December 2019 - Hindustaan Times

General Bipin Rawat is made the first Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) by the government of India. He’s currently serving as army general and will retire on December 31. He’ll take the new responsibility on the following day and report directly to the Prime Minister.

Chief of Defense Staff

It is the first time in India that a CDS is appointed but need of a chief for all defense forces was felt from the time of Kargil war in 1999. PM Modi has promised creating of CDS in his Independence Day speech.

The chief of three forces would report to the CDS and the latter would head the Department of Military Affairs. His salary would be equivalent to the emoluments of a service chief. The CDS post would help in improving coordination among the three services – the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

Role and requirements of CDS

A committee headed by National Security Advisor AjitDoval would determine the role and responsibilities of the Chief of Defense Staff. But his primary role would be to bring the three forces on same page. The CDS can serve the country till 65 years of age. General Bipin Rawat would serve as CDS till March 2022.

The world congratulated General Bipin Rawat

The US was the first to congratulate the first Chief of Defense Staff of India. The US Department of State tweeted that CDS would further improve US-India joint cooperation. Maldives Foreign Minister also congratulated General Bipin Rawat for becoming the first Chief of Defense Staff of India.

Source: https://bit.ly/36df1Wb

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International

No Fireworks On New Year’s Eve In Germany

HT News December 31, 2019

Germany has decided to do away with private fireworks on the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Fireworks was a staple in Germany’s New Year celebrations but the government has decided to discourage private fireworks for reasons varying from safety to pollution.

New Year fireworks in Germany

The country celebrates New Year as “Silvester” and fireworks are considered a staple of this celebration but this year, Germans have decided to scale down the level of fireworks to their historic buildings and environment safe. But there will be official firework for Silvester.

Berlin and a dozen of other German cities and communities have put a partial ban on private fireworks. For successful implementation of the ban, three zones in the capital city have been designated fireworks free on New year’s Eve.

But official and private firework displays in most places will continue as normal and it includes the spectacular show at Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate. The German sky would fill with light and sound of millions of tiny explosions. But the Germans have a taken a decision regarding New Year’s Eve fireworks.

Reasons for discontinuing fireworks

Berlin’s ban on firework display during New Year celebrations is primarily focused on public safety. Aachen, a town in western Germany, limited the use of high-flying fireworks to prevent potential damage to its historic buildings. But other cities pointed to environmental and health concerns due to fireworks. Fine dust particles produced by explosions are a hazard to environment and public health.

Source: https://nyti.ms/2QbOxyx

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National

India Would Become $5 Trillion Economy In 2026

HT News December 30, 2019

India would become the fourth-largest economy in 2026 according to a recent report by the UK-based Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). Also, India would achieve its economic target of achieving a GDP of $5 trillion the same year.

Highlights of the CEBR report

India has already become the world’s fifth-largest economy by overtaking the UK and France
India would surpass Germany to reach the fourth-position in 2026
India would battle with Japan and Germany for the third-position over the next decade

World Economic League Table 2020 report

The report is an annual calculation by CEBR in association with Global Construction Perspectives. The report is based on the 2019 data provided by IMF World Economic Outlook.

The report highlights that India would achieve its growth target but two years later than the government’s target. The Modi government intends to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2024. But it also brings into focus the economic-crisis India is facing on its home turf. India witnessed a growth decline of 4.5% in September quarter of 2019-20. The troubling thing is that it was a six-year low.

Economic crisis in India

India is facing an economic slowdown due to negligible investments. The slowdown has impacted the consumer sector because of weak job creation and financial stress among rural households. The report is silent on how India would come out of the dark clouds gathering over the economy and become the third-largest economy over the years.

Source:https://bit.ly/39j4D0W

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Today's Special

December 2019 Is The Second Coldest Month Since 1901

HT News December 30, 2019

Enveloped in dense fog, it is the fourth time between 1901 and 2018 that Delhi witnessed a cold December. This month, the average temperature of the national capital remained either equal to or less than 20 degrees Celsius.

Cold wave in Delhi

The national capital shivers in the cold wave that it witnessed in 1919, 1929, 1961 and 1997. These were the four occasions when Delhi braved coldest December. In 2019, the weather office sounded a red alert regarding the fog. The commuters were seen driving with their emergency and hazard lights on. Also, the traffic moved at a snail’s pace.

