visakhapatnam l monday l january 17, 2022 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION djokovic loses case, deported from australia World No 1 leaves Melbourne after the Federal Court upholds government’s decision to cancel his visa for the second time application ‘dismissed with costs’ Chief Justice James Allsop dismissed the amended application with costs. It finally ended a 10-day legal drama since the the 34-year-old announced on social media that he had secured a ‘medical exemption’ to enter Australia. Djokovic could have technically appealed the decision at the High Court but decided against doing so | P11 21 Serbian ‘disappointed’ ■ In a statement, the Serbian said he was disappointed. “I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me." He also said he will now rest and recuperate ■ He had his visa cancelled as his presence could cause ‘civil unrest because he’s a talisman of anti-vaccination sentiment’ Djokovic was going for a men’s record 21st slam title CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Though the sample size is small, the study by the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences is representative of the Omicron surge across India Hospitalisation under 4%, finds latest research express read Lata Mangeshkar still in ICU, says doctor Mumbai: Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar continues to be under treatment in the ICU of a city hospital here, the doctor treating her said on Sunday. Amid speculation that Mangeshkar’s condition was deteriorating, a spokesperson for the veteran singer denied media reports, calling them “false news” Bengal, Kerala R-Day tableaux rejected Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock at the Centre’s decision to exclude West Bengal’s Republic Day tableau on Netaji and urged it to reconsider. There was similar criticism for rejecting Kerala’s tableau on Narayana Guru. Interestingly, it came from a Congress leader in Karnataka | P7 Age test on grains to curb adulteration Vijayawada: The Civil Supplies Department has come up with an initiative of conducting age test on grains to check the malpractice of mixing old rice with fresh stock. Civil Supplies Corporation Director G Veerapandian said if rice turned green or light green during the test, they are considered fresh grains | P4 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% 24 Oct fected with the Delta variant that had fueled the devastating Full vaccination against Cov- second Covid wave in India last id-19 or previous infection may summer. Though the sample not offer any substantial pro- size is small, the study is being tection against the highly con- viewed as a representative tagious Omicron variant of analysis of Omicron-driven SARS-CoV-2, but its hospitali- surge in many parts of India. sation rate is way low The analysis of 264 Baseline at less than 4%. patients who had testcharacteristics T hese were the ed positive between of Omicron cases takeaways from InNovember 25 and DeMale 57.3% dia’s first epidemiocember 23 last year Female 42.7% logical study on Omifound that 72 (or 88%) cron carried out by of the Omicron-inVaccination status researchers associatfected patients had Vaccinated 87.8% ed with a leading gov- Not Vaccinated 12.2% been fully vaccinated ernment hospital. w i t h e i t h e r C ov Travel history Their results, reishield or Covaxin. Yes 39.1% leased on a pre-print Another patient had No 60.9% repository of medical received two doses of science, have also Previous SARS-CoV-2 the Moderna vaccine shown that Omicron and a third dose of infection confirmed was already in comCovaxin. Only three by RT-PCR munity circulation in among the Omicron Yes 17.1% Delhi in December — patients required No 83.9% days after South Afhospitalisation, and Clinical features rica alerted the world each had other underAsymptomatic 61% about the variant — lying health condiSymptomatic 39% and underlined the tions such as diabetes Comorbidities 18.3% or high blood preslimited impact of airport screening or cur- No comorbidities 81.7% sure. None of them tailing flights from Hospitalisation 3.6% needed ICU care. other countries. Hospitalisation Researchers associated with rates during the earlier Covthe Institute of Liver and Bil- id-19 waves in India were 20iary Sciences in Delhi se- 23%. Experts pointed out that quenced the genomes of 264 the lower hospitalisation rates Covid-19 positive samples from for Omicron documented in five districts across the nation- Delhi are in line with observaal capital and found 82 of them tions in South Africa, the UK had Omicron. The rest were in- and various other countries. S u m i S u k a n ya D u tta @ New Delhi NATIONWIDE jan 15 jan 16 Fresh cases 2,68,833 2,71,202 Recoveries 1,22,684 1,38,331 Deaths 402 314 statewide Jan 15 jan 16 Fresh cases Recoveries Deaths 4,955 4,570 397 669 1 1 Samples tested 35,673 30,022 Case positivity trajectory 1.28% 31 Oct First dose to eligible populatin 7 Nov 14 Nov 21 Nov 28 Nov 59.9% Of world’s population has taken first shot 9.5% People in poor countries got their first does so far 12 Dec 19 Dec 26 Dec 2 Jan 9 Jan 16 Jan 90% 73.2% 75.9% 78.3% 84.7% Door-todoor drive in India