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Friday, February 28, 2020

Vistara becomes first Indian airline to fly B787-9 Dreamliner plane

.Vistara on Friday Feb 28,2020 took the delivery of its first wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner plane, making it the first Indian airline to fly this aircraft



Vistara's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft comes with 299 seats in a three-class cabin configuration, giving customers a choice of business, premium economy, and economy cabins

The aircraft features lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration that gives direct aisle access to each business class passenger and a separate premium economy cabin that offers seats in a 2-3-2 configuration

The aircraft has in-seat televisions in all three cabins with a high-definition (HD) display, powered by Panasonic as well as in-flight WiFi internet connectivity onboard long-haul international flights, officials stated

It would make Vistara the first airline to offer WiFi service in India.


US President Donald Trump on a 2-day visit to India Feb 24-25,2020

Donald Trump became the seventh American President to make a state visit to India when he set foot at Ahmadabad, Gujarat

Donald Trump and America's First Lady Melania were given a grand red-carpet reception at the Ahmadabad Airport as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was there to welcome the American Head of State with his trademark hug.

There was no stone left upturned in rendering full Indian hospitality to the US President as a glimpse of Gujarati culture was on display with folk dancers dancing to the tune of some songs,  flanking the US President and his lady wife on either side of the red carpet.

During his two-day visit, Trump has a jam packed schedule with visits to three Indian cities -- Ahemdabad, Delhi and Agra.

On Tuesday night, he will fly back to the US Capital Washington.

On Day 1, Trump will address the 'Namaste India' event at the Motera cricket stadium in Ahmedabad. POTUS will also inaugurate the world's largest cricket stadium.

Thereafter, Trump will visit Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat. After a few engagements in the city, the Trumps will fly down to Agra for a visit to Taj Mahal

Here is the official schedule of US President Donald Trump’s engagements in India as issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Monday, February 24

1200 hrs: President Donald Trump to arrive at Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport, Ahmedabad

1215 hrs: Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad)

1305 hrs: Namaste Trump Event at Motera Stadium

1530 hrs: Emplane for Agra

1645 hrs: Arrival at Agra

1715 hrs: Visit to Taj Mahal

1845 hrs: Emplane for Delhi

1930 hrs: Arrive at Delhi

Tuesday, February 25

1000 hrs: Ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan

1030 hrs: Wreath laying at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

1100 hrs: Meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House

1240 hrs: Exchange of Agreements/ Press Statement at Hyderabad House

1930 hrs: Meeting with President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan




Bolivia 's supreme electoral tribunal disqualifies exiled former President Evo Morales from running for Senate

Bolivia's supreme electoral tribunal has disqualified exiled former President Evo Morales from running for a Senate seat in May 03,2020 general election, saying he did not meet residency requirements.

Evo Morales is currently living in exile in Argentina having fled Bolivia in November after resigning as president following three weeks of protests at his controversial re-election in October

The supreme electoral tribunal (TSE) said Morales's candidacy for the senate lacked the necessary documentation, but it said that his Movement for Socialism (MAS) party's presidential candidate, Luis Arce, met the qualification requirements

The former president is orchestrating his party's election campaign ahead of the vote with his former economy minister Arce at the top of the ticket

Morales's party is now facing a fragmented opposition, including current caretaker President Jeanine Anez, who took over in a political vacuum after his resignation last year

Arce leads the pack of presidential contenders with 31.6 percent of the vote among those who plan to participate in the election, according to a recent survey by pollster Ciesmori

He is followed by centrist candidate Carlos Mesa with 17.1 percent and Bolivia's conservative interim leader Jeanine Anez, who has 16.5 percent

Bolivia's general election campaign officially began on February 3 and comes on the heels of the October election when results were annulled after an audit by the Organization of American States (OAS) found evidence of vote-rigging in Morales's favour.



2020 Guinean legislative election Sunday March March 01,2020

Voters in Guinea will take to the polls on Sunday March 01,2020 to decide whether to adopt a new constitution and choose their members of parliament

Some 7.7 million are registered to vote in the polls, according to Guinea's Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI)

But the opposition - and the very few international observers - distrust the electoral roll.
This week, the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) said it had problems identifying 2.49 million people on the electoral roll, pointing to duplicate names and people who had died

Polls open at 7am (07:00 GMT) and close at 6pm (18:00 GMT) on Sunday, according to CENI President Amadou Salif Kebe.

The constitutional referendum is deeply controversial, with critics calling it a plot that would allow President Alpha Conde to seek another term

For the 81-year-old, who became Guinea's first democratically elected leader in 2010, the changes will create a "modern constitution" that will respond "to the needs of the world today"



Tunisia's Parliament Approves Gov't of PM-designate Elyes Fakhfakh Thursday Feb 27,2020

Tunisia's Parliament has approved prime minister-designate Elyes Fakhfakh's new coalition government early on Thursday Feb 27,2020, ending months of political deadlock that delayed the enactment of policies seen as critical to revive the country's sluggish economy

Legislators voted 129 to 77 in favour of Fakhfakh's team. Parliament in January rejected a proposed line-up by Habib Jemli, Fakhfakh's predecessor and a nominee of the conservative Ennahdha party

Under Tunisia's 2014 constitution, the party with the most seats in Parliament is tasked with forming the country's government.Ennahdha had emerged as the most powerful parliamentary force following legislative elections in October - but with just 52 of a total 217 seats, it alone could not guarantee Jemli's inauguration

The new government will have 32 members, a departure from Jemli's 43-member strong technocratic cabinet

Ennahdha has been allocated 6 portfolios in the new configuration

This was not the first time that legislators in Tunisia voted for a coalition government

In 2015, Ennahdha and Nidaa Tounes, the party of the late President Beji Caid Essebsi, agreed to join forces during a turbulent transition period

But the Tunisian economy's dismal performance over the following years led to big losses for both parties, with Ennahdha going from 69 seats in 2014 to 52 in last year's parliamentary elections, andNidaa Tounesplunging from 85 to a mere three, respectively




Thursday, February 27, 2020

2020 Indian Premier League(IPL) - David Warner Reappointed As SunRisers Hyderabad Captain

Australian batsman David Warner has been reinstated as SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain ahead of the 2020 IPL

David Warner had missed the 2018 IPL season in the aftermath of the infamous Sandpaper Gate controversy wherein he was handed a one-year ban by Cricket Australia. The Australian board had also said that the left-handed batsman will not be considered for team leadership positions in the future. However, Warner returned to IPL action last year and played under New Zealand's Kane Williamson for the Hyderabad-based franchise. "I'm thrilled to be given the captaincy for IPL 2020," Warner said in a message posted on the SRH Twitter handle. "I'm extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to lead the team once again.

