IPL 2018: Why Smith must not be treated as criminal over ball tampering row

Following the recent ball-tampering scandal, IPL governing council has barred Steve Smith and David Warner from playing IPL 2018. Are the harsh punishments to the duo and Cameron Bancroft justified?

 

IPL 2018 : The ball tampering scandal involving Australian cricket team captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and opening batsman Cameron Bancroft has seen some serious action being taken by Cricket Australia, as well as Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council.

 

Four days after the scandal came to light, Cricket Australia swung into action on Wednesday and suspended all three. While Smith and Warner were handed a 12-month suspension from the national side, Bancroft got a 9-month suspension.

Meanwhile, the IPL governing council in New Delhi also decided to bar Smith and Warner from VIvo IPL 2018. Both had earlier stepped down from the captaincy of their respective IPL 2018 franchises – Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad – after the duo had earlier been retained by the franchises for a whopping Rs 125 million each.

Earlier, Australian cricket team captain Steve Smith had admitted to his side’s deliberate and pre-planned act of ball tampering on field on the third day of their third test match against South Africa in Cape Town. After opening batsman Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera while scratching the ball, Smith had said that it was his team’s pre-meditated strategy, hatched during the lunch break, with the team leadership also involved.

According to a CA statement, Smith and Bancroft were also banned from leadership positions for 12 months after completing their one-year ban from international and domestic cricket. Warner was banned from all leadership positions in Australian cricket for life.

The players were found to have breached article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct, which relates to conduct at any time that is contrary to the spirit of the game, unbecoming of a representative, harmful to the interests of the game or bringing the game into disrepute.

The three will be allowed to play club cricket and were encouraged by the CA to do so “to maintain links with the cricket community”.

However, there also are views that the punishments handed to the three cricketers might be too harsh, given the nature of their offence. Should they have been banned by the IPL governing council from participating in IPL 2018, and by CA from playing for the country or taking leadership positions in the team for a year or more?

---

↓  Click For More Updates  ↓

Indian Premier League 2018

Kim Jong-un meets Xi, says he is committed to de-nuked Korean peninsula

Kim Jong-Un is understood to have reiterated his commitment to the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula

International News : China confirmed Wednesday that Kim Jong Un met with President Xi Jinping on a surprise visit to Beijing, and said the North Korean leader would be willing to give up his nuclear weapons and hold a summit with the US.

“The issue of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realization of peace,” Kim said during the four-day visit, according to Xinhua. Xi said that China continues to push for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and made four proposals to improve relations with North Korea, including maintaining frequent contact with Kim. Xi said China will continue to share friendship with North Korea as a “strategic choice” that “will not change because of any single event at a particular time.”

“We speak highly of this visit,” Xi told Kim, according the Xinhua story that repeatedly referred to the two leaders as comrades.

“We are willing to work together with DPRK comrades, remain true to our original aspiration and jointly move forward, to promote long-term healthy and stable development of China-DPRK relations, benefit the two countries and two peoples, and make new contribution to regional peace, stability and development,” Xi said.

The visit comes amid a diplomatic flurry in Asia as leaders jockey for face time with Kim and seek to defuse tensions over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

Key Points:

• Xi hosted a grand banquet for Kim at the Great Hall of the People
• Kim reiterated his commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula

Read More on → Kim Jong Un Xi Jinping Meeting ←

OnePlus 6 price to cheaper iPhone, MIUI 9.5 update: Weekly tech round-up

The world of technology last week saw a few important developments like leaks on OnePlus 6, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, and pricing of the new Apple iPhone: Here is a weekly round-up of top tech stories

With every successive generation, the prices of the OnePlus smartphone have increased. Yet, the company has managed to build smartphones at an effective cost much lower than other premium flagships. Now, the next iteration, the OnePlus 6, is scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2018. But the phone’s purported price has been leaked on the web. The smartphone’s price, according to a price comparison sheet doing the rounds of the internet, will be more than its predecessor, but still be in range to give it an 'inexpensive flagship smartphone' tag. The screengrab of a slide uploaded on Chinese social media platform Weibo hints that the phone would cost $749. By comparison, the launch prices of the Apple iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy S9+ were $1517 and $1200, respectively. Based on the price comparison, it is safe to assume that the prices revealed are in Canadian dollar terms and, therefore, the phone would cost less in the United States – somewhere around $575. At this price, the OnePlus 6 costs slightly more than its predecessor, which had been launched at $559 in the US.

Xiaomi is gearing up to announce the the Mi Mix 2S, the next iteration of its bezel-less smartphones, on March 27. Before the official launch, however, the phone’s official promo material has been leaked and it drops a few hints on what to expect from the device. Unlike the previous leak, which showed the bezel-less smartphone with all-screen display and a minute cut-out on the top-right corner for a selfie camera, the new leak shows an altogether new design, in line with the current breed of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2. Based on the new leak, the Mi Mix 2S would sport a Mi Mix 2-inspired design, with three-side bezel-less screen and a minimal bezel on the bottom. However, the front camera placement is not clearly visible and the phone might get a new space to host it.

Bandhan Bank makes strong debut; lists at 33% premium against issue price

The stock listed at Rs 499, a 33% premium against its issue price of Rs 375 per share on the National Stock Exchange.

IPO News : Bandhan Bank has made a strong debut at the bourses on Tuesday. The stocks listed at Rs 499, a 33% premium against its issue price of Rs 375 per share on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). On the BSE, the stock listed at Rs 485, 29% higher against its issue price.

