December 2019 - Page 2 of 7 - Hindustaan Times

Did PM Narendra Modi contradict the December 9 statement of Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha. Amit Shah said that the government would implement NRC on pan-India basis. But PM Modi denied working on all-India NRC while speaking at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.

Amit Shah on NPR, NRC and CAA protest

The Home Minister said that CAA was about giving citizenship to people belonging to certain class and that it couldn’t deprive citizens of their citizenship. He further said that NPR was a register of population residing in India. It would help in framing schemes.

He said that in NRC every individual would be asked to prove his basis for becoming a citizen of this country. He assured that there was no similarity between NRP and NRC and that these two are different laws and couldn’t be used to supplement each-other.

Amit Shah criticized opposition

The Union Home Minister accused the opposition of trying to misleading public on NPR because they couldn’t do so on CAA. He said that people had understood what CAA was and what its advantages were. He gave example of Assam where the NRC was first implemented and said that when Assam was silent then why others were protesting.

Opposition questioned Amit Shah

Opposition parties pointed towards the reply of former minister Kiarn Rijiju on NRC. He said that the government had started working on the National Register of Indian Citizens based on the information collected under NPR. The opposition questioned the delinking of NRC and NPR.

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Viral

Tamil Nadu Farmer Builds Temple For PM Modi

HT News December 26, 2019

Impressed with the PM Narendra Modi, a Tamil Nadu farmer built a temple for Modi on his farmland. He said that he had benefited by welfare schemes like the Pradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi.

Modi’s temple

The 50-year old farmer, P Sankar, said that he received Rs 2,000 (Pradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi) scheme for farmers, gas (Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana) and toilet (Individual Household Latrine Scheme) facilities. It was the centre’s welfare schemes that prompted him to construct a temple for Narendra Modi.

Temple design

Situated in a sleepy Erakudi village about 63 km from Tiruchirappalli, the temple measures 8×8 in size. Built at a cost of Rs. 1.2 lack, the temple has a tiled roof and a traditional “kolam” (rangoli) to welcome the visitors. At the centre of the temple, stands a bust of Narendra Modi. P Sankar performs aarti daily in this temple.

Modi’s bust in the temple

The bespectacled bust of PM Modi features white beard and hairstyle matching with the real personality of the PM. It sports a pink kurta and blue shawl and tilak on forehead. Also, it is adorned with garlands and flowers. P Sankar also wants to performa proper Kumbabishekam (consecration) for the temple.

Portraits at the temple

In addition to Modi, there are portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, noted freedom fighter and Congress icon K Kamaraj, AIADMK stalwarts M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, Home Minister Amit Shah and Tamil Nadu Chief Minsiter K Palaniswami.

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Business International

Billionaires 2019: The Total Worth Of Billionaires Shrank By $400 billion

HT News December 25, 2019

This is the second time in a decade that both the number of billionaires and total wealth shrank. According to latest figures, there are 2,153 billionaires but there were 55 more than a year ago. Also, the 46% (994) of them are poorer than they were in 2018.

Findings of the latest billionaire count

The findings cap the worth of ultra-rich at $8.7 trillion that was $400 billion up in the previous year. Altogether 247 (11%) of the billionaires are dropped out of the ranks since 2009 at the height of global financial crisis.

• Asia-Pacific has 60 fewer 10-figure billionaires

• China has 49 fewer billionaires than 2018

The only nations that witnessed a surge in the number of billionaires are the US and Brazil. In the US, there are 607 new billionaires including 14 of world’s 20 richest people. Jeff Bezos of Amazon is again the Number 1 in the world. He is closely followed by Bill Gates at Number 2.

Newcomers in the list of billionaires

A total of 195 people joined the list of billionaires in 2019. Colin Huang is the richest newcomer. The founder of Chinese discount web retailer Pinduoduo, Colin Huang went public in the US in July. Kylie Jenner, the cosmetics wunderkind, became the youngest billionaire at 21.Other notable newcomers are Spotify’s Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon; Juul Labs’ James Monsees and Adam Bowen, Kind Bar’s Daniel Lubetzky. The trend in the billionaire’s list shows that even the rich and the powerful aren’t immune to economic forces and weak stock markets.

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Technology

Watch Partial Solar Eclipse As Ring-Of-Fire On Christmas 2019

HT News December 25, 2019

Christmas 2019 is going to be very special for sky-watchers, space fans and nature lovers across the world. A rare annual solar eclipse will coincide with Christmas this year and the solar eclipse would be visible online.

Annual solar eclipse

It occurs when a New Moon is furthest from the Earth on its elliptical orbit, it fully eclipses the Sun that appears as a “ring-of-fire” or “ring-of-light” around the Moon. On Christmas, the moon will appear about 1% smaller. It is a partial solar eclipse and the observers are advised to wear protective solar eclipse glasses.

