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Brilliant Cummins puts Australia on top as India dismissed for 244

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Brilliant Cummins puts Australia on top as India dismissed for 244

Sydney: A relentless Patrick Cummins and a mean Josh Hazlewood dismissed India for 244 after Cheteshwar Pujara’s slowest half-century helped Australia take complete command at tea on the third day of the third Test here on Saturday.

Australia took a first-innings lead of 94 runs and it would be an uphill task for India to make a comeback in this match.

Pujara’s (50 off 176 balls) ultra-defensive approach put tremendous pressure on his colleagues and India never quite got the momentum going as Cummins (4/29 in 21.4 overs), Hazlewood (2/43 in 21 overs) and Mitchell Starc (1/61 in 19 overs) continuously attacked the batsmen — first with a leg-side field and short-ball strategy and then on the corridor of uncertainty.

Pujara doesn’t play the pull or hook shot well and he wasn’t allowed room to either cut or drive. While he never tried to rotate the strike, the likes of Ajinkya Rahane (22 off 70 balls) and Rishabh Pant (36 off 67 balls) felt the urge to break the shackles in the absence of any such intention from the other end.

It also resulted in three run-outs including the one-off Hanuma Vihari (4 off 38 balls), who fell short while going for a quick but non-existent single.

It was then left to Ravindra Jadeja (27), who had to throw his bat around to bring the lead down to less than 100 runs, but that would be of little comfort considering that India would now have to bat fourth to save the match.

A total of 84 runs from 34 overs in the first session, with lack of intent especially from Pujara, didn’t help India’s cause and Rahane’s dismissal was purely due to the scoreboard pressure.

The Indian captain failed to get a move-on initially on a slow track where bounce became variable as the session progressed.

He did hit a cover drive and then tried to take on Nathan Lyon by lofting him for a six over long-on.

However, Cummins bowled one where he got an extra bounce in his off-cutter, cramping Rahane for room and he was played on. The duo added 32 runs in 22.3 overs and it didn’t help the team in any way.

Had KL Rahul been fit, there could have been a case of Vihari getting dropped as he didn’t show in any way that he was in control during his half an hour stay at the crease.

Pant got into the groove quickly but a nasty blow on the forearm did affect his shot-making and the result was a caught behind off Hazlewood, after a 53-run stand in a little over 20 overs.

Pujara, at the other end, was bowled short initially with three men on the leg side and then on the off-side with his cover drive dried up.

Even the drive wide off mid-on didn’t fetch him boundaries. In the first 100 balls, he didn’t have a single boundary.

Finally, after completing his slowest ever half-century in Test cricket, Cummins got one to rear up from short of a length and it was that one good ball every batsman gets when he is not scoring runs.

From 195 for four, suddenly it was 210 for eight and there was only Jadeja left to score a few runs.

Dry run conducted successfully in 31 districts in Karnataka

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Dry run conducted successfully in 31 districts in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Dry run, an exercise for end-to-end testing of the COVID-19 vaccination process, was conducted “successfully” in 281 facilities of 31 districts of Karnataka, and the state is ready for the actual vaccination whenever the vaccine arrives, the health department said on Friday.

The 281 facilities where the dry run was conducted include eight in the city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike limits.

According to the state health department, Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan visited the district hospital in Ramanagara and observed the dry run activities, while Health Minister K Sudhakar visited Aster CMI hospital at Yelahanka in Bengaluru and the District hospital in Chikkaballapura.

Sudhakar, after visiting the dry run facilities, said the arrangements and preparedness were quite good and the process was being followed as per the guidelines issued.

Several MLAs, including Kumar Bangarappa (Soraba), MP Kumaraswamy (Mudigere), Suresh (Tarikere) visited dry run facilities in their constituencies and observed the activities.

Senior health department officials and Deputy Commissioners of various districts personally supervised the dry run sites, it said.

It said after the successful completion of the dry run in all the districts, the state is ready for the actual COVID-19 vaccination whenever the vaccine arrives.

Sudhakar had earlier in the day said Karnataka expects to receive 13,90,000 vials of a vaccine against COVID-19 in a day or two and it is likely to be administered from January 11.

The vaccination will first be administered to health care workers and 6.30 lakh health care professionals have registered in Karnataka to date, he said.

Health workers will be followed by those with co morbidities, those aged above 60, and in other departments like Police and Revenue working against COVID-19, he added.

The first round of the dry run was held in five districts of Karnataka- Bengaluru (including BBMP), Belagavi, Kalburgi, Mysore, and Shivamogga- on December 2 as per the government of India guidelines.