"I'd like to thank Kane and Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) for the way you guys led throughout the last couple of years, you guys did an outstanding job. And I'll be leaning on you guys for support and your insight to the game as well. And to the management thank you once again for giving me this opportunity. And I'll try my very, very best to lifting that IPL Trophy this year," he added.

In the four seasons he has played for SRH, DavidWarner has tallied 562, 848, 642 and 692 runs -- finishing with the Orange Cap in 2015, 2017 and 2019

With 4,706 runs from 126 IPL games, the Australian opener is fourth in the list of the tournament's all-time run getters, behind the Indian trio of Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma.

SunRisers will begin their IPL 13 campaign against Mumbai Indians on April 1 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Sir John Tenniel: The British Artist Honoured by Google Doodle Today Friday Feb 28,2020



February 28 marks the 200th birth anniversary of British illustrator and artist, Sir John Tenniel.

Born in 1820, in London, Tenniel worked as political cartoonist and graphic humorist. Tenniel is best remembered for his illustration in Lewis Carroll’s classic “Alice in Wonderland” series. However, it was the first and last time he had accepted an illustration job.

1.John Tenniel’s father was a dancing-master and taught Tenniel dancing, fencing, riding and much more

2. Tenniel lost the vision in his right eye during a fencing accident with his father at 20. But he never revealed the injury to his father

3. Tenniel had a photographic memory or eidetic memory, which is the ability to recall an image from memory after seeing it for only one time

4. He had his paintings first exhibited when he was only 16

5. In 1893, Tenniel was granted a knighthood for his political cartoons at Punch Magazine, as well as for his illustrations in the two books by Carroll

6. Lewis Carroll’s relationship with Tenniel albeit successful but strained. Tenniel was upset as Carroll would not give him freedom to realize his creative vision, while Carroll was frustrated with Tenniel’s criticism about his manuscript

7. Refusing to illustrate a proposed chapter in Through the Looking-Glass, Tenniel had said, “A wasp in a wig is altogether beyond the appliances of art”

8. Due to overwork, his left eye was failing him. But he continued to paint until he was completely blind

9. Tenniel died on February 25, 1914, when he was 93.

National Science Day - February 28



India celebrates National Science Day every year on February 28 to commemorate Indian physicist CV Raman discovering the ‘Raman effect’, which won him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman or CV Raman was fascinated with the scattering of light since his early years

Born on November 7, 1888, in Tamil Nadu, Raman discovered the change in wavelength of light that is seen when a beam of light is deflected by molecules



This scattering phenomenon was later termed as ‘Raman scattering’ or the ‘Raman effect’.

About C V Raman

1. Raman was exceptional in studies; he passed the matriculation at only 11 years of age. Two years later, he passed the Intermediate-level of exam and joined the Presidency College in 1902.

2. In 1904, Raman got his bachelor’s degree, earning the first rank and gold medal in Physics. After three years, he completed his Masters’ Degree.

3. Despite having booked a government service job in the Finance Department of Colonial government, CV Raman quit the job after being appointed as the first Palit Professor of Physics at the University of Calcutta in 1917.

4. While teaching at University of Calcutta, he was simultaneously conducting research at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) in Calcutta.

5. It was in IACS that Raman was carrying out experiments on scattering of light and ended up discovering the Raman Effect in 1928.

6. Raman won the Knight Bachelor award a year later and became a Fellow of the Royal Society thereafter.

7. In 1932, Raman along with Suri Bhagavantam discovered quantum photon spin, further confirming light’s quantum nature.

8. He was also the first person to study the harmonic nature of mridangam and tabla as he was interested in musical instruments’ acoustics.

9. CV Raman was appointed to be the first Indian director of Indian Institute of Science (IIS) in 1933

10. After India gained independence in 1947, Raman became the first National Professor of the country.


Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Hyundai Grand I10 Nios BS6 Gets A 1.0 Turbo GDi Engine; Prices Start At ₹ 7.68 Lakh

Hyundai India has launched the 2020 Grand i10 Nios with a 1.0-litre Turbo GDi petrol engine.

The carmaker will offer the turbo-petrol version of the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios in two variants - Sportz and Sportz (Dual Tone), priced at ₹ 7.68 lakh and ₹ 7.73 lakh (ex-showroom, India) respectively.

The 998 cc engine is a three-cylinder turbocharged motor that is tuned to churn out 99 bhp at 6,000 rpm and develops a peak torque of almost 172 Nm at 1,500 - 4 000 rpm, making it the most powerful Grand i10 mode yet.

The car will come with a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard.

Variant Trim Transmissions Price ( ₹ )
BS6 1.0L Turbo GDi Sportz 5-Speed MT ₹ 7.68 Lakh
BS6 1.0L Turbo GDi Sportz (Dual Tone) 5-Speed MT Rs 7.73 Lakh

Egypt's Former President Hosni Mubarak Dies At 91 Tuesday Feb 25,2020

Egypt's former long-time president Hosni Mubarak died Tuesday Feb 25,2020 at age 91 at Cairo's Galaa military hospital

His son Alaa Mubarak tweeted that "this morning my father, president Mubarak, passed away".
Mubarak's brother-in-law, General Mounir Thabet, told that the family was at the hospital and that the presidential office would organise the funeral.

Mubarak had long been battling an illness and recently been admitted to an intensive care unit.
He took power in 1981, following the assassination of former president Anwar al-Sadat, and remained head of state for three decades.

He was overthrown after three weeks of mass protests that started on January 25, 2011.

His toppling came amid mounting popular anger triggered partly by rampant police brutality and by 2010 parliamentary elections which were widely slammed as rigged.

Mubarak faced multiple charges after his overthrow, including over the deaths of protesters in 2011 and corruption.

After years of protracted trials and legal proceedings, he was acquitted on most charges.

Under Mubarak's 30-year-rule, Egyptians lived under emergency laws that gave sweeping powers to the country's security agencies.

The former president had survived multiple assassination attempts including one by Islamist militants in 1995 in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa

2019-20 Premier League: Liverpool Beat West Ham 3-2 For Record-Equalling 18th Successive Win Monday Feb 24,2020

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Liverpool earned a record-equalling 18th consecutive Premier League win as the runaway leaders came from behind to beat West Ham 3-2 thanks to Sadio Mane's late strike on Monday Feb 24,2020

 Jurgen Klopp's side were in danger of dropping Premier League points for the first time since their draw at Manchester United on October 20 after falling behind in the second half at Anfield. Georginio Wijnaldum put Liverpool ahead early on but Issa Diop equalised soon after. Pablo Fornals gave struggling West Ham a stunning lead, but Lukasz Fabianski's woeful blunder allowed Mohamed Salah to equalise with his 19th goal of the season.
Mane completed the fightback with nine minutes left as Liverpool moved 22 points clear of second placed Manchester City.