See Christmas Day Rind of Fire Solar Eclipse

The eclipse would be visible along a path that is 118 kilometers wide. It will be visible from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, southern India, norther Sri Lanka, the Indian Ocean, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Guam. Also, the Middle East, south-east Asia and Australia would witness a partial solar eclipse. The Sun will rise as a ring of fire in Saudi Arabia and set as a ring of light in Guam.

Time of the Christmas Day Solar Eclipse

The Universal Co-ordinated Time (UTC) of the partial solar eclipse is 2:29 AM but the action would begin at 3:43 AM. The Sun would rise in Saudi Arabia at 6:43 local time but the key sight of the “ring of fire” would last only for 2 minutes and 50 seconds. And the “ring of light” would be visible for the world for a few minutes across the next three and half hours.

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Fashion & Lifestyle Today's Special

Christmas Photoshoot Gives Magic Moments To Families Of Hospital Kids

HT News December 24, 2019

Christmas has arrived and people are getting ready for the celebrations but there are thousands of kids that are missing their families, holidays and festivities. Hospitalized for various medical ailments, these kids will celebrate Christmas with a group of photographers.

Photographers for kids

Seasoned photographers have teamed up to give hospitalized children a magical experience with Santa. They have named it Christmas Wish Project and it involves meet-and-greet photoshoots with Santa at hospitals. The pictures are edited and improved to look like kids are enjoying Christmas with Santa. The images are then sent to families of the kids.

An experience editorial team does the behind the scenes job. Green screen shots are transformed into magical wintery scenes said Erin Michalski who is in-charge of the Canadian photoshoots.

The edited images are made to look like Santa playing video games with a child on a snowy rooftop. In another image, Santa is seen holding a baby in stable and two boys riding a polar bear in the North Pole.

Photos are sent to parents

Michalski said that the pictures were for parents and are sent through emails. She said that the parents thanked her for the pictures. Some parents had tears rolling down their cheeks after seeing pictures of their kids.

Christmas Wish Project

It started four years ago in Australia and soon expanded to Canada and the United States. To date, the team of more than 200 photographers and 60 editors has delivered photos to more than 400 families and they are working overnight to reach out to more families.

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Travel

Early Sunset Behind Fatal Traffic Injuries In Shopping Season

HT News December 24, 2019

According to Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, the spike in deadly car rashes was due to early sunsets in holiday season. He said that people were out for different activities but early sunsets were creating problems.

Press conference on traffic related injuries and fatalities

DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg was speaking to the media ta press conference in Long Island City on Monday. He squarely said traffic-related injuries had increased due to Hanukkah and Christmas shopping. Also, there were more delivery box trucks on the street. He stressed that the shopping rush and short daylight had increased the traffic fatalities citywide but for the first time in six years.

Data about traffic injuries and fatalities

A total of six pedestrians lost their lives in three days from Wednesday to Friday in traffic collisions in Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn. In one of the accidents, Zhisheng Lin (67) lost his live after being hit by a driver who was trying to turn his vehicle into a parking garage on 18th December. Lin had head injuries and he died the next day.

Also, there was a sharp increase in the death of cyclists in traffic related injuries. More cyclists lost their lives in 2019 since 2000. Brooklyn recorded maximum fatal injuries to cyclists followed by Queens where 816 cyclist injuries happened between 1st Jan to 15th Dec according to NYPD data.

DOT Commissioner Trottenberg said that Queens streets were the second safest they had been since the city launched its Vision Zero program in 2014. The program aims to eliminate traffic deaths citywide by 2024.

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International News & Politics

China Sees Hong Kong Boiling In Support Of Uighurs

HT News December 23, 2019

Pro-democracy protestors rallied in Hong Kong streets to show solidarity with Uighur minorities in China. They said that their condition was no different than that of Uighurs in mainland China.

But a protestor went ahead and pulled a Chinese flag hoisting over a government building during the rally. This short incident of violence was enough for the riot control police to swing into action to disperse the protestors.

Uighurs in China

China is facing flak from the world community for keeping over 10 lack Uighurs out of whom most are Muslims in captivity in north-west province Xinjiang. Earlier Beijing used to deny having any Uighur camps but it now says that these camps are vocational training centers for fighting against terrorism.

Hong Kong with Uighur

Hong Kong has kept a close watch over the Uighurs camps in Xinjiang and for this reason, people protesting against the illegal detention of Uighurs have become a common sight in Hong Kong. Sunday rally was also dedicated to support the cause of Uighur Muslims.

