In the United States, on 29th December every year, people celebrate ‘Still Need To Do Day’ and complete the unfinished business of the year.
Being the third-last day of the year, there are various pending things to get done on the work and personal front before the year ends. With the holiday season and Christmas rush, there still are things which are pending. Every year on 29th December, Still Need To Do Day is observed. It is also known as Tick Tock Day. This day is a reminder to pause the excitement of the upcoming year and complete some of the unfinished business of the current year.
Significance
It is a day tailor-made for you to clear that itch in your head of the unfinished business. From unwrapping gifts to celebrating the new year, this day is a break in between it to go through your ‘To-Do List’. This day acts as a reminder for the upcoming year and also is a refresher of your past goals, finished and unfinished ones. In between the festivities, this day is a holiday and people might miss the Christmas vibes. So, ‘Still Need To Do Day’ acts as a refresher in between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Observing ‘Still Need To Do Day’
Things like charitable donations and large business purchases that need to be transacted before the year-end for tax purposes are usually done on this day. On the personal front, any accomplishments that have been left out during the year can be completed on this day if possible. You can also do something that you have been putting off all year. In the case of Children, you can teach them to make lists for the next year. Just simply do something that you have always wanted to do but couldn’t. This is your chance, use it wisely and get it done!
Sachin Tendulkar said the DRS is very ‘confusing’ and ‘unfair’ to the bowlers as it favours batters
Little Master Sachin Tendulkar believes there is a need to change the regulations of the Decision Review System (DRS) and feels that an on-field umpire’s decision should not play any role if a decision has been reviewed by the team.
Tendulkar’s remark came after several ‘umpire’s call’ went in Australia’s favour on the third day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Monday. “I’m not convinced with DRS rule at all. Let’s understand one thing why players go to the third umpire because they are not happy with the on-field umpire’s decision. And it is as simple as that. Once you have gone upstairs to the third umpire then on-field umpire’s decision should not come in to picture at all,” Tendulkar shared his views on his official YouTube channel.
“It really does not matter whether the ball is hitting 10 per cent or 15 per cent or 70 per cent it should not matter. When you get bowled nobody talks about it. I understand the tracking system is not 100 per cent accurate but can you name me one umpire who has never done a mistake in his career. We all make mistakes but since we have decided to go ahead with technology let’s back it and over a period of time we will get closer to 100 per cent,” he added.
The legend further said the DRS is very ‘confusing’ and ‘unfair’ to the bowlers as it favours batters.
“But at least in everyone’s mind, we are clear that if the ball is hitting any part of the stump, Smith got out it literally kissed the bail. So, even if it is kissing the bail the umpire has given not out that decision should be overturned when they have referred to the third umpire, it is as simple as that. Either it is out or not out. It is so confusing and somewhere it is unfair to bowlers also it is what I personally feel,” he said.
After the Indian bowlers ran through the hosts’ top-order in their second essay, it was Cameron Green and Pat Cummins who played crucial knocks to help Australia stay afloat in the game.
At stumps, Australia’s score read 133/6 — lead by 2 runs with 4 wickets in the bag. Indian bowlers ran riot against the Australian batters as the hosts were reduced to 99/6 from 98/3 in a matter of few overs.
DishTV has received a notice from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for payment of Rs 4,164 crore as licence fee
Direct broadcast satellite service provider DishTV has received a notice from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for payment of Rs 4,164 crore as licence fee.
In regulatory filings at stock exchanges, DishTV said the ministry on December 24 intimated the company that basis the accounts and payment made towards license fee from the period from the date of issuance of DTH license till financial year 2018-19, an amount of Rs 4,164.05 crore is payable. The ministry directed the company to remit the amount within 15 days. The amount includes licence fee payable and accrued interest.
However, the company said the ministry also mentioned that the amount is further subject to verification and audit and the outcome of various court cases pending before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir at Jammu and the Supreme Court.
Source: Social Media
DishTV said the company does not concur with the demand raised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
“The company is studying communication dated December 24. The DTH license fee matter has already been through several rounds of litigation, the final outcomes of which are yet to be argued and concluded,” it said.
On Monday, the stock of DishTV closed 5.94 per cent lower on BSE Ltd at Rs 13.94 per unit.
Former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Monday bagged the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the Decade for his gesture of calling back England batsman Ian Bell after a bizarre run out in the Nottingham Test in 2011.
During India’s tour of England in 2011, in the second Test, Bell was run out after scoring 137 runs as he had left the crease before the ball was dead at the cusp of tea. The then England skipper Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower enquired with Dhoni during the break if the run-out decision could be overturned and the visitors agreed to withdraw the appeal.
