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  • Gautam Gambhir slams Shahid Afridi over controversial Kashmir remarks

    “Some rivalries were personal, some professional. First the curious case of Gambhir. Oh poor Gautam. He & his attitude problem. He who has no personality. He who is barely a character in the great scheme of cricket. He who has no great records just a lot of attitude,” Afridi had written in his autobiography.

    Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir on Sunday hit back at former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi over his recently reported remarks against India Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to a video clip reported by ABP news which is being shared on social media, Afridi was heard criticising PM Modi. In reply to Afridi’s remarks, Gambhir wrote: “Pak has 7 lakh force backed by 20 Cr ppl says 16 yr old man @SAfridiOfficial. Yet begging for Kashmir for 70 yrs.”

    “Jokers like Afridi, Imran & Bajwa can spew venom against India & PM @narendramodi ji to fool Pak ppl but won’t get Kashmir till judgment day! Remember Bangladesh?” he added. 

    Gambhir and Afridi shared intense cricket rivalry when the two were playing for their respective countries. The former Pakistan allrounder in his autobiography ‘The Gamechanger’, which was published in April last year, had given his opinion about Gambhir, someone with whom he clashed several times on field during his career.

    “Some rivalries were personal, some professional. First the curious case of Gambhir. Oh poor Gautam. He & his attitude problem. He who has no personality. He who is barely a character in the great scheme of cricket. He who has no great records just a lot of attitude,” Afridi had written in his autobiography.

    In April, Gambhir had replied to Afridi and said: “Someone who doesn’t remember his age how will he remember my records! ok. Shahid Afridi let me remind you one: 2007 T20 WC final, Ind vs Pak Gambhir 75 off 54 balls vs Afridi 0 off 1 ball. Most important: We won the Cup. And yes, I’ve attitude towards liars, traitors & opportunists,” he had said.

    By: Hindustan Times

  • Deceased covid patient laid to rest; Buchroo village declared red zone

    Budgam: The elderly person who was tested positive after his death was buried under proper Covid-19 protocol at his native village of Buchroo Chadoora here in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

    The body arrived in the village during late Saturday night and he was buried at the same time in local grave yard in presence of four Municipal Employees and three relatives.

    Meanwhile, all the family members of the deceased have been put under quarantine and the village has been declared as red-zone. (KNT)

  • The sun has entered a ‘lockdown’ period, which could cause freezing weather, famine

    Our sun has gone into lockdown, which could cause freezing weather, earthquakes and famine, scientists say.

    The sun is currently in a period of “solar minimum,” meaning activity on its surface has fallen dramatically.

    Experts believe we are about to enter the deepest period of sunshine “recession” ever recorded as sunspots have virtually disappeared.

    Astronomer Dr. Tony Phillips said: “Solar Minimum is underway and it’s a deep one.”

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zXdBcgVuCY0

    “Sunspot counts suggest it is one of the deepest of the past century. The sun’s magnetic field has become weak, allowing extra cosmic rays into the solar system.”

    “Excess cosmic rays pose a health hazard to astronauts and polar air travelers, affect the electro-chemistry of Earth’s upper atmosphere and may help trigger lightning.”null

    NASA scientists fear it could be a repeat of the Dalton Minimum, which happened between 1790 and 1830 — leading to periods of brutal cold, crop loss, famine and powerful volcanic eruptions.

    Temperatures plummeted by up to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over 20 years, devastating the world’s food production.

    On April 10, 1815, the second-largest volcanic eruption in 2,000 years happened at Mount Tambora in Indonesia, killing at least 71,000 people.

    It also led to the so-called Year Without a Summer in 1816 — also nicknamed “eighteen hundred and froze to death” — when there was snow in July.

    So far this year, the sun has been “blank” with no sunspots 76 percent of the time, a rate surpassed only once before in the Space Age — last year, when it was 77 percent blank.

    By Chris Pollard, The Sun

  • Covid-19 | India’s Status as on 17-May-2020

    17-May-2020

    Confirmed Cases: 90588
    Total Deaths: 2874
    Active Cases: 54521

  • U.S. gearing for antitrust case against Google

    The case may also address how the tech giant uses its dominant search business to stifle competition.

    AFP

    U.S. federal and state antitrust enforcers are preparing a lawsuit against Google which could come this year, focusing on the tech giant’s dominance of online advertising, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

    The report, citing anonymous sources, said the case may also address how Google uses its dominant search business to stifle competition.

    The U.S. Justice Department and 50 attorneys general last year said they were looking into whether Google abused its power in the online ecosystem at the expense of rivals or consumers.

