Joy Tirkey

Brisbane QLD, Australia

Ahead of the Ashes series between England and Australia, wicket-keeper Jos Buttler said that he is open to more than a regular series. He said that a day-night Test would make for an incredibly unique series. Buttler was released from two weeks in quarantine on Tuesday in time for the scheduled practice match between England and the England Lions in Brisbane’s northern suburbs. The five-Test Ashes series starts December 8 at the Gabba in Brisbane. This means England is short on match practice ahead of a tour where they’re hoping to win a Test on Australian soil for the first in 10 years. “If there’s one place in the world where day-night test match cricket seems to work, it looks like it’s Australia that’s the best I’d say, Buttler told an online news conference. “It would just make for an incredibly unique Ashes series.”,Hobart is pitching to replace Perth in a direct swap, while Sydney and Melbourne are contenders to host two tests in the series due to the COVID pandemic. There's also growing speculation it could become a day-night Test. The second Test is already scheduled as a day-nighter in Adelaide starting December 16. The Australians have won all eight day-night, pink ball tests they’ve played, starting with the world’s first against New Zealand at Adelaide in 2015. As for England, they have lost the three away day-night Tests it has played. Those records didn't bother Buttler, who has played 53 Tests but is yet to experience an Ashes match on Australian soil. The more pressing issue right now for both teams is getting time in the middle. England's star all-rounder Ben Stokes hasn't played a Test match since March. Both squads have players in their ranks who've had to quarantine at the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane, for two weeks after flying in from the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Australia also has a new test captain, with fast bowler Pat Cummins leading the hosts after Tim Paine quit following media reports he'd been investigated four years ago by Cricket Australia for sending explicit text messages to a female co-worker. Buttler said the team which can best ignore the distractions will have an advantage at the start of the Ashes series. “There always seems to be certain things that happened before the Ashes series, Buttler said. As players, it’s very important that you don’t get too drawn into that or too drawn into what the opposition are doing.”,(with inputs from Associated Press)

{\"time\":1638278252199,\"strCount\":2978,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Ahead of the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/Ashes2021\\\">Ashes series</a> between <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/Englandcricketteam\\\">England</a> and <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/Australiacricketteam\\\">Australia</a>, wicket-keeper <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/JosButtler\\\">Jos Buttler</a> said that he is open to more than a regular series. He said that a day-night Test would make for an incredibly unique series.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Buttler was released from two weeks in quarantine on Tuesday in time for the scheduled practice match between England and the England Lions in <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/Australia\\\">Brisbane</a>’s northern suburbs.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The five-Test Ashes series starts December 8 at the Gabba in Brisbane. This means England is short on match practice ahead of a tour where they’re hoping to win a Test on <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/Cricket\\\">Australian soil</a> for the first in 10 years.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“If there’s one place in the world where day-night test match cricket seems to work, it looks like it’s Australia that’s the best I’d say,\\\" Buttler told an online news conference. “It would just make for an incredibly unique <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/Ashesh2021\\\">Ashes series</a>.”\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Hobart is pitching to replace Perth in a direct swap, while Sydney and Melbourne are contenders to host two tests in the series due to the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/COVID\\\">COVID pandemic</a>.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\" There's also growing speculation it could become a day-night Test. The second Test is already scheduled as a day-nighter in Adelaide starting December 16.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The Australians have won all eight day-night, pink ball tests they’ve played, starting with the world’s first against <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/NewZealandCricketTeam\\\">New Zealand</a> at Adelaide in 2015. As for England, they have lost the three away day-night Tests it has played.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Those records didn't bother Buttler, who has played 53 Tests but is yet to experience an Ashes match on Australian soil.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The more pressing issue right now for both teams is getting time in the middle. England's star all-rounder Ben Stokes hasn't played a Test match since March.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Both squads have players in their ranks who've had to quarantine at the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane, for two weeks after flying in from the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/T20WorldCup\\\">Twenty20 World Cup</a> in the United Arab Emirates.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Australia also has a new test captain, with fast bowler Pat Cummins leading the hosts after Tim Paine quit following media reports he'd been investigated four years ago by Cricket Australia for sending explicit text messages to a female co-worker.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Buttler said the team which can best ignore the distractions will have an advantage at the start of the Ashes series.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“There always seems to be certain things that happened before the Ashes series,\\\" Buttler said. \\\"As players, it’s very important that you don’t get too drawn into that or too drawn into what the opposition are doing.”\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"(with inputs from Associated Press)\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Jos Buttler was released from two weeks in quarantine on Tuesday</li>
 <li>The five-Test Ashes series starts December 8 at the Gabba in Brisbane</li>
 <li>The Australians have won all eight day-night, pink ball tests they’ve played</li>
</ul>

Opoyi Central

Day-night Ashes Test would make for a unique series: England's Jos Buttler

EnglandCricketTeam

JosButtler

Ashes2021

Cricket

Sports

New Delhi, Delhi, India

A study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, said that Covishield was effective against moderate-to-severe COVID-19 during the surge of Delta variant. The study was meant to assess the world effectiveness of the Covishield vaccine during the deadly surge in the months of April and May. During the surge, the Indian health infrastructure was split open. The Lancet said that the Covishield vaccine efficacy was 63% in fully vaccinated individuals. During the moderate to severe disease phase, the Covishield vaccine efficacy was found to be at 81%. These findings come on the heels of Omicron, the new Covid variant that was detected in South Africa last week. A couple of days later it was labelled as a 'variant of concern'. The new variant has become a matter of concern for the whole world. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the Omicron variant poses a very high risk globally. The world health body reiterated that there are still uncertainties about how contagious and dangerous the strain was. Covishield manufacturer Serum Institute of India (SII), this week, resumed their exports of vaccines for distribution to low- and middle-income nations under the global vaccine-sharing programme COVAX. According to the Pune-headquartered company, so far they have crossed the 1.25 billion mark in vaccine production. The Centre on Tuesday directed the states and UTs to amp up the resting, saying that the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 does not escape RT-PCR and RAT tests. The Centre told the states to undertake effective surveillance of international passengers even as it asserted that no case of the new variant has been found as yet in the country. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan chaired a high-level virtual meeting with states and UTs to review COVID-19 public health response measures and preparedness amid cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19. The Centre has issued an advisory after looking at the developments globally and is keeping a close watch at ports.

{\"time\":1638276286499,\"strCount\":2387,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"A study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, said that <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/Covishield\\\">Covishield</a> was effective against moderate-to-severe COVID-19 during the surge of <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/Deltavariant\\\">Delta variant</a>. The study was meant to assess the world effectiveness of the Covishield vaccine during the deadly surge in the months of April and May. During the surge, the Indian health infrastructure was split open.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The Lancet said that the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/Covishield\\\">Covishield</a> vaccine efficacy was 63% in fully vaccinated individuals. During the moderate to severe disease phase, the Covishield vaccine efficacy was found to be at 81%.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"These findings come on the heels of <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/Omicron\\\">Omicron</a>, the new Covid variant that was detected in South Africa last week. A couple of days later it was labelled as a 'variant of concern'. The new variant has become a matter of concern for the whole world.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The World Health Organization (<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/WHO\\\">WHO</a>) said that the Omicron variant poses a \\\"very high\\\" risk globally. The world health body reiterated that there are still uncertainties about how contagious and dangerous the strain was.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Covishield manufacturer Serum Institute of India (<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/SII\\\">SII</a>), this week, resumed their exports of vaccines for distribution to low- and middle-income nations under the global vaccine-sharing programme COVAX.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"According to the Pune-headquartered company, so far they have crossed the 1.25 billion mark in vaccine production.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/Indianews\\\">Centre</a> on Tuesday directed the states and UTs to amp up the resting, saying that the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 does not escape RT-PCR and RAT tests. The Centre told the states to undertake effective surveillance of international passengers even as it asserted that no case of the new variant has been found as yet in the country.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Union Health Secretary <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/RajeshBhushan\\\">Rajesh Bhushan</a> chaired a high-level virtual meeting with states and UTs to review COVID-19 public health response measures and preparedness amid cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The Centre has issued an advisory after looking at the developments globally and is keeping a close watch at ports.\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Covishield vaccine efficacy was 63% in fully vaccinated individuals</li>
 <li>Omicron was labelled as a 'variant of concern'</li>
 <li>WHO said that the Omicron variant poses a "very high" risk globally</li>
</ul>