since November enhanced single dose coverage by over 5%, full vax coverage by nearly 12% UP Police books Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel for flouting Covid norms while on a door-to-door campaign for a Congress candidate in Noida Parveen Negi Rooster fights go on as usual in Godavari districts S T r i m u r t h u l u @ Kakinada Notwithstanding the claim of police that they have cracked whip on punters, rooster fights were organised at several places in the twin Godavari and Krishna districts during the three-day Sankranti. Hundreds of punters indulged in large-scale betting. According to an estimate, hundreds of crores of rupees changed hands in the three districts. Gundata and several other forms of gambling were also organised in the guise of Sankranti festivities, in which a large number of people from various parts of AP and neigh- K u m a r V i k r a m @ New Delhi 17 The doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Chetty completed a sweet double from an Indian perspective with a fine win over Indonesia’s Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan Results Lakshya is currently No 17 in the world (only Indians, all finals) Lakshya bt Loh Kean Yew 24-22, 21-17 Satwiksairaj/Chirag bt Ahsan/ Satiawan 21-16, 26-24 Lakshya Sen in action against Loh Kean Yew in the Yonex-Sunrise India Open in New Delhi on Sunday | BAI The right signs: Restaurant built on grit & vision The newly set up ‘Sign With Hands Hotel’ in the town is quite different from other eateries as it is run by four hearing and speech impaired persons. They serve food items to customers after taking orders through signs. The menu card displays different signs to be made to order food items. Taking the lead is Mary Evans, daughter of M Surendra Babu, a retired army personnel, and Sulochana, a retired employee of the health group of 15-18 years (93-95%) have been administered Covid vaccine. Even as the neighbouring Te“We have decided to reopen langana and some other States schools on Monday as per have decided to extend holidays schedule after considering all for educational institutions till these factors. The academic the end of this month owing to year began in August, 2021. the surge in Covid-19 cases, the Classes are being conducted for Andhra Pradesh government is the last five months strictly adset to reopen schools from Mon- hering to Covid protocol. If day as scheduled after Sank- there is any danger, we will ranti vacation. take a decision accordEducation Minister 7.52 cr doses ingly to ensure the of vaccine Audimulapu Suresh safety of students, given on Sunday clarified teachers and other that there was no move In all, 7.52 crore stakeholders,” the to extend Sankranti minister avowed. doses of Covid vacation for schools vaccine has been The Education Deand colleges in the administered to partment is closely State. “Compared to monitoring the Covid people in the other States, the AP State in the last situation in the State, government has taken in coordination with one year. The several precautionary the Health Departfirst dose has measures to protect ment. Separate cells been given to students from coronahave been set up at 4.23 cr people virus. In the US, school, junior and deschools are functiongree college levels to ing even if the daily Covid observe the situation. count is 6-10 lakh. Same is the Daily reports on Covid cases case with European countries are being reviewed to ensure where 3-6 lakh cases are being the safety of students. Chief reported a day he cited. ,” Minister YS Jagan Mohan RedIn the State, 100% of teaching dy who accorded top priority to , staff have been vaccinated. students’ future, is reviewing About 10 lakh students out of the Covid situation in the State P4 the total 13 lakh in the age regularly he asserted.  , E x p r ess N e w s S e r v i c e bouring Telangana took part. About 10 to 15 medium and large arenas were arranged in each mandal of East Godavari for rooster fights. Organisers had collected a premium of `2 lakh for each stall set up in the arenas for the three-day event. In an arena near Achampet ADB road, 25 stalls were set up. Closer Ec watch on muscle power in election fray The 20-year-old, who is World No 17, has a definite chance of making a run for the top 10 spot soon. Covid cases notwithstanding, he will also take part at the Syed Modi meet, a Super 300 meet. Win there as well and it’s a possibility CP Ven u g o pa l @ Anantapur 5 Dec India US UK France Spain Top 10 beckons youngster Satwik/ Chirag make it a sweet double 0.63% Schools to reopen in State today: Minister @ Vijayawada Worlds bronze-medallist beats world champion Loh Kean Yew in straight games to claim India Open title. A look at some of the talking points... The former junior World No 1 has always advertised his talents and he’s now making good on his promise. After reaching the final of the World Championships in December, he’s now won his first Super 500 crown (7 days moving average) 0.84% First Super 500 title for Lakshya Big last few months 13.69% department. Though she was born with hearing and speech disability, Mary did BCom as she is determined to lead a life of her own without depending