Month: November 2024

8 extrajudicial killings in first 52 days of Bangladesh interim government – Times of India

DHAKA: Bangladesh-based human rights organisation Odhikar has documented that at least eight people were victims of extrajudicial killings between August 9 and September 30 following the assumption of power in Dhaka by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus on August 8. The three-month human rights report for July-September was prepared by Odhikar based on reports sent by human rights activists affiliated with it and data published by news outlets.Of these eight victims, one died allegedly as a result of police torture, another from torture allegedly at the hands of the department of narcotics control, and three were tortured to death, allegedly by joint forces. Additionally, three people were shot dead by joint forces.From August 9 to September 30 at least 52 people were killed and ...

17Nov

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Xi Jinping seizes role as global defender of free trade – Times of India

As Donald Trump threatens to impose tariffs on the entire world, Xi Jinping is once again wasting no time in positioning himself as the premier defender of the international trading system.China's leader warned on Friday that the global economy was fracturing as protectionism spreads, leading to "severe challenges." The world, he declared, had "entered a new period of turbulence and change." "Dividing an interdependent world is going back in history," Xi said in a speech at the APEC CEO Summit in Peru read on stage by one of his ministers. For Xi, it's a role he played when Trump first rose to power in 2017. Back then, China's head of state urged global business elites at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to reject trade wars and protectionism, saying it would cause "injury a...

17Nov

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Over 650 police commandos participate in NSG’s counter-terrorism exercise

Security personnel take part in a drill in metro during a counter-terrorism exercise at the National Security Guard (NSG) Training Centre in Manesar in November 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI More than 650 commandos from the State police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) participated in the National Security Guard’s (NSG) two-week counter-terrorism and counter-improvised explosive device (IED) exercise that concluded on Saturday.A statement by the NSG said 31 teams from States such as Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Puducherry, Chandigarh, and 10 teams from five CAPFs, comprising a total of 667 elite commandos, participated in the exercise....

17Nov

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Science

Future is fusion? The quest to build a star on Earth – Times of India

The quest for fusion energy - the clean, potentially limitless source that could end mankind's power woes - is at least a century old. Now, a handful of startups say we are closer than ever to making it happen. In the next few years, these companies say, their fusion machines will produce more energy than they take to run. Soon after, they will start generating electricity for factories, data centers, steel mills and more. Big-name investors, including Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Vinod Khosla and Sam Altman, have staked hundreds of millions of dollars on this. Yet, closer than ever does not necessarily mean close. Fusion's history is a graveyard of missed deadlines and thwarted milestones. The sunny view is startups moving more quickly than govt labs ever could.Creating a working star on Earth...

17Nov

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Xi Jinping signals cooperation with Donald Trump in his final meeting with US President Biden – Times of India

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday pledged to work with the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump, highlighting the importance of maintaining stability in US-China relations. His remarks came during a meeting with outgoing US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in Lima, Peru. This marked their first meeting in seven months, as both leaders addressed critical global issues, including trade disputes, cybercrimes, tensions over Taiwan, and the ongoing influence of Russia.Xi acknowledged the historical challenges between the two nations but reiterated China’s consistent aim of fostering a stable, healthy, and sustainable relationship with the US, adding that Beijing is ready to maintain communication, expand coop...

17Nov

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Blow for India as Shubman Gill fractures left thumb, all but out of Perth Test

Shubman Gill of India badred the internal practice match between India and India A at the WACA on November 15, 2024, in Perth, Australia. | Photo Credit: Getty Images India were dealt a telling blow on Saturday (November 16, 2024) after star top-order batter Shubman Gill sustained a left thumb fracture, which is likely to rule him out of the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Optus Stadium in Perth, starting November 22. Gill, one of the young heroes of India's last Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph, is a batting mainstay and in case skipper Rohit Sharma opts out of the first Test, India's top-order could look very thin. Gill got hurt while fielding on the second day of the intra-squad match simulat...