The Reds' dramatic escape ensured they equalled Manchester City's English top-flight record of 18 consecutive league wins set between Aug - Dec 2017

Liverpool's 21st successive league victory at Anfield also equalled their own English top-flight record for consecutive home wins, set by Bill Shankly's team between January and December 1972.

Liverpool need four victories from their final 11 games to guarantee a first English title since 1990.
They are unbeaten in their last 44 league matches, just five short of Arsenal's all-time English record of 49

Toyota Vellfire Luxury MPV Launched In India; Priced At ₹ 79.5 Lakh

Panel vans are only just getting popular in India, and adding to this exclusive list is Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) that has launched the new Vellfire luxury MPV priced at ₹ 79.5 lakh (ex-showroom, India).

The all-new Toyota Vellfire has been a long-awaited model from the manufacturer and comes to India as a Completely Built Unit (CBU)

The Vellfire is positioned in the luxury end of the segment and takes on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class

The Toyota Vellfire is all about offering the most comfortable ride possible

  •  two captain seats in the second complete with reclining function
  • electronic footrest and a fore-aft slide function
  • seats are also ventilated, perfect for our weather
  •  a roof-mounted entertainment screen with HDMI and WiFi support
  •  cabin is covered in beige or black upholstery with wood inserts and leather upholstery.
  • 17-speaker JBL sound system, dual sunroof
  • a length of 4935 mm, the width measuring 1850 mm and a height of 1895 mm
  • wheelbase stands at 3000 mm
  • LED headlamps with cornering function
  •  LED taillights and chrome-finished 17-inch alloy wheels
  • electric sliding doors
  • 7 airbags with ABS
  • EBD, panoramic view monitor
  •  parking assist

Justin Bieber Breaks Elvis Presley's Record, Becomes Youngest Artist to Hold 7 No-1 Albums in the US

Canadian pop sensation Justin Beiber has become the youngest musician of all time to score seven Number 1 albums on the Billboard Hot 200 list.

By doing so, the singer has broken the US chart record set by Elvis Presley 59 years ago

Bieber first topped the chart at the age of 16, in 2010 with his debut album My World 2.0.

Bieber, 25, has topped the chart with his recently released album Changes making to it to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 200 list.

Elvis previously held the record at the age of 26, when his seventh album Blue Hawaii was released in 1961.


No Need for NRC, Conduct NPR as Per 2010 Format: Bihar Assembly Passes Unanimous Resolution Tuesday Feb 25,2020

The Bihar assembly on Tuesday Feb 25,2020 a unanimous resolution holding that there is no need for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state and updating of the National Population Register (NPR) should be done according to the 2010 format.

The all-party resolution followed a debate on adjournment motion moved by leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav and others in the House. It got the approval of the house in the post-lunch session.

Levi Strauss Birth Anniverary Jan 26,1829 - Jan 26,2020

The man behind the first company to manufacture blue jeans, Levi Strauss was born on February 26, 1829, in Germany.

Levi belonged to a Jewish family and immigrated to America at the age of 18 to join his brother’s business that specialized in dry goods.

 Levi moved to San Francisco a few years later with a vision to have his own fine dry goods business which produced items like blankets, boots, and combs, etc.

Levi’s undertaking was a wholesale store that went on to craft one of the most durable and popular articles of apparel ever produced--the blue jeans.

What started as heavy-duty work pants or workwear, then identified as overalls for its tenacity during the 1870s, later went on to be known as jeans.

Levi built a fashion empire, a brand which transcended from being clothing for miners and convicts to becoming a fashion staple popularized by the likes of Marlon Brando and James Dean.

Some of the lesser known facts about the visionary. 

- Jacob Davis, a tailor from Nevada wrote to Levi in 1872, seeking help. He had scored fabric from Levi for his own business and had come up with a unique way to produce rather durable pants. Davis asked Strauss to pay the fee as the former was unable to cover the cost himself and as a result, the first blue jeans was born. The two patented the new style of work pants in 1873.

- In 1926, Levi Strauss & Co. apparently gave the first bonuses in clothing history. Levi was close to his workers and even insisted they call him Levi.

- Belt loops did not exist on Levi's until 1922. Instead, cinches and suspenders were used to prevent wardrobe malfunction. The zipper fly made its debut only in 1954 which wasn’t received well in the beginning.

- During WWII, Levi Strauss & Co. underlined— the double-stitched arc on the back pocket — to save thread. Levi's had to exclude some rivets, cinch, and the characteristic arcuate as resources were limited due to war rationing.

- One of Levi’s most prominent symbols found at the back of each pair is the two horses pulling patch. The leather tag was placed onto the denim in 1886 to represent strength and quality of the garment. However, the leather was discontinued for being pricey and was later substituted with a heavy duty card stock.

- Levi never had a retail store as the brand’s forte was wholesale supply. A huge warehouse on the San Francisco waterfront was raised to cater to the retail clients. To date, Levi Strauss & Co. headquarters (Levi’s Plaza) is located near the city’s prominent waterside.

- Levi himself never wore a pair of jeans of his label. During its initial years, the brand was meant to produce clothes for laborers so it carried a customary dogma. Also successful businesspersons, such as Levi did not wear jeans and were usually dressed in quintessential dark suits and white shirts.

- The humble denim, got its earliest fame after James Dean rocked a pair in Rebel Without a Cause, who was then considered ‘a rising star and a sweltering property’. Since then the denim jeans became wildly sought-after and immensely popular.

Indian Railways Made Rs 9,000 Crore from Cancelled and Waitlisted Ticket Charges in Last Three Years

The Indian Railways earned over Rs 9,000 crore from ticket cancellation charges and non-cancellation of wait-listed tickets between 2017 and 2020, Indian Railways has said in response to an RTI application.

The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), in response to the RTI application filed by Kota-based activist Sujeet Swami, said that in the three-year period from January 1, 2017 to January 31, 2020, there were over nine-and-a-half crore passengers whose wait-listed tickets were not cancelled.

Such passengers brought the Indian Railways revenue of over Rs 4,335 crore

In the same period, the railways earned over Rs 4,684 crore from cancellation fees of confirmed tickets, it has been revealed.

In both segments, earning was maximum from sleeper class tickets, followed by Third AC travellers, the RTI response added.

There is also a huge difference in the number of people buying railway tickets through Internet and those from counters.

 In the three-year period, over 145 crore passengers purchased tickets through Internet, while over 74 crore people went to railway counters.

Wikipedia Could Potentially Shut Shop in India Due to New Government Rules Wikipedia Could Potentially Shut Shop in India Due to New Government Rules

The recently proposed data protection bill and the internet intermediary liability rules in India have put various internet companies in deep waters.