In the third session when Eoin Morgan and Bell walked out to bat the crowd which had earlier booed, appreciated the Indian camp’s gesture. Meanwhile, Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry has won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for ICC Female Cricketer of the Decade. The Australian stalwart has also been adjudged as ICC Women’s ODI and T20I Cricketer of the Decade.
Perry was also part of the Australian team that won the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2013 and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2020.
Source-Social Media
Dhoni on Sunday was named as the captain of ICC Men’s ODI and T20I Team of the Decade. He is among the most successful captains in world cricket. It was under his leadership that India lifted the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011 after having led India to triumph in the ICC World T20 in its maiden edition held in 2007 in South Africa.
With India winning the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 in England, Dhoni became the first and is still the only captain to date to have won all three ICC Trophies. Also, the winners of all the individual awards will receive a unique artwork created in a collaboration between the ICC, Mumbai-based studio Kulture Shop and Indian artist Pratap Chalke.
The Rachael Heyhoe-Flint and Sir Garfield Sobers winners get a spectacular hand-painted artwork bat, while the other individual award winners receive a limited-edition canvas painting that captures their unique passion and spirit.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday hit out at the Centre and demanded that the Union government should listen to protesting farmers and take back the new farm laws.
“Saying that farmers’ protest is a political conspiracy, it is totally wrong, It is a sin to use the kind of words they are using for farmers. Government is answerable to farmers. The government should listen to them and take back the laws,” said the Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Amid the prevailing deadlock between farmers and the Central government over the new farm laws, the agitation of farmers entered the 32nd day on Monday. While the protests at the Ghazipur border that started on November 28 entered the 30th day today.
Source – Social Media
Farmers continued their protest at the borders of Delhi against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Meanwhile, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a joint front of almost 40 farmer organizations, wrote a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare accepting the Centre’s offer for dialogue and proposed December 29 as the next date for the meeting.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chef Vikas Khanna, Dr. Pradeep Kumar, & Minister K K Shailaja amongst the recipients this year
Mumbai –
Harmony Foundation hosted the Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice yesterday, the 27th of December, 2020. The Awards in its 16th year is the only award endorsed by Sister Prema, the Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, the organization started by Mother Teresa. The theme for this year’s awards was, ‘Celebrating Compassion In Times Of Covid ’.
Amongst the awardees this year are:
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, USA
Dr.Anthony Fauci (USA)
80-year-old Dr Fauci is the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, USA. He and his task force were among the first ones to realize the seriousness of this pandemic. His extraordinary efforts in leading his task force to create awareness about the pandemic. He became the ‘de facto’ public health spokesperson to help and guide all countries, serving as an example for healthcare workers and people all across the globe to follow.
Fr. Fabio Stevenazzi (Milan, Italy)
48-year-old Father Fabio Stevenazzi’s decision to return to medical practice in order to help those infected with COVID 19 has thrust him to be the modern day example of St Charles Borromeo who in 1576 during the Great Plague that hit the city of Milan and cut the population by half, stayed behind to nurse the sick and renovate hospitals. Hence his decision to transform from healing souls to healing bodies is an expression of pastoral compassion necessary in these times. It is also an embodiment of the church as a “field hospital”.
Dr.Pradeep Kumar (Chennai)
In the face of the life-threatening attacks, Dr. Pradeep Kumar took it upon himself to give a befitting burial to his colleague with the help of two ward boys, at a cemetery in the city in the middle of the night.
He did it despite the windscreen of the ambulance in which the body was taken to the cemetery was smashed and the casket was not spared either. He literally carried his colleagues’ body to the grave and buried him using only one spade which was available at the cemetery. Putting his life in danger to honour a departed colleague is indeed a high degree of sacrifice
Cristian Fracassi and Alessandro Romaioli(Italy)
CEO and Founder of ISINNOVA along with his teammate and engineer Alessandro Romaioli built prototypes on Isinnova’s 3D printers, to create the parts of the use-and-throw valves for ventilators which were desperately needed in Italy and provided it to them for free helped many patients survive the terrors of this pandemic.
Sanjay Pandey, IPS (DG Home Guards, Maharashtra)
IPS Sanjay Pandey went beyond the call of duty as a police officer to open the first relief camp in the Mumbai city suburbs for migrant workers whose livelihood were disrupted by the lockdown to contain the pandemic. His noble and benevolent initiative of bringing together corporates and other stakeholders to provide essential supplies is highly commendable.
Vikas Khanna (Manhattan, USA)
Even from his residence in Manhattan, New York chef Vikas Khanna’s heart still moves to serve the lonely and underprivileged here in India. It is not only his pro-activeness in creating the Feedlndia Initiative for the marginalised such as transgenders and patients of HIV-AIDS amongst others but, he dropped everything in the effort to provide food for millions over 135 cities in India. While food remains at the top for our basic necessities he also distributed 400,000 slippers, three million sanitary pads, and two million masks to the poor.