Forest staffs in Maharashtra have lathis’ to defend, in Karnataka they roam in Chappals’: SC

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New Delhi: Forest staff in Maharashtra have lathis’ to defend themselves while in Karnataka they are seen roaming in Chappals’ (slippers), the Supreme Court on Friday said while expressing concern as to how they will protect the law and environment against heavily armed poachers.

The top court wondered as to how forest rangers in Assam are well-armed while in other states they are not even adequately dressed and said that it may pass orders to provide arms, bulletproof vests, and helmets to officers above a certain rank to defend themselves from poachers.

A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Ministry of Environment and Forests, amicus curiae ADN Rao and senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for an NGO to file a joint submission about the measures which can be adopted for the protection of forests as well as the lives of forest officers and staff.

We are of the view that the situation is serious and we find it difficult to comprehend how these forest officers and staff would be in a position to protect the environment and the forests which are normally vast tracks of uninhabited land and of which poachers take undue advantage for carrying out their nefarious activities, the bench said.

It said unlike police in the city, forest officials cannot even call for help in distress in the forest when they are attacked by poachers and there should be some mechanisms.

Recalling his recent visit to a forest area, the CJI said, Last month I was in a forest in Maharashtra and have seen that forest officials were not even armed. How will they protect themselves when they are attacked? SG (Solicitor General), we want you to explore all possibilities. These are all sophisticated crimes that need to be checked .

The bench asked Rao as to why is this problem that in some States forest officials are armed while in others they are not even adequately dressed.

Rao submitted that due to non-utilization of funds by some states, forest officials are not provided adequate infrastructure and safety gear to protect the environment and forests.

He said that similar attacks have taken place in Uttar Pradesh in 2001 and 2019 in Telangana on the forest officials. Mehta said that the biggest problems are of wood smugglers.

The bench said that millions of dollars are siphoned off by the smugglers and an Enforcement Directorate should be roped in and suggested it should also have a separate wildlife wing to deal with these crimes.

The NGO Nature Conservation Society’ brought to the notice of the court recent attacks on forest officials by miscreants in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

“When we go to Assam, (we see) they are given arms while in Maharashtra they are given only ‘lathi’,” the bench said and added “We will direct that the officials are given arms, bulletproof vests, and helmets. In Karnataka, forest officials are seen roaming in ‘chappals’ and are being slapped by poachers. We want the Solicitor General to make a statement on the next date of hearing that arms will be given to personnel….”

The top court said It is difficult to imagine how any law can be enforced by the forest officers and staff who are poorly unarmed against poachers who are likely to be heavily armed .

The bench adjourned the hearing by four weeks and said that it would pass a detailed order after taking note of the statements of the lawyers concerned.

The bench was hearing an application seeking protection of forest officials from malicious prosecution lodged against them.

Police stations, govt offices in Karnataka functioning like ruling BJP’s offices: DK Shivakumar

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Bengaluru: The Congress in Karnataka on Friday alleged that police stations and government offices at several places in the state were functioning like ruling BJP’s offices and party workers were being intimidated and threatened to stage protests.

The party’s state president D K Shivakumar, while leveling this charge, said efforts were on to strengthen the Congress and the party’s aim was not only to outperform BJP in the coming taluk and Zilla panchayat polls but remove it from power.

“Various police stations and government offices have been converted into BJP offices.

Police officers like circle or Sub-Inspectors are threatening our workers with cases if they don’t go to BJP,” he told reporters at a state Congress “Sankalpa’ convention here.

Shivakumar claimed that many block presidents had informed the party of this and it had been taken note of.

“We have made a list of it. We are thinking about organizing protests at those police stations or in those constituencies.

We will plan and do it. We will not sit in rooms..we will go on the streets and agitate. It will be to give strength to our workers and send a message to authorities,” he added.

The division level Sankalpa conventions are aimed at strengthening the Congress at the grassroots level and chalk out political strategies, including creating awareness on the ‘failures’ of BJP-led state and central governments.

“There are taluk and Zilla panchayat polls also in certain municipalities …not just winning these polls, our challenge, our vow, and resolve are to remove the BJP government from the state and the country.”

Noting that his aim was to convert Congress, which is a mass-based party, to a cadre-based party, the KPCC chief said the process was on to appoint and train booth level agents.

“We have also asked the local leadership for new panchayat and ward level committees to be formed and inform the party about it.

We will have a “digital youth” (to manage social media, databases) in every booth, involve women and youth in a big way at the grassroots level of the party organization,” he added.

Shivakumar said the Congress would come out with a list of “anti-people” moves and “corruption”, among other things, against the BJP government.

To a question about the Karnataka High Court dismissing the Chief Minister petition, seeking quashing of the FIR in connection with an illegal denotification case, he said “…Yediyurappa should take moral responsibility, Delhi leadership of that party seems to be encouraging…”

The court had on January 6 dismissed Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s petition and directed the Lok Ayukta to continue the probe in the matter.

