading role in the daily show.Soon after Saumya quit the show, Nehha was approached to play Anita Bhabhi. But it’s now that she has finally come on board. Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! is produced by Binaifer Kohli and Sanjay Kohli, who are also the makers of May I Come In Madam? which starred Nehha. However, that show went off air in 2017.Meanwhile, while quitting Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, Saumya had shared a video on her Instagram page with a heartfelt note. It read as “End of a beautiful journey. The way we part show how strong our relationship was. These are some moments to cherish all my life, my small note for every single person on the unit.
SUNVILLA SAMACHAR
06.01.2021, Wednesday
New Civil Hospital security staff members donate blood in Surat SURAT: Due to Covid-19 pandemic, blood banks in the city are passingthrough blood shortage. In this situation, security personnel at New CivilHospital came forward and donated blood to help those patients in needof blood.According to sources, 16 security staff personnel donated blood onMonday to celebrate the birthday of New Civil Hospital
chief securityofficer Haren Gandhi.“In order to celebrate my birthday, security staff
members organised ablood donation camp and 16 persons donated blood and contributed tothe noble cause,” Haren Gandhi said.“On an average, we need 25 to 30 units of blood daily in the hospital and we get around 15-20 people donate blood daily andwe urge people to come forward and donate blood,” said Mayur Jarag, head of blood bank at NCH.
RAJKOT: A young stock trader living in Mahudi, who had allegedly been kidnapped on December 30, was found from Mumbai by Rajkot crime branch. It turned out that the 24-year-old stock trader Karan Gogra had cooked up the kidnapping story to evade making payments to lenders. Police said that they had received information that Gogra was in Mumbai,so a team of crime branch had been camping there. On Sunday, whenGogra arrived in the mega city, he was found and brought back to Rajkot. During interrogation, he told cops that his debt had
increased and he did not have enough money to pay back to lenders. On December 30, he went to Greenland Chowkdi in an auto-rickshaw from where he went to Ahmedabad. Gogra took a bus to Mumbai, but he had to return to Ahmedabad as he did not have an identity card for living at a hotel. On reaching Ahmedabad again, Gogra downloaded a copy of his Aadhar card as he remembers his Aadhar number. He then purchased a new mobile phone and a sim card and again left for Mumbai.“We have registered an offence against him for misguiding
us. We are interrogating him about where he stayed in Ahmedabadand if he had taken any other person’s help,” said a police official. On December 30, Gogra’s cousin Aebhala had received a call informing that Gogra had been stabbed and taken away in a car.His bike and mobile phone were later found near Avadhna Dhadiya on Kalavad Road. Gogra told cops that he had called his cousin and talked in a changed voice so that he could not be identified. Police said thatsince the family did not receive any ransom call, they became suspicious about the kidnapping theory.
Rajkot stock trader cooks up kidnapping to evade huge debt
BJP leader Alpesh Thakor presents 3 farmers: ‘Their land grabbed by realtors
Alpesh said that he will help these farmers get their right by filing a complaint before a committee headed by district collector under the provisions of the recently enacted Gujarat Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act.
BJP leader Alpesh Thakor on Monday presented three farmers from Hanspura, Muthiya and Vastral villages in the vicinity of Ahmedabad city and alleged that their land parcels worth crores have been illegally grabbed by three real estate developers.Alpesh said that he will help these farmers get their right by filing a complaint before a committee headed by district collector under the provisions of the recently enacted Gujarat Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act.After the Act came in to force from December 16, Alpesh had said that the maximum victims of illegal activity of land grabbing in Gujarat were from Thakor community. Alpesh had also declared that he would make public a list of “big heads” involved in land grabbing. Alpesh produced the three farmers and added that he was presenting their case as per his announcement last month. Alpesh also said that he would present more such cases in future.Addressing media persons, Alpesh said that huge land parcels of the farmers worth crores have been deceitfully grabbed by the real estate developers
Vadodara: A man who had returned to the city and tested positive for Covid-19 has now been found infected with the newstrain of the novel coronavirus that has spread panic in the UK. The patient is presently undergoing treatment at a government health facility in the city. Sources said that three persons from the city and district had tested positive for Covid-19 on return from the UK. Three of their contacts had also tested positive. The samples of those who tested positive were sent to the National Institute of VirologyPune, to ascertain the strain of the virus that had infected them. It has come to light that one of the travellers and his three contacts were not infected by the mutant virus found in the UK. The result of one person is awaited even as a person residing in the Raopura area was found infected with the mutant strain.The patient is a 32-year-old male who had tested negative in the UK and arrived in India on December 21. His samples werecollected again and he was found suffering from Covid-19.Sources said that the samples were also sent to NIV where it was found that he was suffering from the new strain believed tobe far more virulent than the previous ones.