As Omicron looms, Lancet study says Covishield effective during Delta surge

Omicron

DeltaVariant

CoronavirusVaccine

RajeshBhushan

Sammya Mukhopadhyay

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

The trailer of “83”, the long-awaited film about India’s first cricket world cup triumph in 1983 landed on Tuesday. Directed by Kabir Khan, the film has an epic star-cast with Ranveer Singh playing the lead. The “Gully Boy” and “Padmavat” star will play the role of Indian captain Kapil Dev in the film. ,In the trailer, Ranveer aces the cricketing legend’s Haryanvi accent and snippets show how the Indian team responded to its unlikely world cup journey. Here’s a look at the star-cast of “83”: ,Sunil Gavaskar,The original little master Sunil Gavaskar, who was part of India’s world cup winning team, is played by Tahir Raj Bhasin. Gavaskar, who scored 34 Test hundreds in his career, opened the batting for India in the historic final and was out for just two runs. Also Read | Ranveer Singh's '83' is all about love, drama and victory,Tahir Raj Bhasin, an alumnus of the prestigious Film and Television Institute (FTII), has previously acted in successful films such as “Chhichhore” and “Mardani”. ,Krishnamachari Srikkanth ,Jiiva aka Amar Choudhury will play the role of star India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth. A popular actor in Tamil cinema, “83” marks the debut of Jiiva in Hindi cinema. Krishnamachari Srikkanth played a major role in India’s batting line-up in the 1983 World Cup. He scored 38 runs in 57 balls. ,Mohinder Amarnath,The role of Mohinder Amarnath, the Man of the Match, in the 1983 World Cup final, will be essayed by Saqib Saleem. An all-rounder of epic impact, Mohinder Amarnath scored 26 runs and took eight wickets. Also Read | Taste of success: Ranveer Singh shares '83's poster, a glimpse of India's glory,Saqib Saleem, 33, started out in “Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge” but has played several powerful roles on-screen. ,Yashpal Sharma ,The role of Yashpal Sharma, who scored 11 runs in the 1983 world cup final, will be played by Jatin Sarna. Jatin Sarna played the iconic role of Bunty in the Netflix hit “Sacred Games”. ,Sandip Patil ,Ushering in one of the iconic moments of Indian cinema, Sandip Patil’s son Chirag Patil will play the role of his father on screen. Chirag Patil has previously worked in “Chargesheet”, “Ekada Vhave” and “Wake up India”. ,Kirti Azad ,Kirti Azad’s role in the film will be essayed by Dinker Sharma. While Azad was out on a duck in the world cup final, Dinker Sharma is expected to score. Dinker’s role in the popular web-series “Delhi Crime” grabbed a lot of attention. ,Roger Binny,Roger Binny, the ever-so-colourful cricketer, scored only two runs in the world cup final. The cricketer’s role will be essayed by Nishant Dahiya. The film has worked previously worked in “Kedarnath” and “Raat Akeli Hai”. ,Madan Lal ,Ace Indian bowler Madan Lal scored a solid 17 in the world cup final out of the 183 runs scored. Harrdy Sandhu, a Punjabi singer-turned-actor, will essay the role of Madan Lal. ,Syed Kirmani ,Indian wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani played a critical role in India’s world cup victory putting together 14 runs at the very end. Kirmani’s role will be essayed by Sahil Khattar. ,Balvinder Singh Sandhu,Balvinder Singh Sandhu, who took two wickets and played an important role to limit the West Indies to 146, had an important role in India’s win. Balvinder Singh Sandhu’s role will be played by Ammy Virk, a Punjabi singer-turned-actor.

{\"time\":1638278458351,\"strCount\":4068,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/ranveer-singhs-83-trailer-is-all-about-love-drama-and-victory\\\">trailer of “83”</a>,\\nthe long-awaited film about India’s first cricket world cup triumph in 1983\\nlanded on Tuesday. Directed by Kabir Khan, the film has an epic star-cast with\\nRanveer Singh playing the lead. The “Gully Boy” and “Padmavat” star\\nwill play the role of Indian captain <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/he-is-not-bowling-so-can-we-call-him-all-rounder-kapil-dev-on-hardik-pandya\\\">Kapil Dev</a> in the film. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"In the trailer, Ranveer\\naces the cricketing legend’s Haryanvi accent and snippets show how the Indian\\nteam responded to its unlikely world cup journey. Here’s a look at the\\nstar-cast of “83”: \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Sunil\\nGavaskar\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The original\\nlittle master <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/1st-test-shreyas-iyer-got-this-advice-from-sunil-gavaskar-ahead-of-debut\\\">Sunil Gavaskar</a>, who was part of India’s world cup winning team, is\\nplayed by Tahir Raj Bhasin. Gavaskar, who scored 34 Test hundreds in his\\ncareer, opened the batting for India in the historic final and was out for just\\ntwo runs.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/ranveer-singhs-83-trailer-is-all-about-love-drama-and-victory\\\">Ranveer Singh's '83' is all about love, drama and victory</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Tahir Raj Bhasin, an\\nalumnus of the prestigious Film and Television Institute (FTII), has previously\\nacted in successful films such as “Chhichhore” and “Mardani”. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Krishnamachari\\nSrikkanth \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Jiiva aka Amar Choudhury\\nwill play the role of star India opener <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/rahul-dravid-brings-back-old-charm-sunil-gavaskar-gives-test-cap-to-debutant-shreyas-iyer\\\">Krishnamachari Srikkanth</a>. A popular\\nactor in Tamil cinema, “83” marks the debut of Jiiva in Hindi cinema.\\nKrishnamachari Srikkanth played a major role in India’s batting line-up in the\\n1983 World Cup. He scored 38 runs in 57 balls. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Mohinder\\nAmarnath\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The role of Mohinder\\nAmarnath, the Man of the Match, in the 1983 World Cup final, will be essayed by\\nSaqib Saleem. An all-rounder of epic impact, Mohinder Amarnath scored 26 runs\\nand took eight wickets.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/taste-of-success-ranveer-singh-shares-83s-poster-a-glimpse-of-indias-glory\\\">Taste of success: Ranveer Singh shares '83's poster, a glimpse of India's glory</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Saqib Saleem, 33, started\\nout in “Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge” but has played several powerful roles\\non-screen. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Yashpal\\nSharma \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The role of Yashpal\\nSharma, who scored 11 runs in the 1983 world cup final, will be played by Jatin\\nSarna. Jatin Sarna played the iconic role of Bunty in the Netflix hit “Sacred\\nGames”. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Sandip Patil \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Ushering in one of\\nthe iconic moments of Indian cinema, Sandip Patil’s son Chirag Patil will play\\nthe role of his father on screen. Chirag Patil has previously worked in “Chargesheet”,\\n“Ekada Vhave” and “Wake up India”. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Kirti Azad \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Kirti Azad’s role\\nin the film will be essayed by Dinker Sharma. While Azad was out on a duck in\\nthe world cup final, Dinker Sharma is expected to score. Dinker’s role in the\\npopular web-series “Delhi Crime” grabbed a lot of attention. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Roger Binny\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Roger Binny, the\\never-so-colourful cricketer, scored only two runs in the world cup final. The cricketer’s\\nrole will be essayed by Nishant Dahiya. The film has worked previously worked\\nin “Kedarnath” and “Raat Akeli Hai”. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Madan Lal \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Ace Indian bowler\\nMadan Lal scored a solid 17 in the world cup final out of the 183 runs scored. Harrdy\\nSandhu, a Punjabi singer-turned-actor, will essay the role of Madan Lal. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Syed Kirmani \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Indian wicketkeeper\\nSyed Kirmani played a critical role in India’s world cup victory putting\\ntogether 14 runs at the very end. Kirmani’s role will be essayed by Sahil\\nKhattar. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Balvinder\\nSingh Sandhu\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Balvinder Singh\\nSandhu, who took two wickets and played an important role to limit the West Indies\\nto 146, had an important role in India’s win. Balvinder Singh Sandhu’s role\\nwill be played by Ammy Virk, a Punjabi singer-turned-actor. &nbsp;&nbsp;\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>The trailer of “83” released on Tuesday</li>
 <li>The film will release on December 24, 2021</li>
 <li>Ranveer Singh will play the role of Kapil Dev in the film</li>
</ul>