on others. She got an idea of setting up a hotel to achieve self-reliance. Her husband BSV Prasad, who is also speech and hearing disabled and works as a junior assistant in the excise department, has extended his support to Mary in her business endeavour. B Mahbub Basha, the second of three children of M Basheer, a tailor in the town, is also speech and hearing impaired. Despite his disability, he completed his degree. He has also became a part of Mary’s project, along with S Mahbub Basha, son of a rickshaw-puller of Anantapur, and Siva, an orphan from Kadapa, who are also hearing and speech impaired. The quartet are running ‘Sign With Hands Hotel’ successfully . “Mary is a hard-working girl. She often makes it clear that she does not want to lag behind anyone despite her disability. We are glad that she is striving to achieve her goal of becoming self-reliant by setting up a hotel,” Sulochana told TNIE. “I have invested `1.50 lakh on the hotel. My three business partners have also contributed a little for setting up the venture. I am determined to be independent financially We share . the work in running the hotel. We are confident of earning profits in our hotel business with our collective effort,” Mary said through her mother’s interpretation. dates—including detailed information on the nature of THE Election Commission the offences, relevant particuhas created a separate cell lars such as whether charges dedicated to deal with matters have been framed, the conpertaining to the criminal an- cerned court, the case number, tecedents of candidates, in etc.—on the homepage of compliance with the Supreme their websites, along with the Court’s order on the issue. reasons for their selection and The poll panel has manwhy other individuals dated that candidates could not be given tickas well as the conets instead. They also cerned political parneed to write to the ties issue a declaraEC within 48 hours of tion in the media selection of such a about their criminal candidate. background. The reasons as to Pressure to The poll panel has selection must be postpone come up with a mowith reference to the Punjab polls bile application qualifications, by few days named ‘Know Your achievements and Both the Candidate’, containmerit of the candiing information re- Congress and the date concerned, not BJP have urged garding the criminal mere winnability at the EC to backgrounds as depolls. This informapostpone the clared by candidates. tion also needs to be Moreover, a dedicat- Punjab Assembly published in one lopolls slated for ed fund has been crecal vernacular newsFebruary 14 in a t e d f o r vo t e r s ’ paper and one naaw a r e n e s s c a m - view of the Guru tional newspaper as paigns and to make Ravidas Jayanti well as on the official on February 16. available the crimisocial media platThe Congress nal history of the forms of the political suggested that contesting candiparty, including Fadates to the general the polls be held cebook and Twitter. six days later public. Any fine imTo h e l p vo t e r s posed by the apex make an informed court on political parties re- choice, the Election Commisgarding non-compliance of its sion has now prescribed a cerorders will be deposited to the tain timeline to publish the above fund. details of criminal antecedEarlier, on August 10, the ents: within the first four days Supreme Court had said that of withdrawal of nomination, parties will have to publish in- between the 5th and 8th day, formation regarding the crim- and from the 9th day till the inal antecedents of candi- last day of campaign. The stalls sold food, soft drinks and other refreshments to visitors. Biryani stalls also came up at some places. The police organised sports, rangoli and other competitions for youth and women to prevent people from indulging in rooster fights and other forms of betting during Sankranti.  P5 Denied ticket, Channi sibling to contest as independent E x p r ess N e ws S e r v i c e @ Chandigarh REVOLTS by netas denied poll tickets are no big deal, but when the brother of a chief minister throws a fit, it is bound to catch attention. Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s brother Dr Manohar Singh, who was denied a ticket to contest the elections, will fight as an independent against the Congress candidate for the Bassi Pathana seat. Channi had unsuccessfully lobbied for his brother as the Congress refused to budge on the ‘one ticket one family’ formula. However, the party gave tickets to the relatives of a few leaders. For example, Kamil Amar Singh, son of Fatehgarh Sahib MP Dr Amar Singh, has been fielde d f r o m R a j ko t wh i l e Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary , son of Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, was given the Phillaur ticket. Channi’s brother is a medical practitioner who had quit the Kharar civil hospital to enter the poll fray . A similar revolt arose in Goa where Utpal Parrikar, son of former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, was denied the Panaji Assembly seat by the BJP Sens. ing an opportunity, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said his party will welcome Utpal if he wishes to get onboard.