Ind vs Aus: My batting position will depend on format I am playing, says KL Rahul
Ahead of ODI series against Australia KL Rahul has said that his batting position will depend on the format the team will be playing. In a virtual press-conference, India's white-ball vice-captain KL Rahul said, 'My batting position will depend on the format I am playing and what the team wants from me and what combination sits better, the last ODI series we played, I batted at number five and I kept the wickets so yeah, it is a role that I enjoyed and I am happy to play whatever role the team gives me.' India and Australia are slated to lock horns in three ODIs, three T20s and four Tests. The first ODI will be played on Friday, November 27 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
November 25, 2020
Yt5iprjhkFU
Pune: Farmers burn stubble, thick smoke engulfs Lavale area
Farmers in Pune's outskirt area at Lavale burnt stubble adding to the pollution. The burning of stubble deteriorated the air quality and thick smoke engulfed the area. The visibility was down on the roads. Stubble burning is one of the main causes of air pollution.
November 25, 2020
wC_sF7I316g
UP: Govt schools in GB Nagar growing veggies in backyard to supplement midday meal kitchens
State government schools in UP's GB Nagar are growing veggies in the backyard to supplement midday meal kitchens. GB Nagar schools have just started working on the scheme. They will soon have produce of their own. This was claimed by an education officer of the district.
November 25, 2020
RwX9nVzuYQc
Govt approves merger of Lakshmi Vilas Bank with DBS India
The union cabinet on Wednesday approved the merger of crisis-hit Lakshmi Vilas Bank with DBS Bank India Ltd. The government also removed restrictions on withdrawal of deposits by depositors. Union minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters about the decision taken by the union government, adding the decision will provide comfort to 20 lakh depositors and protect the services of 4,000 employees. The step was taken on the advice of the Reserve Bank of India, in view of the declining financial health of the private sector lender.
November 25, 2020
soBQS4fiDsw
Delhi: Fire breaks out at Ghazipur landfill site
A fire broke out at the Ghazipur landfill site on early Wednesday morning, covering the entire area with smoke. The EDMC officials said that the staff on night duty immediately informed the fire department and senior civic officials after the fire broke out at the site at 1 am on Wednesday. Officials said 12 fire tenders and 8 MCD machines were pressed into services to douse the fire. However, even after 12 hours, flames were visible at places when TOI visited the site. The three-acre area has been used for dumping of garbage after the civic agency took over work for biomining of legacy waste on rest of landfill. Civic officials claimed that the fire broke out due to methane generated from decomposed material but the actual reason is yet to be ascertained.
November 25, 2020
NAIOsBwSmVk
UN: Covid-19 lockdowns slashed pollutants, did not affect CO2 levels
A slowdown in industrial activity linked to the coronavirus pandemic has cut emissions of pollutants and heat-trapping greenhouse gases. It hasn't reduced their record levels in the atmosphere, the United Nations weather agency has said. The World Meteorological Organization pointed to a record-setting surge of carbon dioxide emissions in recent years. It warned that any reduction in levels as a result of a pandemic-related industrial slowdown will take years to materialize. The lockdown has cut emissions of many pollutants and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. But the change in CO2 concentrations is in fact no bigger than the normal year-to-year fluctuations.
Subscribe to Times Of India's Youtube channel here: http://goo.gl/WgIatu
Social Media Links:
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/TimesofIndia
Twitter : https://twitter.com/timesofindia
Google + : https://plus.google.com/u/0/+timesindia/posts
November 25, 2020
xPmkaHy_2uE
Spraying several lakh litres of water across Delhi may not get you clean air
Various government bodies have been spraying several lakh litres of water across the capital to combat pollution and settle dust. However, experts said not only could this be resulting in wastage of water, but also negatively impacting air quality if spraying was not being done at a high pressure. In 2019, IIT-Delhi professor Mukesh Khare had written to the three municipal corporations stating that none of them were spraying water at a high enough pressure to reduce local air pollution, stating a fine “mistlike” spray was required to achieve that. While antismog guns may be more efficient in achieving the purpose, experts said targeting high dust areas was a more efficient way of reducing pollution and saving water. So far, Delhi Fire Service (DFS) has sprayed over 70 lakh litres of water since October 17, when it began the drive following orders from Delhi government. The agency has been concentrating on reducing pollution at Delhi’s 13 pollution hotspots and spraying over two lakh litres of water daily through 15 fire tenders and 45 personnel. While DFS has been spraying water at a high pressure, other agencies are slowly catching up. Khare, in his letter, stated that the corporations required retrofitting and a change in the nozzle type to improve water pressure. This winter, the corporations have deployed over 250 water sprinklers, 45 by east, 83 by south and 130 by north. A senior corporation official said they had increased the nozzle pressure for spraying disinfectants on streets and buildings for Covid-19. The same setup was now being used for sprinkling water. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, at Centre for Science and Environment, said no study had indicated that sprinkling water was effective in reducing air pollution and for how long it would work.