Sabarmati Ashram reopens for visitors after 9 months
AHMEDABAD: The historic Sabarmati Ashram here has reopened itsdoors for visitors, after remaining closed for over nine months due to thecoronavirus outbreak, an ashram official said on Tuesday. With socialdistancing and other Covid-19 protocols in place, the premises has beenopened for the public from Monday, the ashram’s director, Atul Pandya,said.Before the outbreak of Covid-19, the ashram, a former home of MahatmaGandhi and a historic centre linked to India’s Independence movement,used to receive a large number of visitors every day. It is managed by theSabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust. “The ashram was shut for visitors since March 20 last year following the coronavirus outbreak. From Monday, we have onceagain opened
State in bottom 3 in wages Ahmedabad: Be it construction, agriculture or non-agriculture wages in rural areas, Gujarat remains among the bottom threestates in the country. Daily wages in rural Gujarat range from Rs 208 to 268. The payment per day for labourers in the state has been on the lower side in comparison to the other states. According to the Reserve Bank of India data released recently, in the year 2019-20, states like Kerala paid Rs 700 to an agricultural labourer and Rs 839 to a construction worker, which was followed by Jammu & Kashmir where an agricultural labourer was paid Rs 453 and the construction labourer was paid Rs 468.
Surat college dropout drinks acid to end life
and the farmers have been fighting legal battle without getting any justice till date. One of the farmers, Amaratji Thakor from Hanspura village, alleged that a real estate developer from Ahmedabad has grabbed his land worth Rs 250 crore on the basis of a fake ancestry document affirmed by eight persons.Another farmer Ramaji Thakor from Muthhiya village said that he had decided to sell his land to a real estate group since he was in need of money. However, Ramaji added, the owner of the group had given him money and deceitfully took it back through his signed blank cheques. It is also alleged that the real estate group has already started construction work on the land.
Chemical agent robbed of Rs 1 lakh at knifepoint in Junagadh Rajkot: A chemical agent from Jetpur was robbed of cash and valuables worth Rs 1.2 lakh at GIDC in Junagadh on Sundayevening. Jayesh Lavani, a resident of Jetalsar of Rajkot district, had gone to Junagadh GIDC for work when an auto-rickshawdriver stopped him. Lavani was told that the auto-rickshaw had broken down and the driver wanted a lift. Lavani agreed to offer the lift to the
Vadodara man infected with UK strain
driver.On reaching a distance, the autorickshaw driver asked Lavani to stop and ordered him to hand over all cash and valuables hehad. Meanwhile, five other unidentified persons arrived there in an auto-rickshaw. They threatened Lavani by brandishing a knife. Fearing an attack on him, Lavani gave away Rs 10,000 cash, his ATM card, mobile phone and a gold necklace.
According to police, Kachhadiya used to study physiotherapy in Ahmedabad but dropped out due to severe migraine problem.
SURAT: A 21-year-old college dropout girl ended life by drinking acid ather residence in Amroli area of the city on Sunday. Police said that the deceased Rajvi Kachhadiya was worried about her career. Kachhadiya had consumed acid kept for cleaning the bathroom in her house. Her family members came to know about the act at around 12.30 pm when she cried for help. She was rushed to a private hospital in Mota Varachha and later shifted to a hospital in Vesu area where she died during treatment. Police are yet to confirm the exact reason behind her suicide. But the family members
informed that she was worried over her future and career. According to police, Kachhadiya used to study physiotherapy in Ahmedabad but dropped out due to severe migraine problem. Since last oneand-half-year she was complaining of migraine and unable to concentrate on studies, police said quoting her family members. “Besides health issues, she was worried about her future and career. The family suspect that she had takenthis step due to these reasons,” said police. Kachhadiya’s father Dilip runs a pan shop. The family is native of Mahuva in Bhavnagar district.
the premises for visitors,” Pandya said.“People can visit the ashram between 10am and 5pm. We have deployed our staff to guide them to maintain social distancing,”he said. Sanitiser dispensers have been placed at 18 different places in the premises for the visitors, the official said. Currently, the museum and ‘Hriday Kunj’, the house inside the ashram
State Congress president. Thorat, who was in Delhi on Monday, met senior party leaders in the absence of interim president Sonia Gandhi and MP Rahul Gandhi and reminded them of his request to relieve him of the charges three months ago. His argument was the party should make a decision soon to avoid media running stories about
his removal.Assembly Speaker Nana Patole, minister for Woman and Child Welfare Yashomati Thakur, Energy Minister Nitin Raut, Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh and former MP Rajani Patil are the frontrunners for the MPCC president post once Thorat steps down. Patole, Thakur and Raut hail from the Vidarbha region
where Mahatma Gandhi and his wife had once lived,have been opened for the public, while the book shop, khadi shop and charkha gallery in the premises will remain closed, hesaid.“People will touch things at these shops and the charkha gallery, which is not advisable in the present situation. Thus, we haverestricted the entry of visitors at these places. We are putting in place all possible measures to stop the spread of the virusThe ashram, where the father of the nation resided between 1917 and 1930, was a major tourist attraction, both with domesticand foreign travellers, before the outbreak of Covid-19.On an average, around 2,000 people used to visit this historical place every day, Pandya said, adding that the footfalls are nowgoing to be much less in the wake of the pandem.