Apart from tech giants like Google, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, one of the biggest companies that are worried about these new rules is Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia.

Wikipedia provides access to free knowledge and information online, but thanks to the new policies, it might have to change the way it operates in India

First, the new laws force the company to set up a local entity in India

The amended intermediary liability rules state that any intermediary having over 50 lakh users in India will have to be incorporated in India with a permanent registered office and address

It would also ask to filter its content that goes online and the government can also ask to takedown any specific content within 24 hours, and also request for information as necessary for cybersecurity reasons within 72 hours

 This potentially means that the government can pull down almost any information that is being provided on Wikipedia and can even ask for information if and when required

Wikimedia along Mozilla, GitHub, Cloudflare, has written an open letter to the government regarding the internet intermediary liability rules.

“If the initial draft of the intermediary liability rules were passed, it would take a significant amount of effort and resources for the Wikimedia Foundation to comply with the draft requirements and keep Wikipedia in operation,” Stephen LaPorte, legal director, Wikimedia.

Does that mean Wikipedia is going to shut down in India?


Friday, February 14, 2020

112 year old Japanese Named World's Oldest Living Man



Chitetsu Watanabe turns 113 next month(born on March 5,1907), but he got an early birthday present from Guinness World Records, which confirmed that he is the world's oldest living man.
He was presented with a certificate on Wednesday at the nursing home where he lives in Niigata, Japan -- he's 112 Years, 344 days old, according to Guinness
Watanabe made a calligraphy banner for the occasion that says "World No. 1."


Maharashtra Govt Announces 5-day Working Week For State Govt Employees Effective From Feb 29,2020



The Maharashtra government announced a five-day working week for its officers and employees. In an announcement on Wednesday Feb 12,2020, the government said that the new routine would start from February 29.
The decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Currently Maharashtra government officials work on the first and third Saturdays of the month and get an off on the second and fourth Saturdays.
There are more than 20 lakh officers and employees in the government, semi-government and the local bodies in the state.

Kerala Govt Fixes Bottled Drinking Water Price To Rs 13 per Litre

The Kerala government has announced a price ceiling for bottled water being sold across the state, after recognising it as an 'essential commodity'. 
The cap for bottled water which now has a retail price of Rs 20 per litre will be fixed at Rs 13.
Apart from the price regulation, the government has decided to make BIS water quality standards mandatory for all bottled water brands to weed out illegal manufacturers. 
The decision to fix a price cap was taken during an audit on bottled drinking water manufacturers. 
In 2018, at a meeting convened between the state government and these manufacturers, it was decided to fix the price ceiling at Rs 12 per litre. 
However, this decision could not be implemented as it was opposed by a few players
The Kerala Essential Articles Control Act, 1986 (13 of 1986) defines the term ‘essential article’ as any “any article, not being an essential commodity as defined in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (Central Act 10 of 1955), which may be declared by the Government by notified order to be an essential article. The act allows the government to check unbridled price rice of commodities and ensure free flow and equitable distribution of essential commodities.
According to reports, Kerala has around 300 brands of bottled drinking water. The Kerala Bottled Water Manufacturers’ Association, which has about 100 members, welcomed the state government's move. However, it is likely that disgruntled manufacturers will approach court.
Apart from private bottled water companies, the Kerala government sells drinking water at Rs 10, through a subsidiary of the Kerala Water Authority

2020 Indian Premier League(IPL) - Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB) Launches New Logo Friday Feb 14,2020

Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday announced a change in their logo ahead of the much-awaited 13th season of the cash lucrative T20 league



The announcement came just a few days after the franchise deleted their profile image, along with some old posts, and wrote a cryptic message on Twitter, with a photo that said ‘New year, New RCB’ and the caption - “B R A C E Y O U R S E L V E S.14th February, remember the date”.

Indian-origin British MP Rishi Sunak, replaces Sajid Javid as UK's Finance Minister Thursday Feb 13,2020

Indian-origin British MP Rishi Sunak, who on Thursday Feb 13,2020 replaced Sajid Javid as UK's Finance Minister, tweeted last night that he is "honoured" to be appointed as Chancellor Of the Exchequer in the Boris Johnson cabinet. Mr Sunak, 39, is married to the daughter of Infosys co-founder and billionaire Narayana Murthy, Akshata.
A former Goldman Sachs banker, Mr Sunak has been appointed as the second most powerful minister in the British government as Prime Minister Johnson reshuffled his cabinet and Pakistani-origin Sajid Javid unexpectedly resigned.
Mr Sunak was previously Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Sajid Javid's deputy. In his tweet, he praised Mr Javid, adding that it was a pleasure to work with him. "I am honoured to be appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer. My predecessor and good friend Saj did a fantastic job in his time at the Treasury. He was a pleasure to work with and I hope to be able to build on his great work going forward," he wrote.

Kolkata Metro Gets 2nd Corridor After 36 Years of Long Wait, Services Open Today Friday Feb 14,2020

After 36 years of perennial wait, Kolkata got its second metro line as Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal flagged off the first phase of the East-West corridor of the mass transport network on Thursday Feb 13,2020

The East-West corridor will be operational for commuters Friday Feb 14,2020 onwards.
The first phase of the Kolkata East-West Metro corridor is connecting the Sector V of Salt Lake, the IT hub of the city, with the Salt Lake Stadium in the area, covering a 5.3km long stretch. 
The commercial services connecting 6 overground stations - Sector V, Karunamoyee, Central Park, City Centre, Bengal Chemical and Salt Lake Stadium stations, began on Friday morning
The Kolkata Metro was the first metro railway in India, opening for commercial services from 1984. 
It is presently the fifth-longest operational metro network in India after Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Namma (Bengaluru).
For almost four decades, the sole corridor of Kolkata metro traversed through 24 stations, of which 15 are underground, covering a meagre distance of 27.3km from Noapara to Kavi Subhas

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

2020 Mobile World Congress(MWC) February 24-27 in Barcelona, Spain - MWC Cancelled Amidst Coronavirus Fears

The organisers of Mobile World Congress (MWC), an annual tech extravaganza, had to pull the plug on the conference after many big companies, who are regulars, withdrew their participation amidst coronavirus fears.

GSMA, the wireless trade body that organises MWC, on Wednesday Feb 12,2020 announced that this year’s edition of MWC, which was scheduled for February 24-27 in Barcelona, Spain, will no longer be held.

“With due regard to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country today, the GSMA has cancelled MWC Barcelona 2020 because the global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event,” John Hoffman, the CEO of GSMA, said in a statement.

In MWC’s 33-year history, this is the first time the organisers have called off the conference.

Thousands of participants from across the world attend Mobile World Congress (MWC) to check out the smartphones and bag investors.

