Schools shut today, tomorrow as air quality deteriorates in Delhi Posted on 14th November 2019 |
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The schools in the national capital will be closed on Thursday and Friday, the Delhi government announced on Wednesday.
The city’s air quality reached the higher end of the ‘severe’ category on Wednesday, even as the Centre’s Task Force, meant to advise on implementing the Graded Response Action Plan, recommended that schools be shut and industrial activities be curbed till November 15.
Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) on Wednesday was 456 (severe), up from 425 (severe) on Monday, according to the 4 p.m. bulletin by the CPCB, which is the average of the past 24 hours. Several surrounding regions — Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Noida also recorded ‘severe’ pollution levels.
Earlier this week, forecast agencies had warned of an incoming Western Disturbance — a weather system from Afghanistan that usually brings rain — over Delhi and parts of North India. These would lead to overcast conditions, higher moisture levels and prevent dust and pollutants from being flushed out. A drop in windspeed and unburnt particles from rice stubble in Punjab would exacerbate pollution levels.
“The overall Delhi AQI is at the higher end of the severe category... The air quality condition is likely to marginally improve by November 15, but reasonable improvement to ‘very poor’ category is expected only November 16,” said SAFAR, a forecast agency.
“North-westerly winds and increased incidents of stubble burning (estimated to be 18% on November 11) have also contributed to deterioration... from November 14, winds are likely to be stronger resulting in better dispersion of pollutants,” said the Task Force.
Chairman of the Centre for Chest Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr. Arvind Kumar said: “In 1988, patients of lung cancer were mostly known smokers. In 2018, 50% lung cancer cases are non-smokers.” He warned, at a conference here, that Delhi is likely to see an explosion of lung cancer cases in the coming years. |
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Verdict allowing women into Sabarimala not the 'final word': Supreme Court Posted on 5th December 2019 |
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The Supreme Court on Thursday said its 2018 verdict allowing entry of girls and women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Kerala's Sabarimala was not the final word as the matter was referred to a larger bench.
The apex court's observation came when senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for a woman devotee, Bindu Ammini, alleged violation of the 2018 verdict and said her client was attacked for her bid to enter the shrine. |
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Hyundai plans to bring fuel cell cars to India, Nexo could be first launch Posted on 5th December 2019 |
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Korean auto major Hyundai is planning to bring fuel cell electric vehicles to India. The company has already started a feasibility study as part of the plan.
Hyundai Nexo, which is already available in many markets, could be the first launch. The company claims Nexo is the world's first dedicated hydrogen-powered SUV and that it has a range of close to 380 miles, highest for any fuel-cell or electric vehicle in the market. |
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HDFC AMC slips 5% as Standard Life to sell additional stake via OFS Posted on 5th December 2019 |
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Shares of HDFC Asset Management Company (AMC) dipped 5 per cent to Rs 3,173 in intra-day deals on Thursday, after the company said it will use a greenshoe option for sale of additional 0.86 percent stake via offer for sale (OFS). The stock had ended 3 per cent lower at Rs 3,329 on the BSE a day earlier.
With the past two day's decline, HDFC AMC has corrected 17 per cent from its all-time high of Rs 3,844 touched on November 22, 2019.
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RBI surprise: Repo rate left unchanged; FY20 GDP forecast lowered to 5% Posted on 5th December 2019 |
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Springing a surprise, the monetary policy committee of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintained the repo rate at 5.15 per cent points (bps) in its fifth bi-monthly monetary policy meeting of the financial year 2019-20 (FY20) on Thursday. However, GDP growth forecast for FY20 was slashed to 5 per cent from 6.1 per cent.
The three-day rate-setting meet started on Tuesday (December 3). In its October meet, the RBI had cut interest rate by 25 bps to 5.15 per cent. |
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Polycab India hits fresh record high; stock zooms 100% from August low Posted on 5th December 2019 |
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Shares of Polycab India continued their upward journey, and hit a new high of Rs 1,052, up 6 per cent on the BSE on Thursday, on expectation of strong earnings going forward. The company was included in the MSCI Global Small Cap Index with effect from November 26, 2019.
The stock of the fast moving electric goods (FMEG) company zoomed 100 per cent from its recent low of Rs 525, touched on August 22, 2019. |
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