    By doing so, the officials revived an antitrust probe closed in Washington several years earlier while EU and other authorities press their own cases against the California-based firm.

    Last year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, coordinating the states’ effort, said an investigation was underway “to determine the facts.”

    Google said it was continuing discussions with authorities.

    “We continue to engage with the ongoing investigations led by the Department of Justice and Attorney General Paxton, and we don’t have any updates or comments on speculation,” the company said in an email.

    “Our focus is firmly on providing services that help consumers, support thousands of businesses, and enable increased choice and competition.”

    Authorities have also begun looking at Facebook and other online platforms on issues of market dominance.

  • HRD Ministry to announce CBSE class 10, 12 exam schedule on May 18

    The Ministry had last week announced that the pending exams would be conducted from July 1 to 15.

    PTI

    The HRD Ministry on Saturday postponed announcement of the exam schedule for pending class 10 and 12 board exams, saying the CBSE is still considering certain technical aspects before finalising the datesheet.

    The Ministry had earlier announced that it would notify the schedule at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

    “CBSE is taking into consideration some additional technical aspects before finalising the datesheets of the board exams of classes 10th and 12th, due to which, the datesheets will now be released by Monday i.e. 18-05-2020. Inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted (sic),” Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ tweeted.

    The ministry had last week announced that the pending class 10 and 12 CBSE exams, which were postponed due to the COVID-19-induced lockdown, would be conducted from July 1 to 15.

    However, the schedule as well as the modalities and guidelines have not been announced yet.

    While class 12 exams will be conducted across the country, the class 10 exams are only pending in north-east Delhi where they were affected due to the law and order situation.

    Universities and schools across the country have been closed and exams postponed since March 16 when the Centre announced a countrywide classroom shutdown as one of the measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

    Later, a nationwide lockdown was announced on March 24, which has now been extended till May 17.

    The Board was not able to conduct class 10 and 12 exams on eight examination days due to the coronavirus outbreak.

    Further, due to the law and order situation in north-east Delhi, the Board was not able to conduct exams on four examination days, while a very small number of students from and around the district were not able to appear in exams on six days.

    The Board had last month announced that it will only conduct pending exams in 29 subjects which are crucial for promotion and admission to higher educational institutions.

    The modalities of assessment for the subjects for which exams are not being conducted will be announced soon by the Board.

    The schedule has been decided in order to ensure that the board exams are completed before competitive examinations such as engineering entrance JEE-Mains, which is scheduled from July 18-23, and medical entrance exam NEET, which is scheduled on July 26.

    The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines to universities that the new academic session for freshers will begin from September while for the existing students from August.

  • 70-Year-Old Man From Budgam Becomes 12th Fatality Due To Covid-19 J&K

    Srinagar: A 70-year-old man from Budgam on Saturday became latest victim of novel coronavirus and his death took the overall toll due the disease to 12 in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Professor Farooq Jan, told GNS that the man had suffered heart attack and was reported to Casualty section late last night. “He died at 8 a.m. on Saturday,” he said, adding, “There was element of chest ailment also. His swap sample was taken and the same returned positive this evening,” he said. The body of the elderly had been kept in mortuary and would be handed over to the family after completing formalities as per covid-19 protocol, he added.

    Sources said that the septuagenarian was a resident of Buchru Chadooora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
    With this fatality, 12 persons have died due to the disease so far in Jammu and Kashmir—10 of them in Kashmir and two in Jammu division.

    The Srinagar district has reported 4 of the deaths, highest in any district, followed by Baramulla (3) and one each in Bandipora, Anantnag, Budgam, Udhampur and Jammu. (GNS)

  • Power Distribution To Be Privatised In Union Territories: Nirmala Sitharaman

    The FM also said a revised power tariff policy would be unveiled in the coming days

    PTI

    Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said electricity distribution companies in Union Territories (UTs) will be privatised.

    This is expected to provide a model to be replicated in states later to improve efficiency and attract investment. Unveiling the fourth tranche of the Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package to revive the coronavirus-hit economy, Sitharaman said there is sub-optimal performance of power distribution and supply in the country.

    She said privatisation of discoms will lead to better service to consumers and improvement in operational and financial efficiency in power distribution. This would serve as a model for emulation by other utilities across the country, she added.

    Privatisation of distribution companies (discoms) has been under consideration of the power ministry for quite some time. Earlier, discoms in Mumbai, Delhi and some other cities had been privatised.

    Meanwhile, Power Minister R K Singh had on Friday asked industry representatives to participate in the bidding process for discoms.

    The minister also said a revised power tariff policy will be unveiled in the coming days which would focus on consumer rights, promotion of industry and sustainability of the power sector.