The decision to call off the conference comes after several giant tech companies and wireless carriers such as Nokia, Vodafone, Amazon, Sony, Facebook and Intel dropped out. The companies expressed health safety concerns of staff and visitors.

On This Day On Feb 13,1931,Delhi Became India's Capital

In 1911, it was announced that the capital of British-held territories in India was to be transferred from Calcutta to Delhi. 








The name "New Delhi" was given in 1927, and the new capital was inaugurated on February 13,1931

Bajaj Auto launches BS-VI compliant Pulsar 150 model Wed Feb 12,2020

Bajaj Auto Ltd on Wednesday Feb 12,2020 launched BS-VI compliant version of its popular motorcycle Pulsar 150 at a starting price of Rs 94,956 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The fuel injection (FI) system equipped BS-VI version of the model comes in two variants of Pulsar 150 and 150 Twin Disc which are priced at Rs 94,956 and Rs 98,835 respectively, Bajaj Auto said in a statement.

The BS-VI variants are costlier by Rs 8,998 from the respective BS-IV versions, it added.

In a world-first, India’s dozen major ports now run fully on renewable energy



The dozen state-owned major ports in the country have switched to renewable energy to meet their entire power requirements, making India the first nation to have all government-owned ports running on solar and wind energy.

Under a ‘green port’ initiative, the Shipping Ministry had directed all the major ports to install grid-connected and roof-top solar and wind power projects to facilitate day-to-day operations including supplying shore-power to visiting ships in an eco-friendly manner.

The 12 state-owned ports are
  1. Deendayal Port Trust
  2. Mumbai Port Trust
  3. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust
  4.  New Mangalore Port Trust
  5. Mormugao Port Trust
  6. Cochin Port Trust
  7. Chennai Port Trust
  8. VO Chidambaranar Port Trust
  9.  Visakhapatnam Port Trust
  10. Paradip Port Trust
  11. Kolkata Port Trust and 
  12. Kamarajar Port Ltd.

Shore-power, also known as cold ironing or alternative maritime power, enables ships at dock or in dry dock to use shore-side electricity to power on-board electrical systems, such as lighting, ventilation, communication, cargo pumps and other critical equipment, while turning off their auxiliary engines.

The electricity comes from the local power grid through a substation at the port and is plugged into special power connectors in the shore-power system on the ship.

Shore-power is considered an important way to cut emissions and save costs for shipping companies. It is also a quicker and cheaper short-term solution for allowing shipping companies to meet emissions targets – particularly those related to emission control areas.

Emissions from ships at berth is estimated to be approximately 10 times greater than those from the ports' own operations. “So, there is a greater potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships in ports than from port activities on the land-side,” a Ministry official said.

Ships when berthed at port, though not propelling, still consume a large amount of energy to meet various functions during their port stay. This could be for running the ships' auxiliary power for ventilation of accommodation, loading and unloading of cargo, provisions and spares, cooking, etc. Running these on fuel-powered generators results in noise, vibrations and emissions in the ports.

The supply of shore-side electricity to ships (all types of vessels) at ports can reduce emissions, noise and vibrations, and is therefore considered environment friendly.

The government has enabled the major ports to develop the necessary infrastructure to supply shore electric power to all types of ships during the period of their port stay.

Using renewable energy also helps ports cut power bills - a key operating cost - which in turn translates into lower vessel- and cargo-related charges.

India’s maritime administration has framed standard operating procedures (SOP) for shore electric power supply to ships in Indian ports that presently cover only a low power supply – up to 150 kW at low voltage.

“Once a port is ready with high voltage supply to meet any power demand of a ship, a new SOP will be issued,” a Ministry official said

CEAT opens new manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu Wed Feb 12,2020

Tyre major CEAT Ltd inaugurated its new 4,000 crore greenfield manufacturing facility at neighbouring Sriperumbudur on Wednesday Feb 12,2020



The facility would manufacture radial tyres for lorries, buses and cars and also for two-wheeler.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami formally inaugurated the facility located at Kanathanangal village, Mathuramangalam Post, Sriperumbudur

The plant’s installed production capacity would be 96 lakh tyres per annum.

Northern Ireland's First Same-Sex Married Couple Tuesday Feb 11,2020


Northern Ireland's first same-sex wedding took place on Tuesday Feb 11,2020 after the government lifted a ban on gay marriage in the province, marking legalisation of the practice throughout the United Kingdom.

Robyn Peoples(26) a healthcare worker from the city, and Sharni Edwards(27) a waitress originally from Brighton, became the province's first gay couple to wed, according to the Love Equality campaign group.



The women exchanged their vows in Carrickfergus, County Antrim on their sixth anniversary as a couple.

2020 Happy Hug Day - Feb 12,2020



Hugs are meant to express concern, support and love and most importantly help people understand how important they are to you.

A mother's hug is healing, a father's hug reassuring, a sibling's hug is protective and a lover's hug is what you need to feel special!

A hug is a simplest and warmest form of expressing love without saying a thousand words

A long hug is capable of stimulating the release of hormone - oxytocin -- in the brain. The hormone responsible for happiness helps promote bonding and a hug actually brings you closer together.

The positive energy while hugging your partner works as a stress buster.

Reduces blood pressure levels and boosts heart health.

Hugs also help heal feelings of loneliness, anger, frustration along with balancing nervous system as well.


World Record For Lowest Ever ODI Total Equalled

USA all out for record equalling low of 35, loses to Nepal 

 

 Young leg-spin sensation Sandeep Lamichhane on Tuesday claimed six wickets to help Nepal rip out USA for the lowest score in ODI history.

Only Xavier Marshall (16) could reach the double figures as USA was bowled out for 35 in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 match played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground.

Lamichhane finished with career-best figures of 6/16

Sushan Bhari, a slow left-arm orthodox by trade, picked up the other four wickets of the innings.

Nepal also broke the world record for the least balls taken by a team to bowl out the opposition in an ODI as it bundled out USA inside 12 overs

The USA’s score is level with Zimbabwe’s effort against Sri Lanka in Harare in 2004. The next lowest scores are by Canada (36), Zimbabwe (38) and Sri Lanka (43)

Nepal chased down the target in 32 balls with 8 wickets in hand

The match also entered history books as it was the shortest-ever ODI. The match was completed in just 17.2 overs.

Non- subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders price hiked Wed Feb 12,2020

The price of Non-subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders were hiked by Rs 144.50 on Wed Feb 12,2020, the sixth hike in as many months.

State-run oil marketing companies hiked the price of non-subsidised LPG cylinders across metro cities.

A 14.2 kg non-subsidised LPG Cylinder will now cost Rs 858.50 in Delhi

In Kolkata, the LPG Cylinder price is now at Rs 896.00, up by Rs 149.

