middle-distance runner Jhuma Khatun has been banned for four years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics for testing positive for dehydrochloromethyl testosterone, a steroid.

Khatun’s sample taken during the National Inter-State Championships in June, 2018, initially did not test positive for a banned substance when it was tested by the National Dope Testing Laboratory here. The World Anti-Doping Agency, then, decided to test the sample at its Montreal Laboratory in Canada and it returned positive for dehydrochloromethyl testosterone.

Khatun had won a bronze medal each in 1,500m and 5,000m at the Championships in Guwahati.

Khatun’s results from June 29, 2018 to November 21,

Akmal, 29, was banned following a disciplinary panel hearing on Monday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had charged him with two breaches of its anti-corruption code for not reporting two unrelated approaches.

Akmal, who was provisionally suspended in February, refused an earlier hearing before the anti-corruption tribunal.

"The PCB doesn't take any pleasure in seeing a promising international cricketer being declared ineligible for three years on corruption charges," said PCB director of anti-corruption and security Asif Mahmood.

"But this is once again a timely reminder to all who think they can get away by breaching the anti-corruption code.

"I request all professional cricketers to stay away from the menace of corruption and immediately inform relevant authorities as soon as they are approached.

BHUBANESWAR: Noted playwright and lyricist of Odisha Bijay Mishra passed away at a private hospital here on Sunday. He was 83.A pioneer of modern theatre movement in Odisha, Mishra was recipient of many awards at the State as well as national level. He won the Kendriya Sahitya Akademi award for his play ‘Vanaprastha’. Besides, he won Odisha Sahitya Akademi and other State-level awards. He also received the prestigious Jayadev Award for his lifetime contribution to Odia film industry at the 30th Odisha State Film Awards last year.

Mishra began playwright from 1960 and his first play ‘Janani’ was staged in Annapurna Theatre, Cuttack. His widely acclaimed play ‘Tata Niranjana’ has been translated in Hindi, Nepali, Kannada and in several other Indian languages which won him a national award from All India Radio.  Born at Santaragadia village in Balasore district on July 16, 1936, Mishra had written at least 60 dramas and 55 film scripts besides, many serials. Some of his literary works have been translated to other regional languages.

Former NASA administrator James M. Beggs, who led the agency during the early years of the space shuttle program and resigned after the Challenger disaster killed seven astronauts in 1986, died Thursday at his home in Bethesda, Maryland. He was 94.

Congestive heart failure is suspected to be the cause of his death, according to one of his sons, Charles Beggs.

President Ronald Reagan nominated Beggs to become the sixth administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He served in the agency’s top position from July 1981 to December 1985.

The King George Medical University in Uttar Pradesh has become the first government hospital in the country to successfully launch the plasma therapy treatment for the COVID-19 patients. AIR correspondent reports that first dose of the plasma therapy was given yesterday to a 58-year old patient.

Vice Chancellor of the KGMU Prof MLB Bhatt termed it a proud moment for university and said that we were preparing for the Plasma Therapy right from the approval from Indian Council of Medical Research. The plasma was already secured from the three recovered COVID-19 patients who were treated at KGMU itself.

Assistant Professor of the medicine department Dr. D Himashu said that the 58-year old COVID-19 patient who was on ventilator has shown signs of recovery and second dose of the plasma transfusion therapy can be given today. If this patient recovers successfully then it will be a great step in treating the serious patients with the help of plasma transfusion therapy. 

16-year-old Iranian refugee, Alireza Firouzja beats World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen in the final of the Banter Blitz Cup 2020 and to claim the $14,000 prize. Firouzja, an Iranian now living in Paris, is is the second-youngest player to reach a rating of 2700 from Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), the body that governs international chess competition. He is ranked 21st in the world.

Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari on Thursday interacted via video conferencing with the representatives of Bharat Chamber of Commerce, enterprises from various sectors, media and other stakeholders on 'Post COVID -19 Challenges and New Opportunities in India'.

Union Minister Gadkari called upon the industries to take necessary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The minister emphasized on usage of PPEs and advised to maintain social distancing while resuming the offices and business operations.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, industries should also arrange shelter and food for the labourers at the work site and focus on preventive measures and business activities simultaneously.

The minister further mentioned that the highways and ports have started functioning and over the period of time the operations will be on track.

Recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in the country has improved to 19.89 per cent.

A total of 1,229 fresh COVID cases have been reported in the country in the last 24 hours taking the total number to 21,700. As many as 4325 patients have recovered and discharged from the hospitals, while 686 patients have died.

Health Ministry spokesperson said, there are 78 districts in the country where no new cases of COVID -19 have been reported in the last 14 days. He also said there are 12 districts which have not reported fresh case in the last 28 days.

The Home Ministry Spokesperson informed about the exemptions announced by the government during lockdown. She said the Center has clarified to states that in-house care-givers of senior citizens, prepaid mobile recharge utilities and food processing units in urban areas are exempted from lockdown restrictions.

India reaffirms its commitment towards greater sharing of knowledge, expertise, best practices in joint fight against Coronavirus

India has reaffirmed its strong commitment towards greater sharing of knowledge, expertise and best practices in the joint fight against COVID-19 for the larger regional good. India yesterday participated in a video conference of Health Ministers of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) hosted by Pakistan to promote greater regional cooperation to deal with the Corona virus pandemic.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, India was represented at the conference by Director General of Health Services who was assisted by experts from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). All the SAARC member nations are reeling under adverse social and economic impact of the Corona virus pandemic.