November 25, 2020
Rh1dH6_Mhn0
We oppose ’national security’ excuse to ban Chinese apps: China’s embassy
Following the latest ban of another 43 Chinese applications in India over national security reasons, the Chinese embassy expressed its resolute opposition against the decision. The latest development brings the number of Chinese apps banned in India to 267. Top apps such as AliExpress, Taobao Live and Cam-Card were the ones to get the boot. ‘We firmly oppose the Indian side’s repeated use of ‘national security’ as an excuse to prohibit come mobile apps with a Chinese background,’ China’s embassy said.
Subscribe to Times Of India's Youtube channel here: http://goo.gl/WgIatu
Social Media Links:
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/TimesofIndia
Twitter : https://twitter.com/timesofindia
Google + : https://plus.google.com/u/0/+timesindia/posts
November 25, 2020
kvAia2tfVjM
As economy opens up, job market shows recovery in September: Study
As businesses reopen, the job market is showing recovery and the competition for open vacancies is easing, and the opportunities gap between those with and without digital skills is narrowing. LinkedIn’s latest labour hiring rate market for September was up 18 percentage points over August. Hiring rate — defined as number of hires divided by LinkedIn membership — in India reached 30% in September. The rate reached a low of (-)50% year-on-year in April, before starting to slowly recover and reaching 12% in August and 30% at the end of September, LinkedIn said.
November 25, 2020
ZrGM8CnudU0
Jaipur: Tourists enjoy elephant ride at Amer Fort
Tourists were seen enjoying elephant rides at Amer For in Jaipur. After nine months, elephant rides started on November 24. The administration has made wearing masks mandatory for everyone. The mahouts were happy after they were able to start their earnings. They have decided to implement a self-imposed roster on a daily basis. Mahout Ballu Khan said, “There are a total of 100 elephants. Initially, we have decided to divide them into 50-50 batches. One batch of 50 elephants will go on the first day, the remaining would go the next day.”
November 25, 2020
xB5cABU1g6k
Joe Biden nominates John Kerry as climate change envoy
Joe Biden announced former secretary of state, John Kerry, as his climate envoy. Kerry will serve on the National Security Council with a full time job of fighting climate change. John Kerry was the USA’s 68th secretary of state from 2013 to 2017. Kerry played an important role in the formulation of the Paris Climate Accord in 2016. The Paris Climate Accord aims to tackle the threat of global warming among others. The Accord was an effort to reduce greenhouse-gas-emissions across the world.
November 25, 2020
J1iEMG2WrFM
America is back, Joe Biden announces new team
Joe Biden introduced his nominees for key roles in the US administration. Biden spoke about re-positioning the USA as a world leader. Biden stressed on US cooperation with allies to deal with global issues. Former Dy Director of CIA, Avril Haines, would be the first woman to serve as Director of National Intelligence. Alejandro Mayorkas would be the first Latino to head the Department of Homeland Security. Jake Sullivan would be the youngest person to serve as National Security Adviser. Antony J. Blinken would serve as secretary of state in the Biden administration.
November 25, 2020
Clt5ABsx4yI
Covid-19: Rajasthan gears up for strict enforcement of guidelines for public gatherings
The state government of Rajasthan is all set for strict enforcement of the revised guidelines for public gatherings citing the rising cases of Covid-19. These guidelines include a cap of 100 guests in wedding functions. Jaipur collector Antar Singh Nehra informed that the district administration received over 3000 applications for the weddings to be held on Wednesday. “We have mobilised all our human resources from patwari to SDMs and all agencies from Jaipur Municipal Corporation to the gram panchayats on the job to see that no wedding flouts the norms set by the state,” said Nehra, who also said that those who have not submitted the application will face action.
November 24, 2020
BfH7mlO8s8E
India's active Covid cases rise again
Active Covid cases in India rose again on Tuesday, the third increase in the past four days, as fresh infections recorded in the country outnumbered recoveries by more than 5,500. This was the highest single-day increase in active cases since October 1, a sign that the pandemic could be on the rise again in the country. Active cases had been falling since October 1 as Covid-19 cases decreased steadily. The decreasing trend was first broken on November 14, and then again last Saturday. India’s tally of active cases currently stands at 4,47,391.
