The skyrocketing pollution in Delhi - which was reported to have the highest pollutant levels in the world the day after Diwali - is directly impacting people's health, with 69% of families in the capital and the National Capital Region (NCR) reporting at least one person suffering, a survey has revealed.
AQI (Air Quality Index) on the night of Diwali on Thursday also reached 999, which is the highest recordable level, in several parts of Delhi and NCR.
The survey, by LocalCircles, which received over 21,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and Ghaziabad, revealed that 69% of families have one or more members with sore throat or cough, 62% have at least one member feeling a burning sensation in their eyes due to rising levels of pollution and 46% have someone with a running nose or congestion. Several respondents reported more than one symptom.
Members with breathing difficulty or asthma were reported by 31%, headache by 31%, anxiety and or difficulty concentrating by 23% and difficulty sleeping by 15%. On the flip side, 31% also said no one in their families had any issues at all because of pollution.
The last similar survey was conducted on October 19, days after GRAP (graded response action plan)-1 was imposed on Delhi and there has been a significant shift in at least one of the symptoms in two weeks. The percentage of people with sore throat and or cough went up from 36% at the time to 69% as of Friday.
'Just Live With It'
Only 23% of respondents will use air purifiers to see them through this phase of very high pollution and an equal number said they will just live with it.
15% stated that they plan to carry on with their routine activity and wear a mask when outdoors, the same number said they would do this while increasing consumption of immunity-boosting food or drinks, and the same percentage also said they plan to travel for some part of the month.
The percentage of families who said they will use air purifiers has, however, gone up from 18% to 23% in two weeks.
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The under-construction international cricket stadium at Narsingarh in Tripura could become Kolkata Knight Riders' second home ground for the 2025 IPL season since the iconic Eden Garden in Kolkata is set for a massive makeover next year, a Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) official said on Friday. The construction at the international stadium at Narsingarh began way back in 2017 with an estimated cost of Rs. 185 crore but the stadium is not yet ready. "IPL chairman Arun Kumar Dhumal recently visited the proposed international stadium at Narsingarh on the outskirts of the state capital. He said if the stadium's is ready before February next year, it could be made second home ground of KKR or some else other state will get the benefit," TCA secretary Subarta Dey told PTI.
"Since it is a golden chance to host IPL matches at the proposed stadium, we have summoned a reputed construction agency to expedite work and get it completed by February 2025.
"The TCA will review the construction work and if the agency fails to meet the deadline, we will terminate it and engage a new firm to complete the remaining work," he said.
The agency has so far completed 80 percent in the past seven years even as the deadline of the project was only 22 months.
Dey said the matter was discussed during the TCA's general body meeting held here on Thursday where it was decided to go for all-out to get the stadium works completed by the stipulated time.
"If we could complete the stadium's work by February next year, I am confident of hosting at least two IPL matches of KKR at Narsingarh international cricket stadium”, he said.
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The coming by-polls in West Bengal are expected to be bellwether for which way the political winds are blowing in Mamata Banerjee's West Bengal after the massive protests over the rape-murder of a Kolkata doctor. The protest, strongly backed by the urban middle class, has shaken the state and despite protesters' claims that it was apolitical, it had received significant support from the opposition.
By-polls are due in six seats in various parts of the state - their geography and demography are expected to be strong indicators of the political trend.
The seats include Naihati, the urban centre close to Kolkata, the minority dominated Haroa, Taldangra with a significant tribal population, Sitai with a chunk of minority and Rajbanshi vote, the tea garden seat of north Bengal. Madiahat and Medinipur.
Many believe that the results now could throw light on whether the RG Kar protests will impact future elections. The Opposition BJP, which has been trying to dislodge Mamata Banerjee for years, is hoping for an upset.
Of the six seats going to polls, five were held by the Trinamool and one by the BJP. While the Trinamool has claimed it will win all six, anything below five will be seen as a loss. For the BJP, winning Madarihat will be a confidence booster after its performance fell in the region during the Lok Sabha election.
Senior Trinamool Congress Leader Kumal Ghosh said the Opposition "will try their best to misguide and confuse the voters by misusing this RG Kar issue".
"But I think we are confident that the voters will realise the facts. They know the regime of the CPIM, they know the happenings in the BJP-ruled states and they know that within 24 hours, Kolkata Police have arrested the criminal, the main rape and murder accused," he added.
In the BJP stronghold of North Bengal, where Trinamool clawed its way back in the Lok Sabha elections, Sitai is situated near the Bangladesh border and the Madarihat seat is largely a tea garden seat and the only one among the six that was held by the BJP.