At 10:04 am; Bandhan Bank stock was trading Rs 472 on the BSE and NSE. A combined 35.11 million shares changed hands on the counter on both the exchanges.

Bandhan Bank with a market value of Rs 571.59 billion stands at 53rd position in overall market capitalisation ranking, the BSE data shows.

The private sector lender raised Rs 45 billion through initial public offer (IPO), which was oversubscribed by 14.6 times. The qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) category was subscribed 38.67 times, the non-institutional investors category was subscribed 13.89 times and the retail individual investors (RIIs) category received subscription of 1.20 times.

The objective of the fresh issue was also to augment bank’s Tier-I capital base to meet the bank’s future capital requirements. The bank also believed that the listing of equity shares will enhance the bank’s visibility and brand name among existing and potential customers.

The bank has a very healthy business mix – on the asset side 96.5% of total advances qualifying as priority sector lending (PSL) and on the liability side 33.2% of total deposits in the low-cost current account & savings account (CASA).

Considering the healthy financials – NIM of 9.9%, gross and net NPA of 1.67% & 0.8%, respectively and high return ratios of 25.6% RoE and 4.1% RoA, analyst at Centrum Broking believe the bank will be able to attract adequate investor interest.

Further, the bank is expected to benefit largely from financialisation of household investments especially in the rural & underbanked areas, vast branch network and presence in high growth segments of micro lending, retail and SME banking.

→ Bandhan Bank IPO ←

Ball-tampering row: Steve Smith may get a life ban; top 10 developments

Amid the ball-tampering controversy, IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, after getting a clarification from BCCI, might sack Steve Smith and instead appoint Ajinkya Rahane as its skippers for IPL 2018

The Australian ball-tampering controversy has caught cricketers Steve Smith, Cameron Bancroft, and David Warner on the wrong foot, and taken cricket fans by surprise, with Smith stepping down as Australia's captain for the rest of the ongoing third Test match against South Africa. Smith was penalised by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which slapped the Australian with a one-match suspension and fined his entire match fee on Sunday.

Steve Smith's deputy, David Warner, also stepped down as Australian cricket team's vice-captain, while wicketkeeper Tim Paine was named to act as a stand-in captain at Newlands, with both Smith and Warner taking the field on Sunday. Meanwhile, days before IPL 2018 commences from April 7, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Indian Premier League (IPL) are playing the waiting game on Smith and Warner's fate.

Steve Smith might also lose the captaincy of the Rajasthan Royals IPL franchise. In that case, Ajinkya Rahane would likely lead the IPL side. For now, the BCCI and Royals have reportedly heaved a sigh of relief after Smith escaped with a mild punishment.

Smith o Saturday admitted to masterminding a premeditated plan to indulge in ball-tampering, which, among others, prompted even Australia's prime minister to react and a long-retired captain to mull a comeback. Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called the incident a "shocking disappointment", while Michael Clarke kept open the possibility of returning as the Australia cricket team's captain.

On the third day of the Cape Town Test on Saturday, television footage showed Smith's teammate Bancroft, 25, taking a yellow object (sandpaper to scruff up one side of the ball to aid reverse swing) out of his pocket while fielding in the post-lunch session and appearing to rub it on the ball before putting the material into his trousers in an attempt to hide it.

In more upsetting news for cricket fans down under, Australian cricket's day of shame ended on Sunday in a crushing 322-run defeat by South Africa on the fourth day of the third Test match at Newlands, Cape Town.

Steve Smith and David Warner's troubles might just be beginning, with the ball-tampering controversy hanging over their heads. Under Cricket Australia's code of behaviour, Smith and Warner could face punishment ranging up to a life ban for cheating, reported ESPNcricinfo.

Here are the top 10 developments in the Steve Smith ball-tampering controversy that has taken Australian cricket and fans over the world by shock:

1) Steve Smith steps down: Caught up in the ball-tampering controversy, Steven Smith stepped down as the Australian cricket team's captain for the remainder of the ongoing third Test against South Africa.

The actions of the Australian team's leadership in the ball-tampering controversy would be investigated, said Cricket Australia. Subsequently, the Australian government asked the board to remove Smith as captain. Australian Prime Minister Turnbull called the incident a "shocking disappointment".

2) Rahane may lead Royals: Ajinkya Rahane is likely to lead the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals in case Steve Smith, under fire after admitting to ball tampering during the ongoing third Test against South Africa in Cape Town, loses his captaincy. India's Test vice-captain Rahane is also saleable as a brand -- a must for all IPL franchises. Rahane was one of the Royals' premier performers before they were banned for two years in the wake of the 2013 spot-fixing scandal. Read More

Reliance Jio Prime membership subscription to end on March 31: What next?

Jio Prime subscriptions, started April 1 last year, expire on 31 March. Now, with the expiry approaching, it is expected that Jio would make a new announcement sometime soon

Reliance Jio shook the Indian telecommunication space with the launch of its affordable, data-centric network. After doling out freebies for more than the first six months since the launch, the Mukesh Ambani-owned telecom major introduced Prime membership at Rs 99 with the promise of offering subsidised recharge options and additional benefits for a period of one year.

The Reliance Jio Prime membership, which came into effect on April 1 last year, are valid until 31 March. Now, with the subscription expiry approaching, it is expected that Jio would make an announcement sometime soon.

While there is nothing official yet, it is expected that the company might completely do away with the Prime subscription or offer it as a free service.

Here is what the company offered in the first iteration of the Prime membership:

Free unlimited data and voice services for one year at an effective price of Rs 10 per day

Special recharge plans with additional data and validity

Free VoLTE-based voice calls to any network, even on roaming with no black out days either.

Free access to Jio app suite

The Prime membership was initially rolled out as a loyalty programme to retain subscribers as the company moved from free to paid services.

In the first leg, the Prime membership was advertised as a limited period offer. However, as time moved, the company continued offering the membership to get more subscribers. Now, according to Jio’s official portal, there is no mention of services that the company offers to non-prime subscribers. Therefore, it is safe to assume that the subscription based membership program may eventually fade out.

Karnataka Assembly elections 2018: What parties believe will work for them?

Now with less than two months to go for the assembly elections, Bengaluru and Karnataka are truly in campaign and election mode.

The state has already seen multiple tours by PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Amit Shah and other bigwigs from all across the political spectrum. JD(S) has already declared their first list of candidates with 126 names. Congress and the BJP are expected to release their first list shortly, by end of March or in the first week of April. Hectic lobbying to secure a party ticket in underway in all camps. It is widely expected that all the parties will give tickets to younger and fresher faces, along with their sitting MLAs. This time around the Karnataka State Assembly Elections will be keenly fought with all the parties believing they have a real shot at power and thus leaving no stone unturned to achieve desirable results. Both the Congress and the BJP have had good electoral experiences in the recent past with BJP wining in the North East and Congress performing better than expected in Gujarat and wining by-polls in MP and Rajasthan.

In Karnataka, the Congress is trying to macro-manage the assembly elections to achieve favourable electoral arithmetic. Both CM Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi have been launching scathing attacks on the policies of the central government and PM Modi. CM Siddaramaiah has tried and projected the 2018 assembly elections as a contest between him and PM Modi. Simultaneously, Congress is also trying to highlight and showcase its achievements and developmental work too. Congress expects to sail through with their traditional vote bank, along with that of minorities and backward class, they are also trying to woo other caste groups and vote blocks in different regions of Karnataka. Current CM Siddaramaiah has had his eyes on the assemble elections since the last couple of years. Thus Congress has indulged in some clever political manoeuvring with playing the son-of-the-soils and Kannada pride card and raked up issues such as anti-Hindi protests and Karnataka state flag. CM Siddaramaiah according minority status to Lingayats just 2 months before the elections is also seen as a move to dent the traditional BJP vote base.

Vivo IPL 2018 team players list and their salaries

Ben Stokes was the star performer for the second consecutive year in the IPL auction as he was taken for Rs 12.5 crore by Rajasthan Royals

In the 2018 IPL auction a pool of 578 players were nominated and 169 players were sold to the eight franchises. England all-rounder Ben Stokes emerged as the highest-paid player at Rs 125 mn (Rs 12.5 cr) while the India's left arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat become the most expensive Indian player at Rs 115 million (Rs11.5cr). Both the players were bought by the Rajasthan Royals.

Other Indian players also had a field day, with Manish Pandey and KL Rahul going for Rs 11 crore each for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab respectively

Meanwhile, this year’s IPL auction shows that quality ranks above everything else for the franchises. A prime example of that is Lasith Malinga going unsold and Chris Gayle finding a team only after coming into the auction for a third time.

Here the full list of IPL 2018 team players and their salaries.

Delhi girl commits suicide over alleged molestation by teachers: Updates

Father of the deceased student, who belonged to the Ahlcon Public School in Mayur Vihar Phase-I, said that she had accused her social sciences teachers of sexually harassing her

In a tragic incident, a 15-year-old girl student allegedly committed suicide here in Delhi's Mayur Vihar area on Tuesday. The teenage girl had reportedly failed in her Class 9 examinations. The deceased's father said that she had also accused her social sciences teachers of sexually harassing her and "touching her inappropriately". A case has been registered in the matter under Sections 306 and 506 of the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).

The deceased student belonged to the Ahlcon Public School in Mayur Vihar Phase-I. She reportedly hanged herself on Tuesday evening when she was alone at her home.

The father of the victim has blamed the school for her daughter's suicide. "She told me her SST teachers touched her inappropriately. I said since I am also a teacher, I can say they cannot do it, might be a mistake but she said, 'I am scared of them, no matter how well I write they will fail me. Ultimately they failed her in SST. School killed her," he said.

The father of the victim also alleged that earlier, one of the Ahlcon school's teachers had fractured his son's hand, after which he had put the child in another school.

Rajnikanth denies BJP backing, says only God and people are behind him

Top actor Rajinikanth on Tuesday dismissed claims that BJP was behind his political entry and said he was driven by only the God and the people.

"They are saying from the beginning that BJP is behind me. Only God is behind me and after that people are behind me. Okay," he told reporters in Chennai.

He was replying to a question about a 'row' over his meeting with some local BJP leaders in Uttarakhand despite maintaining that he was not a full time politician yet.

Rajinikanth has in December last announced he will launch a political party and contest the next assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and declared that "spiritual politics" needs to be ushered in, sans shades of any caste or religion.

The actor who had embarked on a spiritual tour of the Himalayas on March 10 returned to Chennai on Tuesday.

Asked on his friend and actor-politician Kamal Haasan saying that he had not expressed views on key issues like Cauvery, Rajinikanth denied it.

Karnataka Assembly election 2018: Why it is important for BJP and Congress

Keeping all these political issues and twists and turns in Karnataka State, The entire nation and Karnataka state is eagerly waiting for the election and who will win.

This April-May will evidence the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections in 224 constituencies to elect their respective members. Karnataka Assembly tenure ends in May 2018. The upcoming election is scheduled for April-May 2018.

The Lotus Strategy: Criticizing Invites Death

The official campaign of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began on November 2, 2017. They launched Nava Karnataka Nirmana Parivarthana rally, which was for 75 days across the entire state lead by the state president, Y.S Yeddyurappa. The rally was completed on February 8, 2018, covering all the constituents in Karnataka covering all the constituencies and ended with a note addressed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister in his speech said that the entire world is busy with ease of doing business, while the Congress is busy with ease of doing murders.” “Anyone who criticizes the government will pay with death.”

Mr. Modi also stated that he wants to free Karnataka from the dynasty rule of the inefficient Congress. This would also mean putting an end to corruption and dirty politics.

A fourteen-day “Protect Bengaluru” was conducted by BJP party. According to this party, they were reviving and rebuilding the city from the gross negligence of the Congress party. The BJP and Janatadal parties were campaigning against the Congress pointing out the flaws and shortcomings under Siddaramaiah. This act has compelled Congress to emphasize on the achievements made to counter both the parties. The BJP has given enough indications that this time the election campaign will be Modi-centric and less of B.S.Yeddurappa. BJP prefers to seek votes in the name of Mr. Modi by having him as the face of the elections. The chief minister seems to be shrewd in engaging the Prime Minister.

The Congress Way: Being More Aggressive

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) took up an act of setting up a booth level committee at 54,261 locations. They will spread the information on the various programs undertaken by the ruling Indian National Congress. This was an extensive outreach program, which was held just before the elections. The ruling congress has taken aggressive steps to reach to grass root level to halt the impression created by BJP. This micro-level reach by the Congress had created a positive impact on the people. Congress was on losing end for the past few elections.

Twists & Turns In The End

When an opinion poll was gathered, a sample revealed that Kumaraswami from Janata dal was their first choice, followed by Yeddyurappa (BJP) and then Siddaramaiah (Indian National Congress). Keeping all these political issues and twists and turns in Karnataka State, The entire nation and Karnataka state is eagerly waiting for the election and who will win in Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018.

39 Indians killed in Iraq's Mosul; govt didn't listen to survivor in 2015

As many as 40 Indians were originally abducted by the terrorist organisation ISIS in June 2014 from Mosul in Iraq but one of them escaped by posing as a Muslim from Bangladesh

As many as 40 Indians were originally abducted by the terrorist organisation ISIS in June 2014 from Mosul in Iraq but one of them escaped by posing as a Muslim from Bangladesh, Swaraj said in a suo motu statement in the Rajya Sabha. The remaining 39 Indians were taken to Badoosh and killed.

Search operations led to a mound in Badoosh where locals said some bodies were buried by the ISIS. Deep penetration radars were used to establish that the mound indeed was a mass grave, Swaraj said, adding that the Indian authorities requested their Iraqi counterparts to exhume the bodies.

Swaraj said the mass grave had exactly 39 bodies, with distinctive features like long hair, non-Iraqi shoes, and IDs. The bodies were then sent to Baghdad for All the 39 Indians who were abducted by ISIS in Iraq nearly three years ago were killed, and their bodies had been recovered, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday. Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh will be flying to Iraq to bring back their mortal remains to India on a special flight.

DNA testing.

DNA testing by Martyrs Foundation has established the identity of 38 Indians while there has been 70 per cent matching of the DNA for the 39th person, she said.

Here are the top 10 developments around the killing of the 39 Indians in Iraq's Mosul by the ISIS:

1) Hopes of families of those killed in Iraq dashed

The news of death of two youths from this district, who were among the 39 missing Indians in Iraq, has shell-shocked their family members in villages Jaitpur and Chhauni Kalan.

Kamaljit Singh of village Chhauni Kalan went to Iraq in 2014 to earn for his family, his younger brother Parwinder Singh Lucky said.

Read More On → 39 Indian killed in Iraq

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S may not be too different from bezel-less flagship Mi Mix 2

Based on the new leak, the Mi Mix 2S would sport a Mi Mix 2-inspired design, with three-side bezel-less screen and minimal bezel on the bottom

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi is gearing up to announce the the Mi Mix 2S, the next iteration of its bezel-less smartphones, on March 27. Before the official launch, however, the phone’s official promo material has been leaked and it drops a few hints on what to expect from the device.

Unlike the previous leak, which showed the bezel-less smartphone with all-screen display and a minute cut-out on the top-right corner for a selfie camera, the new leak shows an altogether new design, in line with the current breed of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2.

Based on the new leak, the Mi Mix 2S would sport a Mi Mix 2-inspired design, with three-side bezel-less screen and a minimal bezel on the bottom. However, the front camera placement is not clearly visible and the phone might get a new space to host it.

As for specifications and features, the phone would boast Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC); this was confirmed by the company spokesperson on social media.

Based on leaked images, the phone is expected to sport a 256GB internal storage and up to 8 GB of RAM. However, another variant with a lower storage option could be there as well.

In terms of imaging, the previous leak revealed that the upcoming device would sport a dual-camera set-up on the back. However, there is no confirmation around it and we would have to wait until the official launch on March 27 to get the final details.

Read More On → Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 , Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S

Uber, Ola drivers hit by losses; on indefinite strike: Top 10 developments

Ola and Uber drivers allege their earnings are not enough for them to make ends meet

Do you use Ola and Uber for your daily commute? If yes, you may want to find other modes of transport as Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has called for an indefinite strike of drivers of cab aggregators Uber and Ola starting Monday midnight.

The strike, which will be observed in key cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, aims to voice the drivers’ woes of not being able to cover rising costs due to falling business. They are currently being paid Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per month, according to media reports.

“Ola and Uber had given big assurances to the drivers, but today they are unable to cover their costs. They have invested Rs 500,000 to Rs 700,000 and were expecting to make Rs 150,000 a month. But drivers are unable to make even half of this because of the mismanagement by these companies,” said Sanjay Naik of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena, reported news agency PTI.

Naik accused Ola and Uber of giving priority to company-owned cars rather than driver-owned ones, thereby, hitting their business.

In Mumbai alone, there are over 45,000 Ola and Uber cabs but a slump in business has seen a drop of about 20 per cent in their numbers.

Meanwhile, the police has issued notices to leaders of the union under section 149 of CrPC relating to unlawful assembly.

Drivers claim Ola, Uber cheated them: Ola and Uber drivers said that while both the firms promised them an average monthly income between Rs 100,000 to Rs 150,000, the same was not the case. However, they initially believed them, and ended up buying cars on loans. Now that they are being underpaid, they have decided to go on a strike, said Swaraj Vahan Chalak Malak Sanghatna President Guru Katti, reported Times of India.An average cost of a car varies between Rs 500,000 to 700,000.

Drop in per-km fare giving nightmares: Where the per-kilometre fare once to hover around Rs 10, the same has dropped to Rs 6 now due to the stiff competition between Ola and Uber. Moreover, Ola Share offers share pass varying on the distance one intends to travel. For instance, once can buy a pass for Rs 10 valid for 30 days, where one would be required to pay just Rs 30 for distance up to four kms and Rs 200 for distance up to 20 kms. Similarly, Uber offers slashes rates on its ‘POOL’ rides and often gives 50 per cent discount to users on Uber Go, which is the cheapest Uber car ride after share.

Read More on → Ola Uber Strike

Nidahas Trophy final: Karthik's last ball sixer helps India beat Bangladesh

A partisan Sri Lankan crowd, who were upset by Bangladesh's behaviour did the now famous 'Nagin Dance' (Sbnake Dance') along with Indian supporters leaving the Tigers distraught

Dinesh Karthik did a Javed Miandad with a last-ball six as India pulled off an incredible chase beating Bangladesh by four wickets in the Nidahas T20 Tri-series final, in Colombo on Sunday night.

Needing five off the final delivery, Karthik smashed Soumya Sarkar over extra-cover as a second-string Indian side held its nerve in a tense situation to chase down a target of 167 in 20 overs. It would count as one of India's famous last ball sixes -- something that Pakistani legend did against India 32 years back in Sharjah.

"I have been practising these shots - having a strong base and then hitting from there," Karthik said after the match.

"Happy to be where I'm and thanks to the support staff who have kept on supporting me for the last few months," he added.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acting president CK Khanna congratulated the Indian team for an "amazing" four-wicket victory in the final of the Nidahas Trophy.

Khanna told the media, "What an amazing win. Shows the strength of our good domestic cricket. I congratulate everyone for this victory as it shows the hard work done by every individual involved in BCCI."

The BCCI acting president also applauded Dinesh Karthik's cameo that helped India register a four-wicket win against Bangladesh.

"Dinesh Karthik played very well under pressure," he said.

Karthik's gem of a cameo got him 29 off 8 balls with two boundaries and three sixes -- the last of them which will be forever be etched in the memory.

Skipper Rohit Sharma's (56 off 42 balls) dismissal set India's inexperienced middle-order in panic mode and Vijay Shankar's four dot balls off the 18th over by Mustafizur Rahaman made it very difficult for India.

Karthik came at the start of the19th over and hit Rubel Hossain for 22 including two sixes and two fours to bring down the equation to 12 off the final over before finishing it off in style.

'Nagin' dance

A partisan Sri Lankan crowd, who were upset by Bangladesh's behaviour did the now famous 'Nagin Dance' (Sbnake Dance') along with Indian supporters leaving the Tigers distraught.

Read More On : Nidahas Trophy Final

Spotify to launch music streaming service in India to stay ahead of Apple

The world’s largest music streaming service, Spotify, is looking to bring its service to India, one of the fastest-growing internet markets in the world, as it looks to boost growth and stay ahead of rival Apple.

Announcing Spotify’s plans to list on public markets on April 3, CEO Daniel Ek said the Stockholm-based company was planning an entry into some of the largest markets in the world. Spotify is taking a rather unusual path to go public and will directly sell shares to the public.

"We are working on launching in some of the biggest markets in the world, including India, Russia, and Africa, which have a very rich musical culture," Ek said during his presentation. He said that post IPO, the company would continue to focus on growth rather than turning on the profit machine.

While no further details were divulged on when Spotify could launch its service here or its pricing in the country, the company did disclose in its IPO filing last week that it has leased office space in Mumbai. The company has also made ex-Googler Akshat Harbola as its Head of Market Operations in India.

Plans to enter India and other fast-growing markets comes as industry analysts say Apple’s rate of signing up new paid subscribers is far outstripping that of Spotify’s. In the US, the largest music streaming market in the world, Apple Music could beat Spotify in the next few quarters to become the leading player there.

Click Here To know More - Apple

Nobody can come close to Madhuri: Jacqueline on 'Ek do teen'

Actress Jacqueline Fernandez, who has recreated the evergreen track "Ek do teen" on-screen for "Baaghi 2", says nobody can come close to Madhuri Dixit's performance in the original song.

"I can't wait for Madhuri ma'am to watch the song. It is my tribute to her. Her performance in the original is unmatchable. Forget me, no one can ever come close to her," Jacqueline said in a statement.

The foot-tapping "Ek do teen" song first featured in the 1988 film "Tezaab".

For the new version of the song, three choreographers -- Saroj Khan, Ganesh Acharya and Ahmed Khan -- came together on the set.

Ahmed is also directing the film. He was keen to retain Saroj's famous hook steps and even urged Manish Malhotra to keep Madhuri's pink outfit in mind while designing Jacqueline's costume for the new song.

Click Here To know More - jacqueline fernandez

CBSE Class 12 Accountancy paper leaked, complaint has been lodged: Sisodia

Sisodia has directed officers of the Directorate of Education to lodge a complaint with the examination board

CBSE Paper Leak 2018 : Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday said that he had received complaints about an alleged leak of CBSE's Class 12 Accountancy paper.

According to the media reports, the question paper was making rounds on Whatsapp on Thursday morning. The same set of paper was received by the ministry and was checked. It has been confirmed that it was the same set-II.

He also said that he has directed officers of the Directorate of Education to lodge a complaint with the examination board.

"Received complaints about the Class 12 CBSE Accountancy paper being leaked. Have asked officers of Directorate of Education to investigate and lodge a complaint with CBSE. Swift action must be taken, so that hard-working students don't suffer due to negligence of CBSE," Sisodia said on Twitter.

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) officials were not immediately 

UP, Bihar bypolls: Gorakhpur loss start of BJP's worry? Top 10 developments

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said over-confidence and inability to understand the understanding between SP and BSP were the prime reasons for the BJP's shocking loss

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received a severe setback in the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar Lok Sabha and Assembly by-elections, losing four of the five seats in the bypolls, including the all-important Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats in Uttar Pradesh. Especially worrisome for the BJP was the fact that it was trounced by the BSP-backed Samajwadi Party in the high-stakes Gorakhpur and Phulpur bypolls which could boost the chances of a 'mahagathbandhan' of anti-BJP parties before the 2019 general elections.

After sweeping the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections last year, the BJP faced a last-minute alliance stitched by the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the bypolls. BSP supremo Mayawati had announced her party's backing for SP candidates in both Gorakhpur and Phulpur in return for the SP's support for her party's candidate in the Rajya Sabha biennial elections.

The BJP lost the Gorakhpur seat to the SP by a margin of 21,961 votes. SP candidate Pravin Kumar Nishad got 456,437 more votes than his nearest rival, BJP's Upendra Dutt Shukla, who secured 434,476 votes. In the Phulpur constituency, SP candidate Nagendra Pratap Singh Patel defeated BJP candidate Kaushalendra Singh by a margin of 59,613 votes. The winner polled 342,796 votes, while the BJP candidate secured 283,183.

Significantly, Gorakhpur was earlier held by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya had held the Phulpur seat.

Meanwhile, in Bihar, the BJP also lost the Araria Lok Sabha constituency and the Jehanabad Assembly seat while scoring a consolation win in the Bhabua Assembly seat. The results in both the states triggered calls for a Grand Alliance -- a la Bihar -- all across India to take on the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Once the outcome of the Uttar Pradesh 2018 bypolls was known, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that "over-confidence and the inability to understand the understanding between SP and BSP" were the prime reasons for the BJP's defeat.

Here are the top 10 developments in the shock defeat for BJP in UP and Bihar bypolls:

1) SP victory boosts chances of an anti-BJP coalition in UP: With the tacit understanding between the Samajwadi Party and the BSP in the Lok Sabha bye-elections for two seats paying off, chances of a 'mahagathbandhan' of anti-BJP parties before the 2019 general elections got a boost in Uttar Pradesh. These results are the beginning of the formation of a broadest possible alliance of Opposition forces before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, senior political analyst and retired head of the political science department of the Lucknow University Ramesh Dixit said.

Read More → UP Bypolls Results 2018 ←

Stephen Hawking, the physicist who reshaped cosmology, dies at 76

Stephen Hawking, the physicist who reshaped cosmology, dies at 76 on Business Standard. Hawking suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and was confined to an electric wheelchair for much of his adult life

Stephen Hawking, the British physicist and black-hole theorist who brought science to a mass audience with the best-selling book A Brief History of Time, has died. He was 76.

Hawking died peacefully at his home in Cambridge in England in the early hours of Wednesday morning, a spokesman for his family said in an emailed statement.

“We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today,” his children Lucy, Robert and Tim said in the statement. “He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humor inspired people across the world. He once said, ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him forever.”

Hawking suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and was confined to an electric wheelchair for much of his adult life. Diagnosed at age 21, he was one of the world’s longest survivors of ALS.

A Cambridge University professor, Hawking redefined cosmology by proposing that black holes emit radiation and later evaporate. He also showed that the universe had a beginning by describing how Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity eventually breaks down when time and space are traced back to the Big Bang about 13.7 billion years ago.

“Stephen’s remarkable combination of boldness, vision, insight and courage have enabled him to produce ideas that have transformed our understanding of space and time, black holes and the origin of the universe,” James Hartle, professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said in 2002.

Bestseller

A Brief History of Time, first published in 1988, earned its author worldwide acclaim, selling at least 10 million copies in 40 languages and staying on the best-seller list of the U. K.’s Sunday Times newspaper for a record 237 weeks.

Click Here To Read More → Stephen Hawking ←

Apple Music service hits 38 mn paid subscribers, up 2 mn from February

Apple Inc's streaming music service now has 38 million paid subscribers, up from 36 million in February, the company said on Monday.

Apple is locked in race for subscribers with Amazon.com Inc, Alphabet Inc's Google and others as streaming music becomes the dominant form of paid music consumption.

Apple's number compares to 71 million premium subscribers at the end of 2017 at industry leader Spotify, which plans to list shares in the coming weeks on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SPOT.

Apple said Eddy Cue, senior vice president of internet software and services, disclosed the most recent subscriber number for Apple Music at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

Amazon Music Unlimited has 16 million paying subscribers, and Pandora Media Inc has 5.48 million total subscribers. Google does not release paid subscriber numbers for its service, Google Play Music.

Apple, Spotify, Google and other services charge $9.99 a month for music. Amazon offers its service to members who already pay for its Prime membership, which includes shipping, video content and other benefits, for $7.99 per month.

In addition to its paid service, Spotify also offers a free ad-supported version to help draw users into the service. Apple Music does not offer an ad-based version and instead uses a three-month free trial to lure customers. Cue said Apple has 8 million subscribers currently in the free trial period, the first time Apple has disclosed the number of trial users.

Click Here To Know More → Apple Music

Nepal plane crash: Airport blames US-Bangla pilot; top 10 developments

Expressing shock over the US-Bangla Airlines crash in Kathmandu that killed 49, Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli tweeted that his government would 'investigate the incident immediately'

A passenger plane of the US-Bangla Airlines, flying to Kathmandu from Dhaka, crash-landed and exploded into a ball of flame on Monday at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), in Nepal's capital Kathmandu, authorities said. Of the 71 people on board, as many as 49 were killed and 22 injured in the crash.

The death toll in the crash was confirmed by Nepal Police spokesperson Manoj Neupane. The aircraft caught fire after it skidded off the runway at TIA while landing. Subsequently, the plane crashed in a field, apparently due to technical glitches. The crash is being described as Nepal's worst aviation disaster in over 25 years.

Condoling the bereaved families, Nepalese Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli tweeted that his government would "investigate the incident immediately".

Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Sanjiv Gautam, said that the plane lost control when it attempted to land on the runway. "The aircraft was permitted to land from the southern side of the runway flying over Koteshwor but it landed from the northern side," said Gautam. He added that the aircraft might have sustained technical glitches. "We are yet to ascertain the reason behind the unusual landing," he said.

On Monday, India condoled the loss of lives in the Nepal airplane crash and offered any assistance required. The US, too, offered its sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims who were killed in the plane crash at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport.

The victims of the Kathmandu plane crash were citizens of Nepal, Bangladesh, China, and the Maldives, according to a TIA spokesperson.

After the crash, all flights in and out of the Tribhuvan International Airport were cancelled. The airport was reopened later.

Here are the top 10 developments around the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport plane crash, which is Nepal's worst aviation disaster in over 25 years:

1) Death toll confirmed: According to updated figures, 49 people were killed and 22 injured when the US-Bangla Airlines passenger plane crash-landed and exploded at Nepal's main airport on Monday. Nepal Police spokesperson Manoj Neupane confirmed the death toll.

According to Neupane's statement, 31 bodies were recovered from the wreckage of the crashed plane while 18 others died in hospitals.

→ Nepal Plane Crash ←

Iran private jet crash: Turkish heiress on bachelorette trip among 11 dead

The last videos posted to her account showed her and friends enjoying a concert by the British pop star Rita Ora at a popular Dubai nightclub

A Turkish private jet flying from the United Arab Emirates to Istanbul carrying a group of young women crashed tonight in a mountainous region of Iran during a heavy rain, killing all 11 people on board, authorities said.

The doomed aircraft days earlier carried a bachelorette party bound for Dubai.

Iranian state television quoted Mojtaba Khaledi, the spokesman of the country's emergency management organisation, as saying the plane hit a mountain near Shahr-e Kord and burst into flames.

Shahr-e Kord is some 370 kilometres south of the capital, Tehran.

Khaledi later told a website associated with state TV that local villagers had reached the site in the Zagros Mountains and found 11 badly burned bodies in the wreckage. He said DNA tests would be needed to identify the dead.

Also Read : Iran plane crash: Black box found; Mina Barasan's Instagram page removed

Villagers near the crash earlier said they saw flames coming from the plane's engine before the crash, according to a report by Iran's state-run judiciary news agency Mizan.

The plane took off around 4:41 p.m today and reached a cruising altitude of just over 35,000 feet, according to FlightRadar24, a flight-tracking website.

At around 6:01 p.m something appears to have gone wrong with the flight as it rapidly gained altitude and then dropped drastically within minutes, data published by the website showed.

Iranian officials said the plane took off from Sharjah International Airport on its way to Istanbul.

A private company that handles public relations for the Sharjah airfield, the home of low-cost airline Air Arabia, declined to immediately comment.

Sharjah is a neighboring emirate of Dubai.

Turkey's private Dogan News Agency identified the plane as a Bombardier CL604, tail number TC-TRB. Turkey's Transport Ministry said the plane belongs to a company named Basaran Holding, which The Associated Press could not immediately reach.

Click Here To Read More : Bachelorette Trip Gone Wrong

Maharashtra farmers' long march: 50,000 at Azad Maidan; top 10 developments

The protesters, joined by tribals, had halted at the KJ Somaiya Ground before marching towards Azad Maidan on Monday morning

After an arduous journey of almost 170 km that started on March 5, a swarm farmers participating in 'kisan long march' to voice their demands to the Maharashtra government, finally reached Mumbai on Sunday. The numbers heavily increased along the way from 30,000 agitatators to about 50,000, according to the organisers.

Enduring the scorching heat in a march that started from Maharashtra's Nashik district six days ago, the farmers moved slowly across the length of Mumbai and finally reached Azad Maidan on Monday at 5 in the morning. The protesters, joined by tribals, had halted at the KJ Somaiya Ground before making their way to Azad Maidan.

The farmers in the rally are demanding a complete waiver on loans and electricity bills, ensuring remunerative prices for crops, and implementing the Forest Rights Act for the benefit of scheduled tribes, among other things.

Last year, the Maharashtra government had announced a loan waiver of Rs 40 billion under the first phase of the farm loan waiver scheme. Today, the farmers plan to lay siege to the Maharasthra Assembly in Mumbai where the state Budget session is underway.

"We will gherao the Vidhan Bhavan on Monday to demand a complete loan waiver, fair price for farm produce, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, compensation for hailstorm-affected farmers among other things," Kisan Gujar, President of the state council of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) told PTI.

Here are the top 10 developments around the Maharashtra farmers' protest at Azad Maidan:

1. Food distributed among farmers halted at Azad Maidan; several suffering from dehydration: According to media reports, food is being distributed among farmers camped at Azad Maidan before they embark on to their march towards State Assembly later in the day.

Several farmers in the process are reportedly dehydrated after marching for more than 30 km on Sunday in Mumbai. There is also medical dispensary set up at Azad Maidan. Doctors who spoke to CNN-News18, said farmers were suffering from blood pressure and diarrhea.

2. Shiv Sena plans to disrupt the State Assembly functioning: According to media reports, the Shiv Sena said they are not going to let the state Assembly function on Monday until the farmers' demands are met.

→ Maharashtra Farmers Protest ←

Dawood aide Takla sent to CBI custody till March 19: Why his arrest matters

Takla, against whom a Red Corner Notice was issued in 1995, had fled from India after the 1993 Mumbai blasts

Dawood Ibrahim's aide Yasin Mansoor Mohamed Farooq, alias Farooq Takla, wanted in the 1993 Mumbai blasts, was Thursday sent to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody till March 19 by a Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court in Mumbai. He was arrested at an immigration counter at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday morning.

While the CBI declined to comment on how he reached Delhi as an Interpol Red Corner notice was pending against him, officials said Farooq was deported from the UAE with the help of central intelligence agencies and put on a flight to Delhi.

According to the Interpol, the charges against him include criminal conspiracy, murder, attempt to murder, and voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, among others. Takla had fled from India after the 1993 Mumbai blasts.

According to senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam, the deporting of Yasin Mansoor Mohamed Farooq indicates that diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India are going to be stronger in the coming days. He said Takla’s arrest is a “big catch for India”.

The Mumbai blast of March 12, 1993, resulted in 257 fatalities and over 700 were injured. The attacks were planned by Dawood Ibrahim, India's 'most wanted' fugitive, who also has his name prominently figuring on the 'most wanted' lists of the US and the Interpol.

Who is Farooq Takla and why is he wanted

Farooq Takla's birth name, according to the Interpol Red Corner Notice issued against him, is Yasin Mansoor Mohamed Farooq. Takla was born in Mumbai on February 17, 1961.

According to the Interpol notice, he is described as being of a "flabby build". He has "protruding eyes" that are set in an "oval face" and he moves with a limp following a fracture in his left leg.

Officials said 57-year-old Takla used to facilitate the travel of men from Dubai to Karachi without immigration checks, for their training in making bombs and use of sophisticated weapons.

Farooq used to send men from Dubai to Karachi and back with the help of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, claimed Suresh Walishetty, a retired assistant commissioner of police, who was one of the investigating officers in the serial blasts case.

Click Here To Read More : Farooq Takla Arrested

Women's Day: AI, SpiceJet, Vistara to fly with all-female crew today

SpiceJet to operate three special flights with all women cockpit and cabin crew on the occasion of International Women's Day

Air India Express, Vistara, SpiceJet and Air India are among the airlines which will take to the skies on Thursday with all-women crew flights in order to celebrate the International Women's Day.

As many as eight international flights of Air India Express would be operated with an all-women crew. "All women-crew flights will take off from Kochi, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Mangalore, Mumbai and Delhi on Thursday," the no-frills airline said in a release today.

Functions are also being organised at all its offices to felicitate the women workforce, which is about 40 per cent of its total employees, it added.

Air India Express is the budget arm of Air India.

Full-service airline Vistara said it would operate select flights with all-women crew besides priority boarding for all women travellers and celebratory sale of tickets, among others.

Budget carrier SpiceJet would operate three special flights with all women cockpit and cabin crew on the occasion of International Women's Day.

On Tuesday, Air India had said it would operate flights with an all-women crew to various international and domestic destinations, including New York and Singapore.

Click Here To Read More : Women’s Day

Also Read :

Top 10 Women fund managers who have outperformed over long term

Indian women earn 20% less than men; wage gap rises with experience: Report

Pay gap ensures women cricketers don't receive support men take for granted