'83' trailer: Who plays whom in India's historic real-to-reel World Cup story

film

Bollywood

RanveerSingh

KapilDev

SunilGavaskar

cinema

Sport

news

India

IndiaNews

Associated Press

Arlington, TX, USA

At a playground outside a North Texas day care center, giggling preschoolers chase each other into a playhouse. Toddlers scoot by on tricycles. A boy cries as a teacher helps him negotiate over a toy. Uphill from the playground, peeking between trees, is a site where Total Energies is pumping for natural gas. The French energy giant wants to drill three new wells on the property next to Mother's Heart Learning Center, which serves mainly Black and Latino children. The three wells, along with two existing ones, would lie about 600 feet from where the children planted a garden of sunflowers. For the families of the children and for others nearby, it's a prospect fraught with fear and anxiety. Living too close to drilling sites has been linked to a range of health risks, especially to children, from asthma to neurological and developmental disorders. And while some states are requiring energy companies to drill farther from day cares, schools and homes, Texas has taken the opposite tack: It has made it exceedingly difficult for localities to fight back. The affected areas go beyond day care centers and schools close to drilling sites. They include communities near related infrastructure — compressor stations, for example, which push gas through pipelines and emit toxic fumes, and export facilities, where gas is cooled before being shipped overseas. On Tuesday night, the City Council in this city situated between Dallas and Fort Worth is scheduled to vote on Total's latest drilling request. Last year, the council denied Total's request. The rejection came at a time when Black Lives Matter protests after George Floyd's murder by police had led many American communities to take a deeper look at racial disparities. But with time having passed and with some turnover on the City Council, many residents worry that this time Total will succeed. And they fear the consequences. “I’m trying to protect my little one,” said Guerda Philemond, whose 2-year-old, Olivia Grace Charles, attends the day care. “There’s a lot of land, empty space they can drill. It doesn’t have to be in the back yard of a day care. Total declined a request for an interview to discuss the matter. But in a statement, the company said it has operated near Mother’s Heart for more than a decade without any safety concerns expressed by the City of Arlington. “We listen to and do understand the concerns of the local communities with whom we interact frequently to ensure we operate in harmony with them and the local authorities,” the statement said. The clash in Arlington comes against the backdrop of pledges from world leaders to reduce emissions, burn less fossil fuel and transition to cleaner energy. Yet the world’s reliance on natural gas is growing, not declining. As soon as next year, the United States is set to become the world’s largest exporter of liquid natural gas, or LNG, according to Rystad Energy. As a result, despite pressure for energy companies to shift their spending to cleaner technologies, there will likely be more drilling for natural gas in Arlington and other communities. And children who spend time near drilling sites or natural gas distribution centers — in neighborhoods that critics call “sacrifice zones” — may face a growing risk of developing neurological or learning problems and exposure to carcinogens. A report by Physicians for Social Responsibility and Concerned Health Professionals of New York, which reviewed dozens of scientific studies, found that the public health risks associated with these sites include cancers, asthma, respiratory diseases, rashes, heart problems and mental health disorders. Most vulnerable are non-white families. Many of the wells Total has drilled in Arlington are near Latino and Black or low-income communities, often just a few hundred feet from homes. A statistical analysis by The Associated Press of the locations of wells Total operates in Arlington shows that their density is higher in neighborhoods that many people of color call home. Asked about that finding, Total did not respond directly but said its “decisions on future drilling are driven by the geological data.”,“America is segregated, and so is pollution,” said Robert Bullard, director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University. “The dirty industries, and what planners call locally unwanted land uses, oftentimes followed the path of least resistance. Historically, that’s been poor communities and communities of color.”,The pattern is evident well outside the Arlington area, too. When gas pumped in Texas is shipped out for export, it goes to liquid natural gas facilities along the Gulf Coast. Many of those facilities are near communities, like those in Port Arthur, Texas, that are predominantly non-white. “There’s constant talk of expansions here,” said John Beard, founder of the Port Arthur Community Action Network, which opposes the expansion of export facilities. “When you keep adding this to the air, the air quality degrades, and so does our quality of life and so does our health. Once again, we’re being sacrificed.”,_______,At the Arlington day care, Wanda Vincent, the owner, has been cautioning parents about the health risks and gathering signatures to petition the City Council to reject Total’s drilling request. When she opened the facility nearly two decades ago, Vincent wanted to provide a refuge for children in her care, some of whom suffer from hunger and poverty. That was before natural gas production accelerated in the United States. Around 2005, energy companies discovered how to drill horizontally into shale formations using hydraulic fracturing techniques. With this technique, known as fracking, water and chemicals are shot deep underground into a well bore that travels horizontally. It is highly effective. But fracking is known to contribute to air and water pollution and to raise risks to people and the environment. Vincent worries that the political winds in Arlington have shifted since last year and that the council will approve Total's new request. “The world was dealing with what happened with George Floyd, she said. “The meeting was emotional, just listening to the speakers that were talking and then sharing their hearts and saying, ‘Well, we want to do more. We want to, you know, racially do better.’ And I was encouraged. But you know what? Nothing has really changed since then.”,Some states have acted to force fracking away from residents. Colorado last year required new wells to be drilled at least 2,000 feet from homes and schools. California has proposed a limit of 3,200 feet. Los Angeles has taken steps to ban urban drilling. Vermont and New York state banned fracking years ago. In Arlington, drilling is supposed to occur no closer than 600 feet from day care centers or homes. But companies can apply for a waiver from the City Council to drill as close as 300 feet. France, Total’s home country, bars fracking. But that ban is largely symbolic because no meaningful oil or gas supplies exist in France. So Total, one of the world’s largest players in natural gas, drills in 27 other countries. It turns much of that gas into liquid, then ships it, trades it and re-gasifies it at LNG terminals worldwide. The gas wells next to Mother’s Heart represent just a tiny fraction of Total’s global operations. Yet the company holds tight to its plans to drill there despite the community's resistance. “Nobody should have a production ban unless they have a consumption ban, because it has made places like Arlington extraction colonies for countries like France, and they have shifted the environmental toll, the human toll, to us,” said Ranjana Bhandari, director of Liveable Arlington, the group leading the opposition to Total’s drilling plans. In Arlington, companies that are rejected for a drilling permit may reapply after a year. Some Arlington council members have said they fear litigation if they don’t allow the drilling. That's because a Texas law bars localities from banning, limiting or even regulating oil or gas operations except in limited circumstances. (Arlington officials declined to be interviewed.),“If I’m able to reach out to the French and speak to them directly, I would let them know, ‘Would you be able to allow somebody to go in your back yard and do natural gas drilling where you know your wife lays her head or your kids lay their head?’ said Philemond, the day care center parent. And the answer would absolutely be ‘No’ within a second. ___,A mile or so from the day care, in the back yard of Frank and Michelle Meeks, a high-pitched ringing blares like a school fire alarm as the sun sets. Just beyond their patio and grill looms the wall of another Total well site, where one of the wells was in the flowback” stage, according to the City of Arlington. Flowback occurs when fracking fluids and debris are cleared from the wellbore before gas production begins. This site, which stretches behind many neighborhood houses, is near two day care centers. The ringing goes on and on. When the wells were initially drilled, Michelle Meeks said, the sound and vibrations were a full-body experience. At this point, she and her husband barely notice it. After the drilling started a decade ago at the site, a few hundred feet behind their house, they noticed cracks in their foundation and across their backyard patio. They now receive royalty checks for $15 or $20 a few times a year. That money wouldn’t make a dent in the cost of repairing the cracks in their foundation. But when the oil and gas developers came knocking years ago, the couple thought that saying no would have been futile. “In Texas, you really can’t fight oil and gas production,” said Frank Meeks, a 60-year-old machine operator. “We don’t have the money to go and get big-time lawyers to keep them out of our back yards.”,A few miles away, Pamela Polk cares for her autistic 21-year-old grandson in a modest home she rents across the fence from another Total gas well site. She has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. And since they moved in a decade ago, her grandson developed asthma. Arlington's air quality exceeds federal ozone pollution standards set by the EPA. In 2012, at the height of the fracking boom, asthma rates for school-age children in Tarrant County were 19%-25% — far above national and state norms. “You’d think they would at least put a flyer in the mailbox or something, you know?” Polk said. “I’m frustrated. I mean, we pay taxes, you know, even though we’re renters, we still pay taxes.”,The site is a quarter-mile from two day cares. Polk notices teenagers playing on the other side of the fence in the field adjacent to the drill site. “The biggest thing that worries me, she said, “is kids.”,_______,Around Arlington, drilling has imposed higher costs — literally — on lower-income neighborhoods than on more affluent areas. As the fracking boom took off, land men” from the oil and gas companies went door to door in Arlington, asking permission to drill beneath homes of those who owned mineral rights. Some homeowners were offered signing bonuses and royalties. Renters like Polk, and others who don't own the rights to the minerals beneath their homes, had no choice but to yield to drilling — and received nothing for it. By contrast, when land men came knocking in Bhandari's wealthier neighborhood 15 years ago, she and her neighbors, a lawyer among them, joined forces. Some opposed fracking. Others wanted higher royalty payments. In the end, the company, which had sought to drill next to a park, situated its well pad a mile away. Now, Bhandari is trying to help less affluent neighborhoods push back on drilling. Arlington sits atop the Barnett Shale, one of the largest on-land natural gas fields in the United States. Gas production, which peaked in the Barnett Shale a decade ago, has been declining. Even with natural gas prices rising, few large U.S. companies plan to drill new wells at a time when investors are increasingly seeking environmentally responsible companies. “Total is a publicly traded company. They claim to be very interested in the energy transition and so forth,” said Bruce Bullock, director of the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University. “If a U.S. company were to do that here that was publicly traded, their stock would be hammered.”,Not only is Total among the few operators that are actively seeking new wells in the Barnett Shale. It's also drilled closer to population centers than have other companies over the past eight years, according to an analysis by S&P Global Platts. Some in Arlington have managed to benefit from the drilling. At Cornerstone Baptist Church recently, a dozen choir members belted out hymns while congregants clapped and waved hands. A rainbow of lights illuminated a cross hanging above. Balloons and ferns decorated the stage, flanked by outsize screens showcasing the singers. The church, which allowed Total to drill for gas on its land about a decade ago, collected royalties that helped support food giveaways, as well as other churches, said Jan Porter, a former church elder. “It’s enabled us, he said, “to do ministries that we might not have been able to do.”,___,After natural gas is pumped from underground, it moves through pipelines, passing through compressor stations, which help keep the gas moving. About a half-mile west of Polk’s house is a compressor station. Occasionally, a sour smell wafts through the air. As the gas moves through a series of curved pipes, a sound like a giant vacuum arises constantly. Exposure to emissions of volatile organic compounds from natural gas pipeline compressor stations has been linked to higher death rates, according to a study by Indiana University. When released, these compounds can create ozone, which may exacerbate asthma, bronchitis, emphysema or cause chest pain, throat irritation or reduced lung function, especially in children and older adults. Compressor stations in New York state emitted 39 carcinogenic chemicals, including benzene and formaldehyde, according to a study by the University of Albany. Compressor stations also release methane, a potent climate-warming gas. A few blocks away, the same sour smell clings to the air as Patrick Vancooper prunes tomato plants and okra he grows on a strip of land between the street and a fence. Many of his neighbors, in a community with pockmarked roads and weathered apartments, don’t know they live near a compressor station. Greg and Gloria Allen were among them. They noticed a smell like raw eggs or a skunk, with a chemical odor too pungent to be an animal. They didn’t know the cause. When the couple drives down the block near the compressor station, hidden behind a row of commercial properties and a doctor’s office, the fumes are so severe that Gloria Allen, a 59-year-old bus driver for the City of Dallas, gets headaches. “If they build something like that over there, they should tell us,” she said. “Any time that can be a danger to me and my family, that’s not a place for me.”,After two years living on the block, in a home they share with their 14-year-old grandson, Gloria Allen was diagnosed with asthma. On her day off, she visited her doctor to discuss her symptoms. “It’s driving me crazy,” she said of the odor. “It’s coming through the fence. I smell it in the house. I’m going to move. I can’t take it.”,___,After the fracking boom reshaped communities like Arlington, America wound up with too much natural gas. Yet at the same time, the world’s thirst for it grew. Developers, Total among them, poured billions of dollars into expanding LNG export terminals along the U.S. Gulf Coast, often near communities made up predominantly of people of color. The nation's largest LNG export facility sits just outside Port Arthur, which is three-quarters non-white. A second export facility is being expanded in Port Arthur. And a third export facility has been proposed. Beard, of the Port Arthur Community Action Network, worries that chemical leaks could cause a devastating explosion. An LNG export terminal just outside Port Arthur was recently fined for safety violations after hundreds of barrels of liquid natural gas escaped through cracks, vaporized and released 825,000 cubic feet of natural gas into the atmosphere. Back in Arlington, where the gas supply chain begins, Rosalia Tejeda worries about her three children, who live with her a few blocks from the well site at Mother's Heart. She spoke against the drilling plan at an Arlington planning board meeting in October. She was crushed when the panel voted to approve it, setting up this week's City Council vote. “Why don’t you be the one standing up for my children — for all these children that are going to suffer in the future?” Tejeda asked. “I mean, it’s crazy to me.”