November 24, 2020
K3q3xsHoBv4
India Down Under: Rohit Sharma may struggle to make it for full Test series
After a month's uncertainty over his fitness status, it has emerged Rohit Sharma may struggle to make it to Australia for the full Test series. Ishant Sharma too could miss out on the series. TOI had reported on Tuesday that the Indian team management is already looking to retain a player from the white-ball squad to cover for Rohit's probable absence. Rohit playing the IPL playoffs for Mumbai Indians and then not boarding the flight to Australia for the full tour raised a lot of eyebrows. The Indian cricket board (BCCI) claimed he will join the squad for the Test series that starts on Dec 17 and Rohit was advised to rehab along with Ishant at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The NCA now reckons that the duo will need at least three weeks to be Test-match fit. The entire Rohit saga points towards a lack of communication.
November 24, 2020
zmNkqDYhU10
Covid-19: Sputnik’s ‘efficacy at 95%’, to be cheaper than US vaccines
Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine, that reported an efficacy of over 95%, will be twice as cheap as those by Pfizer and Moderna with similar positive results. Sputnik V, developed by Gamaleya Institute and Russian Direct Investment Fund, will be priced under $20 per person for the two doses in global markets, including India, and may be available here by February. The vaccine is still to undergo trials in India and will be manufactured by domestic companies. Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s and RDIF have entered into a partnership to conduct clinical trials and distribute it in India. Though the vaccine has a price advantage against the above two firms, there could be a challenge in its distribution as it requires a specialised cooling chain, experts say. The efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine is 91.4%, based on the second analysis of interim data obtained 28 days after administering the first dose, 7 days after the second dose. Preliminary data obtained 42 days after the first dose indicates an efficacy above 95%, a statement said.
November 24, 2020
TQY0J7QEMXE
India’s first facial recognition system to go live on November 27
Project panoptic, India’s first facial recognition technology (FTR) tracker is set to go live on November 27, as per the Internet Freedom Foundation. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has also made its own plans to set up an Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS) with an estimated budget of Rs 308 crore. The program will create a national database of photographs, to swiftly identify criminals by gathering data from the database. Meanwhile, data privacy activists have alleged that the use of this technology without any legal safeguards could lead to discrimination and exclusion.
Subscribe to Times Of India's Youtube channel here: http://goo.gl/WgIatu
Social Media Links:
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/TimesofIndia
Twitter : https://twitter.com/timesofindia
Google + : https://plus.google.com/u/0/+timesindia/posts
November 24, 2020
tJ-SoNuz_gw
Pakistan to form new national intel body to coordinate country's spy agencies
Pakistan PM Imran Khan has approved the setting up of the National Intelligence Coordination Committee. It's a mechanism to coordinate over 2 dozen intelligence organisations in the country, to be headed by the ISI chief. Its terms of reference and modus operandi would be decided once it formally takes shape. The new body would be led by the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who would function as its chairman. The NICC would serve as a mechanism to coordinate the over two dozen intelligence organisations in the country. It is expected that the first meeting of the coordination body could be held as early as next week.
Subscribe to Times Of India's Youtube channel here: http://goo.gl/WgIatu
Social Media Links:
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/TimesofIndia
Twitter : https://twitter.com/timesofindia
Google + : https://plus.google.com/u/0/+timesindia/posts
November 24, 2020
GcPLjAU87GQ
Diversity returns to Washington as Biden unveils gender-balanced cabinet
President-elect Joe Biden has begun unveiling the most diverse and gender-balanced cabinet in the country. Aside from vice president elect Kamala Harris, Biden named, or is set to name, at least half-dozen women for key positions. Michele Flourney is tipped to become defence secretary. The lineup also includes Janet Yellen as treasury secretary and Avril Haines as director of national intelligence. It will be the first time women will have headed these portfolios, all previously held by white men. Biden is also set to name an African-American diplomat, Linda Thomas Greenfield as the US ambassador to the UN. Alejandro Mayorkas is also set to be the first Latino to lead the department of homeland security. The appointments are seen as recognizing the growing diversity and changing demographics of the United States.
Subscribe to Times Of India's Youtube channel here: http://goo.gl/WgIatu
Social Media Links:
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/TimesofIndia
Twitter : https://twitter.com/timesofindia
Google + : https://plus.google.com/u/0/+timesindia/posts
November 24, 2020
QPCixHCHW9g
Delhi: Covid-19 cases on rise, railways taking precaution
Covid-19 cases are on rise in some states including Delhi. Indian Railways taking precautions and covid-19 tests are being conducted at railway stations. The passengers from Delhi going to other states are being checked at New Delhi railway station. The health workers are collecting swabs from passengers for Covid-19 test at the station before boarding the train.
November 24, 2020
6R2hRDu3SWo