Netas can hold rallies, then why not farmers AHMEDABAD: A farmers’ body has moved the Gujarat high court seekingpermission to hold a meeting in Surat and with a complaint that whilepolitical parties can carry out rallies amid Covid-19 pandemic, there is noreason that farmers should not be permitted to hold a meeting of 200persons by following Covid guidelines. The Gujarat Khedut Samaj has filed a petition and sought permission tohold a meeting in Surat after it was denied permission by the Surat policecommissioner. The refusal for permission was primarily reasoned by citing Covid-19situation and the farmers may violate the Covid guidelines, and that thefarmers may extend their support to the agitating farmers sitting on the outskirts of Delhi and oppose the state government’sand the Centre’s policy. The meeting was scheduled on Sunday, and the intimation of refusal of permission was made onJanuary 1. The petition, filed through advocate Anand Yagnik,
contends, “Granting permission to hold public meeting todifferent political parties amid the Covid-19 pandemic and allowing political rallies on number of occasions and refusing to grantpermission to petitioner organization is a gross discrimination which is arbitrary, irrational and therefore violative of Articles 14,19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and hence illegal and unconstitutional.”The petition states that the latest Covid-19 guidelines permit gathering up to 200 persons by following Covid norms. The policeauthorities’ decision to deny permission
on apprehension that the farmers might support the protesting farmers in Delhi isagainst law. It is their fundamental right to get together and express their opinion and support a peaceful movement is wellThe petition complains that the police authority denied permission without granting farmers any hearing. Moreover, there is nolawand-order situation prevailing in Gujarat which can justify the refusal on part of the police to hold a public meeting at apremises of a cooperative body in Jahangirpura.The issue may come up for hearing in near future
officers of Sehra police station, the accused, identified as Jashvantsinh Solanki, Gajendrasinh Solanki, Mukesh Nayak, Arvind, Yuvrajsinh Solanki and three others, arrived at the office of the local Mamlatdar alleging that their complaint regarding a “fabricated revenue record entry” in the case of land in the village had been ignored. MR Nakkum, Police Inspector, Sehra police station said, “The youth claimed that a government land, which has been
handed over for mining lease to agencies has been wrongly classified as a non-pasture (gochar) land and leased out for granite stone mining. But the officers of the district administration patiently provided them with the records to explain that their contention was misplaced and the land was indeed fit for a mining lease. Later, they stepped out and threatened to selfimmolate in the premises of the Sehra Taluka office.”
VADODARA: The wetlands of lush green Charotar belt are a home to ahealthy population of crocodiles, just like the wandering Vishwamitri
riverof Vadodara is an abode of mugger crocodiles. Affectionately known as ‘salties’, the saltwater crocodiles thrive in salineand brackish water conditions on India’s eastern coast while Bihar’s Gandak river is providing a breeding ground to congregation of the critically endangered gharials. But what if you want to know India’s crocodile population.
Gujarat: 8 youths ‘threaten to selfimmolate’ over mining lease row, arrested
The Panchmahals district police on Monday arrested eight youths from Vallabhpur village in Sehra taluka for allegedly threatening selfimmolation after their demand to “withdraw” mining lease on land in their village was rejected by the local administration. In a case registered at Sehra police station, the eight youths have been booked for attempting “to commit cognisable offence” under Section 151 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).According to
‘No connection between my Delhi visit and change in Maharashtra Congress’ leadership’: MPCC chief Balasaheb Thorat
Clearing the air over his recent visit to the national capital, Maharashtra Congress president and minister Balasaheb Thorat on Tuesday stated that his Delhi visit has nothing to do with the change in Maharashtra Congress’ leadership.Thorat, however, reiterated that if the party finds someone who can work for them, he is ready to resign as
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while Deshmukh and Patil are from Marathwada.Patole is an OBC while Raut is from the Scheduled Caste. Thakur is Maratha Deshmukh while Amit Deshmukh, who is the son of the former CM and veteran Congress leader late Vilasrao Deshmukh, and Rajani Patil are from the politically influential Maratha community.
Real-time crocodile numbers possible now
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