The price in Mumbai is at Rs 829.50, up by Rs 145.

 In Chennai, the price is at Rs 881.00, an increase of Rs 147

The subsidy on cooking gas has also been raised to maintain the effective price of LPG cylinders for recipients. The subsidy outgo to domestic consumers has been doubled from around 150 a cylinder to almost 300. This has been done to ensure that consumers continue to pay around 550 to 570 a cylinder for cooking gas across the country

Puducherry becomes first UT to pass resolution against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)

The Puducherry Legislative Assembly Wednesday passed a resolution against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and urged the Centre to withdraw the legislation, which has set off nationwide protests and led to over 25 deaths.

The resolution, which was passed during a special one-day Assembly session, saw MLAs from All India NR Congress (AINRC) and AIADMK boycotting the proceedings of the House.

Puducherry is the first Union Territory to pass a resolution against the CAA.

 Five state governments – Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh – have also passed resolutions against the contentious Act.

All the states, along with Puducherry, are ruled by non-BJP Govt

Those opposing the CAA contend that it discriminates on the basis of religion and violates the Constitution. They also allege that the CAA, along with the proposed NRC, is intended to target the Muslim community in the country.

 



2020 Azerbaijan Parliamentary Election Sunday Feb 09,2020


Azerbaijan's 's governing party was leading on Monday Feb 10,2020 in a snap parliamentary election called by Presiden Ilham Aliyev  to consolidate power and speed up economic reforms by replacing the old guard associated with his father.

Candidates from the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan (New Azerbaijan) party won about 65 of 125 seats in the single-chamber parliament, Mazahir Panakhov, the Central Election Commission (CEC) head, said early on Monday Feb 10,2020 after counting the results from about 110 districts

The election was originally originally scheduled to take place in November 2020,but were brought forward after parliament was dissolved in December 2019

Opposition parties accused President Ilham Aliyev of limiting their ability to campaign, and called for a boycott of the election

Kenya's longest-serving President Daniel arap Moi dies aged 95 Tuesday Feb 04,2020


For more than a quarter of a century, Daniel arap Moi dominated Kenyan politics.


He was a more populist politician than his predecessor Jomo Kenyatta and won widespread support in the country.

But he failed to dismantle Kenyatta's dictatorial style of rule and ruthlessly suppressed political opponents.

He earned the sobriquet "professor of politics" but his legacy was tarnished by economic stagnation and accusations of corruption.

He was one of the few politicians in Kenya who belonged to neither of the main ethnic groups - Kikuyu and Luo but  a Tugen, a member of one of the smallest tribal groupings in Kenya, the Kalenjin.

In March 1957 Moi was one of the first eight black people to be elected to the Legislative Council.

Early in 1960 he was one of the African delegates to the Lancaster House conference in London, which drafted a new Kenyan constitution granting black people a majority in the Legislative Council.

In 1961 he became minister of education and, in a coalition council of ministers, formed of Kanu (Kenya African Nationalist Union) and Kadu (Kenya African Democratic Union - Moi's party), he was named minister for local government.

In Dec 1963 When Kenya finally gained independence and Kenyatta became prime minister, Moi was designated shadow minister of agriculture.

At the end of the following year, when Kenyatta became president, Moi was sworn in as minister for home affairs.

This was an important post as it made him head of Kenya's national police and charged him with the responsibility for maintaining national security.

While retaining this post, in January 1967 he was appointed Kenya's vice-president and vice-chairman of the Kanu parliamentary group.

During his period of office as home affairs minister most foreign observers agreed that Kenya had far fewer political prisoners and less internal repression than almost any other African country in the post-colonial period.

When Kenyatta died in August 1978, Moi immediately became interim president and from the outset he made it clear that he would keep the country on the same pro-Western course.

In October 1978 he was elected unanimously head of Kenya's only political party and became the country's second president.








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2020 Irish General Election Saturday Feb 08,2020

Sinn Fein on Tuesday Feb 11,2020 became Ireland's second-largest parliamentary party after winning the popular vote in the election at the weekend - shattering the political landscape and thrusting the one-time fringe party with historic links to paramilitaries into a probable role in the next government.

With counting completed in the early hours of Tuesday Sinn Fein had taken 37 of the 160 seats in the next Dail - Ireland's lower house of Parliament - after a turnout of 62.9 percent in Saturday Feb 08,2020's election

Centre-right party Fianna Fail was only one ahead on 38, while Prime Minister Leo Varadkar's Fine Gael party took 35, a result likely to mean his departure from office

If a new government is to be formed when the Dail sits on Feb 20,2020 it will have to include multiple parties.


Spain Set To Decriminalise Euthanasia Tuesday Feb 11,2020


Spanish legislators have voted in favour of a draft bill that could see the country become the seventh in the world to decriminalise euthanasia, overcoming years of opposition from the Roman Catholic Church and conservative politicians



Legislators on Tuesday Feb 11,2020 discussed a draft bill, proposed by the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), voting by 208 in favour to 140 against, with two abstentions

Under the proposed legislation, patients will be able to apply to end their lives through the public healthcare system.

Currently, under Spanish law, helping somebody to die carries a potential five-year jail sentence and any person directly involved in causing another's death can be tried for homicide and imprisoned for up to 10 years.

The draft bill stipulates that a person can only choose to die if they have a serious and incurable illness, or a chronic, severe disability. They must also be in a situation which makes life "unbearable"

To qualify, they must be a Spanish citizen or a foreign national who is legally resident in the country

A request to die must be made in writing, without pressure, and repeated after 15 days. Provisions are made for people who become incapacitated after giving instructions about their wishes

Two different doctors must consider each case and then it is also examined by a separate commission.

Iranians Commemorate the 41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution Tuesday Feb 11,2020


Tens of thousands of Iranians have poured into the streets of Tehran and other cities to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the Islamic revolution, against a backdrop of escalating tensions with the  US

Waving flags of  Ianran d holding portraits of the founder of the Islamic republic, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, they converged on Tehran's Azadi Square on Tuesday Feb 11,2020 despite chilly temperatures

The celebrations mark the day that Shia leader Khomeini returned from exile and overthrew the shah's last government.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Lebanon Gov't wins Parliament's confidence vote despite protests Tuesday Feb 11,2020


Lebanon's Parliament has backed a new cabinet and the government's financial rescue plan in a vote of confidence held despite attempts by protesters to block it. Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri congratulated the legislators who sat through a nine-hour session on Tuesday Feb 11,2020 before holding a vote that saw 63 of 84 MPs present give their confidence to the new government formed last month.

Twenty MPs voted against the government and one abstained

For months, thousands of Lebanese had been protesting against the proposed cabinet, saying it would not be able to rescue the country's ailing economy.