KK Shailaja (Minister of Health, Kerala)
Her extraordinary efforts and pro-activeness in dealing with the pandemic by following experts and scientific advice helped countless Keralites survive the terrors of this pandemic, serving as an example for governments of other states & countries to follow.
Harmony Foundation is an international NGO which works in the realm of Social Justice. It was founded in October of 2005, with its raison d’être, being the establishment, and strengthening, of social cohesion among various communities, and to work towards the benefit of all, without discriminating against any religion, creed, sex, or their origins.
Instituted in 2005, these Awards, celebrate and commemorate the memory and legacy of Mother Teresa, canonized a Saint by Pope Francis in the Vatican.
Previous recipients of this prestigious Award have been – Nobel Laureates Ms. Malala Yousufzai, H.H. The Dalai Lama, Mr. Kailash Satyarthi. They have also awarded the likes of the current Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, former Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, former Deputy Speaker of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords Baroness Caroline Cox, and many others.
Twenty-one-year-old Arya Rajendran has been elected as the next Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation on Monday
Making her the youngest candidate to occupy such a post in the country. On December 25, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)) district secretariat in a meeting decided to make her the Mayor. Arya won as CPI(M) Councillor from Mudavanmukal ward and is an office-bearer of the Students Federation of India.
Two potential mayor candidates of CPI(M) were defeated in the local body polls, after which the party had to look for other alternatives. The CPM-led Left Democratic Front, Congress-led United Democratic Front, and BJP-led National Democratic Alliance were in the fray for local body polls in Kerala.
Source – Social Media
The local body polls were held in three phases in Kerala. Around 78.64 percent voter turnout was recorded in the third and final phase of the local body polls. The second phase recorded 76.38 percent voter turnout and in the first phase, it was 72.67 percent.
“The inauguration of the first driverless metro train shows how fast India is moving towards smart systems”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first-ever driverless train on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line and launched National Common Mobility Card on the Airport Express Line on Monday, via video conferencing.
“The inauguration of the first driverless metro train shows how fast India is moving towards smart systems. Today Delhi Metro is being connected to the National Common Mobility Card. A few decades ago, when the impact of urbanization and the future of urbanization were both clear, the country saw a different attitude,” said PM Modi. There was not much attention about the needs of the future, half-hearted work was done, confusion persisted, he added.
“Unlike this, modern thinking says that urbanization should not be seen as a challenge and used as an opportunity. An opportunity in which we can build better infrastructure in the country. An opportunity through which we can increase Ease of Living. This difference of thinking is seen in every dimension of urbanization,” said PM Modi.
In 2014, only five cities had a metro rail. Today, metro rail services are available in 18 cities, the Prime Minister stated.
Source: Social Media
“By the year 2025, we are going to expand it to more than 25 cities. In 2014, only 248 km of metro lines were operational in the country. Today it is about three times more than seven hundred kilometers. By the year 2025, we are trying to expand it to 1,700 kilometers,” he added.
These are not just figures, they are proof of Ease of Living coming in the lives of crores of Indians, PM said.
“This is not just infrastructure made of brick and stone, concrete and iron, but are evidence of the fulfillment of the aspirations of the citizens of the country, the middle class of the country,” he added.
“Our government formulated the metro policy and implemented it with an all-round strategy. We insisted on working according to local demand, we emphasized on promoting local standards, Make in India expansion, the use of modern technology,” said PM Modi.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also attended the event.
PM Narendra Modi will flag off 100th Kisan Rail from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal, via video conferencing today at 4:30 pm
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the multi-commodity train service will carry vegetables such as cauliflower, capsicum, cabbage, drumsticks, chillies, onion, as well as fruits like grapes, oranges, pomegranate, banana, custard apple etc. Loading and unloading of perishable commodities will be permitted at all en route stoppages with no bar on size of the consignment. The Government of India has extended a subsidy of 50 per cent on transportation of fruits and vegetables.
The first Kisan Rail was introduced from Devlali to Danapur on August 7 this year, which was extended up to Muzaffarpur. Its frequency was also increased from weekly to three days a week.
Hon’ble PM Sh @narendramodi Ji will flag off the 100th Kisan Rail from Maharashtra to West Bengal via VC at 04:30 PM, today.@PMOIndia
Kisan Rail has been a “game-changer” in ensuring “fast transportation of agriculture produces” across the nation. It provides a “seamless” supply chain of perishable produce, as per the PMO.
In another development, Modi will inaugurate also India’s first-ever driverless train operations on the Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line (Janakpuri West-Botanical Garden) on Monday at 11 am via video conferencing.
He will launch the fully operational National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) services on the Airport Express Line as well in the same event.
Some of the movies and web series on streaming platforms created a buzz, list of entertaining films and web series in 2020
As cinema halls were shut down during the Coronavirus-induced lockdown, people turned to OTT platforms for entertainment. Some of the movies and web series on streaming platforms created a buzz. Here is a look at the most entertaining films and web series in 2020.
1. Money Heist (La Casa De Papel): The Spanish drama series made ‘Bella Ciao’ the anthem of 2020 lockdown. The show’s fifth season became one of the most viral shows in 2020. Money Heist had a gripping storyline that would keep you on the edge of your seats. Enough to make people go bonkers. The many cliff-hangers after each episode were noteworthy and people were intrigued to know what happens next and the end was as overwhelming as the entire journey. Ursula Corbero, Alvaro Morte, Itziar Ituno and others won many hearts with their performances.
2. Paatal Lok Released on Amazon Prime Video, the series featuring Jaideep Ahlawat in the lead role was quick to impress the audience with its engaging storyline and a stellar cast. The story of ‘Paatal Lok’ revolves around a cop who has to swim against all odds to get to the bottom of a murder attempt.
3. The Crown: Season 4 Olivia Colman as the Queen, Gillian Anderson’s as Margaret Thatcher, and Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana made The Crown a show worth watching! In the past, we all have seen many documentaries and shows about the monarchy. They get stale and boring but The Crown managed to pick up popularly. People were hooked to see what happens next and they sure unwrapped Season 4 the royal way.
4.Tiger King: Murder, Madness and Mayhem Tiger King starred John Reinke, Kelci Saffery, John Finlay in key roles. It is the tale of Joseph Maldonado-Passage (better known as Joe Exotic), Carole Baskin, and Doc Antle and their life as cat owners. The seven-episode docu-series took the audience into the strange world of big cat owners and by the end of it, you have seen a murder, an alligator explosion, a three-way marriage and a lot of suspense.
5. ‘Bulbbul’ ‘Bulbbul’ stars Tripti Dimri in the lead role. Other actors are Avinash Tiwary, Paoli Dam, Rahul Bose and Parambrata Chattopadhyay. Tripti Dimri was praised in many reviews. The Netflix film which is set in a backdrop of 1880’s Bengal presidency, revolves around a child-bride and her journey from innocence to strength.
6. Special Ops The show Special Ops starring Kay Kay Menon, Karan Tacker, Vinay Pathak, Divya Dutta, Meher Vij among others was instantly loved by the audience. It follows Menon as Himmat Singh who is a ‘RAW’ agent who believes that there is a single entity behind all the major terrorist attacks. During the lockdown, several new web series created a wave and movies that were scheduled for theatrical release were launched on OTT platforms. Here’s a list of some of the movies that ruled the waves: Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior
‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’ essays the life of the fierce Maratha warrior, Tanhaji Malusare essayed by Ajay Devgn, who was one of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s closest aides and a military leader. It focuses on the famous Battle of Sinhagad, which saw Tanhaji take on Udaybhan, a Rajput who fought for Aurangzeb against the Marathas. Gulabo Sitabo:
Set in Lucknow, the Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana starrer film is a light-hearted comedy-drama that captures impeccable camaraderie with a tenant and was loved by the audience.
Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl A biographical drama film based on the life and journey of Indian Air Force pilot Gunjan Saxena. It starred Janhvi Kapoor as one of the first Indian female air-force pilots in combat. The movie also featured Pankaj Tripathi and Angad Bedi in supporting roles.
Dil Bechara The remake of 2014 romantic-drama ‘The fault in our stars’, ‘Dil Bechara’ is the last movie of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. As the tragic death of Rajput left people in shock, the film was made accessible without subscription in India and a selected few countries on Hotstar. The critics praised the running time, the performances of Rajput and Sanjana Sanghi, story, characterisations, and soundtrack.
Angrezi Medium The last film of Irrfan Khan, ‘Angrezi medium’ is the story of a hardworking Rajasthani businessman (Irrfan), whose daughter (Radhika Madaan) decides to pursue further studies in London, and despite having insufficient resources, he does everything in his power to make her dream come true. Irrfan and Kareena Kapoor Khan paired up for the spin-off to the 2017 comedy ‘Hindi Medium’ Panga
Featuring Kangana Ranaut and Punjabi singer Jassie Gill in the lead role, the movie depicted the life of kabaddi player Jaya Nigam (essayed by Kangana) and the hardships she went through during her journey.