Dakshina Kannada bans poultry import from Kerala

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Mangaluru: Dr. KV Rajendra, the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada District on Friday confirmed that the district has completely banned any poultry supply from neighboring state Kerala which is hit by bird-flu. The DC added that this was in-line with one of the many precautionary measures the administration has undertaken to tackle the spread of H5N8 Avian influenza.

The DC has also issued a notification adding that the vehicles that transport poultry from Dakshina Kannada to Kerala, should be disinfected while re-entering the district after offloading poultry in Kerala.

He has also urged the people of the district to report immediately any suspicious deaths of birds and chickens in their locality. Calling upon the farm owners to ensure cleanliness at their respective farms, the DC also asked veterinarians to regularly visit poultry farms in their areas.

Maraschino again rubbishes JDS merger rumours, vows to bring party to power on its own

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Kumaraswamy again rubbishes JDS merger rumours, vows to bring party to power on its own

Bengaluru: Rubbishing speculations about the possible merger of his party JDS with the ruling BJP, former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday vowed to bring it back to power on its own in the 2023 assembly polls.

The JD(S) legislature party leader also shared his plans for revamping the party organization and having in place an 8-10 member core-committee in place to make decisions.

“…our youth should understand the path covered by this party…making this party a slave of some other party or merging it with any other party will be an insult to Deve Gowda’s (JDS patriarch and former prime minister) long struggle,” Kumaraswamy said.

Speaking at a party meeting here, he said, JD(S) has its own history and the party has no understanding or adjustment with BJP or any other party as was being projected by some.

“We have no adjustment with them (BJP)…there is no understanding with anyone. There are talks that I’m soft on BJP and (Chief Minister B S) Yediyurappa and propaganda about the merger is being spread, also there is another party (Congress) calling us BJP’s B-team, nothing is true,” he added.

Both the BJP and JDS have repeatedly rejected rumors and reports in a section of media of late about the merger after Kumaraswamy twice met Yediyurappa and JD(S) extending its support for passage of key bills and to the no-confidence motion against Legislative Council Chairman.

The work towards strengthening the party will begin from Sankranti (Jan 14), Kumaraswamy said adding “it will be towards bringing JD(S) government, Kannadiga’s government to power in 2023.”

Noting that the party organization work has taken a beating because of coronavirus, Kumaraswamy said all its wings would be dissolved and reconstituted through the respective chiefs would be retained.

After discussing with Deve Gowda and other senior leaders, a core committee consisting of 8-10 leaders will be constituted before January 14 to take decisions on the party affairs, he said.

A “War Room” will be set up at headquarters. “I’m ready to work with you under a new system for 20 hours a day. it’s not difficult to win 30-35 or 40 seats….let’s not depend on anyone to be in power. Let’s form the government independently on our own strength,” he added.

Stressing the need to take up membership drive in a big way, Kumaraswamy also asked leaders not to speak against the party and its affairs on the streets.

“Speak at party forums, the doors are open,” he added.

Plea to withdraw Mangalore electricity supply co’s proposal to hike power tariff hike

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Mangaluru: The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has requested Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to withdraw the proposed hike in electricity tariff by Mangalore electricity supply company (MESCOM).

In a letter to the Chief Minister, KCCI president Isaac Vas said Mescom’s decision to increase power tariff by Re 1 per unit was ‘shocking.’

The move will badly affect the consumers of DK, Udupi, and Shivamogga districts, he added.

The increase will be a blow to the MSME sector, the second-largest employment generator after agriculture, and acts as a breeding ground for entrepreneurs and innovators with considerable support in strengthening business ecosystems, Vas said.

In Dakshina Kannada alone, over one lakh people are employed in this sector while the large industries employ less than 10,000 people.

The countrywide lockdown dragged MSME owners, employees, and other stakeholders to unexpected repulsions.

After the lockdown period, MSMEs face challenges relating to debt repayments, wages and salaries, and statutory dues.

The MSME sector will completely collapse if the tariff hike is implemented, he said.

The KCCI requested that Mescom reduce its distribution losses and overheads instead of putting an additional burden on the consumers.

MSMEs are struggling to revive operations after the pandemic and the severe slowdown in the economy, Vas said in the letter.

Capitol violence: US administration mulls sedition charge possible for pro-Trump rioters

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WASHINGTON: The top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia has said that “all options are on the table” for charging members of the violent pro-Trump mob that stormed the US Capitol, including sedition charges.

Michael Sherwin, acting US attorney for DC, said prosecutors plan to file 15 federal cases on Thursday for crimes including unauthorised access and theft of property, and investigators are combing through reams of evidence to bring additional charges.

“All of those charges are on the table. We will bring the most maximum charges we can,” he said.