The Left, which the Trinamool accuses of hijacking the RG Kar protests, is fighting alone this time and not with the Congress as it has done in the past elections.
"This time in by-elections, since it was due in ten seats and four had already happened, six are taking place," said senior CPM leader Md Salim. "Time was limited so discussions could not be held because of the change of guard in the party's state unit," he added.
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Bhutan, considered one of the happiest countries in the world, is working on a mega project, one that has the potential to redefine not just how sustainable living can be achieved, but become a global model unlike any other in the world today. The project - a mega 'Mindfulness City' in Gelephu.
Though it is called a city, it is massive - spread over 2,500 square kilometers. It is a Special Administratve Region (SAR). It will have its own government and have the independence to have its own lawmaking, as well as an independent judiciary. But what makes it special?
Photo Credit: big.dk
The Gelephu 'Mindfulness City' will have two protected areas - a national park and a wildlife sanctuary. It will have rivers that will have the potential to generate 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts of electricity through renewable energy. It has forests, biological corridors and is teeming with wildlife. It has its own agricultural hubs and small towns.
Photo Credit: big.dk
The 'Mindfulness City' project has been envisioned by the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. The motivation behind this is to improve the lives of Bhutanese people and take Bhutan to the next level. A place where people can live with harmony with others from all over the world.
People in this city will live with nature and the biodiversity of the region. "This is what we call 'Gross National Happiness 2.0'," Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay said recently at the NDTV World Summit in New Delhi.
Photo Credit: big.dk
Speaking exclusively to NDTV World, the Bhutanese PM had said that the 'Gelephu mindfulness city' would "directly benefit India" in many ways since this city has been "purposely placed along the border with India in Assam."
Photo Credit: big.dk
'MINDFULNESS CITY' - BUT WHY IN GELEPHU?
The land in Gelephu is "beautiful and pristine", said the Butanese Prime Minister, adding that the region is a biological hot spot, with abundant potential for clean energy, but why this mega project here? he had asked the King, wondering why such a project was not being considered for Thimphu or Paro - where there is ready infrastructure, like airports, highways, etc.
Photo Credit: big.dk
The King had a one-word reply for the prime minister - "India". He then explained that "Our future is linked with India. If we chose any other place, then such a project may succeed, it may have its challenges, but if we plan this along the border with India, the concept itself will drive it to success, because Bhutan's future is intrinsically linked with India," the prime minister recalled the King having said this.
Photo Credit: big.dk
Then I finally understood the strategic significance of the project, he said. "The Gelephu Mindfulness City is not about Bhutan - it is about Bhutan and India."
DETAILS ABOUT THE CITY
Once built, Bhutan's 'Mindfulness City' will cover nearly 2.5% of the entire country's landmass and will be bigger than all of Singapore. A more local comparison will be to Bhutan's capital city, Thimphu. While Gelephu City will be more than 2,500 square kilometers, capital city Thimphu is just 26 square kilometers.
Photo Credit: big.dk
The city will be built around a series of inhabitable bridges. It is expected to be a low-rise city which will have its own university, health care facilities for both western and traditional medicine. It will also have several markets and spiritual centres.
Photo Credit: big.dk
There are also plans to build a hydroelectric power project and a hydroponic greenhouse.
It will be spread over 11 major neighbourhoods which will span across the region's thirty-five rivers and streams. The city design and planning is done such that neighbourhoods will be like mandalas, with public spaces towards the city centre.
Photo Credit: big.dk
The city will be entirely based on Bhutan's Gross National Happiness philosophy which has been praised the world over. At the time of the announcement of the project, the Kingdom of Bhutan had said that "Mindfulness City will be unique as it would not just prioritise economic development, but will focus on personal well-being of every resident."
Photo Credit: big.dk
The city will have its own international airport - construction for which has already begin.
The Gelephu 'Mindfullness City' rethinks how the cities of the future should be like, how they should function and the ways in which sustainable living can be achieved with an environment-friendly approach.
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US health authorities said Wednesday that slivered onions used by McDonald's triggered an e.Coli outbreak that sickened 90 people.
"Fresh, slivered onions served on Quarter Pounders and other menu items from McDonald's are the likely source of this outbreak," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
These particular onions were supplied by Taylor Farms, which issued a voluntary recall. McDonald's also pulled the onions.
Restaurants in a dozen US states temporarily pulled the burgers from their menus this month amid the outbreak linked to them.