Traffic disruption due to fog

Road traffic is the worst hit due to low visibility that remained below 50 meters. 16 flights are diverted to safe places and as many trains are running late due to rough weather conditions. The weather office has predicted light rains with hailstorm on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Coldest December in Delhi

With the average minimum temperature remaining around 19.15 degree Celsius, the 2019 December could be the coldest month of the year since 1997 when the average minimum temperature was 17.3 degree Celsius. Also, it is the second coldest month since 1901.

Latest update

At 2.6 degree Celsius, Delhi becomes colder Shimla that recorded a minimum temperature of 3.6 degree Celsius. The flights at the Delhi Airport are operating under CAT III B conditions that are used when the runway visual range (RVR) is between 50 meters and 175 meters. Several parts of Delhi are covered with dense fog.

Source: https://bit.ly/2Q8Qc81

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News & Politics

Priyanka Gandhi Accuses UP Police Of Manhandling Her

HT News December 29, 2019

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said that she was manhandled by UP police personnel while she was on her way to meet retire IPS officer SR Darapuri. She took a scooter ride and then walked on foot to reach the residence of the retired IPS officer.

Priyanka Gandhi accused UP Police of manhandling

She was on her way to meet a retired IPS officer who was earlier arrested for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act. But a police party stopper her cavalcade midway. According to Priyanka Gandhi, one of the policewomen held her by her neck while another pushed her to ground. She was then pulled up by her neck. And this incident happened before the party workers.

After her cavalcade was stopped from proceeding, Priyanka Gandhi decided to complete the rest of the journey on a scooter driven by a party worker. But she was stopped again. Finally, she decided to go on foot to meet the retired IPS officer who was also a cancer patient.

Police denying charges

Archana Singh was the policewoman in question. She said that she was doing her duty and that the charges levelled against her were untrue. She further said that the Priyanka Gandhi’s cavalcade had to stop because it was diverted from the planned route.

UP government cracks down on rioters

MrDarapuri was taken into custody from his Lucknow home. He was among the 1,113 people arrested different places for rioting. Also, the police have identified 498 people who would be asked to pay for damages to public property.

Source: https://bit.ly/2sx3bYd

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Sports

The Reds Raced Ahead Burnley In The Battle Of Turf Moor

HT News December 29, 2019

Manchester United returned against Burnley in a tight competition by 2-0 and returned home with all three-points. Played at Turf Moor, the Reds gave their best performance with Anthony Martial giving an exciting finish and Marcus Rashford’s injury time goal.

Matic Returns

The midfielder Nemanja Matic got an opportunity to play his first Premier League start since September. Turf Moor was his first litmus test and the midfielder did fairly well against the Clarets that were known for physical battle.

Wonderful Williams

Brandon Williams was out of the squad for quite some time but the full-back gave his best performance especially in the first half when he created difficulties for the opposition full-back Phil Bardsley. The former Red gave fantastic display of football at Turf Moor.

Martial’s Record At Burnley

Anthony Martial has already played three matches at Turf Moor. Also, he was an unused substitute in 2018. But on Saturday, he extended his record of scoring and winning in all his earlier clashes. The Burnley match was the striker’s well-placed finish.

Bowing Out On A High

The encounter was the final match of Reds in 2019. Also, it was the first full calendar year of Ole after taking charge of the Reds. Burnley exhausted all its arms including keeper Nick Pope but looked helpless before the Reds. With this win, the Manchester United rose to the fifth point in the table. The Reds are now only one point off fourth-placed Chelsea.

Source: https://bit.ly/39mXhJX

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Technology

Nissan Will Challenge Venue And Vitara Brezza With New SUV

HT News December 28, 2019

Kicks was the first step of Nissan in the compact SUV sector and not the Japanese carmaker plans to take head-on the established brands in the subcompact SUV space.

Nissan’s subcompact car

The Indian subcompact car market is dominated by Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport and Mahindra XUV300. Nissan is also targeting this sector with its new model.

The sub-4 metre has seen much competition in recent years. In addition to the available models, Kia and Renault are also planning to launch their new models. Also, Nissan would add its latest offering with a very competitive pricing. The new Nissan sub-compact car is expected to start at Rs. 6.5 lack (ex-showroom).

Design of new Nissancar

It would be a CMF-A (Common Module Family) platform. Nissan is making the new design in joint venture with Renault under Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. The same platform would be used for the upcoming Renault HBC subcompact SUV expected to be launched in mid-2020.

The new Nissan would use 1.0L Energy petrol engine presently used in Renault Triber. It is 71bhp engine and it produces a torque of 96Nm. According to media reports, the MPV will come with more powerful turbocharged version of the existing petrol engine.