More than 90 people have been arrested by police in Washington and more arrests are likely.

US attorneys from across the country have vowed to find and bring to justice any residents who participated in the insurrection aimed at thwarting the peaceful transfer of power.

Experts say some could face the rarely used seditious conspiracy charge.

It’s the the same charge former Attorney General William Barr’s Justice Department told prosecutors to consider levying against those who caused violence at protests last summer over the killings of black Americans by police.

Then-Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, who stepped into the top Justice Department job when Barr resigned last month, told prosecutors in a memo in September that they should consider the use of seditious conspiracy charges against violent demonstrators, saying “it does not require proof of a plot to overthrow the US government despite what the name might suggest.”

Asserting that those responsible for the violence at the US Capitol will “face the full consequences of their actions”, Acting Attorney General Jeffery Rosen said some participants in the violence will face charges on Thursday.

“The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that those responsible for this attack on our Government and the rule of law face the full consequences of their actions under the law,” Rosen said.

“Some participants in yesterday’s violence will be charged today,” Rosen said.

Department’s criminal prosecutors have been working throughout the night with special agents and investigators from the US Capitol Police, FBI, ATF, Metropolitan Police Department and the public to gather the evidence, identify perpetrators, and charge federal crimes where warranted, said the Acting Attorney General.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said the violence and destruction of property at the US Capitol building showed a blatant and appalling disregard for our institutions of government and the orderly administration of the democratic process.

“Let me assure the American people the FBI has deployed our full investigative resources and is working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to aggressively pursue those involved in criminal activity during the events of January 6.

“Our agents and analysts have been hard at work through the night gathering evidence, sharing intelligence, and working with federal prosecutors to bring charge,” Wray said.

“What transpired on Wednesday was “tragic and sickening,” said Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf.

“While I have consistently condemned political violence on both sides of the aisle, specifically violence directed at law enforcement, we now see some supporters of the President using violence as a means to achieve political ends. This is unacceptable,” he said.

“These violent actions are unconscionable, and I implore the President and all elected officials to strongly condemn the violence that took place yesterday,” Chad said.

US Ambassador to NATO, Kay Bailey Hutchison, in an open letter to NATO allies said that there can be no justification for the appalling invasion of our US Capitol building.

“There can be no minimisation or hiding of the disgraceful acts we watched unfold,” she said.

Resurgent Steve Smith strokes 27th century in third Test against India

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The 31-year-old struggled for runs in the first two Tests, failing to get out of single figures, but was positive from the start at the Sydney Cricket Ground to bring up another ton in his 76th Test.

Australia's Steve Smith celebrates on reaching a century. (Photo | AP)

SYDNEY: Former Australia skipper Steve Smith reached his 27th Test century Friday as he roared back to form against India in the third Test on his home ground

The 31-year-old struggled for runs in the first two Tests, failing to get out of single figures, but was positive from the start at the Sydney Cricket Ground to bring up another ton in his 76th Test.

Smith, who averages more than 60, faced 201 balls and hit 13 boundaries in a near-flawless and patient knock, surviving only an ambitious lbw review on 41.

His efforts helped push Australia to 292 for seven on day two as wickets fell around him with the four-Test series locked at 1-1.

India’s Sachin Tendulkar is Test cricket’s most prolific century-maker with 51.

Mohammed Siraj gets emotional while singing national anthem in Sydney Test

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Siraj got emotional with tears rolling down his eyes while singing the national anthem moments before the start of play on day 1 of the SCG Test.

The official Twitter handle of cricket.com.au shared a small clip of Siraj getting emotional as the national anthem of India was being played before the start of play on day one of the third Test.

SYDNEY: Before the start of play on day one of the third Test between India and Australia, pacer Mohammed Siraj was seen tearing up while singing the national anthem. Siraj getting emotional as the national anthem of India was being played before the start of play on day one of the third Test.

Asked to bowl first, India got off to a perfect start as Siraj dismissed David Warner (5) in the fourth over of the innings. Warner went for a drive, but he only managed to get an outside edge and a simple catch was given to Cheteshwar Pujara at first slip.

This is the first time in four years that Warner has been dismissed for less than 10 runs in a home Test.

With Australia’s score at 21/1 in the eighth over, rain played spoilsport and the play had to be halted and as a result, early lunch was called. Will Pucovski (14*) and Marnus Labuschagne (2*) ensured that the side does not suffer from hiccups in the first session.

For India, Navdeep Saini is playing his first Test while Pucovski is playing his first Test for Australia.

India playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini.

Australia playing XI: David Warner, Will Pucovski, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (c), Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Siraj had made his debut in the Boxing Day Test against Australia and the pacer managed to impress one and all, as he went on to take five wickets in the Test match.

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