The number of people sickened now stands at 90, including 27 who had to be hospitalized, and an elderly man in Colorado died.
McDonald's on Sunday said it would resume selling its Quarter Pounder hamburgers after tests for e.Coli came back negative.
The e.Coli bacterium causes stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting that last three to four days. Most people recover without needing treatment but some develop complications.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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The country is celebrating the festival of lights Diwali today. On this special occasion, the who's who of Bollywood and the South film industry extended warm wishes to their fans. The celebrities posted pictures of diyas and festivities on their official Instagram handles and fans commented sharing their love. Stars from across the country wished for happiness and prosperity for all. Kareena Kapoor shared a photo of herself from vacation and wrote, “Dare to dream …Look ahead…Look after your mind and heart…Feel the light …Happy Diwali Friends #2024.”
Akshay Kumar shared a small clip of lighting diya on his Instagram Stories. The text on the video read, “Shubh Deepawali”.
Parineeti Chopra shared a photo of herself holding a plate of diya. The actress wore a traditional green attire for the occasion. "Wish you all a CHAMKILA diwali!," read the caption of her post.
Sara Ali Khan celebrated Diwali in the hills of Uttrakhand. Sharing glimpses of her trip on Instagram, the actress wished her fans a "Happy Diwali". She wrote, "Happy Diwali. Wishing you joy, prosperity, bliss and health- which for me is basically good food. So don't be rude. Just give me my food. Thank you kindly don't intrude."
Karan Johar posted a set of family photos with his mother Hiroo and twins - Yash and Roohi. He wrote in the caption, “From us to you … we wish you the best festive season and all the love, joy, mutual respect, and the ability to love and live your life to its fullest… thank you Manish Malhotra for always dressing us on special occasions.”
Mahesh Babu's wife, actress Namrata Shirodkar shared pictures of her daughter Sitara on Instagram. The note attached to the photos read, “Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous Diwali. May this year bring light, peace and prosperity to all. Soak in the festive spirit.”
Soha Ali Khan visited a temple on the occasion of Diwali. She was joined by her husband Kunal Kemmu, daughter Inaaya and her in-laws. Sharing the video of their temple visit on Instagram, the actress wished her fans a "very happy and prosperous Diwali".
Riteish Deshmukh's Diwali wish was quite different. The actor shared a hilarious video with his wife Genelia D'Souza, who was seen laughing and lip-synching to a dialogue while Riteish made funny expressions in the back. He wrote in the caption in Hindi that can be translated as, “May your Diwali be as heavy with laughter as ours is! Is your wife's laughter also like my Baiko?? Happy Diwali to all of you!!! #happydiwali”.
Sonakshi Sinha posted a picture with her husband Zaheer Iqbal and wrote, “Happy happy happy Diwali. Light in every house, happiness in every house, this is our prayer for all of you.”
Nawab Malik, now the official candidate of the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, told NDTV today that the allegations now levelled at him were "irresponsible" and the verdicts in the cases would vindicate him. His response was to the remarks of senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who had called him a "terrorist".
"These are irresponsible statements. Nawab Malik was never a terrorist nor was ever with any terrorist or any criminal. Nawab Malik has been in politics in this country for 50 years," Mr Malik told NDTV in an exclusive interview.
Some people think giving such comments would help increase their vote bank but it actually has the opposite effect, he said.
"Now the matter is sub judice, so I can't obviously discuss it. Once the verdict comes, everything will be clear," he added.
Mr Malik was arrested by central agencies in an alleged money laundering case involving mafia don Dawood Ibrahim and his associates Chhota Shakeel and Tigar Memon. He is currently out on bail.
The BJP had refused to support his candidature, citing the case against him.
"We won't endorse anyone who's related to any Dawood or Dawood related case," Maharashtra BJP chief Ashish Shelar had said yesterday, after Ajit Pawar's last-minute backing fr Mr Malik, he said the BJP would not campaign for him.
"Nawab Malik is a terrorist who tried to break India into pieces. He is Dawood's agent and Ajit Pawar's NCP has betrayed the country by giving ticket to Nawab Malik," Kirit Somaiyya later said.
Mr Malik, who had filed two nominations yesterday - one of them as an Independent and the other as a member of the NCP, to day said he ws not keen on contesting this time.
"I have been a 5-term MLA and have been a minister 6 times. I did not want to contest the election," he said, explaining that he changed his mind because of appeals from the people of Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar.
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