    Under the revised policy, the discoms will not be allowed to pass on their inefficiencies and losses to consumers.

    Discoms will also have to maintain certain service standards and would be penalised for load shedding, except in cases of natural calamities or technical failures.

    The generation and transmission project developers would be selected through competitive bidding. It will also provide for direct benefit transfer of subsidies and installation of smart meters. Singh had told industry representatives in a webinar that an informal group of ministers had approved the revised tariff policy which would be taken to the Union Cabinet for approval. He expressed hope that the policy would be rolled out within a month.

  • 12 pregnant women among 44 more test positive in J&K, tally inches closer to 1100-Mark

    Srinagar: A day after the highest single-day spike in Covid-19 cases, forty-four persons including 12 pregnant women from Anantnag district tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, taking the overall tally of the patients in J&K to 1092 so far.

    Nodal Officer for Coronavirus Control at SKIMS, Dr G H Yatoo, told GNS that 27 samples tested positive for the disease at viral diagnostic lab of the tertiary care hospital.

    Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS, told GNS that 10 among them are from Jammu (all travelers), 12 from Kupwara, 3 from Anantnag and one each from Baramulla and Budgam.

    Dr Salim, concerned nodal officer, told GNS that 17 persons tested positive at CD hospital’s Covid-19 laboratory and include 14 from Anantnag, 12 of them pregnant women, while three are from Kulgam district. The number could be higher as reports from Jammu and private lab was awaited, sources said.

    On Friday, J&K recorded the highest day spike in cases as 65 people tested positive for the dreaded disease. 35 of them were confirmed at the army’s command hospital in Udhampur and included travels from Kulgam (25) and Ramban (10). (GNS)

  • Kaneria breaks his silence, says Afridi was always against him and ruined his ODI career

    Kaneria was found guilty of spot-fixing alongside Mervyn Westfield while playing for English county

    PTI

    The 39-year-old said, beyond his religion, it was difficult for him to think about the reason behind Afridi’s discriminatory behaviour.

    Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria on Saturday accused Shahid Afridi of treating him unfairly all through his career and blamed him for a rather short limited overs outing.

    Kaneria, only the second Hindu to play for Pakistan after his maternal uncle Anil Dalpat, took 261 wickets in 61 Tests at an average of 34.79. However, he only played 18 ODIs between 2000 and 2010.

    Speaking to PTI from Karachi, the 39-year-old said, beyond his religion, it was difficult for him to think about the reason behind Afridi’s discriminatory behaviour.

    “He was always against me, when we were playing for the same department in domestic cricket or playing me in ODIs. If one person is always against you and you are in that situation, what other reason would think other than that (religion),” said Kaneria when asked if he was a victim of religious discrimination.

    Kaneria, who last year supported Shoaib Akhtar’s claim that he was treated unfairly in the team because of his religion, said he could have played a lot more than 18 ODIs if it was not for Afridi.

    “I could not play more ODIs because of him and he also treated me unfairly when we used to play for the same department (in domestic cricket), he was the captain. He used to keep me out of the side and often he would do the same in ODIs without any reason.

    “He used to support others but not me. Thanks to almighty, I still went on to play a lot for Pakistan and I could not be more proud of that.”

    Kaneria said he used to be a regular member of ODI squads but hardly got to play, blaming Afridi again for that.

    “I was a leg spinner and so was he. That was another reason. He was a big star and playing for Pakistan anyway and to treat me like that, I could not understand why.

    “They used to say two spinners can’t play in the eleven. They used to say my fielding was an issue in limited overs cricket. You tell me who were the supremely fit leaders at that time? There were only one or two good fielders. Pakistan was never known for fielding anyway.

    “When not playing international cricket, he used to come back and drop me from the departmental team.”

    Kaneria, who was found guilty of spot-fixing alongside Mervyn Westfield while playing for English county Essex against Durham in 2009, has been pleading for PCB’s help for a long time. He wants to come back into the PCB fold and serve the game again.

    “I dont want to play the religion card. All I want is PCB’s support. If they can allow Mohammad Aamir, Salman Butt back into the system, why not me?

    “Yes, I made a mistake but so did others. They can’t use and throw me like a toilet paper. I have served Pakistan for a long time and they should support me after all these years”

    Kaneria played most under the captaincy of Inzamam-ul-Haq. He said Inzaman and Younis Khan supported him the most.

    “I played under Moin Khan, Rashd Latif, Inzy bhai, Younish bhai. I played very little under Afridi. Inzy bhai and Younis bhai supported me a lot and it is a fact.

    “However, Inzy bhai doesn’t talk about me positively in public but I will always be thankful to him for his support. I flourished under him,” Kaneria added.