Source: https://bit.ly/2MDjgm3

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Cricket Sports

Shoaib Akhtar Tactfully Supports Kaneria While Quoting Forer Pak Captain Wasim Akram

HT News December 28, 2019

Shoaib Akhtar a.k.a. Rawalpindi Express in Pakistan cricket openly supported Danish Kaneria by quoting a leaked video of the former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram.

Content of the leaked video

The video has Wasim Akram saying that the Pakistanis keep using old ways; that they had crushed the cricketers. Pakistan needed to change its thought and try new things. The video is in Hindi and it is about the state of affairs of Pakistan cricket.

Shoaib Akhtar shared this video through his Twitter handle to. He also wrote an interesting caption “we need a change” for the video.

Akhtar supporting Kaneria

The former Pakistani pacer alleged that many players didn’t want Kaneria in the team because of his religion. Also, he was never given due credit for his performance because he was Hindu. On the contrary, the teammates constantly humiliated Kaneria. Some teammates even refused to partake of food with him.

Danish Kaneria on Pakistani cricket and Shoaib Akhtar

Kaneria urged Pakistan PM Imran Khan to get him out of this mess as his life was not in a good shape in Pakistan. Also, he thanked Shoaib Akhtar for telling the truth to the world. He said that he was grateful for the teammates who supported him as a cricketer.

Kaneria also thanked the media and genuine cricket administrators and the citizens of Pakistan who supported him regardless of his religious affiliation. It is well-known that Danish Kaneria recently revealed how he was humiliated by teammates and some even didn’t want him in the team.

Source: https://bit.ly/37iHnOV

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Fashion & Lifestyle News & Politics

Delhi Witnesses Coldest Day In The 13-Day Long Cold Spell Since 1901

HT News December 28, 2019

This is the coldest December for Delhi since 1901, according to the weather office. The national capital has been reeling under a cold spell since December 14. It recorded the lowest temperature 2.4 degree today morning.

Delhi temperature at different places

Safdarjung Observatory – 2.4 degrees Celsius
Palam – 3.1 degrees Celsius
Lodhi Road – 1.7 degrees Celsius
Aya Nagar – 1.9 degrees Celsius

Disruptions due to cold weather

The dense fog disrupted rail, road and air traffic to and from Delhi. Presently 24 trains are running late and four flights have been diverted till now. The minimum temperature recorded was 4.2 degrees Celsius that is three notches below normal. The maximum temperature reached was 12.9 degrees Celsius.

Cold spell in Delhi

The cold spell is likely to ease next week but it has already broken all records. The last such spell in Delhi was in 1997. The city witnessed four cold spells after 1992. They were 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2014.

Persistence of cold northwesterly winds in the lower levels over northwest India is making conditions from cold to severely cold in pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, north Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

But the lowest temperature was recorded in Himachal Pradesh where temperature reached below sub-zero in Kufri, Manali, Solan, Bhuntar, Sundernagar and Kalpa. These regions recorded minus 15 degrees Celsius temperature. The meteorological department has predicted rain with hailstorm over next weekend.

Source: https://bit.ly/2rEpmvi

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Beauty & Health

3 Mistakes That You Are Doing This Winter & Skincare Tips To Repair Them

HT News December 27, 2019

Winter days are truly amazing. The cold breeze, snowfall, and hot cup tea make your days enjoyable. Apart from these, when it comes to looking beautiful everyone hates winters especially December month.

If you are going to the party, or to attend birthday bash and more, you just want to look beautiful. So, for all my beautiful girls I have shared good skincare tips that give you flawless skin forever. Moreover, we spoke to the experts and found 3 mistakes that maybe you are doing, resultant you have dull skin.

1 mistake: You are eating too much snack

If you are drinking too much alcohol to save your body from cool nights, it is the big reason your skin is dry because of dehydration. It also causes puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. Our experts also say, eating too much snack (salt) bloats your face and add dullness. On this note, experts say one should need to drink plenty of water to keep skin and body hydrated and avoid the intake of excess salt. Instead of a snack, eat fresh fruits like avocado.

Skincare tip: Massage your face

With the regular face massage or exercise, your skin shines like a stone. It enhances the blood circulation that works to improve collagen and reduce inflammation. Massage your face upward and outward direction to look stunning all day.

2 mistake: Inadequate sleep

In December month, you have to attend a lot of parties some for Christmas and some for New Year Eve. Good sleep is important because the skin starts its rejuvenation process at night, so if you are not sleeping enough, you are not giving … Read the rest