<ul>
 <li>For the families living near the drilling sites, it's a prospect fraught with fear and anxiety</li>
 <li>The affected areas go beyond day care centers and schools close to drilling sites</li>
 <li>Once again, we’re being sacrificed, said a resident</li>
</ul>

In shadow of Texas gas drilling sites, health fears escalate

Texas

worldnews

HealthCare

Yash Bajaj

Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Rachin Ravindra fended 91 balls in the final innings of the first Test match to sneak off a draw for New Zealand at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium on Monday. Bad light and a gritty display by the Kiwi tail saw India miss the win by one wicket as the Kiwis finished 165/9 chasing a 284-run target. ,Also read: Glenn Maxwell hails Test cricket after India-New Zealand draw in Kanpur,Debutant Ravindra said that he felt big relief when his side managed to survive by the barest of margins. Ajaz Patel (2 off 23 balls) remained unbeaten for the Kiwis along Ravindra. ,Also read: India vs New Zealand: Top stories from 1st Test,It was a pretty incredible moment I think, taking in the crowd and how loud they were and all the fielders around the bat. It's the kind of stuff you dream about as a kid. You watch test matches like that and that's where your heroes and your idols are made, Ravindra said in a video shared by New Zealand Cricket (NZC). Also read: R Ashwin's 5-word praise for Tests as India, Kiwis play a close game,He described the Test as 'stuff of dreams'. India, riding on Shreyas Iyer's brilliant show in both innings, had set a daunting 284-run target for New Zealand to chase when the bounce was staying low. ,It's the stuff of dreams being able to take in the crowd. I know my process, I have done my training and I backed myself to do this. It was like a big relief, I was thinking ball after ball, ball after ball, 'how many overs to go' and obviously a big relief, Rachin Ravindra said. ,Also read: Ajinkya Rahane says drawn India vs New Zealand Kanpur Test was very good game of cricket,As we move forward towards the next game, it's important we enjoy whatever happened in the last five days, he signed off. The two sides will now go to Mumbai for the second and final Test of the series that starts on Friday. ,The two sides will now face off in Mumbai for the second and the final Test of the series on Friday.