On Tuesday Feb 11,2020, more than 350 people were injured in clashes around the Lebanese Parliament building in the capital as protesters attempted to prevent the MPs from participating in the confidence vote

US Equal Rights Amendment

The US House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on whether to remove the ratification deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which would grant equal rights to all US citizens regardless of sex.

Congress imposed a deadline when it first proposed the amendment in 1972. 

But the deadline expired nearly four decades ago after only 35 states had agreed to the amendment. Constitutional amendments must be ratified by at least 38 states.

Democrats in the House now plan to approve a resolution that would remove the deadline altogether. 

The Republican-led US Senate would have to agree, which is unlikely. 

What is the Equal Rights Amendment?

Advocates for gender equality in the US have been pushing for an amendment to the US Constitution that would provide for equal rights between men and women for nearly a century.

The ERA was first proposed in 1923 by Alice Paul, leader of the National Woman's Party, soon after ratification of the 19th Amendment which gave women - though, in reality, only white women at the time - the right to vote in the US.

It was not until 1972 that Congress approved an updated wording of the proposed amendment by votes of more than two-thirds majorities in both the House and Senate.

The ERA reads: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex", and Congress shall have the power to enforce that right.

What would the ERA do?

The ERA would provide a fundamental legal remedy against gender discrimination for both women and men, according to the Alice Paul Institute, a non-profit group dedicated to ratifying the ERA.

The ERA would affect judicial handling of a wide range of claims including matters of workplace discrimination, gender identity, sexual harassment, domestic abuse and reproductive rights.

US courts have dealt inconsistently of sex discrimination and, under the ERA, any laws containing the different treatment of men and women would be subject to strict scrutiny.

The amendment would further serve as a pre-emptive warning to any legislators seeking to write new laws that would treat men and women unequally.

Why are some people against it?

Opposition to the ERA has come from conservatives who argue it would spawn a wide range of unintended lawsuits that would degrade women's status.

The late conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly campaigned against the ERA in the 1970s, arguing it would deprive women of their special protections and privileges

Opponents argue the ERA would hurt families and strip women of certain privileges, such as separate bathrooms and Social Security benefits for widows, among others. 

The Trump administration's Department of Justice issued a legal memo on January 6 arguing the ERA could not be ratified because of the expired deadline.

Others have highlighted that 5 States - Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, Tennessee and South Dakota - have voted to revoke their ratifications of the ERA.

The case is likely to go to the US Supreme Court.





2020 Delhi Assembly Election Results - 5 factors that led to BJP's Delhi debacle Tuesday Feb 11,2020

LACK OF LOCAL LEADERSHIP
The BJP relied heavily on national leaders to drive home its campaign. At a time when Arvind Kejriwal has firmly etched himself as the vikas purush of Delhi, the BJP was unable to find a worthy challenger. The saffron party could neither project a CM face nor dent Kejriwal's clean image. The BJP roped in Union ministers and political heavyweights, which sent a wrong message to voters who perceived it as "imported leadership". Kejriwal stood strong as the undisputed 'badshah' of Delhi.

FOCUS ON NATIONAL ISSUES
The BJP focused more on Ram mandir, Article 370, triple talaq, etc. which failed to resonate with voters electing leaders on local issues such as health, education, housing and roads, to name a few. The BJP hardly campaigned on what it intends to provide for residents of Delhi if elected to power. On the other hand, the AAP sought votes on the basis of development and the work it did in the sec tors of health and education, which was there for people to see.

NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN
Shaheen Bagh dominated the BJP's campaign. With provocative slogans ringing out from BJP's meetings and rallies, its campaign was mostly perceived to be based on communal polarisation. From "goli maaro..." to biryani jibes at Shaheen Bagh protesters and opposition leaders, and calling Kejriwal a terrorist, the BJP's campaign had very little to offer on the development front. On the contrary, AAP focused on local issues and local connect, and refrained from using foul language

FACTIONALISM
Rampant infighting and bad selection of candidates cost the BJP dear. For example, Kapil Mishra's area of influence is Karawal Nagar but he was fielded from Model Town. Tajinder Bagga was fielded from Hari Nagar instead of Tilak Nagar. Both lost. Also, known faces of the BJP such as Vijay Goel, Parvesh Verma and Manoj Tiwari appear to be fighting for oneupmanship within the organisation. On the contrary, the AAP put up a united fight.

THE ROT IN CIVIC BODIES
Delhi voted for the BJP in all three municipal corporations in 2017. Three years later, they have hardly anything to show for themselves. Non-payment of salaries, illegal constructions, garbage and sewer blocks dented the image of BJP-run municipalities. Allegations of corruption and non-accessibility against councillors and officials didn't do any good either. Overall, there was disenchantment against the MCDs, to which the AAP cashed in. Kejriwal & Company warned voters Delhi will face the same fate if the BJP comes to power.

Coronavirus Named ‘Covid-19’ by World Health Organisation(WHO)

The Geneva-based World Health Organisation(WHO) has given a new name to the disease, Covid-19, which was announced late on Tuesday Feb 11,2020

WHO said it had given a new name to the illness that has triggered an international public health emergency, infecting nearly 400 more people in 24 countries.

The name “COVID-19” does not make any reference to a place or animal to avoid stigmatisation.

“We had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said while announcing it

What considerations does the WHO take into account while naming new human infectious diseases?

The WHO, in consultation and collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), has identified the best practices for naming new human diseases, “with the aim to minimize unnecessary negative impact of disease names on trade, travel, tourism or animal welfare, and avoid causing offence to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional or ethnic groups”

These best practices apply to those new diseases that can be classified as an infection, syndrome, or disease of humans; a disease that has never been recognised before in humans; has potential health impact and in those cases where no disease name is established in common usage

Significantly, as per the WHO, the assigning of an “appropriate” disease name is necessary by those who first report a new human disease, especially given the rapid and global communication through social media and other electronic means. In case an inappropriate name has started circulating, the WHO may assign an interim name and recommend its use

Furthermore, names that are assigned by the WHO may or may not be approved by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) at a later stage. The ICD, which is also managed by the WHO, provides a final standard name for each human disease according to standard guidelines that are aimed at reducing the negative impact from names while balancing science, communication and policy.

What are WHO’s best practices for disease naming?

The best practices include using generic descriptive terms such as respiratory diseases, hepatitis, neurologic syndrome, watery diarrhoea and using specific descriptive terms that may indicate the age group of the patients and the time course of the disease, such as progressive, juvenile or severe.