Sunday rally in Hong Kong

More than 1000 people gathered at a square in Hong Kong to listen to the pro-democracy protestors. They said that China would do Xinjiang in Hong Kong. Some protestors were seen holding flags of eastern Turkey in the gathering.

The protestors alleged that they could see Chinese government in Hong Kong. One protestor said that China was suppressing Uighurs in Xinjiang because it had the power. It would the same in Hong Kong once it became powerful.

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Cricket Sports

Jasprit Bumrah And Shikhar Dhawan Could Join Team India For T20 And ODI Series Against Sri Lanka And Australia

HT News December 23, 2019

Jasprit Bumrahcould make a comeback to the India squad after recovering from stress fracture. A decision on his inclusion is likely to be taken in Monday meeting of the national selectors. Team India is going to play limited-overs series against Sri-Lanka and Australia.

Upcoming matches of team India

Indian cricket team will play three T20 international matches against Sri Lanka and as many ODIs against Australia. The Sri Lankan series would start from January 5 and Australian series would commence on January 14. Teams for both the series would be decided on Monday.

Jasprit Bumrah’s selection

Depending on his fitness status, the selectors would make the best decision about his inclusion in the team. He would have to produce a fitness certificate from where he did his rehabilitation. It is to be noted that he didn’t do his rehabilitation at BCCI’s National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Indian team physio Nitin Pateland trainer Nick Webb have already checked Bumrah in Visakhapatnam where he bowled full tilt before them. Also, he has an opportunity to play a Ranji to add more overs under his belt before Australian series starts. Another factor in his inclusion is the opinion of the captain. The selectors would ask Virat Kohli for make an opinion on Jasprit Bumrah.

Virat Kohil will join the meeting via video conference. The selectors will also discuss Deepak Chahar’s fitness as he was ruled out of the third ODI against the West Indies. Shikhar Dhawan can also make a comeback depending on his performance in domestic cricket.

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News & Politics

BJP To Start Poll Campaigns For Delhi Elections From PM Modi’s Rally

HT News December 22, 2019

Weeks after the parliament passing the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive a total of 11 lack signatures by residents of those colonies as a gesture of gratitude at a mega rally in Delhi.

PM Modi’s Delhi rally is going to be mega

BJP would start its election campaign for the assembly elections next year with the mega rally of PM Modi where he will address 2 lack people and apprise the Delhi residents about the milestones achieved by the centre including the bill for unauthorized colonies that grants ownership rights to the residents of unauthorized colonies.

According to senior BJP leader Vijay Goel, the rally was organized to thank PM Modi for regularizing the unauthorized colonies. He said that over 40 lakh residents of 1,731 colonies would be benefitted with this legislation. He further said that the BJP was in full-swing to win assembly election after winning all 7 Lok Sabha seats of Delhi. It will be PM Modi’s first election rally in Delhi after winning a landslide victory in general election last year. The BJP is hoping to make a comeback in Delhi after two decades.

CAA violence in Delhi

PM Modi’s rally will take place at Ramlila Maidan that is nearly one-kilometre from Daryaganj where violence broke out on Friday during a peaceful CAA protestation. The BJP is also gearing up to educate people on CAA. The party has plans to reach out to 3 crores families in next ten days through rallies and press conferences.

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Technology Today's Special

Sundar Pichai Promised $242 Million Over Three Years By Google

HT News December 22, 2019

Sundar Pichai would take a salary of $2 million annually starting 2020. This is the first salary hike for Sundar Pichai after assuming the role of CEO in Alphabet Inc. He will also receive a whopping $240 million in performance-based stock awards over a time of three years.

Sundar Pichai grants

He’s behind Tim Cook in terms of grants related to CEO. Tim took $376 million as Apple’s CEO according to Equilar, a firm that tracks executive compensations.But Larry Page was taking a salary of $1 as the CEO of Alphabet Inc before stepping down.

Sunder Pichai’s journey to Google

Sundar Pichai became CEO of Google after serving the organization for 15 years. In 2015, his annual salary was $652.500 but his increased the following year due to a massive $199 million in stock awards. He was highest paid Alphabet executive at that time.

Credited for making the Google Chrome browser a success, Sundar Pichai was once considered the potential successor to Microsoft Corp CEO Steve Ballmer before Satya Nadella was instated in February 2014.

Google recently revealed in a statement that Pichai earned nearly $1.9 million in 2018 but most of the cost includes is about his security and use of private airplane. His base salary was $650.000.

Sunder Pichai’s future in Google

He has become the public face of Google at a time when the company is passing through a difficult phase. In addition to the criticism of US Lawmakers, Google is facing wrath of its employees on issues like privacy and monopoly.

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