17Nov

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PM Modi lauds Bodos for farewell to arms | India News – Times of India

Stating that Bodo peace accord has transformed lives of the community and highlighting BJP's role in transition of Assam from a disturbed area to ushering in development and lasting peace, PM Narendra Modi hailed the Bodo community for abandoning violence and embracing peace. This is the second reference to Bodos by the PM in as many days. PM Modi on Friday addressed the first Bodoland Mahotsav in Delhi where he expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the region after the peace accord where over 10,000 youths in Assam chose peace over violence. Addressing 'HT Leadership Summit' on Saturday, PM Modi highlighted the BJP's pivotal role in Assam's journey from being a 'disturbed area' to a beacon of development, referencing landmark agreements like the Karbi Anglong and Bru-Reang pact...

17Nov

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Trump picks oil firm CEO Chris Wright as energy secretary – Times of India

Chris Wright (Picture credit: X) US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy and a campaign donor, to serve as energy secretary in his second administration.Appointing Wright, a proponent of oil and gas development, including fracking, aligns with Trump’s goal of achieving US "energy dominance."The department of energy oversees a wide range of responsibilities, from managing the country’s nuclear weapons to promoting scientific research. It also approves natural gas exports and ensures environmental cleanup of nuclear weapons sites.Republican Senator John Barrasso, who is expected to chair the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, endorsed Wright’s nomination. “He’s an energy innovator who laid the foundation for America’s fracking boom. After...

17Nov

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Natural farming in India, sprouting but still to grow deep roots

Natural farming, with its emphasis on biodiversity, soil health, and reduced chemical inputs, is gaining traction across India’s agricultural landscape. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have emerged as testing grounds for this promising method, showcasing unique models that focus on sustainable agriculture. The 2024-25 Union Budget, with its allocation of substantial resources to natural farming, marks a pivotal moment. However, as we push toward a low-carbon agricultural future, there are still some pertinent questions to be answered. Will natural farming transform Indian agriculture? Or will it remain an ambitious but niche endeavour? Successes and challenges in some States In Himachal Pradesh, the State’s Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana (PK3Y) has been an impor...

17Nov

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Uncategorized

Numerology Predictions Today, November 17, 2024: Read your personalised forecast for numbers 1 to 9 – Times of India

1 (Those born on the 1st, 10th, 19th, and 28th of any month are blessed with the Number 1)Today brings a fresh sense of joy and liberation, as if you’ve finally broken free from constraints that may have been holding you back. Your spirit is craving adventure, novelty, and activities that make you feel alive. Mundane routines or monotonous tasks will feel stifling to you now, and you’ll naturally gravitate toward creative outlets or lively gatherings where you can shine. This is an ideal day to explore a hobby or interest that’s outside your usual scope, as you’re in the perfect mindset for discovery and enjoyment.Your leadership skills may also surface, as you’ll feel more assertive in guiding others towards fun and meaningful activities. Socially, you could attract people who are intrigu...

17Nov

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‘Traditional media must be compensated by e-platforms’ | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday highlighted the critical issue of fair compensation for traditional media, underlining how it is financially disadvantaged as news consumption is "rapidly shifting" from the conventional modes to the digital space.During his address on National Press Day, hosted by Press Council of India, the minister argued that substantial investment in traditional journalism - including training, editorial processes, and verification - has been undermined by digital platforms' unequal bargaining power.Media challenged by fake news, algorithm bias & AI: Vaishnaw While the investment that goes behind creating a team of journalists, training them, having editorial processes and methods to check the veracity of news, and taki...

17Nov

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Can’t block religious place due to opposition by another group: Kerala high court | India News – Times of India

KOCHI: The Kerala high court has held in a significant judgment that in a democratic country where citizens possess the fundamental right to practise and profess their faith, the establishment of a religious place by any community should not be curtailed merely due to opposition from other groups.The ruling on Friday came in response to a petition filed by KT Mujeeb of Kozhikode challenging the Kozhikode collector's order refusing an NOC to operate a prayer hall for Muslims in his building and Kadalundi panchayat's letter directing him to stop its functioning.In 2016, the HC had issued an interim order permitting the petitioner to use the building as a prayer hall subject to some conditions.Reconsider plea on religious site within 3 months, HC tells official In 2016, Kerala HC issued an i...