Further, in case the causative pathogen is known, it should be used as part of the disease name with additional descriptors such as the year when the disease was first reported or detected. For example, novel coronavirus respiratory syndrome. The names should also be short (rabies, malaria, polio) and should be consistent with the guidelines under the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Content Model Reference Guide

Additionally, the best practices also include advice on what the disease names should not include, such as the geographic location where it was first reported. For example, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Spanish Flu, Japanese encephalitis and Lyme disease. Disease names should also not include people’s names (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Chagas disease), the species or class of animal or food (swine flu, monkeypox etc.), cultural or occupational references (miners, butchers, cooks, nurses etc.) and terms that incite “undue fear” such as death, fatal and epidemic



Coronavirus death toll climbs to 1,114 in China

More than 90 people died from the coronavirus outbreak in China on Tuesday Feb 11,2020, pushing the death toll to 1,114 until midnight, Chinese health officials said on Wednesday Feb 12,2020


 



The total number of infections has risen to 44,742 with more than 33,300 cases reported from the worst-hit central Chinese province of Hubei, the officials added.

The soaring numbers come in the backdrop of authorities ordering the sealing of residential buildings in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, from Tuesday to prevent human-to-human transmission.

Remembering Abraham Lincoln (Feb 12,1809 - April 15,1865) on his birth anniversay


Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States(1861-65)

 He was the first Republican president and his victory was entirely due to his support in the North and West; no ballots were cast for him in 10 of the 15 Southern slave states, and he won only two of 996 counties in all the Southern states.

Abraham  Lincoln received 1,866,452 votes, or 39.8% of the total in a four-way race. He won the free Northern states, as well as California and Oregon

Abraham Lincoln's victory in the Electoral College was decisive: Lincoln had 180 and his opponents added together had only 123

Remembering Charles Darwin(Feb 12,1809 - April 19,1882) on his birth anniversay



Charles Darwin who is best known  for his contributions to the science of evolution, Charles Robert Darwin was born on Feb 12, 1809.

He published his theory of evolution in the 1859 book On the Origin of Species and proposed that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors -- a fact that is widely accepted by the scientific community now.

One of the most influential figures in human history, Darwin’s explanation of the diversity of life was in sharp contrast to Victorian beliefs of the time. However, the book aroused international interest and saw less controversy that his less scientific work Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation.

Darwinism went on to become a movement covering a wide range of evolutionary ideas.

His work on the theory of evolution also broke through Godwinian utopianism a theory propounded by philosopher-novelist William Godwin. Godwinian utopianism considered co-habitation to be an evil and termed marriage as a “system of fraud.”

Darwin got enrolled in the prestigious University of Edinburgh to study medicine, but soon realised that the subject was not meant for him, mainly due to his aversion to blood. He ended up graduating from Christ’s College in Cambridge with a degree in arts.

He embarked on a five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle, which helped establish him as an eminent geologist. His observations supported Charles Lyell’s conception of gradual geological change. The publication of his journal chronicling the voyage made him famous as a popular author as well.

The chronicling of Darwin’s voyage, which ended in 1836, resulted in his theory of evolution and natural selection.

However, he did not present his theory of evolution until 1858 when he announced the same with British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who had proposed a similar theory as.

Darwin published his seminal work, ‘The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection’, the year after.

On this Day Feb 11,1990 South Africa's Nelson Mandela Freed From Victor Verster Prison After 27 Years in prison for fighting against apartheid system of racial segregation.


February 11, 1990, was the day millions of black South Africans had been waiting decades for.

On that cloudless Sunday afternoon, Nelson Mandela walked out of Victor Verster Prison flanked by his wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, his right hand raised and fist clenched

A sea of excited supporters held back by police had lined up, all trying to get a glimpse of their just-freed leader who had spent 27 years in prison for fighting against the country's discriminatory apartheid system of racial segregation.


2020 Delhi Assembly Election Results - The 8 BJP men who stood Kejriwal storm Tuesday Feb 11,2020



The BJP may have looked like giving a fight to Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) when the counting of votes for Delhi assembly polls began on Tuesday Feb 11,2020, but the saffron party was all but swept in the Kejriwal storm by the time the dust settled

Several party stars were vanquished leaving only 7 men standing till the last stages of counting as per the data made available by the election commission at 4 pm

1)MS Bisht, Karawal Nagar
Mohan Singh Bisht of the BJP has emerged one of the heroes for the party after securing 71,268 votes against Durgesh Pathak of AAP, who polled 41983 votes after the 18th round of counting. He is trailing Bisht by close to 30 thousand votes

2)Vijendra Gupta, Rohini
It appeared at one point that the Delhi BJP stalwart could end up as one of the many electoral casualties but Gupta made a comeback on the Rohini seat, his home turf against AAP’s Rajesh Nama Bansiwala. Gupta with 50,075 votes was leading Bansiwala--40,942 votes—by close to 10 thousand votes after 11 rounds of counting

3)Jitender Mahajan, Rohtas Nagar
In Rohtas Nagar, Jitender Mahajan is leading by over 13 thousand votes against AAP’s Sarita Singh who got 44785 votes after 11 rounds of counting

4)Ajay Mahawar, Ghonda
In Ghonda constituency Ajay Mahawar was ahead of AAP’s Shridutt Sharma by 19 thousand votes. Mahawar got 61 thousand votes to Sharma’s 42 thousand votes

5)Om Prakash Sharma, Vishwas Nagar
Om Prakash Sharma, popularly known as OP Sharma secured 64568 votes, 15,000 more than 48313 votes cast for Deepak Singla of AAP in Vishwas Nagar, Gurcharan Singh of the Congress was third with 7727 votes. Sharma had won this seat in 2015 with over 10 thousand votes

6)Anil Kr Bajpai, Gandhi Nagar
In Gandhi Nagar, sitting BJP MLA Anil Kumar Bajpai was leading against AAP’s Naveen Chaudhary by less than 3 thousand votes. Bajpai had secured 40652 votes against 37143 votes polled by AAP’s Chaudhary. Congress’ Arvinder Singh Lovely polled 19486 votes. It remains to be seen if his good showing helped Bajpai

7)Abhay Verma, Laxmi Nagar
Abhay Verma is leading from Laxmi Nagar constituency in east Delhi by the thinnest of margins – 62 votes—against his rival from AAP, Nitin Tyagi. Verma polled 62909 votes against 62847 votes polled by Tyagi after 14 rounds of counting.

8)Ramvir Singh Bidhuri
Ramvir Singh Bidhuri won by a margin of 3,000 votes from the Badarpur seat. Bidhuri was an MLA for three terms from Badarpur. During the first Legislative Assembly of Delhi, he was a member of the Janata Dal.
During the third Legislative Assembly, he was a member of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and during the fifth Assembly election, he contested as a BJP candidate. In 1991, Bidhuri had contested the general elections from the East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency.