Chidambaram, Now In Enforcement Directorate Custody

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Former Union Minister P Chidambaram left Delhi’s Tihar jail today, more than a month after he was taken there, as a court sent the 74-year-old Congress leader to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate in the INX Media money laundering case till October 24.

Allowing the probe agency to question Mr Chidambaram in custody, the court also permitted him to have home-cooked food, a separate cell, a western toilet, spectacles, and medicines. The Enforcement Directorate opposed his request for air-conditioning. Mr Chidambaram will be allowed to meet family members and relatives for half-an-hour every day.

“We will take care of his security. Home food, western toilet and family visits will be taken care of,” the agency told the court.

The court directed the Enforcement Directorate to get him medically examined every 48 hours.

Arrested by the CBI on August 21, Mr Chidambaram had been in judicial custody at the Tihar jail since September 5 in the INX Media corruption case filed by the CBI. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate yesterday.

The Enforcement Directorate wants to question him in a case that allegedly involves money-laundering. It had requested 14-day custody of the Congress veteran.

He was taken to the agency’s office in Delhi in the evening for questioning and will be kept at either the Tughlaq Road or Tilak Marg police stations. He will be brought back to the Enforcement Directorate’s office around 10:30 am tomorrow.

Mr. Chidambarm’s son Karti said, “It’s a blatant misuse of law. When the 60-day mandatory period is ending, the ED has arrested him. I am an MP and so is my Father. All our properties and assets are in the public domain. This is not a genuine investigation, it’s a ploy to prolong his custody.”

Mr Chidambaram and his son have denied any wrongdoing and have said they are being targeted by the ruling BJP to settle political scores.

Amitabh Bachchan hospitalised, undergoes treatment for liver problems

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Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has been admitted to Mumbai’s Nanavati Hospital for the past three days for a liver-related ailment.

As per a TOI report, the actor was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday at around 2 am.

As per sources in hospital, “He was admitted for his routine full body checkup. He is doing well and fine, there is no reason to panic. Doctors have also advised him some rest.”

The report also reveals that Big B’s family members have been visiting him in the hospital frequently and he has been stationed at a room equivalent to ICU. As per sources in hospital, “he was admitted for his routine full body checkup. He is doing well and fine, there is no reason to panic. Doctors have also advised him some rest.”

Earlier this year, Amitabh Bachchan at an event revealed that 75 percent of his liver is damaged. “I keep quoting my example all the time and try and propagate the idea of getting yourself detected and I don’t mind saying this publicly I am a T.B survivor, Hepatitis B survivor. Poor blood immersion moved in and 75 percent of my liver is gone but because I was able to detect it even after 20 years, when 75 percent of my liver is gone. I am yet lasting on 25 percent,” Big B said.

The actor also tweeted an unseen picture of his wife Jaya Bachchan from the hospital on the occasion of Karwa Chauth. “the better half .. !! pretty clearly the other half is pointless .. and hence hidden,” he captioned the image.

On the work front, Amitabh Bachchan will be next seen in Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor in ‘Brahmastra’. This will be his first collaboration with Alia and Ranbir. Produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, ‘Brahmastra’ is helmed by Ayan Mukerji and will hit in 2020. Post-Brahmastra, Big B will also be seen in ‘Jhund’, ‘Chehre’ and ‘Gulabo Sitabo’.

BSF Soldier Killed In Firing By Bangladesh Guards At Bengal Border

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A Border Security Force (BSF) soldier was killed and another seriously injured when their patrol came under fire from the Bangladeshi Border Guards after a flag meeting along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Murshidabad.

“This morning, three Indian fishermen went fishing in River Padma in the border area. Two fishermen returned and approached the Kakmarichar Border Security Force(BSF) post, saying that the Border Guard Bangladesh had apprehended them and later released two of them,” BSF said in a statement.

BSF said the Bangladesh Guards called a flag meeting over the issue.

“Around 1030 hrs, the Post Commander and five troopers approached the BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) patrol in a BSF boat. During the flag meeting, the BGB patrol not only refused to release the Indian fisherman but also tried to cordon the BSF troops. Sensing that the situation is worsening, the BSF party immediately returned. BGB troops opened fire on the returning BSF party,” it added.

Both soldiers were evacuated to the nearest medical facility, where Head Constable Vijay Bhan Singh was declared dead on arrival. The injured soldier is being treated in a hospital.

Mr Singh, 50, was a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad.

BSF chief VK Johri later called up his Bangladesh counterpart Major General Shafeenul Islam over a hotline, apprising him of the incident, news agency PTI reported. Major General Islam has assured a probe into the incident.

Relations between the two border forces have been cordial for decades and efforts are on to ensure that the situation does not deteriorate, the agency added.

Arafat Sunny, Al-Amin Hossain recalled for India T20Is

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Bangladesh have recalled left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny and pace bowler Al-Amin Hossain in their 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match Twenty20 International series in India. Fast bowler Rubel Hossain has been omitted.

The inclusion of Arafat and Al-Amin was nothing short of surprise as both of them had fallen off selectors’ radar quite some time ago.

“We have picked Arafat as he is bowling quite consistently in the domestic arena. We already have Shakib Al Hassan but we need someone who has the experience of playing the shorter format,” BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin told media after the board released the squad.

“Al Amin was picked as we have seen there is some grass on the Indian wickets. In the recent past, he had improved his fitness to quite an extent and he is one of the few bowlers who can bowl with the seam up and we have seen that pacers who are bowling with the seam up are quite successful in India.” Abedin added.

From the last squad, BCB has excluded Taijul Islam, Sabbir Rahman, and Nazmul Hossain while also handing the comeback opportunity for Soumya Sarkar in the shortest format.
“Actually we were not very keen to take Soumya. He was picked majorly at the insistence of the coach,” the chief selector revealed.

Bangladesh are due to play a three-match T20I series in India, with the opener scheduled for November 3 in national capital Delhi. The action moves to Rajkot for game 2 on November 7 and concludes in Nagpur with the third and final fixture on November 10.

The visitors will also play two-Test series after the three T20Is, the squad for which will be announced in due course.

Bangladesh T20I squad: Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Naim, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Aminul Islam, Arafat Sunny, Mohammad Saifuddin, Al-Amin Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shafiul Islam

RCB appoint Navnita Gautam in the support staff

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The appointment of Navnita Gautam as their massage therapist will make the Royal Challengers Bangalore the first team in the history of the Indian Premier League to appoint a woman as a part of their support staff. She will work alongside Evan Speechly, the head physiotherapist, and Shanker Basu, the strength & conditioning coach.

Her role would entail “performing specialized techniques about the preparation, motivation, overall supervision and all individual physical ailments relating to the team,” a release from the franchise stated on Thursday (October 17).

“I am very pleased to be a part of this moment in history and another step in the right direction,” said RCB chairman, Sanjeev Churiwala. “The game has come a long way, in many ways, in terms of the Women’s Cricket Team and how many people are watching it, the interest was long due.

“Sport is a great enabler, but it is important to ensure that the principles of equity in participation also extends to its staffing bodies. Increasing participation and success by women in all sporting arenas have made this possible and we at RCB are very thrilled to have found great talent in Navnita.”

Malinga, Dickwella return among other four for tour of Australia

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Limited-overs skipper Lasith Malinga is among four players who have now returned to the Sri Lanka squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series in Australia, starting October 27.

Malinga, wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella and batsman Kusal Perera were among the 10 players that pulled out of the recent tour of Pakistan owing to security concerns. The tour of Australia will also see the return of Kusal Mendis.

The four players came in place of Angelo Perera, Lahiru Madushanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Minod Bhanuka, who were part of the squad that won the series at the home of the incumbent No.1 T20I team in the world – Pakistan.

Twenty-seven-year-old Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who was the beneficiary of some of the top players pulling out of the Pakistan tour, made the most of his chances with a whirlwind 48-ball 77 from No.3 – an innings laced with four fours and six sixes.

Wanindu Hasaranga, the 22-year-old leg-break bowler who made his debut at home against New Zealand this year, finished on top of the wicket-takers list in Pakistan, and has also held onto his spot for the tour of Australia.

In an assault very similar to Rajapaksa’s, middle-order batsman Oshada Fernando too smashed a blistering 78 (off 48 balls) – in his only appearance in the third T20I – earning himself a place for the upcoming tour.

The series kicks off in Adelaide, before shifting to the Gabba in Brisbane on October 30 and then to the MCG in Melbourne on November 1.

Sri Lanka T20I squad: Lasith Malinga, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha

People of Delhi Alone Can’t be Held Responsible for Air Pollution, Says Kejriwal

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Day after rubbishing reports that burning of stubble in neighboring states is responsible for just 10 percent of the air pollution in the capital, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the citizens of Delhi alone are not guilty for the air pollution.

“Unless equal attention is given to sources of pollution that lie outside and is dealt with full commitment, it will be difficult to get relief from the pollution,” Kejriwal said.

He reiterated that the sources of pollution lie both inside and outside the national capital while referring to stubble burning in neighboring states in the winter months.

He referred to the 2018 report by TERI which indicated that only 36% of pollution in Delhi is due to the sources within the national capital, while the rest comes from the outside sources.

The Delhi government will be able to provide real-time data on sources of pollution in Delhi from March 2020, Kejriwal said while asserting that the people of Delhi cannot be held responsible for the air quality at a time when Delhi is the only city that has embraced ‘harsh measures’ to combat pollution and has cut it by 25%.

Meeku Mathrame Chepta trailer review

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HIGHLIGHTS

Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam who became a director with ‘Pelli Choopulu’ movie scored a decent hit with his debut movie film.

Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam who became a director with ‘Pelli Choopulu’ movie scored a decent hit with his debut movie film. Also, ‘Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi’ also became a decent hit. Now, the director is all set to test is luck as a hero. ‘Pelli Choopulu’ hero Vijay Devarakonda himself is pooling resources for the film. Titled as ‘Meeku Matrame Chepta’, Tharun Bhascker is playing the lead role whereas Anasuya Bharadwaj, Naveen George Thomas, Vani Bhojan, Pavani Gangireddy, etc are playing crucial rules. Today, the makers have released the trailer of the film. The 2 minutes video showcased that the movie is about a video of Tharun Bhascker going viral on the internet. What is in that video? How it affected his life and how it will give as an entertaining ride is the storyline of the film.

Shammeer Sultan is helming this project. Touted to be a comedy entertainer, Sivakumar is composing tunes for this film which is releasing on November 1st.

Satya Nadella took home $42.9mn last fiscal, gets 66% raise

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HIGHLIGHTS

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella earned $42.9 million in total compensation for the fiscal year 2019 — 66 per cent raise from the prior fiscal year, the company has announced.

San Francisco: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella earned $42.9 million in total compensation for the fiscal year 2019 — 66 per cent raise from the prior fiscal year, the company has announced. Nadella received a $1 million base salary jump and an increase in stocks. Microsoft’s independent directors said in a proxy statement released on Wednesday.

When he took over from Steve Ballmer in 2014, Nadella took home $84.3 million which is the highest earnings in a fiscal year for him so far. “For fiscal year 2019, the annual total compensation for the median employee of the Company (other than our CEO) was $172,512,” the company said. “The past fiscal year offered another record year for financial performance,
During the first five-year performance period, Microsoft’s market capitalisation increased $509 billion (from $302 billion to $811 billion). “Microsoft’s relative TSR was in the 97th percentile, resulting in Nadella earning and vesting in the maximum 900,000 shares,” the company said in the filing. Microsoft’s board of directors last month authorized another $40 billion in share repurchases and raised its quarterly dividend by 5 cents or 11 per cent to 51 cents a share.

In the previous fiscal year, the buybacks was worth $10.72 billion – all under Nadella’s tenure. The ex-dividend date will be November 20, 2019,” the company said in a statement. The company will hold its annual shareholders meeting on December 4. This year’s annual shareholders meeting will be held virtually and hosted by Nadella, Amy Hood, chief financial officer, Brad Smith, President and chief legal officer and John W. Thompson, Microsoft independent board chair. Driven by growth in its Cloud and Surface laptop segments, Microsoft posted revenue of $33.7 billion and net income of $13.2 billion for its fourth quarter that ended on June 30. Microsoft reported revenue of $125.8 billion which increased 14 per cent and $39.2 billion net income — setting a new record fiscal year for the company. Microsoft that continues to be valued as a $1 trillion company returned $7.7 billion to shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019

Ashwin will not captain Punjab In IPL 2020- Here Is the Story

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Known for his courage and forthrightness, India’s leg-spin legend Anil Kumble has donned several hats in his career. He is still India’s most-successful wicket-taker in Tests, has been the president of Karnataka State Cricket Association, is a much sought-after commentator, and has also coached the national team.

Kumble’s time as the coach of the Indian team was fruitful, but it ended on an acrimonious note after the 2017 Champions Trophy when his relationship with skipper Virat Kohli got strained considerably. The spin great resigned, terming his relationship with Kohli as “untenable”.

Since then, Kumble hasn’t been in the coaching saddle. But the upcoming Indian Premier League will see the return of Kumble, the coach. The 49-year-old will be the head coach and director of cricket operations for Kings XI Punjab.

So what prompted him to get back to coaching? “I have always enjoyed being among the players,” Kumble said on Wednesday. “I may have been a cricket administrator and now a commentator, but it’s being on the field that I like the most. To contribute and give back the experiences I’ve had and share my thought process with the players. If I can help develop their game and fast track whatever they want to achieve, I’m always up for it.”

Kings XI has never won the IPL. The best finish they have achieved is the runners-up position in 2014. Kings XI management hopes that bringing in someone of the stature of Kumble will change the team’s fortunes.

In recent times, there has been a lot of dilly-dallying over off-spinner and Kings XI’s captain for the last two editions, Ravichandran Ashwin. There were speculations that he could join Delhi Capitals. Earlier this week, though, KXIP co-owner Ness Wadia said that the franchise’s board had a rethink and has decided to retain Ashwin.

Kumble agreed that Ashwin was a “fantastic asset” for the team, but also added that the offspinner isn’t an automatic captaincy choice.

“I think any decision on Ashwin or any other player is an internal matter of the team. Ash (Ashwin) is a fantastic asset for the team. We all know his contributions for the Indian team over that last so many years. He has been a brilliant player for India. But there is no certainty yet that he’ll be the captain this year. Moving forward, we still haven’t taken any decision on anyone for that matter. We need to sit down with the (Kings XI) board.”

Kumble’s concerns for the team are its death bowling and lack of experience in the middle-order. “There are certain gaps that one needs to fill. We are certainly looking to add some experience to our middle-order. We have Chris Gayle who is perhaps the most experienced international player in the T20 format.”