17Nov

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Decision on privatisation of power in U.T. only after court decides on the subject, says Minister

Minister for Home A. Namassivayam on Saturday announced the conduct of three-day Gyan Kumbh from November 21-23 in Puducherry. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Minister for Home A. Namassivayam said on Saturday (November 16, 2024) that the Government will take a decision on privatisation of power distribution in the Union Territory only after the court decides on the subject.“The power privatisation issue is now pending in the court. It will not be appropriate for me to comment on the subject. The government will take a decision after the court gives its verdict,” he said while responding to a question at a press conference he held to announce the conduct of three-day Gyan Kumbh from November 21-23 in Puduch...

17Nov

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Entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to innovation

How does one describe a many-sided genius like T.P.G. Nambiar? Was he the forerunner of the “Make in India” revolution in consumer electronics or a humble individual who had a vision that he set out to fulfil in ample measure?From being a young visionary from the backwoods of Kerala, Gopalan Nambiar, over time, strode like a colossus across the world of consumer electronics in India, and blazed a trail that mystified most people who never realised the genius of the boy-next-door. Not enough has been said, or written, about T.P.G. Nambiar, who was relatively unknown till the late 1960s or the early 1970s, when BPL started making significant strides in the Indian consumer electronics sector. Few recognised that one of his most important attainments was a commitment to innovation and qual...

17Nov

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Times have changed, terrorists aren’t safe in their homes: PM Modi | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Saturday said terrorists now do not feel safe in their homes, unlike during the tenure of previous governments.Mentioning that he saw reports of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack at an exhibition at the venue, Modi said, "There was a time when people felt unsafe in their own houses and cities due to the terror sponsored by neighbouring countries. However, now times have changed."He said he saw news clippings about Kashmir's merger with India and experienced the same excitement people felt in October 1947. "At that moment I realised how indecisiveness had kept Kashmir mired in violence for seven decades," he said, delivering the keynote address at the 'HT Leadership Summit'. Past governments brought schemes to please vote banks: Modi PM Modi on Saturday said it w...

17Nov

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Jhansi hosp fire: Young dad saved many babies, but lost his twin girls | India News – Times of India

JHANSI: Yakoob Mansuri, in his 20s, was a hero on Friday night, for other people's children. His own newborn twin girls, they will never know.For a week, the young food vendor from Hamirpur had been sleeping outside the neonatal intensive care unit of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College where his two newborn twin daughters had been admitted. With his wife Nazma, Yakoob took turns to keep watch on the twins.When the fire broke out on Friday night, Yakoob broke the window and entered the unit to rescue as many infants as he could. But his two daughters were not among them. The twin girls' bodies were identified later on Saturday. Nazma and Yakoob sat all day long outside the hospital, their eyes brimming with disbelief and sorrow.Similarly, Sanjana Kumari, who had just given birth to her firs...

17Nov

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The street turned playground

A fading pastime. | Photo Credit: Getty Images A few days ago, on a dusky evening, my cousin and I were riding towards the badminton court. En route, we saw a few boys playing cricket on the streets. As my cousin slowly rode the motorbike, our eyes were glued to the game till it went out of sight. As we reached the badminton court, to our surprise, we found ourselves to be a bit earlier to the court. We sat on the steps and started to reminisce about our childhood. Our minds were filled with nostalgia.Decades ago, whenever our summer vacations were announced by our school, we would be on cloud nine. During school days, even alarms and nudging by my parents could not wake me up from the cosy bed, but on the annu...

17Nov

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Empowering rural women

The International Day of Rural Women, implemented by the United Nations General Assembly and celebrated on October 15 every year, aims to highlight the significant role of women in rural areas. Even as these women remain the backbone of their localities as providers and caregivers, evaluating the support granted to them is essential, particularly how governmental and non-governmental efforts seek to empower them.In the heart of India’s rural communities, where traditional livelihoods are passed down generations, women have long been at the forefront of industries such as handloom weaving and other small-scale enterprises. These women, working often in the shadow of mainstream industries, have been instrumental in preserving India’s rich cultural heritage while sustaining their families thr...

17Nov

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Adopting happiness

There are tens of thousands of orphaned babies in India. | Photo Credit: Getty Images A couple of days ago, I stumbled upon a documentary on YouTube. Titled ‘The Midwife’s Confession’, it is a harrowing account of a journalist’s extraordinary pursuit of a story for over 30 years — female infanticides in Katihar, an eastern district of Bihar bordering West Bengal. The documentary also features heartwarming stories of children saved by the midwives who were assigned to kill the baby girls by their families. The saved babies were given for adoption thanks to the intervention of a social worker.The documentary deeply resonated with me because my wife and I have adopted a baby girl from Katihar. After 10 years of we...

17Nov

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Thumbs down to online shopping

There is something called intuition, a gut feeling which is possible only when you shop physically. | Photo Credit: Getty Images From battle ships to diapers, people seem to be buying everything online nowadays. Those who don’t shop online are people who don’t deserve to inhabit this ‘smart way to shop’ planet. And this was before the pandemic made online shopping a necessity.Prior to the pandemic, the ones who didn’t shop online shopped at super malls and hyper malls. Offers and more offers were permanently available and some defied logic. You purchased one item and got five of the same free. Yet there are some like me who still stick on to the “no online shopping” club with a passion that makes the belie...

17Nov

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The bond of taste

Lip-smacking memories. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto Recently, in a casual conversation, a friend from my former hostel recalled how scrumptious my mother’s chicken curry used to be, its taste still a delectable memory for him. When we were studying in a residential school, our parents were allowed to visit us on Sundays. It was a time for us to relish home-cooked food and sometimes I would share it with my close friends. They would just love the lip-smacking curry my mother would prepare. I would get my steel box returned with no trace of curry left in it.A part of the credit for my mother’s cooking should go to me as I was always the food taster at home. I was a genuine critic of her cooking, givin...

17Nov

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Johnson’s superb spell secures Australia a T20I series win

Australia’s Spencer Johnson celebrates with teammates after taking his fifth wicket of Pakistan’s Abbas Afridi. | Photo Credit: AAP Image via Reuters Australia speedster Spencer Johnson claimed a maiden five-wicket haul in international cricket as the hosts edged out Pakistan by 13 runs in the second Twenty20 International on Saturday (November 16, 2024) to clinch the three-match series 2-0.Chasing 148 to win, Pakistan made a sluggish start and were reeling at 44-4 at one stage after losing Mohammad Rizwan for 16 and Salman Agha for a first-ball duck as Johnson ripped through the top order with three wickets.Usman Khan hit his first half-century after being dropped by Matthew Short but fell for a defiant 52 as...

17Nov

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PM Modi talks of Balasaheb but backstabbed his son: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra – Times of India

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra greets the gathering during a public meeting for the Maharashtra Assembly elctions (ANI photo) NASHIK/KOLHAPUR: AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said PM Modi speaks of late Balasaheb Thackeray during his rallies, but he "backstabbed his son (Uddhav)." She also challenged Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to conduct the caste census and remove the 50% cap on reservation.Priyanka was addressing campaign rallies in Shirdi and Kolhapur for the assembly election in Maharashtra on Saturday when she took on the PM and BJP. She said that Maharashtra was being insulted and the principles of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj were being broken every day."PM comes on the dais and names Balasaheb Thackeray... but he backstabbed his son. (Bal Thackerayji ki baat karte ha...

17Nov

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Laxman lavishes praise on team after 3-1 T20I series triumph in SA

Indian players celebrate after their win against South Africa in the fourth T20 cricket match at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday (November 15, 2024). | Photo Credit: AP India head coach for South Africa tour V.V.S. Laxman has hailed the T20 International series triumph as "a special effort" after his team secured a massive 135-run win in the last match in Johannesburg.India won the four-match T20I series 3-1, with the likes of batters Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson, and bowler Varun Chakravarty making big impact.“Really proud of our guys for the spirit with which they played this entire series. 3-1 win is a special effort, brilliantly led by @surya_14kumar, @IamSanjuSamson, and Tila...

16Nov

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