{\"time\":1638279430260,\"strCount\":2507,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Rachin Ravindra fended 91 balls in the final innings of the first Test match to <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/1st-test-vintage-new-zealand-negate-indian-spin-threat-tie-ends-in-draw\\\">sneak off a draw for New Zealand</a> at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium on Monday. Bad light and a gritty display by the Kiwi tail saw India miss the win by one wicket as the Kiwis finished 165/9 chasing a 284-run target.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/glenn-maxwell-hails-test-cricket-after-india-new-zealand-draw-in-kanpur\\\">Glenn Maxwell hails Test cricket after India-New Zealand draw in Kanpur</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Debutant Ravindra said that he felt \\\"big relief\\\" when his side managed to survive by the barest of margins. Ajaz Patel (2 off 23 balls) remained unbeaten for the Kiwis along Ravindra.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india-vs-new-zealand-top-stories-from-1st-test\\\">India vs New Zealand: Top stories from 1st Test</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"embed\",\"data\":{\"service\":\"twitter\",\"source\":\"https://twitter.com/BLACKCAPS/status/1465544796534046725\",\"embed\":\"BLACKCAPS/status/1465544796534046725\",\"width\":520,\"height\":300,\"caption\":\"\",\"aspectRatio\":173.33333333333334}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"It was a pretty incredible moment I think, taking in the crowd and how loud they were and all the fielders around the bat. It's the kind of stuff you dream about as a kid. You watch test matches like that and that's where your heroes and your idols are made,\\\" Ravindra said in a video shared by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/ravichandran-ashwins-5-word-praise-for-tests-as-india-new-zealand-play-a-close-game\\\">R Ashwin's 5-word praise for Tests as India, Kiwis play a close game</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"He described the Test as 'stuff of dreams'. India, riding on Shreyas Iyer's brilliant show in both innings, had set a daunting 284-run target for New Zealand to chase when the bounce was staying low.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"It's the stuff of dreams being able to take in the crowd. I know my process, I have done my training and I backed myself to do this. It was like a big relief, I was thinking ball after ball, ball after ball, 'how many overs to go' and obviously a big relief,\\\" Rachin Ravindra said.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/ajinkya-rahane-says-drawn-india-vs-new-zealand-kanpur-test-was-very-good-game-of-cricket\\\">Ajinkya Rahane says drawn India vs New Zealand Kanpur Test was very good game of cricket</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"As we move forward towards the next game, it's important we enjoy whatever happened in the last five days,\\\" he signed off.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The two sides will now go to Mumbai for the second and final Test of the series that starts on Friday.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The two sides will now face off in Mumbai for the second and the final Test of the series on Friday.\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>New Zealand played out a draw against India in the first Test</li>
 <li>Rachin Ravindra scored 18 runs off 91 balls</li>
 <li>The second Test match will be played in Mumbai starting Friday</li>
</ul>

How many overs to go: NZ's R Ravindra recalls Kanpur Test escape vs India

NewZealandCricketTeam

IndiavsNewZealand

IndianCricketTeam

Newzealand

NewZealandCricket

Bangkok, Thailand

A court in Myanmar postponed its verdict on Tuesday in the trial of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to allow testimony from an additional witness, a senior member of her political party. The court agreed with a defense motion that it allow Zaw Myint Maung, who had previously been unable to come to court for health reasons, to add his testimony, a legal official said. Also read: A cruel winter is coming and Europe may run out of gas,The court had been scheduled to deliver a verdict on Tuesday on charges of incitement and violating coronavirus restrictions. The verdict would have been the first for the 76-year-old Nobel laureate since the army seized power on Feb. 1, arresting her and blocking her National League for Democracy party from starting a second term in office. She also is being tried on a series of other charges, including corruption, that could send her to prison for dozens of years if convicted. Also read: Elizabeth Holmes accuses ex-lover Sunny Balwani of rape,The judge adjourned the proceedings until Dec. 6, when Zaw Myint Maung is scheduled to testify, said the legal official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the government has restricted the release of information about the trial. It was unclear when a verdict will be issued. The cases are widely seen as contrived to discredit Suu Kyi and keep her from running in the next election. The constitution bars anyone sentenced to prison from holding high office or becoming a lawmaker. Also read: Expo 2020's workers face hardships despite Dubai's promises,Zaw Myint Maung, who was chief minister of the Mandalay region, a major state-level post, was also detained when the army took over. He is vice chairman of Suu Kyi’s party and a medical doctor, and like her faces several criminal charges, including corruption. He is 69 years old and reportedly suffers from leukemia. He accompanied Suu Kyi during campaigning for last year’s election, including in Naypyitaw, where her presence was the basis for one of the charges of violating coronavirus restrictions. Suu Kyi's party won a landslide victory in last year's polls. The army, whose allied party lost many seats, claimed there was massive voting fraud, but independent election observers did not detect any major irregularities. Suu Kyi remains widely popular and a symbol of the struggle against military rule. The army’s takeover was met by nationwide nonviolent demonstrations which security forces quashed with deadly force, killing nearly 1,300 civilians, according to a tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Also read: At 37, Twitter's Parag Agrawal youngest CEO among S&P 500 companies,With severe restrictions on nonviolent protest, armed resistance has grown in the cities and the countryside to the point where U.N. experts have warned the country is sliding into civil war. Suu Kyi, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her nonviolent struggle for democracy, has not been seen in public since being taken into custody on the day of the military’s takeover. She has appeared in court at several of her trials, which are closed to the media and spectators. In October, Suu Kyi’s lawyers, who had been the sole source of information on the legal proceedings, were served with gag orders forbidding them from releasing information.

{\"time\":1638273804448,\"strCount\":3757,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"A court in Myanmar postponed its verdict on Tuesday in the trial of ousted leader <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/aungsansuukyi\\\">Aung San Suu Kyi</a> to allow testimony from an additional witness, a senior member of her political party.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The court agreed with a defense motion that it allow Zaw Myint Maung, who had previously been unable to come to court for health reasons, to add his testimony, a legal official said.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/a-cruel-winter-is-coming-and-europe-may-run-out-of-gas\\\">A cruel winter is coming and Europe may run out of gas</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The court had been scheduled to deliver a verdict on Tuesday on charges of incitement and violating coronavirus restrictions.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The verdict would have been the first for the 76-year-old Nobel laureate since the army seized power on Feb. 1, arresting her and blocking her National League for Democracy party from starting a second term in office.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"She also is being tried on a series of other charges, including corruption, that could send her to prison for dozens of years if convicted.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/elizabeth-holmes-accuses-ex-lover-sunny-balwani-of-rape\\\">Elizabeth Holmes accuses ex-lover Sunny Balwani of rape</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The judge adjourned the proceedings until Dec. 6, when Zaw Myint Maung is scheduled to testify, said the legal official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the government has restricted the release of information about the trial. It was unclear when a verdict will be issued.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The cases are widely seen as contrived to discredit Suu Kyi and keep her from running in the next election. The constitution bars anyone sentenced to prison from holding high office or becoming a lawmaker.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/expo-2020s-workers-face-hardships-despite-dubais-promises\\\">Expo 2020's workers face hardships despite Dubai's promises</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Zaw Myint Maung, who was chief minister of the Mandalay region, a major state-level post, was also detained when the army took over. He is vice chairman of Suu Kyi’s party and a medical doctor, and like her faces several criminal charges, including corruption. He is 69 years old and reportedly suffers from leukemia.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"He accompanied Suu Kyi during campaigning for last year’s election, including in Naypyitaw, where her presence was the basis for one of the charges of violating coronavirus restrictions.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Suu Kyi's party won a landslide victory in last year's polls. The army, whose allied party lost many seats, claimed there was massive voting fraud, but independent election observers did not detect any major irregularities.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Suu Kyi remains widely popular and a symbol of the struggle against military rule.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The army’s takeover was met by nationwide nonviolent demonstrations which security forces quashed with deadly force, killing nearly 1,300 civilians, according to a tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/at-37-twitters-parag-agrawal-youngest-ceo-among-sp-500-companies\\\">At 37, Twitter's Parag Agrawal youngest CEO among S&amp;P 500 companies</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"With severe restrictions on nonviolent protest, armed resistance has grown in the cities and the countryside to the point where U.N. experts have warned the country is sliding into civil war.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Suu Kyi, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her nonviolent struggle for democracy, has not been seen in public since being taken into custody on the day of the military’s takeover. She has appeared in court at several of her trials, which are closed to the media and spectators.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"In October, Suu Kyi’s lawyers, who had been the sole source of information on the legal proceedings, were served with gag orders forbidding them from releasing information.\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>&nbsp;Aung San Suu Kyi has not been een in public since being taken into custody</li>
 <li>The army seized power in Myanmar on February 1</li>
 <li>Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party was blocked from starting a second term in office&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Myanmar court postpones verdict for ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi

AungSanSuuKyi

Myanmar

Trial

Court

Army

World

International

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court gave Rs 15,000 for a poor Dalit student. The girl approached it after being unable to deposit the amount for allotment of a seat at IIT (BHU) after cracking the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advance. The bench further directed the Joint Seat Allocation Authority and IIT (BHU) to admit the student in the Mathematics and Computing course (Bachelor and Master of Technology, dual degree course). The bench also instructed the BHU to create a supernumerary seat for the Dalit student if there is no seat vacant. The bench asked the student to report at BHU within three days with the required documents for admission. A bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh passed the order on a petition moved by student Sanskriti Ranjan in person. She requested the bench that the Joint Seat Allocation Authority and IIT (BHU) be directed to grant her some more time to deposit the fee, which is a sum of Rs 15,000. It was pleaded in the petition that she belonged to the Scheduled Caste category. She scored 95.6% marks in Class 10 and 94% in class 12. Ranjan secured 92.77 percentile in JEE Mains Examination and bagged a rank of 2,062 as an SC candidate. Thereafter, she applied for JEE Advanced on September 16 and cleared it on October 15, scoring 1,469 rank in the SC category. The petitioner was allotted a seat at IIT (BHU) Varanasi for Mathematics and Computing course in counselling. However, she could not arrange the meagre amount of Rs 15,000, the fees to be paid before the scheduled date, stated the petition. Ranjan pleaded that her father was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. He was advised to get a kidney transplant and also had to undergo dialysis twice a week. In such circumstances, due to her father's ill-health and the financial crisis created by medical expenses and COVID-19, she could not arrange Rs 15,000 for allotment of a seat at IIT (BHU). The petitioner and her father have written many times to the Joint Seat Allocation Authority for extension of time indicating the precarious condition for which she could not deposit the fee, but did not get a reply, pleaded advocates Sarvesh Dubey and Samta Rao. Considering that a bright, young Dalit girl had appeared before the HC seeking equity jurisdiction to be able to pursue her dream of getting admitted to the IIT, the court on its own volunteered to contribute Rs 15,000, the fees for allocation of the seat, the bench said. The amount was handed over to the petitioner after court hours on Monday, it said.

{\"time\":1638272101520,\"strCount\":2770,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The Lucknow bench of the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/AllahabadHighCourt\\\">Allahabad High Court</a> gave Rs 15,000 for a poor Dalit student. The girl approached it after being unable to deposit the amount for allotment of a seat at <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/IIT\\\">IIT</a> (BHU) after cracking the Joint Entrance Examination (<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/JEE\\\">JEE</a>) Advance.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The bench further directed the Joint Seat Allocation Authority and IIT (BHU) to admit the student in the Mathematics and Computing course (Bachelor and Master of Technology, dual degree course).\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The bench also instructed the BHU to create a supernumerary seat for the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/Dalit\\\">Dalit student</a> if there is no seat vacant. The bench asked the student to report at BHU within three days with the required documents for admission.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"A bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh passed the order on a petition moved by student Sanskriti Ranjan in person.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"She requested the bench that the Joint Seat Allocation Authority and IIT (BHU) be directed to grant her some more time to deposit the fee, which is a sum of Rs 15,000.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"It was pleaded in the petition that she belonged to the <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/ScheduledCast\\\">Scheduled Caste</a> category. She scored 95.6% marks in Class 10 and 94% in class 12.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Ranjan secured 92.77 percentile in JEE Mains Examination and bagged a rank of 2,062 as an SC candidate. Thereafter, she applied for JEE Advanced on September 16 and cleared it on October 15, scoring 1,469 rank in the SC category.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"The petitioner was allotted a seat at IIT (BHU) Varanasi for Mathematics and Computing course in counselling. However, she could not arrange the meagre amount of Rs 15,000, the fees to be paid before the scheduled date,\\\" stated the petition.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Ranjan pleaded that her father was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. He was advised to get a kidney transplant and also had to undergo dialysis twice a week. In such circumstances, due to her father's ill-health and the financial crisis created by medical expenses and COVID-19, she could not arrange Rs 15,000 for allotment of a seat at IIT (BHU).\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"The petitioner and her father have written many times to the Joint Seat Allocation Authority for extension of time indicating the precarious condition for which she could not deposit the fee, but did not get a reply,\\\" pleaded advocates Sarvesh Dubey and Samta Rao.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Considering that a bright, young Dalit girl had appeared before the HC seeking equity jurisdiction to be able to pursue her dream of getting admitted to the IIT, the court on its own volunteered to contribute Rs 15,000, the fees for allocation of the seat, the bench said.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The amount was handed over to the petitioner after court hours on Monday, it said.\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>A bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh passed the order</li>
 <li>The student scored 95.6% marks in Class 10 and 94% in class 12</li>
 <li>Ranjan secured 92.77 percentile in JEE Mains Examination and bagged a rank of 2,062 as an SC candidate</li>
</ul>

Allahabad HC pays Rs 15,000 for 'bright, young Dalit' girl's IIT admission

AllahabadHighCourt

Dalit

Education

ScheduledCaste

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed concerns about the new cryptocurrency Bill to be tabled in Parliament in course of the winter session that went underway in November 29. The Bill on Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency is part of Lok Sabha Bulletin-Part II. ,Sitharaman said in the Rajya Sabha Tuesday that the risk of cryptocurrency and it going in the wrong hands is being monitored. The finance minister’s comments on cryptocurrency come only a day after she categorically stated that the Indian government has no plans to recognise Bitcoin as currency. Also Read | Cryptos may pose the same problem as unregulated chit funds: Raghuram Rajan,The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill seeks to create a facilitative framework for the creation of the official digital currency to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India. ,Further, the new Bill also seeks impose a ban on all private cryptocurrencies. The minister told the Rajya Sabha that the proposed legislation is likely to be introduced soon. ,Upon being enquired about an earlier cryptocurrency regulation Bill that was scheduled to be tabled in the monsoon session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “The earlier attempt was definitely to come up with a Bill that the House can consider. But, later, because rapidly a lot of things had come into play, we had started working on a new Bill.”,Also Read | India mulls ban on private crypto: What it means for investors,“This is the Bill that is now being proposed,” Sitharaman said adding that the government had made a “genuine attempt” to bring the Bill before the Parliament even in the previous session. Also Read | IMF advises El Salvador against using bitcoin as legal tender,On a question about whether the government is considering a ban on cryptocurrency advertisements, the finance minister said that the guidelines of the Advertising Standards Council of India are being studies and their regulations are being looked into “so that we can take, if necessary, some kind of position or a decision on how we can handle it”. ,She further said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Bank of India (SEBI) are taking steps to make people aware of the risks of cryptocurrency.

{\"time\":1638272085822,\"strCount\":2935,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Finance Minister\\n<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india-mulls-ban-on-private-crypto-what-it-means-for-investors\\\">Nirmala Sitharaman</a> addressed concerns about the new <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/cryptos-may-pose-the-same-problem-as-unregulated-chit-funds-raghuram-rajan\\\">cryptocurrency Bill</a> to be\\ntabled in Parliament in course of the winter session that went underway in\\nNovember 29. The Bill on <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/indian-government-to-introduce-cryptocurrency-regulation-bill-in-parliament\\\">Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital\\nCurrency</a> is part of Lok Sabha Bulletin-Part II. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Sitharaman said in\\nthe Rajya Sabha Tuesday that the risk of cryptocurrency and it going in the\\nwrong hands is being monitored. The finance minister’s comments on\\ncryptocurrency come only a day after she categorically stated that the Indian\\ngovernment has no plans to recognise Bitcoin as currency.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/cryptos-may-pose-the-same-problem-as-unregulated-chit-funds-raghuram-rajan\\\">Cryptos may pose the same problem as unregulated chit funds: Raghuram Rajan</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The Cryptocurrency\\nand Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill seeks to create a facilitative\\nframework for the creation of the official digital currency to be issued by the\\nReserve Bank of India. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Further, the new\\nBill also seeks impose a ban on all private cryptocurrencies. The minister told\\nthe Rajya Sabha that the proposed legislation is likely to be introduced soon. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Upon being\\nenquired about an earlier cryptocurrency regulation Bill that was scheduled to\\nbe tabled in the monsoon session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “The\\nearlier attempt was definitely to come up with a Bill that the House can\\nconsider. But, later, because rapidly a lot of things had come into play, we\\nhad started working on a new Bill.”\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/india-mulls-ban-on-private-crypto-what-it-means-for-investors\\\">India mulls ban on private crypto: What it means for investors</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“This is the Bill\\nthat is now being proposed,” Sitharaman said adding that the government had\\nmade a “genuine attempt” to bring the Bill before the Parliament even in the\\nprevious session.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/imf-advises-el-salvador-against-using-bitcoin-as-legal-tender\\\">IMF advises El Salvador against using bitcoin as legal tender</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"On a question\\nabout whether the government is considering a ban on cryptocurrency advertisements,\\nthe finance minister said that the guidelines of the Advertising Standards\\nCouncil of India are being studies and their regulations are being looked into “so\\nthat we can take, if necessary, some kind of position or a decision on how we\\ncan handle it”. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"She further said\\nthat the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Bank of\\nIndia (SEBI) are taking steps to make people aware of the risks of\\ncryptocurrency. &nbsp;&nbsp;\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke about the upcoming cryptocurrency legislation in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday</li>
 <li>On Monday, Sitharaman said that the government has no plans to recognise Bitcoin as currency</li>
 <li>The cryptocurrency Bill is scheduled to be tabled in the winter session of Parliament</li>
</ul>

The what, when and why of crypto Bill: Nirmala Sitharaman answers

Cryptocurrency

NirmalaSitharaman

Parliament

Finance

Economy

FinanceMinister

Vaticano, Vatican City

When Pope Francis visited the Greek island of Lesbos in 2016, he was so moved by the stories he heard from families fleeing war in Iraq and Syria that he wept and brought a dozen refugees home with him. ,Speaking to reporters on the way home that day, he held up a drawing handed to him by a child from the island's sprawling refugee camp. Also Read | Pope Francis offers hope to poor in visit to namesake's Assisi home,Look at this one, he said, revealing a bird neatly decorated in colored pencil, the word peace scrolled in English underneath it. That's what children want: Peace. ,Francis is returning to Lesbos this week for the first time since that defining day of his papacy, making a repeat visit to the island where hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants have passed through on their journey to Europe. But he will find attitudes toward migrants here have only hardened in the intervening five years, as they have elsewhere in Europe, with tensions flaring on the border between European Union country Poland and Belarus and more deadly crossings — most recently in the English Channel. Francis will first stop in Cyprus, another predominantly Orthodox Christian country in the Mediterranean that is also coping with a rise in refugees so significant that the government is seeking to stop processing asylum claims. As he did in Lesbos five years ago, Francis has arranged for several would-be refugees in Cyprus to travel to Italy after his visit, Cypriot officials say. Also Read | Church, shamed by sex abuse, must better protect kids, says Pope Francis,They are our brothers and sisters, Francis said in a video message to Greek and Cypriot faithful before the trip. How many have lost their lives at sea! Today our sea, the Mediterranean, is a great cemetery. The pontiff starts his five-day trip on Thursday in Cyprus before heading to Greece on Saturday. He returns home on Monday. While Francis' renewed messages of compassion and welcome for migrants isn't quite resonating in European capitals, they are a welcome salvo for the migrants themselves. ,His presence here will strengthen us, spiritually, and give us hope, some comfort, said Christian Tango Muyaka, a 30-year-old asylum-seeker from Congo who is due to participate in a Sunday service with the pope at a new migrant camp on Lesbos. ,It gives us faith, it strengthens our faith, he said. ,Muyaka was separated from his wife and youngest daughter a year ago on the Turkish coast when they scrambled to board a boat bound for Greece. He has had no news of what happened to them since. ,The north coast of Lesbos, just 10 kilometers (six miles) from Turkey, served as the main landing point for boats crossing into Europe during the 2015-16 migration crisis. ,Piles of discarded orange life vests covered beaches, local fishermen helped daily rescue operations, and island residents took pride in setting up campaigns to provide hundreds of refugees arriving daily with food and clothing. ,Fast forward five years, and the welcome mat is gone. Migrants reaching the eastern Greek islands are now being held in detention camps, newly built and funded by the EU. Coast guard patrols are instructed to intercept dinghies and boats heading west and send them back to Turkey. ,The overcrowded camp on Lesbos that Francis was taken to in 2016 burnt to the ground last year during protests against pandemic restrictions. And along Greece's land border with Turkey, a new steel wall and hi-tech sensor network have been installed to stop illegal crossings. Eva Cosse at Human Rights Watch said Francis' visit will serve as an urgent reminder of the human nature of the crisis. ,At a time when people are suffering and their rights are threatened, having the pope standing up for them and expressing these concerns is more important than ever, she told The Associated Press. Since the pope's last visit, Greece continues to host large numbers of asylum-seekers while failing to protect their rights. ,Thousands seeking refuge in Greece are violently pushed back to Turkey. Migrant children face homelessness and a lack of access to health care, education and food. And nongovernmental groups face legislative restrictions and criminal harassment by officials. ,Greek authorities deny allegations of summary deportations. They argue that tougher border policing is necessary to counter hostility by several EU neighbors accused of exploiting the crisis and to limit arrival numbers to manageable levels. ,(Francis') message is that we are one world, that we don't have borders, that everybody is a child of God. Look, this is the religious point of view, said Dimitris Vafeas, the deputy director of Mavrovouni migrant camp on Lesbos where the pope will visit. ,In practical terms, I think Greece has delivered ... so I think (Francis) will see calm faces. I don't dare say happy faces, but calm for sure.

{\"time\":1638272685815,\"strCount\":5331,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"When <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/pope-francis-offers-hope-to-poor-in-visit-to-namesakes-assisi-home\\\">Pope Francis</a> visited the Greek island of Lesbos in 2016, he was so moved by the stories he heard from families fleeing war in Iraq and Syria that he wept and brought a dozen refugees home with him. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Speaking to reporters on the way home that day, he held up a drawing handed to him by a child from the island's sprawling refugee camp.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/pope-francis-offers-hope-to-poor-in-visit-to-namesakes-assisi-home\\\">Pope Francis offers hope to poor in visit to namesake's Assisi home</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"Look at this one,\\\" he said, revealing a bird neatly decorated in colored pencil, the word \\\"peace\\\" scrolled in English underneath it. \\\"That's what children want: Peace.\\\" \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Francis is returning to Lesbos this week for the first time since that defining day of his papacy, making a repeat visit to the island where hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants have passed through on their <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/church-shamed-by-sex-abuse-must-better-protect-kids-says-pope-francis\\\">journey to Europe</a>.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"But he will find attitudes toward migrants here have only hardened in the intervening five years, as they have elsewhere in Europe, with tensions flaring on the border between European Union country Poland and Belarus and more deadly crossings — most recently in the English Channel.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Francis will first stop in Cyprus, another predominantly Orthodox Christian country in the Mediterranean that is also coping with a rise in refugees so significant that the government is seeking to stop processing asylum claims. As he did in Lesbos five years ago, Francis has arranged for several would-be refugees in Cyprus to travel to Italy after his visit, Cypriot officials say.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read |&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/church-shamed-by-sex-abuse-must-better-protect-kids-says-pope-francis\\\">Church, shamed by sex abuse, must better protect kids, says Pope Francis</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"They are our brothers and sisters,\\\" Francis said in a video message to Greek and Cypriot faithful before the trip. \\\"How many have lost their lives at sea! Today our sea, the Mediterranean, is a great cemetery.\\\"\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The pontiff starts his five-day trip on Thursday in Cyprus before heading to Greece on Saturday. He returns home on Monday.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"While Francis' renewed messages of compassion and welcome for migrants isn't quite resonating in European capitals, they are a welcome salvo for the migrants themselves. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"His presence here will strengthen us, spiritually, and give us hope, some comfort,\\\" said Christian Tango Muyaka, a 30-year-old asylum-seeker from Congo who is due to participate in a Sunday service with the pope at a new migrant camp on Lesbos. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"It gives us faith, it strengthens our faith,\\\" he said. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Muyaka was separated from his wife and youngest daughter a year ago on the Turkish coast when they scrambled to board a boat bound for Greece. He has had no news of what happened to them since. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The north coast of Lesbos, just 10 kilometers (six miles) from Turkey, served as the main landing point for boats crossing into Europe during the 2015-16 migration crisis. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Piles of discarded orange life vests covered beaches, local fishermen helped daily rescue operations, and island residents took pride in setting up campaigns to provide hundreds of refugees arriving daily with food and clothing. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Fast forward five years, and the welcome mat is gone.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Migrants reaching the eastern Greek islands are now being held in detention camps, newly built and funded by the EU. Coast guard patrols are instructed to intercept dinghies and boats heading west and send them back to Turkey. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The overcrowded camp on Lesbos that Francis was taken to in 2016 burnt to the ground last year during protests against pandemic restrictions.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"And along Greece's land border with Turkey, a new steel wall and hi-tech sensor network have been installed to stop illegal crossings.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Eva Cosse at Human Rights Watch said Francis' visit will serve as an urgent reminder of the human nature of the crisis. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"At a time when people are suffering and their rights are threatened, having the pope standing up for them and expressing these concerns is more important than ever,\\\" she told The Associated Press. \\\"Since the pope's last visit, Greece continues to host large numbers of asylum-seekers while failing to protect their rights. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"Thousands seeking refuge in Greece are violently pushed back to Turkey. Migrant children face homelessness and a lack of access to health care, education and food. And nongovernmental groups face legislative restrictions and criminal harassment by officials.\\\" \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Greek authorities deny allegations of summary deportations. They argue that tougher border policing is necessary to counter hostility by several EU neighbors accused of exploiting the crisis and to limit arrival numbers to manageable levels. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"(Francis') message is that we are one world, that we don't have borders, that everybody is a child of God. Look, this is the religious point of view,\\\" said Dimitris Vafeas, the deputy director of Mavrovouni migrant camp on Lesbos where the pope will visit. \"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"In practical terms, I think Greece has delivered ... so I think (Francis) will see calm faces. I don't dare say happy faces, but calm for sure.\\\" \"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>Pope Francis last visited Lesbos in 2016</li>
 <li>On his way back, the pope had brought a dozen refugees home</li>
 <li>The pope may see attitudes towards migrants to have hardened further&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

With migrants on his mind, Pope Francis to visit Lesbos this week

PopeFrancis

Greece

Migrants

Lesbos

Christianity

Johannesburg, South Africa

South Africa on Tuesday appreciated India for continuing their A matches despite Omicron COVID-19 scare. It also promised a full bio-secure environment when Virat Kohli and company tour for a highly-anticipated series next month. ,A new COVID-19 variant emerged in South Africa. The WHO on Friday identified it as a 'variant of concern'. Several countries, including the United States and Israel, imposed restrictions for travellers coming from African countries. ,Also read: Dhoni, Rohit, Kohli among 18 players retained for IPL 2022: Report,However, the BCCI has not called off the India A tour yet. Priyank Panchal's men will start their second unofficial Test against South Africa A in Bloemfontein on Tuesday. ,India's decision to show solidarity by choosing to continue with the tour of the Indian 'A' Team stands in contrast with a number of countries who have decided to close their borders and to restrict travel from Southern Africa, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), which is the country's foreign ministry, stated. Also read: Ashwin pipping Harbhajan Singh is phenomenal achievement: Dravid,The Indian senior side is set to tour South Africa for three Test matches, as many ODIs and four T20Is starting December 17. The Men in Blue will land there by December 9. ,South Africa will take all precautions necessary to ensure the health and safety of the Indian teams. A full Bio-secure environment will be established around both the South African and Indian 'A' Teams as well as the two National Teams, the foreign ministry added. ,The ministry said that the South African government has expressed its appreciation to the BCCI for allowing the tour to continue and for not letting travel restrictions negatively impact on international sports. Also read: Ajinkya Rahane says drawn India vs New Zealand Kanpur Test was very good game of cricket,The tour of the Indian National Team marks the 30th anniversary of South Africa's readmission to international cricket. In 1991, India had become the first country to host a South African team after the country was banned from international cricket in 1970 by the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to the then South African government's apartheid policy. The anniversary will be celebrated by a commemorative event that will take place on January 2, 2022 in Cape Town. This event will also serve to highlight the strong ties between South Africa and India, which is once again demonstrated by the tour of the two Indian teams, the ministry statement read. BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal said India's tour of South Africa remains on schedule provided the situation doesn't aggravate in the rainbow nation after a new COVID-19 variant was detected there. The first India-South Africa Test will be played at Johannesburg, followed by the second match at Centurion (December 26) and the third match at Cape Town (January 3).

{\"time\":1638271599207,\"strCount\":3468,\"blocks\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/southafrica\\\">South Africa</a> on Tuesday appreciated India for continuing their A matches despite <a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/topic/omicron\\\">Omicron </a>COVID-19 scare. It also promised a&nbsp;\\\"full bio-secure environment\\\" when Virat Kohli and company tour&nbsp; for a highly-anticipated series next month.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"A new COVID-19 variant emerged in South Africa. The WHO on Friday identified it as a 'variant of concern'. Several countries, including the United States and Israel, imposed restrictions for travellers coming from African countries.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/ipl-2022-ipl-teams-full-retention-list\\\">Dhoni, Rohit, Kohli among 18 players retained for IPL 2022: Report</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"However, the BCCI has not called off the India A tour yet.&nbsp;Priyank Panchal's men will start their second unofficial Test against South Africa A in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"India's decision to show solidarity by choosing to continue with the tour of the Indian 'A' Team stands in contrast with a number of countries who have decided to close their borders and to restrict travel from Southern Africa,\\\" the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), which is the country's foreign ministry, stated.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/rahul-dravid-says-ravichandran-ashwin-surpassing-harbhajan-singhs-record-is-phenomenal\\\">Ashwin pipping Harbhajan Singh is phenomenal achievement: Dravid</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The Indian senior side is set to tour South Africa for three Test matches, as&nbsp;many ODIs and four T20Is starting December 17. The Men in Blue will land there by December 9.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"South Africa will take all precautions necessary to ensure the health and safety of the Indian teams. A full Bio-secure environment will be established around both the South African and Indian 'A' Teams as well as the two National Teams,\\\" the foreign ministry added.&nbsp;\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The ministry said that the South African government has expressed its appreciation to the BCCI for allowing the tour to continue and \\\"for not letting travel restrictions negatively impact on international sports.\\\"\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/ajinkya-rahane-says-drawn-india-vs-new-zealand-kanpur-test-was-very-good-game-of-cricket\\\">Ajinkya Rahane says drawn India vs New Zealand Kanpur Test was very good game of cricket</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"The tour of the Indian National Team marks the 30th anniversary of South Africa's readmission to international cricket.\\\" In 1991, India had become the first country to host a South African team after the country was banned from international cricket in 1970 by the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to the then South African government's apartheid policy.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"\\\"The anniversary will be celebrated by a commemorative event that will take place on January 2, 2022 in Cape Town. This event will also serve to highlight the strong ties between South Africa and India, which is once again demonstrated by the tour of the two Indian teams,\\\" the ministry statement read.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"BCCI treasurer<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/south-africa-tour-on-as-of-now-bcci-treasurer\\\"> Arun Dhumal</a> said India's tour of South Africa remains on schedule provided the situation doesn't aggravate in the rainbow nation after a new COVID-19 variant was detected there.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"The first India-South Africa Test will be played at Johannesburg, followed by the second match at Centurion (December 26) and the third match at Cape Town (January 3).\"}}]}

<ul>
 <li>India A is set to play their second unofficial Test against South Africa A in Bloemfontein on Tuesday</li>
 <li>Virat Kohli and company's South Africa tour will start on December 17</li>
 <li>South Africa has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases</li>
</ul>

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